618 .CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDIN . 



b.utions to Knowledge the learned Professor of Greek of 

 Harvard University [C. C. Felton] thus speaks : 



" CAMBRIDGE, MASS., June 30, 1854. 



" I have but recently returned from Europe, and I now desire to ac- 

 knowledge the service you did me by your circular letter of introduction 

 to the librarians of the European establishments, which are in correspond- 

 ence with the Smithsonian Institution. Wherever I presented it I was 

 received with great kindness and attention, and had the opportunity of 

 seeing whatever was curious, interesting, and valuable, in the libraries and 

 collections. 



" It gave me pleasure to notice the high estimation in which the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, under its present management, is held everywhere in 

 Europe. The volumes published under its auspices have done the highest 

 honor to American science, and are considered most valuable contribution- 

 to the stock of knowledge among men. They are shown to visitor- :i- 

 among the most creditable publications of the age, and as highly interest- 

 ing illustrations of the progress of science and the arts in the Unitrd 

 States ; and the eagerness to possess them is very great among the savans 

 of the Old World. They were shown to me wherever I \\vnt, and the 

 commendations bestowed on the civilization of America, as evinced by the 

 excellence of these works, both in matter and form, was deeply gratifying 

 to me. The last time I had an opportunity of seeing them was in the uni- 

 versity library at Athens; the librarian pointed them out to mo, .and ex- 

 pressed the greatest anxiety to complete the set, one or two volumes or 

 which were wantrng." 



.The publications tlms approved bring to the Smithsonian 

 Institution a return of works published by the learned soci- 

 eties of the world and by governments such us could not he 

 procured in any other way, supplying the library with rich 

 productions of both literature and science. The gradual 

 formation of a valuable library would result from this 

 system of international exchanges even without direct pur- 

 chase. 



The programme of organization of the institution and 

 its execution have met with the unqualified support of a 

 very large majority of the scientific and literary men of 

 our country, expressed individually or in the associations of 

 which they are members. This is general throughout the 

 Union, and from no quarter have more decidedly favorable 

 opinions been expressed than from that to which the regent 

 at whose instance this investigation has been made (Mr. 

 Choate) belongs. The committee must necessarily be brief in 

 its selections from the numerous letters and other commu- 

 nications before it. In speaking of the general considera- 

 tions proposed by Professor Henry as guides in adopting a 

 plan of organization, a committee "of the American Acad- 

 emy of Arts and Sciences of Boston, say, that " they com- 

 mand the entire assent of the committee,'' and proceed to 

 discuss favorably the various provisions for the increase and 

 diffusion of knowledge furnished by the programme. This 



