REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 45 



The Institution is under especial obligations, for important services rendered 

 in this connexion, to the Hon. Hiram Barney, collector of the port of New York, 

 and to his assistant, Mr. George Hillier ; to Mr. A. B. Forbes and Mr. Hubbard, 

 of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, in San Francisco, as well as to the 

 regular agents of the Institution. 



During the year, 1863, a new literary agency of the Institution was established 

 for Holland and Belgium. Mr. Frederick Muller, bookseller, of Amsterdam, was 

 placed in charge, and he has already rendered much service. The other foreign 

 agents of the Institution — Dr. Felix Fliigel, of Leipsic ; Gustave Bossange & 

 Compan} r , of Paris ; and Mr. William Wesley, of London — continue to dis- 

 charge their duties with efficiency, and to the full satisfaction of the Insti- 

 tution. 



The number of institutions and individuals, at home and abroad, making use 

 of the facilities of scientific exchanges offered by the Smithsonian Institution is 

 continually on the increase, and it is believed that any interruption or suspen- 

 sion of this part of the programme of operations would be considered as a serious 

 calamity. 



In 1862 the Institution distributed four volumes of Miscellaneous Collections, 

 one volume of Annual Reports, and one thick quarto volume of Meteorological 

 Records and Reductions. In 1863, owing to various circumstances, the Annual 

 Report for 1861 was the only volume distributed, although many copies of 

 separate papers were sent abroad. For this reason the bulk of sending, in 1863, 

 was less than that of previous years, but it is expected that the difference will 

 be fully made up in 1864. 



The following tables exhibit the details of the operations in the line of ex- 

 change during 1863 : 



Heceipt of books, Sfc., by exchange in 1863. 



Volumes : 



Octavo 719 



Quarto 167 



Folio 24 



910 



Parts of volumes and pamphlets : 



Octavo 2, 119 



Quarto 779 



Folio 581 



3, 479 



Maps and charts 200 



Total 4, 589 



Receipts in 1861 2,886 



Receipts in 1862 5, 035 



