CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN LIBRARY HISTORY (B>mtU llwMmtg | THE GIFT OF fitag k \%Mr1>sLL .....Vs\v.\.a.£^..... 1387 Cornell University Library Z733 .U57 + History of the Library of Congress. Volu 3 1924 029 533 407 olin Overs Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://archive.org/details/cu31924029533407 (&ontv%but%a\xz i0 $,mzv%cim liters History H w u w 3d H n w a o z Is c ►J o H tfr(, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Sir : This volume is the first of the series of Contributions to American Library History, the preparation of which has been undertaken by librarians representing the several States, the editing and publishing of which has been assumed by this Library. In conformity with the plan of that series all documents of importance which relate to the history of the national library are reproduced here in full or in extenso. Many picturesque incidents, many antiquarian details, many expressions of con- temporary opinion, which in the history of another library might be of merely local interest, are presented. The devel- opment not only of the institution but of opinion regarding it is discussed. The history of the Jefferson collection, now written for the first time, the references to the literary habits and preposses- sions of statesmen of the first half of the century, and the material illustrative of the political and literary conditions of that period may be of general interest. The records of the Library administration, its bibliographical policy, its routine and method, its achievements and its plans, the account of the early policy of the Government with regard to the col- lection of manuscripts and of Americana, will appeal more especially to librarians and historians. The descriptions of the library rooms, the career of George Watterston, and per- haps other matters will be of local value. The completion of this investigation, which has occupied my unofficial time for the past three years, has involved the examination of local archives and newspapers, of legislative records and documents, and of the representative literary and 5 6 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL scientific periodicals of the country. It has been made pos- sible by the richness and accessibility of the material in the national collection, and by the encouragement which the work has received from you, from the chief assistant librarian, Mr. Spofford, from my learned associates, and from officers of the other departments of the Government, particularly the clerk of the Joint Committee on the Library, Mr. H. A. Vale, the Chief Clerk in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, Mr. H. M. Rose, and the Chief of the Bureau of Rolls in the Department of State, Mr. A. H. Allen. I must also acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. J. Henley Smith, Mr. Henry Adams, Miss Laura Meehan, and to the late Mr. David Watterston, of this city ; to the Hon. William Bverett,of Quincy, Mass.; to the Hon. J. A. Pearce, of Annapo- lis ; to the late Mrs. Caroline Crane Marsh, of Scarsdale, N. Y.; to Mr. Blbridge T. Gerry, of Newport; to Mrs. Charles W. Allen, of Boston ; to the Rev. Edward Everett Hale ; to Mr. Robert H. Kelby, of the New York Historical Society; Mr. William Nelson, of the New Jersey Historical Society; Mr. John W. Jordan, of the Pennsylvania Historical Society ; Mr. R. A. Brock, of the Southern Historical Society; Mr. William Beer, of the Howard Memorial Library, New Orleans ; and to her who from first to last has shared with me the joy and labor of this work of research. In order that the records of the national library may be as complete and accessible as possible, it is hoped to supple- ment this volume by a second, describing the history of the Library since 1864, and a third describing the history of the other libraries of the Government. Respectfully submitted. W. Dawson Johnston. Herbert Putnam Librarian of Congress Washington, D, C, April 20, 1904 CONTENTS. Letter of transmittal, 5; Contents, 7; List of plates. 11; Chronology, 13. CHAPTER ONE. CONDITIONS BEFORE THE YEAR 180O. Use of libraries in New York and Philadelphia, 17; Gerry's plan for a library, 18. CHAPTER TWO. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. The first purchase of books, 24; Report of committee on library organi- zation, 26; Legislative debate, 29; Organic act, January 26, 1802, 32; Library room and officers, 1 802-1 805, 33; President Jefferson and the collection of books, 1802-1805, 35. CHAPTER THREE. GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. The library room, 1805-1814, 41; Library administration — the librarian, 44; The library committee, 45; John Quincy Adams's memoirs, 47; Character of the library in 1814, 48; Neglect to secure Tatham's col- lection of American topography, 50; The collection of documents, 54; Privileges of the library extended to the agent of the library committee and justices of the Supreme Court, 55; Chief Justice Marshall, 57; Rules of the library, 58. CHAPTER FOUR. DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD LIBRARY AND PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. Burning of the Capitol, 65; Offer of the Jefferson library to Congress, 68; The question of purchase in Congress, 72; Public opinion regarding the purchase, 78; Evaluation of the library, 80; Purchase of the library, 84; Value of the library, 90; Removal of the library to Wash- ington, 97. 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER FIVE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1814-1829. Librarian Watterston, 107; His literarywork, 109; Library room in Blod- get's hotel, 120; A library building suggested, 123; Removal to the north wing of the Capitol, 1818, 125; Completion of the library room in the center building, 1824, 128; Fire of December 22, 1825, 132; Question of a fireproof room, 135; Need of a national library, 138; Classification of the library, 141; Jefferson on classification, 142; Cataloguing of the library, 147; Administrative measures, 1815-1817, 150; Development of the library, 1817-1824, 158; Development of the library, 1824-1829 — renewed interest in the library, 160; Edward Everett's work, 164; Collections and departments in 1829, 168; manu- scripts, 169; law, 171; documents, 173; Library staff and service, 178; Privileges of the library, 183; Use of the library, 185. CHAPTER SIX. THE LIBRARY IN POLITICS. The removal of Librarian Watterston by President Jackson, 189; Jour- nalistic controversy regarding the legality of the removal, 190; Parti- san attacks upon the library, 199; Speech of Senator Holmes, 199; The ex-librarian compares the Democratic with the Whig administration, 201; His attempts to secure reinstatement in office, letters to J. M. Clayton, 203; to Henry Clay, 205; to President Fillmore, 207. CHAPTER SEVEN. THE DEVELOPMENT OP THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. Librarian Meehan, 213; The Library rooms, 1 829-1 851, 215; The consti- tution of the Library committee, 222; Their bibliographical plans, 226; Ideas of Francis Lieber, 227, of Lewis Cass, 228; Offer of the Butur- lin library, 229; Remarks of the North American Review, 231; Sena- tor Preston's report, 239; Offer of the Durazzo library, 243; Americana, 246; The law department, 248; The document collection, 251; Inter- national exchange, Alexandre Vattemare, 254; Distribution of public documents, 266; Character of the library in 1851, 269. CHAPTER EIGHT. DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. The fire of 1851, 275; Question in House regarding cause of fire and repairs, 278; Official and other opinion regarding cause of fire and new fire proof structure, 280; Provision in Senate for books and for CONTENTS. 9 temporary rooms, 285; Discussed in the House, 285; Passed, 286; Plans for a new library room, 287; An appropriation of $72,500, 291; A deficiency appropriation, 293; The room completed, 298; Purchase of books, 301 ; Definition of the bibliographical policy of the library, 302; Collections and departments, 1852-1864, 310; Manuscripts, 312; proposition for the calendaring of manuscripts in British archives relating to American colonies, 314; Policy in regard to the purchas- ing of manuscripts of Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton, 321; Of the manu- script of Washington's farewell address, 326; Maps, 340; lieutenant Hunt's plan for a geographical department of the library, 340; Newspapers, 346; Library staff and agents, 347; The Library service, 352; cataloguing, 354; Professor Jewett's experiment, 358; Assistant Librarian Spof ford's reforms, 364; Indexing of Congressional documents, 368; Privileges of the library, 373; Evening opening agitated, 376; Use of the library, 379; Librarian Stephenson, 383. CHAPTER NINE. OTHER LIBRARIES OF CONGRESS AND OF THE GOVERNMENT. The House library, 387; The library rooms, 388; "Providing a library for the Southern Confederacy," 389; The investigation, 389; Sen- ate library proposed, 392; Plans for the library, 393; Relations of the library of Congress with other libraries of the Government and of the city, 400. CHAPTER TEN. THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. Senator Choate's speech on national library, 405; His first amendment to Tappan bill, 410; His second amendment, 412; A new bill, 414; Ques- tion of relation to National Institute, 415; Buchanan's speech, 415; In the House of Representatives, Owen bill introduced, 417; Speech by Robert Dale Owen, 417; Reply by George P. Marsh, 421; Passage of the Marsh amendment and triumph of the library plan, 428; Plan of organization of the Smithsonian library, 443; Librarian Jewett's plans, 431; The compromise resolutions of December 11, 1847, 433; Early collections of the Smithsonian Library, 436; — Bibliographical, 436; Publications of learned societies, 438 ; Copyright deposit, 439; Bibliographical undertakings — general catalogue of American libraries, 450; Cooperative cataloguing, 454; Other bibliographical enterprises — Stevens's Bibliographia Americana, etc., 467; Defeat of the library plan; Librarian Jewett's reports upon a national library, 473; Reso- lutions of the library convention, 482; North American Review, 483; Secretary Henry's programme, 486; Criticised by Prof essor Jewett, 487; IO CONTENTS. Supported by special committee, 489; A minority report, 490; Defeat of the library plan and removal of Librarian Jewett, 496; Defense of the policy of the Regents in the Senate, 496; Criticism of it in the House, 499; Opinions of the press, 504. APPENDIXES. I. Officers of the library, 1 802-1 864, 509. II. Members of the library committee, 509. III. Number of volumes in the library, 515. IV. Legislative appropriations for the library, 515. V. Catalogues of the library, 1801-1864, 516. VI. Classification of the library, 521. LIST OF PLATES . i. View of the Capitol in 1840, showing the library in the center. From Nathaniel P. Willis American scenery. Drawings by W. H. Bartlett, vol. 1, title-page Frontispiece Opposite page 2. Elbridge Gerry. From an engraving by Koevoets after a drawing by Vanderlyn 18 3. Plan of principal story of Capitol in 1800. From Glenn Brown. Historyof the United States Capitol (1900), vol. 1, plate36. . 34 4. Facsimile of Catalogue of 1802, showing early method of classi- fication 38 5. Plan of the principal story of the Capitol, 1806. From original in the Library of Congress 42 6. Thomas Jefferson. From a lithograph after a painting for Messrs. Doggett, by Gilbert Stuart 68 7. George Watterston. From a water color in the custody of the Library of Congress 108 8. Plan of attic story of north wing of Capitol, 1817, showing loca- tion of apartments for the temporary accommodation of the Library. From original in the Library of Congress. . . .126 9. West front of the Capitol, showing Library in center. From a drawing by C. Bulfinch in Force's National calendar for 182 1, front 130 10. Plan of the principal floor of the Capitol. From Robert Mills's Guide to the Capitol, 1847-48, p. 12 130 11. Facsimile of Jefferson's scheme of classification. From the catalogue of the Library, 1815, p. vi-vii 146 12. Facsimile of letter from Edward Everett to Librarian Watters- ton, October 31, 1826 164 13. Facsimile of record book showing charging system in use. . 182 14. Commission appointing John Silva Meehan Librarian of Con- gress 196 15. John Silva Meehan. From a daguerreotype in the possession of Miss Laura G. Meehan 214 16. Library of Congress, as rebuilt after the fire of 185 1. Thomas U. Walter, architect. After water color in the Library of Congress 216 11 12 LIST OF PLATES ' Opposite page 17. Bookplates of the Library 238 18. Portrait of Alexandre Vattemare. From a drawing by William Walcutt in the possession of the New York Public Library. . 254 19. Detail of iron work in Library. From Glenn Brown. History of the Capitol, vol. 2, plate 253 .... 288 20. Entrance to Congressional Library. From Glenn Brown. History of the Capitol, vol. 1, plate 104. 294 21. Drawing of console in Library. From Glenn Brown. History of the Capitol, vol. 2, plate 210 300 22. Library stamps and book labels 338 23. Facsimile of the Library of Congress Catalogue of 1849 and the Catalogue of 1854 prepared upon Professor Jewett's plan. . 360 24. Library of Congress. Interior, 1856. From United States Magazine, vol. 3, p. 106 380 25. Rufus Choate. From an engraving by H. B. Hall after a photograph by Southworth & Hawes 404 26. George P. Marsh. From a portrait by G. P. A. Healy in the possession of Dartmouth College 422 27. Charles C. Jewett. From a photograph in possession of his daughter, Mrs. Charles W. Allen 448 28. Henry Stevens. From his Recollections of James Lenox, front 470 29. Table showing classification of the Library 522 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE 1800 — Apr. 24. Act establishing the Library. 1802 — Jan. 26. Act organizing the Library. 29. John Beckley appointed Librarian. 1807 — Nov. 7. Patrick Magruder appointed Librarian. 181 2 — Mar. 2. Privileges of the Library extended to Justices of the Supreme Court. 18 14 — Aug. 24. Destruction of the Library by British troops. Sept. 21. Jefferson library offered to Congress; purchased Janu- ary 30, 1815. 1815 — Mar. 21. George Watterston appointed Librarian. 1816 — Apr. 16. Privileges of the Library extended to diplomatic corps. 1824 Completion of Library room in the west center of the Capitol. 1825 — Dec. 22. The second fire. 1829 — May 28. John Silva Meehan appointed Librarian. 1830 — Jan. 13. Privileges of the Library extended to heads of Depart- ments. 1832 — July 14. Law Library established. 1840 — July 20. Resolution authorizing international exchange. 1846 — Aug. 10. Establishment of a national library on the Smithsonian foundation. 185 1 — Dec. 24. Fire destroying about 35,000 volumes. 1861 — May 24. John G. Stephenson appointed Librarian. 1864 — Dec. 31. Ainsworth Rand Spofford appointed Librarian. 13 (&Uwpt&c ©tie CONDITIONS BEFORE THE YEAR 1800 Chapter One. conditions before the year 1800. Before the establishment of the Library of Congress, April 24, 1800, the Houses of Congress had used the libraries of New York and Philadelphia. At the opening of the sessions of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, September 6, 1774, an extract was read from the minutes of the directors of the Library Company of Phil- adelphia, dated August 31, 1774, ordering, "That the Library furnish the Gentlemen, who are to meet in Congress, with the Use of such Books as they may have Occasion for, during their Sitting, taking a Receipt for them. Signed by Order of the Directors, William Attmore, Secretary;" and it was ordered that the thanks of the Congress be returned to the Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia for their obliging order. 1 The sessions of the First Congress of the United States were held in the city hall in New York City, and the City Library, or New York Society Library, as it was officially known, at that time deposited in the city hall, was used by Congress. 2 After the removal of Congress to Philadelphia the directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia ten- dered to the President and Congress the free use of the books in their library in as full and ample a manner as if they were members of the company; and President Washington, through his secretary, Tobias Lear, returned thanks for the attention in the following note: 3 Thursday, Jan. 20, 1J91. Sir: In obedience to the commands of the President of the United States I have the honor to communicate to you, to be presented to the 1 Annals of Congress, i: 10. 2 Catalogue of the New York Society Library, New York, 1850, Int. 3 J. T. Scharf and T. Westcott, "History of Philadelphia," v. 2, 1181. 23399— 4 2 17 1 8 CONDITIONS BEFORE THE YEAR 1800. directors of the library Company of Philadelphia, his best thanks for the polite manner in which they have offered him the use of the books in the library, and he begs that they will be assured that this mark of attention has made a proper impression on him. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, Tobias Lear, Secretary to the President of the United States. William Rawle, Esq., Secretary to the Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia. There were some, however, who felt that Congress should possess a library of its own, who recognized that a demo- cratic assembly representative of popular opinion should be informed of the condition and progress of popular opinion, and that as a means to that end the books, the pamphlets, and the journals of the day should be collected and rendered accessible to every member of Congress. The most earnest advocate of these views and the author of the first measure to establish a library for Congress was Blbridge Gerry, Repre- sentative from Massachusetts. 1 On Thursday, the 6th of August, 1789, Representative Gerry presented a motion that a committee be appointed to report a catalogue of books necessary for the use of Congress, with an estimate of the expense, and the best mode of pro- curing them, 2 and, on April 30, 1790, was appointed with Messrs. Burke, of South Carolina, and White, of Virginia, to form that committee. 3 On the 23d of June, Mr. Gerry, on behalf of the committee, submitted the following report: That, as far as the nature of the case will admit, they have in the schedule annexed complied with the order of the House, having due regard to the state of the Treasury. That the committee have confined themselves in great measure to books necessary for the use of the leg- islative and executive departments, and not often to be found in private or in circulating libraries. That, nevertheless, without further provi- sion of books on laws and government, to which reference is often nec- 1 The life of Gerry, by James T. Austin (Boston, 1828-29, 2 v.), and the letters of Gerry, 1784-1804, edited by W. C. Ford (printed in the New England Historic and Genealogical Register, vol. 49, pp. 430-441, October, 1895, and vol. 50, pp. 21-30, January, 1896, reprinted by the Historical Printing Club, Brooklyn, 1896), contain nothing illustrating this episode, nor has his grandson, Elbridge T. Gerry, of New- port, any papers or data casting light upon it. 2 Annals 1: 679. 3 Annals 2: 1550. GERRY'S PLAN FOR A LIBRARY. 1 9 essary, members of the legislature and other offices of the Government may be either deprived of the use of such books when necessary, or be obliged at every session to transport to the seat of the General Govern- ment a considerable part of their libraries, it seldom happening that they can otherwise command such books when requisite, without trespassing too much on the indulgence of their friends. The committee are therefore of the opinion that a sum, not exceeding 1,000 dollars, be appropriated in the present session, and that the sum of 500 dollars be hereafter annually appropriated to the purchase of books for a public library, and be applied to the purpose by the Vice-President, Chief Justice, and Secretary of State of the United States, without confining them to the catalogue reported, until, in the opinion of Congress, the books provided shall be adequate to the purpose. The books reported were of the following description, viz: Laws of the several States, laws relating to the trade and navigation of the sev- eral nations of Europe with whom the United States may have treaties, laws of Ireland and Scotland, laws of Canada, British statutes at large, militia system of Switzerland, the Russian and Frederician codes, sun- dry authors on the laws of nature and nations, sundry authors on the privilege and duties of diplomatic bodies, a collection of treaties and alliances from the earliest periods, a collection of parliamentary books, sundry books on the civil and common law, etc., etc. ' This report was laid on trie table, 2 and no further attempt was made to revive the plan or devise other plans for a library for Congress until a permanent seat of Government had been selected and the Houses of Congress removed to Washington. Without pursuing any definite bibliographical programme, however, the two Houses of Congress did acquire, before their removal to Washington or immediately after, as shown by the catalogue of 1802, 3 45 folio volumes, 68 quartos, and 130 octavos; that is, 243 volumes in all. Among these were the Bibliotheca Americana, 21 volumes of the Statutes at Large, 18 volumes of the Journals of the House of Commons, Hat- sell's Precedents; Luders, Heywood, and Fraser on elections; 1 Gazette of the United. States, New York, June 26, 1790. 2 Annals 2: 1647. 3 There, under the caption "additional from the respective library of the Senate and the House of Representatives, ' ' are set down the names of such books as were acquired for the two Houses of Congress, before and immediately after the removal to Washington. The act of January 26, 1802, provided that these books or libraries, heretofore kept separately by each House, should be placed in the newly constituted Library of Congress, with the books purchased under the act of April 24, 1800. 20 CONDITIONS BEFORE THE YEAR 1800. 14 volumes of the State Trials, together with Hogan's State Trials; Dallas's and Robinson's Reports; Blackstone, 1 Reeves, and Wooddeson on English Law; John Adams's Defense of the American Constitution, Swift's system of laws of Con- necticut, Cooke's Bankrupt laws, Chalmers's collection of treaties, Vattel's law of nations, and Staunton's Embassy to China. Among books of reference were 36 volumes of the Encyclopaedia, Chambers's and Mortimer's Dictionaries. Among geographical works: Paine's and Morse's geographies, Guthrie's geography and atlas, the Maritime Atlas in 5 volumes, the Gazetteer of France, Wendeborn's View of England, Moreau de St. Mery's St. Domingo, and the col- lection of voyages known as the World Displayed. Among historical works: Hume's History of England, Hazard's Col- lections for American History, Belknap's American Biog- raphy, Belknap's History of New Hampshire, and Ramsay's History of South Carolina. Among works on economics: Anderson's Commerce, Sheffield and Coxe on American Com- merce, Necker's Finances of France, Millar on Insurance, and Varlo's Husbandry. Among periodicals: The New Annual Register, the American Museum, and the Monthly Review. Other works were Thomas Paine's Miscellanies, Rush on Yellow Fever, and Burns's Poems. 1 March 10, 1794, the Senate ordered, That the Secretary purchase Blackstone's Commentaries and Vattel's Law of Nature and Nations, for the use of the Senate. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805 Chapter Two. establishment of the library, 1800-1805. With the removal of the capital to Washington, a Congres- sional library, which had hitherto been merely desirable, became a necessity. So on motion of Samuel L/ivermore, a graduate of Princeton, then Senator for New Hampshire, a fifth section was added to the "Act to make provision for the removal and accommodation of the Government of the United States," approved April 24, 1800. This read as follows: And be it further enacted, That for the purchase of such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress at the said city of Washington, and for fitting up a suitable apartment for containing them and for placing them therein the sum of five thousand dollars shall be, and hereby is, appropriated; and that the said purchase shall be made by the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives, pursuant to such directions as shall be given, and such catalogue as shall be fur- nished by a joint committee of both Houses of Congress to be appointed for that purpose; and that the said books shall be placed in one suitable apartment in the Capitol in the said city, for the use of both Houses of Congress and the members thereof, according to such regulations as the committee aforesaid shall devise and establish. 1 On the next day, in order to carry the provisions of this law into execution, Mr. Dennis moved in the House of Rep- resentatives the following resolution : "Resolved, That be a committee, jointly with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the Senate, for the purpose of making out a catalogue of books and adopting the best mode of procuring a library at the city of Washington ; and for adopting a sys- tem of rules and regulations relative thereto ; " which motion was agreed to, and Robert Wain, of Pennsylvania, Thomas Evans and Leven Powell, both of Virginia, appointed mem- bers of the committee on the part of the House, 2 and on Monday, April 28, the Senate having adopted the resolution, 1 Annals 10: 1494. 2 Annals 10: 168, 684. 23 24 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. Samuel Dexter, of Massachusetts, William Bingham, of Pennsylvania, and William Cary Nicholas, of Virginia, were appointed members of the committee on the part of the Senate. The chairman of this joint committee, and the only mem- ber thereof who has left behind him any trace of a fondness for or an acquaintance with books, 1 was Samuel Dexter, a graduate of Harvard, and a lawyer of some eminence. Under his direction the measures recommended by the law of 1800 were carried into execution, and the nucleus of the new library ordered from the London booksellers Cadell & Davies. The following letter to Messrs. W. Bingham and Robert Wain, dated London, December 11, 1800, with bill for ^"489 7s., list of books sent, and books to the number of 740 were received in response and forwarded to the new metropolis in the trunks in which they had been imported: Gentlemen: We were favored with your joint letter of June 20, inclosing a list of books for the intended library at Washington, and we instantly set about executing the order in the best manner we were able. Inclosed we transmit you the invoice and bill of lading, and we ear- nestly hope the books will arrive perfectly safe, great care having been taken in packing them. We judged it best to send trunks rather than boxes, which after their arrival would have been of little or no value. Several of the books sent were only to be procured second-handed, and some of them, from their extreme scarcity, at very advanced prices. We have in all cases sent the best copies we could obtain and charged the lowest prices possible. We annex a list of a few articles that we have not been able to procure, but, as we firmly trust that the execution of the present order will meet your approbation, and that, in that case, we may hope to be favored with your further commands, we shall con- tinue our search for these articles and send them out with the next parcel. 2 * * * When this letter had been received Samuel Otis, Secretary of the Senate, wrote to President Jefferson: Washington, May 2, 1801. Sir: I do myself the honor to inclose you a copy of the invoice of books for the public library. The package being perfectly dry, I shall * Harper* 's Magazine 46: 41. "List of books purchased by Cadell & Davies for the Library of Congress, in a volume in the Library of Congress, lettered "State Papers, 1801, Decern., 1802, Jan." INTEREST IN PHILADELPHIA IN NEW LIBRARY. 25 omit opening them until further orders. Whenever they are opened some person should be made answerable for them or in my opinion the volumes will be immediately dispersed and lost. 1 * * * On the ioth of May William Duane, editor of the Aurora, wrote from Philadelphia to Madison, Secretary of State: " Per- mit me also to suggest that as provision has been made for furnishing a library for the use of Congress, I should be glad to undertake the provision of such books as may be required, and as I have had some experience, having resided in Kngland for five years, and am acquainted not only with the first book- sellers but numbers of the first literary characters in that country, I could undertake the importation of the books for the public library under advantages that few others possess."" And on the 8th of December, 1801, the petition of John McDonald, recently a broker and keeper of a circulating library at 14 South Fourth street, Philadelphia, was presented to the House of Representatives and read, praying that he might be employed to superintend the arrangement and safe- keeping of the books intended for the Library of the two Houses of Congress; and that he might receive such com- pensation for his services, in that capacity, as to the wisdom of Congress should seem meet. Referred to the Joint Com- mittee on the Library of Congress. 3 Before professional assistance could be engaged in the development and custody of the Library, however, an act of organization was necessary, On the first day of the next session of Congress, Monday, December 7, 1801,' President Jefferson, who was from its incep- tion an ardent friend of the Library, called upon Mr. Otis, the Secretary of the Senate, to make a statement respecting the books purchased. This showed that $2,200 of the $5,000 appropriated had been expended, for which there had been received 740 volumes. On the same day, accordingly, the Senate passed the following resolution: "That a committee be appointed to join such gentlemen as shall be appointed by the House of Representatives to take into consideration a statement made this day by the Secretary of the Senate, "Jefferson Papers, series 2, vol. 64, No. 32. * Madison MSS., Library of Congress, s Annals 11: 312. 26 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. respecting books and maps purchased in consequence of an act of Congress passed the 24th of April, 1800, and to make a report of their opinion respecting the future arrangement of said books and maps; and that Messrs. Tracy and Nicholas be the committee on the part of the Senate." And a message from the Senate having informed the House of the passage of this resolution, the House appointed a committee on their part, to consist of Messrs. Nicholson, Bayard, and Randolph. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY ORGANIZATION. The chairman of the new joint committee was Senator Nicholas, of Virginia. Of his associates, Senator Uriah Tracy was from Connecticut and a graduate of Yale, Repre- sentative James A. Bayard, from Delaware and a graduate of Princeton, Representative Joseph Hopper Nicholson, from Maryland, and representative John Randolph, from Virginia. This committee reported on the following week through Senator Tracy (December 18) and Representative Randolph (Decem- ber 21). The author of their report was John Randolph, of Roanoke, author also of the phrase " a good library is a states- man's workshop." 1 He was one of the earliest friends and supporters of the Library, always took pains to secure liberal appropriations for it, had a good deal to do with the selection of its books, and now had prepared a report which like the report of Representative G-erry, June 23, 1790, is one of the most notable documents relating to the early history of the Library, but unlike the former led to legislative action, and became the basis, after some discussion in the House of Representatives, of the act concerning the Library for the 'There is a letter in the Southern Literary Messenger, February, 1854 (vol. 20, pp. 76-79)> describing his library at Roanoke. Nathan Sargent said that Randolph would not have in his possession an American book, not even an American Bible. (Public men and events, 1817-1853, vol. 1, p. 125.) Josiah Quincy has the following reminiscence: (Figures of the past, Boston, 1883, p. 214.) "Randolph had recited to me a certain passage from Burke, which I told him I did not remember and asked where I could find it. ' Go to the Congressional Library,' was Mr. Randolph's reply, 'look in the third alcove, on the right-hand side, third shelf from floor, fifth volume on the shelf, page 336, about halfway down.' I made a memorandum of the direction, went to the Library and found the passage exactly where he had placed it." REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION. 2J use of both Houses of Congress, approved January 26, 1802. The report of the committee drawn up by this man and leading to these important consequences was as follows: ' That in their opinion the following resolutions contain the proper regulations upon the subject committed to them; they therefore present them for consideration. I. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the books and maps pur- chased by direction of the act of Congress passed the 24th day of April, 1800, be placed in the Capitol in the room which was occupied by the House of Representatives during the last session of the 6th Congress, and that the books shall be numbered, labelled, and set up in portable cases with handles to them for the purpose of easy removal, with wire netting, doors, and locks. And that the books or libraries which have heretofore been kept separately by each House shall be removed and set up with those lately purchased, and be numbered and labelled with them, making one library of the whole. II. And it is further resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives for the time being be, and they are hereby authorized to take charge of the room, books, and maps afore- said, and they are hereby authorized and directed to make suitable arrange- ments in said room for the library and maps, to procure proper furniture for the room, to procure the cases, number and label the books, and set them up in their places; to procure for their own use and the use of both Houses of Congress printed catalogues of all books with the label number of each and of the maps, to place on each book some proper mark or marks to designate it as belonging to the Congressional library; to pro- cure printed blank receipts for members to sign them when they take books from the room; and to arrange and hang up the maps; all to be done under the inspection and direction of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the time being. III. And it is further resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall be responsible for the safe-keeping of the room, furniture, books, and maps aforesaid, and shall not permit any map to be taken out of said room by any person nor any book except by members of the Senate and House of Representatives for the time being, and no member shall be permitted to take any book out "This is printed as "Report of the joint committee appointed to take into con- sideration the arrangement of books and maps belonging to Congress, December 18, 1801. Printed by order of the Senate of the United States." 6 p. 8°. Also as "Report on the Congressional library. Representative J. Randolph, December 2r, 1801" in Annals of Congress 12: 1292-1294, and in American State Papers, Miscel- laneous, 1: 253-254. 28 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. of said room until he shall sign a receipt for the same, the form of which follows, viz: Received this — day of of the keepers of the Congressional Library (here the book and its number is to be described), which I promise to return within days from this date or forfeit the sum of dollars to be paid to said keepers or either of them or to their successors or either of them. Witness my hand. IV. And it is further resolved, That no member shall have at any one time more than three books out of said Library, and a folio volume shall be returned within days, a quarto within days, an octavo within days, a duodecimo within days after the date of the receipt respectively; and in case of such return the receipt shall be can- celled, but in case of forfeiture the keepers shall immediately collect the penalty. V. And it is further resolved, That the keepers of said Library shall one of them attend or shall cause some proper person for whose conduct they shall be responsible, to attend in said room from the hour of eleven in the morning until three in the afternoon of each day, Sundays excepted, during each session of Congress, for the purpose of delivering and receiv- ing said books; and the keepers of said Library shall receive for their services, including the safe-keeping of the room, furniture, books, and maps, delivering and receiving the books and collecting the forfeitures dollars annually, to be paid out of the fund annually appropriated for the contingent expenses of both Houses of Congress. VI. And it is further resolved, That the keepers of said Library shall at the commencement of every session of Congress exhibit a statement to each House of the condition of said room, furniture, books, and maps, with information of the sum of forfeitures, if any, which they have collected, and of the necessary expenses for fuel, etc., in said room during the period next preceding each statement which then remains unsettled, that their accounts may be liquidated and approved by Con- gress, and the balance shall be paid out of the fund appopriated for the contingent expenses of both Houses of Congress. VII. And it is further resolved, That the keepers of said Library shall cause a printed copy of the third, fourth, and fifth of the foregoing reso- lutions to be pasted up in some conspicuous place in said room, which shall be there at all times for the information of the members; and the committee further report for the consideration of Congress the following resolutions: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and he is hereby, directed to make sale of the trunks in which the books lately purchased were imported; that he exhibit to both Houses of Congress an account of the proceeds, including a statement of the actual expenditures incurred under the act of the 24th of April, 1800, as well by the purchase of books and maps and incidental expenses as for the expense of fitting up LEGISLATIVE DEBATE UPON THE REPORT. 29 the room, procuring furniture, cases, etc., as mentioned in the second of the foregoing resolutions, and the residue of the $5,000 appropriated by- said act shall be laid out by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives for books and maps, or books alone, under the direction of the joint committee to be appointed for that purpose, to consist of members from the Senate and members from the House of Representatives. Resolved, That Congress will by law annually appropriate the sum of dollars, to be laid out for books and maps, or books alone, by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, under the direction of the joint committee to be appointed by them for that purpose. 1 HOUSE DEBATE UPON THE REPORT. This report gave rise to considerable debate in both Houses of Congress, the Senate desiring to establish a library for Congress alone, supported by liberal annual appropriations and under executive control, the House desiring to extend the use of the Library to other departments of the Government, but wishing to minimize expenditure for books and to keep the Library from becoming an executive department or bureau. On Monday, December 21, the bill was brought up for con- sideration in the Senate and adopted with amendments pro- viding for an annual appropriation and the appointment of a librarian by the President of the United States. 2 On the 23d it was debated in Committee of the Whole in the House of Repre- sentatives, and amended so as to give the right of taking books from the Congressional Library to the Attorney-General, the judges of the Supreme Court, while that court was in session, and to foreign ministers. The appropriation clause occa- sioned more debate. Rev. John Bacon, of Massachusetts, was in favor of $10,000 annual appropriation for the Library, hold- ing that it was a moderate and a necessary sum. He had not made a calculation, he said, but he believed the House expended as much in deliberating as the sum about which they were contending would amount to. Mr. James A. Bay- ard, of Delaware, advocated the annual appropriation of $1,000 for ten years. But the Republicans opposed any considerable appropriation for what would evidently become a national 1 State Papers, Miscellaneous, 1: 253-254. "Annals 11: 19. 30 ESTABLISHMENT OP THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. library, Mr. Randolph thinking it better, he said, to save money than to spend it. Finally Mr. Calvin Goddard, of Connecticut, spoke in favor of $1,000 annually, and Mr. Ebenezer Blmer, of New Jersey, against. So it was resolved to appropriate $1,000, but only for one year. As for the other provisions of the report, Mr. Bayard moved that instead of the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Represent- atives there be a librarian appointed by the President, but this motion was lost. 1 Then the resolutions as amended in Committee of the Whole were recommitted to a select committee consisting of Messrs. Randolph, Bayard, Eustis, Dana, and Elmer. The aid of President Jefferson was now sought by the Fed- eralists and friends of the Library, and. through his influence the Republicans were induced to support a bill drawn up by John Randolph, of the select committee to whom the amended Senate resolutions had been committed on the 23d of Decem- ber. 2 On the 29th Mr. Randolph reported from the commit- tee on the resolutions of the Senate a resolution, "That the House disagree to the said resolutions;" in which the House concurred. He then reported a new bill, entitled "A bill concerning the Library for the use of both Houses of Con- gress," the provisions of which were as follows: 1. That the Library, consisting of all the books of the two Houses, be kept in the room last session occupied by the House of Representatives. 2 and 3. That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives appoint a librarian; and that the President and Speaker have the superintendence of the Library subject to the pro- visions of the act; the librarian to be allowed $2 a day. 4. No map to be taken out of the Library, and the books to be taken out by the President and Vice-President of the United States, and the members of the two Houses, by the heads of Departments and Attorney-General, during the sitting of the legislature, and by the judges of the Supreme Court during its sittings. 3 •Annals 11: 349; National Intelligencer; House Journal. * Harper' s Magazine 46: 42. 3 Some observations were made as to the time which the Library was to remain open. Mr. Griswold moved to confine it to the time of the session of Congress. It was carried, with an exception, moved by Mr. Southard, in favor of the judges of the Supreme Court, whose sessions did not accord with those of Congress. — Benton's Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, 2: 578. LEGISLATIVE DEBATE UPON THE REPORT. 31 For the last section, the impression being that the unex- pended balance was sufficient for the present, 1 it was provided simply that the unexpended balance of sums heretofore appro- priated, viz, $2,800, be applied to the purchase of books under the direction of a joint committee of three members of each House. The bill as thus drawn up differed from that amended by the Senate in providing for a librarian to be appointed not by the President but by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It differed from both the original bill and that amended in the Senate in extending the use of the Library to the President and the Vice-President of the United States, heads of Departments, and as recommended in the Committee of the Whole on the 23d, to the Attorney-General, judges of the Supreme Court, and foreign ministers. This bill being twice read was accordingly committed to a committee of the whole, where in the debate on the use of the Library Mr. Sprigg moved to add the judges of the District of Columbia, and was supported in argument by Mr. Dennis, upon the ground of the importance of the causes which this especial district would represent, and the great expense and extreme scarcity of some most valuable and necessary law books. But Mr. Bayard objected. He could discover no reason for distin- guishing the judges of the District from others; but judges of the Supreme Court, being far from their libraries, required such references. He hoped the Congressional Library would never be subjected to the abuse to which books used in courts of jus- tice were too liable. 2 The motion was not agreed to. After due consideration the committee rose and reported their agreement to the resolutions contained in the report, and several amend- ments to the bill. But the inconsistency between a small appropriation and an extended use of the Library being made apparent, Mr. Randolph moved on the following day (Decem- ber 30) to strike out that part which gave permission to the heads of Departments, judges of the Supreme Court, and for- eign ministers to take out books, which was agreed to, 3 and on ' National Intelligencer, December 30. 'Annals 11: 352. 3 National Intelligencer, Januarys 1802; Annals 11: 353. 32 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. the 31st of December, 1801, the engrossed bill being read the third time was passed: "Resolved, That the said bill do pass, and that the title be 'An act concerning the Library for the nse of both Houses of Congress.'" 1 On the same day (December 31), a message from the House having informed the Senate that the House disagreed to the resolutions of the Senate, and had passed a bill concerning the Library in which they desired the concurrence of the Sen- ate, the bill was twice read and referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Tracy, Logan, and Dayton. On the following week Mr. Tracy, from this committee, reported 2 certain amendments, which were read and laid on the table, but finally, on Monday, January 11, taken up for consideration, and, with further amendments, adopted, and the bill read the third time and passed, as amended. 3 The difference between the Senate and the House regard- ing the appointment of a Librarian by the President and regarding an annual appropriation of $1,000 was still unre- solved. After nearly a month's further consideration and debate, 4 however, the bill was passed, the main difference between the original Randolph bill and this being that the latter provided for the appointment of a Librarian by the President of the United States, the Senate having receded from their demand for an annual appropriation, the House from their demand that the Librarian be a Congressional employee. AN ACT Concerning the Library for the use of both Houses of Congress. Be it enacted, &c. , That the books and maps purchased by direction of the act of Congress, passed the twenty-fourth of April, one thousand eight hundred, together with the books or libraries which have hereto- fore been kept separately by each House, shall be placed in the Capitol, 'Annals 11: 354. • U. S. Seventh Congress, first session, Senate Report. Report of the committee to -whom was referred the bill, passed by the House of Representatives, concerning the Library for the use of both Houses of Congress. Printed by order of the Senate of the United States, January 7, 1802. Washington, 1802. 4 pp. 8°. 3 Annals 11: 42. *The record of the amendments and motions recorded in the journals of the two Houses in the course of this debate is not intelligible because of the loss of the texts of the bills amended. THE ACT OF 1802. 33 in the room which was occupied by the House of Representatives, dur- ing the last session of the Sixth Congress. SEC 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, be, and they hereby are, empowered to establish such regulations and restric- tions in relation to the said library, as to them shall seem proper, and, from time to time, to alter or amend the same: Provided, That no regula- tion shall be made repugnant to any provision contained in this act. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That a librarian, to be appointed by the President of the United States solely, shall take charge of the said library; who, previous to his entering upon the duties of his office, shall give bond, payable to the United States, in such a sum, and with such security, as the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, may deem sufficient, for the safe keeping of such books, maps, and furniture as may be confided to his care, and the faithful discharge of his trust, according to such regulations as may be, from time to time, established for the government of the said library; which said bond shall be deposited in the office of the Secretary of the Senate. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That no map shall be permitted to be taken out of the said library by any person; nor any book, except by the President and Vice President of the United States, and members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for the time being. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the keeper of the said library shall receive for his services, a sum not exceeding two dollars per diem for every day of necessary attendance; the amount whereof, together with the necessary expenses incident to the said library, after being ascer- tained by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives, for the time being, shall be paid out of the fund annually appropriated for the contingent expenses of both Houses of Congress. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the unexpended balance of the sum of five thousand dollars appropriated by the act of Congress afore- said, for the purchase of books and maps for the use of the two Houses of Congress, together with such sums as may hereafter be appropriated to the same purpose, shall be laid out under the direction of a joint com- mittee, to consist of three members of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives. Approved, January 26, 1802. THE LIBRARY ROOM AND OEEICERS. Until 1825 tbe question of a room for the Library was upper- most. In 1800 only the north wing of the Capitol was finished. The east side of this structure was occupied by the Senate; the west side by the House of Representatives. The books brought 23399—04 — 3 34 ESTABLISHMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. by Congress from Philadelphia and the books acquired in con- sequence of the act of April 24, 1800, were placed in the office of the Clerk of the Senate, a room 22 by 34 feet, and 21 feet high, south of the Senate Chamber. This arrangement was preserved during the second session of the Sixth Congress (November 17, 1800, to March 3, 1801). During the year 1801, however, a temporary structure was erected on the south for the use of the House of Representa- tives. Accordingly the room which had hitherto been occu- pied by that body — a room 86 by 35 feet, and 36 feet high, lighted by two ranges of windows and furnished with galleries — x was, by the act of January 26, 1802, devoted to the use of the Library, and the Secretary of the Senate having been instructed to sell the trunks in which the books lately purchased had been imported, these books and maps, together with the books or libraries which had been heretofore collected by the two Houses, were removed to their new quarters. Here the library remained until December, 1805. In accordance with the law of January 26, 1802, providing for the appointment of a Librarian by the President of the United States, at a salary not exceeding $2 per diem for every day of necessary attendance, President Jefferson on the 29th of January, 1802, appointed as Librarian his friend John Beckley, 2 a Virginian, the Clerk of the House of Representa- tives. Samuel Otis, the Secretary of the Senate, the Federalist candidate, and John McDonald, keeper of a circulating library in Philadelphia, were the unsuccessful applicants for the posi- tion. Beckley was Librarian of Congress during the period before its first removal from the library room (December 2, 1805). Before its restoration to the library room he died. 3 1 Report of James Hoban, Superintendent of the Capitol, of the state of that build- ing on the 18th of November, 1799. No. 9, in "Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting copies of letters from the Commissioners of the city of Wash- ington, with sundry documents, marked from No. 1 to io, inclusively, exhibiting a view of the receipts and expenditures of all monies entrusted to them, and of the progress and state of the business and funds under their administration, from the 18th of November, 1798, to the 18th of November, 1799, 5th of December, 1799," in State Papers 1799-1800. 2 There is a notice of Beckley in Aurora, March 14, 1800, and a biographical note in the Virginia Historical Society Collections n. s. 9: 64. 3 April 8, 1807. PLAN OF PRINCIPAL STORY OF CAPITOL IN 1800. History of the Library of Congress, vol. i, plate 3. THE OFFICE OF LIBRARIAN. 35 Though Beckley was appointed Librarian, the duties of that office seem to have been performed by Josias Wilson King, engrossing clerk in the office of the Clerk of the House from 1797 to December 31, 1805. This is shown by the following memorial from King presented in the House by Mr. Nicholson, of Maryland, February 18, 1806: "That at the first session of the Seventh Congress, immediately after the passage of the act concerning the Library for the use of both Houses of Congress, your memorialist was appointed assistant librarian to label, arrange, and take charge of the books of the said Library; that the memorialist accordingly performed the said duty, and also executed the trust reposed in him as a clerk in the office of the Clerk to the House at the same time. That the present Clerk of your honorable body, who was appointed Librarian by the President of the United States, agreed to divide equally the compensation with your memorialist allowed by the said act, during the time he continued to serve in the Library, but the memorialist has not hitherto received the said compensation, as he had a right to expect, although repeated applications have in vain been made therefor, from the year 1802 to the present time." * * * The Committee of Accounts, to whom the memorial was referred, reported unfavorably, and King was obliged to con- tent himself with his salary as engrossing clerk ($1,000 per annum). 1 PRESIDENT JEFFERSON AND THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS, 1802-1805. Consequent upon the act of January 26, 1802, a new Library Committee had been appointed 2 consisting of Messrs. Baldwin, Clinton, and Logan, on the part of the Senate, and Messrs. Nicholson, Bayard, and Randolph, on the part of the House. It was their duty to complete the task begun by the com- mittee appointed in April, 1800, which had, under the direc- tion of Samuel Dexter, made the first purchase of books for the Library of Congress. The chairman of the new com- mittee seems to have been Abraham Baldwin, Senator from 'Library of Congress Accession Book, 1800-1802. Library of Congress MSS. ac: 484. 2 In the House, March 5, 1802, and in the Senate, March ij. 36 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. Georgia and brother-in-law of Joel Barlow, at this time the possessor of one of the finest private libraries in America and projector of the scheme for a national university. Senator Baldwin was a graduate of Yale College, had been for four years instructor in that institution, and was considered one of the foremost classical and mathematical scholars of the age. 1 Under his direction the balance of $2,800, appropriated by the act of 1800, was expended; by what methods and in what manner the following letters from President Jefferson to Abraham Baldwin and the report of the Treasurer of the United States, January 10, 1806, published in the report of the Library Committee, January 20, 1806, will indicate: Jefferson to Baldwin, April 14., 1802. I have prepared a catalogue for the Library of Congress in conformity with your ideas that books of entertainment are not within the scope of it, and that books in other languages, where there are not translations of them, are not to be admitted freely. I have confined the catalogue to those branches of science which belong to the deliberations of the mem- bers as statesmen, and in these have omitted those classical books, ancient and modern, which gentlemen generally have in their private libraries, but which can not properly claim a place in a collection made merely for the purpose of reference. In history, I have confined the list to the chrono- logical works which give facts and dates with a minuteness not to be found in narratives composed for agreeable reading. Under the law of nature and nations, I have put down everything I know of worth pos- sessing, because this is a branch of science often under the discussion of Congress, and the books written in it not to be found in private libraries. In law I have set down only general treatises for the purpose of refer- ence. The discussions under this head in Congress are really so minute as to require and admit that reports and special treatises should be intro- duced. The parliamentary section I have imagined should be complete. It is only by having a law of proceedings and by every member having the means of understanding it for himself, and appealing to it, that he can be protected against caprice and despotism in the Chair. The two great encyclopedias form a compleat supplement for the sciences omitted in the present collection, should occasion happen to arrive for recurring to them. I have added a set of dictionaries in the different languages which may be often wanting. This catalogue combined with that you may approve in those offered by others, will enable you to form your general plan and to select from it every year, to the amount of the annual 1 There is a sketch of his career, with portrait, in the National Gallery of Portraits IV: 171. JEFFERSON'S PLAN FOR THE LIBRARY. 37 fuud, of those most wanting. In estimating the amount of an annual selection, folios may be slated as costing 1 J^ guineas, quarto a guinea, octavos 8 shillings, duodecimos 4 shillings, in England, and in France three-fourths of those prices, in neat but not splendid bindings." This bibliographical programme and the accompanying list of desiderata undoubtedly formed the basis of the purchases for the Library until 1806, for Albert Gallatin in his report as Treasurer, January, 1806, speaks of an unexpended balance for which the English agent, " Mr. Erving, is accountable and which it is understood is to be applied from time to time in the purchase of several scarce books, agreeable to a catalogue prepared, I believe, by the President of the United States." President Jefferson again showed his interest in the Library, in the following letter to Senator Baldwin, February 4, 1803: Mr. Dufief , a bookseller of Philadelphia, who possesses Doctor Frank- lin's library, has inclosed me the catalogue, with a desire that I should put it into the hands of the committee charged with procuring a library for Congress, with an offer of the whole or any part of it at what he says shall be moderate prices. My dealings with him 2 give me confidence that his prices would be moderate. Without presuming on the answer of the committee to this proposition, I have ventured to mark with a pencil a few particular books, which I imagine are worthy of their acquisition if they are not already in the Library. A return of the catalogue is asked when you have made of it the use which you may desire. 3 The report 4 from the Treasurer of the United States, January 10, 1806, showed that disbursements on the Library account had been made as follows: First, in payment of the first purchase made by Messrs. Bingham and Wain, $2,174.89 ; to Robert Gilmor, for freight charges and duties, $296.95; second, on account of subsequent purchases directed to be made in London, viz, to Jonathan Burrall, for the cost of a bill of £220 us. 9d. sterling remitted for that object 'Jefferson Papers, series 1, vol. 8, No. 322. The accompanying letter-press copy of the catalogue is quite illegible. 