898 CONGKESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



The State Department to the Sinitlisonian Institution. 



Department of State, 



AYashington, October 30, 1S80. 

 Prof. Spencer F. Baird, 



Seci'ctary of the SmitJisonian 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 pre- 

 sumed 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 

 exchanges, and that therefore the Smithsonian Institution is com- 

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

 to defray the expenses of the exchanges recommended by the Paris 

 congress and undertaken on behalf of the United States by the Smith- 

 sonian Institution at the instance of this Department. 



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

 maintaining 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. 



The State Department to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. 



Department of State, 



Washington, January 31, 1881. 

 Hon. Henry G. Davis, 



Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations^ Senate. 

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

 consideration of your committee, a cop}^ of a letter dated the 23d of 

 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 bv its having under- 

 taken, 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 international conference held at Paris in the summer of 1875, at 

 which this country was represented. 



