Annual report

♦•

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

CITY OF BOSTON.

PBESENTED NOVEMBER 10, 1859.

BOSTON:
GEO. C. RAND & AVERY, CITY PRINTERS,

No. 3, Corn HILL.

1859.

City Document. — No. 66.

SEYENTH ANNUAL EEPOET

OF THE

TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

OF TUE

CITY OF BOSTON.

PBESENTED NOVEMBER 10, 1859.

Li Board of Aldermen, Nov. 10, 1859.
Referred to the Committee on the Library, and eight hun-
dred copies ordered to be printed. Sent down for concurrence.

SILAS PEIRCE, Chairman,

hi Common Council, Nov. 10, 1859.
Concurred.

J. r. BRADLEE, President

CITY OF BOSTON

Public Libeaey, 10th Nov., 1859.
His Honor Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr., Mayor of the City of
Bosto7i : —
Sir, — I have the honor to transmit to you, herewith, the
Seventh Annual Report of the Trustees of the Public Library,
prepared in obedience to the fourth section of the Ordinance
of the 14th of October, 1852, providing for the establishment
and regulation of the Public Library.

Yery Respectfully,

Your Obedient Servant,

CHARLES C. JEWETT,

Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT

TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

In obedience to tlie Fourth Section of the Ordinance of the
14th of October, 1852, providing for the establishment and
regulation of the Public Library, the Trustees ask leave to
submit to the City Council their seventh Annual

REPORT.

The .ordinance referred to directs that a Committee shall
be annually appointed by the Trustees, consisting of five citi-
zens at large, with a member of the Board to act as chair-
man, who shall be invited to examine the Library, and make
report of its condition. The members of this Committee for
the present year are Rev. Dr. Edward N. Kirk, Abbott Law-
rence, Esq., Charles James Sprague, Esq., Hon. C. H. Warren,
and Jos. M. Wightman, Esq. ; George Ticknor, Esq., on behalf
of the Trustees acting as chairman. The Report of the Exam-
ining Committee is herewith annexed, marked A, and the Trus-
tees feel bound gratefully to acknowledge the assiduity and
patience of the gentlemen composing it, and the interest mani-
fested by them in the welfare of the Library. "The Commit-
tee of Examination may to some extent be regarded as a
supervising body, by which the community at large, repre-
sented by five distinguished citizens from the various pro-
fessions and callings, becomes acquainted with the condition
and operation of the Institution by personal inspection.
View<3d iu this light, the Trustees consider the Examining

6 CITY DOCUMENT.— No. 66. [Nov.,

Committee as a very important part of the organization of
the Institution. ''

The Library is at present organized under the Ordinance
of the 14th of October, 1852, and the supplementary ordi-
nance of the 2d January, 1858, which was enacted at the
instance of the Trustees, to meet the wants of the Institution,
after its transfer to the new building from the temporary
premises in Mason street. To attain this object, some changes
were required in the original ordinance, and some correspond-
ing supplementary provisions. The two ordinances together
furnish in practice, in most respects, an adequate rule for the
management of the Institution ; but the Trustees are of opin-
ion that they should be consolidated into one statute, and
that some further provision should be made for the eflGcient
administration of the Library. The views of the Trustees in
this respect, will form the subject of a separate communica-
tion to the City Council.

It will be recollected that the new building was publicly
dedicated on the 1st of January, 1858. Although the utmost
diligence was employed beforehand, to prepare the books for
use as soon as possible after the removal, it was not found
practicable to open the Library to the public till nearly the
close of the year. The Reading Room was opened on the 17th
of September, and the Catalogue of the books in the lower
room having been completed and published, they began to
circulate on the 20th of December. The report of the Ex-
amining Committee presents a very striking statement of the
number of volumes borrowed and returned in the ten months
which have since elapsed. If all the volumes in the Lower
Hall had been equally used, each one would have been bor-
rowed nearly twelve times in the course of the year.

The great work of the Institution the past year, besides
carrying on its regular operations in the circulation of books,
and in the Reading Room, has been the preparation of the
Catalogue of the books in the Upper Hall, amounting to

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 7

about sixty thousand volumes. The nature of this operation
is sufficiently explained in the Reports of the Examining Com-
mittee and the Superintendent; but fully to understand its
magnitude and difficulty, it will be necessary, after carefully
examining the printed Catalogue of the lower room, a volume
of above two hundred pages of fine print of the most difficult
kind, to reflect that the printed Catalogue of the books in the
Upper Hall will be three or four times as large. The utmost
diligence has been employed in forwarding the work, and it
will very shortly- go to press; — but several months must
necessarily elapse before the printing can be completed.

The Trustees deem it unnecessary, with reference to the
condition and management of the Library, and the important
facts in its history the past year, to do more than refer to the
Report of the Examining Committee already alluded to, and
that of the Superintendent herewith submitted and marked
B, to which they invite the special attention of the City
Council.

The growth of the Library the past year has exceeded the
expectations of the Trustees for its average annual increase,
which they have in former reports calculated at five or six
thousand volumes. It amounts the past year to 7,192 vol-
umes and 1,317 pamphlets, of which 3,405 volumes and all the
pamphlets have been presented to the Institution by a large
number of liberal benefactors, whose names are recorded in
the Appendix to this report. Of the volumes presented,
nearly fourteen hundred are due to the liberality of Mr. Bates,
over and above those purchased from the interest of the per-
manent fund established by him. The Trustees would deem
their annual report imperfect, if they failed to renew their
acknowledgments, and they confidently add, those of the City
Council, for the continued munificence of the greatest benefac-
tor of the Institution.

Nor ought they to omit to mention that in the course of
the year, the interest of the liberal bequest of the late honored

8 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. GG. [Nov.,

and lamented Abbott Lawrence has begnn to accrue to the
Institution, and will form henceforward an important addition
to its permanent resources.

For a due notice and acknowledgment of the various dona-
tions of special interest, which have been made to the Library
since the last annual report, the Trustees would respectfully
refer to the Report of the Superintendent. It may be proper
to state, on this subject, that for all donations of single books,
or of a few volumes, an engraved form oC acknowledgment,
with the blanks properly filled, signed by the President and
countersigned by the Librarian, is immediately returned. In
the case of large and more valuable donations, a special vote
of thanks passed by the Trustees is transmitted by the Pres-
ident.

In contemplating the general condition of the Listitution,
the Trustees feel authorized in stating that the Library is
now, with one or two exceptions presently to be named, in as
good a condition as the nature of things admits. The books
are conveniently arranged, as far as possible according to
their subjects. The catalogues, with their almost numberless
cross references, which make them not merely a list of books,
but to some extent an index of science and literature, are
made up and ready for use. The arrangements for the circu-
lation of books are systematic and efficient. The persons
employed in the Library have, by experience and practice, be-
come eminently skilful in the pcrformancu of their duties.
The number of books borrowed has been much greater than
heretofore, and the injury and loss proportionably less. The
amount of periodicals supplied in the Reading Room, and the
very free access to them, give to this Institution great promi-
nence among those of similar character; while the works of
reference, placed at one end of that apartment, are calculated
materially to promote the objects of those who resort to it.

It would be unjust to those to whose immediate care the
Library is entrusted, not to ascribe the excellence of its con-

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 9

dition, and the success with which it is carried on, to the dis-
tinguished literary attainments, executive ability, and personal
assiduity of the Superintendent, and the unwearied diligence
and exemplary fidelity of the Librarian and his assistants.
The Trustees are convinced that there is no similar institu-
tion in the country, and they think they might add, in the
world, which is open so many days in the year, and so many
hours of the day, and of which so large a portion of the com-
munity enjoy the free use on such easy terms.