2 There are two series of letters from Dufief to Jefferson relating to the purchase of books among the Jefferson Papers, series 2, vol. 28, Nos. 1-34, and vol. 31, Nos. 3-37. 3 Jefferson Papers, series 2, vol. 7, No. vjA.. 4 Printed in the Senate report, January 20, 1806, of the " committee to whom was referred the order of the Senate of the 5th of December last, that inquiry be made whether a further appropriation ought not to be made for the augmentation of the Congressional Library." 38 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1800-1805. to George W. Erving, consul at London, $1,000; to R. Purviance, for freight and duty on a box of books sent by Erving, $45.24; third, on account of a purchase directed to be made in Paris, viz, to Jonathan Burrall, for cost of a bill of 2,439 guilders remitted to the bankers of the United States at Amsterdam, the proceeds to be at the disposal of Robert R. Livingston, minister of the United States at Paris, $1,000, leaving in the Treasury an unexpended balance of $482.92 of the appropriation of $5,000. In consequence of these orders and disbursements, four shipments of books had been received, three from London — the second and third from George W. Erving, consul at London, via Alexandria and Baltimore — and one from Robert R. Livingston, minister of the United States at Paris. A catalogue of the new accessions was published in 1802, with supplement in 1803; an ^- a new catalogue was published in 1804. Both of these catalogues were classified by size — folios, quartos, octavos, and duodecimos — and show the number of volumes and the estimated value of each. A newspaper notice in the National Intelligencer, February 13, 1804, indicates the place which the Library had gained in popular esteem during this period. It says: CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY. This collection already embraces near 1,500 volumes of the most rare and valuable works in different languages. We observe with pleasure that authors and editors of books, maps, and charts begin to find that, by placing a copy of their works on the shelves of this institution they do more to diffuse a knowledge of them than is generally accomplished by catalogues and advertisements. CATALOGUE. N°. FOLIO'a. No. of Vols. Value, as near as can be estimated. 48 53 SS 61 62 63 64 65 66 1G8 1SG 200 201 202 206 20r 212 5 9 13 19 21 23 25 28 Biographia Britannica, .... Coxe's Travels in Switzerland, - - State Trials, - - . .... Atlas to Crutwell's Gazetteer, - - Atlas to Guthrie's System of Geogra- phy. - American Atlas, ....... Plates to Cook's third Voyage, - - Plates to Macartney's Embassy to China, -' - - "- ■."". .' - . Journals, of die Lords and Commons, with the rolls and reports complete, Additional from the respective Library of the Senate and House of Represen- tatives. Journals House Commons, ... State Trials, .-.-..... ■», Coke upon Littleton, . - - » « * - Mortimer's Dictionary, - - - - . Chambers' Dictionary, .... Index to Chambers' Dictionary, Maritime Atlas, ....... Atlas to Guthrie's Geography, - . QUARTO's. Smith's Thucydides, ..... Hamptons' Poiybius, - - ._ - - Spellman's Dionysius^ - - - - - Murphey's Tacitus, ..... Gibbon's Roman Empire, . . . . Dayilla's History of France by Farne- : worth, ......... Roscce's Lorenzo de Medici, . - Clavingero's History of Mexico, - - Robertson's Charles, ... - - Robertson's America, WHOLE SET. 5 2 11 102 18 u - 1 1 4 1 5 1 2 2 4 4 6 2 2 o 3 2 Dollars. 60 40 HI 300 54 112 10 10 36 9 35 10 10 14 28 30 54 24 24 24 18 24 EACH BOOK. Dollars. 12 SO 10 5 7 7 7 50 9 12 12 12 6 13 FACSIMILE OF CATALOGUE OF 1S02, SHOWING EARLY METHOD OF CLASSIFICATION. History of the Library of Congress, vol. 1, plate 4. GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814 39 Chapter Three growth of the library, 1805-1814 The L/ibrary Committee had recommended (December 18, 1 801) that the books, the larger number of which, recently imported, had been hitherto stored in trunks, be set up in portable cases with handles to them for the purpose of easy removal. The wisdom of this advice soon became evident, for in the year 1805 it was found necessary to replace the temporary structure erected for the House of Representatives, popularly known, because of its shape, as the " Oven or Ellip- tic Room," by a permanent structure which should form the south wing of the Capitol, and, during the progress of the alterations, to accommodate the House in its old quarters in the Library room. For this purpose the civil-appropriations act, approved March 1, 1805, provided $700 for dismantling the Library room and fitting it up for the accommodation of the House at the ensuing session, and $900 for the removal of the Library, all other contingent expenses of the same, and Librarian's allowance for the year 1805. In consequence of this, the Library was removed to the committee room adjoin- ing on the south. 1 Here it appears to have remained until the beginning of 18 10, for after the completion of the south wing, October 6, 1807, the north wing required rebuilding. While the Senate side was undergoing repair, the old Library room just vacated by the House was occupied first by the Supreme Court (October 6, 1807, to March 3, 1809), and then by the Senate (May 22, 1809, to May 1, 1810). 2 "Report of the committee to whom was referred on trie 22d ultimo the message of the President of the United States, communicating a report (February 28, 1804) of the surveyor of the public buildings at the city of Washington, March 6, 1804. 'Message from the President of the United States communicating a report (Novem- ber 25, 1806) of the surveyor of public buildings at the city of Washington, on the subject of the said building. Read December 15, 1806. In Ninth Congress, second session, reports 1: n. Report of the committee appointed to confer with the sur- veyor of public buildings relative to the accommodation of the Senate at the next meeting of Congress, February 18, 1809. 4i 42 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. The Library side of the north wing now required attention. The decay of the timber of the roof and of the floor was such as to prevent any effectual security against leakage and ren- der partial repair impossible. Moreover the room in which the Library had been located had become too small for the books already purchased, which were obliged to be piled about in heaps. Accordingly the surveyor of the public buildings asked for an appropriation of $25,000 with which to carry up the Library side of the building solidly, and promised that if the appropriation were made the Library would be fitted up and ready for the reception of the books before the session of 1810-11. The Library would consist of a main library room calculated to contain not less than 40,000 books shelved against its walls in three stages or galleries, a private reading room for members of the Legislature, and two storerooms for unbound books, pamphlets, and deposited copies of the laws, etc. 1 The only response was the insertion of a clause in the civil- appropriations act, approved March 3, 1809, providing for "temporary and adequate accommodations for the Library, in the room now used for that purpose and in the one in which the Senate now sits," the sum of $5,ooo. 2 Again, on December 11, 1809, the surveyor of the public buildings called the attention of Congress to this subject, saying: I again beg leave to call your attention to the west side of this wing. It is intended to contain the library, and is in such a state of decay throughout as to render it dangerous to postpone the work proposed. It is now the only part of the Capitol that remains to be solidly rebuilt. But independently of this consideration, the increasing extent of the Library of Congress induces me to represent to you the necessity of con- structing rooms intended permanently to contain it. Should the work 'Message from the President of the United States transmitting a report of the sur- veyor of the public buildings of the United States in the city of Washington, Decem- ber i, 1808. Read December 2, 1808, and ordered to lie on the table. In Tenth Congress, second session, reports, p. n. ' David B. Warden, a visitor in Washington before his appointment as consul at Paris, March 3, 1811, speaks of the Library as being located under the Senate Cham- ber. Chorographical and statistical description of the District of Columbia, Paris, 1816, p. 35. The Senate occupied the basement below the Library room from October 6, 1807, to March 3, 1809. cu < u K X i- O Pi O S-| ■j; < u s a, W X o z < QUESTION OF LIBRARY ROOM. 43 be commenced in the approaching season, the books may be removed, and the library and reading rooms be fitted up for use by the session after next. 1 These appeals were without further effect until January 5, 181 1, when, on motion of Mr. Seybert in the House of Repre- sentatives, a committee was appointed to provide for the safe- keeping of the books which belonged to the Library of Con- gress, and Mr. Seybert, Mr. Quincy, and Mr. Macon appointed the committee. On the 8th of January the President commu- nicated a letter to the Senate, signed Adam Seybert, in behalf of the above committee, stating that the books in the Library were in great danger of being ruined in consequence of leaks in the roof of the building, and asking permission to place them for a time in one of the committee rooms belonging to the Senate; and the letter being read, it was " Resolved, That the Senate comply with the request contained therein, and assign their largest committee room for the purpose." On January 17, on motion of Mr. Seybert in the House of Representatives, and on the 21st, on motion of Mr. Leib in the Senate, it was "Resolved, That the joint committee appointed by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States, respecting the Library belonging thereto, be directed to inquire into the expediency of making pro- vision for the permanent safe-keeping of the books." In consequence of these efforts the civil-appropriations act, approved February 20, 181 1, provided for repairing the roof and fitting up the room on the west side of the north wing of the Capitol the sum of $600, in addition to $800 for all contingent expenses of the Library and for the Librarian's allowance. The war of 181 2 now threatened, and Congress ceased to make any appropriations for public buildings. On the 24th of August, 1814, the Library was destroyed by the British troops, the wooden interior and shingled roof mak- ing of the Library rooms a mere tinder box. 2 'Message from the President of the United States, transmitting a report of the sur- veyor of the public buildings (December 11, 1809). Read December 21, 1809. In Eleventh Congress, second session, reports 1809-10, 1: 11. 2 Rev. George R. Gleig, a chaplain in the British army, gives a confused account of the Capitol, including the Library rooms, in his Narrative of the Campaigns of the British army at Washington, Phila., 1821, p. 138. 44 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. ADMINISTRATION OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. The death of John Beckley, April 8, 1807, left the office of librarian of Congress vacant. With respect to this vacancy President Jefferson wrote to the Secretary of War, Henry Dearborn, April 21, 1807: "With respect to the office of Librarian, I have thought it best generally to give it to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who being dependent on the House is, of course, bound to be complaisant to the members. In the present case I am strongly disposed to depart from the rule in favor of William Mayne Duncanson. He was in the very worst days of terror one of the four or five who alone stood their ground as Republicans in Washington and Georgetown. He is, I think, a very honest man, came here a very wealthy one, has been swindled out of his whole property, and now is in real distress. He is warm in his temper, and on account of some communications with Colonel Smith in Miranda's affair and perhaps some acquaintance with Burr might, I fear, be rather unpopular with the mem- bers. But my confidence is that he would be and has been an honest man in all his purposes. I am a little puzzled, therefore, between doubt and inclination." J It was, however, decided not to separate the two offices of Librarian of Congress and Clerk of the House of Represent- atives as yet, and Patrick Magruder, appointed Beckley's successor as Clerk of the House, of Representatives, October 26, 1807, received also the appointment of Librarian of Con- gress, November 7, 1807. 2 During the sessions of Congress Magruder appears to have employed one James Kearney as assistant librarian, for a letter from him, dated Library of Congress, April 8, 1808, addressed to the Hon. S. L. Mitchill, chairman of the Joint Committee of the Library of Congress, beginning " the following donations to the Library have been received since the last report of the Library Committee" (February 11, 1807), is printed in the report of the Com- •Jefferson MSS., series 1, vol. 12, No. 132. I am indebted to Mr. Henry Adams the historian, for reference to this letter. 2 December 12, 1808, J. P. Reibelt, formerly of Baltimore, wrote from New Orleans to Jefferson, asking to be appointed Librarian. Jefferson Papers, series 2, vol. 71, Nos. 125-126. PLANS OF THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE. 45 mittee, dated April 11, 1808. At the time of the invasion of Washington, in 1814, J. T. Frost was acting as assistant librarian. While the custody of the Library was thus conferred upon a Librarian, the most important duties of the office as now conceived, i. e., the bibliographical, devolved upon the Library Committee. At the beginning of the second session of the Ninth Con- gress, December 6, 1805, the Senate "Resolved, That a com- mittee be appointed to inquire into the expediency of appro- priating a further sum of money to purchase maps and books for the Library," and "Ordered, That Messrs. Mitchill, Bald- win, and Tracy be the committee." The chairman of this committee was Dr. Samuel Latham Mitchill, celebrated as the Nestor of American science, called by President Jefferson "the Congressional dictionary" and by John Randolph "the Congressional Library." There is a legend which runs as follows: One day Mr. Dana, of Connect- icut, who was also distinguished for learning, wishing to con- fer with Doctor Mitchill on committee business, was looking for him at the door of the House when he met Mr. Randolph. "I am looking," said Mr. Dana, "for our 'stalking library.'" "Are you?" said Randolph; "I have just heard him inquiring for his 'index.'" 1 A report was at once drawn up by this committee under the direction of Doctor Mitchill and presented to the Senate on the 20th of January, 1806. After narrating the legislative history of the Library and presenting a statement from Albert Gallatin, Treasurer of the United States, describing the manner in which the appropriation made in the year 1800 had been expended, 2 this report referred to the need for a fur- ther appropriation for the Library in the following words: Every member knows that the inquiries of standing and select com- mittees can not here be aided by large public libraries, as in New York, 'John W. Francis, "Reminiscences of Samuel Latham Mitchill," New York, 1859; Harper 1 s Magazine 58: 740; Historical Magazine 1: 358. "January 3, 1806, Gallatin wrote to Jefferson, saying that the Library Committee desired information as to expenditures, observing that Erving and Livingston had not accounted to the Treasury, and inquiring whether they had rendered their accounts to the President. Jefferson Papers, series 3, vol. 6, No. 1. 46 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Nor has it hitherto appeared that so much benefit is to be derived from private collections "at the present seat of Government as in those large cities. Every week of the session causes additional regret that the volumes of literature and science within the reach of the National Legislature are not more rich and ample. The want of geographical illustration is truly distressing; and the deficiency of historical and political works is scarcely less severely felt. There is, however, no danger of realizing the story of a parliamentum indoctum in this country, especially if steps be seasonably taken to furnish the Library with such materials as will enable statesmen to be correct in their investigations, and, by a becoming display of erudition and research, give a higher dignity and a brighter luster to truth." In consequence of this report a bill making a further appro- priation for the support of the Library was at once drawn up, discussed in Committee of the Whole, and amended on the 28th; on the 31st read the third time and passed; 2 and on February 3d read in the House of Representatives for the third time and passed. 3 This act was as follows: AN ACT Making further appropriation for the support of a Library. Be it enacted, &c, That in addition to the unexpended balance of the former appropriation made to purchase books for the use of Congress, which is hereby revived and continued, there shall be appropriated the sum of one thousand dollars yearly, for the term of five years; to be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and expended under the direction of a joint committee, to consist of three members of the Senate, and three members of the House of Representa- tives, to be appointed every session of Congress, during the continuance of this appropriation. 4 Approved, February 21, 1806. The Joint Library Committee appointed in accordance with this law consisted of Senators Mitchill, Baldwin, and Adams, appointed February 25, 1806, and of Representatives Joseph Clay, Thomas M. Randolph, and Dana, appointed February 27. . "Annals 15: 54-55; Ninth Congress, first session, Reports. State Papers, Miscel- laneous, 1: 437. In his Economica (p. 21), published in Washington in 1806, Samuel Blodget suggested to Congress the desirability of passing "a law to augment the National Library, for the benefit of the Legislature." 3 Annals 15: 74, 80. 3 Annals T 5: 4*6, 462. ••Annals 15: 1227. This act was continued by the act of December 6, 1811, forfive years more. Annals 22: 957, 965; 23: 24, 25, 397. WORK OF THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE. 47 Its work is illustrated in an interesting manner by the Memoirs of John Quincy Adams. In these he writes, March 12, 1806: "Met the Joint Committee on the Library — Mr. Mitchill, Mr. Baldwin, and myself, of the Senate; Mr. J. Clay, Mr. T. M. Randolph, and Mr. Dana, of the House. All pres- ent. We passed two or three votes and are to meet again. We sat late, and when I went into the Senate I found that the South Carolina tonnage bill had passed to a third reading while I was absent." March 31, 1806: "Met the Joint Committee on the Library, and we made some further progress in our business. We agreed that the principal part of the fund appropriated this year should be expended by Doctor Mitchill, Mr. Clay, and myself during the recess in collecting books in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, as the occasion may offer. We are to meet again." An extract from the minutes of the committee, signed by the members of the committee, and preserved among the archives of the Library, evidently refers to the business of this meeting. It reads: "Ordered, That Samuel L. Mitchill, John Quincy Adams, and Joseph Clay be each authorized to draw on Joseph Nourse, agent for the joint committee, for any sum not exceeding $494, to be accounted for to the said agent, at the ensuing session of Congress." On the nth of February, 1807, the Library Committee made the following report upon its work of the preceding year. It said: The committee were successful in procuring the consent of Joseph Nourse, esq. , to be their agent to hold the money, and drew upon the Treasury in his favor for the amount appropriated. Messrs. Mitchill, Adams, and Clay were then nominated agents to expend the money con- formably to the directions of the law. To each of them was allotted a specific sum, with an understanding that books should be purchased in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia; the articles bought in pursuance of this authority have been placed in the library, except one box of books, which has been unfortunately lost on its passage from Boston to Washington, by the foundering at sea of the vessel on board of which it had been shipped. * * * 48 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. In conclusion, it added: The members of the two Houses are respectfully requested to furnish lists of good and proper books, and to suggest hints for the improvement of the Library. All communications on these subjects may be addressed to the Librarian, who will transmit them to the committee. Mr. Adams's diary continues: "February 2S, /Soy. — Met Doctor Mitchill and Mr. Dana, of the Library Committee, in the Library. Mr. Baldwin and Mr. T. M. Randolph are both unwell and were not able to attend. Mr. J. Clay is absent, and being appointed cashier of a new bank in Philadelphia will probably resign his seat in Congress. We could not form a majority of the committee, but directed an order to be drawn on the Treasurer for the amount of the annual appro- priation, and agreed to meet again Monday morning." "November 20, 180 7. — The Library Committee of last session were to meet at 10 this morning, but only three members, Doctor Mitchill, Mr. Dana, and myself attended. Mr. Clay, though notified, did not come, and we have lost two members — Mr. Baldwin by death, and Mr. T. M. Randolph, who is not a member of the present Congress. We agreed, however, that Doctor Mitchill, the chairman, should prepare a report to be made to the two Houses; that Mr. Dana should super- intend the making and printing of a new list of the books, and that Doctor Mitchill and myself should confer with the President respecting the place for keeping the Library." 1 CHARACTER OF THE LIBRARY IN 1814. In consequence of this activity of the Library Committee, there was expended for books between March 25, 1807, an d March 11, 1808, the sum of $1,149.20, and between June 8 and December 8, 1808, the sum of $1, 133.01. 2 During the same period 31 donations, mostly from Senators and authors, were made to the Library. Complete lists of the books in the Library, including these acquisitions, were published in the catalogues of 1808 and 181 2. In the second of these cat- alogues short titles of some 3,000 volumes are entered. The old system of classification by size only is abandoned and the 'Memoirs, edited by C. F. Adams, Philadelphia, 1S74, I: 420, 424, 463, 478. 2 Reports of the Library Committee, April 11, 1808, and January 27, 1809. CHARACTER OF THE LIBRARY IN 1814. 49 books are arranged by size under the following captions: Sacred history; ecclesiastical history; civil history, includ- ing chronology, biography, antiquities, etc.; geography and topography; voyages and travels; law; ethics, or the moral system in general; theology and mythology; logic, rhet- oric, and criticism; dictionaries, grammars and treatises on education ; general and local politics ; political economy, etc.; trade and commerce ; military and naval tactics ; agriculture rural economy, etc.; natural history; natural and experi- mental philosophy, etc.; medicine, surgery, and chemistry; poetry and the drama; works of fiction, wit, etc.; arts and sciences, and miscellaneous literature ; gazettes, maps, charts, and plans. Samuel Knapp ' observed that journals, laws, and state papers were about all the Representatives of the United States could have access to in their public reading room until the Jefferson library was purchased. An examination of the early catalogues does not, however, bear out such a conclusion. On the other hand, the collection may be said to have represented general literature better than it did polit- ical literature. 2 There were several reasons for this. The legislators of that time were without academic training in politics, they found their precedents in the poetry, not in the legislation of the past, their political arguments in the verses of Greek and Roman writers, not in the principles of political economy, or of constitutional or international law. This being true, it was natural that members of Congress should require a collection of books of the most general character. Another important reason for the general character of the collection lay in the fact that there was at this time no public library in the city. It was because there were no other sources of amusement that the Library, before 1814, and indeed later, was much resorted to as a place of relaxation. 'Sketches of Public Characters, 1830, p. 117. 2 Walsh's American Register, copied by the Washington City Weekly Gazette, July 12, 1817, and by the Intelligencer, July 14, said that the Library consisted of the best English works on history, politics, and polite literature. 23399—04 4 50 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL LIBRARY. An account of the acquisitions of the Library before 18 14 would be incomplete without some reference to the collections which it failed to acquire. It was partly the inexperience of the Library Committee and partly, as a later committee reported, 1 the inconsiderable sums put from time to time at their disposal that rendered them unable to avail themselves of the many opportunities which were offered, on account of the political revolutions in Europe, of purchasing large collections of very valuable books at the lowest prices. In the same way may be explained their failure to secure and thus preserve the invaluable collection of American topog- raphy made by Col. William Tatham. Colonel Tatham was the first to define the functions of a national library of the United States. In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, dated Jefferson street, Georgetown, February 10, 1806, he recommended that all ancient works, tracts, etc., as well as all new materials relating to American history, should be carefully collected, classed, and arranged; and in addition, books and proceedings of foreign agricultural boards and societies, books on commerce, particularly those relative to roads, river and canal navigation. In this same letter he offered to sell his library to the Government of the United States. This collection, accumulated during thirty years of public service in America and in Burope, embraced manuscripts relating to the history, topography, commercial, agricultural, and hydraulic improvements of this country; surveys com- prehending nearly all the surveys known to have been made in North America by the topographical engineers of Bngland, France, and Spain, prior to the American Revolution, describ- ing adjacent countries about the Lakes, Canada, the St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, and Labrador to the northward and westward, and in the Floridas and Louisiana, including the Mississippi and the Mobile, to the southward and westward, besides a very extensive collection made within the United States, including the documents for completing Tatham's large "January 16, 1816. OFFER OF TATHAM COLLECTION OF AMERICANA. 5 1 and smaller maps of the Southern States, his James River navigation, and State of Virginia, his divisions of the South- ern and Western States, his Northern States and United States, and his proposed American atlas on 100 plates; also plans and drawings of perhaps nearly all the towns, suburbs, harbors, environs of fortified places, etc., topographically delineated, together with the plans, sections, and elevations of the barracks, fortifications, etc., of each; among them many of the original documents of General Wolfe and of others who served under and succeeded him in Canada, on the Lakes, on the Mississippi, etc., with plans, sections, and the elevations of blockhouses and other works; also all the similar docu- ments of the operations in Florida, together with most part of the collection of the late British engineer General Montresor, with many of the originals of General Howe's campaigns in the Jerseys, with a few landscapes of interesting parts of the country — aqueducts, engineering and architectural drawings, etc. Of engravings there was a considerable collection on both large and small scales, in portfolios and on separate sheets, of various port improvements, containing all those recently made in London from the actual surveys of the city, parliamentary surveys and reports, the surveys of eminent engineers, their reports, estimates, etc.; a large collection on the subject of bridge building, all the late designs for bridges, docks, quays, etc., collected and engraved at parliamentary expense on very large and highly finished plates; many other bridges, aqueducts, mill works, waterworks, etc., with many machines and contrivances for saving and abridging animal labor in various agricultural, commercial, and mechanical employments, together with an extensive assortment of locks, basins, canals, river and road plans of various descriptions, and examples from other parts of Europe, etc., with many interesting descriptions of the most suitable instruments, tools, utensils, and apparatus in these pursuits. Of his books Tatham wrote: This small library (allowed by many men of science to be the com- pletest of its kind) has been selected from the great mass in London and other places, by many years of research, industry, perseverance, and sacrifice of time and expense by the proposer in person. It consists of a few hundred volumes, perhaps most of which are not to be had else- 52 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. where, as they are chiefly books out of print, and others the result of of actual operations, facts, and experience, brought forward by profes- sional men of superior talents at the public expense, or at the charge of incorporate companies, societies, wealthy proprietors, etc. These have been carefully collected together, classed, arranged, and bound in vol- umes suitable to the respective topics on which they treat, and suitable tables of contents added to each collective volume in manuscript. They are wholly scientific and useful, it having been an invariable rule with the selector to reject plays, farces, novels, romances, fabulous stories, and all that trash and fashionable nonsense which tends to give a contaminated tone to the popular morals and habits; to disseminate indolence, dissipation, immorality, vice, artificial wants, false luxury, envy, hatred, ambition, mental inquietude, individual strife, and the more lamentable mania of foreign wars, bloodshed, and contention, too Often about a mere definition of words and terms which both parties would construe alike under the governance of reason. The subjects treated of, and relative, are agriculture, horticulture, irrigation, drainage and embankments, commerce, finance, internal economy, domestic and rural economy, architecture in general, rural, hydraulic, military, and maritime architecture, arithmetic, mathematics, surveying, leveling, mechanics, hydraulics, hydrostatics, pneumatics, natural and experimental philosophy, and those sciences in particular which relate to civil engineering, chemistry of nature and art, the use of instruments, apparatus, and machines for saving labor, canal navigation, river navigation, and roads, parliamentary proceedings and reports in these respects, the works of governments, incorporated companies, and engineers throughout the world, the more detailed knowledge of water works, mill works, engines, etc. , the knowledge of tides and land floods, with the means of converting their mechanical powers to useful purposes, and of counteracting their evils by efficient means. The whole deduced from the results of practice and actual experience. In general and local history and topography, the collection has been chiefly confined to domestic matter (more peculiarly applicable to our public economy), and to that which is immediately relative on either our Atlantic or Pacific coasts, or in the interior. In the latter, Canada, Hudson's Bay, the Russian confines, California, Mexico, South America, Louisiana, and the Floridas have been attended to, and will be found copious and instructive. On the subject of public institutions, useful societies, public boards, charities, useful economical improvements, the economy of public roads, the general and local jurisdiction of the public sewers and estuaries, and metropolitan police, there has been a careful selection, as there has been also a tolerably complete one of contemporary facts during the revolution of America, brought into a few chronological volumes. 1 1 Report from the committee appointed on the 10th of February last, on the letter of William Tatham to the Speaker, April 1, 1806. Read and ordered to lie on the table. Washington, A. & G. Way, 1806. Ninth Congress, first session. 23 pp. 8°. OFFER OF TATHAM COLLECTION OF AMERICANA. 53 The committee to whom this letter was referred, feeling that in affairs of war the experience of their predecessors was peculiarly valuable, and considering the value of the Tatham collection, recommended the following resolution: "That in addition to the appropriation already made by law, a sum not exceeding dollars be appropriated as a part of the fund for the purchase of books, maps, and charts for the Department of War, to enable the Secretary of War to purchase from William Tatham such parts of his collection as may be, in the judgment of the Secretary, of public use, to be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. ' ' The report was, however, laid upon the table. There are further notices of the collection, at that time stored in Tatham's house near the Treasury, in the National Intelligencer, November 6, 1813, and March 25, 1814. On the 10th of February, 181 7, a committee recommended in the House the appropriation of the sum of $5,000 for the pur- chase of the collection. This recommendation, too, failed. On the 22d of February, 1819, the unfortunate genius, then a resident of Richmond, committed suicide. The Enquirer, February 25, 1819, speaking of the event, observed: "He left a valuable stock of maps, plates, charts, and explanatory manuscripts, filling six rooms of his house, which it is hoped will be carefully preserved." 1 We have named those who held the office of librarian before 18 14, and we have described the bibliographical activity of the Library Committee; it remains for us to speak of the development of the functions of the Library and of the rules and regulations governing its administration during the first period of its existence. •There is an obituary of Tatham in the Georgetown Messenger, February 26, 1819; an autobiographical sketch in the Richmond Enquirer, March 2, 1819, reprinted in the City of Washington Gazette, March 4. There is a good biographical sketch in Public Characters, 1801-2, 2d ed., London, 1804, pp. 424-450. There are letters from Tatham to Madison regarding this collection, March 16, June 26, December 7, 1812, April 18, 1814, April 1, 1815, among the Madison MSS. It is possible that a part of this collection was acquired by Peter Force and transferred with his library to the Library of Congress in 1867. 54 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS. Before 1805 the collection of public documents, local and national, of the United States and of foreign countries had been left to the caprice of the irresponsible individual. On the 2d of January, 1805, however, the following act for the disposal of certain copies of the journals and of the laws of the United States was approved: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That three hundred copies of the laws of the United States, which have been procured by the Secre- tary of State, in obedience to the law passed for that purpose, and three hundred copies of the journals of Congress, which have been procured in pursuance of the resolution of the second of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, shall be placed in the Library of Congress. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Senate, for the time being, be, and he is hereby, authorized to receive three hun- dred copies of the laws of the United States, out of the thousand copies reserved by law for the disposal of Congress, as soon as the same shall be printed after each session; which he shall cause to be placed in the library, and assorted respectively with the sets of copies mentioned in the first section of this act; excepting only, that at the close of the pres- ent session, which will complete the eighth Congress, and in like man- ner after each particular session in future, which shall complete a Congress, he shall cause the several copies, reserved by him as aforesaid, for all the sessions for each respective Congress, to be bound in one vol- ume, making three hundred volumes for each Congress, as aforesaid; which he shall cause to be placed in the library, assorted with the respec- tive sets of copies mentioned in the first section of this act. And the sev- eral copies of the laws and journals of Congress, mentioned in this act shall not be taken out of the library, except by the President and Vice President of the United States, and members of the Senate and House of Representatives for the time being. And the expense of binding shall be paid, from time to time, out of the fund appropriated to defray the contingent expenses of both Houses of Congress. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, be, and they are hereby, empowered to establish such regulations and restrictions in relation to the copies of the laws and journals of Congress, directed by this act to be placed in the library, as to them shall seem proper, and from time to time to alter and amend the same: Provided, That no regu- lation nor restriction shall be valid, which is repugnant to the provisions contained in this act. DEVELOPMENT OF COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS. 55 In 1809 this provision for the preservation of the laws of the United States and journals of the two Houses of Congress was supplemented by a measure providing for the preservation of all documents laid before Congress. On February 1, Mr. Burwell in the House of Representatives moved the following resolution: "That the Clerk of this House be instructed to furnish the Librarian of Congress with two complete sets of all documents laid before Congress at each session," which was laid on the table. On the following day, on motion of Mr. Burwell, the House proceeded to consider the resolution, and the same was amended on the several motions of Mr. Macon and Mr. Marion, to read as follows: "Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be instructed to furnish the Librarian of Congress with two complete sets of the journals and all documents and reports laid before Congress at each session." Then a motion was made by Mr. Durell further to amend the said resolutions by adding to the end thereof the words following: "and to transmit to the secretary of each of the States in the Union, and of the Territories thereof, one such set for the use of said States and Territories, respectively." But this was lost, and on motion of Mr. Stanford the resolu- tion, as amended, was referred to a select committee to con- sider and report upon to the House. On the 6th of February, the committee consisting of Messrs. Burwell, Stanford, and Bly reported, and it was "Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be directed to furnish the Library of Congress with two sets of the journals and of all printed reports and public documents laid before Congress, or either House, at each EXTENSION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF THE LIBRARY. The House of Representatives was the leader in enlarging the functions of the Library in another direction. From the first the Senate had stood for appropriations large enough to enable the Library to fulfill its functions as a Congressional Library. On the other hand, the House of Representatives had stood for an enlargement of the sphere of service of the Library — for the extension of the privileges of the Library, "Annals 19: 1270, 1301, 1375. 56 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. not only to tie President and Vice-President of the United States, but also to the heads of Departments, the Attorney- General, judges of the Supreme Court and of the district court of the District of Columbia, and foreign ministers, and, by inference, the development of the Library along the wider lines dictated by the extension of the privileges of the Library to readers of wider interests. The first step in this direction subsequent to the act of 1802 was taken in the House, February 19, 1806. On that day it was "Resolved, That a committee be appointed to consider the propriety of amend- ing the fourth section of the Act of 1802 so as to extend the privilege of taking books out of the Library to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Attorney-General of the United States; and that the committee have leave to report by bill, or otherwise. Ordered, That Messrs. Joseph Clay, Nicholson, and John C. Smith be appointed a committee, pursuant to the said resolution." On the following day this committee reported by bill, which, after several amendments in Committee of the Whole, was read the third time and passed, February 25. r On the same day a message from the House informed the Senate of the passage of this bill, in which they desired the concurrence of the Senate. On the following day, 2 accord- ingly, the Senate referred the bill to a committee consisting of Messrs. Anderson, Baldwin, and Mitchill to consider and report upon, which, on the 7th of March, they did, without amendment. But after consideration in Committee of the Whole, 3 the measure was lost on the third reading. 4 On the 27th of April, 1810, however, on motion of Mr. Lloyd in the Senate, a bill to amend the fourth section of the act of 1802 passed the Senate, and on the 30th of April the House, yeas 53, nays 32, as follows: 5 AN ACT In addition to an act entitled "An act concerning the Library for the use of both Houses of Congress." Be it enacted, &c. , That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, be, and they are hereby, authorized to grant the use of the books in the Library of Congress, to 'Annals 15: 480, 482, 497. "February 26. 3 March 11. *March 14. Annals 15: 140-141, 165, 182, 184. s Annals 21: 1997, 2017. EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGES OF LIBRARY. 57 the Agent of the Joint Committee of Congress, appointed in relation to the Library, on the same terms, conditions, and restrictions as members of Congress are allowed to use said books, anything contained in any former law to the contrary, notwithstanding. Approved, May 1, 1810. 1 On the 26th of February, 1812, the following resolution, in the form of a joint resolution of the two Houses of Congress, was submitted by Mr. Seybert in the House of Representatives: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the Sen- ate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, be, and they are hereby, authorized to grant the use of the books in the Library of Congress to the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, at the time and on the same terms, conditions and restrictions, as members of Congress are allowed to use said books. On the following day, the 27th of February, the resolution was read the third time in the House and passed. 2 On the same day a message from the House informed the Senate of the passage of the resolution, and requested the concurrence of the Senate. On motion of Mr. Lloyd, accordingly, the reso- lution was read three times by unanimous consent, and was concurred in, 3 and on March 2, 181 2, approved, 4 in the form in which it had been introduced. On the same day, March 2, the Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Chief Justice of the United States, in behalf of the justices of the Supreme Court, acknowledging the favor which Congress had conferred upon them. 5 It was a favor, Ben: Perley Poore says in his Reminiscences, 6 which Chief Justice Marshall prized very highly. "He liked to wait upon himself, rather than to be served by the Librarian, and one day in taking a law book from the upper shelf of an alcove, he pulled down a dozen ponderous tomes, one of which struck him on the forehead with such force that he fell pros- trate. An assistant librarian, who hastened to the old gentle- man's assistance, found him slightly stunned by the fall but he soon recovered and declined to be aided to his feet, saying with a merry twinkle in his eye, ' I've laid down the law out of the law books many a time in my long life, but this is the "Annals 21: 2587. 3 Annals 23: 130. s Annals 23: 1116. 2 Annals 23: 1 105-1 107, 1 1 16. 4 Annals 24: 2362. 6 Page43. 58 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. first time they have laid me down.' And he remained seated upon the floor, surrounded by the books which he had pulled down, until he found what he sought and made a note thereof." RULES OF THE LIBRARY BEFORE 1814. In the catalogue of the Library published in 1808 the fol- lowing Rules and Regulations to be observed in the Library of Congress are to be found: I. The Library shall be open every day during the session of Congress, and for one week preceding and subsequent thereto, Sundays excepted, from 9 o'clock in the morning to 3 in the afternoon, and from 5 o'clock to 7 in the evening. II. In the recess of Congress, it shall be opened three days in every week, during the hours aforesaid, to wit, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. III. It shall be the duty of the Librarian to label and number the books, place them on the shelves, and preserve due lists and catalogues of the same. He shall also keep due account and register of all issues and returns of books as the same shall be made, together with regular accounts of all expenses incident to the said Library and which are authorized by law. IV. Books, to be issued by the Librarian pursuant to law, shall be returned as follows: A folio within three weeks, a quarto within two weeks, an octavo or duodecimo within one week, and no member shall receive more than one folio, one quarto, or two octavos or duodecimos within the terms aforesaid, unless where so connected as to be otherwise useless. V. For all books issued 1 a receipt or note shall be given, of double the value thereof as near as can be estimated, conditioned to return the same undefaced within the term above mentioned or to forfeit the amount of such note; at the expiration of which, unless application has been made by another person for the same book and the Librarian requested to take memorandum thereof, the said Librarian, upon the books being pro- duced to him, may renew the issue of the same for the time and on the conditions aforesaid: Provided, That every receipt or note shall con- tain a further forfeiture or penalty for every day's detention of a book beyond the specified term — that is to say, for a folio, $3 per day; a quarto, $2 per day; an octavo, $1 per day, 2 which forfeiture or penalty may, for good cause, be remitted by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, in whole or in part, as the case may require. 'Rules of 1812: "to any person, except a member of Congress." 'Rules of 1812: Folio, Jti; quarto, 50 cents; octavo, 25 cents per day. Rules of 1816: Folio, 20 cents; quarto, 10 cents; octavo, 5 cents. RULES OF THE LIBRARY BEFORE 1814. 59 VI. When a member shall prefer to take a book for the limited time without removing it from the Library, he shall be allowed to do so with- out giving a receipt or note for the same, and to preserve his priority for the use of such book for the time limited, in like manner as if he had withdrawn the book from the Library and given a receipt or note there- for. And the Librarian shall keep due account and entry of all such cases. VII. Books returned shall be delivered to the Librarian to be exam- ined whether damaged or not. VIII. If a book be returned damaged, the party returning it shall not be entitled to receive another until the damage for the first shall be satisfied. IX. No book shall be issued within one week * of the termination of any session of Congress. X. All books shall be returned three days 2 before the close of the ses- sion, whether the time allowed for the use thereof be expired or not. Rules and regulations to be observed in the Library of Congress for issuing, disposing, and safe-keeping of the laws and journals of Congress, deposited in the said Library, pursuant to the act of Congress of the 2d offanuary, 1805. I. During a session of Congress the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives shall, on their respective respon- sibility, be entitled to receive for the use of their respective Houses, that is to say, the Secretary of the Senate six sets of the said laws and jour- nals and the Clerk of the House of Representatives eight sets; those for the Senate to be distributed, one set for the President's table, two sets for the Secretary's table, and the other three sets for committees of the Senate; those for the House of Representatives, one set for the Speaker's table, two sets for the Clerk's table, and one set for each of the standing committees of the House; which sets of laws and journals shall be duly returned to the Library by the said Secretary and Clerk within three days after the close of the session for which they shall be drawn. II. Whenever any person authorized thereto by law (except the Pres- ident of the United States), 3 shall receive from the Library a set of the said laws and journals, he shall give receipt therefor to the Librarian, conditioned to return the same undefaced to the Library three days 3 before the close of that session of Congress for which they shall be drawn, under a penalty of double the value of each volume of the laws or journals received, that is to say, for each volume of the laws and jour- nals valued at $2.50 per volume, in a penalty of $5 per volume. III. One set of the said laws and journals shall be delivered by the ^Librarian to the President of the United States for his own use and for the use of his successors in office, the President filing with the Librarian a written acknowledgment of the receipt of the same. 1 Rules of 1812: "ten days." 3R u les of 1812: "and members of Congress." "Rules of 1812: "five days." 60 GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY, 1805-1814. IV. It shall be the duty of the Librarian to provide, at public expense, a number of suitable boxes, equal to the number of individuals hereby authorized to receive from the Library sets of the said laws and journals, each box to be provided with a lock and key, and delivered on applica- tion for the use of such persons as may draw in the manner aforesaid, in which to deposit and safely keep the books so by them respectively received, which boxes shall be returned to the Library together with the books at the time and in the manner limited by the rules aforesaid. 1 In addition to these 14 rules the following are added in the Catalogue of the Library published in 18 12: XV. There shall be retained in the Library all charts (the case of maps being specified in the act of January 26, 1802), plans of fortifica- tions, buildings, or other designs in manuscript; volumes of plates or engravings; books accompanying the charts, plates or engravings; tables of chronology; volumes of newspapers; one set of the volumes of any encyclopedia or dictionary of the arts; one set of the volumes of any geographical work, gazetteers, dictionaries of languages. Of the above none shall be taken from the Library, by any person, without special permission in writing from the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, except in cases where the presiding officer of either House may require any of them for the immediate use of the House. XVI. The previous approbation of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be obtained for the pur- chase of articles for the use of the Library, to be charged upon the con- tingent fund of the two Houses. XVII. It shall be the duty of the Librarian, four days before the termination of every session of Congress, to present to any member of Congress a list of the books which he has received from the Library and not returned. XVIII. The Librarian shall, three days before the termination of every session of Congress, furnish the Speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives and the Secretary of the Senate with a list of the names of such members of Congress as shall not have returned the books received from the Library, together with a description and value of such books, and also of the value of the set to which they belong, and of the amount of fines with which they stand charged; and it shall be the duty of the Speaker in settling the accounts of any such Representative, and of the Secretary of the Senate in settling the accounts of any such Senator, to retain a sum equal to double the value of the books retained, and if they shall form a part of a set, then double the value of the whole set; and also a sum equal to the fines with which such member may stand charged. 1 The last rule was rescinded by the rules of January 1, 1816. RULES OF THE LIBRARY BEFORE 1814. 6l XIX. Whenever any Senator or Representative shall obtain leave of absence for the remainder of any session of Congress, it shall be the duty of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or of the Secretary of the Senate, as the case may be, to ascertain of the Librarian whether such Senator or Representative shall have returned the books which he may have received from the Library and have paid the fines which may have been incurred by him; and in case of failure the same deduction shall be made in the settlement of the accounts of such Senator or Rep- resentative as are directed in the eighteenth rule. XX. The Librarian shall collect all fines and forfeitures accruing upon notes given for books taken from the Library. XXI. All moneys arising from fines and forfeitures shall constitute a part of the Library fund and shall be paid, when required, to the joint committee of the two Houses of Congress who are charged with the dis- position of that fund. XXII. The Librarian shall, during the first week of every session, present to the joint committee of the two Houses of Congress charged with the disposition of the Library fund an accurate statement of all moneys received during the preceding year arising from fines and for- feitures under the foregoing rules. Upon considering the subject of rules proper to be observed in the Library of Congress, and examining and revising those heretofore adopted, we do order and direct that the foregoing be observed. (Signed) Wm. H. Crawford, President of the Senate pro tempore. H. Clay, Speaker of the House of Representatives. December 4, 1812. (&\mytzr %aux THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD LIBRARY AND THE PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY 63 Chapter Four. the destruction of the old library and the purchase of the jefferson library. In the latter part of July, 1814, being compelled by an indisposition to seek recreation, Librarian Magruder left Washington for the Virginia Springs. The newly appointed assistant librarian, J. T. Frost, remained in charge of the Library for the purpose of opening and airing the books. About ■ the middle of August the British army appeared in the Chesapeake, and on the 19th the whole body of the militia of the District of Columbia was called out, under which call every clerk in the office of the Clerk of the House of Repre- sentatives was taken into the field. Assistant Librarian Frost was not, however, comprehended in this order, being over the age prescribed by law for militia service. On the 19th, 20th, 2 1 st, and 2 2d the removal of the papers belonging to the other departments was effected, but not until the afternoon of the last day was anything done toward the removal of the Library of Congress. On the afternoon of the 21st Mr. Burch, of the office of the Clerk of the House, was furloughed by Brigadier-General Smith, at the request of the chief clerk of the office of the Clerk of the House, Col. George Magruder, and on the night of the same day returned to the city to take care of and assist in saving such parts of the books in the Library of Congress and papers in the office of the Clerk of the House as he could, in case the enemy should get possession of the place. His orders from Colonel Magruder were not to begin packing up until it was ascertained that the clerks at the War Department were doing so. It was not until 12 o'clock on Monday, the 2 2d, that Burch and Frost were informed that the clerks at the War Office had begun to move the effects of that office, although they were subsequently told that the moving had commenced the day before. The two men immediately began packing up, and 23399—04 — 5 6 5 66 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. Mr. Burch went out in search of wagons or other carriages for the transportation of the books and papers. Every wagon and almost every cart in the city had been previously impressed into the service of the United States for the trans- portation of the baggage of the Army. The few he was able to find were loaded with the private effects of individuals who were moving without the city. These he attempted to hire ; not succeeding, he claimed a right to impress them, but hav- ing no legal authority or military force to aid him he failed. He then sent off three messengers into the country, one of whom obtained from Mr. John Wilson, whose residence was six miles from the city, the use of a cart with four oxen. This did not arrive at the Capitol until after dark, but was immediately loaded with the most valuable records and papers and driven nine miles the same night to a safe and secret place in the country. He continued to remove as many of the more valuable books and papers as he was able to with one cart until Wednesday morning, the day of the battle of Bladens- burg, after which he was unable to take away anything further. 1 That same evening the enemy entered Washington and set fire to the Capitol. In the conflagration which followed the interior of the west room was practically destroyed. As the surveyor of the Capitol said: "The whole of the interior of the west side having been constructed of timber, and the old shingle roof still remaining over the greatest part of the wing, an intensity of heat was produced, which burned the walls most exposed to it, and being driven by the wind into the Senate Chamber burned the marble columns to lime, cracked every- thing that was of freestone, and finding vent through the windows and up the private stairs damaged the exterior of the wing very materially." 2 1 Letter from Patrick Magruder, detailing the facts in relation to the destruction of the office of the House. — September 22, 1814, Thirteenth Congress, third session. House Document No. 2. 2 Report of the surveyor of the Capitol, Fourteenth Congress, second session. Senate report No. 101, February 14, 1817. National Intelligencer, March 12, 1S18, on the destruction of the printed journals of Congress; see also Sixteenth Congress, first session, Senate report No. 119, April 25, 1820, on the destruction of the printed journals of the Senate in the conflagration of 1814; and a letter to a gentleman in Philadelphia on the condition of the Capitol after the fire, printed in the Philadelphia Aurora, December 12, 1814. THE HOUSE INVESTIGATION. 