504 
FOURTH BULLETIN OF 
[ 1846 . 
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Mr. McLANE AND Sir H. T. DE LA 
BECHE, DIRECTOR OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GREAT 
BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 
On the subject of presenting to the National Institute at Washington , 
from the British Government, the Maps, Sections, and Memoirs of 
the Geological Survey of Great Britain. 
Geological Survey Office, Craig’s Court, Charing Cross, 
May 18, 1846. 
Sir: Hiving been instructed to present, on the part of her majesty’s Govern¬ 
ment, copies of the maps, sections, and memoirs of the geological survey of Great 
Britain and Ireland, which have been and will hereafter be published, to one of the 
chief libraries of the United States; being desirous that these works may bo most 
conveniently deposited for consultation by scientific men, and feeling that your 
Excellency would be interested in having these Government publications properly 
placed for this purpose, probably your Excellency would inform me if some chief 
library or institution in New York, viewing the situation and magnitude of that 
city, would not be a proper place of deposit for the maps, sections, and memoirs 
of the geological survey of Great Britain and Ireland. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your Excellency’s very obodierjt servant, 
H. T. DE LA BECHE, Director General. 
38 Harley street, May 21, 1846. 
Sir: I regret that, in consequence of rather a severe indisposition, I have been 
prevented from earlier acknowledging your letter of the 18th instant. 
Certainly 1 should feel much interested in having the important works you are 
about liberally to present to one of the chief libraries of the United States so placed 
that the beneficial object of the present might be most effectually promoted ; and I 
would suggest the National Institute, at Washington, as a more appropriate place 
of deposit for these publications than one of the libraries of any one of our other 
cities. 
The National Institute comprehends within its list of members most, if not all, 
of the scientific men of the United States; its correspondence is very extensive, 
and besides the frequency of its meetings, other occasions of general resort to 
Washington are annually becoming more numerous. It enjoys the patronage of 
the most eminent men in our country, and its library has already become quite 
extensive. 
I ought, perhaps, to add that I am an honorary and corresponding member of 
the Institute, and that it will afford me much pleasure to give any aid in my power 
towards the accomplishment of the object with which you are entrusted. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
LOUIS McLANE. 
To Sir H. T. de la Beche, $c., cf-c., c£*c. 
Geological Survey Office, May 23, 1846. 
Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s letter of 
the 21st instant, and in reply, to state that, in consequence of the suggestions and 
observations contained in it., the rnapR, sections, and memoirs of the geological sur¬ 
vey of Great Britain and Ireland will be presented to the National Institute, at 
Washington. 
As your Excellency has expressed a desire to forward the object with which I 
am entrusted, might I ask if it would bo agreeable to you that the maps and sections 
now ready should be transmitted to the National Institute, at Washington, through 