Having felt themselves authorized to make these satisfac-
tory but unexaggerated statements, the Trustees feel that
they may safely make the City Council acquainted with one
or two objects of importance, for which it is necessary that
some extra provision should be made. The first of these is
the binding of that portion of the Specification of Patents,
the munificent gift of the British Government, which remains
unbound. The Trustees forbear to repeat the statements of
the Examining Committee and the Superintendent as to the
importance of this work, of which the copy in the Public
Library is one of four or five in this country, and the only set
in New England. By the terms of the donation, it is required
that these volumes " should be open to the inspection of the
public daily at all reasonable hours." It is obvious that vol-
umes of this kind, containing a great number of valuable
engravings, cannot be conveniently or safely open to the public,
unless they are bound ; and the nature of the work requires
that the binding should be peculiarly durable and substantial.
Such a binding, the Trustees have ascertained, cannot be put
upon the volumes which remain unbound under Two thousand
dollars, and they respectfully solicit an appropriation to that
amount.

When the new Library building was transferred from the
Building Commissioners to the Trustees, on the 1st of Janu-
ary, 1858, in the large hall only the lower range of alcoves
was shelved, it being supposed that this would afford sufiicient
2

10 CITY DOCUMENT.— No. G6. [Nov.,

slielf-room for the present. The number of books however
has increased so rapidly, that unless all regard to systematic
arrangement is sacrificed, it is absolutely necessary to provide
further shelf-room without delay. The Trustees already,
from the funds appropriated for the current expenses of the
Library, have been obliged to divert a large sum for shelving,
that was absolutely necessary. This has compelled them to
restrict themselves in other departments, which have accord-
ingly suflered ; and large numbers of volumes still lie on the
floors, for want of shelves for their permanent deposit. The
Trustees would therefore earnestly recommend that the shelv-
ing of the second range of alcoves should be completed at
once, and for this purpose they ask a further special appro-
priation.

There is a class of large works, principally of engravings,
whose size prevents their going upon shelves ; and for the
accommodation of volumes of this kind, Cabinets specially
constructed for the purpose are wanted. Two such cabinets
have been procured by the Trustees, from the funds at their
disposal, but here they have been obliged, for want of means,
to stop. One such cabinet ought to be procured for each
alcove of the lower range, and for this purpose the Trustees
respectfully request that provision may be made. They have
reason to think that the sum of Five thousand dollars will be
sufficient for the shelves and the cabinets, making, with two
thousand dollars for the binding, a gross sum of Seven thou-
sand dollars.

The Trustees are aware that the expenditure for the
Library will seem large, but they trust the City Council will
consider the extent of the Institution, the number of persons
necessarily employed, the amount of service rendered, and of
work done. The Library is at present an ornament and a
blessing to the community. The Trustees desire only that it
may continue to deserve that character; that it may grow
with the wants of the city ; that it may be a place where the

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 11

intellig:ent masses of the community may find good books,
which they cannot afford to buy; ar^d where all those who
have received the advantage of our excellent free schools,
may carry on the great work of education, by access to the
stores of useful knowledge contained in the Library.

In conclusion the Trustees beg leave to add, that their per-
sonal attention has continued to be given to the concerns of
the Institution. The stated meetings of the Board as here-
tofore have been held twice in each month, and extra meetings
when required. It is believed that there has been no day in
the course of the year, on which some one of the Board, and
generally more than one, has not visited the Library, under a
standing regulation.

All which is respectfully submitted by

EDWARD EVERETT,
GEORGE TICKNOR,
JOHN P. BIGELOW,
NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEFF,
WILLIAM W. GREENOUGH,
GEORGE DENNIE,
PHILIP H. SEARS.

Public Library, 8th Nov., 1859.

12 CITY DOCUMENT.— No. 66. [Nov.,

[A]

KEPORT OF THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE.

The Examining Committee, appointed in obedience to tlic
seventh section of an ordinance in relation to a Public Library,
dated Oct. the 15th, 1852, rcspcctrully

REPORT:

That they have examined the Library, as nearly as circum-
stances would permit, in the same manner in which it has been
examined by the Committees to wiiom the same duty has here-
tofore been assigned, both because that mode of examination
has been found by experience to be thorough and satisfactory,
and because, by following substantially the same course, a
comparison can easily be made between the results of suc-
cessive years, thus enabling any one to understand not only
the actual condition of the Library, but its progress, aud tlie
changes it has undergone or may need.

Observing this method, your Committee have examined,
L The Eooks, since the first and most important duty of
a library is to collect books. The number added to the Pub-
lic Library since the last annual report, appears, from the
Accession's Catalogue, to have been 7,192 volumes, and 1,317
tracts. Of this number, 3,405 volumes, and all the tracts
have been given by 252 public-spirited individuals; and 3,787
volumes have been purchased; — noting, however, that much
the greater part of the books j^urchascd, have been bought
from the income of funds liberally given by Joshua Bates,
Esq., of London, the Hon. Jonathan Phillips, and Hon. John
P. Bi-Tclow, of our own city; and that, of the books given,

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 13

Mr. Bates has sent us 1,392 very valuable volumes over and
above the many which have been purchased from the income
of his munificent fund. Adding these to the number of books
and tracts reported to be in the Library at the last examina-
tion, there are now in its possession 78,043 volumes of books,
and 19,255 tracts. The character of these books, as a collec-
tion, your Committee feel bound to state, is very high; and
they wish to add that they look upon it as not a little remark-
able, that a Library hardly seven years old, should be so large,
rich, and important.

The books in the lower hall, many of which have been in
circulation from the first opening of the Institution, bear marks
of the honorable service they have rendered. A few seem to
have been injured wantonly or thoughtlessly, by writing in
them or otherwise. One hundred and thirty-four are completely
worn out, and one hundred and thirty are missing. Of these
last, some, as in former years, will no doubt be returned, but
the greater part are probably irrecoverably lost. The Commit-
tee learn, however, with much satisfaction, that the missing
books are almost all books of very trifling cost; that all
of them can be replaced by the proceeds of the fines col-
lected on books kept beyond the time limited by the regula-
tions of the Institution ; and that it is not at all likely that
any one of them was taken for its pecuniary value, but that
they have in general been lost by the removal of families
from the city; by the death of the persons who had bor-
rowed them ; or from some of the many changes, accidents
and calamities of life incident to more or less of the thou-
sands who have resorted to the Library. Still, some of them
have, no doubt, been lost from carelessness or a more unwoi-thy
cause. But they must be few. Wc regret that there should
be any such ; and we hope that the good principles of our
fellow-citizens, and their sense of honorable responsibility,
when availing themselves of a privilege so great, will make
them hereafter more careful and faithful.