67 THE HOUSE INVESTIGATION. According to tradition the Library was entirely consumed in this conflagration. As we have seen, however, several loads of books were saved by having been removed to a place of safety before the capture of the city, and with regard to the Library as a whole Burch and Frost made the following statement: " A number of the printed books were consumed, but they were all duplicates of those which have been pre- served." This would seem to indicate that all of the Library which was of value was thus saved. On the other hand the committee to whom was referred the communication of Patrick Magruder relative to the destruction of the Library, reported through Mr. Joseph Pearson, December 12, 1814, "that they have .satisfactory evidence that the Library of Congress, consisting of volumes agreeably to the catalogue herewith submitted, was destroyed by the enemy on the 24th of August last." In answer to this, Magruder, on the 19th of December, communicated to the House the following let- ter from the assistant librarian: Dkcbmber 17, 1814. Sir: On examining the report of the committee appointed on the sub- ject of your communication to the House of the 20th of September last, I find that the committee admit that, after the 21st of August, the diffi- culty of procuring teams for the removal of the books, papers, etc., from your office was so great as to justify a belief that all was done after that period which could (with the means we possessed) have been expected. But the committee states that measures preparatory for a removal had not been taken. On that head I can only say that, on Monday, the 22d of August last, if carriages for the conveyance of the books, etc., could have been obtained, they were in a situation to be immediately removed; the several loads which were saved were taken from the shelves on which they were placed and deposited in the carts by which they were taken away; they have suffered no injury, and to have procured boxes or trunks to pack them in, if that plan had been preferred, would have been utterly impossible. Your obedient servant, J. T. Frost. In conclusion the committee replied: "The error or negli- gence consisted not so much in delaying to pack up the effects of the office till the 2 2d of August as the neglect to provide the means of transportation, which might have been done by 68 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. the clerk who remained in the office, or any agent employed for that purpose." l On the 28th of January, 1815, Mr. Magru- der communicated to the House his resignation as Clerk of that body. 2 The indignation felt by Congress at the destruction of the Library, and vented by that body upon the unfortunate Librarian, was shared by all lovers of literature and learning. Not since the burning of the Alexandrian library by the Mohammedans, it was said, had such a deed been perpetrated. English newspapers, too, condemned the act, among them the editor of a newspaper published at Nottingham, who, in speaking of the burning of the Library, said that it was "an act without example in modern wars or in any other wars since the inroads of the barbarians who conflagrated Rome and overthrew the Roman Bmpire." 3 And General Ross himself is said to have lamented the destruction of the Library. "Had I known it in time," said he, "the books most certainly should have been saved." 4 OFFER OF THF JEFFERSON LIBRARY TO CONGRESS. On the 29th of September, 18 14, the President of the Sen- ate presented a letter from the President of the Washington Library, with a resolution of the directors, offering the use of that library to the members of Congress. On the 30th he communicated a letter from Richards & Mallory, booksellers of Georgetown, offering the use of their books to the members of the Senate. 5 On the 7th of October, 18 14, the Joint Library Committee, through Mr. Goldsborough, presented to the Sen- ate an offer from Thomas Jefferson of the whole of his library for Congress upon such terms as they might choose. Thomas Jefferson had made donations to the old Library ■Thirteenth Congress, third session, House report No. 45, January 16, 1815. 2 American State Papers, Miscellaneous, 2: 267, 268. 3This incident is noticed in the Philadelphia Aurora, October 18, 1815, with this additional observation: "The printer was proscribed for this as a libel and has been condemned to such punishment as is usually inflicted on the most abandoned vil- lains. The English Government is determined to maintain its character." This was copied by the Essex Register, Salem, October 28. "Ingersoll, Historical sketch of the second war between the United States and Great Britain, Philadelphia, 1849, 2: 190. s Annals 28: 18, 20. THOMAS JEFFERSON. —ess, vol. i, plate 6. OFFER OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. 69 of Congress, and he had drawn up the list of desiderata which had formed the basis for the earlier purchases of the Library. At the same time he was collecting a library of his own. This, in a letter to Dr. Thomas Cooper, dated January 16, 1 8 14, he described as probably the best chosen collection of its size in America, and at the same time expressed the hope that it might finally become the library of the projected University of Virginia 1 as he had before expressed the hope to Madison that it might become the library of the National University if the plans for such an establishment should ever be realized. 2 The loss of the old Library of Congress, however, presented a better opportunity for the disposition of his library than either of those which he had suggested. Upon hearing of the disaster, accordingly, he tendered the offer of his library to Congress through his friend Samuel Harrison Smith, September 21, 1814. His letter to Mr. Smith was as follows: " I am imposing a task on your friendship which needs much apology and will be explained in the letter accompanying this. It is to offer my library to the Library Committee of Congress. I would not have trespassed on your time so much but that I hope it will give you little trouble. The delivery of the accompany- ing letter (which is written separately with that view) and the catalogue will enable them to give you their yea or nay. As the subject, however, can not but be interesting, and I shall feel anxiety until I know their inclinations, you would greatly oblige me by informing me of them as soon as you can form a probable conjecture what they are likely to decide." 3 The communication submitted to Congress which accom- panied this letter was as follows: Dear Sir: I learn from the newspapers that the vandalism of our enemy has triumphed at Washington over science as well as the arts by the destruction of the public library with the noble edifice in which it was deposited. Of this transaction, as of that of Copenhagen, the world will entertain but one sentiment. They will see a nation suddenly with- drawn from a great war, full armed and full handed, taking advantage 'Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 1854, 6: 294. 'Jefferson to Madison, October 6, 1809, Madison MSS. 3J. Henley Smith MSS. JO PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. of another whom they had recently forced into it, unarmed and unpre- pared to indulge themselves in acts of barbarism which do not belong to a civilized age. When Van Ghent destroyed their shipping at Chatham, and De Ruyter rode triumphantly up the Thames, he might in like manner, by the acknowledgment of their own historians, have forced all their ships up to London bridge, and there have burned them, the tower, the city, had these examples been then set. London, when thus men- aced, was near a thousand "years old; Washington is but in its teens. I presume it will be among the early objects of Congress to recommence their collection. This will be difficult while the war continues, and inter- course with Europe is attended with so much risk. You know my col- lection, its condition and extent. I have been fifty years making it, and have spared no pains, opportunity or expense, to make it what it is. While residing in Paris, I devoted every afternoon I was disengaged, for a summer or two in examining all the principal bookstores, turning over every book with my own hand, and putting by everything which related to America, and indeed whatever was rare and valuable in every science. Besides this, I had standing orders during the whole time I was in Europe, on its principal book-marts, particularly Amsterdam, Frankfort, Madrid, and London, for such works relating to America as could not be found in Paris. So that, in that department particularly, such a collection was made as probably can never again be effected, because it is hardly probable that the same opportunities, the same time, industry, perseverance and expense, with the same knowledge of the bibliography of the subject would again happen to be in concurrence. During the same period, and after my return to America, I was led to procure, also, whatever related to the duties of those in the high con- cerns of the nation. So that the collection, which I suppose is of between nine and ten thousand volumes, while it includes what is chiefly valuable in science and literature generally, extends more particularly to whatever belongs to the American statesman. In the diplomatic and parliamentary branches, it is particularly full. It is long since I have been sensible it ought not to continue private property, and had provided that at my death, Congress should have the refusal of it at their own price. The loss they have now incurred, makes the present the proper moment for their accommodation, without regard to the small remnant of time and the barren use of my enjoying it. I ask of your friendship, therefore, to make for me the tender of it to the Library Committee of Congress, not knowing myself of whom the committee consists. I enclose you the catalogue, which will enable them to judge of its con- tents. Nearly the whole are well bound, abundance of them elegantly, and of the choicest editions existing. They may be valued by persons named by themselves, and the payment made convenient to the public. It may be, for instance, in such annual installments as the law of Con- gress has left at their disposal, or in stock of any of their late loans, or OFFER OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. 7 1 of any loan they may institute at this session, so as to spare the present calls of our country and await its days of peace and prosperity. They may enter, nevertheless, into immediate use of it, as eighteen or twenty wagons would place it in Washington in a single trip of a fortnight. I should be willing, indeed, to retain a few of the books, to amuse the time I have yet to pass, which might be valued with the rest, but not included in the sum of valuation until they should be restored at my death, which I would carefully provide for, so that the whole library as it stands in the catalogue at this moment should be theirs without any garbling. Those I should like to retain would be chiefly classical and mathematical. Some few in other branches, and particularly one of the five encyclopedias in the catalogue. But this, if not acceptable, would not be urged. I must add, that I have not revised the library since I came home to live, so that it is probable some of the books may be missing, except in the chapters of Law and Divinity, which have been revised and stand exactly as in the catalogue. The return of the cata- logue will of course be needed, whether the tender be accepted or not. 1 do not know that it contains any branch of science which Congress would wish to exclude from their collection; there is, in fact, no sub- ject to which a member of Congress may not have occasion to refer. But such a wish would not correspond with my views of preventing its dismemberment. My desire is either to place it in their hands entire, or to preserve it so here. I am engaged in making an alphabetical index of the authors' names, to be annexed to the catalogue, which I will for- ward to you as soon as completed. Any agreement you shall be so good as to take the trouble of entering into with the committee, I hereby confirm. 1 On the 24th of September lie wrote to President Madison 2 and to James Monroe 3 also, acquainting them with his offer, and asking for their support. In response Mr. Smith wrote to Jefferson October 7, 1814: 4 It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 21st ultimo, which from some casualty did not reach me until the 2d instant. * * * The Library that is lost, was valuable and was the commencement of an institution fitted in its nativity to be the pride and ornament of our country. But valuable as it was, if replaced by your collection, the loss will be more than supplied. Being somewhat of an enthusiast as to the benefits that arise from such institutions, I could 'J. Henley Smith MSS., printed in the Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edited by P. L. Ford, 9: 485-488, and numerous other places. 2 Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 1854, 6: 387. 3 Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 58, No. 91. See also Jefferson to David B. Warden, February 27, 1815, Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 87, No. 149. * Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 78, No. 28. 72 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. only hail the prospect of seeing so broad a foundation laid for a national one on a scale of expanding grandeur. I submitted, without delay, your letter and catalogue to the library Committee of the two Houses of Congress. That of the Senate consists of Messrs. Goldsborough, Tait, and Fromentin, and that of the Repre- sentatives of Messrs. Seybert, I^owndes, and Gaston. The tender was respectfully received by both committees, with the assurance that no time should be lost in acting upon it. They each expressed the opinion that the committee could not go further than to recommend to their Houses such steps as they should on consultation consider advisable, and promised to inform me of the course determined on. I have made several other members acquainted with the offer made by you, and have been happy to find that it is highly appreciated by them and will receive their warm support. I perceive no obstacle to its acceptance, but the pending proposition to remove the seat of Government. I fear that many of those who are interested in this measure, will consider the possession of such a library as depriving them of a strong argument in favor of removal and hence will be apt by delay or evasion, to keep back its consideration. Should this prove to be the case, I submit to you the policy of permitting a publication of your letters. * * * P. S. I am just advised by Mr. Goldsborough that the joint commit- tee have reported a resolution empowering them to contract for the purchase of the library. Madison replied to Jefferson's letter, October 10: "Your favor of the 24th ultimo came duly to hand. I learn that the Library Committee will report favorably on your propo- sition to supply the loss of books by Congress. It will prove a gain to them if they have the wisdom to replace it by such a collection as yours." 1 And Monroe likewise responded, October 10, promising to use his influence in promoting the negotiation. 2 THE QUESTION OF PURCHASE IN CONGRESS. On the 7th of October the Joint Committee reported in the Senate (by Mr. Goldsborough), as follows: That they have received from Mr. Samuel H. Smith an offer from Mr. Jefferson, late President of the United States, of the whole of his library for Congress, on such terms as they consider highly advantageous to the nation, and worthy the distinguished gentleman who tenders it. 'Writings of Madison, 1865, 2: 588. 2 Writings of James Monroe, edited by S. M. Hamilton, 1901, 5: 299. THE QUESTION OE PURCHASE IN CONGRESS. 73 But the means placed at the disposal of the committee being very limited, and totally inadequate to the purchase of such a library as that now offered, the committee must have recourse to Congress either to extend their powers, or adopt such other as they may think most proper. Should it be the sense of Congress to confide this matter to the com- mittee, they respectfully submit the following resolution: Resolved, by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Joint Library Com- mittee of the two Houses of Congress be, and they are hereby, authorized and empowered to contract, on their part, for the purchase of the library of Mr. Jefferson, late President of the United States, for the use of both Houses of Congress. 1 On October 10 Mr. Goldsborough, chairman of the Joint Library Committee, communicated a letter from Samuel H. Smith, esq., inclosing Mr. Jefferson's letter tendering the disposition of his library to Congress. Then the resolution reported by the committee, authorizing the Library Com- mittee to contract for the purchase of the library of Mr. Jefferson, was discussed, as in Committee of the Whole, and, no amendment having been proposed, reported and passed. On the same day a message informed the House of the passage of the resolution in the Senate, and desired the con- currence of the House therein. On the nth, accordingly, the discussion of the resolution was taken up in the House, as in Committee of the Whole. 2 After much desultory conver- sation, according to the records, as to the value of the library, the nature of the selection, etc., the committee rose (in order, apparently, to give further time to the members to examine the catalogue), and obtained leave to sit again. A week later (Monday, October 17) the debate was resumed as in Commit- tee of the Whole, Joseph Lewis, of Virginia, in the chair. The ensuing debate betrayed the English prepossessions of some, the narrow parsimony of others, the party prejudices of nearly all. Mr. Oakley, of New York, moved so to amend the reso- lution as to leave it open to the Library Committee to contract for the purchase of a library for the use of Congress. On this motion considerable desultory debate took place, the pur- chase of Mr. Jefferson's library being opposed by Messrs. 'Thirteenth Congress, third session, Senate report, October 7, 1814. 2 Annals 28: 384. 74 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. Oakley, John Reed, and Grosvenor, and advocated by Messrs. Wright, Seybert, Boiling Robertson, Joseph Hawkins, and John Forsyth. The objections to the purchase were generally its cost, its extent, the nature of the selection, and the number of the works in foreign languages, particularly French, many of them the writings of Voltaire, Rousseau, and other literary apostles of the French Revolution; nor did English works of progress and speculative freedom, such as Locke's, escape animadversion. Other works were said to be of too philo- sophical a character, and some, as Callender's Prospect before us, were otherwise objectionable. On the other hand, those who advocated the proposed pur- chase contended that so valuable a library, one so admirably calculated for the substratum of a great National Library, was not to be obtained in the United States; and that although there were possibly some works to which gentle- men might take exception, there were others of a very oppo- site character; that besides, this was no reason against the purchase, because in every library of value some books might be found to which exceptions would be taken, accord- ing to the feelings or prejudices of those who examined them. Mr. Oakley's motion was negatived by the follow- ing vote: For the amendment, 33 ; against it, 87. The Speaker now resumed the chair, and Mr. Lewis reported that the committee had had the resolution under consideration and had made no amendment thereto. The House then proceeded to consider the said resolution, and despite the fact that Mr. Jefferson had declined to dispose of a part only of the library, a motion was made by Mr. King, of Massachusetts, to amend the resolution by inserting after the word "purchase," in the third line, the words "of such part;" and at the end of the resolution to add the words "as they may judge suitable for that purpose." This measure was designed to exclude French progressive and philo- sophical works, and was supported by John Reed, Timothy Pickering, Timothy Pitkin, Richard Stockton, and Daniel Webster, while William Gaston, Moss Kent (brother of Chancellor Kent), and other Federalists opposed it. After THE QUESTION OF PURCHASE IN CONGRESS. 75 some discussion the question on this amendment was decided by yeas and nays by the following vote: For the amendment, 47; against it, 91, as follows: Yeas. — Messrs. Baylies of Massachusetts, Bigelow, Boyd, Bradbury, Brigham, Champion, Cilley, Cooper, Cox, Culpeper, Davenport, Ely, Farrow, Geddes, Goldsborough, Grosvenor, Hanson, Jackson of Rhode Island, King of .Massachusetts, Law, Lewis, Lovett, Markell, Miller, Moffitt, Moseley, Oakley, Pearson, Pickering, Pitkin, Post, Potter, John Reed, Ruggles, Schureman, Sherwood, Shipherd, Smith of New York, Stockton, Sturges, Vose, Ward of Massachusetts, Webster, Wheaton, Wilcox, Wilson of Massachusetts, and Winter. Nays. — Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Archer, Avery, Barbour, Bard, Bowen, Bradley, Brown, Butler, Cannon, Chappell, Clark, Clopton, Condict, Conard, Crawford, Creighton, Crouch, Cuthbert, Dana, Denoyelles, Desha, Duvall, Farle, Findley, Fisk of Vermont, Fisk of New York, Forney, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gholson, Glasgow, Goodwyn, Gourdin, Griffin, Hall, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hop- kins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Humphreys, Hungerford, Hulbert, Irv- ing, Irwin, Jackson of Virginia, Johnson of Virginia, Johnson of Kentucky, Kennedy, Kent of New York, Kent of Maryland, Kerr, Kershaw, King of North Carolina, Lefferts, Lowndes, Lyle, McCoy, McKim, McLean, Moore, Nelson, Newton, Ormsby, Parker, Pickens, Piper, Pleasants, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Robertson, Sage, Seybert, Sharp, Smith of Pennsylvania, Smith of Virginia, Stan- ford, Strong, Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Ward of New Jersey, Wilson of Pennsylvania, Wright, and Yancey. Mr. John Reed, of Massachusetts, then made an appeal to the well-known parsimony of many Republicans by moving to amend the resolution by adding at the end of the same the following proviso: "Provided, That the amount thereof shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars." Upon this amotion was made by Mr. Stanford that the further consideration of the resolution be postponed until the first Monday in Decem- ber. This was negatived. 1 On the 1 8th the debate upon the Reed amendment continued with considerable vivacity. The amendment was supported by Messrs. Oakley, of New York, and Pickering, of Massa- chusetts, and was opposed by Mr. Forsyth and Mr. John C. Hulbert, a young Federalist of the Massachusetts delegation, 1 See in addition to the Journals Charles J. Ingersoll's History of the second war between the United States and Great Britain, 2d series, 2: 271-273. y6 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. who, in a maiden speech of much force, advocated the purchase of the library. The debate before its conclusion became rather too animated, and being checked by the Speaker, the question was permitted to be taken. For the amendment, 37; against it, 103, as follows: Yeas. — Messrs. Baylies of Massachusetts, Bigelow, Boyd, Bradbury, Brigham, Cannon, Champion, Cilley, Culpeper, Davenport, Ely, Geddes, Grosvenor, Jackson of Rhode Island, Lewis, Macon, Markell, Moffit, Montgomery, Pearson, Pitkin, Post, Potter, John Reed, William Reed, Sherwood, Shipherd, Smith of New York, Stockton, Taggart, Thomp- son, Vose, Ward of Massachusetts, Ward of New Jersey, Wheaton, Wil- cox, and Wilson of Massachusetts. Nays. — Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Archer, Avery, Bard, Barnett, Bayly of Virginia, Bowen, Burwell, Bradley, Brown, Butler, Chappell, Clark, Clopton, Condict, Conard, Cooper, Cox, Crawford, Creighton, Crouch, Cuthbert, Dana, Davis of Pennsylvania, Denoyelles, Desha, Duvall, Earle, Evans, Farrow, Findley, Fisk of New York, Forney, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gholson, Goodwyn, Gourdin, Hall, Hanson, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hawkins, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Humphreys, Hungerford, Hulbert, Ingersoll, Irving, Jackson of Vir- ginia, Johnson of Virginia, Kennedy, Kent of New York, Kent of Mary- land, Kerr, Kershaw, King of Massachusetts, King of North Carolina, Law, Lefferts, Lovett, Lyle, McCoy, McKim, McLean, Moore, Moseley, Nelson, Newton, Oakley, Ormsby, Parker, Pickering, Piper, Pleasants, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Ruggles, Sage, Schureman, Seybert, Sharp, Skinner, Smith of Pennsylvania, Stanford, Strong, Sturges, Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Udree, Webster, Wilson of Pennsylvania, Winter, Wright, and Yancey. Among those who thus voted to reduce the price of the library was Nathaniel Macon, who, observes Ingersoll, "never failed to demonstrate his always peculiar, often eccentric, and sometimes extravagant economy." On the other hand, Mr. Hanson, Mr. Webster, even Cyrus King, Mr. Oakley, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Sturges, and Mr. Law, who had voted for the King amendment, on this money vote sided with those who favored the purchase of the Jefferson library. A motion was then made by Mr. Pickering to amend the said resolution by striking out from the words "purchase of" in the third line to the end thereof, and to insert "such of the books in the library of Mr. Jefferson, late President of the United States, as in their opinion will at this time be THE QUESTION OF PURCHASE IN CONGRESS. 77 proper to be received and deposited at the seat of Govern- ment for the use of the two Houses of Congress." This amendment was in substance the same as that moved on the day before by Mr. King. This motion was supported by several of the library party — Macon and a few more — and by most of the Federalists, including Mr. Webster, but Mr. Gaston, Mr. Hulbert, and Mr. Kent to the last adhered to the original motion and the amendment was decided in the negative — yeas 52, nays 96. Those who voted in the affirm- ative were: Messrs. Baylies of Massachusetts, Bayly of Virginia, Bigelow, Boyd, Bradbury, Brigham, Cannon, Champion, Cilley, Cooper, Cox, Culpeper, Davenport, Davis of Pennsylvania, Geddes, Goldsborough, Grosvenor, Hanson, Jackson of Rhode Island, King of Massachusetts, I,aw, Lewis, I/Ovett, Macon, Moffitt, Montgomery, Moseley, Markell, Oakley, Pear- son, Pickering, Pitkin, Post, John Reed, William Reed, Ruggles, Schureman, Sherwood, Shipherd, Smith of New York, Stockton, Stuart, Sturges, Taggart, Thompson, Vose, Ward of Massachusetts, Webster, Wheaton, White, Wilcox, Wilson of Massachusetts. Those who voted in the negative were: Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Archer, Avery, Barbour, Bard, Barnett, Bowen, Bradley, Brown, Burwell, Butler, Caldwell, Chappell, Clark, Clopton, Condict, Conard, Crawford, Creighton, Crouch, Cuthbert, Dana, Denoyelles, Desha, Duvall, Harle, Evans, Farrow, Findley, Fisk of New York, Forney, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gholson, Goodwyn, Gourdin, Griffin, Hall, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hawkins, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Humphreys, Hungerford, Hulbert, Ingersoll, Irving, Jackson of Virginia, Johnson of Virginia, Johnson of Kentucky, Kennedy, Kent of New York, Kent of Maryland, Kerr, Kershaw, King of North Carolina, I^efferts, l,owndes, Lyle, McCoy, McKim, Mcl^ean, Miller, Moore, Nelson, Newton, Ormsby, Parker, Pickens, Piper, Pleas- ants, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Sage, Seybert, Sharp, Skinner, Smith of Pennsylvania, Smith of Virginia, Stanford, Strong, Tannehill, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Udree, Ward of New Jersey, Wil- son of Pennsylvania, Wright, and Yancey. Finally, on motion of Mr. Oakley, the resolution was amended by adding to the end thereof the following: " and that the committee lay the terms of said contract before Con- gress for their ratification." On the following day, the 19th, the resolution thus amended was passed. 78 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. On the same day a message from the House informed the Senate that the House had passed the resolution, which origi- nated in the Senate, empowering the Joint Library Committee of Congress to contract for the purchase of Mr. Jefferson's library, with an amendment, in which they request the con- currence of the Senate. 1 On the 20th the Senate proceeded to consider the House amendment. Mr. Mason moved that the further consideration thereof be postponed to the first Monday in April next. This was determined in the nega- tive — yeas 7, nays 21, as follows: 2 Yeas. — Messrs. Daggett, German, Gore, Horsey, King, Mason, and Thompson. Nays. — Messrs. Anderson, Bibb, Bledsoe, Brown, Chace, Condit, Fro- mentin, Gaillard, Giles, Goldsborough, Lacock, Morrow, Roberts, Robinson, Tait, Taylor, Turner, Varnum, Walker, Wharton, and Worthington. Whereupon, "Resolved, That they concur therein." On October 20 the Washington correspondent of the Boston Gazette wrote: "The grand library of Mr. Jefferson will undoubtedly be purchased with all its finery and philosoph- ical nonsense. 3 On the 2 1 st the measure passed: RESOLUTION empowering the Joint Library Committee of Congress to contract for the purchase of Mr. Jefferson's library. Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Joint Library Com- mittee of the two Houses of Congress be, and they are hereby, authorized and empowered to contract on their part for the purchase of the library of Mr. Jefferson, late President of the United States, for the use of both Houses of Congress; and that the Committee lay the terms of said con- tract before Congress, for their ratification. PUBLIC OPINION REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF THE LIBRARY. Joseph Milligan, a Georgetown bookseller, who had for years been collecting books for Jefferson, and was, perhaps, the first to be informed of Jefferson's offer of his library to Congress, wrote, September 24: " Your truly magnanimous offer of the Monticello library to Congress will be very accept- 1 Annals 28: 29. 'Annals 28: 30. 3 Boston Gazette, October 27, 1814. PUBLIC OPINION REGARDING THE PURCHASE. 79 able. If Congress should purchase it, to literary men it would be a great privilege to be permitted at all times of the year to have free access, not to take away the books, but to read in the Library and make extracts. Therefore the place of Librarian would be well to be a distinct office from the Clerk of the House of Representatives. If they do take it everything that I can do in arranging it shall be done, and I will keep the library for this session free of cost. By this I would have it clearly understood that it is not my wish to fish for it as a permanent thing, for I would not accept a place of profit under any Government. "You will please communicate with the Secretary of State 1 on the subject, and inclose the catalogue to him. I will immediately, on receipt of it, arrange to have it printed." 2 In like fashion William Thornton, Commissioner of Pat- ents, wrote to Jefferson December n, 1814: 3 "What dread- ful scenes we have witnessed here ! But all may be repaired, and in some respects we shall be benefited, for if the build- ings should be repaired, we shall never hear any more of the removal of Congress: and I have congratulated the members on the loss of their library since you have offered yours on such generous terms. I advised them to offer you $50,000 at once, for I had seen the books and knew them to be very valuable; that they ought not to value them as books in a common library, for, besides the learning and ability it would require to select the books, they were not to be obtained but at very great trouble, great expense, great risk, and many of them not to be had at all, but I fear they will not give half the value." And William Short, of Philadelphia, to whom Jefferson was indebted to the amount of $10,500, writing March 11, 1815, congratulated Jefferson on the sale of his library to Congress, on the ground that it would preserve it from the fate of the 'James Monroe. = Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 61, No. 80. sjefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 81, No. 34. In reply to this Jefferson wrote, Monti- cello, December 24, "The loss of the library will be more than repaired should they conclude to take mine. The rarity of many of the books and choice of editions of the greater part render the collection really valuable." Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 81, No. 48. 8o PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. Westover Library, which, after the death of Col. William Byrd, the third of that name, in 1777, had been dispersed by sale. 1 Even the newspapers were interested in the purchase of the library. One of these, the Petersburg Courier, expressed itself in the following words: 2 The objections made by the Federal members of Congress, to the pur- chase of Mr. Jefferson's library, are certainly not only extraordinary and illiberal, but they reflect the greatest discredit upon the national charac- ter of this country. What can be a greater stigma upon the members of our National Legislature than to assert that books of a philosophical description are improper for their perusal? Were Mr. Oakley, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Grosvenor, the literary censors of the United States, the works of Newton, Locke, Simpson, Stewart and all others of equal merit, would doubtless be committed to the flames, and their places supplied perhaps by The Tales of Wonder, the Tales of Horror, and the Arabian Nights' Entertainment. Another great objection is, that Mr. Jefferson's library contains the works of Voltaire — what a pitiful observation! Will it be said that the works of an author, which hold the first rank on the shelves of all the libraries of Europe, and which may be found in the libraries of Oxford and Cambridge, and in those of the four Scotch universities, for the express purpose to be perused by students, should be prohibited or forbidden a place in the Library of Congress? Will the force of Federal prejudice and superstition be so powerful as to effect this? Jefferson thus had the good wishes of friends, creditors, and editors — Virginia and Republican editors — but before the sale of the library could be effected it was necessary to answer the question raised by the Oakley amendment of October 19, as to the value of the library. EVALUATION OF THE LIBRARY. This question was presented to Jefferson in the following letter from Samuel Harrison Smith, October 21, 18 14: 1 was this day invited by the Library Committee to a conference with them. They represented that in consequence of the amendment to their report, it became necessary to ascertain the value of the library and to ■Jefferson Papers, in collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, series 7 vol. 1, p. 229. There is a catalogue of the books in the library at Westover belong- ing to William Byrd, esq., in the "Writings of Col. William Byrd," edited by J. S. Bassett, New York, 1901, pp. 413-444. 2 This article was reprinted in the National Intelligencer, October 25, 1814. EVALUATION OF THE LIBRARY. 8 1 obtain an authority from the two Houses to pay it, to enable them to do which they enquired of me, whether I could specify what would be received for it. I replied that I was unable to state its value, and that I was certain that it would be much more agreeable to you that this should be done either by the committee themselves, or b}' disinterested persons; that I was persuaded that you feel some delicacy, if not repug- nance, to setting a value on your own property, and that you might, in forming the estimate, from obvious motives, be driven to the alternative of either depreciating its value, or of laying yourself open to the impu- tation of extravagance. I, therefore, proposed another course; that the library should be estimated by some one sent for that purpose, or, which I consider most advisable, that it should be brought to this place with- out delay, valued by the committee, or by persons named by the com- mittee, or by the committee and myself, that this valuation should be submitted to the committee, and if agreed to by them, that a corre- spondent report and contract should be made to Congress, of whose approbation I did not entertain a doubt; that should, however, a differ- ent result ensue, I would take the responsibility on myself. To this the committee answered that they did not consider themselves authorized to take the proposed steps, and having agreed to receive the library, even provisionally, Congress might be considered as committed in regard to the definitive agreement. They added that in ascertaining its value they did not wish any estimate as made by you, to be submitted to them, that the information I might obtain would be entirely private and confidential, and that any proposition, that a certain sum would be received for it, which sum they did not mean should be computed with close precision, would be accepted as the basis of a contract. Our conversation conclusively exhibited their purpose not to proceed without a proposition analogous to that desired. Upon the whole, although not insensible to the delicacy of the step, I would recommend that you authorize me to state that a sum not exceeding a specified amount will be received, and that to guard against any unjust imputa- tion, such sum within that amount will be taken as shall be the result of a valuation to be made after the library is on the spot. 1 In response to this letter, Jefferson wrote to Joseph Milligan, October 29:* The Iyibrary Committee requires a proposition on my part as to the price of my library, and as a ground of negotiation in making such a proposition, I could take no ground but from the number of volumes, their sizes and average value. But having sent them my catalogue, I have no means of coming at the numbers, for the conjecture I had for- J J. Henley Smith MSS. "Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 61, No. 125. 23399—04 — ^-6 82 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. merly made was on counting a few pages only, taking an average of them, and multiplying by the number of pages. In this way, I guessed the whole number to be about 9,000. But more accuracy is now requi- site. I have ventured to say in a letter to Mr. Smith, that I thought you would be so good as to take the trouble of actually counting the numbers of every page of the catalogue, distinguishing separately the folios, quartos, octavos, and duodecimos, so as to inform him how many there are of each format, which would enable him to set a value on the whole, and to propose it to the Committee. And this favor I have still to solicit from you, further, that you will be so good as to call on him and to inform him as to the character of the bindings generally, and state of preservation in which you saw them here. I have tried a rough method of coming at their numbers, by taking the running measure of each format as they stand on their shelves, and counting a few shelves for an average. Then estimating these conjectural numbers at what I thought a moderate price, the average price of the whole per volume came out almost exactly what you had conjectured when here, to wit, three dollars a volume. I imagine Mr. Smith will adopt some such method of estimate, by the sizes and numbers you will be so good as to furnish him. This mode of guessing at the number of volumes made it less than the former estimate. When this proposition of a sum shall have been made, I have asked the favor of the return of the catalogue, and as soon as I can correct that by an actual review of the library, which will be the work of a week or ten days, I will begin to send you sheets of the catalogue for printing. To Mr. Smith, lie made trie following answer, October 29: 1 — Your favors of the 19th and 21st were received by one mail, yesterday. Presuming that the proposition in my letter of September 21st, was not sufficiently explained I will state more particularly the course I had sup- posed the transaction would have taken. The proposition was that the books should be valued by persons named by the Committee themselves, and the payment made in whatever form, and at such distant time as they might think accommodated to the circumstances of the times. I supposed that they would send one or two persons here, acquainted with the subject, perhaps booksellers, to value the books either singly, or by an average deduced from their sizes and numbers; this valuation I expected to be binding on me, while I had and have no objection to a right of rejection either in the Committee or in Congress. If the valua- tion were accepted by them, I supposed they would send on some person to see to the exact delivery of the books, and to their safe conveyance. They are arranged at present in plain pine cases, closed in the back, but open in front, and so compact that they might go as they stand on their shelves, the fronts only being nailed up, and be ready to set up in any "J. Henley Smith MSS., copy in Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 78, No. 35. EVALUATION OF THE LIBRARY. 83 room ill perfect order. Having no anxiety about the sum or mode of valuation, but wishing the collection secured to the public and at the moment of the recent loss rather than any other, I supposed a valuation by persons of their own choice the most unexceptionable ground I could propose to the committee; but persevering in the same object, I will acquiesce in any other which they shall prefer, except that of proposing a value myself, for which I really am not qualified by a sufficient familiarity with prices, nor willing to trust myself in a case where motives of interest might subject me to bias, and certainly to the sus- picion of it. I can not propose to you the trouble of making an esti- mate, of which no one would be more capable; but the labor of counting in every page of the catalogue the number of folios, quartos, octavos, and duodecimos, and summing all these, might be performed by another, and might furnish you ground by an average of numbers and size, to name to the committee a sum which you would deem reasonable, and whatever sum you should name, shall be binding on me, as a maximum, subject to be reduced, but not enlarged by actual valuation by any per- sons the committee shall think proper to appoint. In all this I wish myself to be entirely passive, and to abide absolutely by the estimate thus found. As the condition of the books must enter, of course, as an element into their valuation, Mr. Milligan, bookseller of Georgetown, who has lately had an opportunity of seeing them, can give you informa- tion on that head; and I have written to ask the favor of him to take the trouble of numbering them in the catalogue, and of reporting the sizes and numbers to you, from which you could readily deduce an estimate of the total, to be proposed as a maximum. Mr. Milligan has asked permission of me to print the catalogue on his own account, as a book of sale. You must still be aware that some of the books entered in the catalogue will doubtless be missing. The collection has not been revised since my return from Europe. During my absence from home, it has been open to limited uses, and I have occasionally found books missing. Some of these may be only misplaced, but some are probably lost. I should mention also, that there are two entered on the catalogue which I did not possess, but meaning to import them immediately, I entered them while writing the catalogue; the war, however, supervening, pre- vented my importing them. These are the ' ' Geoponica, ' ' and an English translation of them lately published. I had expressed in my letter a wish to keep some of the books during my life, not to be paid for, of course, until delivered; but that I should retire from the wish if at all unacceptable. I must, of course, replace many by new purchases, but among my classics particularly, there are some special editions which could not now be replaced, and some mathe- matical books which I should unwillingly be without, until peace shall open the means of getting them from Europe. The number I might wish to retain, for a while at least, would be between one and two hun- 84 PURCHASE OF THE JEEFERSON LIBRARY. dred volumes, but I report my willingness to let all go at once, if preferred by the committee. I shall set out tomorrow on a journey which will occasion an absence of about a fortnight; the return of the catalogue by that time, if the committee shall have no further use for it, would be desirable; because I would then begin the general review of the library, the restoring to their proper places the volumes which have been misplaced, and the ascertaining such as may have been lost. This would be a work of sev- eral days, and it would only be after that operation that the valuation could take place, if that idea be accepted by the committee. PURCHASE OF THE LIBRARY. As a result of this correspondence Milligan wrote to Jeffer- son, November 16, 1814: 1 I have run through the catalogue and find that the amount of volumes, if we include the Edinburgh Review, will amount to say 6500, which agreeable to the rule which I have laid down, viz : — for a folio ten dol- lars, for a quarto six dollars, for an octavo three dollars, for a duodecimo one dollar, — will amount to a trifle over $24000. * * * This information appears to have been sent to Mr. Smith and by him communicated to the Library Committee. The following unsigned note among the J. Henley Smith Papers, dated November 25, undoubtedly refers to this. It reads: "The recent engagements of the Senate have prevented an earlier meeting of the Library Committee, than tomorrow morning (Saturday), 10 o'clock. At which time they beg the favour of your company." In this meeting a valuation of the library, based upon the estimates of Mr. Milligan, was deter- mined upon, and on the 28th of November the following report of the Librae Committee was presented in the Senate by Mr. G-oldsborough : " In* pursuance of the resolution of Congress, passed on the 21st day of October last, your committee have received from Mr. Samuel Harrison Smith, agent for Mr. Jefferson, precise terms of sale of his library, in which the number of volumes is stated to be 6487, and the estimated price $23,950. To these terms your committee have conditionally acceded, and they have contracted with the agent of Mr. Jefferson, for the purchase of his library according to the 'Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 61, No. 82. PURCHASE OE THE LIBRARY. 85 catalogue and number of volumes stated, at the price before- mentioned, subject to the ratification of Congress. They therefore present the bill to authorize the purchase of the library of Thomas Jefferson, late President of the United States." On the 3d of December this bill passed the Senate, without amendment. On the same day a message from the Senate informed the House of the passage of the bill in the Senate and desired the concurrence of the House therein. On the 5th the bill was read twice and committed to a committee of the whole. There the matter rested until January 26, 1815, when a motion was made by Mr. Lewis that the considera- tion of the bill be postponed indefinitely. For the motion 69, against it 73. A motion was then made by Mr. Cooper, of Delaware, to postpone the further consideration of the bill to the 4th day of March next. For the motion 68, against it 74. 1 ' A motion was then made by Mr. King, of Massachusetts, that the bill be committed to a select committee, with instruc- tions to report as an amendment thereto the following section: Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That as soon as said library shall be received at Washington, the Joint Library Committee be, and they are hereby authorized and directed to select therefrom, all such books as, in their opinion, are not useful or necessary for Congress, and to cause the same to be sold, and the proceeds thereof invested in other books for the use of Congress. This motion received 56 affirmative votes, but was deter- mined in the negative. Then Mr. King moved to recommit the bill, with instructions to report a section "authorizing the Library Committee, as soon as said library shall be received at Washington, to select therefrom all books of an atheistical, irreligious, and immoral tendency, if any such there be, and send the same back to Mr. Jefferson without any expense to him." This motion Mr. King thought proper afterwards to withdraw. This subject, and the various motions relative thereto, say the Annals, 2 gave rise to a debate which lasted to the hour of 1 The yeas and nays are given in the Journal. "Annals 28: 1105-1106. 86 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. adjournment; which, though it afforded much amusement to the auditors, would not interest the feelings or judgment of any reader. Those who supported the bill in debate were Messrs. Wright, Fish, of Vermont, Rhea, of Tennessee, and Hulbert, and those who opposed it were Messrs. King, of Massachusetts, Farrow, Cannon, Hanson, Grosvenor, Pick- ering, and Webster. The speech of Cyrus King, a sincere and not uninformed gentleman, may be taken as an example of the eloquenee of the opposition: "It might be inferred," he said, "from the character of the man who collected it, and France, where the collection was made, that the library contained irreligious and immoral books, works of the French philosophers, who caused and influenced the volcano of the French Revolution, which had desolated Europe and extended to this country. He was opposed to a general dis- semination of that infidel philosophy, and of the principles of a man [Jefferson] who had inflicted greater injury on our country than any other, except Mr. Madison. The bill would put $23,900 into Jefferson's pocket for about 6,000 books, good, bad, and indifferent, old, new, and worthless, in lan- guages which many can not read, and most ought not; which is true Jeffersonian, Madisonian philosophy, to bankrupt the Treasury, beggar the people, and disgrace the nation." Oth- ers, among whom were a number of the political and personal friends of Mr. Jefferson, opposed the bill on the ground of the scarcity of money, and the necessity of appropriating it to purposes more indispensable than the purchase of a library; the probable insecurity of such a library placed here; the high price to be given for this collection; its miscellaneous and almost exclusively literary (instead of legal and his- torical) character, etc. To those arguments, enforced with zeal and vehemence, the friends of the bill replied with fact, wit, and argument, to show that the purchase, to be made on terms of long credit, could not affect the present resources of the United States; that the price was moderate, the library more valuable from the scarcity of many of its books, and altogether a most admirable substratum for a national library. So the Intelligencer reported the debate. PURCHASE OF THE LIBRARY. 87 But the Washington correspondent of the New York Even- ing Post was also present, and wrote to the Post January 31, as follows: Should Mr. Gales * ever comply with his promise and give a faithful report of the debate upon the bill to purchase Mr. Jefferson's library, we venture to say, it will make but one impression upon the honest portion of his readers. In the place of a fair report of the debate, Gales con- tents himself with saying, that ' ' the arguments enforced with zeal and vehemence" against the bill, were answered "with fact, wit, and argu- ment," by Messrs. Wright, Rhea, Fish, and Hulbert. The latter gen- tleman was undoubtedly plausible, and reasoned with ingenuity, but where to find the wit, or what are the facts alluded to, we know not, although we were present, and heard all that was said. It is true as Mr. Gales says, the amount of what was said by the friends of the bill, was, that the price, — ($23,900), was moderate, that the library was valu- able from the scarcity of the books, and that it could not injure materi- ally the national resources, because it was to be paid for in Treasury bills, the depreciation of which was alluded to as a proof of the soundness of the bargain. This was the amount of the wit, facts, and arguments on the part of the friends of the bill. On the other hand it was urged by those who opposed it, (Messrs. Lewis, Cannon, Hanson, Grosvenor, Pickering, King, Webster, and Farrow), that the price was exorbitant, and the library was not such as Congress wanted, being almost entirely literary, containing compara- tively little of law or history, that it abounded with productions of an atheistical, irreligious and immoral character, — a fourth of the books were in foreign languages, and many in the dead languages, such as romances, tracts on architecture, farriery, cookery and the like. Upon the latter subject, it was mentioned as a fair example of the books, there were no less than ten different works, nine being in foreign lan- guages. The necessity of husbanding the resources, retrenching the expenses of government, and commencing a system of economy was strongly urged. Although it was admitted for argument sake, that the nation was under great obligations to Mr. Jefferson for the great bene- fits conferred upon the country, the numerous blessings which were likely to flow from the system of politics he had introduced, yet the report of the Secretary of the Treasury was referred to as proof that the present was not a time to reward him out of his ' ' overflowing treasury " by settling upon him a pension of more than a thousand dollars per annum to him and to his heirs forever. It was contended, in addition to the high price and unsuitableness of the library, which might be bought in any of the large cities for half the money, that it became Congress to act in this transaction as if they were making a bargain with any other r The editor of the Intelligencer. 88 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. individual than Mr. Jefferson, — that it behoved them to be just before they were generous, — that if there was money in the Treasury unappro- priated, the interest of the public debt should be first paid, — the militia, who had been spilling their blood in defense of the country, should be paid,— the army should be clothed and fed, to whom the Government was in arrears nine millions of dollars, — that shoes should be purchased for the suffering soldiers who might be tracked on the northern frontier by the blood of their feet. The sum proposed to be given Mr. Jefferson for his books was said to exceed the quota of direct tax for nineteen- twentieths of the districts represented in Congress, — to be equal to the enlistment of two hundred and ten men for the regular army, and the purchase of two thousand stands of arms. Reference was made to the last Treasury report to show the necessity of frugality and the distress- ing effect of the profusion in the public expenditures. It was asked whether the people would consent to pay a tax of one dollar upon every barrel of flour, to pay an income tax, etc., if their money was to be thus squandered. Arguments were drawn from the state of the coun- try, the finances, and the bloody struggle in which we were engaged, to show the necessity of economy. The debate was closed with a short, but as eloquent an appeal to the justice, public spirit and patriotism of the house, as we recollect ever to have heard. But the bill passed by a majority of ten votes, and the Pensioner Jefferson has wrung from our beggared exchequer its very sweepings. The final question on the passage of the bill was decided in the affirmative: For the passage of the bill, 81 ; against it, 71, as follows: Yeas. — Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Anderson, Barbour, Bines, Bowen, Brown, Butler, Calhoun, Chappell, Conard, Crawford, Creighton, Crouch, Cuthbert, Desha, Duvall, Earle, Evans, Findley, Fisk of Ver- mont, Fiskof New York, Forney, Forsyth, Franklin, Gholson, Goodwyn, Gourdin, Griffin, Hall, Harris, Hasbrouck, Hawes, Hawkins, Hopkins of Kentucky, Hubbard, Hulbert, Ingersoll, Ingham, Irving, Jackson of Virginia, Johnson of Kentucky, Kennedy, Kent of Maryland, Kerr, Kershaw, Kilbourn, Lefferts, Lowndes, Lyle, McCoy, McKim, McLean, Murfree, Nelson, Newton, Ormsby, Pickens, Piper, Pleasants, Rea of Pennsylvania, Rhea of Tennessee, Rich, Ringgold, Roane, Robertson, Sage, Sevier, Seybert, Sharp, Smith of Pennsylvania, Smith of Virginia, Taylor, Telfair, Troup, Udree, Ward of New York, Williams, Wilson of Pennsylvania, Wright, and Yancey. Nays.— Messrs. Archer, Avery, Baylies of Massachusetts, Bayly of Virginia, Bigelow, Boyd, Bradbury, Breckenridge, Brigham, Caldwell, Cannon, Champion, Cilley, Clendenen, Comstock, Cooper, Cox, Cul- peper, Davenport, Davis of Massachusetts, Davis of Pennsylvania, Fly, VALUE OF THE LIBRARY. 89 Farrow, Geddes, Goldsborough, Grosvenor, Hale, Hanson, Henderson, Howell, Hungerford, Jackson of Rhode Island, Kent of New York, King of Massachusetts, Law, Lewis, Lovett, Macon, Markell, Mont- gomery, Moseley, Oakley, Pearson, Pickering, Pitkin, Potter, John Reed, William Reed, Ridgely, Ruggles, Schureman, Sheffey, Sherwood, Shipherd, Slaymaker, Stanford, Stockton, Strong, Stuart, Sturges, Taggart, Tannehill, Thompson, Vose, Ward of Massachusetts, Webster, Wheaton, White, Wilcox, Winter, and Wood." AN ACT to authorize the purchase of the library of Thomas Jefferson, late Presi- dent of the United States. Be it enacted, &c. , That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to cause to be paid to the Joint Library Committee of Congress, or their order, the sum of $23,950, in Treasury notes of the issue ordered by the law of the 4th of March, 1814; to be by them applied to the purchase of the library of Thomas Jefferson, late President of the United States, for the use of Congress. Approved, January 30, 18 15. VALUE OF THE LIBRARY. Of the value of the library thus acquired by Congress there was as much difference of opinion outside the two Houses of Congress as within. Niles's Weekly Register, December 31, 1814, 2 on the one hand, observed, "It is strange that the rancor of party should penetrate even the temple of science, and that an opposition was made to the purchase of a collec- tion that any monarch in Europe would be proud to own. For such a library the British Parliament would have given The editor of Walsh's American Register was much more voluble. He said: 3 There would have been something more satisfactory in this transac- tion, had the Legislature of Virginia been the purchaser and bestowed it as a gift on the Federal Government. However this may be, it was an inestimable acquisition. * * * The collection is exuberant in the ancient classics, richly stocked with the best classical history, ancient and modern, in the principal languages of Europe. The Titles History, Ancient and Modern, Politics, Geography and Criticism, of the cata- logue, are particularly full and select. The head of Criticism presents 'Annals 28: 1105-1106. "Vol. 7, p. 285. 3 Copied by the Washington City Weekly Gazette, July 12, 1817, and by the National Intelligencer, July 14, 1817. 90 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. a number of precious works relating to the Anglo-Saxon and old British languages, and when we advert to the condition of the Fine Arts in the United States, — whatever may be the pretentions advanced, — we cannot attach too much importance to the contents of the chapters under that title in Mr. Jefferson's catalogue. There is, in the most attractive and splendid form, all that could be desired, — especially in architecture, where we are most lame, — for the diffusion of technical knowledge and the improvement of the public taste. And most of the great works and celebrated elementary treatises in the mathematical and physical sciences, are included in the collection. Three-fourths, indeed, of the whole number of volumes are of the highest reputation and of acknowledged authority. * * * The next generation will, we confidently predict, blush at the objec- tions made in Congress to the purchase of Mr. Jefferson's library. Party-spirit, darkling and chafing, spoke the language of an auctioneer or a chapman, and erred egregiously even in its huckstering calculations; for Mr. Jefferson's library was worth, and would, in all likelihood, have brought in the market, at least double the sum allotted by Congress to the purchase. We should be at a loss to fix the proportion between the price and the acquisition, if we took into the account the value of the latter in other points of view. This will be one day duly appreciated, without looking to the time when the Bibliomania may rage in the United States; a period which may be descried, although at the end of a long vista. From this it was evident that the main objection to the pur- chase from the Republican point of view was the expense to the Government. But even this objection might be removed by showing that the library at the price at which it was bought was a bargain. So the Essex Register, Salem, November 8, 1815, copied by the National Intelligencer, November 14, said: A writer in the Richmond Daily Compiler has attempted to remove the objections to the purchase of Mr. Jefferson's library, upon the con- sideration of interest. It is not believed that any objections have been made from pure con- viction of error in the purchase, but many will be silent if they know the country has made a good bargain. This writer adduces the London prices, and the prices paid by Congress, and having specified each, that any man might satisfy himself, discovers at the foot of the account that in thirty-seven volumes the sterling cost would amount to upwards of $1,500, when Congress did not pay $300, gives the country, in these volumes only, the advantage of upwards of $1,200. Surely no man will pronounce that a Government which could purchase at such a rate ought to refuse the purchase. VALUE OF THE LIBRARY. 