This Institution, founded by the state for the use of several departments of the government comprises the departments of Law, literature, science and arts. It is under the direction of the Legislature through a committee of both houses, and possesses the following works which have been published by the state, and which are occasionally interchanged with other states, and public institutions, viz: The statutes at large being a collection of all the laws of Virginia from the year 1619 to 1808, in 16 volumes; Laws of a later date; Reports of the state convention in 1776; Journals of the legislature from 1776 to 1790 and from 1831 to the present time, a map of Virginia published in 1826, and consequently at this day incomplete, yet probably valuable for your purpose. The geological survey of the state has been completed and will probably be published in the course of another year. If any of or all these publications would be acceptable to you, authority will be given for exchanging them upon the terms indicated in your letter, and I shall be happy to be the organ of communication in this interchange should you think proper to transmit any publications equivalent: so far at least as the before stated collections of the library institution will supply it. At any event I shall be gratified by having it in my power to lay before the committee any communication you may think proper to address to me. I am, sir, with high respect, your obedient servant, WM H. RICHARDSON, Secretary of the com. of Virginia, and ex officio librarian. STATE OF NEW-YORK. _From the Regents of the university of the state, trustees of the State Library._ Albany, June 21, 1845. M. ALEX. VATTEMARE, Dear sir, I had the honor to receive your letter of the 10th April on the 1st of June and two days since I received the books mentioned in it. I have replied as directed by the regents to M. the Count de Salvandy and must ask you to present the letter to him. The legislature of this state adjourned about the middle of May, the laws, journals and documents of the two houses which are now directed by an act passed this session, to be sent to the government of France (duplicate copy), have not yet come from the hands of the printers and binders--probably it may be two months, before they are completed, as indexes are to be compiled for each; but as soon as I receive them (and it is my duty by law to forward them), they shall be sent. Meanwhile I have collected from the various departments a few publications which I trust may be interesting. They are, as you are probably aware, not for sale and of course cannot readily be obtained out of this city. I send parcels for the minsters of _public instruction_, of _finances_, of _agriculture and commerce_, of _justice_ and of the _marine_.