The works received embrace most of the current volumes of scientific transactions, with some back series, and are of the highest importance as materials of scientific research. In the following tables are exhibited the chief statistics of exchange during both 1856 and 1857. The last annual report did not fully cover the subject, owing to the fact that a supplementary sending was required in January, 1857, to complete that of July, 1856, and a report for 1856 could not reasonably include what was actually not performed till the ensuing year. In presenting the series of tables throughout, those of transmissions for 1856 are to be understood as embracing parcels forwarded in January 1857. This will explain the apparent disproportion in amount for the two years, as much of what was sent in the beginning of 1857 would otherwise not have gone until the ensuing summer. B. Table showing the statistics of foreign exchanges of the Smithsonian Institution in 1856. Supposing each parcel to contain an average of one and a half pieces, the number of these would be Add of Smithsonian volumes and memoirs, about 2,500 2,500 Add volumes of public documents obtained and distributed, about.... Approximate total of volumes and pamphlets sent abroad by the |