14 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. G6. [Nov.,

In general, the books throughout tlic Library arc bound in
a manner suited to tlieir respective characters and purposes.
The very large donations of Mr. Bates, constituting not only
the greater part of the Library in the number of its volumes,
but by far the greater part of its value, are in excellent bind-
ings;— not a few arc in bindings rich, solid, and magnificent.
Most of the remainder are in a good and becoming condition.
But in some cases, for want of funds, the books are not prop-
erly cared for; and, in one case at least, the Committee think
that, for the credit of the Library and of the City, a remedy
should be early applied. The case to which they refer, is that
of the very important and precious collection of the Specifi-
cations of English Patents, presented to the Library in the
most free and generous manner by the British Patent Com-
missioners. It was procured in 1855, by Joseph Story,
Esq., formerly President of the Common Council of the
city, and one of the Trustees of this Institution, who ob-
tained it by the intervention and influence of Mr. Buchanan,
then Minister of the United States, at London, whose assis-
tance Mr. Story earnestly and successfully invoked for that
purpose. It includes all the specifications in full, with all the
engravings from all the original drawings and plans made to
illustrate every patent granted by the British Government
from 1G17 down to the present day, and regularly kept up and
furnished to us year by year free of charge. Only two hundred
copies of this great work are printed, and each copy already
costs the British Government above ten thousand dollars, to
which every year a large sum must be added for its increase.
It makes, or will make — when all the Specifications we now
have are bound — about 4.00 volumes of text in large 8vo,
and about 325 volumes in large folio, containing, in all, above
30,000 engravings, — the whole so fitted with twenty- three
volumes of remarkable indexes as to be easily used. It is one
of the most extraordinary and liberal undertakings of any
a^e to advance knowledge and to difl'use it throughout the

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRAEY. 15

world. In what relates to the mechanical arts, it is, we
believe, the most remarkable ever attempted through the press.
The copy in the Public Library of Boston, is the only one in
New England, and is likely to remain such. The demand for
consulting it, by inventors, machinists and persons interested
in our manufactures, is already very great, and is fast increas-
ing. It is one of the most valuable and useful books in the
Library; — it is by far the most costh', although it costs us
nothing. But, about 200 volumes in 8vo and 200 volumes in
folio still remain to be bound, and cannot well be consulted
and used until they are bound. From the manner in which
they were published, this portion of them could not be bound
until within a few months past. But now the series is com-
plete; and, both for the preservation from injury of so valu-
able a gift, and to render its contents useful to the multitude
of persons interested in the mechanic arts, and in patent
inventions, who desire to consult it, it ouglit to be bound
without delay. This, however, is not a small matter. It is
necessary that the engravings yet unbound, and which are sup-
posed to be not less than 14,000, should, like the 16,000 or
more already bound, be pasted on muslin, to prevent them from
being torn and ruined by their use in consulting them. This,
we understand, will cost two thousand dollars. But we feel
sure that the money will be well spent for an object so impor-
tant and of such general interest. Indeed, there is no reason
why it has not already been undertaken, except the want of
funds. We do not doubt, however, that when the subject is
p;operly considered, the needful means will be supplied.*

II. Next in importance to the books in a large Public
Library, come the Catalogues, without which the books, how-
ever valuable in themselves, are little better than a chaos
which only becomes more unmanageable and more unintelligi-

*See the Superintendent's interesting report on this subject, published as a part of the
Annual Keport of tae Trustees of tbe Public Library for ls08; — from vhicli many of the
facts in the above staiemcnt are taken.

16 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. G6. [Nov.,

blc, as the collection grows larger and larger. The Commit-
tee have, therefore, great satisfaction in stating that the Cat-
alogues of this Institution arc ample, sufficient, and well
adjusted to their respective purposes, so that any person may
easily learn from them, whether the Library can offer him
anything suited to his particular wants. They consist of, —
1st, The Accessions^ Cato/ogwe, which contains the short title of
each book, its condition as to binding, and all other informa-
tion required in relation to it, as soon as it is received; and
so, from its facts and dates, becomes a history of the whole
collection of books in the Library ; — 2d, The Card Catalogue,
whicli, on above an hundred thousand cards, contains the full
title of every book and every bound tract in the Library; the
cross-references under which each may be asked for, and the
needed distributions by subjects, — all alphabetically arranged
so as to make the contents of the Library easily accessible
and intelligible to anybody who wishes to use it; — and 3d,
The SheJf Catalogue, which gives the running title of every
book as it stands on its shelf with other kindred works, so
that this catalogue serves the double purpose of showing in
an instant whether any book is missing, and what are the
other books in the Library on the same subject. These are
the three great Catalogues of the Library, and your Committee
are happy to be able to add that they are all well kept up to
the present time, — a circumstance very important, both for
the daily usefulness of the Library, and for its future success,
but one very rare in similar institutions, whether in this coun-
try or in Europe.

The most important of these three Catalogues, to those
who use the Library, is the Card Catalogue. It is the key
which unlocks all its treasures, and exposes and explains them
freely to the public. It is, of course, too large to be published
entire ; but a part of it, or an index to a part of it, containing
the titles of about 15,000 of the volumes most needed for fre-
quent popular use, was published in December, 1858, and two

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 17

supplements, containing the titles of above 1,550 Tolmncs
more, chiefly new publications well litted to the general wants,
have been prepared and printed since, bringing down the con-
dition of this part of the Library, to October 20, 1859. This
printed Index, or Catalogue, has been entirely successful in its
purposes, and has caused the part of the Library that it repre-
sents, to be, as your Committee believe, more used than any
similar collection of books, under the same conditions, was
ever used before in any country. They are therefore grati-
fied to learn that a similar Index or Catalogue, throwing open
to the public the remaining treasures of the Library, consisting
of about 60,000 volumes in the Upper Hall, is already quite
prepared, and will be published with as little delay as is con-
sistent with the exactness necessary in carrying such a work
through the press.

III. The Building, which is to protect these treasures,
and to render them easily and pleasantly accessible to our
citizens and their families, is a monument to the liberality of
the City Government, and a most gratifying proof of their
earnestness in the cause of education. But notwithstanding
its great cost, it was not entirely finished nor sufficiently fur-
nished, when it was delivered into the hands of the Trustees,
on the first of January, 1858. On the contrary, it appears
that, with limited means, the Trustees have been compelled
to expend in finishing and furnishing the building, since
that time, the further sum of $4,952.85. And even now, your
Committee have seen that it is not finished nor furnished as it
should be. Above a thousand volumes, mostly donations, and
constantly and rapidly increasing in numbers, are lying on the
floor for want of suitable shelving; — above an hundred very
large volumes of costly engravings, nearly or quite a'l given
by Mr, Bates, are lying in the same exposed position, for
want of a dozen cabinets in which to protect and preserve
them for use, as a few are already protected and preserved in
the only two or three cabinets that the Trustees could pay
3

18 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 66. [Nov.,

for; — au outside door is wanted to remedy a defect in the
original construction of the building; — and additional cases
are Avanted to contain a large portion of the card catalogue,
and make it as easily useful as a part of it is now made by
its arrangement in its appropriate and excellent case. For
these obvious and urgent wants — some of them, we fear, not
entirely creditable to the Institution itself — no funds, we
understand, are available. But we have no doubt that, when
they are made known, the anxiety of the Trustees, and the
wisdom and liberality of the City Government will not fail to
provide them.

IV. The Administration of the Library : or how it is
opened and administered for the public benefit. This is natu-
rally the last subject of inquiry, but by no means the least in-
teresting or important.

Under the Ordinances of October 15, 1852, and January 2,
1858, the Trustees are made responsible for the general
oversight and control of the Library, while its immediate
management and administration are in the hands of a Super-
intendent and Librarian, and as many assistants as it may from
time to time be found needful to employ. During the past
year, the number of persons in the service of the Librai-y
including the Superintendent and Librarian, has varied from
13 to 21. It is now 21 ; but one of them is an invalid, who
has net for some time been on duty, and one or two others
will, in a few weeks, it is believed, be no longer needed. The
greater part of the force of the Library, when the large
catalogue, now ready for the press, is published, will, it is
supposed, be employed in the circulation of the books from the
Upper Hall, as well as from the lower one.

