HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 805 



State, for the purpose of carryinj? into effect the recommendation of 

 the Paris congress on a scale in keeping with the high position of the 

 United States among civilized nations and commensurate with the rep- 

 utation of the government for enlightened liberality in connection with 

 the cause of general education. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



Spencee F. Baibd, 

 Secretary of Smithsonian Institution. 



[The State Department to tlie Smitbsouiau Institution.] 



Dei>artment of State, Washington, October 30, 1880. 

 Prof. Spencer F. Batrd, 



" Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution : 



Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 

 the 23d instant, in relation to the expense of the work of conducting 

 the exchange of the literary and scientific publications of all nations, 

 recommended by the international geographical congress held at Paris 

 in the summer of 1875, which work, at the instance of this department, 

 the Smithsonian Institution undertook to carry on on behalf of the 

 United States. You state, furthermore, that it was originally i>resumed 

 that exchanges in question could be carried on in connection with the 

 system already established, but that practically the additional work 

 has been found to greatly increase the expense of conducting the ex- 

 changes, and that, therefore, the Smithsonian Institution is compelled 

 to ask that an appropriation of $7,000 be requested of Congress to de- 

 fray the expenses of the exchanges recommended by the Paris congress, 

 and undertaken on behalf of the United States by the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution at the instance of this department. 



In reply I have to say that, fully appreciating the importance of main- 

 taining and extending this system of literary and scientific exchanges 

 ■which has been so happily inaugurated, it will afford me much pleasure 

 to ask the proper committees of Congress to favorably consider your 

 request for an appropriation of $7,000 for the purpose indicated in your 

 letter. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

 Wm. M. Evarts. 



[State Department to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.] 



Department of State, Washington, January 31, 1881. 

 Hon. Henry G. Davis, 



Chairman of the Committee on Ajypropriations, Senate: 

 Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the information and 

 consideration of your committee, a copy of a letter dated the 23d of 



