14 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1800. 



volumes, and form one of the most valuable collections of the kind in 

 existence, they not only remain unbound, but are iu a far more crowded 

 and inaccessible condition than they were before the trausfer. It is 

 hardly necessary to add that these facts are deplored by no one 

 more than by the present efficient Librarian of Congress. 



The purchasing power of the publications of the Institution, when 

 offered in exchange, is far greater than that of money, and its benefit 

 is exerted chiefly in behalf of the National Library, and also to a con- 

 siderable extent in behalf of the National Museum. 



The amount expended during the past forty years from the private 

 fund of the institution in the publication of books for gratuitous dis- 

 tribution has been $365,000, a sum more than half as great as the orig- 

 inal Smithson bequest. 



These publications have had their influence for good in many ways, 

 but in addition to this, a library much more than equal in value to the 

 outlay has through their buying power come into the possession of the 

 nation. 



In addition to all this, a large amount of material has been acquired 

 for the Mus um by direct expenditure from the private fund of the 

 Smithsonian Institution. The value of the collections thus acquired is 

 estimated to be more than equal to the whole amount of the Smithson 

 bequest. 



The early history of the Museum was much like that of the library. 

 It was not until 1858 that it became the authorized depository of the 

 scientific collections of the Government, and it was not until alter 187G 

 that it was officially recognized as the National Museum of the United 

 States. 



But for the provident forethought of the Smithsonian Institution, the 

 United States would probably still be without even a reputable nucleus 

 for a National Museum. 



The relations of the Museum to the system of popular lectures, for 

 many years established in Washington, and the assistance which it 

 affords each year to students of science, is referred to elsewhere in this 

 report. 



The Institution publishes many circulars, giving information on scien- 

 tific subjects, which are distributed gratuitously to those who write to 

 make incpiiries, and this system is being continually extended. In ad- 

 dition to this, a large correspondence is carried on with people in search 

 of information on scientific topics. Probably three thousand letters a 

 year go out to people who write seeking to know the name of some 

 object, or other scientific fact. Inquiries of this kind are always an- 

 swered promptly and fully, and frequently, to intelligent inquirers, 

 books are sent, which will enable them to find out such names for them- 

 selves in future. This work has not oidy an educational value but often 

 a great economic importance as well; as, for instance, when some com- 

 mon mineral has been mistaken for one of value; some useless' plant 



