The International Exchange System 405 



have willingly assumed the task for the benefit that may 

 accrue from the service. 



So useful had this exchange system become within the first 

 ten years of its existence that in 1855 the following commu- 

 nication 1 was forwarded by Professor Asa Gray, the Secre- 

 tary of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, to Pro- 

 fessor Henry : 



"AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, 

 " BOSTON AND CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, 



"August, 1855. 

 " MY DEAR SIR : 



"The following extract from the record of the annual 

 meeting in May last has just been furnished me by the re- 

 cording secretary : 



" ' Professor Agassiz referred to the allusion in the libra- 

 rian's report to the Smithsonian Institution, and expressed in 

 strong language his sense of indebtedness of the scientific 

 world to that Institution, for its enlightened efforts to diffuse 

 knowledge, particularly as a medium of exchange of publica- 

 tions. In conclusion, he moved that the thanks of the acad- 

 emy be presented to the Smithsonian Institution for its 

 efficient agency in effecting for the academy its exchanges 

 with societies and individuals, which was unanimously 

 adopted.' 



" I have great pleasure in forwarding to you the vote of 

 the academy, in obedience to its instructions. 



"And I remain, very respectfully, 



" Your obedient, faithful servant, 



"AsA GRAY, 



" Corresponding Secretary" 



The Smithsonian exchange service was early taken ad- 

 vantage of by the bureaus of the United States government 

 to effect the distribution of their technical publications to 



1 " Smithsonian Report," 1855, page 79. 



