58 Mis. No. 48. 



V 



Smithsonian Institution, 



Washingtmi, July 17, 1848. 



We highly approve of the foregoing plan of the Bibliographia Americana, 

 submitted to us by Henry Stevens, esq., accompanying his note of July 7, 

 1848, and certify that the work will be accepted foi publication in the 

 Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, provided the execution is found 

 satisfactory to a commission of competent judges, appointed by the Institu- 

 tion for its examination. 



JOSEPH HENRY. 

 CHARLES C. JEWETT. 



Letter addressed to several gentlemen. 



Smithsonian Institution, July 14, 1848. 



My dear sir: Mr. Henry Stevens has submitted to me, as Secretary of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, his proposition to prepare a bibliographical 

 account of books relating to or printed in America prior to 1750, the de- 

 tails of which he informs me have been submitted to you. I beg leave to 

 request an expression of your opinion as to the importance of such a work, 

 and whether it would be of sufficient interest to the student of American 

 history to warrant its publication in the series of volumes forming the 

 Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. 



My object in making this request is to satisfy myself as to the propriety 

 of giving Mr. Stevens the necessary encouragement on the part of the In- 

 stitution to coimnence the preparation of the work. In conformity with 

 the rules adopted, it will not be accepted for publication by the Institution 

 unless it be approved of as to character and execution by a commis- 

 sion of competent judges. 



I remain respectfully and trulv, yours, 



JOSEPH HENRY, 

 Secretary Smithsonian histitution. 



Washington, July 15, 1848. 



Dear sir: You do me the honor in your note of yesterday's date to re 

 quest my opinion respecting Mr. H. Stevens's plan of " a bibliographica 

 account of books relating to, or printed in America prior to the year 1700." 



Mr. Stevens has, as you understand, been so kind as to acquaint me 

 with the details of his plan. I take great interest in its success. Exe- 

 cuted in the manner in which it will be by Mr. Stevens, the work will, I 

 conceive, constitute a contribution to our literature, of great value, and 

 richly deserve a place in the series of volumes proposed to be issued by 

 the Smithsonian Institution. 



I have the honor to be, dear sir, with great respect and esteem, your 

 obedient servant, 



JOHN G. PALFREY. 



Prof. J. Henry. 



