ations in the United States.

It can be easily understood, that, obliged even to reduce the number
of documents which each testified to the positive results of the
system of exchanges, I have entirely omitted those which merely
contain promises. In the present state of things, I can only with
propriety present the public with accomplished facts.

Why should I add any reflection to these authentic documents
which I publish? It does not become me to tell the care and anxiety
which the already acquired results have cost me. As for the kindness
and liberality of which so many proofs have been given me both in
France and America, it is visible enough through this publication. If,
on this occasion, I express my unbounded gratitude, I cannot
nevertheless forget that these favors have been granted less to my
exertions than in consequence of the hopes thereby created, and the
ends foreseen.

I hope that this pamphlet will not be without fruit. From what has
been done, we can judge of what may be done, and inspired by the
confidence imparted by the success of the three past years, I
confidently trust that these facts will give the system of exchange a
new impulse.

For this reason, I have determined to conclude the publication by the
instructions prepared by the administrative professors of the Museum
of natural history. Our American Brethren will be kind enough to
follow the advice of these literati in prosecuting their researches,
and sending their fruits.

I beg leave to recommend them to the particular attention of those
societies and gentlemen in the new world who make natural history a
special study.

The French and English languages being so familiar to the two nations,
I thought it better to keep the following Documents in the language
they were writt, fearing they might lose their originalety by being
translated.

Paris, may 1846.
A. VATTEMARE.

PRESENT STATE

OF THE

SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL LITERARY EXCHANGES

BETWEEN

FRANCE AND NORTH AMERICA.

EXTRACT _from the_ JOURNAL DE L'INSTRUCTION PUBLIQUE (March 4. 1846.)
(_Published under the auspices of the Department of public
instruction_).

Nos lecteurs savent que M. le Ministre de l'instruction publique
a porte au budget soumis en ce moment a l'examen de la Chambre,
une somme de 3,000 francs destinee a acquitter les frais auxquels
donnera lieu le systeme d'echange de livres commence par
l'entremise de M. Vattemare entre la