9 1 Upon which a correspondent of the Intelligencer, Novem- ber 16, remarked: In your paper of yesterday, I discovered an attempt to calculate the value of the United States library. I believe no one can form any ade- quate estimate of this purchase. The library is such as to render all valuation absurd and impossible, if valuation were admitted into litera- ture. It is such a library as cannot be bought in the ordinary mode in which books are purchased, because many of the books that are ines- timable are wholly out of print, and many in manuscript that, of course, could not be procured. I have had an opportunity, from the privilege of frequent examination, imperfectly to discover that it is unique — a library which, for its selection, rarity, and intrinsic value, is beyond all price. For the satisfaction of calculators, however, I will barely men- tion the value marked in English catalogues, of a few books which this library contains: — De Bry's Collection of Voyages, 3 volumes, ^400 sterling; Purchas' Pilgrimes, 1 volume, ,£56 sterling; Smith's History of Virginia, 1 volume folio, ,£42 sterling, etc. ; while the Government paid but $3 per volume. It contains Buff on' s Birds, 10 volumes, quarto, 5 volumes of colored plates; Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, 2 volumes, folio; King James's works; Chaucer's Poems, in black letter; all the Greek and Latin classics extant; Martyr's History of the West Indies; the best authors in the French, Spanish and English languages, with a variety of other works it would be difficult to enumerate. Of the wit and argument of the Federal press, on the other hand, there is a good specimen in the Georgetown Daily Federal Republican, October 18, 1814: To Thomas Jefferson, esquire, late President of the United States — Dear Sir: — I have a library of books which I should be glad to sell. It consists of about 5000 volumes, selected with care and caution. Various projects had occurred to me to effect this object, but none had appeared free of objection. One feels awkwardly to be hawking his commodities about the streets, and to send such a quantity of books to auction and hire a master of the arts, which there succeed to puff them off with the prevalent common-place slang, seems not quite con- sistent with those delicate feelings which should govern high-minded men. At the same time, the object is interesting, and if an old man can turn his books into cash, just as he has done with them and the world, at a good price, and especially if a great portion of them were presents to him, (which, inter nos, you know is the fact with yours and mine), it would be quite a handsome speculation, and save his executors much trouble. Observing that you have, in one of your lucky moments, (and I never knew a man who had more such moments), hit upon a project entirely 92 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. new, aud seeing that it is very popular, I wish to know if you cannot, in a second application to Congress, through some Republican friend, aid me. My grandfather, my father, and myself, have employed much time in the last century and in this, in making the collection, so that it may be considered as the acquisition of nearly one hundred years labour. Many of my books are rare, most of them elegant and all inestimable. A considerable part of the works are in Sanscrit, Coptic, Celtic, and Arabic tongues. These can be translated, if it is thought proper, at little expense, though I should prefer that they should remain as writ- ten, and would respectfully recommend that Congress should immedi- ately employ a competent number of professors to teach the members of that honorable body those languages. I am aware that there is not now so much "surplus revenue" as there was under your glorious adminis- tration (owing to the war which the ' ' vandalism ' ' of Great Britain has produced), yet stock may be created sufficient for their salaries and contingent funds. I hope I shall not be thought, by this, to wish to see the ' ' undefined field of contingencies ' ' opened again, if they have ever been closed. My grandfather was a Dutch merchant, and spent all his time, while resident in Amsterdam, except what was employed in smoaking, in the ' ' principal book marts, ' ' laying aside all the works of genius and taste which that country produced. The treatises there obtained are chiefly devoted to music, painting and poetry. My father and I have passed much time in both the Indies, and have occasionally visited almost all the enlightened parts of each. Our intercourse was not confined to those regions, but has been extended from Kamschatka to Buenos Ayres. A propensity for curious books, in every science, being incident to the family, it will not be thought vain in me to declare that this library is exceeded only by yours. Being now nearly eighty years of age, and having no children, to whom my estate can descend, and not finding much time for reading, I should be much pleased to turn these books into cash. A few of them, however, I wish to retain for my own use after they shall be sold, taking care to see, after I am dead, that they may be safely transmitted to Wash- ington. Those of this description are Vanderhuyden's poetical works, in sixteen volumes, with notes, critical and explanatory, by Mynheer Van Tromp, dedicated to Admiral Ruyter, who went up the English channel, as mentioned in your letter. Also a new edition, greatly enlarged, of Robinson Crusoe, in seven volumes, bound in calf, contain- ing full-length portraits of that great traveller and his man Friday, with exact drawings of their working tools and other implements, with fac- similes of their hand-writing. Also, the whole works of Thomas Paine, your old friend, "who has already received his reward in the thankful- ness of nations," consisting of his invaluable discoveries in moral, politi- cal and theological science. These copies, (I believe I have only thirty VALUE OF THE LIBRARY. 93 different editions), with those included in your proposals, and the vari- ous editions of Hobbes and Spinosa, those learned and virtuous men, will be sufficient, in that peculiarly charming part of theology, for the Congressional Library. As to the price, I shall leave it entirely with the liberality of Con- gress, not wishing to be my own judge, and believing, inter nos, that by thus reposing on their generosity, the books will sell at from fifty to one hundred per cent, higher than in any other conceivable mode. To pro- mote the bargain, I wish you to suggest, at the outset of your letter, that I hate, abhor, and detest with all my soul, strength and under- standing, the whole British nation; that I consider every Englishman, except those who have been naturalized here, (and them, I sincerely love) , a thief, liar, poltroon, robber, murderer, assassin, traitor, and that every man, woman and child ought to be hung, imbowelled, impaled, or broken on a wheel. In fine, that the character of that people is justly pourtrayed in a late Washington City Gazette, a paper which is second only to the National Intelligencer, and Binns's Democratic Press, for truth and wisdom; I am aware that such an introduction to a letter, proposing merely to sell books, is rather unusual, but I see you have resorted to it, and I think very wisely. People are to be treated accord- ing to their prejudices and partialities, and I have witnessed your suc- cess with them, by those means, in your splendid career from your inaugural address, through dry-docks, gunboats, and salt mountains down to that most august measure, the embargo. I intended to have furnished you with an elegant catalogue of my library, that it might have been open to inspection; but am now wholly occupied in furnishing a drawing of the Capitol and President's House, while on fire, with Mr. M. mounted on a fleet charger, and in full speed flying to a place of safety, from the "vandalism" of the enemy, and Captain Jones, with a boatswain's whistle, calling all hands to burn the Navy Yard, and the frigate on the stocks to prevent them from being carried away by the Cossacks. I will, however, mention a few of the great number of books, and give you a sketch of the character of the whole. There are entire sets of all the works of all the atheistical writers in every age and nation and tongue, superbly bound and lettered. Forty different editions of the Bible, thirty-nine of which are in the Arabic, and one in the Hebrew idiom; these are as good as when they came from the hands of the book-binder. A very learned treatise in ten volumes quarto, on the nature, properties, and uses of the animal called tad-pole, ptiled vulgarly, Polly-wangs, with an appendix, in three volumes; on the toad of Caffraria. The whole of these, I have caused to be translated into six different languages. There is also, an elaborate and voluminous account of the terrapin, sometimes called mud-turtle, written by the author of sundry ingenius disquisitions on gun-boats and dry-docks, in 94 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. modern French. An essay on "free-trade and sailors' rights," by a citizen of Algiers, bound in morocco with a copious appendix on alle- giance. In this will be found a great part of the instructions given to the American ministers at Petersburgh and at Ghent. It is embellished with striking likenesses of John Henry and the Duke de Crillon. Also, a new edition in several volumes folio, on the Russian climate, and its effects on Frenchmen, French horses and American politics, with very learned notes by his Excellency Jonathan Russell, late charge de affaires at the Court of St. James, now minister Plenipotentiary at London, Envoy Extraordinary at Gottenburgh and Ghent, otherwise called Jonathan Russell, esquire of Providence, Trader. This book is dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte living at Elba; it went through six editions at Ghent in four months. A treatise on Treasury notes, Banks and paper money, bound in calf, with a splendid title page, by Jacob Barker, Superintendent General of the Finances of the United States and first lord of the Treasury. A work of great worth, written in Persian, on the grass-hopper of the east, delineating, with entire accuracy, the size of his legs in different regions of that extensive country, with a copious appen- dix, containing the whole learning on the subject of that highly curious animal called the weasel. A complete system of ornithology, giving an account of every flying creature, from the insect of a day to the whip- poor-will, the night-hawk and the crane, in blank verse, by Inchiquin, translated from the Italian into the Sclavonic, by a learned foreigner, comprized in thirteen volumes folio. Of the whole collection, I take the liberty of saying, that it has been made with a particular view to the promotion of genuine republicanism, and the true orthodoxy in matters of faith of regenerated France, as set forth by those great apostles, Diderot, De Lambert, Paine and Godwin. The books are in excellent order, many of them truly elegant. Not a syllable could be taken from them without prejudice to the rest, as all the arts and sciences have a certain natural connection. I cannot con- sent to see my library gerry-mandered, for though such procedures are proper to promote democracy, which you know is the "chief end of man," yet they are not admissible in cases like the present. I must sell the whole or none. Ten wagons would carry the whole from my resi- dence, which is only two hundred miles up the Missouri, in the vicinity of our red brethren, the allies of England, to Washington, in a short space of time. If it should be objected, that four-fifths of this library are in foreign languages, and of course, unintelligible by nine-tenths of the members of Congress, I would reply that such an objection can come only from short-sighted men. The enlightened philosopher looks to the present war, which we have so wisely and righteously waged, as terminating not only in the everlasting establishment upon an eternal basis of ' ' free- trade and sailors' rights," (and if it should not so issue, we can make VALUE OF THE LIBRARY. 95 another war at any time), but also in the conquest of immeasurable regions to the north, west and south, and to the day when the represent- atives of this country will be composed ' ' of all people, nations and lan- guages under the whole Heavens. ' ' Accept the assurance of my high consideration. Johannes Vondbrpuff. Missouri, October 1st, 1814.. Among those, however, who judged the library with a more impartial mind, it was felt that while the collection lacked in the mathematical and physical branches, for which Jefferson for the past forty years had had no time, 1 and was deficient in the historical and political literature of the past ten years, and that the books which Jefferson had received as an hom- age to his character and taste were, for the most part, of no value, still it was recognized that opportunities for the col- lection of material illustrative of American history, such as Jefferson had enjoyed while in Europe, would never come again. It was believed, too, that his subsequent collection made in America, of speeches, pamphlets, and books relat- ing to the history of the Revolution, showing the arguments urged to bring on the contest, the reasoning required to keep the revolutionary spirit alive, to induce the people to form and accept a form of government, and to secure the liberty they had achieved, was greater than that of any other indi- vidual in the country. 2 And it was understood that the books relating to foreign affairs and institutions selected by a statesman of Jefferson's ability would be of greater value to the statesman who succeeded him in power than those which might be chosen by persons either dunces or novices in the science of politics. Jared Sparks, 3 who saw the collection in 1826, considered it valuable, or at least more valuable than the rest of the library, which contained about the same number of volumes and had cost, not counting the expenditure of service, about the same amount of money. George Ticknor, another of ■Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 83, No. 125. Jefferson to John Vaughan, March i, 1815. =S. L- Knapp, Sketches of public characters, 1830, p. 118. 3H. B. Adams, Life of Sparks 1: 462. 96 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. those bookmen who made New Bngland the center of learn- ing in the early part of the century, saw the library before it was removed to Washington and wrote of it, February 4, 181 5: * "In so short a time I could not, of course, estimate its value, even if I had been competent to do so. Perhaps the most curious single specimen — or, at least, the most charac- teristic of the man and expressive of his hatred of royalty — was a collection which he had bound up in six volumes, and lettered the ' Book of Kings,' consisting of the Memoires de la Princesse de Bareith, 2 volumes; Les Memoires de la Comtesse de la Motte, 2 volumes; the Trial of the Duke of York, 1 volume; and The Book, 1 volume. These docu- ments of regal scandal seemed to be favorites with the philosopher, who pointed them out to me with a satisfaction somewhat inconsistent with the measured gravity he claims in relation to such subjects generally." The English traveler Frances Wright D'Arusmont said in 1821: "These volumes marked with the name of America's President and philosopher, 2 will always constitute the most interesting portion of the National Library." 3 Other travel- ers were interested in other books. One, in a copy of Professor Dalzel's Collectanea Graaca Majora, which bore the following inscription in the autograph of the editor: Ad virum honoratissimum et doctissimum Thomas Jefferson, S. R. S., Edin. affoederatis Americae civitatibus ad Regiam majestatem Christianissimam cum plena potestate legatum nunc librum observationis causa misit Andreas Dalzel." And another in a copy of Dugald Stewart's Philosophy of the human mind, on the fly-leaf of which was pasted the 'Life, letters, and journals of George Ticknor i: 35. ' Wherever the printer's signature occurs at the bottom of the page as an I or J, he has made a T before it, and where T occurs, a J after it. This private mark consti- tuted the initials of his name. 3Views of society and manners in America, New York, 1821, p. 378. tj. M. Duncan, Travels through the United States and Canada, Glasgow, 1823, 1: 260. REMOVAL OF THE LIBRARY. 97 following original letter from its illustrious author to Mr. Jefferson: dear Sir: The book which accompanies this letter is the only per- formance which I have yet ventured to publish. I hope you will do me the honour to give it a place in your library, and that you will accept of it as a mark of my grateful recollection of the attentions which I have received from you at Paris. I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and faithful servant, Dugald Stewart. College of Edinburgh, ist October, 1792. 1 REMOVAL OF THE LIBRARY TO WASHINGTON. On the 30th of January, 181 5, the same day on which the act authorizing the purchase of the Jefferson collection was passed, Mr. Jefferson wrote to Mr. Smith, complaining that he had not heard from him since October 21, asking to be informed how the negotiation stood, and requesting the return of the catalogue of his library. 2 On the 14th of February, 18 15, the following note was received by Mr. Smith from the Library Committee. 3 Mr. Goldsborough of the Senate presents his compliments to Mr. Smith and if he will not be otherwise engaged at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning, begs the favor to see him at that hour at the Senate for the purpose of concluding the negotiations for Mr. Jefferson's library. 3 As the result of this meeting Mr. Smith wrote, February 15, 18 1 5, to Mr. Jefferson, in reply to his letter of January 30: * * * Agreeably to the law lately passed, the Library Committee have desired the Secretary of the Treasury to issue, payable to your order, Treasury notes to the amount of $23,950, this being the exact amount at which the library was valued by Mr. Milligan. Will you advise me how these notes should be filled? If with your name, they must be sent to you for your endorsement before they can be transferred to another. If you wish to appropriate them here or elsewhere to any immediate purpose, a letter from you desiring them to be filled with the name of any one, will be a sufficient warrant to the Secretary. I have requested that they be not made out until your answer is received. The chairman of the committee has promised a return of the cata- logue. ^ ^ ^ 3 'James Stuart, Three years in North America, Edinburgh, 1833, 2: 84. 2 Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 78, No. 36. 3 J. Henley Smith MSS. 23399—04 7 98 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. The letter concludes with the remark that the committee would seek legislation regarding the transportation of the library. On the 27th of February Jefferson answered Mr. Smith's letter regarding the method of payment for the library and made some suggestions regarding the transportation of the library. 1 With respect to the Treasury notes they, of course, should not be made until the library is delivered, or ready to be delivered. When this takes place, I will take the liberty of specifying my wishes as to the notes. As soon as I receive the catalogue, I will set about revis- ing and arranging the books. This can be done only by myself, and admits of no help; in doing it I must be constantly on my legs, and I must ask indulgence, therefore, to proceed only as my strength will admit. I count on its taking me many days, perhaps a fortnight. As soon as all are in their places and numbered, I will give you notice. I am now calling in all which have been lent out as far as noted, 2 but there will doubtless be many irrecoverably lost. As these must be struck off the catalogue, and deductions accordingly made from the amount of compensation, it would be not only very desirable to me, but entirely proper to have some agent of the committee here to see what are delivered, and adjust the deductions, as well as to superintend the packing, and perhaps the transportation. It would be a great pity to have the finer bindings destroyed for want of this small additional expense. Mr. Milligan in a former letter to me, expressed his willing- ness to come and see to the packing, and whatever else might be neces- sary, and no one could be more competent to the whole business. However, he, or any other person, whom the committee shall appoint will be acceptable to me. I send you on the next leaf some notes which may be useful towards arranging the transportation. The com- pensation embracing the whole of the catalogue, I shall not retain a single one, the only modification to be made being a deduction from the compensation in proportion to the size and number of the books which on the review shall appear to have been lost. 'Jefferson's letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander J. Dallas, giving directions for the payment, is dated April 18, 1815. It is printed in the Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edited by P. X,. Ford, vol. 9, pp. 514-515. The letters from Dallas to Jefferson, inclosing notes in payment for the library, are dated February 21, 1815, and April 28, 1815. They are in the Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 29, Nos. 60-61. =See letters to George Hay, February 26; W. W. Hening, March 11 and 25, April 8; 1,. H. Girardin, March 27; series 2, vol. 45, Nos. 130, 173, 174; series 1, vol. 14, No. 29. And those to Watterston, June 3, 1816, June 20, 1816, and October 20, 1818. REMOVAL OF THE LIBRARY. 99 OBSERVATIONS ON THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE MONTICELLO LIBRARY. The books stand at present in pine cases with backs and shelves with- out fronts. The cases are generally of three tier, one upon another, about 9 feet high in the whole. The lowest case is generally 13 inches deep, the second 6J4 inches and the uppermost 5%, averaging 8}4 inches, to that add % inch for the front of boards to be nailed on, and it makes g}( inches depth. I have measured the surface of wall which these cases cover and find it to be 855.39 feet, which divided into the depth of 9% inches equals 676 cubic feet; of this 232 cubic feet would be the wood of the cases and 444 cubic feet the books. I find a cubical foot of books to weigh 40 pounds, and as this is the weight of dry pine also, we need not distinguish between the weight of the wood and the books, but say the whole 676 cubic feet at 40 pounds makes 27046 pounds, or eleven waggon loads of 2458 pounds each. It is said that waggon hire at Washington is eight dollars a day, find- ing themselves here it is exactly half that price, or a half dozen waggons can be got here at four dollars, who will undertake to carry 2500 pounds. I think it would be better, therefore, to employ the waggons of this neighborhood, and let them make two trips, but as the inter- stices between the books and shelves (which, however, are very small), will require a certain quantity of book binder's paper- parings; a great many elegant bindings will require to be wrapped in waste paper, and all should have slips of paper between them, which cannot be had here. Would it not be necessary to send on a waggon load from Washington to be deposited here before the books are packed? It might take a return load of the books. And the books should go in their cases, every one in its station, so that the cases on their arrival need only be set up on end, and they will be arranged exactly as they stand in the catalogue. I will have the fronts closed with boards for the journey, which, being taken off on their arrival at Washington, sash doors may be made there at little expense. But the books will require careful and skilful packing, to prevent their being rubbed in so long and rough a journey, by the jolting of the waggons. The best road, by far, for waggons at this season, is from Monticello by Orange Court House, Culpeper Court House, Fauquier Court House, Emil's mill, Sorgater Lanes, and George T. ferry, because it is along cross roads nearly the whole way, which are very little travelled by waggons. The road by Fredericksburg is considerably further, and deeply cut through the whole. That by Stephensburg is the shortest and levellest of all, but being generally a deep living clay is absolutely unpassable from November to May. The worst circumstance of the road by the Court Houses is that two branches of the Rappahannock and three of the Occoquam are to be forded, and they are liable to sud- IOO PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. den swells. 1 I presume a waggon will go loaded in seven days, and return empty in six, and allowing one for loading and accidents, the trip will be of a fortnight and come to $56. I will have the waggons engaged if it is desired, to attend on any day which may be named. 2 In Mr. Smith's letter to Jefferson of the 15th of February, he had observed that the Library Committee would introduce a bill in Congress providing for the transportation of the Jef- ferson library to Washington. The committee had also to provide a room for its reception. Accordingly a report was made by the committee in the Senate, February 20, 3 as follows: That in pursuance of the act of Congress passed at the present session, they have lodged an order with the Secretary of the Treasury in favor of Thomas Jefferson, Esquire, late President of the United States, for the sum of $23,950 in Treasury notes, as the purchase money for his library, for the use of Congress. As the authority of the Committee, under the act of December, 181 1 , by which they are created does not extend beyond the expenditure of the annual fund of one thousand dollars, and such balances as may have remained on hand for the purpose of making additions to the library, they respectfully submit to Congress the propriety of providing a library room, and for transporting the library lately purchased, to the City of Washington. With this in view the committee presented a bill author- izing the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to select a proper apartment for a library room and provide for the transportation of the library. On the 2 2d the bill was considered in Committee of the Whole. On motion by Mr. Roberts, the bill having been amended, the President reported it to the Senate accordingly, and on the 23d the bill was read the third time and passed. On the same day a message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate had passed the bill entitled "An act to 'Watterston suggested in a letter to President Madison, March 25, that the books be brought to Washington by water, a safer and less expensive route, he thought. — Madison MSS. 2 J. Henley Smith MSS., copy in Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 78, No. 38. Note Madison's letter to Jefferson, March 11, 1815, Writings of Madison, Congressional edition, 1865, 3: 602. 3 Thirteenth Congress, third session, Senate. Report of the Library Committee on the expediency of providing a library room, and for transporting the library lately pur- chased of Thomas Jefferson, esquire, to the city of Washington, February 20, 1815. Washington, Roger C. Weightman, 1815. 1 p. 8°. REMOVAL OF THE LIBRARY. IOI provide a library room, and for transporting the library lately purchased," and on March 3 the bill passed the House. 1 AN ACT to provide a library room, and for transporting the library lately purchased. Be it enacted, &c. , That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause a proper apartment to be immediately selected and prepared for a library room, and to cause the library, lately purchased from Thomas Jefferson, to be placed therein during the ensuing recess of Congress. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the accounting officers of the Treasury be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to settle the account of the expenditures incurred under this act; and that the account so settled shall be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated. Approved, March 3, 1815. On the nth of March, 1815, Mr. Smith wrote to Jefferson: 2 " Congress having on the last day of this sitting, modified the pending bill for the transportation of the library, so as to leave the necessary disposition to the President of the United States, I yesterday conferred with him on the subject. He considers it advisable to postpone its transportation until some time in May, and that it be transported by land in such a way as shall be most agreeable to you. For this pur- pose, it is contemplated to employ Joseph Dougherty. I forward to you in a distinct packet the catalogue." 2 Already Jefferson had written to Joseph Dougherty, his old coachman at the White House : 3 MoNTiCELLO, February 27. * * * Your letter of the 15th was eight days on the road, and I answer it by the first return of our mail. I had prepared for Mr. Smith some notes on the transportation of the library, and as they give easily all the information you desire, I send a copy of them on the next leaf. They will inform you of the price of waggonage here, the number which will be requisite, the distance, and best roads, and that I shall send the books in the cases as they stand. I am now preparing and joining boards to cover the cases, and my own workmen will do whatever is want- ing in their line without any additional charge. Wishing everything which may promote your interest, I salute you with my best wishes. Thomas Jefferson. 'Annals 28: 252, 257, 262, 267. a J. Henley Smith MSS. 3 Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 30, No. 140. 102 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. On the same day, February 27, Jefferson wrote to Milligan, who, it was understood, would superintend the removal of the library. 1 On the 20th of March Milligan answered: Your esteemed favor of the 27th ult., postmarked "Milton," March 8th, reached me last week. When you have completed the review of the library, I am ready to come and pack the books. I will have the paper-shavings, and wrapping paper ready that they may be sent on as soon as I hear that you are ready. It will be necessary to have the packing cases, that each may contain about 300 weight, (but they need not be made until I come) , so that they be made of such size that each waggon will hold eight cases. With great respect, yours, Joseph Milligan. On the same day, March 20th, the master wagoner, Joseph Dougherty, wrote to Mr. Smith regarding the compensation offered for his part of the work: 2 In our conversation yesterday, relative to the transportation of Mr. Jefferson's library from Monticello to this place, I think you said, that the compensation to be given to me for superintending the bringing of the library is fixt by the President at $4 per day. I will now state what my travelling expenses will amount to per day, — so that you may see what my compensation would amount to per day. Horse-hire, $1.25 per day; breakfast, $0.50; dinner, $0.75; supper and lodging, $0.75, four gallons oats and hay, $0.87. Expence per day, $4.12. To go the upper road to Monticello, being a country route, the above charges would, perhaps, be considerably lessened. lam, sir, your humble servant . Joseph Dougherty. On the 4th of April, Smith accordingly wrote to Madison, that Dougherty was dissatisfied with the proposed compensa- tion for his services, and said that he asked $6 a day. 3 In response Mr. Smith received the following memorandum, dated April 11, 1815. 2 Joseph Dougherty will attend to the transportation of Mr. Jefferson's library on the conditions mentioned yesterday, (five dollars a day, he paying all his expenses,) by Mr. Smith. While this negotiation with Dougherty was being carried on, Jefferson was supplementing his instructions of the 27th 'Mr. Smith sent Jefferson a formal notification to this effect, March 21, 1815. J. Henley Smith MSS. 3 J. Henley Smith MSS. 3 Madison MSS. REMOVAL OF THE LIBRARY. 103 of February, regarding the transportation of the library. On the 28th of March he wrote to Milligan: By a letter from Mr. Samuel H. Smith, I am informed that the Presi- dent has engaged you to come on here, as soon as I shall be ready, to examine and pack the library, and that Mr. Dougherty was to superin- tend the transportation. I have been a fortnight laboriously engaged in revising the books, and placing them on their shelves, every one in the place and order in which it stands in the catalogue. This I shall finish the next Saturday (April 1st.) 1 We shall then have only to paste the numbers on the books corresponding with the catalogue, which will be a work of three or four days, say to April 5th or 6th, and I should be glad if you would be here as soon as that is done, say in the latter half of the ensuing week. There can be no better packing boxes than the pine cases in which they stand, not a book need be moved, only a leaf of paper be put between every two volumes, paper parings stuffed in the interval between the top of the books and shelf above, and sheets of waste paper spread on the whole face of the press over which the lid is to be nailed. The presses are of the proper size to lay in a waggon, except two or three, which we can easily cut. You must bring the waste paper and paper parings, as they cannot be had here, and as I presume a waggon must come on with them, we can load her back with books now ready. For carrying the rest of the library, I have recom- mended to take the waggons of this neighborhood, which can be had for $4 a day. The library not having been revised for twenty years before, I expected great losses. They are not less than expected, some can be recovered, some replaced, and the rest more than countervailed by the many books which had by accident been omitted to be catalogued. When the President, while Secretary of State, was engaged in writing on neutral rights, I lent him Wynne's Life of Jenkins, two large folios, and a work in Latin, entitled "Scriptores de jure maritimo," sc. Styp- mannus, Heinicke, Loccenius et Heinneccius, 4 . They have never returned, and are now probably with the books in the office of State, if they were saved from conflagration. Will you be so good as to inquire, and if there, brought on with the waggon. Many of those wanting, I think you can procure in Washington and Georgetown, at my cost, and have them brought on also. The waggon should arrive here the day after you. I am very anxious to get through your part of this business, the packing and nailing up, because my affairs in Bedford call for me distressingly, and I shall set out the moment you are done. Dougherty may then take off the presses at his leisure. I state below the books I wish you to try to get and bring on. Accept the assurances of my esteem and respect, Thomas Jefferson. ■Note also Jefferson's letters to Madison, March 23, and to Girardin, March 27. Jefferson MSS., series 1, vol. 14, Nos. 28, 29. 104 PURCHASE OF THE JEFFERSON LIBRARY. Finally, on the 18th of April, Jefferson wrote to Alexander P. Dallas, Secretary of the Treasury: 1 "The books being now all ready for delivery, and their removal actually com- menced, I may with propriety now receive the payment:" And on the 8th of May to Mr. Smith: 2 "Our tenth and last waggon load of books goes off today. This closes the trans- action here. * * * It is the choicest collection of books in the United States, and I hope it will not be without some general effect on the literature of our country." Within a week the library was in Washington, but of this Jefferson seems not to have been advised, for on the 26th of June he wrote to Milligan, asking whether the library had arrived safely in Washington, and wishing to know whether it had yet been unpacked and replaced on its shelves, etc. Another month passed before Milligan answered, July 31, 1815: 3 * * * The library arrived in safety in Washington on Monday morning of next week after I left Monticello, that is in six days from the time it was put into the waggons, it was safely laid in the passage of the General Post-office, of Congress Hall. About three weeks ago I commenced unpacking it, and accomplished it last Monday. I am happy to inform you that it has not received the slightest injury by transportation. The room which has been appropriated for it is sufficiently large. "Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edited by P. L. Ford, 9: 513-514. 2 J. Henley Smith MSS. 3 Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 61, No. 86. For packing and superintending the transportation of the library Milligan received $972.27. Report of the Library Committee, January 26, 1816. After the sale of this first library to Congress Jefferson collected another, which he bequeathed to the University of Virginia, but the condition of his estate requiring that the bequest be diverted to the payment of debts, the collection was sold in Washington, in February, 1829. In the catalogue of this sale there were 931 items. The sale was advertised in the National Intelligencer, February 27. The title-page and impiint of the catalogue are as follows: "Catalogue. President Jefferson's library. Catalogue of the extensive and valuable library of the late President Jefferson (copied from the original manu- scripts, in his handwriting, as arranged by himself), to be sold at auction at the Long Room, Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington City, by Nathaniel P. Poor, on the 27th of February, 1829. The sale to commence at 6 o'clock p. m. , and will continue from day to day, until the whole library is disposed of. Price of catalogue 12 l A cents. Washington. Printed by Gales and Seaton, 1829." 14 pp. 8°. This is in the Library of Congress. Miscellaneous Pamphlets, vol. 859, No. 14. Chapter Ipwe DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 181 5-1829 105 Chapter Five, development of the library, 1815-1829. In consequence of the ill feeling which arose over the destruction of the Library in 18 14, Patrick Magruder resigned his position as Clerk of the House, and at the same time, it is inferred, his position as Librarian of Congress, January 28, 1815. In consequence, too, of the loss of the old Library it was now determined, as Joseph Milligan had sug- gested in his letter of the 24th of September, 1814, to Thomas Jefferson, to make the office of Librarian distinct from that of Clerk of the House of Representatives. Accord- ingly, on the 21st of March, 181 5, George Watterston was appointed. George Watterston was a man ardent in temperament, yet modest and unobtrusive in manner. 1 Anne Royall saw him in 1824, and spoke with admiration of these characteristics. She further remarked that he was a man of good size, neither spare nor robust, a fine figure, and possessed of some personal beauty. "His fair complexion and his striking countenance," she said, "show genius and deep penetration, marked with a grave and commanding spirit — a gentleman both in appear- ance and in manners." 2 It was shortly after this — in the summer of 1829, ^ n ^ ac ^ — that Mrs. Royall was tried by Judge Cranch for being a common slanderer and disturber of the peace and happiness of the good people of the neighborhood. In the course of the trial Mr. Tims, Doorkeeper of the Senate, being called, was asked whether he knew of Mrs. Royall slandering any- one. He promptly replied, " Yes; she has slandered me; she called me an exemplary man — now that's slander." This was considered very funny; the court roared; bench, 1 Obituary in National Intelligencer, February 6, 1854. 2 Sketches of history, life, and manners in the United States, 1826, p. 150. 107 108 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. bar, and jury all lost their balance. Tims himself was the only man left unmoved. He looked around grave as an owl; just opposite to him stood Mr. Watterston laughing immoderately. Tims catching sight of him again opened his oracular jaws. "Yes, sir," said he, "I know of other persons whom she has slandered. She says in her book that Watterston and Gales are two of the handsomest men in Washington. Now I leave it to all the world if that is not a slander on all the other men in the city." But Mr. Watterston had other qualifications for the posi- tion of Librarian besides those apparent to Mrs. Royall. He was a journalist, and therefore interested in live questions, public questions; an author of several books, and therefore understood books as only an author can; and above all he was a bookman — it is necessary only to quote from his com- monplace books to indicate this. There we find such maxims as these: "A great book is a great evil," "Read much, but not many books," "A man who reads a great deal is like a cormorant — his literary appetite is never satisfied." George Watterston was born in the harbor of New York October 23, 1783. His father, David Watterston, a native of Jedburgh, Scotland, had purchased property in the neigh- borhood of the city of New York, and was at that time on his way to settle upon his new possessions. In 1 79 1, the founding of the new Federal capital offering opportunities for the talents of the father as master builder, the family moved to Washington, and George witnessed the laying of the corner stone of the Capitol by President Washington, September 18, 1793. This was the only event of importance in his life until he became of school age and was sent to Charlotte Hall School situated in St. Mary County, Md. His associations with this place appear to have been of the happiest character, and led him to revisit the place twenty years after and write about it to the National Intelligencer. 1 After leaving school Watterston studied law and finally opened an office in Hagerstown, Md. The death of a rich •August 17, 1825. ->!.. i, plate 7. LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON — EARLY WRITINGS. 109 uncle in Jamaica, however, led him to give up his office in this place and make a trip to the West Indies, his journal of which is still preserved in manuscript among the Watterston papers. He was disappointed in the lot his uncle had pro- vided for him, but the adventure gave him material for the poem entitled "The Wanderer in Jamaica," which he pub- lished in 18 10 with a dedication to Mrs. Dolly Madison. This determined his future career as Librarian of Congress. Returned from Jamaica, he set up in the practice of law in Washington, in partnership with Thomas Law, made his debut as the annual orator of the Washington Benevolent Society of Young Men, January 26, 181 1, 1 and was married. The notice of this event in the National Intelligencer, October 29, 181 1, was as follows: "On Saturday evening, by the Rev. Mr. Breckenridge, George Watterston, Esquire, to Miss Maria Shanley, all of this City." In 181 2 he was a candidate for the position of collector of the District of Columbia. 2 The war with England now waged. In 1814 the British threatened the capital, and Watterston marched with Capt. Benjamin Burch's company to meet the enemy. No one gained renown in the ensuing battle — "the Bladensburg races," as the acquaintances of the returned warriors chose to call it — but during the consequent occu- pation of the city 3 the Library of Congress was destroyed and the old library administration discredited, as we have described. This was the immediate occasion of the appoint- ment of Mr. Watterston as Librarian. The real reason for Mr. Watterston's appointment as Libra- rian, however, lay in his attainments as a man of letters. His first publication was a novel — to-day it might be called a psychological novel. It was entitled "The Lawyer, or Man as he ought not to be," was dedicated to the Hon. John Buchanan, chief judge of the fifth judicial district of Mary- land, and was published anonymously. 4 ■ National Intelligencer, November 26, 1810; January 24, 1811. 'Watterston to Madison, October 28, 1812, Madison MSS . 3Watterston's house was among those pillaged. Ingersoll, Historical sketch of the war of 1812. * Pittsburg: Printed for and published by Zadok Cramer, and sold at his bookstore (Franklin's Head), Market street, 1808. 236 pp. front. 12 . A second edition of IIO DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. In the preface to this work Mr. Watterston says: "The following sheets were written chiefly with the view to exhibit the pernicious effects which result from a vicious education, and thus to show the propriety of early instilling into the youthful mind principles of justice, of truth, of honesty." In his next work of fiction, " Glencarn; or, The Disappoint- ments of youth. A novel. By George Watterston, Ksq., author of The Lawyer, etc.," 1 he attempted to prove that hap- piness is the result of a certain physical organization of the nerves, modified by habits of virtue, and to caution youth against too implicit confidence in the integrity of man. In 1809 he had made an appearance as the leader of a new school of literature in "The Child of feeling. A comedy, in five acts." 2 In this he observed: "The scenes of American comedy have hitherto been laid in foreign nations; their effect has therefore been lost. The proper subject of Ameri- can comedy is American character." This work was wel- comed in the following "Prologue to 'The Child of feeling,'" written by a citizen of Washington and friend to Mr. Watterston, and printed in the National Intelligencer July 27, 1810: Sweet child ! Of Nature's son the rarest boy, Subject to every pain and every joy: Nursling of Genius! Deign his hopes to raise; Correct with kindness, and with candor praise, Thus shall the Comic Muse attain the end To which her labors ever ought to tend; etc. Watterston's next publications were poems. First "The Wanderer in Jamaica." 3 This poem, to which we have already referred, was dedicated to Mrs. Dolly Madison in the this was published in Charlestown, Md., by G. Davidson, in 1829, without the dedica- tion. A note on the title-page of the New York State library copy, signed by S. G. Deeth, says: "By George Watterston, many years Librarian of Congress. Proof catalogue Congress Library, 1839 edition, page 599." It is also entered in the Cata- logue of the Alexandria library, 1815, under Watterston as both author and donor. 1 Alexandria: Printed by Cotton and Stewart, and sold at their bookstores in Alex- andria and Fredericksburg," 1810. 265 pp. 12 . Georgetown: Published by Joseph Milligan; Dinsmore and Cooper, printers. 1809. 113 pp. 16 . sWashington City, W. Cooper, printer, 1810. 36 pp. 12 . LIBRARIAN WATTERSTONT AS JOURNALIST. Ill following language: "Madam, I have presumed to address this poetical effusion to you, from the reputation you have acquired of being desirous to promote the cause of general literature." It was this dedication, gossip said, that led President Madison to appoint Watterston Librarian of Con- gress. "The Wanderer in Jamaica" was followed by "The Scenes of youth. A poem." 1 This was written somewhat after the manner of Goldsmith, and, on one occasion at least, 2 inspired the muse of Noah Brashears, a local bard of note in 1830. In 1 81 3 Watterston became editor of the Washington City Gazette, established by William Elliot in support of the Republican party. 3 It was as a man of letters that Watterston received his appointment as Librarian. But after his appointment he became interpreter of the literature in his custody and ceased to make any notable contributions to literature himself. In the National Intelligencer, July 15, 1820, there is a song by G. W., entitled "Columbia, the home of the brave and the free," etc., and in the same journal, August 29, 1825, a poem by him entitled "The enigma," on the setting of the sun Friday evening, August 12, 1825. But a ^ n ^ s other writings were suggested by the books in the Library, or by the inquiries of readers, Congressmen, and others, or by events of the day. Sometimes his subject was merely local or suggested by some local event — a sketch of Thomas Law, 4 an essay on music occasioned by the first musical entertainment in the city — an oratorio in the Unitarian churchy a description of the Capitol 6 just then enlarged, of the Capitol Rotunda, 7 and of plans for landscape gardening about the Capitol. 8 Of 1 Washington City, printed by Rapine and Elliot, near the Capitol, 1813. 22 pp. 12 . "Columbia's wreath, p. 41. 3 This statement is found in a paper entitled "Concerning J. C. Calhoun, May 11. 1851," among the Watterston MSS.; also in New guide to Washington, 1842, p. 104, The prospectus of the Washington Gazette, William Elliot, publisher, J. Elliot, printer, is printed in the National Intelligencer, December 2, 1813. '•National Intelligencer, October 22, 1822. s Ibid., June 7, 1823. 6 Ibid., October 8, 12, 1825. 'Ibid., January 7, 1826. 8 Ibid., June 23, July 1. 11; August 10, 1825. 112 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. this character were also some statistics upon the health of Washington 1 and a letter to the National Intelligencer upon the formation of a temperance society. 2 At other times his themes were political or literary. Of the former I have noted contributions to the local press describing a visit to Monticello and Montpelier, 3 discussing Pinkney and Clay, 4 and John Adams, 5 letters on the Quar- terly Review's strictures on the United States, 6 on the Greek revolution, 7 on Owenism, 8 on canals, 9 etc. Of mere literary or scientific essays those on La Place, 10 on Hamlet, 11 on the Book of Job, 12 and on Piers Plowman's vision I3 are of interest. Besides these fugitive journalistic contributions, he for short periods assumed the editorship of the National Register, a political paper published by J. K. Meade, established in 1816, and of the Washington City Chronicle, a literary paper published weekly by Rothwell and Ustick, established in 1828. H On the 13th of March, 1827, finally, he commenced writing regularly for the National Journal at $500 per annum. 15 Of greater significance than these journalistic efforts, how- ever, were the books which he published during his librarian- ship. The first of these was the outcome of the horticultural studies encouraged by the Washington Botanical Society, of which he was a secretary. 16 It was "A Memoir on the his- tory, culture, manufacture, uses, etc., of the tobacco plant." 17 Several other horticultural studies by him belong to this period. They may be seen in the letters printed by him in the National Intelligencer, February 24, 1820, on a botanical museum; June 16, 1817, on crop prospects about Winchester; July 21, 1817, and June 20, 1820, on the culture of the potato; % Washington Gazette, January 30, 1826. "Ibid., September 2, 1817. « National Intelligencer, August 29, 1828. I2 Ibid., April 16, 24, 1821. 3Ibid., August 15, 1820. ^National Journal, December 13, 1823. * National Journal, November 22, 1823. "• Watterston's New Guide to Washing- s Ibid., September 7, 1826. ton, 1842, p. 104. 6 National Intelligencer, April 26, 1825. *s Waterston MSS. t National Journal, January 3, 14, 1824. ^National Intelligencer, March 22, 1817. 8 National Intelligencer, May 5, 1825. •? Washington City, Printed by Jonathan 'Ibid., August 18, 1821. Elliot, 1817. 12 pp. 8°. "Ibid., April 12, 15, 21, 1817. LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON AS POLITICAL WRITER. 113 July 17, 1820, on the night-blooming cereus, and in the National Journal, July 14, 1826, on the silkworm and the mulberry tree. The second book published during these years was the outcome of his work in the Library and of his position as the advisor of members of Congress. It was the "Letters from Washington, on the Constitution, laws and public characters of the United States. By a foreigner." This work is a short analysis of the laws and Constitution of the United States, together with sketches of the heads of Departments and some of the most distinguished members of Congress. In the composition of this work Watterston used Beaujour's Sketch of the United States, Mably's Observations sur le gouvernement et les lois des Etats-Unis, Jacques La Croix's Constitutions des principaux Ftats de l'Europe, MacNevin's Switzerland, and Peuchet's Statistique Blementaire de la France. The book was unfavorably reviewed in the Federal Republican* but William Faux, in his Memorable days in America, 2 acknowledges his indebted- ness to it, and the popularity of the personal sketches led to a reprint of that part of the book, with some additions, in a work entitled "The gallery of American portraits," 3 dedi- cated to Henry Clay. Watterston intended to follow these Letters from Washing- ton by a history of the Madison Administration, and wrote to Madison: 4 August 4, 1820. I have in contemplation to undertake a history of your Administration, which I conceive to be the most interesting period, except the Revolu- tion, of American history. Could I be so fortunate as to obtain your aid in explaining the more obscure events of that time, and in furnish- ing such other information as might be useful and important, it would not only render me more competent to the task, but the work itself more interesting. Contemporary history has been objected to, but I think it 'There was an answer to this review in the City of Washington Gazette November 20, 1818. 'London, 1823, pp. 347 et seq. 3Washington, Published by Pishey Thompson; A. Rothwell, printer, 1830. 157 pp. 12°. * Madison MSS. 2339?— 04— 8 114 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. is from that source, the future historian is the best enabled to obtain his facts and to select his matter. My respect for your character may indeed make me too partial, but I shall always endeavor to keep in view the course an impartial historian should ever observe, when he writes for the edification of posterity. Be so good as to make my respects to your excellent lady; may you both enjoy long life and happiness as you must enjoy the gratitude and respect of a generous and enlightened nation. This project, however, seems to have received no encour- agement. Watterston's next pieces of literary work show his interest in education. One of these was a translation of a work by- Simon Gueullette, the title-page of which reads: "An easy method of learning the Roman history; with a chronology of the Roman Kmperors, and an abridged account of the Roman usages and customs. Designed for the use of schools. Translated from the French, with additions." 1 His other educational work was "A course of study pre- paratory to the bar or the Senate; to which is annexed a memoir on the private or domestic life of the Romans." 2 In the preface of this work he explains its publication as follows: "Placed in a situation in which I have had fre- quent opportunities of witnessing the lamentable waste of time in many who have been disposed to be studious, from the want of an instructor to point out the course of reading they should pursue, * * * In the wide and desultory range of reading and of study adopted by young men in general, I have seen, with regret, that much time has been wasted, which, if employed in a more judicious manner, would have yielded the most lasting advantage." * * * Of its character he goes on to say: "In speaking of each 1 City of Washington, Printed and published by D. Rapine, 1820. 204 pp. 12°. This was reviewed in the National Intelligencer November 24, 1820. Three years later Noah Brashears, principal of the Masonic Hall Academy, Washington, pub- lished his Grammatical tables, a work which Watterston thought well calculated to facilitate a knowledge of the English grammar in beginners, so ran the advertisement in the National Journal, December 20, 1823. 2 Washington, Printed and published by Davis and Force (Franklin's Head) , Penn- sylvania Avenue, 1823. 240 pp. 12 . This work was first presented to the' public in a course of lectures. — National Intelligencer, January 3, 1823. The essay on the manners of the Romans was based upon the Memoires de l'Academie des inscriptions et belles-lettres, and D'Arnay's work. LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON AS NOVELIST. 115 science, I have endeavored to point out the books proper to be read and the course necessary to be pursued with a view to render it more accessible and more easily attained." This instruction he put in the form — popular since the time of Chesterfield — of letters addressed to his son on the proper divisions of time, the study of languages, rhetoric, oratory, poetry, logic, mathematics, drawing, painting, architecture, music, history, chemistry, mineralogy, botany, zoology, moral and political philosophy, public law, and political economy. The book was reviewed favorably in the National Journal January 10, 1824. In the year before the publication of his Course of study, Watterston had published, anonymously, a book which showed his continued attachment to fiction as a popular form of instruction, and at the same time indicated an increasing interest in the life and welfare of the city of Washington. This book was entitled "The L Family in Washing- ton; or a winter in the metropolis." 1 It was a humor- ous description of the follies of Washington life, with some reflections upon literature. In the preface he professed his admiration for the pen of Mrs. Radcliffe, and said that she was the only person to do justice to the beauties of Washing- ton; he himself seemed called upon to picture forth the vul- garities of life at the capital. The result was that the book excited much interest but called forth many censures. The reviews in the Columbian Star, May 11, 1822, and in the Washington Gazette, May 2, 1822, may be noted in particular. Only one opinion favorable to the book was uttered publicly, that was by a correspondent of the Gazette, May 11, 1822, who thought the book the best that had appeared for some time. The reception with which the "L Family" met did not, however, deter Watterston from writing another and similar work in 1827, entitled "The Wanderer in Wash- ington." 2 This, like the "L Family," was an anony- mous publication and written after the style of Fielding or •Washington, Davis and Force, 1822. 159 pp., 12 . 2 Printed at the Washington Press. By Jonathan Elliot, jr. , Pennsylvania avenue, and sold by P. Thompson, 1827. 226 pp. 13°, Il6 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. Smollett. In it the author says (p. 44), "I am here as an observer, cool, dispassionate, philosophical. I mingle in society not because I love it, but because I wish to study the character of my countrymen while revolving in the highest spheres of life and while surrounded by the trappings of office and the splendor of power." This book, like " Glen- carn," was widely read and widely quoted, 1 and even went into a second edition. 2 As writer of text-books and novels Watterston had shown a pedagogical bent. His scientific temper of mind was dis- played in his connection with the Washington Botanical Society and in his communications to the local press upon horticultural subjects, and in 1828 led him to the compila- tion and publication of a notable contribution to statistics, the Tabular statistical views of the population, commerce, navigation, public lands, etc., of the United States. 3 This was a continuation of the statistical annals of Mr. Seybert and received the patronage of Congress by an act author- izing a subscription for it, approved April 3, 1828. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Department of State be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to subscribe for, and receive, for the use and disposal of Congress, six hun- dred copies of the Statistical tables proposed to be published by George Watterston and Nicholas B. Van Zandt, of the city of Washington. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sum of fifteen hundred dollars shall be, and hereby is, appropriated, to defray the cost of the said subscription; to be paid out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated. The work was reviewed appreciatively in the Washington Chronicle, September 13, and December 6, 1828; the Tele- graph, December 19, 1828; the National Journal, December 27, 1828; and in the Boston Courier (copied in the National Intelligencer, March 6, 1829), an( * in ~&ll was supplemented by the Continuation of the Tabular statistical views of the 1 Washington City Gazette, February 21, 1829. 