504 FOURTH BULLETIN OF [1846. 



CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Mr. McLANE AND Sm H. T. DE LA 

 BECHE, DIRECTOR OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GREAT 

 BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 



On the subject of presenting to the National Institute at Washington, 

 from the British Government, the Maps, Sectio7is, and Memoirs of 

 the Geological Survey of Great Britain. 



Geological Survey Office, Craig's Court, Charino Crosh, 



May 18, 1846. 



Sir: Hiving been instructed to present, on the part of her majesty's Govern- 

 ment, copies of the maps, sections, and memoirs of the geological survey of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, wliich h.ive been and will horeaftsr be published, to one of the 

 chief libraries of tho United State." ; being desirous ihiil these vporks may bo most 

 convenieiuly deposited for consnlt;.tion by scifnlific men, an.-) feelinj; that your 

 Excellency would be interested in having these Government publications properly 

 placed fur this purpose, probably your Excellency v.ould inform me if some chief 

 library or insiitulion in New York, viewing the silnation and magnitude of that 

 cilv. would not be a proper plice of deposit for the maps, sections, and memoirs 

 of the geological survey of Great Britain and Ireland. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your Excellency's very obedient servant, 



H. T. DE LA BECHE, Director General. 



38 Hari.ey street. May 21, 1846. 



Sir: I regret that, in consequence of rather a severe indisposition, I have been 

 prevented from earlier acknowledging your letter of the 18th instant. 



Certainly 1 should feel much interested in having the important works you are 

 about liberally to present to one of the chief libraries of tho United States so placed 

 that the beneficial object of the present might be most effeclually promoted ; and I 

 would suggest the National Institute, at Washington, as a more appropriate place 

 of deposit for these publications than one of the libraries of any one of our other 

 cities . 



The National Institute comprehends within its list of members most, if not all, 

 of the scientific men of the United States j its correspondence is very extensive, 

 and besides the frequency of its meetings, other occasions of general resort to 

 Washington are annually becoming more numerous. It enjoys the patronage of 

 the most eminent men in our country, and its library has already become quite 

 extensive. 



I ought, perhaps, to add that I am an honorary and corresponding member of 

 the Institute, and that it will nffbrd me much pleasure to give any aid in my power 

 towards the accomplishment of the object with which you are entrusted. 

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



LOUIS McLANE. 



To Sir H. T. de la Beche, ij-c, «jc., ^c. 



Geological Sorvf.v Office, Mrry 23, 18 IR. 



Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellrncy'.s letter of 

 the 2l8t instant, and in reply, to state that, in consequence of the suggestions and 

 observation.H contained in it, the mapv, sections, and memoirs of the geological sur- 

 vey of Great Britain and Ireland will be preecnted to tho National Institute, at 

 Washington. 



As your Excellency has expressed a desire to forward the object with which I 

 am enlriisted, might I ask if it would bo agreeable to you that tho maps and section* 

 now ready should be transmitted to the National Institute, at Washington, through 



