PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 305 



in like manner the similar publications of scientific work abroad 

 might be received at the Smithsonian Institution, for distribution 

 in this country. This privilege however is properly restricted 

 to bona fide donations and exchanges of scientific memoirs; — all 

 purchased publications being carefully excluded and left to find 

 their legitimate channels of trade. By an international courtesy 

 — creditable to the wisdom and intelligence of the civilized 

 Powers, — such packages to and from the Institution are per- 

 mitted to pass through all Custom-houses, free of duty; an 

 invoice of authentication being forwarded in advance. When 

 it is considered that this large work of collection and distribution 

 (including the constant supply of the Institution's own publica- 

 tions, and the extensive returns therefor of journals, proceedings, 

 and transactions, for its own library) requires the systematic 

 records and accounts in suitable ledgers, with the accurate par- 

 celling and labelling of packages, large and small, to every 

 corner of the globe, it may well be conceived that no small 

 amount of labor and expense is involved in these forwarding 

 operations.* A recognition of the benefits conferred by this 

 generous enterprise, is practically indicated by the rapid enlarge- 

 ment of the operations. The weight of matter sent abroad by 

 the Institution at the end of the first decade, was 14 thousand 

 pounds for the year 1857 : the weight sent at the end of the 

 second decade, was 22 thousand pounds for the year 18fi7 : and 

 the weight sent at the end of the third decade, was 99 thousand 

 pounds for the last year 1877. This admirable system has been 

 greatly encouraged and facilitated by the most praiseworthy 

 liberality of the great lines of ocean steamers, and of the lead- 

 ing railway companies, in carrying the Smithsonian freight in 

 many cases free of charge, or in other cases at greatly reduced 

 rates : an appreciative tribute alike to the beneficent services 

 and reputation of the Institution, and to the personal character 

 and influence of its Director.f 



* It may be stated that the number of foreign institutions and corre- 

 spondents receiving the Smithsonian publications exceeds two thousand ; 

 whose localities embrace not only the principal cities of Europe (from 

 Iceland to Turkey), of British America, Mexico, the West Indies, Central 

 and South America, and of Australia, but also those of New Zealand, 

 Honolulu in the Sandwich Islands, twelve cities in India, Shanghai in 

 China, Tokio, Yedo, and Yokohama, in .Japan, Batavia in .Java, Manilla 

 in the Philippine Islands, Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt, Algiers in 

 northern Africa, Monrovia in Liberia, and Cape Town in southern Africa. 

 The CO respondents and recipients in the United States, are probably 

 nearly as nuiuerotis. 



t " The cost of this system would far exceed the mf^ans of the Institu- 

 tion, were it not for important aid received from various parties interestt^ I 

 in facilitating international intercourse and the promotion of friendly 

 relations between distant parts of the civilized world. The liberal aid 

 extended by the steamship and other lines, mentioned in previous reports, 

 in carrying tlie boxes of tlie Smithsonian exchanges free of charge, has been 



VOL. II.— 20 73 



