806 HISTORY OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXCHANGES. 



October last, from Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Secretary of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, to this department, in relation to the expenses which 

 have been imposed upon that institution by its having undertaken, at 

 the instance of my predecessor, the Hon. Hamilton Fish, to carry 

 out on behalf of this government the system of exchanging the literary 

 and scientific publications of all nations which was adopted at an inter- 

 national conference held at Paris in the summer of 1875, at which this 

 country was represented. 



It now appears from the statements made in Professor Baird's letter 

 that the expense of carrying out the exchanges in question is far greater 

 than was anticipated, whereby an undue burden has been imposed 

 upon the resources of the Smithsonian Institution; and Professor 

 Baird therefore asks that an appropriation of $7,000 may be made for 

 the purpose of carrying out the recommendations of the Paris congress 

 of 1875. 



I may add that it is understood by this department that the ex- 

 changes of literary and scientific publications in question are now car- 

 ried on at the expense of the several governments which were parties 

 to the congress of 1875, except in the case of this government, which 

 has imposed this important and useful work upon the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution. 



In view, therefore, of the reasons set forth by Professor Baird in a 

 communication transmitted herewith, and in view of the great benefits 

 which the government, institutions of learning, public libraries, and men 

 of science are receiving from the system of the exchange of literary 

 and scientific publications inaugurated by the congress of 1875 at Paris, 

 I beg to recommend that the appropriation asked for, as above indi- 

 cated, may be made. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



Wm. M. Evarts. 



[The State Departmeut to the Smithsouian Institution.] 



Department of State, Washington, December 27, 1881. 



Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution: 

 Sir: Eeferriug to the reply of this department, of the 30th of October 

 last, to your letter of the 23d of that month, in relation to the exchange 

 of government and scientific publications with foreign countries, and 

 referring also to the letter of this department to the Senate Committee 

 on Appropriations, dated the 31st of January last, on the same subject, 

 I now beg to request you to furnish this departmeut with your views in 

 relation to this matter, in form of a memorandum, to serve as the basis 

 of a communication to Congress urging the appropriation of an amount 

 sufficient to defray the expenses of international exchanges, and of so 