2 In this, one piece of realism which had offended readers in the first edition was altered. 3 Washington, J. Elliot 1829. 132 pp. 4 . With Nicholas Biddle Van Zandt, who had been for a number of years proprietor of a claims office in Washington. See advertisement in National Intelligencer, May 10, 1822. LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON'S LITERARY AMBITION. II J United States, published under the patronage of the Congress of the United States. 1 This literary activity gained for Watterston the notice of contemporaries, though it did not earn for him a place in American literature. That notorious scold and journalist, Mrs. Anne Royall, writing in i824, 2 says: "It appears that Washington has produced one man of letters, George Wat- terston, Esquire." Here she gives an extended critique of the Letters from Washington and the L, Family, and con- cludes, " He writes with ease, and as one familiar with belles- lettres, and may be regarded inferior to few in the United States." More judicial was the notice of the well-known Boston journalist, S. L. Knapp, who in his chapter on men of letters in Washington, remarks that the best accounts of the city of Washington were from the pen of Watterston, and goes on to say, " Mr. Watterston has written several popular and useful books, Letters from Washington, Course of study, L Family, Tabular statistics of the United States, etc. The public are much indebted to him for much useful infor- mation, conveyed in a good style. Some of the sketches of the great men in and about Washington, which are to be found in his works, are splendid and original, and give a very fair view of their character." 3 But both of these writers were obliged to come to Washing- ton to find Watterston out. He was the only man of letters at the national capital, but his fame was only local. In 1817 he had ambitions to be heard by a larger audience, and seems to have written to J. K. Paulding with that in view, for the latter writes to Watterston, Washington, January 25, 1817: 4 I have no concern at present in the editorial part of the Analedic Magazine, or in any other way, but you will find, I think, on the cover of the last number, (for December), the price per page offered for each article that may be accepted, which is, I think, — for I have not the book at present, — three dollars. The manner of transmitting the articles, the mode in which the writer's name is either disclosed, if his communica- 1 Washington, Way and Gideon. 1833. 210 pp. 8°. "Sketches of history, life and manners in the United States, 1826, p. 150, 3 Sketches of public characters (etc.), by Ignatius Loyola Robertson (pseud.), New York, 1830, p. 124. ■•Watterston MSS. Il8 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. tion be accepted, or kept secret, if refused, as also that of receiving the money, is particularly printed out, if I recollect rightly. As a reader of the Magazine I shall be glad to see your productions frequently appear in that work, but I have no concern in it, that will enable me to forward your views. This seems to have ended the matter. This literary activity, the natural outcome of his previous experience as an author, of his existing position as Librarian, and of his interest in the life of the national capital, did not, however, exhaust his energies. He was a leading promoter of the society for the encouragement of botanical study, to which we have already referred. The circumstances of the establishment of this society, as narrated by Mr. Watter- ston, were these: In 1816 there came to Washington a Scotchman named Whitlaw, who gave notice that he would lecture on botany. These lectures aroused so much interest, and it was so desirable that the knowledge of the science which had thus been acquired might be retained and applied to some useful purpose, so Mr. Watterston thought, that he suggested the formation of a society for the purpose of exploring the flora of the District. The Washington Botan- ical Society was accordingly established in the spring of 181 7, with Mr. Watterston as secretary. 1 Watterston was also a supporter of the Columbian Insti- tute, 2 and a member of the general committee of that institute. 3 Mr. Watterston took an interest in the political life of the city likewise. He was a member of the commission appointed under the act of Congress, approved May 7, 1822, authorizing the city to drain the low grounds on and near the public 'Watterston MSS. The journal of this society is now in the possession of Prof. Lester P. Ward. There are notices of the society and Watterson's relations to it in the Washington City Weekly Gazette, April 5 and 19, July 12, and August 9, 1817. In the National Magazine, December 3, 1801, a national museum and garden was ^suggested. In the second number of the Washington Expositor, Janu- ary 9, 1808, there were proposals for establishing an experimental, agricultural, and botanical society in Washington. 2 See Washington City Weekly Gazette, January 18, 1817, p. 485. 3 City of Washington Gazette, October 7, 1818. There is an excellent notice of the early history of this institute in the National Journal, November 24, 1827, and in an address delivered before the Columbian Institute, January 11, 1817, by Edward Cutbush. LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON AS CITIZEN. 119 reservations, and to improve and ornament certain parts of them; one of the trustees of the public schools of the second district in 1820 and in 1823; president of the board of common council in 182 1; and vice-president of the board of aldermen in 1829. 1 In the social life of the capital, too, he took a part. At a dinner given to Thomas Law upon his departure for Kngland, Watterston responded to the toast, "Our respected guest; may he always escape the calumnies of English travelers and Bnglish reviewers," 2 and at the dinner to Lafayette, October 12, 1824, he responded to the toast, "The gratitude of a free nation will always be extended to him who deserves well." 3 These were extraordinary occasions; for the rest the queries of the irate Anne Roy all 4 may suffice: "Why does he go to the black-coat church? Why does he entertain shoals of these missionaries? Pass his house when you will, you find it enveloped in a flock of black coats like ravens round carrion. Why is this?" 5 And the reminiscences of Mr. Watterston's son, who tells of the large number of slaves that his mother brought from her Maryland home upon her marriage and of the bother and annoyance that they were to his father, who discharged them one after the other, giving quarters to some to live by themselves and wholly emancipat- ing others. Though they did not publish them, both he and his friend, Henry Clay, held abolitionist views, even before the Abolitionists. 1 In 1820 he refused to be a candidate for the city council, or serve if elected. City of Washington Gazette, June 7, 1820. 'Washington City Gazette, July 21, 1824, from the National Intelligencer. 3 National Journal, October 14, 1824. * "Some of my friends," she -writes, "suspect Mr. Watterston for writing a bitter critique on the second volume of the 'Black book,' published in the Emerald in Baltimore, but I can not think he would act so ungentlemanly, not to say ungrate- fully, toward me. * * * But should the writer prove to be Mr. Watterston, no further evidence is necessary to prove him a dangerous man to our Government, and he ought to be dismissed as soon as possible." Black book 3: 211. s Black book 3: 210. 120 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. THE LIBRARY ROOM, 1815-1829. On the 19th of September, 1814, Congress met in extra session in what was known as Blodget's Hotel, or the Post- Office building. The design for this building was furnished by Capt. James Hoban and adopted by the city commis- sioners in 1793. It had been erected out of the proceeds of a lottery. 1 The owners of the prize ticket were orphan children, who not having the means of completing the building suffered it to remain for several years in an unfinished and dilapidated state. It was a large brick structure, three stories high, situated on the corner of Seventh and B streets northwest, facing south, that is, about halfway between the White House and the Capitol. Having on the first floor a spacious center and two exten- sive wings, it was seized upon by the Wignell & Reinagle Company of Philadelphia and converted into a theater in the year 1800. 2 After this the basement story of the build- ing was occupied by Scotch and Irish emigrants, who, having to pay no rent, kept possession of it, — a ruin, with the greater part of its roof fallen in, Weld observed in 1803 — until in 1 8 10 it was purchased by the Government and finished in a plain style for the use of the Post-Office and Patent Office. 3 Now the building was called upon to accommodate both Houses of Congress, the Congressional committees, and what was left of the Congressional Library, as well as the General and City Post-Ofiices and the Patent Office. 4 A library room does not seem to have been fitted up in this temporary Capitol until the following year. Then, March 3, 18 1 5, an act was passed providing both for the transportation of the newly acquired Jefferson library and for the furnish- ing of a room for its reception. March 21 Mr. George "Washington Federalist, January 28, 1803. 2 William B. Wood, Personal recollections of the stage, Philadelphia, 1855, p. 55. sWatterston'sNewguideto Washington (1842), pp.63, 146. Notice in the National Intelligencer December 12, 1853. Letter from the Postmaster-General inclosing a report stating the expense of finishing the public building called "Blodget's Hall," January 18, 1812. Ordered to lie on the table. Washington, A. & G. Way, Printers, 1812. 21 pp. 4°. *Paul Jennings, "A colored man's reminiscences of James Madison," 1865, p. 14. Milligan to Jefferson, September 24, 1814, Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 6i, No. 80. ROOM IN BLODGET'S HOTEL. 121 Watterston was appointed Librarian, and on the 25th he wrote to President Madison, who was particularly intrusted with the execution of the law of March 3: I have had the happiness to receive the commission of librarian with which you were so good as to honor me. I accept it with pleasure and tender you my thanks for the favor conferred. Unwilling to intrude upon your moments of leisure and relaxation, I nevertheless deem it my duty to apprize you that, according to an act of last session, you are ' ' directed to cause an apartment to be immediately selected and prepared for a library room," etc. In the third story of the present Capitol, 1 a room sufficiently commodious and convenient might, at a small expense, be prepared, and this could immediately be done, by authorizing the Commissioner of the Public Buildings, or the superintendent of the city, to have it prepared without delay. 2 For fitting up and furnishing the library room in this building, including the expense of finishing the staircase and passage in the third story in which the room was located, the sum of $1,520.77 was expended. 3 INCONVENIENCE OE THIS LOCATION. Before the first session of the Fourteenth Congress, Decem- ber 4, 1815, the citizens of Washington had erected a tem- porary structure for the accommodation of Congress, east of Capitol square, now known as the Old Capitol. This build- ing was occupied by the two Houses of Congress from that time until 1819. So the question of a library room again presented itself: Should the Library remain where it was in the Post-Office building? Or should it be removed to quarters in the temporary Capitol; in the Capitol proper, then being rebuilt; or in some neighboring house? The question had been raised during the building of the temporary Capitol in the summer. On the 12th of September, Watterston wrote to the President regarding it. This letter has not been dis- covered, but it seems to have suggested that because there had been no law passed providing for another removal of the Library, it must remain for the present where it was. On the 15th Madison replied: "I have received your letter 'Blodget's Hotel. 2 Madison Papers. 3 Report of trie Library Committee, January 26, 1816. 122 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. of the 12th, and have referred the case to the members of the Executive." 1 On the same day he wrote to Dallas: 2 "I took the liberty of requesting through Mr. Rush, the attention of yourself and other members of the Cabinet at Washington, to the difficulties arising in the business superintended by Colonel Lane, who thought with me, that a decision on them could be better formed on the spot, than by myself at this distance. I have just received the enclosed letter from the Librarian, which presents a new one. Between the alternatives of a temporary building or the continuance of the Library where it is, the option seems to be prescribed by a want of legislative provision for the former. Will you be so good as to obtain from Colonel Lane a full view of the case, and to decide on it as may be found best by yourself and the other gentlemen? Mr. Watterston is informed of this reference of the subject." Nothing further seems to have been done toward a removal of the Library from its distant location until the appointment of the new Library Committee, December 4, 18 15. This committee consisted of Senators Lligius Fromentin, of Lou- isiana, William Hunter, of Rhode Island, and Robert H. Goldsborough, of Maryland, and of Representatives John W. Taylor, of New York, Joseph Hopkinson, of Pennsyl- vania, and Henry St. George Tucker, of Virginia. The record of their action regarding the Library room may be found in their report made in the Senate, January 26, 1816. It is as follows: The first care of the Joint Library Committee, immediately after their appointment, was to inquire into the possibility of removing the Library from where it now is, to a place more convenient to the members of Congress, but they were not able to accomplish this most desirable object. The Capitol does not afford any room which could, in its pres- ent state, be deemed a safe place of deposit for the Library. The room which has been selected for placing the Library in in the building now occupied by Congress, 3 did not appear to your committee to offer the advantages, or to promise that security which, by your committee, was deemed indispensably requisite, before they could submit to you a reso- 1 Watterston MSS. 2 Letters and other -writings of James Madison, Philadelphia, 1865, 3: 20. 3 The Old Capitol. A LIBRARY BUILDING SUGGESTED. 1 23 lution recommending the removal of the Library to that room. The efforts of your committee to procure rooms or a house which might have been used temporarily for the Library, in the neighborhood of the house where Congress now assemble, proved likewise unavailing. A sum not less than one thousand dollars per annum was asked for the rent of the only house which might have answered the object; and taking into con- sideration, not only the expense of the rent, but the expense of fitting out, for temporary purposes only, the necessary rooms for the Library; the expenses attending this temporary removal; the portion of the ses- sion already elapsed; the length of time which would be consumed in the removal, during which, instead of a rather difficult, under present circumstances, no access at all could be had to the Library; considering further, that nothing is more injurious to books than these frequent removals; and considering likewise, that the Library is perfectly safe where it is now, and that within a few weeks, at a period probably not much more distant than the period at which the Library could again be opened, if it should now be attempted to be removed on Capitol Hill, the greatest inconveniences now arising from the distance at which the Library is placed, will disappear with the season of the year which has created them, your committee are of opinion that the Library ought not to be moved this winter, and that their attention should be wholly directed in securing a permanent place in the Capitol for receiving the Library; which place ought to be ready before the next session of Con- gress, and with that view they have inserted a section which, to them, appears calculated to obtain the object, in the bill which accompanies this report. This bill was, on the 2d of February, taken up for consid- eration in the Committee of the Whole, where, on motion of Senator Roberts, of Pennsylvania, that section of the bill pro- viding for a Library room in the Capitol, together with other sections, was stricken out. A LIBRARY BUILDING SUGGESTED. The bill reported January 26, 1816, provided for a Library room. The next suggestion was for a Library building. During the second session of the Fourteenth Congress, Feb- ruary 18, 181 7, Mr. Fromentin, from the Joint Library Com- mittee, reported the following resolutions in the Senate: I Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the Com- ' Annals 30: 144. 124 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. missioner of Public Buildings to cause to be erected and fitted up for the reception of the Library of Congress a suitable building, upon a plan to be approved by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, to be situated on Delaware Avenue, north of the Capitol. Resolved, That when the said building shall be ready for the reception of the said Library, it shall be the duty of the Librarian to remove the same and arrange the books therein. On the 2 2d the consideration of the resolutions was taken up as in Committee of the Whole, and, no amendment hav- ing been made thereto, it was reported, and on the question, "And shall this resolution be engrossed and read a third time?" it was determined in the negative. The failure of these resolutions was the occasion of the following communication from the Librarian to the National Intelligencer, March 25, 181 7. It appears under the caption "National Library," and is subscribed " W." It is extremely to be regretted that the proposition to erect a building for the reception of the Library of the United States, presented last session, had not succeeded. A literary establishment of so much impor- tance and benefit, ought to be accommodated in a style proportionate to its dignity and utility, — in all other countries, this is an object of national pride, and edifices are erected for the accommodation of national libraries, not only admirable for their convenience, but distinguished for the taste, beauty, and excellence of their architecture. In the United States, where reading is so general, one would suppose that the lamen- table rage for economy, which now seems to have gained such an ascend- ency, would not at least extend to their depositories of literature, and that a building would be erected for their library equal in grandeur to the wealth, the taste, and the science of the nation. It is to be appre- hended, that if a building be not erected for that purpose, the Library will remain stationary for many years, isolated and inconvenient from its position; for there appears to be no apartment in either wing of the Capitol, though they cover an acre of ground, calculated for its recep- tion, and to wait until the main body be completed, would, to judge from the present economical mania, be rendering the Library almost useless for a long time. I have made these remarks merely preparatory to the introduction of the following succinct description of an elegant and splendid design for a national library at Paris executed by C. Gisors, junior: An immense gallery, of 266 feet long by 47 breadth, and six vast halls, which are contiguous, constitute principally the interior of the library. Four ROOM IN NORTH WING OF CAPITOL. 125 stories of cabinets, disposed in the form of an amphitheatre, adorn the halls in a display of 4,000 feet by an elevation of from seven to twelve feet. Four great depots and two halls, destined for manuscripts and engravings, have their entrance by the large gallery which has been mentioned. This gallery is terminated by a temple of Apollo surrounded by the Muses. Behind the temple is an exterior portico, above which is advantageously disposed a circular hall designed for medals and vari- ous antiques; a garden situated behind the body of the principal build- ing contains pavilions for the use of the librarians and others attached to the library. These pavilions have each a particular entrance from the street. On the right and left of the buildings are walks planted with trees and ornamented with statues of great men. The elevation presents a peristyle of eight Corinthian columns, bearing a front deco- rated with basso relievos which represent Parnassus. Other basso relievos and statues placed in niches enrich the walls of the edifice. Such a building as this would indeed be a national ornament and con- tribute essentially to the beauty of the capital of the United States. 1 Such was the first dream of a building for the Library of Congress. REMOVAL OF LIBRARY TO NORTH WING OF CAPITOL, 1818-1824. At the opening of the first session of the Fifteenth Con- gress a new Library Committee was appointed. This consisted of Senators Dickerson, King, and Tait, and of Representatives Seybert, Whitman, and Middleton. The appointment of this committee was hailed by the Washing- ton Gazette December 8, 1817, as a good omen. It said: "We are disposed to indulge a hope that this committee will be more active than the former, and that as literary men they will not neglect the interests of this establishment. To coop the Library of the United States in a garret almost a mile from the Capitol is degrading both to literature and the nation, and we trust that Congress will see the necessity of erecting a building for its accommodation nearer the Cap- itol." This article, it was said, was copied by several papers in different States. "This proposition in favor of a Library building was indorsed by an editorial in the Washington City Gazette, April 5, 1817. 126 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. On the 31st of December, Mr. Burrill submitted the fol- lowing resolution for consideration in the Senate: Resolved, That the Committee on the District of Columbia be instructed to inquire whether suitable apartments can be had in the Capitol for the reception and accommodation of the Library of Con- gress, and in case such apartments cannot be had there to inquire into the expediency of commencing the erection of the center building of the Capitol and of making provision for the speedy completion thereof. That said committee be also instructed to inquire whether suitable apartments can be had in the Capitol for the reception and accommodation of the Library of Congress, and in case such apartments can not be had there to inquire into the expediency of purchasing or erecting a convenient building for the Library. 1 On the 2d of January, 1818, the resolution was adopted. This resolution seems to have been the occasion for a commu- nication from the Librarian to the Washington Gazette, Janu- ary 8, 1818, over the signature "Philomath." This was merely a repetition of his letter to the National Intelligencer, March 25, 181 7. Nothing was accomplished, however, until the second ses- sion of the Fifteenth Congress. On the 24th of November, 1818, Mr. Dicker son introduced a bill in the Senate to provide for the removal of the Library of Congress to the north wing of the Capitol. On the 25th it was considered as in Committee of the Whole, and no amendment having been made, it was reported, and on the 26th passed. On the same day the bill was concurred in by the House of Represent- atives. 2 AN ACT to provide for the removal of trie Library of Congress to the north -wing of the Capitol. Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the Joint Library Com- mittee of Congress be, and they are hereby, authorized to cause suitable apartments in the north wing of the Capitol to be fitted up and furnished for the temporary reception of the Library of Congress, and to cause the said Library to be removed to and placed in the same. SEC 2. And be it further enacted, That the accounting officers of the Treasury be, and they are hereby, authorized and directed to settle "Senate Journal, Fifteenth Congress, first session, p. 58. = Annals 33: 21, 22, 23, 26, 320, 321. ROOM IN NORTH WING OF CAPITOL. 127 the accounts of the expenditures which may be incurred under this act; and that the amount, so settled, be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. SBC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the sum of two thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated to the further purchase of books for the said Library. Approved, December 3, 1818. Before trie close of trie year trie Library was, in accordance with this act, removed to the north wing of the Capitol, to rooms on the west side, on the same elevation as the upper gallery of the Senate Chamber. 1 From a Senate report on the Capitol, made December 20, 1819, it appears that the apartments to which the Library had been consigned in the attic story of the north wing of the Capitol were hardly sufficient for the accom- modation of the Library. The report 2 of the Library Com- mittee, December 19, 1820, detailing the operation of the act of December 3, 1818, also represents the cramped conditions of the new quarters to which the Library had been consigned. It is as follows : By an act of Congress of the 3d of December, 18 18, the Joint Library Committee were ' ' authorized to cause suitable apartments in the north wing of the Capitol to be fitted up and furnished for the temporary reception of the Library of Congress, and to cause the said Library to be removed to and placed in the same. ' ' Under the provisions of this act suitable apartments were prepared and the Library of Congress deposited in the north wing of the Capitol. * * * When the committee had thus caused the Library of Congress to be placed in the Capitol they presumed that all the duties required of them by the act were performed; and they have not thought themselves authorized to provide for the reception of such books as have been since purchased, or may be hereafter purchased, for the Library. They had intended to lay out the greater part of the funds on hand in the purchase of books during the late recess of Congress, but being informed by the Librarian that no preparations were making, or expected to be made, before the meeting of Congress, for putting up additional shelves in the Library room, and that a large portion of the books purchased during the last 1 Watterston's New guide to Washington, 1842, p. 64. 2 Sixteenth Congress, second session, Senate report No. 25. See also Frances Wright D'Arusmont. Views of society and manners in America. New York, 1821, P- 378. 128 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. year were still lying upon the tables, it was not thought expedient to make any considerable purchase of books before the meeting of Con- gress. The Librarian gives us another and last glimpse of this old Library room in his story entitled "The L Family at Washington." 1 In this one of his characters says: "After groping about some time in endeavoring to find the Repre- sentatives Hall, I came to a door, which I opened very unceremoniously, and found myself all at once in a region of learning, where, like the Alps, books on books arose. The room was filled with honourable members and their ladies, more intent, I thought, in gazing at pictures than on feast- ing their reason. I confess I felt a little odd in being so suddenly soused among such honourable company, but knowing that I contributed as much to the public library as anyone else, I thought it was best to stalk about as if it was my own. * * * Presently I walked into an adjoin- ing apartment, for the Library consists of a suite of rooms, where I met a man that I thought looked devilish sour at me — this was the Librarian." THE LIBRARY ROOM IN THE CENTER BUILDING. The Latrobe plan of 181 7 provided for the Library a main reading room and three smaller reading rooms and an oflice on the north. 2 On the 8th of January, 181 8, Charles Bulfinch superseded Latrobe as Architect of the Capitol. The report of the Committee on Public Buildings, April 4, 1 818, showed that plans had been made by the new architect for a library and two reading rooms in the proposed center building. On the 27th of November, 1820, the Commissioner of Public Buildings presented to Congress the following report from the Architect of the Capitol (November 19, 1820), regarding the progress of the work: The external walls of the west projection, and the greater part of the internal walls connected with them, have been raised to the height con- templated in the estimate for the year; the roof is raised on the north 1 Washington, 1822, pp. 35-37. 2 The Latrobe plan is reproduced in Glenn Brown's History of the Capitol, plate 70. NEW ROOM IN CENTER BUILDING OE CAPITOE. 129 flank of the center, and that for the south flank is prepared but has been prevented from being put on by the inclemency of the weather in October and by an unusual sickness among the workmen. On January 4, 1822, the whole of the stonework of the western projection was reported complete, except the chim- neys and some carved decorations in the cornice and some panels; the roofs all raised and covered with copper except a small portion over the Library; the window frames, shutters, and dressings ready for use, the glass, from the best Boston manufactory, on hand, and the carpenters engaged in making sashes, doors, etc. 1 Finally, on the 9th of December, 1822, the exterior of the western projection was complete, the copper covering being finished, the walls painted, the window frames and sashes inserted, and the scaffolding removed, and the front of the building exhibited the appearance which it was intended to retain, excepting only that the iron railing between the columns of the loggia was not yet in place. 2 On the 17th of August, 1824, the Librarian, with the assistance of three hired men, commenced moving the Library from its old quarters in the north wing of the Capitol to this new and spacious apartment in the center. 3 On the 1st of January, 1825, the following description of the completed Library room appeared in the National Intelligencer: The room for the permanent accommodation of the Library of Con- gress has been completed in a style of great beauty and elegance, which entitle it to particular commendation. It occupies nearly the whole west front of the center building, is 90 feet in length, 30 in width, and about 35 in height. It is divided into 12 arched alcoves, ornamented with fluted pilasters, copied from the pillars in the celebrated Octagon 'Report of the Commissioner of Public Buildings, January 17, 1822. Seventeenth Congress, first session, House document No. 26. 5 Report of the Commissioner of Public Buildings, December 10, 1822, Seven- teenth Congress, second session, Senate document No. 9. It is worthy of note that the danger of invasion from the Houses of Congress was not yet wholly past, for on March 21, 1822, Mr. Hill moved that the House do come to the following resolu- tion: "Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings be instructed to inquire into the practicability of preparing, for the accommodation of the House of Repre- sentatives, the room in the center building designed for the Library." The resolu- tion was, however, ordered to lie on the table. Annals 39: 1337. 3Watterston MSS. 23399—04 9 130 DEVELOPMENT OP THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. Tower at Athens. At the entrance, in the center of the room, which is approached from the great central rotunda, are two columns of stone, with capitals corresponding with those of the pilasters; and immediately opposite, and fronting the window which leads into the western colon- nade, stand two similar columns of stone. Those pillars, with the alcoves, support two galleries, extending nearly the whole length of the room, from north to south, on both sides, and divided into the same number of shelved recesses as the lower apartment. From these recesses springs the arch which forms the ceiling, elegantly ornamented with rich stucco borders, panel, and wreaths of flowers. On the roof, which is about 12 feet above the ceiling, are three skylights, the wells of which are also beautifully decorated with stucco ornaments; through these and the five windows on the west the light is admitted into the room, and can be lessened or increased at pleasure, by means of Vene- tian blinds. The principal apartment, as well as the reading room on the north, attached to it, is handsomely furnished with sofas, mahogany tables, desks, Brussels carpeting, etc. At each corner of this splendid apartment is a staircase leading to the galleries above, which are cal- culated to contain several thousand volumes, and which are so arranged as to enable anyone to read or write in them with perfect convenience. This room opens into a magnificent colonnade, or loggia, formed by ten pillars of the Corinthian order, between which runs an iron railing to protect as well as to ornament this fine promenade. The library room is admitted by all who see it to be, as a whole, the most beautiful apart- ment in the building. Its decorations are remarkably chaste and ele- gant, and the architecture of the whole displays a great deal of taste." In the furnishing of the room equal care was taken. By the act of May 26, 1824, the sum of $1,546 was appropriated for this purpose. The act of February 25, 1825, added to this the sum of $339. Stephen P. Morris, a Philadelphia stove manufacturer, was given Bulfinch's sectional elevation of the interior of the Library, with the ground plot of the room, in order that the two stoves, to be built in the form of pillars, might correspond with the architecture of the room. 2 For these stoves and 9 tons of coal $295.25 was appropriated March 3, 1826. A carpet costing $1,000 was laid on the floor of the Library. Spermaceti candles placed on the two mantel- pieces, the desk, and the tables furnished light after nightfall. "This description -was copied by the Columbian Star, January 15. See also the Washington City Chronicle, August 8, 1829. 'Clement C. Biddle to Watterston, Philadelphia, June 25, 1825; S. P. Morris to Watterston, Philadelphia, November 17, 1825. Watterston MSS. o H O H W H o J-i Y, o '3 NEW ROOM IN CENTER BUILDING OF CAPITOL. 131 The ambition of the architect was satisfied and the dream of the Librarian realized. Here was the most beautiful room in the Capitol; some thought the most beautiful room in the country. 1 The chief artistic attraction of the room at this time was a collection of bronze medals presented to Congress "for the use of the National Library" by George W. Erving in 1822. 2 This series of medals, cast by order of the French Govern- ment according to the design of M. Denon, commenced in the year 1796 and terminated in 18 15. It embraced all the memorable battles and events which occurred during the reign of the Emperor Napoleon. There was among the num- ber one commemorating his return from the island of Elba, which, in consequence of the small number cast and the destruction of the die, was especially prized. The subjects of the medals were as follows: The battles of Montenotte, Millesimo, Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, Essling, Wagram, Moscow, Liitzen; the surrender and capture of Mantua; con- quests of Upper and Lower Egypt; passage of the great St. Bernard; death of Dessaix; peace of Amiens; La Muse Napo- leon; Legion of Honor; the School of Mines; the Code Napoleon; the coronation at Paris; the distribution of Eagles; the tomb of Dessaix; the School of Medicine; the capture of Vienna and Presburg; three Emperors; the conquest of Venice, Istria, Dalmatia, and Naples; confederation of the Rhine; the occupation of the three capitals; peace of Tilsit; the marriage of the Emperor; birth of the King of Rome; the French Eagles upon the Volga and Borysthenes; founda- tion of the School .of Fine Arts; return of the Emperor; the Empress Maria Louisa; the Princesses Eliza and Paulina; the Queen of Naples; the Queen Hortensia, etc. After seeing this collection Harriet Martineau said, "I was never tired of the cabinet of Napoleon medals, the most beautifully com- posed piece of history that I ever studied." 3 'See Life and letters of Charles Bulfinch, Boston, 1896, p. 250; Watterston's Wan- derer in Washington, p. 218; National Journal, April 11, 1827. 'New York Statesman, December 17, 23, 1822; copied in National Intelligencer, January 6, 10, 1823. 3 Retrospect of western travel, New York, 1838, 1: 164. 132 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. Mr. Erving also presented a series, representing several American worthies, in Parisian bronze. The box which con- tained them was labeled "Post ingentia facta Deorum in templa recepti." [Their illustrious deeds have won them a place in the Pantheon.] In the arrangement of these last medals George Washington occupied the center, with the inscription "Supremo duci exercituum assertori libertates." [To the commander in chief of our armies and vindicator of our liberties.] Encircling the Father of his Country were the heads of Columbus, Franklin, Kosciusko, Paul Jones, William Washington, and J. E. Howard. THE FIRE OF DECEMBER 22, 1825. The lesson which the conflagration of August 24, 1814, might have taught had not been learned, or if it had been learned it had not been remembered in the construction of the new Library room of 1824. A fire on the night of Decem- ber 22, 1825, now brought this to the attention of Congress. It is described in a letter supposed to have been written by Edward Everett, dated December 23, and printed in the Bos- ton Daily Advertiser? An unpleasant occurrence took place here last night, threatening a very disastrous result, but which happily passed off without any serious consequences. On returning from Mr. Senator Johnston's last evening, with my wife, at 11 o'clock, we perceived when at the foot of Capitol Hill a bright light from some of the windows of the Capitol. Having occasionally perceived a light in some of the offices of the Capitol at a late hour, I supposed at first that the present appearance was that of a lamp or of a fire imperfectly extinguished in some of the fireplaces. On more attentive examination I saw that the light came from the library, which I knew was regularly shut up at 7 o'clock p. m., and that it was strongest in the middle of the room, where there is no fire- place. My lodgings are directly adjacent to the Capitol, and having driven my wife home, I determined to go and examine into the cause of the light. On approaching the east front of the Capitol I was chal- lenged by the sentry (I was not previously aware that a guard was mounted in the Capitol square), and on informing him of the cause of anxiety he assured me nothing was more common than to see a light in the public rooms late at night. After some hesitation he consented to go with me and see what the light was. Finding I was leading him "It was reprinted in trie National Intelligencer, January 3, 1826. FIRE OF DECEMBER 22, 1825. 133 round to the western front, he refused to accompany me, saying that if the fire was on that side it belonged to the other sentry, who was there mounting guard. I hastened to the western front, but could find no sentry. I went down to the bottom of the steps from which alone a full view of the windows of the Library could be had and the light was then so faint that I was nearly persuaded it must be from a brand in the fireplace. I resolved, however, to have it looked after, and returned up the steps with the intention of calling again on the sentinel of the eastern front. In doing this I was at length accosted by a sentry who came out of the door on the western front and challenged me. I had the same explanations to go through with him and the same difficulty to persuade him that there could be anything besides a flame from a half-extinguished firebrand. He, however, agreed to step with me to a spot where he could see the light. He pronounced it not greater than he had often seen, but agreed to call the sergeant of the guard, who, after some time, made his appearance. On my pointing out to him the light he made the same remark as had been made by the sentries — he had often seen such a light before. I begged him to go up and examine the library or let me do it. It was, he said, locked, and he neither had the keys nor knew who had them nor where to go for information. I then urged him at least to go to the library door and discover, if possi- ble, by looking through the keyhole, whether there was fire. This he undertook to do, and as the light was at this time very faint I was overpowered by the continual assurance that it was an ordinary appear- ance, and having no authority (and had I thought it right or possessed the means) to break open the strong mahogany doors of the Library room, I left the sergeant with the remark that ' ' I have done my duty, and he must now do his," and went to my lodgings. The sergeant, as I understood from him, went up to the library door, but as it was a very closely fitted door with another of baize within, he neither saw any light nor perceived any smoke to issue from the room. He accordingly returned to the guardroom. The appearance which he had seen with me from the window and my urgency with him dwelt, as he stated, on his mind, and after about ten minutes, as he thinks, but I suspect rather longer, he went again to the bottom of the western steps to reconnoitre. The light was now so strong that he thought it his duty to endeavor to get the door opened, though he did not feel authorized in using force for the purpose. After making several unsuccessful inquiries in the neighborhood, he found out where the librarian of Congress lives. This was at some distance from the Capitol and considerable delay, of course, ensued. At length the librarian and sergeant reached the Capitol, and on opening the library door a bright fire was discovered in one of the galleries of the hall. A bucket or two of water if then at command would have extinguished it. But there were no buckets at hand and the distance from the pump on the eastern front to the hall of 134 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. the Library was so great as to prevent a rapid supply by a few hands. It was now after midnight. A small bell in the Capitol yard, used to call the workmen together, was the only means of giving the alarm, and it was necessary for the sergeant and his guard to run round the neigh- borhood and awaken the inhabitants. I had just gone to bed, but on the first touch of the bell hastened to the Capitol. The engine house was locked, but we wrenched it open. A few buckets were procured, and with these a little water carried to the Library. The members and citizens now began to collect rapidly, and an admirable hose, several hundred feet in length, was conducted wholly through this immense building into the hall. This saved the Capitol, though with great diffi- culty and with a very narrow escape. The fire was just reaching the timber of the arched vault of the hall, from which it would have been difficult to prevent its spreading very widely. It was between two and three hours before the fire was extinguished and by this time the Library hall, so lately one of the most beautiful rooms you ever saw, was a sad spectacle. Upon the whole, however, the loss had not been heavy. No books are destroyed which can not be replaced, and the greater part of those burned in the gallery were duplicate sets of public documents. This narrative is supplemented by the account given in the National Intelligencer, December 24: About 12 o'clock on Thursday night Vincent, the sergeant of the guard on duty at the Capitol, being apprised of an unusual light in the apartment of the Library of Congress, alarmed the Librarian, who instantly came to the spot, and on opening the doors perceived a part of the western gallery (of wood) which runs round the apartment to be on fire. He immediately removed the books in the alcove adjoining, and the alarm being spread the citizens promptly assembled. An engine and hose were brought and by the very active exertions of the firemen, aided by a number of members of Congress, who vied with one another in their exertions to save the Library, the flames were extinguished in less than an hour. Very few of the books, and those of little value, are consumed. Some others, of course, are injured by the wet and by a hasty removal, but the loss is trifling to what might have been expected. The ceiling of the saloon is partially destroyed and one of the alcoves of the beautiful apartment. It is believed that the fire originated from a candle, left in the gallery by a gentleman who was reading there till a late hour, and who being upstairs was not noticed when the Library was closed. * * * Among the members earliest aroused and most active were Mr. Houston, Mr. Webster, Mr. Dwight, and Mr. Wickliffe. Mr. Ward, of New York, narrowly escaped great injury from the falling of the plaster. FIRE OF DECEMBER 22, 1825. 135 This list of names was supplemented in the Intelligencer of December 27 by those of Mr. Dickerson, Mr. Noble, Mr. Garnsey, Mr. Sloane, and Mr. Stewart. Of the citizens few were aroused except those on Capitol Hill. Among those Mr. Joseph Ingle was conspicuously active. In a discussion in 183 1 over the necessity of a water supply for the Capitol it was further remarked that if the fire had continued five minutes longer than it did, the Capitol would have been a ruin on the succeeding morning, for the two pumps in the yard gave out at the very moment the last bucket was thrown on the expiring blaze. 1 On the 28th of December, on motion of Mr. Van Rensse- laer, the House of Representatives "Resolved, That the Com- mittee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the cause of the fire by which the Library room and the Library of Congress sustained damage on the night of the 2 2d of December, instant, and to report whether any person or per- sons in the employ of the Government be chargeable with negligence in relation to the same." 2 On the 4th of January the committee, by Mr. Everett, reported that they did not feel prepared to express an opinion on the question whether any person in the employ of the Government was chargeable with negligence, and the report was ordered to lie on the table. 3 It was, however, more important to prevent future fires than to discover those responsible for the recent disaster. 4 One suggested that several hundred cords of wood piled beneath the Capitol should be removed; if there was treachery 1 National Intelligencer, April 6, 1831. 'House Journal, p. 101. 3 Nineteenth Congress, first session, House report No. 22. Printed also in Wash- ington Gazette, January 7, 1826. 4 A versifier wrote in the Intelligencer, December 27: The Congress Library has been on fire, But very little damage is sustained; By error only, prudence we acquire; "Tis well experience is so cheaply gain'd. But for this very lucky accident The Capitol were lost in flames once more; Precaution, now, forever will prevent A loss which all the Union would deplore. 136 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. no better materials could be furnished another Guy Fawkes than that. Another wrote to the Intelligencer, December 27: ' ' No lights ought ever to be used in the Library. As the books can be taken out to be read, there can be no necessity for the Library's remaining open after sunset. We have heard that the proper authority is disposed to establish a rule conform- able to this suggestion." A "Looker-on" did not agree to this: "The excluding the members from the Library at candlelight would certainly be a preventative, but I have no doubt it would also be, in many cases, a great privation and inconvenience; but even then there might be urgent occa- sions when it would be indispensable to go into the Library, and with a lighted candle. I therefore take the liberty to offer the following alteration: Let all the wooden shelves be removed, and then let there be fixed as a substitute slabs of cast iron, of suitable length, width, and thickness, supported by light wrought-iron brackets at proper distances, and painted. The expense would be a mere trifle and it would render the Library, etc., completely fireproof." 1 Finally, on the 3d of January, 1826, the House of Repre- sentatives, on motion of Mr. Ward, "Resolved, That the Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the expediency of causing the Library room to be made fireproof." 2 In consequence of this resolution the Library Committee sought advice from Charles Bulfinch, Architect of the Capitol, and obtained in response the following letter, dated February 3, 1826: In compliance with the direction of the Committee of the Library, communicated to me, I have taken measures to ascertain what mode could be adopted for rendering the Library fireproof. The floor of this room is wholly of brick, constructed upon arches, and is incombustible. The arched ceiling is framed of wood, thickly plastered with a hard coat of mortar and stucco; no change could be made in this part, as the walls could not sustain the strain and pressure of a brick arch of so great a span. The alcoves are of wood, with brick partitions; this woodwork might be removed and stone and iron substituted at an expense * * * of $18,669.87^. But it is a sub- ject which deserves consideration, whether such a mass of stone would 1 Intelligencer, December 29. "Nineteenth Congress, first session, House Journal, p. 113. QUESTION OF FIRE-PROOF ROOM. 1 37 not be injurious, and in a few years ruinous, to the books, from the con- densation of moisture from the atmosphere upon freestone. This might be prevented in winter by fires constantly kept in the room, but would prevail in all changes of weather of spring and summer. From an apprehension of damage from this cause to valuable books, I have observed in all the large public libraries which I have had the opportu- nity of seeing that no other material than wood is used near the books. This is the case at the British Museum and at the Bodleian Library in Kngland, at the Royal and National Library of Paris, and at the Vatican at Rome, and in several instances the books are shut up in wooden cases. In reply to the other part of your communication, I am of opinion that the danger of fire might be considerably diminished by taking away the part of woodwork that forms the parapet of the galleries, and by putting an iron railing in its place, and by paving tbe gallery floor with brick. The amount of these alterations, with the expenses attending the repairs of the Library room, would be $4,000, which sum is inserted in the estimates for continuing the work at the Capitol the ensuing year. On the 6th of February, 1836, the Library Committee, by Mr. Everett, presented this letter, together with their report to the House of Representatives. 1 The report read as follows: That this part of the Capitol could not be rendered perfectly fireproof without being wholly rebuilt from the foundations of the western front. The present walls of that part of the building are not of a solidity to sustain an arched roof. The wooden alcoves might be removed and others of stone substituted, but the introduction of such a quantity of stone into the hall of the Library would probably be productive of a dampness very injurious to the books. It would also be attended with great expense, as appears from the accompanying letter from the Archi- tect of the Capitol. It is supposed that the danger of fire would be diminished by remov- ing the wooden parapet of the galleries and substituting an iron railing in its place. But as this would but partially preclude the possibility of fire, as it would be attended with considerable expense, and other incon- venience, and as the Library can, in the judgment of the committee, be made sufficiently safe by proper care of the lights and fires, the com- mittee do not deem it expedient that the House should adopt any measure in the premises. They therefore recommend the passage of the following resolution: ' 'Resolved, That the Library Committee of the House of Represent- atives be discharged from the further consideration of a resolution 'Nineteenth Congress, first session, House report No. 66. 138 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. of the House of the 3d of January last, on the subject of causing the Library room to be made fireproof. ' ' The report was accordingly laid on the table. In 1836, Richard Bartlett, ex-secretary of state of New Hampshire, called attention to the danger which the Library of Congress was in, but nothing was done to render the Library room fireproof until after the fire of 1851. 1 NEED OF A NATIONAL LIBRARY. The plans of the new administration for the library were as comprehensive as its plans for a library building; just as the private library which Congress had acquired must be transformed into a public library, so the Library of Congress must become the library of the nation. This idea was sug- gested on the title-page of the new catalogue of 181 5. It was also put forward in the National Intelligencer, July 31, 181 5, in which the following article appeared under the caption "Congressional Library:" This valuable collection of books has, with some difficulty and labor, been at length displayed and arranged in- the house now occupied by Congress. From the slight examination we have been enabled to make of this library as we are glad to find the selection judicious and the collection rare and valuable. In all the civilized nations of Europe there are national libraries, the selection and increase of which occupy much of governmental attention. In a country of such general intelligence as this, so laudable an example should by all means be imitated, and the Congressional or National Library of the United States become the great repository of the litera- ture of the world — the medium of information and the source of improve- ment and gratification to all whom inclination may prompt or whom curiosity may lead to literature. We are happy to say that this is the foundation of such an establishment and that by the fostering patron- age of Government it may, in a few years, be made the equal to the most extensive and splendid libraries of Europe, the sneers of the British editors to the contrary notwithstanding. This Library contains almost every work of merit in the various branches of literature and science in its original language, with various translations. Among its curiosities and varieties are a Gaelic or Irish Bible, Arabic translation of Euclid, the first edition of Paradise Lost, a copy of Shakespeare from an original manuscript, Domesday Book, etc., etc., etc. 1 Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society, 5: 10. NEED OF A NATIONAL LIBRARY. 1 39 As the foundation of a great national library this is an excellent col- lection, but it is little more than a foundation. Many works will yet be necessary to complete it and render it worthy of so enlightened a nation. In some of the departments of literature Mr. Jefferson has not kept pace with the march of science or the progress of learning. There is a deficiency of modern authors in some branches, but of his collection of natural history, politics, and law too much can not be said. It is, we think, much superior to the old Library in the number of volumes and the scarcity and intrinsic value of those volumes. With a view to render this important establishment more valuable the propriety is suggested of increasing the annual appropriation for the purchase of books from one to two thousand dollars. It gives us pleas- ure to say that the Librarian ettends every day, which will render an examination of this fine collection of books easy to the curious and the literati. Similarly, Walsh's American Register* in referring to the Jefferson collection in the possession of Congress, said: A better nursery or substratum for a great National Library could not be found, and it surely will be admitted that nothing less is to come within the aim of Congress, both on the score of pride and patriotism. If it could be done by no other agency, it was a sort of duty with this body to transfer the literary treasures of Mr. Jefferson to a spot where they would be easily accessible to them and the nation; and stand out as a monument of the national taste and discrimination. There is an absolute obligation on the part of the Federal Govern- ment, to provide in the Federal metropolis, in shape of a library, a great reservoir of instruction in all the departments of human knowl- edge for the use of the public as well as of its own members, and the library, certainly, may be so administered as to be open to the one with- out at all interfering with the studies or researches of the other. In fact, the idea of an establishment of the kind set apart, and peculiar in the character of its materials, for the use of Congress, could only spring either from great poverty of invention as to the discipline of such estab- lishments, or of a very imperfect view of the qualifications of an accom- plished legislator and statesman. It is not for Congress to presume that there is any branch of human science for which a body so universal in its composition, will not hereafter furnish, in some or others of its mem- bers, a cultivated or active taste; or that there is any branch which may not fall within its immense scope of constitutional action, so as to make the possession of all the best means of judgment, that is the best treatises on it, highly desirable if not indispensable. 1 Copied by the Washington Gazette, July 12, 1817, and by the National Intelligen- cer, July 14, 1817. 