The collection of books in the Lower Hall, with the Index
that has made their use so easy and pleasant, was opened to
the public on the 20th of December, 1858, and was closed for
examination and cleaning, from October 21, 1859, to Novem-
ber 1. During these ten months the Library was open 254

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 19

days, and 149,468 books were lent from its Lower Hall, mak-
ing an average of 588 and a fraction pc/- diem, or 205 more
daily and 52,070 more in ten months than were ever circulated
before in any similar period of the history of the Library.
As an Institution, therefore, it is becoming more and more
useful and important, and, therefore, gaining more and more
in the general favor and confidence.

Under these circumstances, the Committee of Examination
do not hesitate unanimously and earnestly to urge the Trus-
tees of the Public Library to ask respectfully from the City
Government such an appropriation as will furnish the shelving
needful to afford room for the books now on the floors, and
the many likely soon to be received, for which there is now
no more suitable place ; — and such a further appropriation as
will be needful to add a proper protection against the weather
at the main entrance ; to purchase the cabinets indispensable
for preserving and rendering useful the many valuable and
rich books of engravings in science and the arts, now lying in
piles ; and to bind the unbound part of the collection of Pat-
ent Specifications, and the other books that require it, so that
they may all take their proper position and character in such
an Institution. And the Trustees are respectfully urged to
ask for these appropriations with earnestness, both because
your Committee feel a full assurance that they are reasonable
in amount, and important to the usefulness and prosperity of
the Library, and the credit of the city, and because they do
not doubt that the City Government will cheerfully make
them in the same wise and liberal spirit in which they have
heretofore sustained the Public Library as an Institution im-
portant to the free public education of ourselves and our chil-
dren.

Having thus discharged their most obvious and clear duty,
your Committee do not feel that it is necessary for them to

20 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 66. [Nov.,

go back and add aiiytliiug to the statement of facts which they
have set forth iu the simplest manner they could, and in the
fewest "words. They "will, therefore, only say, iu general
terms, that they have found the Institution, as a part of the
City's property and honor, in good condition ; — giving through-
out satisfactory proof, that those who have had its manage-
ment in their hands dui'ing the past year, have faithfully per-
formed the duties entrusted to them respectively, and that it
is undoubtedly doing much good, and destined to do much
more.

But your Committee deem it needful to say one word on
some changes in the manner in which the Library has been
administered during the last year. From the 20th of Decem-
ber, 1858, when the circulation from the new building began,
the whole Institution has been more freely and trustingly
opened to the public than it ever was before. A much larger
number of such books as are wanted for circulation has been
rendered accessible, and this large number wall be greatly
increased as soon as the new Catalogue to the very rich re-
mainder of the collection shall be published, and the sixty
thousand books in it opened for use. The number of holidays
has been diminished to Sundays and the five holidays pre-
scribed by law. The time employed in the annual examina-
tion, has, from the greater force in the service of the Institu-
tion, and the better and freer room for their work, been re-
duced from a fortnight to ten or eleven days. The time dur-
ing which books can be taken out daily has been extended
from seven hours to ten, and the Reading Room, which was
formerly closed at half past nine, p. m., is now open from nine
in the morning to ten at.night.

It is believed that no similar institution in any equally large
city of the world is so freely and confidingly open to the peo-
ple. It only remains to be seen how the people will use the

1859.]

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

21

great means for intellectual, moral, and religions improvement
which are thus put into tlieir hands. Your Committee are
among those who fully believe that these and all similar
means will be used wisely and well by the citizens of Boston.

GEO. TICKNOR,
EDW. N. KIRK,
ABBOTT LAWRENCE,
CHAS. J. SFRAGUE,
C. H. WARREN,
JOSEPH M. WIGHTMAN,

Public Library, 4th Nov., 1859,

. Committee of
f Examination.

CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 6G. [Nov.,

[B]

SUPERINTEXDEXT'S KEPORT.

To THE Trustees of the Public Library op the City op

BOSTOX.

Gentlemen: — B\' the third article of the second chapter
of the By-Laws relative to the Trustees and Officers of the
Public Library, it is made the duty of the Superintendent to
present annually '' to the Trustees, in writing, a detailed re-
port of whatever may relate to the condition and increase of
the whole establishment, and of whatever, in his judgment,
may extend its usefulness, and render it more prosperous and
efficient." In compliance with this requirement, I have the
honor to present to you the following

REPORT

for the year ending the first of November, 1859.

During the year, 7,192 books and 1,317 pamphlets have
been added to the Library.

Of these, 3,787 books have been purchased with the pro-
ceeds of the invested funds and appropriations of the City
Government, and 3,405 books and 1,317 pamphlets have been
presented.

If we add the accessions of the present year to the aggre-
gates of the last report, we find the Library to contain, at
this time, 78,043 books and 19,255 pamphlets.

These seventy-eight thousand and forty-three volumes are
distributed in the building as follows: 15,819 books of popu-
lar character, suitable for the widest circulation, are in the
Lower Hall, and in constant use ; 60,420 books, which it is

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 23

supposed will be in less frequent demand than the others, arc
in the Upper Hall; and 1,804 duplicates arc placed upon the
gallery, awaiting the action of the Trustees. These dupli-
cates comprise several hundred books, of which, when they
were first published, a large number of copies were required.
The demand having ceased, it was thought undesirable to en-
cumber with them the shelves of the Lower Hall. Among
them, also, are several hundred volumes of recent Congress-
ional publications. The remainder are almost entirely dona-
tions.

The number of volumes upon the shelves of the Lower
Hall was ascertained by counting them. The aggregate of
books in the whole Library has been obtained by adding the
accessions of each year to the numbers reported the previous
year. It is to be expected, therefore, that the total number
of volumes now reported will be somewhat varied when the
books in the Upper Hall are counted upon the shelves.
There has not been time to make the enumeration since com-
pleting the arrangement of the books. The principal source
of variation is in the Ijinding of books in a different number
of volumes from that originally reported. It is almost im-
possible to note these changes as they occur. There are also
other sources of variation. It is only necessary, however, to
allude to them in this place, in explanation of apparent but
unimportant discrepancies.

It was not expected that the donations of this year would
be as numerous as those of the last, during which a large por-
tion of Mr. Bates's donation and the whole of the Bowditch
Library were received. But the gifts reported at the present
time, a list of which is appended to this report, will be found
to be both extensive and important.

The continued and generous interest of Mr. Bates has been
evinced by the gift of 1,392 volumes, besides those procured
by the proceeds of his fund.

Among the presents of Mr. Bates, this year, is a collection

24 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. G6. [Nov.,

of about 500 works relating to the liistorv, science, and art
of music, forming a library in this department, of which any
institution in the world might be proud. It was procured
' through the intelligent and zealous intervention of a citizen of
Boston, Mr. A. W. Thayer, whose name deserves to be held
in grateful remembrance by the cultivators of this delightful
art in our city. The basis of the collection was the Library
of the late M. de Koudelka, which was advertised to be sold
by auction at Berlin in January last, and of which it was well
said in the advertisement, "Any one knowing the extreme
rarity of books of music, particularly of the 15th and IGth
centuries, will be surprised at the richness of this collection.

" Tiie zeal of a learned amateur, aided by the most favora-
ble opportunities, served to bring together, in the space of
forty years, this choice collection of books, among which the
late Mr. Dehn, the profound connoisseur in musical literature,
discovered several which were before unknown to him."' To
tlie Koudelka Library, Mr. Thayer added more than one hun-
dred volumes, to render the department more complete.

