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988 General Notes. | September, ) 
Central America, are now in transit to this country, having been 
shipped from Havre, on the roth inst., on the steamer Labrador. 
“These casts, a catalogue of which is enclosed, are duplicates of 
those now on permanent exhibition at the Trocadero, Paris, ina 
building specially appropriated to their accommodation. They have 
been made with the express purpose of being exposed to public 
view, and kept permanently in the Smithsonian Institution, under 
such conditions as will afford to students of American antiquities 
the fullest opportunities for studying these products of indigenous 
art and these hitherto indecipherable inscriptions. 
“ The expedition to Central America, of which these casts are 
the result, was equipped and maintained in the field for about two 
years at the joint expense of Mr. Pierre Lorillard and the Gov 
ernment of France, and under the auspices of that Republic and — 
the United States. I have myself taken a profound interest 10 
the progress of its labors, and have had the general direction of 
the work. It will therefore be exceedingly gratifying to me, a8 
well as to Mr. Lorillard, to receive from you the assurance that 
this unique and valuable collection of American antiquities will 
be assigned such a place in the Smithsonian Institution as its €X- 
ceptionally interesting character merits. 
“Several applications for these casts have already been S 
to us by various public institutions in New York, but in view 
the national character of the expedition, it is desired first to ° 
the fruit of its labors to the Smithsonian Institution. n 
“An early answer will oblige, because of the early arrival of 
the collection, and of the expected coming from France "i 
expert for the proper arrangement of the casts.” 
Under date of June 4, Mr. Rice writes : ) ga 
“I am sincerely gratified to learn that the Smithsonian e ; 
tion tenders so cordial a reception to the Lorillard collec a , 
Perhaps I ought, in my former letter, to have given some iy ko 
imate estimate of the size of these casts, so that you mg w 
able to decide whether the space now at your comman d ae : 
institution is sufficient to afford them opportunity for €l pat 
display. Many of these bas-reliefs and inscriptions are ©” 
eight to ten feet high, by six or eight feet broad. Be 
“I shall be obliged if you will kindly advise me imme go Ae 
whether the great size of these monuments is likely to Ph” 
any obstacle to their fitting accommodation in the Smithso’ ”, 
“The artist charged with the duty of setting them up m 
from Havre on the 26th ult., in the steamship Sz. n 
LISTE DES MOULAGES ENVOYES A WASHINGTON. | 
1, Bas-relief, Indian, venant d’Oocosingo. 7. Pierre de P Inauguration A Temp i 
2, 3, 4, 5. Pierre de Tizoc—g pieces. 8. Inscription—de alenq' 
6. Grand fragment—de Tezcoco, g. Mietlanteuhtli, 