140 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. The president of Harvard College, John T. Kirkland, in an article in the North American Review for December, 1818, said: An extensive library, answering to the wants of the literary men, who are to use it, is essential to the public and effectual promotion of learning. In this country, the want of large libraries is a serious dis- couragement of superior attainments and accurate researches in almost every walk of study. The time necessary for reading or examining a particular book is often consumed in attempts to discover or obtain it; and frequently after every effort, it cannot be procured. We are obliged to give over our inquiries on subjects, where we would arrive at fulness and exactness in our knowledge, because destitute of the assistance, which the learned, in the same track of study, have furnished, or to continue them under the disadvantage of ignorance respecting what has been done by others. Thus we are liable to be occupied in solving diffi- culties, which have been already cleared, discussing questions, which have been already decided, and digging in mines of literature, which former ages have exhausted. Every one, who has been in the way of pur- suing any branch of study in our country beyond the mere elements, or the polite and popular literature of the time, knows how soon the prog- ress is often arrested for want of books. This is not the case merely with persons of moderate means, who are unable to purchase a library of their own, but it is a want felt under the most favorable circumstances. * * * Our libraries are miscellaneous, their number of books small, the sum total scattered over all the branches of knowledge, and intro- duced by separate contributions, without mutual reference to each other. It may still be said we do not want books. What do we then want? Do we want literature ? Do we want science ? Do we want knowledge to be in the land ? Do we want something written, that will give a tone to the nation, that will promote a general taste in the people, that will furnish our children something to boast of? Will it be said, a great library will not supply these wants? I^et Mr. Ames answer: — "all the libraries in America would not furnish materials for a work like Gib- bon's Decline of the Roman Empire." Whatever causes may stand in the way of such a work being written, this is one and an adequate one, — for all the gifts and graces within the circle of the seven sciences, cannot confer the power of working without tools. One would think that a library should be that, wherein least division of opinion should exist. In this, all other nations have agreed, ancient and modern, Greek and Roman, Catholic and Protestant, all have their large libraries. We alone will take upon ourselves to do with them; either despising the literary character, or undertaking to invent over again the arts and sciences, and rewrite the books of all the other countries and ages. CLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY. 141 And Henry B. Dwight wrote in 1826: l "I should look upon the individual who should establish such a library in the United States as that of Gottingen as the greatest bene- factor to my country who has lived since the days of Washington." At that time, however, Washington was not a good loca- tion for a large library. It was the home of few students and it was too far removed from the homes of such students as there were at that time in other parts of the country. CLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY. The first problem of the administration, after a room had been fitted up for the reception of the new Library in the Blodget Building, was the classification and arrangement of that Library in its new quarters. Already, on the 26th of April, 181 5, Librarian Watterston had written to Jefferson: 2 You will excuse the liberty I take, as a stranger, in trespassing on your attention. Trie President has been pleased to appoint me Librarian to Congress, and consequently superintendent of the books now in your possession. I am solicitous to obtain your opinion as a gentleman of literary taste on the subject of arrangement. Your long acquaintance with books and your literary habits have, doubtless, led you to the adoption of some plan of arrangement with respect to libraries, which I should be happy if you would communicate. If you think the plan you have followed in the arrangement of the present library be the most judicious, you would oblige me by having the books packed up in boxes according, to that arrangement. I have long thought the arrangement of the old Library was incorrect and injudicious, and must therefore, be avoided in the present which is considerably larger, and I presume, much more select and valuable. You would oblige me by advising me when you think the books will reach this place. I am preparing a room for their reception, which I think will be completed in the course of a month. You will not neglect to forward a catalogue if you have a spare copy, as I wish to have it printed as early as possible. I fear the room selected is not quite large enough to contain the books. If so, I will have some artificial stands erected to receive them. In response Jefferson sent him an account of his system of library classification. This system, like that of D'Alembert "Travels in Germany, p. 183. 'Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 88, No. 53. 142 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. and the Encyclopedists, and like that of Augustus Brevoort Woodward, a friend of Jefferson's, an early resident of the District of Columbia, and for a time judge of the Territory of Michigan, was based on the Baconian classification of science. Librarian Watterston expressed the belief in the National Intelligencer, June 15, 1853, that Jefferson was much indebted to Woodward in the elaboration of his system of classification, but the correspondence between the two seems to indicate that if there was any indebtedness at all it was on the other side, for in a letter of August 16, 181 3, some years before he had published his own system, Wood- ward wrote to Jefferson about the latter's system, 1 and when Jefferson's system was published in 1815, criticised it as not being capable of indefinite division and expansion. 2 Jefferson explained his system of classification, first in a letter to Librarian Watterston, dated May 7, 181 5, and after- wards in a preface to "A catalogue of books forming the body of a library for the University of Virginia," 3 written between the years 1820 and 1825. The latter was Jefferson's only formal explanation of his system of classification; it is also more theoretical than the letter to Mr. Watterston. It may, therefore, be given first: An explanation of the Views on which this Catalogue has been prepared. 1. Great standard works of established reputation, too voluminous and too expensive for private libraries, should have a place in every public library, for the free resort of individuals. 2. Not merely the best books in their respective branches of science should be selected, but such also as were deemed good in their day, and which consequently furnish a history of the advance of the science. 3. The opera omnia of writers on various subjects are sometimes placed in that chapter of this Catalogue to which their principal work belongs, and sometimes referred to the Polygraphical chapter. 4. In some cases, besides the opera omnia, a detached tract has been also placed in its proper chapter, on account of editorial or other merit. 'Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 88, No. 155. = Charles Moore, Augustus Brevoort Woodward, in records of the Columbian His- torical Society (1901), 4: 124-125; see also the National Intelligencer, October 7, 1818, and the explanations of "Woodward's epistemic system, chiefly notable for its nomenclature," in the National Intelligencer, May 26, 1819, and January 26, 1821. sThis preface is printed from the MS. preserved in the University of Virginia by the University librarian, Mr. F. W. Page, in the Alumni Bulletin of the University of Virginia, 2: 79, November, 1895. CLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY. 1 43 5. Books in very rare languages are considered here as specimens of language only, and are placed in the chapter of Philology, without regard to their subject. 6. Of the classical authors, several editions are often set down on account of some peculiar merit in each. 7. Translations are occasionally noted, on account of their peculiar merit or of difficulties of their originals. 8. Indifferent books are sometimes inserted, because none good are known on the same subject. 9. Nothing of mere amusement should lumber a public library. 10. The 8vo. form is generally preferred, for the convenience with which it is handled, and the compactness and symmetry of arrangement on the shelves of the library. 1 1 . Some chapters are defective for the want of a more familiar knowl- edge of their subjects in the compiler, others from schisms in the science they relate to. In Medicine, e. g. , the changes of theory which have successively prevailed, from the age of Hippocrates to the present day, have produced distinct schools acting on different hypotheses, and headed by respected names, such as Stahl, Boerhave, Sydenham, Hoffman, Cullen, and our own good Dr. Rush, whose depletive and mercurial sys- tems have formed a school, or perhaps revived that which arose on Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood. In religion, divided as it is into multifarious creeds, differing in their bases, and more or less in their superstructure, such moral works have been chiefly selected as may be approved by all, omitting what is controversial and merely sec- tarian. Metaphysics have been incorporated with Ethics, and little extention given to them. For, while some attention may be usefully bestowed on the operations of thought, prolonged investigations of a faculty unamenable to the test of our senses, is an expense of time too unprofitable to be worthy of indulgence. Geology, too, has been merged in Mineralogy, which may properly embrace what is useful in this sci- ence, that is to say, a knowledge of the general stratification, collocation and sequence of the different species of rocks and other mineral sub- stances, while it takes no cognisance of theories for the self-generation of the universe, or the particular revolutions of our own globe by the agency of water, fire, or other agent, subordinate to the fiat of the Creator. The letter which President Jefferson wrote to Librarian Watterston, May 7, 1815, was, under the circumstances, of a more practical character. It was as follows : l I have duly received your favor of April 26th, in which you are pleased to ask my opinion on the subject of the arrangement of libraries. I 1 Jefferson MSS., series 1, vol. 14, No. 4. 144 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. shall communicate with pleasure what occurs to me on it. Two methods offer themselves, the one alphabetical, the other according to the subject of the book. The former is very unsatisfactory, because of the medley it presents to the mind, the difficulty sometimes of recalling an author's name, and the greater difficulty, where the name is not given, of selecting the word in the title, which shall determine its alphabetical place. The arrangement according to subject is far preferable, although sometimes presenting difficulty also, for it is often doubtful to what particular subject a book should be ascribed. This is remarkably the case with books of travels, which often blend together the geography, natural history, civil history, agriculture, manufactures, commerce, arts, occupations, manners, etc. , of a country, so as to render it difficult to say to which they chiefly relate. Others again, are polygraphical in their nature, as Encyclope- dias, magazines, etc. Yet on the whole I have preferred arrangement according to subject, because of the peculiar satisfaction, when we wish to consider a particular one, of seeing at a glance the books which have been written on it, and selecting those from which we effect most readily the information we seek. On this principle the arrangement of my library was formed, and I took the basis of its distribution from I^ord Bacon's table of science, modifying it to the changes in scientific pur- suits which have taken place since his time, and to the greater or less extent of reading in the science which I proposed to myself. Thus the law having been my profession, and politics the occupation to which the circumstances of the times in which I have lived called my particular attention, my provision of books in these lines, and in those most nearly connected with them was more copious, and required in particular instances subdivisions into sections and paragraphs, while other sub- jects of which general views only were contemplated are thrown into masses. A physician or theologist would have modified differently, the chapters, sections, and paragraphs of a library adapted to their particular pursuits. You will receive my library arranged very perfectly in the order observed in the catalogue, which I have sent with it. In placing the books on their shelves, I have generally, but not always, collocated distinctly the folios, quarto, octavo, and duodecimo, placing with the last all smaller sizes. On every book is a label, indicating the chapter of the catalogue to which it belongs, and the order it holds among those of the same format. So that, although the numbers seem con- fused on the catalogue, they are consecutive on the volumes as they stand on their shelves, and indicate at once the place they occupy there. Mr. Milligan in packing them has preserved their arrangement so exactly, in their respective presses, that on setting the presses up on end, he will be able readily to replace them in the order corresponding with the cata- logue, and thus save you the immense labor which their rearrangement would otherwise require. CLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY. 1 45 To give to my catalogue the convenience of the alphabetical arrange- ment I have made at the end an alphabet of authors' names and have noted the chapter or chapters, in which the name will be found; where it occurs several times in the same chapter, it is indicated, by one or more perpendicular scores, thus 1 1 1 1, according to the number of times it will be found in the chapter. Where a book bears no author's name, I have selected in its title some leading word for denoting it alphabeti- cally. This member of the catalogue would be more perfect if, instead of the score, the number on the book were particularly noted. This could not be done when I made the catalogue, because no label of numbers had then been put on the books. That alteration can now be readily made, and would add greatly to the convenient use of the catalogue. How these instructions were carried out in the classifica- tion of the Library will be made clearer by an examination of the table of contents and chapter headings of the cata- logue of 1815. There 44 main classes are set down, and under them several subclasses, as follows: 1. History, civil; ancient history. — 2. Modern history, foreign, south- ern: General works, Italy, Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, Spain, Portugal, France. Northern: General works, Lapland, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, Germany, Flanders, United Netherlands, Switzerland, Geneva, Turkey, Asia, Africa. — 3. Modern history, British, Scotland, Ireland. — 4. Modern history, American, Ante-Revolutionary: General, particular. Post-Revolutionary: General, particular. Newspapers. — 5. History, ecclesiastical. — -6. History, nat- ural: physics, natural philosophy. — 7. Agriculture. — 8. Chemistry. — 9. Surgery. — 10. Medicine. — 11. Natural history: Animals, anatomy. — 12. Natural history: Animals, zoology. — 13. Natural history: Botany. — 14. Natural history: Mineralogy. — 15. History, natural: Occupations of man, technical arts. — 16. Philosophy, moral: Ethics, (1) moral phil- osophy, (2) law of nature and nations. — 17. Religion. — 18. Jurispru- dence: Equity. — 19. Jurisprudence: Common law, bodies of law, stat- utes, courts, entries, conveyancing, criminal law, tracts, reports. — 20. Jurisprudence: Law, merchant. — 21. Jurisprudence: Law, maritime. — 22. Jurisprudence: Law, ecclesiastical. — 23. Jurisprudence: Foreign law. — 24. Politics: General theories of government, special govern- ments. Ancient. Modern. France: Monarchical, revolutionary, imperial, her colonies. England: Constitution, Parliament, dependencies. United States: Colonial, Revolutionary, reconstituted, States. Political economy: General, statistics, commerce, finance. — 25. Mathematics, pure: Arith- metic. — 26. Mathematics, pure: Geometry. — 27. Physics-mathematics: Mechanics, statics, dynamics, pneumatics, phonics, optics. — 28. Astron- 23399—04 10 146 PEVEEOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. omy.— 29. Geography, general: Europe, Asia, Africa, America.— 30. Fine arts: Architecture.— 31. Fine arts: Gardening, painting, sculptur- ing.— 32. Fine arts: Music— 33. Poetry, epic— 34. Romance, tales, fables.— 35. Pastorals, odes, elegies, etc— 36. Didactic— 37. Tragedy — 38. Comedy.— 39. Dialogue, epistolary.— 40. Logic, rhetoric, orations.— 41. Criticism: Theory.— 42. Criticism: Bibliography.— 43. Criticism. Languages, general: Polyglot, Oriental, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Northern, English, Welsh.— 44. Poly graphical. These were the 44 chapters or classes in which the Library remained, with slight changes, until the end of the century. How they were derived will be made clear by the accompanying plan, a facsimile of that printed in the catalogue of 18 15. This system of classification was an innovation in the book world, which seems to have been appreciated by intel- ligent visitors to the Library. One of these, Mr. Mackenzie, editor of the Colonial Advocate, York, Canada, wrote that the Library was "remarkably well arranged, each description of books being kept by themselves," * and the editor of the Wash- ington City Chronicle, in commenting upon his remarks, said: "The arrangement, of which the writer speaks so favorably, is one which has been much admired for the facilities it affords of finding any volume or subject that' may be required." The criticism of the Washington City Chronicle, July 11, 1829, was similarly flattering, and at the same time instructive. Its observation regarding the system of classification was this: "It is, perhaps, the best that has yet been introduced. It is indeed, scientific, and by keeping all books upon the same subject together and under one head, it affords facilities that no other mode hitherto adopted has been found to yield. This classification is, however, not so well calculated for display as the common mode of arranging according to size, because one division being often much less than another, large volumes are some times placed above smaller ones, or chasms are left in the shelves which are not agreeable to the eye. But the subjects being kept apart, each can with more facility be consulted. To render this arrange- ment more complete it would be proper to make some addi- ■ Colonial Advocate, reprinted in Washington City Chronicle, November 7, 1829, and in National Intelligencer, November 9, 1829. ^y& BOOKS way lie classed ncroidins; U> Hie faculties of Hie uiimLi'nailiivraV on fliem : llio«c. an I. MEMOJIY. :- It KIUHON. JlU. 'IMAGINATION. Whirlmiv applied ir-.|„.(li w -lv'fb^- I. history. ii. i nii.osorin. in. kink aiits 111STOKY r civil INatural . ■ [('ml Proper [ KUir& Music - . Poetry Oratory Criticism .';. ArcbiU'ciiire ^ayforaW Odes . . Etegies • . Dittaetie. ... Tragedy Comedy .Dialogue LEpiJtL .,- Logic ':'. . Rhetoric Orations Theory Bibliography Languages '''t Polygraphical . 4* 44 FACSIMILE OF JEFFERSON'S SCHEME OF CLASSIFICATION. CATALOGUING OF THE LIBRARY. 147 tional subdivisions, as Biography, ancient and modern, Archaeology, Conchology, etc." It is interesting to note that Jefferson himself would have changed the system somewhat. In a letter to Woodward, dated March 24, 1824, acknowledging the receipt of Wood- ward's system of universal science, he said: 1 "Were I to recompose my tabular view of the sciences, I should certainly transfer a particular branch. The natural- ists, you know, divide the history of Nature into three kingdoms, or departments, Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy. Ideology, or mind, however, occupies so much space in the field of science, that we might perhaps erect it into a fourth kingdom, or department, but inasmuch as it makes a part of the animal construction only it would be more proper to subdivide Zoology into physical and moral, the latter includ- ing ideology, ethics, and mental science generally. In my catalogue, considering ethics as well as religion, as supple- ments to law in the government of men, I had placed them in that sequence, but certainly the faculty of thought belongs to animal history, is an important portion of it, and should there find its place." CATALOGUES OF THE LIBRARY. In the cataloguing of the library Jefferson's advice was not followed with equal fidelity nor with equal applause. On the 13th of October, 1815, Librarian Watterston wrote to Mr. Jefferson: 2 "I am happ}^ to inform you that the catalogue is now in press, and that in a few weeks, it will be published. I have preserved your arrangement, as one that I think excellent and that I had previously thought of adopting. I have intro- duced but one alteration, and that is in arranging each chap- ter alphabetically. Having pasted printed labels on each volume, it gives them a uniformity of appearance quite agree- able to the eye. Having put them up in a very beautiful and commodious appartment, the display is really beautiful, and seems to meet with the approbation of all. The proof-sheet 'Jefferson MSS., series 1, vol. 14, No. 287. * Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 88, No. 54. 148 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. of the catalogue is examined several times, and by several persons, so that it is as accurate as can well be made. I have from the very scant and limited appropriation made by Con- gress (only 800 dollars), been obliged to exercise some inge- nuity to get the catalogue printed before the session of Congress. As soon as it is completed, I will send you a copy." Watterston had retained Jefferson's chapter divisions in the catalogue, but had thrown the different subdivisions and paragraphs together. For example, he had retained "Chap- ter 2. Modern History: Foreign." But the subdivisions and paragraphs of that chapter — " Southern: General works, Italy, Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, Spain, Portugal, France. Northern: General works, Lapland, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia, Germany, Flanders, United Netherlands, Switzerland, Geneva, Turkey, Asia, Africa" — according to which the books had previously been classified, were merely indicated in the chapter headings of the cata- logue; the titles were arranged in one alphabet. This arrangement was satisfactory neither to Jefferson nor to the Library Committee. The former thought it too unsci- entific and objected to any modification in the system of cata- loguing and classification which he had suggested. He wrote March 2, I8I6, 1 ; "I received three copies of the catalogue from Mr. Milligan, for which I thank you. The typography is handsome, and the execution generally pleasing to the eye. There are some errors of the press, but with such a number of titles in so many different languages it could not be expected to be otherwise. You ask how I like the arrange- ment of the chapters. Of course, you know, not so well as my own; yet I think it possible the alphabetical arrangement may be more convenient to readers generally than mine, which was something analytical, something chronological, and sometimes a combination of both." The Library Committee, on the other hand, thought the arrangement of the catalogue too scientific, and objected because the Librarian had not made further modifications in the system suggested by Jefferson. To this the Librarian ■Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 88, Nos. 51-52. CATALOGUING OF THE LIBRARY. 149 referred in his letter to Jefferson, dated January 29, 1816, as follows: 2 "The Library Committee are dissatisfied with me for having the catalogue printed without having waited to consult their superior judgment; but the members generally speak very highly of your arrangement and disposition of the books, and, I suppose, will have no hesitation in allowing for its printing, the report of the committee to the contrary notwithstanding. ' ' The report of the Library Committee here referred to had been made three days before, and was as follows: "Your committee are persuaded that however ingenous, scientific, philosophical, and useful such a catalogue may be in the possession of a gentleman who, as was the case with the former proprietor of this now the Library of Congress, has classed his books himself, who alone has access to them, and has become from long habit and experience as perfectly familiar with every book in his library as a man who has long lived in a city is familiar with every street, square, lane, and alley in it; still this form of catalogue is much less useful in the present state of our Library, consisting chiefly of miscellanies, not always to be classed correctly under any particular head, than a plain catalogue in the form which had been adopted for the formation of the catalogue of the old Library, which probably might not have cost more than $100, if that much, whilst the catalogue with which we were presented, including three copies of it bound half gilt, costs the United States $1,360.50, one-third more than the annual appropriation made heretofore by Congress for the additional increase of the Library, and more than one-twentieth of the actual cost of our whole Library." The main point against the catalogue was its cost. Impartial observers, however, and among them the editor of the Colonial Advocate, above mentioned, admired the form of the catalogue as one particularly useful in large libraries, and facilitating the finding of not only any author wanted, but also of other works treating upon related subjects. The later Library Committee, too, recognized this, and in the 'Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 88, No. 56. 150 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. compilation of the next considerable supplement to the cata- logue of 1815 — the catalogue of 1827 — the same arrangement was observed. 1 The first step taken by the new administration to com- plete the collection of books in its custody was to publish the following notice in the National Intelligencer September 15, 1815: CARD. Library op the United States. Congress having supplied the loss occasioned by the rude and confla- grating hand of our late enemy by the purchase of a library perhaps equal in value, as far as it extends, to any in Europe, and intending, as they no doubt do, to make it the great national repository of literature and science, and in some instances of the arts also, it is desirable that American authors, engravers, and painters who are solicitous to preserve their respective productions as mementos of the times, would transmit to the Library a copy of such work as they may design for the public eye. This will serve not only as a literary history of this now interest- ing country, but will also tend to exhibit the progress and improvement of the arts. The Librarian, so far as his power and means extend, will take due care that such productions, literary or graphic, as may be for- warded to him shall be properly preserved and advantageously exhibited. George Watterston, Librarian of Congress. In this letter it is possible to see the influence of Doctor Thornton and the Patent Office, at this time located in the Post-Office building also, and possibly of the English copy- right laws, which provided copies of copyrighted works for each of the leading libraries of the Kingdom. Of more immediate consequence were the recommenda- tions of the Library Committee touching the deficit in the Library account incurred in the classification and cataloguing of the Library. On the 15th of December, 18 15, on motion of Mr. Forsyth, the House instructed the Library Committee to inquire into the expediency of increasing the sum appro- priated for the salary of the Librarian of Congress, and for the contingent expenses of the Library, and of allowing additional compensation to the Librarian for services per- formed since the last session of Congress; and on the 26th 'The supplements of 1820, 1825, and 1828, numbering respectively 28, 40, and 16 pages were naturally arranged in one alphabet. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, 1816. I51 of January, 1816, Mr. Fromentin, from the Joint Library Committee, made the following report: 1 * * * Your committee have received from the librarian several accounts of expenditures, amounting together to the sum of three thou- sand one hundred and sixty-five dollars and sixty -seven and a half cents, exclusive of a sum of five hundred and seventy-two dollars and thirty- seven and a half cents paid for packing and transporting the library, and of the sum of $1,520.77 for fitting up the room where the library is now kept, which several sums were appropriated by the act of the 3rd of March, 1815, entitled "An act to provide a library room, and for transporting the library lately purchased." Both the letters received from the Comptroller of the Treasury, as far as respects the expenses of packing and transporting the library; and from the superintendent of public buildings in Washington, so far as respects the expenses for fitting up the room where the library is now kept, and the accounts exhibited by the Librarian are submitted with, and your committee pray that they may be considered as a part of, this their report. With respect to the account of expenditures delivered to your com- mittee by the librarian, your committee observe that, except the annual appropriation of eight hundred dollars which has been received by the Librarian, there has been no appropriation made by Congress, nor, as far as your committee could ascertain, any authorization given by any person to the librarian. This unauthorized expenditure leaves a deficit to be provided for, of $2,365.67^. Your committee submit it to Congress whether the peculiar circumstances in which the Librarian was placed, justified in part or in totality the expenditures incurred by him. They cannot, however, help observing that some of the charges appear to them exorbitant, and therefore, in the bill which they have reported, they recommend that an authorization be given to the committee, before payment be made, to have a due investigation made of the several items of the accounts, advising at the same time, an appropriation for the whole sum claimed: provided that if a surplus should be unexpended, in consequence of the investigation, it may be added to the annual Library fund of one thousand dollars for this year, to be expended for the purchase of books, under the direction of the Joint Library Committee. It is enough to cast a rapid glance over the catalogue of the Library of Congress to be immediately sensible of the immense hiatus which some of the departments of arts or sciences exhibit. Some of the branches of the arts and sciences are swelled to a prodigious size, which at the same time that it is by no means a certain proof of a greater degree of health in these parasite branches, manifests every symptom of threatening decay in the tree itself. This was observable likewise in the old Library of Congress, although in a less degree. This result is 'The first paragraph, relating to the room, has been quoted on p. 122. 152 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. not to be wondered at, if we consider that the inconsiderable sums put from time to time at the disposal of the joint committee precluded the possibility of their availing themselves of the many opportunities which, for twenty-five years past, were daily offering in Europe of purchasing large collections of very valuable books on reasonable terms. Those opportunities are not yet all gone by, and your committee think that the convulsions of the eastern might, in a literary view, be made conducive to the interests of the western world. The present library of Congress is a good foundation; and one half of the sum which it has cost, judiciously employed under the direction of the Joint Library Commit- tee, would place within the reach of every member of Congress all the most valuable books in every department of arts and sciences, of which there is now such a lamentable deficiency. With that view your com- mittee propose an appropriation of ten thousand dollars for the purchase of books and maps, independent of the annual appropriation of one thousand dollars for the same purpose, which they submit to Congress to make perpetual. The Joint Library Committee have taken into their consideration, a resolution referred to them by the House of Representatives on the 15th of December last; and upon the most serious consideration given to the subject, your committee do not deem it necessary to recommend the allowing any additional compensation to the Librarian for services performed since last session of Congress. The Librarian has received from the Treasury the sum of 480 dollars, which, according to the law as it was at the time of his appointment, and as it is yet, by which he is entitled to two dollars per day for every day's attendance at the Library, computing the number of days during which he was bound to attend at the rate of three days every week during the recess of Congress, and six days every week during the session, exceeds the sum to which he would be entitled by law for his services to this day. By the accounts of the expenditures exhibited, it appears that the mechanical part of the duties required by law to be performed by the Librarian, has been actually performed by people hired by the Librarian, and for whose compensation you are now called upon to make an appro- priation. The manner in which the scientific part of the duties, devolving upon the Librarian, has been fulfilled, do not, in the opinion of your committee, warrant the allowing of an additional compensation which your committee suppose must be interpreted as conveying on the part of Congress, something like an approbation for past conduct. The only evidence of the literary services of the Librarian, within the knowledge of your committee, is the publication of the catalogue with which we were presented at the time of the beginning of the session- and the merit of this work is altogether due to Mr. Jefferson, and not to the Library of Congress." * * * 'The ensuing paragraph, relating to the catalogue, has been quoted on p. 149. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, 1816. 1 53 The committee have no hesitation in recommending to Congress to increase the sum appropriated for the salary of the Librarian of Con- gress, and in the bill which they have the honor to submit is to be found a section to that effect. In looking over the several acts concerning the Library of Congress, your committee have observed, not without astonishment, that by an act passed the 26th of January, 1802, the Librarian of Congress was to be appointed by the President of the United States solely. It is diffi- cult to conceive why an officer of both Houses of Congress, as much so as the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of the Senate, are officers of their respective Houses, should not be appointed by the authority to which he ought to be amenable. The case might happen that a Librarian should neglect his duties; are the members of Congress in that case to complain to the President of the United States? Such a thing need merely to be mentioned to demonstrate the impropriety of vesting the President with the sole right of making so inconsiderable an appointment. Accordingly your committee have deemed it their duty to propose, in the bill which accompanies this report, the repeal of so much of the act concerning the Library of Con- gress, passed January 26th, 1802, as provides that the Librarian shall be appointed by the President of the United States solely, and to vest, in future, the appointment of the Librarian in the Joint Library Com- mittee. Provided that, neither the Secretary of the Senate, nor the Clerk of the House of Representatives, nor any of the clerks employed in their offices, or any other officer of either house of Congress, be eligible to the office of Librarian. On February 2 the bill submitted with this report was debated in Committee of the Whole, amended, and on the 8th read the third time and passed. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the accounting officers of the Treasury be, and they are hereby, authorized and required to investigate and settle the accounts against the Library of Congress, exhibited by George Watterston, Daniel Rapine, and William Elliot; and the amount thereof, which shall be deemed equitable shall be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sec 2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed the Librarian for attending said Library, an annual salary of one thousand dollars, payable quarterly at the Treasury of the United States, to com- mence and take effect from and after the twenty-first day of March, eighteen hundred and fifteen. 2 It was not until the 12th of April that the bill received the attention of the House of Representatives. On that day "Annals 29: 104, 106, 126, 127. "Engrossed bills, Senate files. 154 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. it was considered in Committee of the Whole, and reported with the following amendment: "Insert the following as the third section: " SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the privilege of using the books in the Library shall be extended to the Attorney-General of the United States, and the members of the diplomatic corps, on the same terms and conditions, as it is enjoyed by the Judges of the Supreme Court." 2. Amend the title by inserting after the word " Congress," the words, "for extending the privilege of using the books therein." 1 This amendment was read and concurred in by the House, and on the following day passed as amended. 2 April 15, the Senate took up the House amendment, and "Resolved, That they concur therein." 3 AN ACT providing for the settlement of certain accounts against the Library of Congress, for extending the privilege of using the books therein, and for estab- lishing the salary of the Librarian. Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the accounting officers of the Treasury be, and they are hereby, authorized and required to inves- tigate and settle the accounts against the Library of Congress, exhib- ited by George Watterston, Daniel Rapine, and William Elliot; and the amount thereof, which shall be deemed equitable, shall be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sbc 2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed to the Librarian for attending said Library, an annual salary of one thousand dollars, payable quarterly, at the Treasury of the United States, to com- mence and take effect from and after the twenty-first day of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. Sec 3. And be it further enacted, That the privilege of using the books in the Library shall be extended to the Attorney-General of the United States and the members of the diplomatic corps, on the same terms and conditions as it is enjoyed by the Judges of the Supreme Court. Approved, April 16, 1816. The committee's recommendation regarding the settlement of the deficit in the accounts of the Library was thus adopted, but their recommendation that the sum of $10,000 be appro- priated for the purchase of books, in addition to the annual appropriation of $1,000 provided for by the act of December 1 Engrossed bills, Senate files. 2 House Journal, pp. 641, 646. sSenate Journal, p. 462. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, l8l6. 155 6, 181 1, was not adopted. The bill appropriating $2,000 for a law library, introduced by Senator Harper on the 16th of February, also failed to pass. On the 20th it had been referred to a select committee consisting of Senators Talbot, Harper, and Hunter, which on March 2 had reported the bill with amendments. On the 12th of March it passed the Senate, but in the House, April 29, it was postponed indef- initely. But the Library had still to its credit for the purchase of books $3,000 or $4,000. This the Library Committee at once set to work to spend in such a manner as to at once enlarge and strengthen the collection of books in the Library of Congress. The following letter from the chairman of the Library Committee, Kligius Promentin, to the Register of the Treas- ury, Joseph Nourse, asking for information, preceded the action of the committee. It is dated April 11, 18 16, and reads as follows: The Library Committee having it in contemplation to authorize one or more of their members to purchase books for the use of the Library of Congress, during the recess, I am desirous to be informed whether it has formerly been the practice and whether you deem yourself author- ized to pay any draft from the chairman of the committee within the amount of money in your hands for the use of the Library, during the recess of Congress. The Committee have bought books from Coale and Maxwell, book- sellers in Baltimore, to the amount of three hundred and eleven dollars and forty-four cents. Would it be convenient to you to send those gentlemen a draft for the amount in Baltimore upon the authorization in this letter, or is there any particular form previously used, and to which you deem it more proper to adhere? In that case, please to give me the information, and send me a blank form for the regulation of my future conduct in that respect. The committee suppose that the further sum of one thousand dollars for the year 18 16, in addition to the sum of sixteen hundred and odd dollars which you informed them was in your hands in December last, is now in your hands at the disposal of the committee." In a letter from J. G. Palfrey to Jared Sparks, dated Wash- ington, September 5, 1816, Palfrey says: 2 "When I was in the city of the Quakers Doctor Priestley's library was exposed for sale at Dobson's. A committee of Congress had gleaned 'Miscellaneous MSS., Library of Congress. a H. B. Adams, Life of Sparks 1: 119. 156 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. all the best books. I bought a few, not because they were valuable, but because they were Doctor Priestley's." The following report of the Library Committee, presented in the Senate January 6, 181 7, indicates with some detail what was accomplished by the committee during the year 1 816, and what bibliographical plans had been formed by them for the development of the Library. The committee reported : In pursuance of the duty devolving upon them, to purchase books for the Library of Congress, they have bought, during the recess, the books, a catalogue of which, with the prices and the names of the persons from whom they were bought, is annexed. By a reference to the accounts rendered by Joseph Nourse, register of the Treasury, and acting as agent of the Joint Library Committee, which are annexed to (and the committee prays, may be considered as part of) this report, it appears that, since the last account rendered there was paid at different times by order of the Joint Library Committee, a sum of 3,074 dollars 9 cents, leaving in the hands of the agent of the library committee, subject to their order, an unexpended balance of 1,526 dollars 61 cents. The committee have now under consideration several pro- posals which, when finally acted upon, shall have employed the whole of the appropriation made in 18 12. The committee further report, that they have given direction for the following periodical, both literary and political, publications, to be regu- larly sent to the Library as soon as published, to wit: The Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews, republished in New York. The British Review, The Annual Register, The Analytical Review, Cobbett's Political Register, published in Great Britain. The North American Review, published in Boston. The Port Folio, The Analectic Magazine, Walsh's American Register, published in Philadelphia. The Portico, The Weekly Register, published in Baltimore. The National Register, The Daily National Intelligencer, The Historical Register, published in Washington. All the above periodical works, now are or will soon be completed, from the beginning of publication to the present day. Of not exactly the same character, but yet liable to the same annual expense, are the following works, if it be deemed advisable to complete the publications of this description, which are now deposited in the Library, to wit: — The Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. The Transactions of the Royal Society of London. The Transactions of the Irish Academy. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, 1817. 1 57 Bath Society Papers. Transactions of the Society of Arts. Memoires de l'Academie des Sciences. M£moires de l'lnstitut de France. Delaplaine's Repository. Cobbett's State Trials. Public Characters. General catalogues published every year in Great Britain, in Leipsic, and in Paris; to which may be added works of merit to be subscribed for occasionally, and which will require a disposable fund to be used on the emergencies created by the publication of such works, either in this country or in Europe. In order the better to promote the views of Congress in establishing a Congressional library, and the more securely to provide for, as far as attainable, a proportionately equal application of the Library fund to the several branches of human knowledge, and thereby stamp the Congressional library with that degree of usefulness contemplated in its establishment, the committee invite the chairmen of the several com- mittees in both Houses, to furnish the Library Committee with a list of such books or maps, as may be deemed by them more particularly to refer to the business devolving upon each respective committee. The committee have, moreover, directed to be placed in the Library a box, where may be deposited by the members of both Houses, the titles of such books as they may be desirous to procure. The collection of law books, now in the Library, is as valuable and as complete as it is possible to have expected it to be, considering the time at which the books were purchased. But the many late publications which have appeared since, both in this country and in Europe, and the indispensable necessity of laying open all possible sources of the most extensive information on that head, have induced your committee to propose to Congress, to appropriate a sum of three thousand dollars, for the completion of that particular department of the Library of Congress. The law appropriating one thousand dollars per annum, for the pur- chase of books for the Library of Congress, has expired. The com- mittee beg leave to report a bill, making a further appropriation of 1,000 dollars per annum, for five years. In revising the laws passed by Congress concerning the Library, the committee observed that no provision had ever been made, to extend to the heads of the Departments, the privilege of using the books in the Congress Library, on the same terms on which members of Congress are permitted to use them. In the bill making a further appropriation for the purchase of books, the committee have inserted a section to remedy that omission. 158 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. The bill accompanying this report, increasing the appro- priation for the purchase of books from $1,000 to $1,500 per annum, on the 9th of January passed the Senate, but in the House, on the following day, it was referred to a Committee of the Whole and forgotten. 1 On the 9th of January a second bill passed the Senate which was of even more significance than the first. In the Librarian's communication to the public through the National Intelligencer, September 15, 181 5, he had suggested that the Library be made a place for the deposit of all American books, engravings, etc. This idea was embodied in the bill which now passed the Senate: "That the Joint Library Committee be, and they are hereby, authorized to make, from time to time, a selection of such books as they may deem proper to have deposited in the Congressional Library, out of the books which by the existing laws are to be deposited by the authors or publishers in the office of the Secretary of State, and are now lodged in the Patent Office." 2 This bill, too, failed to become a law. The committee had on hand an unexpended balance of $1,526.61 for the pur- chase of books. That is the only reason, apparently, why Congress failed to pass these two bills, each of which was of great importance to the development of a national library. DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1817-1824. The authorities of the Library had elaborated magnificent plans for the Library of Congress between the years 181 5 and 181 7. Among them were the plans for a law depart- ment, a copyright department, and, above all and embracing all, the plan for a national library, but these plans, like those for a Library building, came to naught. Nor was the Library Committee much more successful between the years 181 7 and 1824. On the 1st of Decem- ber, 181 7, Mahlon Dickerson, of New Jersey, was made chairman of the committee, and remained in that position for the next ten years. Senator Dickerson was famed for his love of books. The Librarian called him a biblical 'Annals 30: 49-50, 52, 55, 57, 443, 450. •Senate files, Engrossed bills, Fourteenth Congress. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, 1817-1824. 159 cormorant, 1 and the National Journal (April 11, 1827) said that it was due to his indefatigable exertions and literary taste that the additions made to the Library during this time were at once valuable and splendid. Mr. Joel Poinsett also took an interest in the Library and was a member of the Library Committee during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Congresses. Of his services the Librarian said: "His taste and judgment in the selection of books, while acting for the committee, were displayed in a manner that pleased all who were concerned." On a visit to England Mr. Poinsett secured for the Library, among other valuable works, a set of the Parliamentary Papers. 2 The Library also profited during this period by the inter- est which ex-President Jefferson continued to show in it. September 1, 1820, he wrote to the Librarian: "Having lately met with a very full catalogue of books relating to America, I have supposed that it could not be better placed than in your hands for the use of the Library Committee, with whom I presume it is a primary object to obtain everything of that description. By taking the trouble to mark on this catalogue those you possess (which make a great part of those most valuable), the unpossessed will be obvious. I think, however, that in the catalogue of authorities stated in Robertson's America there must be several important works omitted in this, and which I could never get. A standing instruction to the minister in Madrid might in time procure them." But this knowledge of books was without avail unless appropriations for the purchase of books for the Library could be secured, and in securing these appropriations this com- mittee was hardly more successful after 181 7 than it had been before. In 1818 it secured $2,000, in 1820 $2,000, in 1821 and 1822 $1,000, that is, for the years 1817 to 1822, an average of $1,000 per annum, the same sum which had been voted February 21, 1806, for a period of five years, and again, December 6, 181 1, for the same period. It was not until 1823 that the committee succeeded in securing an increase from $1,000 to $2,000 in the annual appropriation. It is to be 'The L Family at Washington, 1822, p. 77; see also Washington City Chronicle, November 7, 1S29, and National Intelligencer, December 5, 1834. * Washington City Chronicle, November 9, 1829. 160 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. noted also that the civil-appropriations act of 1821 provided $1,000 for the purchase of books for the Library, compre- hending the statutes and the reports of the decisions of the courts of law and ckancery of the different States, with the latest maps of the several States and Territories. This was the condition upon which the appropriation was made at all. There was only one other legislative measure affecting the interests of the Library during this period, but that too came to nothing. On the 30th of April, 1822, Mr. Lincoln submitted in the House of Representatives the following resolution : r Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be deposited in the Library of Congress the originals or copies of all such reports, memoirs, or documents, not heretofore published, as have been made by public officers, Indian agents, private individuals, or exploring parties, to the executive department of the Government; together with any maps, drawings, or charts, or copies of the same, which in his opinion it may be consistent with the public service to have there deposited. The resolution was ordered to lie on the table. The results of the activity of the Library Committee dur- ing this time are all shown in the two little catalogues of 1820 and 1825, tne fi rst a quarto of 28 pages, the second an octavo of 40 pages. As we have pointed out in the preceding section, the period from 1815 to 1824 was the garret period in the history of the Library. DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1824-1829. Until 1825 tne question of a room for the Library had been uppermost. Before the War it had been kept in a committee room; from i8i5to i8i8it had been kept in the attic story of the Post-OfHce building; from 1818 to 1824 it had been kept in the attic story of the Senate wing of the Capitol. In 1824, however, the completion of the library room drea^ned of by the Library Committee for ten years made possible the realization of some of its other dreams. The completion of the library room, together with the gift of the Royal library to the British people, led the National Intelligencer (August 28, 1823) to say, under the caption 'Annals 39: 1743. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, 1824-1829. l6l "National Library:" "We wish we could promise ourselves to see the day when the Library of Congress should be more than half filled with books of acknowledged excellence, in every branch of science, and collected from every country. We should like it, also, to be something more national and truly literary in its arrangements and objects than it has hitherto been. * * * We do hope that Congress will make such regulations for the increase and utility of this noble institution as will contribute greatly to the improve- ment of our country, the satisfaction of literary men of leisure who reside near the seat of Government, and will increase our respectability in this respect in the eyes of foreign nations. It is obvious that a certain frivolous class of books may and ought to be excluded; but there should be no work of high character and unquestionable utility pub- lished in any part of the world which ought not, in time, to find its way into the National Library of the United States." On the 21st of January, 1824, Mr- Poinsett, from the Joint Library Committee, reported the following resolution in the House of Representatives: "Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of appropriating five thousand dollars for the use of the Library of Congress; " and on the question to agree to the resolution, it passed in the affirmative. In accordance with these instructions, on the 24th of February Mr. McLane, of Delaware, from the Committee on Ways and Means, made the following report: 1 That they find upon inquiry that the sum which it has been usual to appropriate annually for the use of the library is little more than suffi- cient to purchase laws, reports of cases, periodical publications, and such works as the library Committee are annually under the necessity of purchasing. The balance is so small as, generally, to confine the pur- chase merely to works of the day, and if, on any occasion, the commit- tee are enabled to purchase a standard work, the cost is augmented nearly 100 per cent by the duties on importation and the profits of the bookseller. By their own observation, as well as by a reference to the gentlemen charged with the particular superintendence over this subject, the com- 1 Eighteenth Congress, first session, House report No. 69. 23399— °4 11 . . 162 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. mittee have discovered the Library of Congress, in its present state, to be defective in all the principal branches of literature; and they deem it of the first necessity that this deficiency should be speedily supplied, at least in the important branches of law, politics, commerce, history, and geography, as most useful to the members of Congress. It is believed, also, that most of the works which are now required for the foregoing purposes are not published in the United States, and that for this reason, as for motives of economy, it is deemed advisable to make the purchases in Europe; but this can not be effected without an appropriation considerably larger than that annually given. It is known to the committee that a drawback to a considerable amount is allowed on the exportation of books from England, of which the Library Committee could avail themselves in their purchases, and a discount of 25 per cent is allowed by all the booksellers in London, on the catalogue prices, where purchases to any considerable amount are made; and it is believed a saving of more than 50 per cent may be effected by importing books from Europe. A much larger saving might be made on French books; but the committee are of opinion that it would be better to purchase English books and English translations of foreign books in all cases where such translations have been made. They would propose only to import such standard works in foreign languages as have not been translated, and of those only such as can not be dispensed with. "When the committee consider not only the utility, but the absolute necessity of an extensive and judiciously selected library for the use of Congress; when they reflect upon its advantages, for the purposes as well of amusement as instruction, they are persuaded that it can not be too early supplied with all the important standard works in every department. Nor can they perceive any well-founded objection to an appropriation for this object of a sum very little exceeding the amount which individual taste and liberality often annually bestow upon private selections. The committee believe that the defects in the present library can not be supplied for a less sum than $5,000, which, in their opinion, may be afforded without inconvenience to the public resources; and they there- fore report a bill. This bill was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole. May 22 the bill was taken up in Committee of the Whole, amended, reported to the House, read the third time, and passed. 1 The same day a message from the House informed the Senate that the House had passed a bill entitled "An act 1 Annals 41: 1627; 42: 2695-2696. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, 1824-1829. 163 making an appropriation for the use of the Library of Con- gress, and for furnishing rooms in the Capitol;" on the 24th it was referred to the Joint Library Committee, on the 25th reported and considered in Committee of the Whole, and on the 26th passed. 1 AN ACT making an appropriation for the use of the Library of Congress, and for furnishing rooms in the Capitol. Be it enacted, &c. , That the sum of five thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any unappropriated money in the Treasury, for the purchase of books, under the direction of the Joint Library Committee, for the use of the Library of Congress. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sum of fifteen hundred and forty-six dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any unappropriated money in the Treasury, for the purchase of furni- ture for the new library. SBC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the sum of three thousand two hundred and eighty-nine dollars and fifty cents be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, for furnishing the rooms in the centre building of the Capitol, under the direction of the Commissioners of the Public Buildings. Approved, May 26, 1824. In 1826 the sum of $5,000 was appropriated for the purchase of books, in 1827, $3,000, and in 1828, $5,000. Another result of the report of the Committee on Ways and Means was the passage of the law of February 11, 1825, a measure of similar, though perhaps not equal importance to the law of May 26, 1824. AN ACT to remit the duties on books, maps, and charts imported for the use of the Library of Congress. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he hereby is, directed to remit all duties upon such books, maps, and charts, as have been, during the present year, or hereafter may be, imported into the United States, by the authority of the Joint library Committee of Congress, for the use of the Library of Congress. Approved, February n, 1825. 1 Annals4i: 773, 776, 782, 786, 789. 164 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. These legislative measures made it possible for the com- mittee to enlarge the Library very considerably before 1830. 1 In 1819 and 1820 there had been expended for books $4,038.14; in 1821, $53-75; in l822 > K ^- 1 ^ in l82 3> $1,32448; in 1824, $2,796.74; in 1825, $464-375 in l826 > $173; in 1827, $2,592.46; in 1828, $1,035.71; in 1829, $3,863.30, in all, $18,327.14. The most extensive purchases were made from Pishey Thompson, a local bookseller, Carey & Co., Philadelphia booksellers, and J. Eastburn & Co., New York booksellers. The record of the accessions to the Library which resulted from these purchases is contained for the most part in the catalogues of 1827 an ^ 1828, octavos of 109 and 16 pages, respectively. The purchases were made as in former years by the mem- bers of the Library Committee of which Bdward Everett, appointed December 6, 1825, was now the mos t active mem- ber. Senator Dickerson's taste had been more scientific than literary, and the books which he had purchased had there- fore been of a scientific character. Mr. Kverett's taste, on the other hand, was more literary than scientific, and he at once began to supply the deficiencies in the Library which had escaped the notice of the Library administration before his appointment. On the 16th of October, 1826, 2 he wrote to Librarian Watterston, "Please inform me (if possible by return of mail), whether the Library of Congress possesses the following works: The Congressional Register, by Thomas Lloyd, 8°, 3 volumes (being a register of the debates in the House of Representatives of the First Congress); the Collec- tions of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 8°, 10 vol- umes, old series; 10 volumes, new series; 1 volume third series (I see a work in the catalogue, Chapter IV, No. 27, which may be one volume of the preceding)," etc. On the 29th of October he wrote, "I beg leave to trouble you with another list of books, most of which I suppose not 'There is an account of these expenditures in the report of the Library Committee May 16, 1826, Nineteenth Congress, first session, Senate report No. 98; in the report of the Library Committee, May 17, 1828, Twentieth Congress, first session, Senate report No. 198; and in the report from the Secretary of the Senate, December 10, 1835, Twenty-fourth Congress, first session, Senate report No. 11. 