98 PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGENTS. 



natural liistory, books, or other articles desired to be forwarded to 

 Germany or the continent of Europe, irrespective of bulk. 

 Very respectfully, yours, 



KUNHARDT & CO. 



On motion of Mr. McPherson, it was 



He-solved, That the thanks of the Board of Regents be presented to 

 the "Hamburg American Packet Company," for their liberal co- 

 operation in assisting to advance the objects of this Institution. 



The following letters were presented by the Secretary as illustra- 

 tions of the correspondence of the Institution: 



Chateau of Eclipends, 

 Canton de Vaud, Stuitzerland, January 17, 1861. 



Sir : I beg you to express to the Institution of which you are the 

 Secretary ray sincere thanks for the remittance which you have just 

 made me of three volumes of your reports, (Annual Reports of the 

 Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 1856, 1857, 1858.) 

 The learned memoirs contained in these volumes possess great interest 

 for me, and I am happy to testify my sense of your kindness. 



Together with this letter I have forwarded to Dr. Fliigel, at Leipsic, 

 five copies of a volume, which I have but just published, on the '" La- 

 custrian Habitations of Ancient and Modern Times," (XVII plates, 380 

 figures.) I would ask the favor of you to accept a,copy for the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, as a slight testimony of my high appreciation. As 

 regards the other four copies, you will confer a sensible obligation on 

 me if you will present them, in my name, to such scientific societies 

 of the United States as you may deem most interested in researches 

 of this kind. 



I have had the satisfaction of sending you heretofore some commu- 

 nications on the lacustrian habitations of Switzerland. Since then 

 these researches have been prosecuted with success, and we are be- 

 ginning to make discoveries of remains of the same kind in Wales, 

 Germany, Scotland, and elsewhere. Africa, Asia, and Oceanica pre- 

 sent similar constructions. The floating gardens of Mexico are refer- 

 able to the same usages, and it would appear to me that you must 

 have in your own lakes remains similar to those of Switzerland. It 

 has seemed to me important that the discoveries of this kind made in 

 Europe should be grouped together in one work, with the historical 

 results which may be deduced from them. You will readily perceive, 

 at the same time, that it is not the history of the race which is alone 

 concerned in these inquiries, but that the natural sciences have also 

 an important interest in them. I would venture, then, to recommend 

 to your favorable attention and to that of your honorable colleagues a 

 labor whose interest is by no means confined to the boundaries of 

 Switzerland. 



Be pleased, sir, to accept the assurance of my high esteem and 

 entire consideration. 



FRED. TROYON. 

 To the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