The collection contains most of the early printed musical
works of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, some of which
have become extremely rare. It has, besides these, many
later works of noted excellence. In connection with it should
be mentioned 28 quarto volumes of manuscript music selected
and copied by Prof. S. W. Dehn, late Custos of the musical
collection of the Royal Liljrary of Berlin.

This selection was made for the Library at Mr. Bates's
request, under the direction of Mr. Ticknor, from the best
published and unpublished musical compositions of the IGth,
ITtli, and 18th centuries, in the Royal Library of Berlin. It
was one of the last and one of the best works of an accom-
plished and lamented connoisseur.

The introduction of music as a branch of study in the
public schools of the city, and the growing taste of the com-
munity for the higher exhibitions of the art, render the acqui-

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 25

sition of materials so ample for its most extensive and
scientific pursuit, a subject for public congratulation.

During tlic 3'ear, the publication of the English Patents
under the old law, — previous to Oct., 1852, — has been com- '
pleted, and the whole set has been presented by the British
Patent Commissioners. It is not necessary here to repeat
what was said in the last report respecting the great value of
this work. It has already been in much request. But its
utility will be greatly increased, when the whole series shall
be bound. It has not thus far been possible to incur the ex-
pense of binding. Indeed, the last portion of the Specifica-
tions was not received till the month of August. I beg leave,
however, to call attention to the importance of making this
valuable gift as easy of reference as possible, and to this end
of asking from the City Government an appropriation of two
thousand dollars for binding it in a suitable and convenient
manner, and an additional appropriation of four hundred dol-
lars for the shelves and cabinets necessary for its preservation.

I append to this report the ofiicial letter of presentation
of the work. It will show the generous confidence of the
donors, and the nature of the obligation incurred by accepting
the gift.

The presents, — by the Duke of Devonshire of an elegant
copy of the engraved fac-simile of the first edition of Hamlet,
and by the Count of Syracuse, uncle of the present king of
Naples, of one of his own elegant and valuable publications, —
are Intrinsically important, and deserving of special mention
as indicative of the interest felt in this enterprise of the peo-
ple by enlightened and distinguished men in other lands.
The former work was procured through the kind offices of
Mr. Parker and Mr. J. Payne Collier, the latter through the
ol)liging intervention of Mr. Bcudclari.

The money subscribed for the Library by the marslials at
the dedication of the building, lias been invested in a superb
work, illustrative of the Coronation of George the Fourth.
4

26 CITY DOCUMENT.— No. GG. [Nov.,

This is one of the most sumptuous and elegant books ever
published. It derives a great value from the fact that all its
figures are portraits. It is in truth a gallery of accurate
miniatures of personages whose names are associated with
the most exciting events of modern times.

Dr. Stanislaus Hcrnisz has presented to the Library a col-
lection of 34-7 Chinese books, comprising valuable historical
and literary works, and including a copy of the large Impe-
rial Dictionary.

Besides the loolcs which have been presented, the Library
has, through tlic liberality of several gentlemen of the city,
been made the place of deposit of a valuable painting by
Copley, representing Charles the First demanding the five im-
peached members of the House of Commons. This cele-
brated picture will find its most appropriate resting place in
the city which gave birth to its distinguished author. During
the short time it has been in the Library, it has at-
tracted much attention, and it will ever be considered an
ornament to the city, valuable as a work of art, and from its
association with events of great moment to the early progress
of this Commonwealth.

At the date of my last report, the Reading Room had been
opened to the public, the registration of names for the use of
the Library had been commenced, the organization of the de-
partment of popular books for general circulation had been
nearly completed, and the Index to the Lower Hall was in
press. On the 20th of December, 1858, all arrangements
having been finished, the lower Library was offered for gen-
eral circulation. No reservations were made, except with
respect to the medical works, the use of which was restricted
to professional readers. We have not to-day a full year's
experience to report. But the result of the ten months is
highly gratifying and encouraging. It is not enough to say
that the Library has met the expectations of tlie most san-
guine. No one, probably, not even the most hopeful, had

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 27

supposed that the privileges of the Institution would be so
eagerly sought and so widely diffused as they have been. The
statistics are surely remarkable, and will tell their own tale
in support of the popularity of this enterprise. The full
measure of its usefulness, like that of the kindred enterprise
of free schools, can only be estimated by one who, genera-
tions hence, shall trace the history of our civilization.

During the year, ten thousand one hundred and fifty-four
persons have registered their names to secure the privileges
of the Library. During the fifteen months since the opening
of the books in this building, the number of new subscriptions
has been thirteen thousand three hundred and twenty-nine-
it will be remembered that the former books of registration
were then closed, and a new record commenced.

The circulation of books, during the ten months just ended,
reached the extraordinary number of one hundred and forty-
nine thousand four hundred and sixty-eight, being on an aver-
age 588J books for every library day. The largest number
taken out in any one day was 1,335, or more than two a
minute during the ten hours of service.

This is equivalent to a circulation of more than 170,000 a
year, which, for a library of 15,000 volumes, is equal to the
loan of every book on an average nearly twelve times a
year, or once a month.

It was of course to be expected that the number of books
actually taken from the shelves, would be but a part, and a
small part, of those asked for, owing to the fact that several
persons often seek the same book at the same time. It is
impossible to meet, in such a Library as this, the whole de-"
mand for current and popular works. This will appear mani-
fest from tlie statement, that in some of the larger circulating
libraries of London, five hundred, one thousand, and even in
some cases twenty-five hundred copies of novels, or very pop-
ular books are purchased and arc found necessary for the
supply of readers. To attempt to meet the whole demand

28 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. GQ. [Nov.,

for such books would be preposterous, and would defeat one
of the cliief purposes of this Institution. The whole of the
funds would be expended, year by year, in purchasing numer-
ous copies of some dozen different books, easily obtained
elsewhere, while the great object of the Library to furnish a
large variety of works of practical value, most of which are
not to be found in our circulating libraries or book stores, —
for example, the books of use in some particular trade, which
twenty mechanics may Avish to consult in the course of a
year, — the works on history, which perhaps fifty young men
thirsting for knowledge would otherwise seek in vain, could
not be purchased. It may be, that in progress of time, this
Institution will become the parent of a circle of district
libraries scattered about the city, each with separate re-
sources, and exchanging occasionally their books. We can-
not perhaps yet fully foresee the range of benefits which this
first central experiment may draw after it for the community.
It may perhaps, by means of branch libraries, or otherwise,
at some time, be practicable to increase the popularity and
usefulness of the Institution, in the direction indicated to an
extent now impossible.

I should be happy to present a statement of the classes to
which the books circulated belong. It has been impossible to
make the examination with respect to all. When it is
remembered that for nearly every book taken from the
Library two entries must be made in the record, — one for
discharging the book returned, and another for charging the
one received — and that during some days these entries in the
record average more than three a minute for the whole ten
hours, it will be apparent that no time can be spared for no-
ticing the character of each book, as it passes through the
hands of the assistants.

In order to facilitate the operations of the distributing de-
partment, both to the public and to the officers in charge, the
mode of keeping the accounts is l)y recording the number of

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 29

the slielf upon which the book stands and the order of the
book upon the shelf, and not the title. This method renders
it difficult, though not impossible, to ascertain from the record
the character of the circulation. The books are arranged ac-
cording to subjects, the shelves therefore indicate to those
acquainted with the system of classification, the subject to
which the books placed upon them relate. But the process
of examination is laborious. In the midst of the engrossing
duties of the ten days, during which the Library was closed, it
was not possible to pursue such an inquiry very far.

