xviii Bulletin American Museum of Natural History [Vol. XXXIX 



James Gustavus Whiteley, Robert W. Goelet, Herbert L. Bridgman and 

 Frank M. Chapman. The organization of this committee, and corres- 

 pondence carried on by President Osborn, M. Carton de Wiart, Director 

 Bumpus and others, gave definite form and impetus to the negotiations, 

 which finally secured the sanction of the Belgian Government to the 

 Museum's exploration of the Congo, and the project became a reality. 

 The following official letters were exchanged between the Belgian 

 Government and the Director of The American Museum of Natural 

 History. 



Legation de Belgique, 



Washington, April 2, 1909. 

 Dear Mr. Bumpus: 



In consequence of the conversation between yourself and Mr. Whiteley, when he 

 had the pleasure of meeting you in New York last January, Mr. Whiteley hastened 

 to write to His Excellency, the Minister of Colonies at Brussels, in order to secure 

 the cooperation of the Belgian Colonial Administration with the scientific expedition 

 which the American Museum of Natural History proposes to send to the Belgian 

 Congo. 



On my own part I also wrote to His Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs 

 at Brussels, asking him to recommend the proposition which Mr. Whiteley had made 

 to Mr. Renkin. 



His Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in reply to my letter, requests me, 

 in the name of his Colleague, the Minister of Colonies, to make to the American Mu- 

 seum of Natural History the following proposition : 



The Colonial Administration, desiring to encourage the success of the contem- 

 plated scientific expedition in the Congo, offers the American Museum the sum of 

 6,800 francs as a contribution to the expenses of transportation of the American 

 mission in the territory of the Belgian Congo. 



The Museum will engage, on its part, to give the Musee du Congo, in Belgium, a 

 participation in the scientific results of the Mission, by sending it specimens of differ- 

 ent species of animals which it has not at present in its collection, or which are needed 

 to complete its collections. 



The annexed list contains the names of the animals (mammals and birds) which 

 the Museum desires. 



His Excellency, the Minister of Colonies, will take pleasure in recommending the 

 American scientists to the good offices of the Colonial authorities, but it will, of course, 

 be understood that the American Museum will have to pay the cost of the maintenance 

 and of the transport of the members of the Mission, and will also provide for all their 

 needs. 



I shall be very much obliged, my dear Mr. Bumpus, if you will be kind enough 

 to let me know whether the American Museum accepts this proposition, and in the 

 meantime I beg you to accept the assurance of my high regard. 



(Signed) Baron Moncheur. 1 



JBaron Ludovic Moncheur was elected by the Trustees to an Honorary Fellowship in the Museum 

 on Ma#- 10, 1909. 



