procuring and forwarding to Washington a perpetual supply of splendid and valuable productions. His countrymen are always on the march of improvement in the various departments of the elegant arts. Every description of magnificent engraving has been communicated. Box after box of books has come from him in unmeasured profusion. It would be endless to recapitulate the objects of his friendly contribution. They are referred to emphatically because they have especially served to set in motion that system of exchange, without which nothing can be completely deserving of the name of a collection. That Mr. Vattemare does not weary in his efforts needed no new proof. As lately as the 9th of June, 1845, he announces that he has received for the National Institute, from M. Le Brun, Peer of France, Director of the Royal Printing-office, etc., the complete collection of the Journal des Savans, from 1816 to 1845, twenty-nine quarto volumes, bound. "This most interesting and valuable collection," he says, "was last year granted to the National Institute at the request of M. Le Brun, by the Minister of Justice, etc. M. Le Brun has also sent to me a copy of his works, to be presented to the Institute as a token of his friendship and good wishes. From the War department of France, a complete collection of all the documents and works, illustrated with a great number of maps, etc., of the French possessions in North Africa, including the neighboring States, viz., the Empires of Morocco, Tunis, etc., published by order and under the superintendence of the Minister of War--sixteen volumes, folio, quarto, and octavo. From the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, twenty-five works on Agriculture and Commerce. From the Minister of the Interior, a beautiful collection of _bronze medals_, commemorative of national events, from 1830 to 1844 inclusive. From M. M. Flourens, Perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Sciences, Member of the Academie Francaise, etc., his last two works. From M. M. Barre and Danton, sculptors, two beautiful little statues, one of the late Duc d'Orleans, the other of Miss Adelaide Kemble as Norma. From M. Picot, Member of the Academy of Fine Arts, etc., two fine engravings, taken from two of his pictures. From the Societe Sericicole, (founded in 1838, for the encouragement and promotion of silk manufacturing in France,) the complete collection of its annals from its foundation to the present year--nine volumes, octavo." "All the above works, with many others, are heaped up, and occupy so much room in my office, that I can scarcely move about in it, and this number is daily increasing." One is impressed with mingled feelings of pleasure and mortification at reading this letter, for while it thus exhibits a prolific interest in the Institute, it unfolds in the