I am, however, happy to say in general terms, that the
investigations and estimates which I was able to make, pro-
duced results which were, in comparison with those published
respecting other libraries of a similar character, highly satis-
factory. They exhibit a larger demand for works of solid
merit in history, sciences, the arts, biography and travels,
than the returns of any other miscellaneous library with which
I am acquainted. It may be safely stated, also, that the class
of light works is represented in this Library by the better
specimens only, — all which are thought to be of evil tendency
being rigidly excluded.

It is gratifying to be able to state, that from the first open-
ing of the doors to the p^iblic, till the time of closing them
for the annual examination, the whole business of the Library
proceeded with great regularity and order. Through the ever
active and laborious exertions of Mr. Capen, the Librarian, of
Mr. Bedlington, and the other assistants, the whole of this
immense circulation has been conducted with such prompt-
ness, courtesy and care, that no complaints have reached me
of inattention or impatience, while the property of the Insti-
tution has been guarded with unceasing watchfulness. I am
well aware that the highest praise for this result belongs to
the visitors of the Library — the people of Boston — who
have shown so enlightened an appreciation of this fountain of
knowledge, created and sustained for their free enjoyment.
But it should not be allowed to pass unnoticed, that weari-

30 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 66. [Nov.,

some duties, — not for a few hours each day, but for ten and
twelve hours, day after day, without respite, — have been per-
formed with uniform cheerfulness, zeal and success.

It is a subject, too, upon which any citizen of Boston may
be allowed to dwell with satisfaction, that this good order has
not been coerced. No force whatever has been required
to secure it. The majority of the pcrsous employed in the ser-
vice of the Library are females. They have attended constant-
ly in the Reading Room and in the Distributing Room wait-
ing upon the public, and have never, in a single instance, been
obliged to complain of rudeness or of unbecoming conduct on
the part of the frequenters of a l:)uilding thrown open with-
out restriction or other defence, to the whole population.

The whole number of books missing from their places at
this date is 130. Some of these will undoubtedly be found.
I cannot but regard this as a very small percentage of loss,
w^hen we remember that the circulation was 150,000. The
losses are for the most part the result of accident, and the
sickness of those who borrowed the books. The fines for the
detention of books beyond the time allowed by the rules,
which are usually paid readily and without murmur, would
far more than replace the missing volumes. This favorable
result has been secured by frequent«xaminations of the record,
proposed in my last report, and laboriously performed by Mr.
Bedlington.

Every case of delinquency has been immediately noted.
After a week's delay in returning the book, a demand for it
has been sent to the borrower, and the case reported to the
Trustees. In this manner losses have been prevented.

Another topic to which I must allude in this connection is
the injury of books. It will not be thought strange that so
great a circulation should be attended with considerable wear
and damage — that some volumes should be quite worn out
or badly defaced, particularly those which go mostly into the
liands of children. The number of books condemned during
the year as no longer lit for use is only 134. But a much

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 31

larger number arc soiled and dilapidated. I wish I conld
add, that no instance had occurred of wanton defacement.
Such cases are indeed few, but the vulgar practice of writing
upon blank leaves and margins is yet, I regret to say, not en-
tirely discontinued.

It may, perhaps, be thought worthy of mention, as one item
of the work which so large a circulation of books imposes,
that upon an average more than fifty volumes a day are re-
quired to be covered anew. This is equivalent to placing new
covers upon all the books in the Lower Hall once a year.

The Reading Room of periodicals has been open daily
from 9 o'clock in the morning to 10 o'clock at night. Its
tables are supplied with 140 of the best journals of the
world. It has liad visitors at all hours of the day. More
than 200 books for general reference, sucli as encyclopedias,
dictionaries, gazetteers, &c., are placed in this room, where
they can be consulted without applying to an attendant. The
room is used, not only for reading the periodicals, but for the
reading and study of books borrowed from the Library, and
is much resorted to for that purpose. Not unfrequcntly half
of its hundred chairs have been occupied at tlie same time.
If this were the only benefit of the Institution, instead of one
among many, the influence upon the intellectual and moral
condition of the city would be worth all it has cost.

A Library so public as this, is not only in accordance with
the spirit of our free institutions, it is one of tlie noblest ex-
emplifications of their tendencies, and among the brightest
pledges of their perpetuity. It is a gospel of mental culture
to the poor, and of that universal enlightenment, wliich is
one of the conditions of existence for rational liberty.
Within these halls, the poorest boy in Boston, if he have but
the native gifts and the resolution, may make himself the peer
of those most illustrious for learning and usefulness, and that
too, with the use only of what belongs to him. No fear of
intrusion need abridge the hours of study — no feeling that
he is the recipient of patronage, oppress his manhood. This
Library is the property of the people, and for the use of the
people.

32 CITY DOCUMENT.— No. GG. [Nov.,

The greatest benefactor of the Institution lias recorded, as
many others have felt, an early need of such resources. It
"was his desire to provide for like wants on the part of others.
Through the whole progress of this enterprise, it deserves
to be recorded, that this Institution for the whole people has
met constant, active and substantial favor and support, not
simply in gifts, but in zealous labors for its establishment,
from that class of our fellow citizens, who being abundantly
able to procure for themselves and their families all the books
they need, lacked all mere selfish motives for founding a Li-
brary like this.

It was stated in the last report that after the completion of
the Index to the Lower Hall, several months would be required
for tlie organization of the books in the Upper Hall, and the
prepar£ttion of the Index for the press. Every exertion has
been made to meet the public desire for the speedy consum-
mation of the work. I am happy to announce that the Index
is now nearly ready for the press, and that it will be urged
forward with all the haste consistent with its suitable execu-
tion. A multitude of disconnected sentences in numerous
languages, millions of figures, scores of thousands of names,
offer impediments to printers, proof readers and supervisors,
which only those who have been engaged in similar labors
can fully understand.

The organization of the whole Library may now be said to
be complete. The books have been arranged upon the shelves,
divided and subdivided according to subjects. The Catalogue
of Accessions is brought up to the present day, giving the
history and description of every article belonging to the
establishment. The Shelf Catalogues are finished, showing
to what article every part of every shelf belongs, affording
facilities for keeping everything in i)lace, and for tracing
or replacing whatever may at any time be missing. The Card
Catalogue is made for every book, setting forth its whole title,
and the contents of all collections, and furnished with abun-
dant cross references from every subject. The Index, com-

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 33

prising a brief title of every work, under its author's narae_,
with those cross references wliich are esteemed of most prac-
tical and immediate importance, will in a few days be put to
press. It only remains, to print this work, and to place upo nthe
backs of the books the numbers denoting their position, to make
the whole Library completely ready for public use, with as per-
fect an apparatus, (if its execution could be supposed equal to
its plan,) as any library in the world possesses, or as could
reasonably be desired. It is, from the nature of the work,
impossible to fix a day certain for its conclusion. There are
physical and intellectual impediments and uncertainties, which
may protract it in a manner unexpected. I can only promise
for myself, and I feel that I may safely do so for others em-
ployed under my direction, every exertion consistent with its
satisfactory execution, to hasten the desired result. I have
before borne testimony to the zeal and fidelity of those who
have aided me, and I beg leave to repeat it here. No effort
or labor has been spared on their part to promote the progress
of the work.

