Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-17
March 18th, 1859.

RwWe find in the Richmond Enqui-
rer the following letter from Mons. Alex
ander Vattemare, the author and prose-
cutor of the idea of International Literary
Exchanges, to Judge E. S. Duncan, in
forming him that he has been appointed
corresponding member of the National
Agricultural Society of France.
PARIS, JANUARY 10, 1852.
SIR: 1t is most gratifying to me to
have received the honorable mission OF
transmitting to you the annexed letter
from the honorable Mr.. Hericourt de
Thury, President of the National and Cen
trai Agricultural Society of France, in
forming you of your appointment as Cor
responding member of this Society.
The proposition of your nomination was
made by a special committee, composed
of Mr.. Dumas, Celebrated Chemist, and
late Minister of Agriculture and Com
merce the Court d'Kerglay. member of
the late National Assembly +; the Mr..
Milne Edwards, Professor of Natural
History and member of the Institute of
France; Mr.. Payne, perpetual Secretary
of the Agricultural Society, and member
of the Institute of France and Mr.. Vii
MORN, one of our most distinguished Ag-
ricultUralists. This proposal, unanimous
ly adopted, was made on the ground of
the eminent services rendered by you,
and on your active zeal in forwarding
every object calculated to secure the pros
perity of rural industry in your own
country.
A hope was at the same time express
sed to secure your valuable cooperation
in the labors of the Society, for the i'm
provement and promotion Of Agricul-
lure in both hemispheres, and thus con-
tribute to increase and strengthen TIC fra
ternal bond already existing between our
two beloved countries.
Allow me, sir, to take this opportunity
of calling your attention to plan which
has received the appreciation of the two
worldS-the system of international lit
erary exchanges, so we'll calculated to in
crease and consolidate an intellectual
union of the civilized nations of the world.
OF all the States of the Union, Virginia
was one Of those which received with
greatest kindness and most liberal hospi-
tally the humble missionary of this great
cause, during the short official visits had
the honor of paying to Richmond. car
ried with me, on leaving Virginia, the
most promising hope of support. But.
alas since left, not single volume was
ever transmitted, although l have never
been six months without transmitting the
best evidence of Europe's desire to keep
up this friendly and enlightened inter
course. have addressed the official re-
port which, as agent of the State, it is my
duty to make to his E1cellency, the Gov
ernor trust in the patriotism of the
Legislature, who will, no doubt, adopt
such measures that will prevent all inter-
rupiion Of those relations in future-such
as the appointment of standing commit
tee of the State Library composed of gen
tlemen selected independent of political
influence. or State agent, whose taste
for science would induce them to devote
few hours of their time to this patriotic
task, and who would be in constant in
tercourse with the central agency oil
Paris, communicating to it the intellectu-
al wants Of the State, either for the State.
College, or Scientific Societies. Libraries.
and the books or objects of natural
history that could be given in exchange
May beg of you, sir, to recommend
the subject to the notice of some of your
friends in the Legisture, that it should
ia for this noble cause lasted only while
its humble advocate was there?
One ofyour very distinguished agricul
turists, Mr. Ed Rufin of Marlbourne
who contributed so largely to our ex
changes by the gift of one hundred and
ten copies of his essay on calcareou'
!, manure, &C., the whole of which was lost
at sea in 1880, never replied to my letter
informing him of this lamentable loss
Please, sir, to inform me if you can fnC
out, the cause of this silence on the par
of Mr.. Rufin, and your disposition to hslE
my efforts in the realization of this plan
AS agriculture and horticulture are
the real wealths of nations, everything
destined to strengthen these noble art
deserves our attention. l therefore beg
of you to be kind enough 10 read the let
: tiers, pages from 10 to II, addressed tc
, me by the societies of horticulture and
agriculture of France, as well as by some
of their distinguished members, in the
accompanying appendix of my report K
the State. The circulation of those let
tens through the columns of the publ,
press may stimulate the agricultural soci
cites and amateurs to cooperate in thu
establishment of international exchanges
of local agricultural and horticulture
fairs. For our scientific men here be
lieve in the possibility of finding, in thi
wonderful age ofinvention, the means 0
transporting, without injury. from clim
to cline. the most delicate flowers, fruits
: and vegetables. Do. my dear sir, max
an appeal to your learned friends to he'll
in the discoveries of such means and yoI
and they will have we'll merited from you