3 Washington City Chronicle, November 7, 1829. FACSIMILE OF LETTER FROM EDWARD EVERETT TO LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON. History of the Library of Congress, vol. i, plate 12. SERVICES OF EDWARD EVERETT, 1825-1829. 165 to be in the Library of Congress. Being, however, uncertain, from the causes intimated in my last, I will trouble you to make a mark against such as are already in the Library and return me the catalogue." On the 31st he wrote: "Silliman's Journal I have ordered up to the present time; it is an excellent work. Besides, I think, American works (though not excellent), ought to be in the Library to furnish, I trust, to after times the means of proving the ratio of advancement. "You will oblige me much if you have any memorandums on hand of works wanted, by furnishing me with them. I intend to propose to the other gentlemen of the Library Com- mittee (provided I shall happen to be of the Library Commit- tee at the next session) that it be a part of your trust as Librarian to prepare and keep on hand a catalogue of books most wanted in every department, to which new books could be added as they appear. In no other way can the appropri- ations be expended to the best advantage. It will also be desirable that somewhere there be an authority to sell imper- fect or duplicate sets and inferior works, and, in short, any books which may by accident have found their way into the Library and which are not wanted there." He also wrote to Joseph Story regarding the law collection. Judge Story replied, November 4, 1826: r "I entirely agree with you respecting the civil-law books to be placed in the Congress Library. It would be a sad dishonor of a national library not to contain the works of Cujacius, Vinnius, Heineccius, Brissonius, Voet, etc. They are often useful for reference, and sometimes indispensable for a common lawyer. How could one be sure of some nice doctrines in the civil law of Louisiana without possessing and consulting them? What is to become of the laws of Florida without them? " On the 23d of May, 1828, he wrote Librarian Watterston on the same subject: 2 "I take this way of reminding you that it is the wish of the Committee of the Library that you should have completed the laws and law reports of each State, also the periodical works of which the numbers hitherto pub- 1 Story's I4fe and letters 1: 496. "Watterston MSS. 1 66 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. listed are in the Library, particularly the Annual Register and the Parliamentary Debates. I enclose you a note from Mr. Wickliffe on the subject of law books from Kentucky, and I would suggest that application by letter to some mem- ber of Congress in each State learned in the law, would enable you to effect the object. P. S. Would it not be well to make a little interest with the Senators for an appropria- tion bill." Of the activity of Edward Everett as a member of the Library Committee there were also notices in the records of Congress and in the columns of the metropolitan newspapers. On the 24th of February, 1827, Mr. Everett, from the Com- mittee on the Library, who were instructed by a resolution of the House of the 14th of the previous December to inquire into the expediency of adopting measures to procure from the different public offices in England copies of such papers and documents as might be of value in relation to the his- tory of America, reported: x That the United States of America in general and the several States that compose the Union enjoy an advantage possessed by no people of the ancient world, that their entire political duration falls within the period of authentic history. Whatever advantageous influence on national character or gratifying effect on national feeling can result from authentic details of the discovery, the first settlement, and early progress of our beloved country may consequently be realized by us in a higher degree than by any other community, excepting those on the American Continent similarly situated, in this respect, with our- selves. The only circumstance which diminishes and qualifies this advantage is the fact that the most important sources of our early his- tory are deposited in the archives of foreign governments, over which, of course, the United States have no control. Most of the documents illustrating the early history of nearly all the United States are deposited in the various public offices at London, and it has long been the wish of such of our citizens as have devoted themselves to the study of the early history of the country that measures might be adopted to procure from those offices, by permission of the British Government, copies of such documents so interesting to the American people. In one or two cases, on special application, this has already been done. Copies of documents relative to the early history of North Carolina and "Nineteenth. Congress, second session, House report No. 91. SERVICES OF EDWARD EVERETT, 1825-1829. 167 Georgia have been procured from the public offices in London; and permission has lately been given by the principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, in Iyondon, to take copies of any documents contained in an ample list of papers relative to the history of Georgia. The subject has excited considerable interest in different parts of the country. The governor of Georgia has made it the subject of a special message to the legislature of that State. The governor of New York, in a late message, has alluded to it as a matter of interest and importance. The assembly and senate of Rhode Island have adopted resolutions requesting that provision be made by Congress to effect the object; and the Massachu- setts Historical Society and the American Antiquarian Society have taken measures to bring it under the consideration of Congress. The resolu- tion of the legislature of Rhode Island, the memorial of the Massa- chusetts Historical Society, and the doings of the American Antiquarian Society have been referred to this committee and have received their respectful consideration. Regarding the object as one of public interest, and feeling a confidence that the liberal consent given by the British Government in reference to the Georgia documents would not be withheld in regard to the docu- ments illustrating the early history of the other United States, the com- mittee deem it highly desirable that the proper measures be taken to this end, and therefore report the following resolution: Resolved, That, in the opinion of this House, it is expedient that proper measures be adopted, at the discretion of the President, to pro- cure from the public offices, in England, copies of documents illustrative of the history of America; the expense of the same to be defrayed out of the contingent fund for foreign intercourse. On the 27th of December, 1827, Mr. Bverett, from the Committee on the Library, submitted a list of manuscripts and printed books relating to America in the possession of Obadiah Rich, esq., consul of the United States at Valencia, dated Madrid, September 28, 1827, among which was the manuscript "Indice de la coleccion de manuscritos, pertene- cientes a. la Historia de Indias, que escribi6 Don Juan Bautista Mufloz y a su muerte se han hallado en su libreria, fo., pages 120," with this note: "This catalogue of the manu- scripts collected by Mufloz is curious as showing how rich this country [Spain] is in unpublished documents relating to the history of America. All those of most importance are in my collection, and several which were unknown to Mufloz." 1 ■Twentieth Congress, first session, House report No. 37. 168 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. No step seems to have been taken to acquire this valuable collection and eventually it was secured by Mr. Lenox. 1 An attempt to secure another and less important collection was more fortunate. Of this the New York Evening Post (quoted by the National Journal, January 31, 1829) said: We learn that Professor Everett, acting officially as one of the Library Committee of Congress, has purchased about $500 worth of the rarest and most valuable books in Signor Dupontes's collection. We are informed that one of our members from New York, whose love of all that is valuable in learning attends him, even in the midst of party dissensions, presented the catalogue and suggested the idea of the purchase. We hardly know which deserves the most praise, the good taste which selected these inestimable books for the Library of the Capitol or the interesting enthusiasm which prompted this venerable savant to risk, with extremely limited means, the importation of a col- lection which, we reluctantly confess, New York has not been able to appreciate. As a proof that we have not overrated the works we will simply mention to the initiated that it contains a vellum edition of Muratori's Rerum italicarum scriptores in 39 volumes folio; the Padman edition of Forcellini's Lexicon totius latinitatis; the entire works of Visconti; the extremely rare Voyages of Marco Polo and other cele- brated navigators, by Ramusio, and a splendid edition of Dante, in 4 volumes folio, with illustrative designs, which from their majesty and simplicity are sufficiently characterized by being pronounced as worthy as they are explanatory of the author. COLLECTIONS AND DEPARTMENTS IN 1829. The result of these legislative appropriations and of the activity of the Library Committee was that by 1829 the Library of Congress was raised to the fourth place 2 among the libraries of the country. Of these libraries Harvard was the largest and contained the best and most extensive collection of books relating to America — it possessed, indeed, the best collection of Ameri- cana in the world. The next best, according to Jared Sparks, 3 was the collection at Gottingen. Of the collection 'William C. Lane and C. K. Bolton, Notes on special collections in American libraries, p. 46. * Harvard had between 30,000 and 40,000 volumes, Philadelphia about 34,000, and St. Mary's College, Baltimore, about 10,000. Yale, Princeton, and Bowdoin had between 8,000 and 8,500 volumes each. 3H. B. Adams, Life of Sparks, 1:462; 2:85. BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS, 1829. I0 9 in the Library of Congress lie wrote May 18, 1826: "On American history the Library is exceedingly meager, con- taining nothing but a few of the commonest books, bnt on American politics it is full, particularly to the year 1808, when Mr. Jefferson left the Government. It was his habit to preserve pamphlets and papers, and they are all deposited in this Library." The poet Henry Cogswell Knight, 1 look- ing at the collection from another point of view, spoke of an undue proportion of antiquated editions and of works in French and other foreign languages, of little use to members of Congress. Still a third critic, that interesting eccentric, Anne Royall, took Librarian Watterston to task for permit- ting the books of the Sunday School Union to be placed in the Library of Congress, and said: "These Sunday school books are lying useless in the Library, as I suppose no member of Congress reads them. Let Mr. Watterston sell them and give the amount to the suffering poor, if he is so pious." 2 These criticisms are not altogether fair indications of the character of the Library at this time. Indeed, any general criticism of the collections in the possession of the Library would be either incomplete and misleading or as detailed and comprehensive as the catalogues of the Library themselves. Of the general criticisms, however, that made by Mrs. Trollope was, perhaps, as fair as any. She said of the Library that it was very like that of a private Bnglish gentle- man, but with less Latin, Greek, and Italian. 3 Of the special collections in the possession of the Library at the close of the Watterston administration, the collection of manuscripts was the least considerable. Mr. Lincoln's resolution of the 30th of April, 1822, providing for the deposit in the Library of Congress of all the manuscript records of the Government, failed to pass. Mr. Everett's resolu- tion of the 24th of February, 1827, providing that copies of all papers in the archives of Great Britain relating to the history of the American colonies be secured and placed in 1 Letters from the south and west, by Arthur Singleton (pseud.) , Boston, 1824, p. 54. 2 Black book, 3: 210. 3 Domestic manners of the Americans, London, 1832, 1: 326. 170 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. the Library of Congress, also failed to pass. Only one manu- script, indeed, was secured during this period which seemed to the contemporary chronicler worthy of notice. This manuscript was described as follows : "There is among the treasures of the Library of Congress an illuminated manuscript of considerable antiquity and of unquestionable beauty. Its date is 1591; the material is parchment, the characters are German, and the illumination is, for its size, splendid. The work is a Catholic missal or breviary, in Latin and French, but though admirably exe- cuted with the pen it is rather difficult to read, from the peculiarity of the characters. It contains, moreover, some illustrations which are badly drawn and executed, but the specimens of illumination are very rich and beautiful." 1 This from the popular point of view. From the scholar's standpoint, however, the Virginia records acquired in the early part of 1829 were f ar more valu- able. With the Jefferson collection the Library had secured in 18 1 5 the manuscript laws of Virginia used by Hening. 2 At the sale of the second Jefferson collection in 1829, *be Library secured four volumes of the records of the colony of Virginia and two volumes of the records of the Virginia Company. 3 The history of the latter is given in a letter written by Jef- ferson to Hugh P. Taylor, esq., October 4, 1825: "The only manuscripts I now possess relating to the antiquities of our country," he says, "are some folio volumes; two of these are the Proceedings of the Virginia Company in England; the remaining four are of the Records of the Council of Virginia from 1622 to 1700. The account of the first two volumes you will see in the preface to Stith's History of Virginia. They contain the records of the Virginia Company, copied from the originals under the eye, if I recollect rightly, of the Earl of Southampton, a member of the company; bought at the sale 1 Washington City Chronicle August 22, 1829. 2 See Catalogue of the Library, 1815, pp. 73-74. These were not received until some years later. See p. 178. 3See Catalogue President Jefferson's library, 1829, p. 4, and Catalogue of the Library of Congress, 1830, p. 167. MANUSCRIPTS AND LAW, 1 8 29. 171 of his library by Dr. Byrd, of Westover, and sold with that library to Isaac Zane. These volumes happened at the time of the sale to have been borrowed by Col. R. Bland, whose library I purchased, and with this they were sent to me. I gave notice of it to Mr. Zane, but he never reclaimed them. * * * The other four volumes, I am confident, are the original office records of the council. My conjectures are, that when Sir John Randolph was about to begin the History of Virginia which he meant to write, he borrowed these vol- umes from the council office to collect fron them materials for his work, and they remained in his library, probably unobserved, during the whole life of the late Peyton Ran- dolph, his son. From his executor I purchased his library, in a lump, and these volumes were sent to me as a part of it. I found the leaves so rotten as often to crumble into dust on being handled; I bound them, therefore, together, that they might not be unnecessarily opened, and have thus pre- served them forty-seven years." 1 * * * The law collection was somewhat better off. The civil- appropriations act of 182 1 provided $1,000 for the purchase of books for the Library, comprehending the statutes and the reports of the decisions of the courts of law and chancery of the different States, with the latest maps of the several States and Territories. Mr. Everett's letter to the Librarian, dated May 23, 1828, also showed that the Library administration was anxious to complete the collection of laws and law reports of the several States. And on the 24th of January, 1829, on motion of Mr. Blake, the House of Representatives "Resolved, That the Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing more effectual means of obtaining copies of the laws of the several States as they are 1 National Intelligencer, October 19, 1825; Jefferson's writings (1854), 7: 312. The discussion regarding the Virginia Company's records, begun by Hugh Blair Grigsby in the Southern Literary Messenger, in February, 1854, was continued by J. Wingate Thornton in the Historical Magazine, February, 1858; by William Green in the Southern Literary Messenger, September, 1863; by Justin Winsor in his Narrative and critical history of America (1885), 3: 158; by Alexander Brown in the Magazine of American History, April, 1893, and by President Lyon G. Tyler in the Report of the American Historical Association for 1901, vol. 1, pp. 545-550. 172 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. annually enacted." Accordingly the committee reported, by Mr. Kverett, February 12, 1829, as follows: The importance of having within the reach of the members of Con- gress copies of the laws of the several States need not be enforced. The means hitherto adopted of procuring them have been but partially effectual. By a resolution of Congress approved 23d Sept., 1789, it was made ' ' the duty of the Secretary of State to procure from time to time such of the statutes of the several States as may not be in his office." The committee are not apprised what particular mode was resorted to for the discharge of this duty till a comparatively recent period. On the 4th Nov., 18x9, a circular letter was addressed to the district attorneys of the several States and Territories by the Secretary of State, requesting them to purchase and forward to the Department of State copies of such editions and sets of the laws as were not already deposited there. On the 4th of Dec, 1819, a circular letter was addressed to the governors of the several States by the Secretary of State, requesting a copy of the statutes of each State, respectively, as published from year to year. It was also stated in this circular letter that, by a standing order of the legislature of Massachusetts, four copies of the laws of that Commonwealth are regularly transmitted to the seat of the General Government, one for the use of each of the two Houses of Congress, one for the President of the United States, and one for the Library of Congress, and recommending the adoption of a similar order by the other States. The committee are not informed what success attended this applica- tion. They learn from the Librarian of Congress that the statutes of the States of Massachusetts and Delaware only have been regularly received at the Library since 1816, and that a few years ago Hon. Mahlon Dickerson, chairman of the Joint Library Committee, was requested by that committee to address a letter to the governors of the several States, desiring them to furnish the Library annually with copies of their laws; but that this request had been complied with by but few of the States, and not regularly by them. The committee consider it as very desirable that a prompt and regular supply of the laws of the several States should be made to the Public Library. Some of the reasons which exist for furnishing the acts of the National Legislature to the several States make it desirable that those of the several States should be accessible at the seat of the General Government; and these reasons, no doubt, led to the adoption at a very early period of the resolution which made it the duty of the Secre- tary of State to procure the laws of the several States. The want of authority in the General Government to direct any of the State functionaries to furnish the laws of the States, and the circum- stance that these laws are not, it is believed, usually published for sale, LAW AND DOCUMENTS, 1829. 173 and consequently are not to be procured in the ordinary way of pur- chase, have probably been the causes which have prevented a regular supply of the laws of the several States. The committee, however, feel no doubt that, whenever the subject shall be brought before the legislatures of the States by Congress they will cheerfully cooperate in effecting an object mutually important to the General and State governments. The General Government furnishes annually to the several States a very large number of copies of its acts, as appears from a statement accompanying this report. It is not necessary that many copies of the acts of the States should be deposited here, but it is believed by the com- mittee that a number somewhat larger than has hitherto been furnished would be of essential utility. They accordingly report a joint resolu- tion, requesting the governors of the several States to recommend to the legislatures thereof the adoption of a standing order, providing for the furnishing of six copies of their acts annually — one for the use of the President of the United States, one for each House of Congress, and three for the Library of Congress. 1 This resolution was not acted upon. The resolution submitted by Mr. Wickcliffe in the House of Representatives February 24, 1826, and again February 19, 1828, "Resolved, That the Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the expediency of separating the law books from the other books of the Library and placing them under the control of the Supreme Court," 2 also failed to pass. The collection of public documents was the largest of the collections in the Library. The whole western gallery of the Library room was occupied by them — "an awful pile," the Telegraph* said, 25 feet high and 100 long. The eastern gallery was occupied by the duplicate collections of United States Statutes, Pitkin's Statistics, etc. Another part of the collection of documents was noticed by the editor of the Colonial Advocate, who said, "I perceive they have got British copies of a great many reports of committees of the House of Commons, some of them well thumbed, too." Mr. Watterston, then editor of the Washington City Chronicle, copied this notice in his issue for November 9, 1829, with the 1 Twentieth Congress, second session, House report No. 77. •Journal of the House of Representatives. 3 December 19, 1828. 174 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. following comment : "The reports of the British Parliament are not so well thumbed as he supposes, or as they ought to be by the American legislators. These volumes of reports contain an immense mass of political information, and are the result of the wisdom and research of the legislators of Great Britain, which can not be too accurately or frequently exam- ined by those who have been delegated to make laws for their country. On roads, canals, education, currency, the Army, Navy, etc., these reports are full, minute, and able, and deserve the most serious attention of the members of our National Legislature. We are sorry to say, however, that there are but few who have as yet discovered their value. They have been more thumbed by some of the Departments of the Gov- ernment than by those for whose use they were obtained. " Rich as this collection is in rare, valuable, and splendid works, it is a remarkable fact that one-fourth of the members never avail themselves of its literary treasures. The laborers in this vineyard are few compared with the number who have the privilege of drawing from it, and whose parliamentary duties require that they should furnish themselves with at least some of the information it contains." This department of the Library was still charged with the duties which have since been delegated to the document rooms of the two Houses and the Superintendent of Documents. The following resolution relating to the collection of docu- ments deposited in the Library has, therefore, a two-fold interest: RESOLUTION Providing for the distribution of certain public documents, and the removal of certain books from the library. Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That of the public documents, and other works, of which several copies are deposited in the Library of Congress, a portion be distributed in the following manner; First, of the return of the last census, and of the Digest of Manufac- tures, and of Gales and Seaton's Register of Debates, and of Watterston's and Van Zandt's Statistical Tables, one copy to each member of the pres- ent Congress, and to each new member of each succeeding Congress, till all the copies shall be distributed, with the exception of twenty-five of each work, which shall be reserved in the Library; and the Librarian of Congress is hereby authorized and directed to deliver to each member, as aforesaid, the copies of the said documents to which he is hereby entitled. THE COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS, 1829. 1 75 Secondly, of the Journals of the Federal Convention, of the Secret Journals of the Old Congress, of Pitkin's Statistics, and of Seybert's Statistical Annals, one copy to the public library of the legislature of each State in the Union, and one copy each to such universities and col- leges as may not already have received them, and one copy to one incorporated Atheneum in each State: Provided, There remain a suffi- cient number of the said works beyond what are needed for the use of the Library. Thirdly, to the United States Military Academy at West Point, one set of all the works of which copies have been distributed to the univer- sities and colleges; Provided, There remain any copies of the same deposited in the Library of Congress, beyond the number reserved for the said Library. Fourthly, that, of the three hundred copies of the laws now ordered to be deposited in the Library of Congress, fifty copies be furnished to the library of the House of Representatives, in addition to the fifty copies already ordered for the said Library; and that the clerk of the House of Representatives be, and he hereby is, authorized to receive the same. Fifthly, that of the journals, documents, and reports, heretofore ordered to be printed by the Senate, and of which copies are deposited in the Library of Congress, and of the journals, documents, and reports, which may hereafter be ordered to be printed by the Senate, five sets be furnished for the House of Representatives; and that the Clerk of the House of Representatives be, and he hereby is, authorized to receive the same. II. And be it further resolved, That the clerk of the House of Repre- sentatives be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to deliver to the Department of State, properly prepared for transmission, by mail or otherwise, the copies of the books mentioned in the second and third paragraphs of the foregoing resolution. III. And be it further resolved, That, instead of the twenty-five sets of the journals, executive papers, reports of committees, and other docu- ments of Congress, authorized by law to be placed in the Library of Congress, ten sets only, well bound, shall hereafter be deposited, in the said Library. IV. And be it further resolved, That the Joint Library Committee be, and hereby are, authorized to remove from the Library of Congress, and dispose of in such manner as they may think expedient, any duplicate, imperfect, damaged, or other work or works, not wanted for the use of the Library. Approved, May 24, 1828.' How this resolution was carried into execution is made partially evident by the following letter from Mr. Watterston 'Statutes at Large 4: 321; also act of February 5, 1859, Statutes 11: 381. 176 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. to the chairman of the Library Committee, dated February, 1830. The letter is also of considerable interest for the light -which it throws on the Watterston administration and on the conditions created by the removal of the Librarian from office in 1829, a subject which we shall dwell upon at length in another chapter. It is as follows: February, 1830. Sir: In compliance with the request expressed in the resolution of the Joint library Committee, I send you the explanation desired. The list and resolution were not received until the 4th instant, and I have since been so much engaged that I have not been at leisure to attend to it before. The books marked thus >/ on the list furnished, and contained in the accompanying paper, marked (A), were selected by me two winters ago at the request of the committee, to be disposed of agree- ably to a resolution of Congress. These consisted of old editions, duplicates, and imperfect sets, a list of which was furnished to Governor Dickerson and Mr. Everett, and the books were left in charge of the pres- ent keeper of the Library. They were in the reading room at the period of my removal, and shown to him at that time, and the reason of their being there explained. What has since become of them it is not for me to say. Some of those, however, were distributed by the committee in compliance with the resolution to which I have referred, which may be seen in paper marked (P), and some delivered to the Clerk of the House of Representatives (see paper marked C) . The books contained in paper marked (D) were taken out by the members to whose names they are affixed and not returned. The committee will understand that it is made the duty of the Librarian, by a rule of the institution placed under his charge (rule 18), to report to the Speaker of the House and the Secretary of the Senate the names of such members as have failed to return the books borrowed by them, and the presiding officers of the two Houses are empowered to remit or enforce the penalty. This report was made by me regularly every session, for during every session while I held this office several books were taken out and not returned, and in very few instances was the penalty enforced. It will be seen that as soon as the matter is laid before the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives all obligation on the part of the Librarian ceases, and that he is not longer held answerable for the books thus lost or removed. It may be proper to observe that I have on several occasions suggested to those gentlemen the propriety of enforcing the rule, to prevent the Library from sustaining a serious injury by frequent losses; but they were unattended to, and I have often been censured by those whose negligence I had wished to correct. As one of my receipt books is not in my possession, there may be some REPORT OF LIBRARIAN UPON COLLECTIONS. 177 members charged whose names are not given. Being, in consequence of my report to the presiding officers, discharged from all obligations, I preserved no list of the defaulters, and am indebted for the information now furnished to the records which I took the precaution to bring with me. The books contained in paper (E) are supposed to have been pur- loined or, at least, taken out without my knowledge. It may not be improper to remark that for twelve years I acted as Librarian alone, had no assistant and but one servant; that I superintended the first removal of the Library to the post-office; had all the books labeled inside and out, the labels of which I prepared with my own hand; that a few years after I superintended its removal to the north wing of the Capitol, and thence again to the apartment it now occupies. In consequence of these frequent removals and the free ingress of strangers of all classes it must be a matter of surprise that more books were not purloined than appear to have been. This may be attributed to the constant and unremitting attention I found it necessary to exer- cise when I acted alone; but being often called upon to aid the members in their researches and examination of books, the other part of the Library was necessarily left unattended and possibly some volumes may thus have been withdrawn without my knowledge. But in no library in this country or in Europe, except when the books are chained to the shelves, is there an instance of smaller loss in this way than in the Library of Congress while under my care. For these, if Congress require it, I will pay whatever they may be valued at. With this, however, the committee are, I presume, aware that they have no con- cern as their duties are confined (unless otherwise directed) exclusively to the purchase of books, maps, etc. The paper marked (F) contains the list of the books which were left in the libraries at the time I delivered it up to the order of the President of the United States. This fact is established by the certificate of Mr. Stelle, my late assistant, and leave it to the committee to say what must be the feelings of the man who can thus trump up a state- ment which he knows to be erroneous and which he has no doubt made from an impression that it would never reach my ears. He may have been misled by the practice, which has lately prevailed in a higher sphere, of shooting the poisoned arrows in the dark and leaving the victim to suffer without his knowledge by whom it was discharged. It would seem that he had mistaken his man. It appears he has charged as missing the very books he knew to be in the Library and has put down others, a list of which was left with him at the period of my removal. This must be ascribed either to malignity or ignorance or may possibly originate from a requisition to justify an act of usurpation by misrepresentation and falsehood. The resolution which authorized the committee to withdraw the books which he has charged as missing, likewise authorized the distribution of 23399—04 12 178 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. all the copies of the State papers, journals, etc., above a certain number and which encumbered the shelves of the Library. These were put up in boxes and are now in the circular room above the small Rotunda in the north wing. A list of them was left with the keeper of the Library, and the Secretary of the Senate has another. The paper marked (G) con- tains a list of books which were never received. The following extract of a letter from Mr. Jefferson to me, dated May 7th, 1815, will account for some of them: ' ' I gave to Mr. Milligan a note of those folio volumes of the Laws of Virginia belonging to the Library which, being in known hands, will be recovered. One is a manuscript volume from which a printed copy is now preparing for publication." Some, too, he has marked as missing that were never obtained, as the 2nd and 3rd volumes of Hamilton's works (see Paper H), and some he has not given that were taken out and not returned or given by the committee (see Paper I) . In relation to those books which are set down as missing and not on the catalogue, it is only necessary to remark that it is a mistake. In label- ling a large number of volumes 1 or 2 letters have occasionally been omitted by mistake. For example, in labelling number 4 with the addi- tional letter a or b, I have sometimes omitted it in consequence of the number of volumes of the same number and letter, though in a different chapter, and hence has originated the apparent deficiency. The manu- script catalogue of the Library was given to me by Mr. Jefferson, if I could save it from the printer. It was of no use to him or the Library, and I therefore claim it as my property. I tender my thanks to the committee for thus affording me an oppor- tunity to account for the books charged as missing by the keeper of the Library, and beg them to do me the favour to preserve these papers to prevent the necessity of future explanation. George Watterston. ' The Hon. A. Robbins, C. J. L. C. THE LIBRARY STAFF AND SERVICE. On the 2 1 st of March, 181 5, Mr. Watterston became the Librarian at a salary of $2 per diem for every day of neces- sary attendance. By the act of April 16, 1816, the office of Librarian was raised from the rank of that of day laborer and his salary fixed at $1,000 per annum, payable quarterly at the Treasury of the United States, to commence and take effect from and after the 21st of March, 181 5, and on the 18th of April, 1818, this salary was raised to $1,500. This enabled the occupant of the office to devote all his time to the duties of the office, bibliographical and clerical, and out of the con- 1 Watterston MSS. LIBRARY STAFF AND SERVICE, 1815-1829. 1 79 tingent fund he hired a servant at a dollar a day to act as messenger during the days the Library was kept open. 1 In 1823 there seems to have been some talk of Mr. Wat- terston resigning the office of Librarian, and on the 19th of December Jefferson wrote to President Monroe regarding the expected vacancy: "Mr. Girardin, President of the College of Baltimore, understanding that the office of Librarian of Con- gress is expected to become vacant by resignation and desir- ous of being placed in it, has requested me to state to you what I know of his qualifications. He lived at Milton in this neighborhood two or three years, while writing his History of Virginia, and during that time was in great intercourse and intimacy with myself. I willingly, therefore, bear witness to the truths concerning him which are within my knowledge. He is a scholar of high grade, industrious, methodical, careful, of correct morals and conduct, and particularly proficient in bibliographical knowledge, an important qualification in that office. I have thought it a duty to bear witness to what I know of him in these respects, and that I render a service even to yourself by enabling you to judge between him and other competitors for the appointment, and to give it to the worthiest, as I know is your first wish. Accept the assurance of my constant and high esteem and respect." 2 Nothing, however, came of this, and no change was made in the Library staff until 1827. On February 16 of that year Mr. Cook, from the Com- mittee on Ways and Means, reported a bill in the House of Representatives recommending an allowance for an assist- ant librarian, which was committed to the Committee of the Whole. On the 23d it was reported with amendments and on the 24th passed. 3 In the Senate this bill was, on the 26th, referred to the Library Committee, on the 27th reported with an amend- ment, on March 2 considered in Committee of the Whole, further amended, and passed. 4 1 Globe, October 29, 1844, and National Intelligencer, November 2, 1844. 'Jefferson MSS., series 2, vol. 58, No. 119. 3 House Journal, pp. 304, 327, 329. ••Senate Journal, pp. 220, 226, 232, 276. l80 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. On the same day these amendments were agreed to in the House 1 and the bill passed, providing $400 as compensation to the assistant employed by the Librarian of Congress dur- ing that session of Congress. The act of May 24, 1828, made the office of assistant librarian permanent by author- izing the Librarian to employ an assistant at a salary of $800, commencing March 4, 1827, an d Mr. E. B. Stelle, who had already served in the Library, first without pay and then for a compensation of $400, was appointed to the position. The Librarian during this period superintended the removal of the Library three times — first, the removal to the Post- Office building; second, that to the north wing of the Capitol, and third, that to the west center of the Capitol. He kept a book recording " Books received since the arrival of Mr. Jef- ferson's library," and "Books, maps, etc., presented to the Library of Congress," the latter received apparently in con- sequence of his card published in the National Intelligencer September 15, 181 5. This record, however, does not seem to have been preserved longer than September, 1816. Its place was taken by the catalogues of additions to the Library, supplements to the general catalogue of 181 5, of which four were issued, in the years 1820, 1825, 1 ^> 2 7) an & 1828, respec- tively, numbering in all 184 pages. The Librarian had also to classify the Library and to label the books. Then, from first to last, came the direct service to the reader. Of this Librarian Watterston wrote in the third person, as follows: "His knowledge of books and the extent of his read- ing and attainments were such that it was thought by those who visited the Library, he was acquainted with the contents of every volume in it. He discharged all its duties for years alone and gave universal satisfaction." These autobio- graphical reflections do not appear to have been published, but some less personal remarks on the office of Librarian, also, without doubt, written by Watterston and in the same vein, appeared in the Washington City Chronicle July 11, 1829, J ust a ^ ter hi s removal from office. They were as follows : 'House Journal, p. 370. LIBRARY STAFF AND SERVICE, 1815-1829. 181 "Custom has rendered it necessary for the Librarian, when called upon by members, to furnish such information as they may require, and which can be obtained in the Library. The mere knowledge of the location of a book is but small part of his duty. He is frequently called upon for facts, dates, pas- sages, acts, official communications, and even lines of poetry; and to do this requires memory and reading. The Librarian, too, must have a knowledge of bibliography, and be able to point out the best and rarest editions, as well as to furnish lists of books to the committee. For the useful discharge of these duties it will be seen that none could immediately, and very few after an apprenticeship of several years, be properly qualified." The President and Vice-President of the United States, members of Congress, Judges of the Supreme Court, and a few other privileged persons might borrow books from the Library, and of the issue and return of these borrowed Ipooks it was the duty of the Librarian to keep a record. A facsimile of a page of this record, which is still preserved in three great folio volumes, is here presented. This record was of first-rate importance in the execution of those rules of the Library which provided that a folio should be returned within three weeks, a quarto within two, and an octavo or duodecimo within one week. The violation of these rules was punishable by fines — "for a folio, 20 cents per day for each day of the first week's illegal detention and 40 cents for each succeeding day thereafter; for a quarto, 10 cents per day for each day of the first week's illegal detention and 20 cents for each succeeding day thereafter; for an octavo, 5 cents per day for each day of the first week's illegal deten- tion and 10 cents for each succeeding day thereafter; pro- vided, that if the book illegally detained be returned the fine or penalty shall in no case exceed the value thereof." 1 But this penal system, being enforced only occasionally, was insuf- ficient to prevent violations of the law, so that it was neces- 1 Additional rules and regulations for the government of the Library of the United2States. Signed by John Gaillard, President of the Senate pro tempore; H. Clay, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1st January, 1816. Jonathan Elliot, printer, 1816. Broadside. 182 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. sary for the Librarian not only to issue books but also to go after them and solicit their return. Of this part of the work of the Librarian some amusing illustrations have been pre- served among the Watterston Papers. One of these, a letter from Sam Houston, dated Nashville, July 27, 1824, reads as follows: A few days since I received your letter in relation to the books which I drew from the Library. I instructed William Brown, a free man, who waited on the mess at Mrs. Claxton's, to take care of all things which I might leave at my room. I left a trunk of clothes and some other articles, with them the books referred to, to the best of my recollec- tion. I had purchased a quantity of books at auction during the ses- sion, and the morning I left the city directed a boy to take them in a hack to Poor's auction room and have them packed and sent to Balti- more, but I am satisfied those books were not with them. My impression is that William Brown has them in his care; if not, they were left in my room, and a boy by the name of Nace can tell where they are. At one time I did intend to send them to Mr. Rapin's, but I did not send them there, in my opinion. Employ some person to go and bring William Brown to you, and I will pay the expense of any trouble you may be at. If you can see Brown, he is perfectly honest, and will take great care to have the books forthcoming. If he has not got them, tell him that I am satisfied they were left in my room and he will have them hunted up. Enquire at Messrs. Poor's, for they were to keep an invoice of all the books sent to me. The books must and shall be forthcoming, and, if you please, write to me soon. Truly, thy friend, Sam Houston. 1 Another, a letter from Watterston to Daniel Brent, chief clerk in the Department of State, dated June 2, 181 8, sheds still further light on the system of loaning books from the Library as it was at this period. It reads: " I lent you a book some time before the commencement of last session, and, though I have written to the Secretary for it twice, have not yet received it. I hold you accountable to me for it, as I am individually accountable to the Government, it having been kept without authority and under the impression it would be returned when required. I did not suppose it would have been so difficult to procure, it." ' 1 'Watterston MSS. s Department of State, Miscellaneous letters, vol. 63. RECEIVED oi the Librarian of Congna the following Book*, which I promise to returny * the value thereof; ns also the penally imposed by^the Rules . ,;•>£,; „ t-' , Si' •' '- . ' ri " */?< r '' J-<- r- * * ■■■?• ■: ^ ,-• - .' 'At,.L /"> - f'r. -, A ,. £y ' " V - .Uf 'it <4 * • ? » i, ts/fr/fy&t* -■■■ .,..■./,"/&<%;»%% -' '/*< *i I .7,..*.. , //.,> .-^.".S*. 1 I* .'....„■, i\ ■ .r .,-■ L," i?e*L ',-- ... ,. ■'* /'S.< V RECEIVED of the Librarian of Congress the following Honks, which I promise Co return, the value thereof; as also the penalty imposed by the Rules LS ".Q>'/* : ~~ ♦ X 7 p-t- . O , I )t Jv 'i tr & %0-t'J. tr/tz., %°.»lr ;. FACSIMILE OF RECORD BOOK, SHC History of the Library of Congress, vol. i, plate 13. TJ ' uadefaccd, to the said Librarian, within the time hweiimftor sfH-cificd, or t/» lorfcii ;md |>nv t»u/c of the Library for each day'# detention beyond the limited tirw. ■ ^ _ |. y^s»«y /SWA?"*" ^>"-*T ^jr- ,.— .-"• ;. - > -V ,-fe: /•f^. ^ umlefaeed, in die said Librarian, within the time hereinafter -peeiljed, ni- in lorleii and pay »»l tbp Library ibr eaeii day's detention; beyond the limited lime. X:L<.i r . i}ip/tJi, ri-kdr-c ?„.~~6 4-ur /-!• ' /■ I, - a J . ' /"?•, 'i «^/*w^ /Lo-&-0-,?c, ■\ WING CHARGING SYSTEM IN USE. PRIVILEGES OF THE LIBRARY. 1 83 In the National Intelligencer April 28, 182 1, the Librarian advertised the loss of a manuscript in the handwriting of Thomas Jefferson, entitled " Bacon's Rebellion." For the performance of these various duties — recording accessions, cataloguing books, classifying, numbering, and labeling them, answering the questions of readers, and regis- tering the issues of books to readers — the Library was kept open from 9 o'clock until 3 and from 5 o'clock until 7 three times a week during the recess for the purpose of airing and receiving, labeling, and arranging such books as might be purchased by the Joint Library Committee, and every day in the week, except Sunday, from 9 o'clock until the adjourn- ment of Congress, during the sessions of Congress. PRIVILEGES OF THE LIBRARY. The privileges of the Library were in 18 10 extended to the agent of the Library Committee, and in 181 2 to the Judges of the Supreme Court. By the act of April 16, 1816, they were extended to the Attorney-General and to the members of the Diplomatic Corps also. But further attempts in this direction during this period were in vain. January 9, 181 7, 1 a bill passed the Senate extending those privileges to the heads of Departments, and to the Chaplains of Congress, but got no further. February 15, 1819, Mr. Fromentin submitted to the Senate the following motion for consideration: "Resolved, That the Library Committee be instructed to inquire into the propriety of further extending the privilege of using the books in the Library of Congress." February 16 the Senate resumed the consideration of Mr. Fromentin's motion and agreed thereto. March 1, on motion of Mr. Dickerson, the Library Committee were discharged from the further con- sideration of the question. 2 On the 27th of April, 1820, Mr. Storrs submitted the following resolution in the House of Representatives : Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, be, and "Senate files, Fourteenth Congress, Engrossed bills. "Annals 33: 232, 236, 276. 184 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1815-1829. they are hereby, authorized to grant the use of the books in the Library of Congress, during the recess of its sessions, to the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States, on the terms, and under the rules, regulations, restrictions, and penalties, that members of Congress are allowed to use the said books. The resolution was read twice, and ordered to lie on the table. May 3 Mr. Smith, of North Carolina, moved to amend it by including therein the Superintendent of the Patent Office; which motion was rejected. The resolution was then ordered to be engrossed and read the third time on the morrow. Debate on the resolution was accordingly resumed on the following day (May 4), and some objections heard from Mr. Livermore and Mr. Taylor, the latter of whom moved to postpone the same indefinitely. The objections were that the extension of the permission to take the books out of the Library would tend to impair and deface what was intended for the ornament as well as for the exclusive use of Congress; that if the use of the Library was extended as proposed, it ought also to be further extended on the same principles — but that it was altogether needless to pass the resolve, inasmuch as the Library was open three times a week during the recess, and daily dur- ing the session, and might be consulted at pleasure by the officers in question. The motion for indefinite postponement was accordingly agreed to. 1 That, however, the privileges were extended to others than those provided for by law the following notes preserved among the Librarian's papers will show. One reads: Mr. Watterston: Permit the bearer, G. S. Bulfinch, to take books from the Library in my privilege. W 1 iaiam Wirt, Attorney-General. Another is from Richard Rush, asking that an eminent literary gentleman, whom he refers to without naming, may borrow books from the Library. It is dated July 19, 1815, and concludes as follows: "Without knowing precisely what your rules are as to letting out books, I can not say as well as you will doubtless be able to, if they are so strict as to admit of no relaxation. If chancery powers are mixed with "Annals 36: 2053, 2180, 2184. USE OF THE LIBRARY. 185 them sure I arn that you will think this a fair case for their exercise. If not, I declare I feel half inclined to wish that, where an object so interesting to the scientific researches of our country seems at stake, we could fall upon some snug method of committing a pious breach of the law itself." The Intelligencer (August 28, 1823) a l so suggested the extension of the hours of opening. It said: "Why should the Library of Congress not be accessible every day, at proper hours between sunrise and sunset, to every citizen who may wish to avail himself of the use of such treasures of wisdom as may be collected there for the public benefit? It may, of course, require more arduous duties than one person alone could discharge to attend to it; but if the nation felt interested in accumulating and maintaining such a monument of its literary taste it would not begrudge the small appropriation necessary to render it a constantly increasing source of pleas- ure and profit, not only to Congress nor to the reading popu- lation of Washington, but to all our countrymen, and even foreigners who pass through or who occasionally reside in the metropolis." USE OF THE LIBRARY. " The Librarj' was a favorite resort of members of Congress during these years, and not unfrequently becomes the scene of very interesting conversation. Debate is done away, and the sage actors in the field of politics revel for a while in the delights of literary discussion, to return with still more ardor to the mighty labors of legislation," so says the Journal (p. 73) of a tour of a detachment of cadets from the A. L. S. and M. Academy, Middletown, Conn., to the city of Wash- ington, in December, 1826. Of this remark there are a number of interesting illustrations in the Librarian's "L Family at Washington." In strictness, no one was allowed to enter the Library unless admitted by the Librarian or introduced by a member of Congress. 1 This rule was generously interpreted, however, and so the Library became more and more the resort not only of statesmen but men of letters. Among the more noted 1 Washingtop City Chronicle, July 1 1 , 1829. l86 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1814-1829. visitors of this class we have already mentioned Jared Sparks. Rufus Choate, then in the office of the Attorney-General, was also an habitue. Writing to his friend James Marsh of Andover Theological Seminary, August 11, 182 1, he said, "I am sadly at a loss for books here, but I sit three days every week in the large Congressional Library and am studying our own extensive ante-Revolutionary history and reading your favorite Gibbon. The only classic I can get is Ovid." f The Library was also the morning rendezvous of the ladies who were acquainted with Congressmen 2 and of other fash- ionable loungers who came there to pass the time in conver- sation, in looking at pictures, or in reading. 3 There was much amusement, Mrs. Bllet says, in looking over the pamphlets published about 1801, and the marginal notes in Jefferson's small, round, delicate handwriting. 4 ■Samuel G. Brown, Life of Rufus Choate (1870), p. 25. 2 Reminiscences of Washington, in the Atlantic Monthly, 45: 58, January, 1880. 3 Watterston, Wanderer in Washington, p. 218. 4 E. F. Ellet, Court circles of the Republic, Hartford, 1869, p. 130. THE LIBRARY IN POLITICS 187 Chapter Six. the library in politics. On the 28th of May, 1829, President Jackson appointed John Silva Meehan Librarian of Congress, in the place of George Watterston, and the assistant librarian, Mr. Stelle, "the sole support of an aged mother and her family," was superseded by Mr. B. J. Hume. 1 The Petersburg Intelligencer observed that the new Librarian was the third person attached to the Telegraph who had been appointed to public office. "In mentioning this fact," it added, "we are far from wishing to disturb the tender nerves of our brethren of the Administration presses by urging it as evidence of dictation exercised over the Chief Magistrate. Perhaps it may be more agreeable to their sensibility to style it a curious coincidence." 2 The New England Palladium said: " The removal of Mr. Watterston will be the subject of great regret with all mem- bers of Congress and others who have been in the habit of frequenting the Library for the purpose of availing themselves of its literary and scientific stores. He is himself a sort of compendium of all that the Library contains, for he is a man of sense and learning, a good linguist, an accomplished bibliographer, and has been assiduously devoted to the Library for fourteen years. Withal he was always prompt in aiding the inquiries of every visitor. He is formed by habits and education for the place which he has filled, and would fill with reputation the same place in the first libraries of Europe. Mr. Watterston, we believe, was not dependent on his salary; he can do better without the office than the office without him. * * * 1 National Intelligencer, June n, 1829; Trenton True American, reprinted in National Intelligencer, June 23, 1829. 3 Copied in National Journal, June 15, 1829. 189 190 THE LIBRARY IN POLITICS. "The new Librarian, Mr. Meehan, does not possess the peculiar qualifications of his predecessor. But as he is an amiable and respectable man, we are better pleased with his appointment than we should have been with that of any other on whom, he being out of the question, it would probably have fallen." 