In connection with this report, I present a statement
of the expenditures during the year. I would here remark
that, in the arrangement of the Library, great difficulty has
been experienced from the want of shelf room. Aware, as I
have been, that the necessary expenses of the Library during
the time of organizing and cataloguing it, are heavy, I have
made every effort to avoid calling for appi-opriations for addi-
tional shelves, but it is incumbent upon me to say here, that
at this moment the due preservation of the property of the
Library, requires an expenditure of several thousand dollars
for shelves and cabinets, for newspapers, books, and large and
valuable collections of engravings. The obligation to provide
for these works is the stronger from the fact that nearly all
of them are donations, most of them by Mr. Bates.

Respectfully submitted,

C. C. JEWETT, Superintendent.

Public Library, lat November, 1859.
5

34

CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 66.

[Nov.,

[APPENDIX.]

BENEFACTORS

OF TIIK

PUBLIC LIBRAEY,

FOR THE YEAR 1858-59.

Bates, Josliua, London, interest,
Bigclow, Hon. John P., " . . .

Phillips, Hon. Jonathan, "...
Lawrence, Hon. Abbott, interest of bequest, -

Josiah Quincj,
David Sears,
Charles F. Adams,
Peter C. Brooks,
Nathaniel I. Bowditch,
Nathaniel Taylor,

$3,000 00

60 00

600 00

- 600 00

Joseph Coolidge,

Frederic Tudor,
Thomas H. Perkins, for himself
and other executors of his
grandfather,
Sara Greene,
Josiah Bradlee,
Amos A. Lawrence.

The historical painting by
John Singleton Copley,
representing Charles the
1st demanding the five im-
peached members of the
House of Commons.

<

1859.]

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

35

Vols.

2 papers,

6 papers.
5 papers.

2

16

1

2

2

2

Adams, Charles Francis, Hon.
Ainer. Antiquarian Society, Worcester,
Amer. Assoc, for the Advancement of Science,
American Insurance Conipanj,
*Amer. Philosophical Society, Philadelphia,
American Tract Society, - . . .
American Unitarian Association,
Amory, Thomas C. - - - - -
Anonymous,
Appleton, William S.
Auerbach, Max.
Bache, A. D., Prof. -
Baker, William E.
Balfour, David M. - - .
Barnard, C. F., Rev.
Batchelder, S.-
Bates, Joshua, of London,
Bates, Joshua, of Boston, -
Bates, S. Henshaw,
Bates, Samuel W. -
Baury, A. L., Rev.
Bendelari, Auguste,
Bigelow, Jacob, M. I).
Bigelow, John P., Hon. -
Blanchard, Charles Lowell,
Boltwood, Lucius M., of Amherst,
Bonney, Pelham, Jr. -
Boston Board of Trade,
Boston City Government,
Boston Dispensary,
Boston Gas Light Company,
Boston Library Society,
Boston Mercantile Library Association,
Boston Soc. for Medical Observation, 119 papers, 6
Boston Young Men's Christian Association, - 1

Bowditch, Henry I., M. D.

1
1392
1
1
4
1
3
2
3
1

4
1
9

2
1

Pamph.
1

3

22

36 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. C6. [Nov.,

Vols. Pampb.

Bowditcli Library Proprietors, - - - 4 6

Bradford, William R. 1

Bradlee, Caleb D., Rev. - - - - 16 2

Bradlee, Samuel, ------ 3

Brcvoort, J. Carson, . . - - 1

Briglit, Jonathan B. ----- 2

Brinley, Francis, Hon. - - - - 1

Brooklyn Mercantile Library Association, - 1
Brooks, Edward, tlirougli his Honor the Mayor,

3 engraviugs of Duplessis' portrait of Franklin.

Burnham, T. 0. H. P. - - - - 5

Canada East, Govt. E. Parent, Secretary, - 3

Canada, Library of Parliament, - - - 1

Canterbury, Second Family of Shakers, - - 1

Chandler, Thomas H. . - . - 71 4

Channing, Walter, M. D. - - - - 1

Channing, W. F., M. D. ... 13

Chicago Historical Society, . - - - 6

Chicago AVater Board, .... 1

Child, Isaac, 1

Christern, F. W. . . - - 1

Cincinnati Young Men's Mercantile Library Assoc. 2

Clark, Fellows, & Co. - . . . 4

Cleveland, City of 1

Coale, William E., M. D. - - - - 1

Coggcshall, W. T., of Columbus, 0. - - 2

Colburu, Charles, 2

Colcord, Samuel M. . .... 1

Comer, George N. 2

Coolidge, J. L T., Rev. 49 127

Copeland, Elislia, 1

Cotting, Julia A. 1

Curtis, Josiah, M. D. 1

Hall, William, 2

Davies, George W. 1

1859.]

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

37

Vols.

Dennet, Charles F., of London, - - - 1
Dennet, William H. . . - - -

Dennie, George, - 2

Derby, George, M. D. . . - - 4

Detroit, Young Men's Society,

Devonshire, Duke of - - - - - 1

Dorr, James A. ------ 1

Duaue, William, .... - 2

Eliot, Samuel A., Hon. 1

Essex Institute, Salem, ....

Everett, Edward, Hon. - . - 9 papers, 46

Everett, William, 1

Farnham, Luther, Rev. 1

Fields, George A. 1

Foley, William J. 10

Fowler & Wells, - - - - 24 papers,

Frothingham, William L. ....

Gannett, E, S., Rev., D. D. - ... 18
Gilman, Daniel C, New Haven,

Gould, B. A., Jr. 1

Gray, Geo. H. & Danforth, Messrs. - - 1
Great Britain, Patent Commissioners, about 52T

Great Britian, Lords of the Admiralty, - 1

Green, Samuel A., M. D. - - - - 19
Greenough, William W. - - 12 papers, 2

Guild, Benjamin, Mrs. 42

Hale, Edward E., Rev. .... 1
Hall, Charles B., Secretary, ....

Hall, Jonathan P. - - - - - 35

Hall, W. W.

Hansen, Christian, ..... 1

Harding, Jesse, 1

Harlhill, Alexander, N. Y.

Harvard College Observatory,

Hayes, A. A. ----- - 3

Haynes, Henry W. 8

Pamph.

12

3

370

142

7

10
17

2

38

CITY DOCUMENT.— No. 66.

[Nov.,

Vols.

2

247

1

1

13

Head, Sir Edmund B., Governor of Canada,
Heruisz, Stanislaus, M. D. - - -

Hodges, Almon 1).

Hodges, R. M., M. D. -

Holland, F. W., Rev., of East Cambridge, -

Homans, J. Smith,

Homans, Sheppard, N. Y. - - - - 1

Hough, Ruel, 2

Howe, S. G.

Institution of Civil Engineers, London, - - 2
I. R. Istituto di Scienze del Regno Lombardo

Veneto, 26

Jackson, Francis, . . . . .

Jewett, C. C. 3

Jones, George S., M. D. - - - - 8

K. K. Geologische Reichsanstalt, - - - 1
Kerr, R. C, New Orleans, ... -
Keyes, George Stuart, - - - - - 1

Kimball, J. William, 1

Kramer, John T. ----- -

Lamson, Alvan, D. D., Dedham, -

Lawrence, Abbott, -.-... 1

Lawrence, T. Bigelow, . . . . 1

Lawrence, W. R., M. D. 1

Lee, Thomas J. ... 4 engravings.

Lee & Wilder, Elwood, Kansas, - 14 papers.

Leighton, Rufus, Jr. 2

Leonard, Joseph, 3

Lesley, J. P. 1

Library Company, Philadelphia,
Livcrmore, George, - . . - . 2

Livingstone, Rebecca T. .... 2
London Library Society, Trustees, - - 2

Loring, James S., Brooklyn, N. Y. - - - 5
Lowell City, 1

Pamph.

