REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 15 



both in regard to sucli letters as directly concern the Institution proper 

 an.d also the mass of correspondence which, though pertaining more 

 particularly to the Museum and other bureaus, must nevertheless 

 receive the attention of the Secretary's office. 



A very unusual number of letters has been received from all parts of 

 the country seeking information both on scientific matters and on 

 j)olitical, economic, historical, and other questions in almost every 

 branch of knowledge. Many correspondents have the impression that 

 the Institution is a bureau of general information, and in dealing with 

 this class the policy has been to courteously answer all queries legiti- 

 mately within the range of the Institution, in other cases referring 

 inquirers to possible sources of information. 



Of the more important correspondence of the Secretary's oifice, 3,834 

 entries were made in the registry book of letters received, while many 

 times that number were received and referred to the different bureaus 

 of the Institution. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Washville Exposition. — The Institution participated in the Tennessee 

 Centennial Exposition at Kashville during the summer of 1897, under 

 act of Congress making appropriation for a General Government exhibit. 

 Accounts of the exhibit will be given after the close of the exposition. 



Glover Collection. — A very valuable and interesting collection of 

 Chinese coins, bequeathed to the Smithsonian Institution by the late Mr. 

 George B. Glover, of the Chinese Imperial maritime customs service, 

 has been received from the estate. It is believed that this collection is 

 the most perfect of its kind in existence. It includes 2,025 specimens 

 of Chinese, Annamese, Siamese, Japanese, and Korean coins; amulets 

 and bamboo tally sticks used as money; Chinese paper money; foreign 

 coins in circulation in China; and molds for casting coins. The series 

 dates back to about the year 770 B. C, the earliest authentic period of 

 coinage. The peculiarly shaped bronze pieces, representing knives, 

 cloth, and other objects used as money are fully represented, and the 

 series is continuous in the coinage of each dynasty for more than 2,600 

 years. 



Catalogue of Egyptian papyri and royal antiquities. — In April, 1896, 

 the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs addressed a communication to 

 the representatives of all foreign Governments at Cairo, pointing out 

 the desirability of a comi)lete catalogue of Egyptian papyri and royal 

 antiquities, and inviting the cooperation of the various Governments in 

 securing the information needed for such a work, the editing and pub- 

 lication to be undertaken by the administration of antiquities of Egypt. 



The consul-general of the United States informed the Egyptian Gov- 

 ernment that the hearty cooperation of the United States could be 

 relied upon, and, in his dispatch to tlie Department of State, suggested 

 that the Smithsonian Institution might be willing to collect the desired 

 information. 