100

63
4

23
17

1
3
1

44

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 39

Vols. Pampli.

Lyman," George H., M. D. - - - - 3

Mann, William T. 4

Mason, George M. 168

Massachusetts, ------ 8

Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society, - - 26

Massachusetts Historical Society, - - 1

Massachusetts Soc. for promoting Agriculture, 1
Maxcy, E. W., Jr., Rev. . . . . 1

Mayhew & Baker, 5

Meade, George G., Capt. - - - 13 charts.
Merriam, Joseph W. . . . . - 1
Minot, William, Hon. - - - - 21

Mohammed Pasha, Constantinople, - - 2

Moore, Charles W. 11

Morgan, Albert, - ... 2 papers.

Miiller, Herman, 2

Nadar, M., Paris, - - - - 1 engraving.
New Bedford Free Library, - - - 1

New Castle upon Tyne, Literary and Philosophical
Society, Trustees, - - - - 1

New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane, - - 1

New York Chamber of Commerce, - - 2

New York Mercantile Library Association, - 2

New York, Regents of the University, - - 3 4

Odiorne, James C. 7

Ohio Mechanics Institute, - - - - 2

Ohio State Library, 1

Oliver, F. E., M. D. 1

Ormcrod, George, London, . - - - i
Palfrey, J. Gorham, LL. D. - - - 1

Parker, Joel, 1

Parsons, Charles W., M. D., Providence, R. I. 1

Parsons, Usher, M. D., Providence, R 1. - - 1

Peabody Institute, Danvers, . - - X

Perry, William S. 1

Picard, William, - - - 18 papers. 111

40 CITY DOCUMENT. — No. 66. [Nov.,

Vols. ramph.

Practical Machinist, - - - 1 paper.

Preble, George Henrj-, Lieutenant U. S. N. - 6

Prescott, William H. 1

Providence Athenaeum; - . ... 1

Pope, Leroy, Jr. . . . . . i

Putnam, Edwin M. . . . . . 3

Quincy, Josiah, Hon. .... 2

Rand, Edward S. 4

Randall, J. W. 1 3

Raymond, C. B., Mrs. 67 2

Reed, Sampson, ------ 3

Richardson, James B. ----- 2

Bobbins, Chandler, D. D. - - - - 3

Robinson, Edward, . . - - - 1

Ropes, Joseph S. 2

Royal Academy, MUnchen, . . . . 1

*Royal Astronomical Society, London, - 2 6

■^Royal Geographical Society, " - - 1 5

*Royal Society of Edinburgh^ - . . 1

*Royal Society, London, . . . . 1

Ryerson, Egerton, D. J)., Rev., Canada, - 5

St. Louis Mercantile Library Association, • 1

San Francisco Mercantile Library Association, 1

Seidenthicker, J. G. 1

Senoner, Auolphe, . . . . . 1

Sever, L R., Miss, of Kingston, - - - 43 3

Sevrence, R. 0., Mrs. . - . . 8

Shaw, Benjamin S., M. D. - - - - 1

Shurtleff, X. B., M. D. - - - - 1

Siracuse, Conte de, 1

Smith, Samuel, Worcester, - - - - 1

Sotheby, S. Leigh, London, . . - - 1

Sparks, Jared, LL.D. .... 7

Stearns, H. - 4

Stevens, Benjamin F. 2

Vols.

2

Pam]

10

11

1

1

1

O

1

3

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 41

Stoddard, Charles, . . . .

Stodder, John S. . . . . .

Sumner, Charles, Hon. - . - -

Sumner, S. B. -

Sumner, William H., Gen.

Sweeney, Thomas, . . . . .

Swett, Samuel, Col. ....

Tappan, John L. .....

Tennessee State Library,

Thacher, George W.

Thayer, Alexander W. - - - -

Thayer, Christopher T., Rev. ... 1

Thayer, Robert H. 2

Thwing, Thomas, 3

Tucker, Elisha G., M. D. ... - 33

Turngemeinde, G. H. Fliittich, President,

36 papers.

Tyler, John S., Mrs. 4

U. S. Astronomical Observatory, - - - 1
U. S. Commissioner of Patents, ... 1

U. S. Department of State, .... 4

U. S. Smithsonian Institution, ... 2

Vasselli Family & F. S. Orlandni, - - - 1
Vinton, Frederic, ..... 3

Yolpic 11a, S. ....... 1

Walling, H. F., N. York, ... 49 maps.
Warren, J. Mason, M. D. - - - - 21 51

Welsh, Charles W. 1 1

Whitney, Prof., Yale College, ... 1

Whitwell, Samuel, - - - - - IG
Wight, Eben, Secretary, . . . . i 1

Wight, D. P. - 1

Wilkins, John H., Hon. - .... 1

Willard, Joseph, 1

G

42

CITY DOCUMENT. — No. (i6.

[Nov.,

"Williams, A. & Co.

_

Vols.
1

ramph.

TTillis, Nathaniel,

103 papers 4

2

Wilson, Daniel, Prof., Toronto,

-

3

Wilson, Henry, Hon.
Wilson, John,

- 1 map.

75
1

3

Winslow, C. F. -

-

1

Winslow, Frederic S.

.

1

Winthrop, Robert C, Hon.
Worthington & Flanders,

-

6

2

105

Wright, Elizur, ... -
Wright, Henry C.

-

2

4

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 43

FINANCIAL STATEMENT,

For One Year, from November I, 1858, to October 31, 1859'

inclusive.

Binding $990 81

Books, including $2,450.00 remitted to London 5,504 80
Expense, including repairs, water, tools, etc. - 546 46

Fuel* 1,313 72

Furniture and Fixtures 3,748 80

Gas, 943 82

Printing, 3,229 43

Salaries 10,290 55

Stationery 419 28

Transportation, including insurance, postage, etc. 349 59

$27,337 26

* Two years.

44 CITY DOCUMENT.— No. 66. [Nov.,

Great Seal Patent Office, Southam'pton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London, Sept. ISth, 1855.

Gentlemen : —

I have the honor to iuforin you that the Commissioners of
Patents, under the Act 15 and 16 Victorias, Ch. 83, have
directed copies of Specifications of Patents, Indexes of Pat-
ents, and all other works printed by them, to be presented
to Joseph Story, Esq., for the Public Free Library of
Boston, U. S., to be placed in sucli Public Free Library of the
city as may now exist, or may be formed for tlic purpose —
upon the following conditions :

The Librarian to take charge of the works, wiio shall be
held answerable for their safety and condition.

The works to be deposited in a Public Free Library of the
city, and to be open to the inspection of the public daily, and
at all reasonable hours.

No charge to be made, or fee of any kind taken on any
pretence whatsoever, for the inspection, reading or taking notes
from any of the works.

No work to be lent to any person, or removed from the
Library, except for binding or necessary repairs.

The Commissioners recommend that the letter-press part of
the Specifications be bound in volumes apart from the draw-
ings, and the drawings be mounted on cloth and also bound
in volumes.

1859.] PUBLIC LIBRARY. 45

The works already printed will be delivered at the Patent
Office to an agent accredited by you, any Monday, between
the hours of 11 and 3 o'clock, and the works printed in con-
tinuation will be delivered every succeeding Monday, between
the same hours.

I have the honor to remain,

Gentlemen, your faithful

And most obedient servant,

(Signed) B. WOODCROFT.

To the Trustees of the Public Library
of the City of Boston.

Mm

MimmS'.

_^_-*£:ji^ •a^T