1 In the local press the war of words over the removal was much more vigorous and protracted. On the 9th of June, 1829, Watterston joined the editorial staff of the National Journal, and on the same day an article on the removal, doubtless from his pen, appeared in its editorial column. It was as follows: This is one of the most extraordinary removals as well as appointments which the weak and tyrannical heads of the present Administration have yet made. We regard this act as a gross outrage on the rights of Con- gress and an open violation of law. It is an outrage on the rights of Congress because it is an unnecessary and unwarrantable interference with the officers of the legislative assembly of the nation, without deign- ing to consult its members as to the expediency of the change, and without condescending to inquire whether such a change would be acceptable to them or not. Common sense as well as common delicacy, we should have thought, would have suggested such a course as this to a man of ordinary reflection and sensibility. It is saying to the members of a coordinate branch of the Government, "I wish to place a creature of mine in an office formed expressly for your accommodation and benefit, but you are too contemptible to be consulted. Anyone that I please to give you you shall receive, nor shall you dare to murmur. I do not think it worth while to consult you on the subject, because I am the sovereign and you are the slaves." If Congress will submit to this insult they are not the men their countrymen have taken them for. The appointment is, moreover, in violation of law. The act requires that ' ' previous to the Librarian entering upon the duties of his office, he shall give a bond in such a sum and with such security as the Presi- dent of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, may deem sufficient for the safe-keeping of such books, maps, and furniture as may be confided to his care, etc., which bond shall be deposited in the office of the Secretary of the Senate. " As no such officer as the Speaker of the House of Representatives now exists, no bond can be legally given, and therefore no Librarian can enter upon the duties of the office unless he does so by an act of usurpation. The object of this law was to hold the incumbent responsible for the large J Reprinted in the National Intelligencer, June 22, 1829. REMOVAL OF LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON. 191 amount of property placed under his charge, and to give to the presiding officers of the two Houses a control over the appointment by the Presi- dent. Congress reserved to themselves the right of saying who should be their librarian, by giving to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House the power of demanding such security as they might think proper, thus intending to prevent the President from plac- ing in so responsible a situation any irresponsible individual he might, in the exercise of his caprice or despotism or for his own special purposes, think proper to thrust into this office. We are clearly of the opinion that Mr. Watterston would have been entirely justified, under these circumstances, in retaining the key of the Library until the requisitions of the law had been complied with. We understood that he would con- sent to surrender it to the President only, conceiving that he could not in any other way be discharged from the obligation of his bond. The President has therefore assumed the responsibility and must be amenable to Congress and the nation for this open violation of law. To this the organ of the Jackson Administration, the United States Telegraph, made answer on the same day: After a full week's labor the Journal gives birth to the lamentations of the late Librarian of Congress. Mr. Watterston complains that the President has not only usurped the power of Congress, but has violated the law in his removal. * * * How circumstances alter cases ! Mr. Watterston, who never has given any bond, who has acted for many years as Librarian to Congress in open violation of the law, asserts that because there is no Speaker of the House of Representatives, he can not be removed. Now, the truth is that, according to Mr. Watterston' s own doctrine, inasmuch as the law requires bond shall be given previous to entering upon the duties of his office, he not having given bond as required by law, never was legally authorized to act as Librarian. The appointment of Librarian is vested in the sole power of the President, and Mr. Meehan has given bond in such sum and with such securities as are approved by the President of the Senate. When Con- gress meets, and a Speaker shall have been appointed, the bond will be approved by him. Its sufficiency can not be doubted. As to the new incumbent, no objection has been made to him. He has been many years a resident of this city, is a firm and consistent Republican, and has not, that we know of, a personal enemy. On the 1 ith of June the National Journal replied to this: The veracious Telegraph asserts, with its habitual disregard to truth, that Mr. Watterston "never has given any bond," and has, therefore, acted as Librarian for many years in violation of law. We know this to be false; and that the man who so boldly asserted it knew it to be false. The bond given by Mr. Watterston, agreeably to 192 THE LIBRARY IN POLITICS. the requisitions of the law, is in the handwriting of the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, approved by the presiding officers of the two Houses, and deposited in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, where it is now on file. This has not been done by the person whom the President has now employed as his agent in this business. We contend that no legal bond can be given by any man, according to the requisitions of the act, before the next meeting of Congress, because no Speaker exists till then to give it validity by his approbation; and that, therefore, to enter upon the duties of the office before this is done is to act in open violation of law. The approbation of one of the presiding officers, if really given, has no more validity than if none were given; because the law imperatively requires the sanction of both before the person appointed can enter upon the discharge of his duties. If he do so, he enters upon them on the responsibility of Mr. Watterston, whom Congress will hold answerable for the charge confided to him, and from whom they will expect a surrender only when their presiding officers shall approve the bond of another, and thus release him from his obligation. We again repeat that this appointment is a gross outrage on the rights of Congress. There is something due, in common courtesy and polite- ness, from one branch of the Government to the other, and the head of one would necessarily, if he possessed common sense, consult the wishes of the other before he took any step that might be injurious to the inter- ests or disagreeable to the feelings of its members. We understand that the amount of security given in the informal bond by the acting agent of the President is precisely that given by Mr. Wat- terston fourteen years ago, when the library was estimated at $20,000. Its value at present is, we learn, about $80,000, and yet no higher security has been required. The whole affair, both as it relates to the removal and appointment, is one which ought to excite the indignant feeling of Congress and the nation. On the following day, the 12th, the Telegraph returned to the charge: It will be necessary, since we are forced to the task, to review the whole affair. Mr. Watterston characterizes his dismissal, first, as a "most extraordinary removal;" second, as "a gross outrage on the rights of Congress;" and third, as "an open violation of the law." These are the sum of the ex-L,ibrarian's charges, and we shall dispose of them in his own order. First, his "most extraordinary removal." We are not aware of any- thing superlatively extraordinary in this dismissal. The astonishment was that an individual altogether unfit for the situation should have been So long tolerated in it. It is notorious that the manners of the ex- Librarian were of a peculiarly disgusting order. His conduct to those REMOVAL OP LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON. 1 93 who had occasion to visit the Library, as well as to those who had a right, was of the most crude and supercilious description, so much so that many of our members of Congress and citizens rather than encounter the oblig- ing Mr. Watterston sought elsewhere the information they might have obtained more readily in the Library. The Library itself, we have often heard, owing to the carelessness or incapacity of the Librarian, was in a state of great derangement. It has been said for many years past, and there is no doubt of the fact, that the books are misplaced, incomplete, and in many instances lost, or not to be found, according to the catalogues; and the whole establishment is, we believe, at this moment in such confusion as to require the labor of many months before it can be properly arranged. These facts of themselves are fully sufficient to justify his removal; but who does not know that Mr. Watterston wa s one of the most servile of the tools of the coalition and one of the main prompters, if not contributors, to the "We, the people," blackguardism. Nay, so conscious was the ex- Librarian of his deserts that the Executive had not been in Washington many days till he was inundated with begging solicitations to retain him and was actually furnished with certificates in his favor from the most violent caluminators of the people and their President. * * * In Mr. Watterston' s second attempt he insists that he did give a bond for the due performance of the duties of his office. There was, indeed, an instrument in existence purporting to be a deed of this description, but so far from its being a legal bond it was inchoate; it had, in fact, never been properly executed and was no better than a mere piece of waste paper. It is not only entirely deficient in legal validity, but has been actually null for many years. One of the securities has been dead for a length of time, and what is more it bears no approval either from the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives, and was, in short, of about as much security to the people as Mr. Watter- ston' s services were valuable to them. Should it be necessary to call upon the late incumbent to answer for the damage the Library may have sustained in the loss or destruction of any part of the property committed to his charge, his security will have no difficulty in evading the obliga- tions of the pretended bond. It is rather odd to hear an objection raised by Mr. Watterston, who has been Librarian for fourteen years with no security whatever, against Mr. Meehan's bond, which is per- fectly unexceptionable on this point, which has received the approval of the President of the Senate and undergone all possible legal solemnities. The amount, also, is objected to with equally bad grace. It is for the same sum that Mr. Watterston' s own piece of informality bore, and that was not thought insufficient by Mr. Watterston till after his dismissal. % % % 23399— °4 13 194 THE LIBRARY IN POLITICS. At this Mr. Watterston was wroth, and wrote in the National Journal, June 15, this time over his own signature, in the following fashion: ******* It is surely not for such a man to prate about the manners of another; he is as incompetent to judge of them as the rude savage would be to form a correct estimate of the polish of a French courtier. If my man- ners were at any time "supercilious," it was found necessary to assume them to get rid of such impertinent and vulgar intruders as he and his satellites, and to save the books from being purloined. It is false that the Library has ever been in a state of derangement, and if it be now "in confusion," as he asserts, the confusion has been pro- duced by the person who has been thrust into the office contrary to law. That it will require the labor of many months before he can even under- stand the arrangement is unquestionably true, for as the arrangement is a scientific one, an ignorant and uneducated man like the vulgar slang- whanger of the Telegraph and his agent would be utterly at a loss to comprehend it. To any man of ordinary capacity, information, and taste the Library, when left by me, must have appeared, as it actually was, in a state of order and beauty. It is my pride to say, and the fact is known to everyone who has been in the habit of visiting this literary establishment, that I have labored for years to perfect the arrangement, and to render the Library an object of utility and beauty, and I have every reason to believe that my efforts have met with the entire appro- bation of all who are capable of judging, and especially of those for whose exclusive convenience and benefit it was established. I have so arranged and catalogued every volume that there is no book that I could not find instantly and without difficulty, and with the contents of which I was not obliged to be in some manner acquainted. Very few books have been lost in the course of my long superintend- ence that have not been, or that can not be, accounted for (except one, taken out by the very man who makes this hazardous assertion), and if they can not be found according to the catalogues it is not my fault. I am not to be answerable for the ignorance or stupidity of those who have been put into a situation for which they may be wholly unfit. The next charge which I shall notice is one that, if true, I should care very little about; but it happens to have the Telegraphic curse upon it — falsehood. That I was one of the main prompters, if not contributors, to "We, the people," has been proved by the written declaration of the publisher of that sheet to be utterly untrue, and it is in the characteristic style of impudence and effrontery of the vulgar and pensioned Telegraph again to reiterate it. If solicitation were made to the Executive in my behalf, they were made by his and my friends in Congress, who were apprised of the base and unprincipled efforts which the hungry officina gentium, who were REMOVAL OF LIBRARIAN WATTERSTON. 1 95 inundating the city, would make to displace all the most useful and efficient officers of the Government, no matter by what means. This was one of the fabrications got up by Duff Green and his coterie to injure me; and, like the Inquisition, it was only necessary to lodge secret information to consign the victim to the stake or to lead him out to the auto de fe. Such is the present deplorable condition of our country, a condition which every patriot must lament and resist, if he wishes to save its fair fame from pollution and its liberties from destruction. But it would seem that against the express desire of those for whose special benefit the library was created, the Executive has undertaken, upon the gross misrepresentations and falsehoods of such a creature as Green, to put one of his foremen into an office over which the President ought not to have, if delicacy did not prevent him from now having, any possible control. I deem it unnecessary to notice the paltry and contemptible quibble about my bond. It is on a par with everything he has asserted and shows to what desperate efforts the slanderer is driven when pushed — deserves no further remark than it is nonsensical and absurd. The per- fectly "unexceptionable bond," as he terms it, which has been given by Mr. Meehan, is, in fact, no bond at all; because it has not the neces- sary legal formalities — has not the sanction of either the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and is therefore of no more validity than a piece of blank paper. The amount of his security, if security it can be called, is the same which I gave when the Library was estimated at $20,000, and yet property to the amount of $80,000 has been illegally put under the charge of a man wholly irre- sponsible, on the bare word of a pensioned calumniator without decency and without truth. Another power will yet determine upon the legality of this proceeding, and no doubt take such steps as their insulted rights demand. I am myself indifferent as to the result, and should not now have intruded on the public attention with these remarks if the insufferable arrogance and falsehood of the minion who has assailed me had not rendered it indis- pensable. Everyone who knows him must know that "S'il n'avait pas ecrit, il aurait £te assassin." George Watterston. At this the opposition rejoiced, though Mr. Watterston meant that it should quail, and the Telegraph, June 16, observed: THE EX-LIBRARIAN. Poor Mr. Watterston was yesterday literally foaming at the mouth. The very editors of the Asylum* were ashamed of him; and in place of admitting his distressed article into the editorial columns as heretofore, ■The National Journal. 196 THE LIBRARY IN POLITICS. they not only placed it in the most obscure corner, but before undertak- ing to publish it at all actually obliged him to add name at full length, that it might not be mistaken, by its resemblance, for a bona fide lucu- bration of either Mr. Fendall or Mr. Agg. A more ludicrous ebullition of frenzy has seldom been exhibited, and for unadulterated billingsgate even the gifted thirty-six* must yield the palm to Mr. Watterston. So great indeed is the extent of vituperative talent displayed that we are inclined to suspect that it is actually one of his own best papers in ' ' We, the people ' ' resuscitated. To read his abuse with any tolerable degree of gravity is much more difficult than to answer the solitary objection to the legality of his successor's appointment, in which he still persists. We quote his own language as a tolerable specimen of his style and facts. The classical requirements, of which he takes occasion to boast as a proof of his fitness for office, may be estimated from the circum- stance that of the three quotations in his tirade the first is in bad Latin, the second in bad Spanish, and the third in bad French. After quoting what Mr. Watterston said about the bond, the editor of the Telegraph then proceeded: An effectual and, to all but Mr. Watterston, a conclusive answer to the above statement is to be found in the following extract from the receipt by Mr. Lowrie for Mr. Meehan's bond and the approval of the same by the President of the Senate. The said bond is accompanied by a letter from the Hon. Samuel Smith, President of the Senate pro tempore, dated ■ the 2d instant, in which is stated that he approves of the said securities and of the sum of $2,000, the amount stated in the bond— Walter Lowrie, Secretary of the Senate. This very document was, some time ago, put into the hands of the ex-Librarian and read by him. Will he again assert "that Mr. Meehan has given no bond, that it has not the sanction of either President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representa- tives, and that it is of 710 more validity than a piece of blank paper'? '" Will he deny, at the same time, that his bond was invalid, that it never bore the approval of either of the officers required by law? Will he tell us what the nominal amount of his own bond was at the period of his dismissal, that we may compare it with the sum of Mr. Meehan's, and say, in conclusion, if he is prepared to make good the lost and damaged books for which that bond was granted? But the ex-Librarian's case has broken down so fairly on his own showing that we feel it unnecessary to follow him farther through the insane vulgarity of his yesterday's effusion in order to satisfy the people of the strict propriety of his dismissal. He has admitted his ' ' supercilious conduct, ' ' and we have shown his utter unworthiness as well as his mental and physical unfitness for such a trust. We therefore leave him to reflect on his- past conduct, with perfect liberty in future to be as abusive 'Editors of the Journal. c Vl(hnc JculiScn, AnidaitdTtirl/iitlrcl ' Stattf ofcAmiiua] JO aft 'w/to jli.iuJu tnTtt /iitiiii'tJ'CjfiittUicp ( WftO^lt JflatlUlimim. ilucftC'JnuitTincl CoiiLktiLC^iutnrJlittmtluMavicl' cuid%'icutim of Mil S.^i;<\ i t xuuti- and iiulli ' /fit dtttiii of /Wilt 'ffitt «c°rdtn£ .;.'...• and to 'Jiurt and to'JlOul .fit taUt^^wilttt&ffllUc/itbttudVlufumttitS '.:;;.. ',cC-(t.y,ii',i, alifmt«muiq.Mitt /u:n'ftii iciuL dl'fltl 5. AlwtMi'dtiiuicj. flu. lUtcltil-jmi 'JltSi.ltntTtrfTfil iliutlci Stats i Icflfu. 'lillW IntticL. ' j }MdiltttGi 000 volumes only 20,000 being saved, and those mainly the books shelved in the law department. Before the fire of 1851, then, the Library room presented essentially the same appearance that it did in 1825. Robert Mills said of it, in 1847: ' The first thing that attracts the attention when entering is the admir- able order of arrangement of the different subjects embraced in this room. The several works are classed according to Mr. Jefferson's arrangement, corresponding to the faculties of the mind employed on them — ist, Mem- ory (result, history); 2d, Reason (philosophy); 3d, Imagination (fine arts). Isabels in large characters point out the position of the several classes of books in the order named above — for instance, alcoves Nos. 1 to 4 contain works connected with history, ancient, modern, and eccle- siastical; natural philosophy, agriculture, chemistry, surgery, medicine, anatomy, zoology, botany, mineralogy, technical arts; alcoves Nos. 4 to 8, works connected with philosophy, namely, moral philosophy, law of nature and nations, religion, common law, equity, ecclesiastical, merchant and maritime, codes, statutes, politics, commerce, arithmetic, geometry, mechanics, statics, dynamics, pneumatics, phonics, optics, astronomy, geography; alcoves"Nos. 9 to 12, works connected with the fine arts, archi- tecture, gardening, painting, sculpture, music, epic, tales, fables, pastoral 1 Guide to the Capitol, p. 30; see also the Supplement to the Catalogue of the Library of Congress, December, 1833, where the alcove numbers are indicated opposite the titles of the chapters. 220 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. odes, elegies, didactics, tragedy, comedy, dialogue, epistles, logic, rhetoric, orations, criticism, bibliography, languages, and polygraphical, or authors who have written on various branches. An original likeness of Columbus, presented by Mr. George Barrell, American consul at Malaga, and found by him in an old castle in Seville, was bung over the mantelpiece at the south end of the room, but in rather too elevated a position, said William Elliot, to gratify the spectator. 1 In other parts of the room, on the walls and between the alcoves hung Stuart's paintings of the first five Presidents, portraits of Peyton Randolph, of Hancock, of Tyler, of Bolivar, of Baron Steuben by Pyne, of Cortez, of Baron de Kalb, and of Ameri- cus Vespucius. 2 On each side of the door leading into the balcony were marble busts, the one on the right was of Thomas Jefferson, by the celebrated Cerracchi, the rival of Canova. It was a splen- did work, the bust was elevated upon the frustrum of a fluted black marble column based upon a circular pedestal, which was ornamented at the top by a continued series of cherubs' heads, under a broad band encircling the pedestal, on which were sculptured the twelve signs of the zodiac. The pedestal bore the following inscription: " Summo rerum moderatori cui tandem Libertas American Septentrionalis curse fuit; cui in posterum curse erit nomen Thomse Jefferson." (To the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, under whose watchful care the liberties of north America were finally achieved, and under whose tutelage the name of Thomas Jefferson will descend forever blessed, to posterity.) Opposite the bust of Jef- ferson was that of Lafayette, also in marble. This was the work of P. J. David d' Angers, 1828. On one side of the base block was inscribed an extract from Lafayette's speech in the House of Representatives, December 10, 1824, in tne following words: "What better pledge can be given of a per- severing rational love of liberty, when those blessings are evidently the result of a virtuous resistance of oppression, and institutions founded on the rights of man, and the repub- lican principles of self-government." On the other side were "Washington guide, 1837, p. 94. 'George Moore, Voyage across the Atlantic, 1845, P- 33- LIBRARY ROOMS, 1829-1851. 221 inscribed Lafayette's last words in his answer to the Presi- dent's farewell speech, Washington, September, 1825. "God bless you, sir, and all who surround us. God bless the Amer- ican people, each of their States, and the Federal Government. Accept the patriotic farewell of an overflowing heart, such will be its last throb when it ceases to beat." Over the cornice of the alcoves, upon the blocking of the gallery, and in other parts of the room were marble busts of Washington, Marshall, John Quincy Adams, Van Buren, Taylor, and plaster busts of Jackson and Moultrie, the latter by Col. J. S. Cogdale, of South Carolina. There was also a medallion of Madison. 1 Besides the works of art already enumerated, there were in the Library a number of bronze medals arranged in cases on either side of the mantelpiece at the south end of the room. Of these the Erving collection, presented to the Library in 1822, has already been described. In addition to the Erving collection there were two medals struck at the mint of Phila- delphia, the one in honor of General Gates and the other of Captain Hull. On the face of the former was a likeness of the General with the inscription "Horatio Gates, duci strenuo." The reverse contained a representation of the surrender of Burgoyne, with the words at the top, " Salus regionum septen- trional," and beneath, the legend "Haste ad Saratogam in deditionem accepto." On the other medal there was a good likeness of Captain Hull, with the motto " Perilos arte superat certamine fortis." The reverse exhibited the action between the "Constitution" and " Guerriere," with the classical inscription "Horse momento victoria." 2 There were also the following American medals struck by order of Congress, arranged in the order of date. Navy: Jacob Jones, October 18, 1812; Stephen Decatur, October 25, 1812; William Bainbridge, December 29, 1812; Thomas Macdonough, September 11, 1814; James Biddle, March 23, 1815. Army: Isaac Shelby, October 5, 1813; William H. Harrison, July 5, 1813; Jacob Brown, July 5 and July 25, 1 Robert Mills, Guide to the Capitol, 1847, p. 34; Watterston, Guide to Washington, 1842. 2 William Elliot, Washington guide, 1837, pp. 94~97- 222 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. 1814; James Miller, July 5, 1814; Winfield Scott, July 5 and July 25, 1814; Peter B. Porter, July 6, 1814; Edmund P. Gaines, August 15, 1814; Alexander Macomb, September 11, 1814; Andrew Jackson, January 8, 1815. The middle of the main room was furnished with tables containing drawers to receive large sheets of engravings, a table and chair were placed in each of the alcoves, and labels indicated the contents of the different shelves, though the books were protected by wire screens. A Brussels carpet and furnace heat completed the comfort of the room. ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE. We have already presented an extract from the records of the Library Committee of 1806. These records were probably destroyed in 1814; in a letter to Joseph Nourse, Register of the Treasury, requesting a report upon the condition of the Library funds, October 3, 1814, Mr. Goldsborough said: "The late conflagration has deprived us of every record and paper appertaining to the Library." 1 No further efforts to preserve the records of the Library seem to have been made until January 9, 1830, when the committee "Resolved, That all letters, accounts, etc., of this committee be filed by the Librarian, and that he record the minutes of the committee in a book which he is authorized to purchase for that purpose." This minute book, with supplement, extends from December 30, 1829, to the present time and is an invaluable record of the acts of the committee and of the principal events in the history of the Library, especially for the period 1829 to 1866, when the annual reports by the Librarian began to appear. The letter-books for this period are five in number. The letter files are valuable but incomplete. The Library Committee consisted, as a rule, of members of Congress of high literary or scientific reputation. Among these some are still remembered: 2 Samuel Latham Mitchill, Gulian C. Verplanck, John Quincy Adams, Adam Seybert, Edward Everett, George Perkins Marsh, John G. Palfrey, Rufus Choate, Horace Mann, Lewis Cass, Thomas H. 1 Library of Congress MSS. =S. L. Knapp, Sketches of public characters (1830), p. 118. LIBRARY COMMITTEE — WORK AND PLANS. 223 Benton, and Charles Francis Adams. The committee was appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It seems, however, to have had the power of filling vacancies in its membership, of excusing from membership any appointed by the Houses of Congress, and of appointing successors to those thus excused. The committee voted, June 16, 1832, "That future meetings of the committee be commenced at 9 o'clock a. m. on Saturdays," but on the 3d of January, 1834, the hour of meeting was changed to Wednesdays at 10 o'clock; on the 2 1 st of December, 1836, to Tuesdays; on the 15th of Jan- uary, 1838, to Mondays, and so on. The principal function of the committee, as we have already seen, was the selection of books for the Library. This task, a contemporary observed, 1 was usually left to the chairman of the committee, who generally made the selection at his leisure, a leisure which he often did not find till after he had reached Washington. This was, perhaps, true during the time when Mahlon Dickerson was chairman of the com- mittee and afterwards when James Alfred Pearce was chair- man. The services of the former, of which we have already spoken, extended from December 1, 1817, to May 26, 1828. The services of the latter extended from December 2, 1844, to March 4, 1863. "To him probably more than to any other Senator," said Alexander D. Bache, in 1863, 2 "The Library of Congress was indebted for the augmented fund which it has now for some years enjoyed, and for the care taken in the selection of the materials which render the shelves so useful." 3 In the selection of books for the Library Mr. Pearce was particularly careful to exclude all works cal- culated, in his opinion, to engender sectional differences, and 1 National Intelligencer, December 5, 1834. 2 Eulogy on the Hon. James Alfred Pearce, Washington, Smithsonian Institution, 1863, p. 8. 3 The augmented fund which the Library enjoyed in 1863 dated from the resolution presented by Mr. Poinsett, from the Library Committee, January 21, 1824, which led to the report presented by Mr. McLane, from the Committee on Ways and Means, February 24, and the act of May 26. A writer in the National Intelligencer, January 5, 1835, said that Colonel Benton was the first to propose the annual appropriation of fc.ooo, but there is no more evidence for this statement than for that of Professor Bache. 224 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. when the Atlantic Monthly was established he refused to order it for the Library on that ground. 1 The selection of books for the Library was largely left to these two men, Mahlon Dickerson and, after him, James Alfred Pearce, not because they were chairmen of the com- mittee, but because of their long service on the committee and consequent knowledge of the Library. Other members, however, shared in this bibliographical work, Edward Everett and Joel Poinsett, for example, the former of whom served on the committee from December 6, 1825, to March 3, 1835; tne latter from December 3, 182 1, to March 3, 1825. The Library owed much of its value, also, to the work of Messrs. G. C. Verplanck and Levi Woodbury, 2 the former of whom served on the committee from December 7, 1829, to March 2, 1833; the latter from December 1, 1828, to March 3, 1831. Concerning the services of the latter, there arose a contro- versy of considerable interest to the historian of the Library. In a sketch of the career of Mr. Woodbury in the National portrait gallery of distinguished Americans 3 the remark was made that it was to Mr. Woodbury's enlarged and systematic views as to the proper mode of filling up the collection of books in the Library of Congress that it owed much of its utility and prosperity. To this "A friend to Literature" made reply in the National Intelligencer December 5, 1834: "It is believed that during the short period Mr. Woodbury was a member of the committee no very important or visible improvement was made in that institution. Nearly the same class of books and the same species of literature continued to be received." In answer to this, one who signed himself "A Friend to Truth," said in the National Intelligencer, December u, 4 "After Mr. Woodbury became a member of the committee an alteration did take place in the general system of filling up the Library, and, as I have always understood and have no doubt, at the instance and suggestion of that gentleman. "The change was this: Instead of procuring books of the 'Ben: Perley Poore, Reminiscences, 1: 176. * National Intelligencer, Decembers, 1834. 3 Philadelphia, 1835, 2: 265. * National Intelligencer, December 11, 1834. LIBRARY COMMITTEE — WORK AND PLANS. 225 character and in the manner stated by your correspondent, it was resolved by tbe committee that in ordering books it should be a paramount consideration to procure such as would render the Library as complete as possible in the branches which were deemed most important in view of its great object, taking them up in the order of their relative utility, as, first, parliamentary works, next American his- tory, and so on. This correct principle has since been gen- erally pursued. Whether the introduction of this principle is sufficient to justify the remark made in the National Gal- lery the public will determine." In answer to this "A Friend to Literature" said: "I call upon Mr. W.'s eulogist to point out what particular works of merit were added to the Library at the suggestion of the present Secretary of the Treasury while he was a member of the committee. The works mentioned by your correspond- ent, or a large part of them, were in the Library, it is believed, before Mr. W. had anything to do with it. If the suggestion of Mr. Bradley, of Vermont, when a member of the committee, to whom the merit attributed by your corre- spondent to Mr. W. belongs, had been followed it would ere this have been vastly more valuable and complete as a body of literature and science than it now is or is likely soon to be, from the very general manner in which the books are selected and purchased by the committee. His plan was to fill up each department of the Library in succession and not purchase promiscuously and add a few to all. He preceded Mr. W. several years." 1 The history of this controversy shows that other members of the committee besides the chairman took part in directing the policy of the Library. The executive work of the committee, however, was usually delegated to the chairman or to subcommittees, and later, to the agents of the committee and officers of the Library. This custom may be illustrated by the following extracts from the minutes of the committee: December 30, 1829: "Resolved, That the chairman of the Joint Library Committee be authorized to pay all bills for periodical publica- tions taken by the authority of the committee for the Library. ' ' 1 National Intelligencer, Januarys, 1 835. 23399— 4 15 226 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. January 9, 1830: Catalogues of books were presented from Messrs. Carey and Hart, of Philadelphia, from Mr. Pishey Thompson, and by the Librarian, for the examination of the Committee. ' 'Resolved, That the following-named works, or such of them as are not already in the Library, be purchased: The Jurist (a periodical pub- lished in Boston)," * * * ''Resolved, That the catalogues received from Messrs. Carey and Hart, etc. , this day be referred to Messrs. Robbins and Verplanck; and that they be requested to make further selections from those catalogues, and report at the next meeting of the committee. ' ' March 13, 1830: " Voted, That the Hon. Messrs. Everett, Verplanck, and Wayne be a subcommittee, to make a selection of books to be pur- chased for the Library." May 21, 1830: "Resolved, That the list of books prepared by the Com- mittee be purchased for the Library. That the English books in that list be purchased by Mr. Obadiah Rich, in London; and that the Amer- can books in the list be purchased by Mr. Pishey Thompson. "Resolved, That Mr. Rich be authorized to purchase, at his discre- tion, valuable books not contained in the Library nor in said list, to an amount not exceeding ^100 sterling. "Resolved, That each member of the committee be authorized, during the recess, to purchase to the amount of $50. ' ' January 12, 1833: " Voted, That Mr. Everett be authorized to attend the auction sale of books at Mr. Mauro's room, this evening, to purchase books on account of the Library. ' ' May 8, 1844: "Voted, That the Hon. Mr. Marsh be requested to examine the catalogue of books 1 to be sold at auction this evening by Mr. Morrison, and mark such as may be advisable to purchase for the Library of Congress." BIBUOGRAPHICAI, PI.ANS. The history of the controversy between the "Friend to Literature" and the "Friend to Truth" illustrates further the impossibility of drawing up a bibliographical programme which the committee could agree upon, or, if they agreed, remain in agreement upon. It would have been possible, by following the plan proposed by Mr. Bradley— of filling up each department of the Library in succession — to have built up a great library. Samuel L. Knapp saw this, and said that under the proper direction the annual appropriation of $5,000 might be so utilized as to make the Library in twenty years one of the first libraries in the world. 2 It might even have 'The library of Ithiel Town. 'Sketches of public characters (1830), p. 118. LIBRARY COMMITTEE — WORK AND PLANS. 227 been possible, by agreeing further to bny great collections of books as opportunity offered, to have made the Library the first of the great libraries of the world. As it was, however, some were not interested in the Library at all, others were interested in that part of the Library only which was of direct or immediate use to them. Dickerson would have made it a library of science; Everett, on the other hand, would have made it a library of literature; still other members of the committee thought it necessary to cater to the various tastes and peculiar fancies of divers and many members of Congress, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of Departments, and others to whom the privileges of the Library were extended, who wanted anything new, and everything, if pos- sible, entertaining. 1 Only a few members of the committee — only a few members of Congress — took a bibliographical interest in the Library — cared to see there the books which had interested their predecessors, would interest their succes- sors, and were of interest to legislators in other lands. Few in or out of Congress, indeed, had dreamed the dream of a national library, and fewer had attempted to define the functions of a national library. The result was that while bibliographical plans for the Library were drawn up, some of which even received the formal assent of the committee, none of them were realized. The first of these plans aimed at the formation of a Library universal in its scope. The need for such a library was enlarged upon in the following communication to the National Intelligencer, January 8, 1834: 2 Messrs. Editors: I was much gratified, a day or two since, in taking a survey of the Congress Library, to see how many valuable works it contained, and with how much judgment the selections had been made. But I was also not a little surprised to learn that so small a sum as $5,000 a year was all that was appropriated for its increase. This is ' National Intelligencer, December 5, 1834. 3 It is possible that this was written by Francis Lieber, for in his diary, December 8, 1833, he says: "Mr. Peters, recorder of the Supreme Court of the United States, wishes me to draw up a report to get a large appropriation for the Congressional Library." — Life and letters of Francis I Contrast for a moment the advantages enjoyed by the European Literati for scientific research with those of our own country. It is calculated that in 31 libraries of Germany there are at least 4,000,000 volumes, while probably the 31 largest of our country do not contain more than 350,000. The University of Gottingen, which is of more recent establishment than some of our colleges, contains 300,000, the library at Leipzig has 100,000, Dresden 260,000, and 4 at Vienna present an aggregate of 590,000 volumes. When will the United States, the boasted land of civilization and knowledge, afford to its students such facilities for the advancement of science and learning as these? This need was again referred to in an address npon the purposes of the American historical society delivered before that society in the Hall of Representatives, January 30, 1836, by the Hon. Lewis Cass, at that time Secretary of War. He said: An extensive library has already been collected, at the national expense, which contains many rare and valuable works, illustrating our general and local history. This collection is annually augmented, but not in proportion to the great means of the nation. There should be one place in our country where every work may be found which has any relation, however remote, to the discovery, settlement, and history of America. * * * And why should not such additions be made to LIBRARY COMMITTEE — WORK AND PLANS. 229 this collection, in all the departments of human learning, as will render it worthy of the age and country, and elevate it to an equality with those great repositories of knowledge, which are among the proudest ornaments of modern Europe. In consideration of this need the committee, March i, 1831— Resolved, That the committee procure to be made out a complete cata- logue of the remains of literature and science and didactic works on the arts contained in the ancient Greek and Latin languages; and also a complete catalogue of all the works of literature and science in the modern languages, viz, English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German, including didactic works on the fine arts, but excluding works of pro- fessory learning and on the mechanical arts. Resolved, That the labor of procuring such catalogues be distributed as follows: To Mr. Everett the catalogue of Greek and Latin works, and that each member bring his account of expenditure on this subject, for audit and allowance, to be paid out of the Library fund. Resolved, That the committee from said catalogue will make out a list of the books intended to be purchased for the Library, progressively, and as fast as the funds will permit. Resolved, That the chairman be authorized to fill up the blank left for the distribution of labor in making the above-mentioned catalogues. It was impossible to carry out such a programme as this. Mr. Everett might select Greek and Latin works as long as he was a member of Congress, but who was to succeed him, and who were to select the English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German works? Another method, however, presented itself; it might in time be possible to gather a library universal in scope by purchasing, as opportunity afforded, the book collections of specialists in the different branches of science and letters. The first opportunity to carry out this plan was presented by the offer of the Buturlin library to Congress. The his- tory of opinion regarding this offer and of the measures taken to secure this magnificent collection is as follows: On the 9th of February, 1836, the following letter from Richard Henry Wilde, a recent member of the House of Rep- resentatives, and at this time engaged in research in Florence 230 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. upon the life of Tasso, was published in the National Intelli- gencer:^ This rich and curious collection, on which the late Count de Boutour- lin employed many years and expended upwards of a million of francs, is now, in consequence of his death, for sale in Florence. It contains twenty-five thousand printed volumes, embracing the earliest and richest specimens of the Greek and Latin classics that ever issued from any press _the Aldine and other celebrated editions — and upwards of two hundred and forty manuscripts, some of them unique, most of them scarce and curious. It is fullest in those departments in which the Library of Congress is deficient, particularly the ancient authors, belles-lettres, lit- erary history, the fine arts, and the standard productions of France and Italy. The number of English books is small, and there are a few of the books that would be duplicates. These, however, might readily be sold whenever it was not advisable to retain both on account of their utility or the difference of editions. After a careful examination of the books and the catalogue I have no hesitation in saying, so far as my opinion may have any weight, that the collection is a most admirable one of its kind, and would be a valuable addition to the Library of Con- gress. It is offered for fifteen thousand pounds sterling, but I think might be purchased for even something less, perhaps fifty or sixty thou- sand dollars. Payment may be made, if desirable, in six, eight, or ten years, so as to spread the appropriation over a greater length of time and without interest. The volumes are for the most part of the folio or quarto size, of excellent typographical execution, of ten embellished with plates, all in perfect preservation, and a great many of them richly bound. I have noted a few of them, and some of the manuscripts most remarkable either for their beauty or rarity. 2 The offer of this collection to the Government was hailed with delight. The National Gazette said: As there is now every reason to believe that we shall not require our surplus funds to enable us to entertain our ' ' ancient friend and mag- •There is a biographical sketch of Mr. Wilde in the Literary World 2: 234. - Catalogue de la bibliotheque de Son Exc. M. le Comte D. Boutourlin, Florence, 1831. 3 1., 26, 156, 18, 13, 74, 26, 42, 50, 54 pp., 1 1. 8°. 200 copies. Contents: Manu- scrits, 26 pp.; Editions du XV siecle: avec date, sans date, opuscules de Savonarola, discours, sermons, etc., 156 pp.; collection Aldine, ou recueil d' Editions executees a Venise, Bologne, Rome, Paris, Lyon, etc., par les Mannucci, les Torresani, et autres imprimeurs, 18 pp.; collection Bodonienne, ou recueil d'eclitions executees dans 1'imprimerie de Jean-Baptiste Bodoni, de Parme, 13 pp.; classiques italiens, ou collection de livres cites parl'Academie de la Crusca et de ceux indiques par Gamba, Poggiali, Colombo, etc., comme pouvant servir El la compilation d'un vocabulaire de la langue italienne, 74 pp. ; theologie et histoire ecclesiastique, 26 pp. ; sciences, arts et beaux-arts, 42 pp.; belles-lettres et histoire littdraire, 50 pp.; histoire: geographie, voyages, chronologie, histoire, antiquites, biographie, 54 pp. NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — BUTURLIN COLLECTION. 23 1 nanimous ally ' ' over the water with the music of guns and drums, we can not perceive how the small outlay demanded for the objects in ques- tion could be better applied than in furnishing a choice repast on which our "bookworms" may banquet until the end of time. The race has increased to an extent which may well entitle it to some manifestations of kindness from our National Legislature, and it must continue to increase every year. The gratitude which they will feel towards the authors of the delight afforded them by the possession of such a jewel as the Boutourlin collection will be rather more fervent and durable than that which will be experienced for any gift which may be bestowed for the party objects of the day. 1 The North American Review, in an extended article on libraries, July, 1837, sa id: What public library in this country contains the materials for an accurate history of any one department of science? Take even the most limited, or rather one of the most recent of all, the science of political economy. Here our researches are confined to one definite period. We have no dusty archives to explore, no time-worn manuscripts to decipher. The origin of the science is within the memory of our fathers, and we ourselves have witnessed its sudden growth and rapid development. Yet how much is to be done, how many authorities to be weighed, how many different treatises to be analyzed and compared before we can venture to say, Here is the history, for such was the rise, such the progress, such the changes of opinion, such the received and such the rejected theories of political economy! The writers of the first French school, of the Scotch school (and if we wish for history we must go beyond the pub- lication of Adam Smith's great work), the Italian, the new French, and the new English schools — all have not merely a claim upon our attention, but are entitled to a full and accurate examination. And even then our task would be incomplete, for literary justice would require us to trace, through the works of general political writers, the hints and remarks which have contributed to the progress of the branch we are studying, by the discovery of truth or by the exposition of error. If such be the obligations of the student, whose researches are con- fined to a subject so new, what must be the necessities of the historian who attempts to throw light upon those periods for which the testimony of printed authorities is to be confronted with that of manuscripts and public documents, and where ignorance and prejudice have combined with the more powerful incentives of interest to perplex his path by contra- dictory statements and conflicting opinions! It has been said that the history of the ' ' Decline and fall of the Roman Empire ' ' could not have been written in America, and in fact, although the personal fortune of Gibbon enabled him to purchase for his own library nearly all the mate- 1 Copied by National Intelligencer, February 19, 1836. 232 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. rials which he employed in the composition of his great work, yet he was more than once indebted for important facts and views to the great libraries of the Continent. Now, most of the works by means of which his history was compiled were of necessity works of reference, works which few perhaps may consult, fewer still would think of reading, but which nevertheless supply the materials for our richest and noblest instruction. If it be said that the class of readers whose wants extend to works of this description is small, we would reply that as far as America is con- cerned it is true at the present moment, but that every appearance indi- cates a great and speedy augmentation in their number. The present state of things is a necessary consequence of the actual condition of our literature. Holding a distinguished rank in several branches, there are still many in which we have yet accomplished little or nothing. There are exceptions. But how far do they go, and what is the true character of them? The very best life of Columbus is the work of an American, but it was written in Spain. The "History of the Northmen" is a work of great learning and research, but Mr. Wheaton collected his materials and wrote in Europe, with all the advantages of a high public station. These cases, therefore, instead of making against us, show how great a change has taken place in the literary aims of our countrymen, and how rapidly their wants are extending beyond the bounds which individual wealth can meet. How far is our community prepared to supply these wants? The call for a sound literature is universal, and there is no one who understands the real state of the country who does not perceive how promptly the impulse already given to our literature in some departments has been followed by the ambition to carry out the work into other branches. A literary class is gradually forming itself into a distinct order, opening for many new springs of wealth, for all new sources of enjoyment, but still dependent upon the other classes of society for its subsistence and its success, and destined to form for them a literature either superficial and ephemeral, or profound and durable, in exact proportion as its intel- lectual wants are neglected or supplied. Of the nature of these wants we have already spoken. Books are needed, not confined to any single branch, but embracing the whole range of science and of literature, which shall supply the means of every species of research and inquiry, and which, placed within reach of all, shall leave idleness no excuse for the lightness of its labors, and poverty no obstacles which industry may not surmount. What has been done, or what is doing, toward the per- formance of this duty? No reply can be given to this question which will not require many limitations. Much has been done at Boston and at Cambridge. The Boston Athenaeum has made already a large collection of valuable works, and follows, we believe, though perhaps at too respectful a distance the NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — BUTURLIN COLLECTION. 233 progress of the literature of the day. The library of Cambridge is of a high order. Forty thousand volumes of printed works go far toward supplying the ordinary wants of the members of our oldest university. And when we consider the care and judgment with which a large part of them have been selected, we are still disposed to place this far above many of the European libraries, which, in a numerical point of view, are vastly its superiors. In the department of American history it is the richest in the world. It contains the choicest works of English litera- ture, and it is provided with good editions of the classics of Greece and Rome, as well as of many of the most valuable among the great writers of Italy, Germany, France, and Spain. The Philadelphia library is estimated at about 42,000 volumes. Among these there is a considerable proportion of valuable articles, and the Spanish department is uncommonly complete. The New York Athenaeum has 25,000 volumes; the Library of Congress has about 20,000; but in this last, if we except the law library, which, though too exclusive in its character, has been formed upon a sounder basis, there are far too many of those trifling productions which, after the year of their publication is over, become a useless burden to its shelves. Besides these, there are libraries in many of our cities, and each of our univer- sities and colleges contains a collection of more or less value and pretty well adapted to the wants of academic students. The general regulations of these libraries do not, as far as we have been able to learn, differ in any material particulars. With few excep- tions the libraries of our colleges are restricted to the use of the students, the professors, and the members of the corporation or directors, under whatever name they may be classed; none of these are supposed to study in the library but call at stated hours for the books they want, and strangers and students not connected with the institution can only obtain books by a special concession or through some individual of the privileged body. The other libraries are generally held by shares open to subscription. Such, we believe, is the general character of our public libraries. And here we may be allowed to renew the question, How far do they meet the wants of our community? Whoever reflects, though but for a moment, upon the numerous branches into which modern literature runs and remembers that the literary glory of a nation can only be secured by a certain degree of success in each of them; whoever considers the immense mass of varied materials, without which no historical work of importance can be com- posed, or the extensive learning which is required of even the most gifted genius of an age like ours, and adds to these considerations the general and undeniable fact that of those who would gladly devote them- selves to literature but a few can ever hope to obtain by their own resources the command of the works that are essential to the successful 234 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. prosecution of their studies, will be ready to acknowledge that we have as yet done but a small part of what may be justly claimed from a nation which aspires to the first rank for the liberality and politeness and high moral tone of its civilization. Late, however, as we are to begin, scarce anything in this department has been accomplished in Europe which might not be done with equal success in America. And so numerous and manifest are our advantages in some important par- ticulars that a prompt will and sound judgment in the execution of it might, in the course of a very few years, render the American student nearly independent of those vast collections which, in Europe, have required centuries for their formation. The undertaking, however, in order to be successful should be a national one. Without urging that no State is fully equal to it, or that in the hands of any single State it would not answer the same purpose, we may be permitted to say that the enlargement of the Library of Congress upon those broad prin- ciples, the application of which to the collection of books has become a difficult and important art, would reflect an honor upon the country equal to the permanent advantages which it would secure to every member of the community. The first class in such an institution should be devoted to national history. And here, although we have neglected to do what might easily have been done a few years ago, yet it is still in our power to do more than any nation has ever done for its own history. The purchase of the manuscripts of Washington was the first step. The papers of Mr. Madison are another valuable acquisition. Were these to be followed up by the purchase of the papers of the other distinguished men of our Revolution, what a body of invaluable documents would be brought together for the historians of the country! No individual, no single State could accomplish an undertaking like this. But the voice of Congress would be heard in every part of the Union; and with whatever veneration these relics might be regarded, and however unwilling their owners might feel to intrust them to the hands of an individual, or to the library of any State institution, gladly would they meet the first offers of Congress, and feel as if they had performed their duty toward their ancestors, by placing within a sure asylum the best records of their worth and the materials from which posterity will raise the most durable monument to their glory. If the same course were to be pursued with regard to the other public men of our country; if the private papers of our Presidents, or, to avoid an enumeration of which it is easier to find the beginning than the end, if the papers of all those men whose lives will form an integral part of American history were collected in the same archives, instead of being left to the chances of preservation or destruction, to which they are inevitably exposed while passing through the hands of heirs differing in their tastes and pursuits, a large and perhaps the most valuable portion of our history would be placed beyond the control of chance and the influence of those casualties which have NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — BUTURLIN COLLECTION. 235 involved so many portions of European history in impenetrable obscurity. Many important documents also which, for fear of premature publication, are now likely to be destroyed would be readily intrusted to a public and responsible institution, which should undertake to withhold them from every eye until the proper moment for making them public had arrived. What collection of manuscripts could compare with such a collection as this? What parchment, however venerable from the dust of ages, could awaken emotions like those with which we should contemplate the original records of the events which interest us most, prepared during the hurry of action and in the hour of trial, and speaking to us, as it were, with the very tones of the epoch which they commemorate? Another important source of history is supplied by the industry of our historical societies. Many of the documents which they collect must, from their nature, remain in the archives of the societies; but all the published volumes, which, in many cases, form valuable accessions not merely to the materials for our history, but to our historical literature, might be regularly transmitted to the Library of Congress and deposited in the class of national history. And this circumstance itself might per- haps contribute to awaken new energy in those societies which languish for want of encouragement or of that stimulus which a consciousness that an attentive public is watching their course never fails to impart. In this manner the history of the past would be secured upon the evi- dence of incontrovertible and characteristic documents, while that of the present and of the future would be placed under the sure protection of the pride and emulation of rival bodies. For the other departments of our Library, our chief dependence would necessarily be placed on the acquisition of books from Europe, both by the direct purchase of private libraries and the subsequent collection of such works as are not to be found in private sales. The first of these methods, as we have already shown, has ever proved the surest method of important and extensive acquisitions. It was thus that nearly 58,000 printed volumes aud 800 manuscripts were added, at different epochs, to the Imperial Library of Vienna. No other part, perhaps, of that immense collection can be compared with this, whether we consider the choice and elegance of the editions or the taste and learning with which the works themselves were selected. It will be long before such opportu- nities can become frequent in America; but they still occur from time to time in Europe. When the 50,000 volumes which the library of Sir James Mackintosh is said to have contained passed under the hammer, what an occasion was offered for laying the foundation of a perfect library ! We have never seen the catalogue of that sale nor heard the price at which it was made; but no one acquainted with the cast of Mackintosh's mind and the extent and variety of his acquisitions can doubt that his library was nearly complete in some departments, and highly valuable in all. Here the purchase of the whole collection would 236 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. have secured, for a moderate price, many things which can not be obtained separately but at a great and even extravagant one. The library of Count Boutourlin, which has been recently offered to Congress, is a parallel case. It is smaller than that of Sir J. Mackintosh, for it contains barely 24,000 volumes. Yet in these 24,000 the scholar will find ample materials for the gratification of his curiosity in some of the most interesting branches of literature. The Count Boutourlin deserves to be classed among the most intelli- gent and industrious of European bibliophilists. During the course of a long life he formed two of the most remarkable libraries ever collected by a private individual. The first was destroyed in the conflagration of Moscow. The second is still in the hands of his family. This last was made in Italy, and with the concurrence of several peculiarly favorable circumstances. Many books and manuscripts which had hitherto been inaccessible to any purchaser had been put into circulation by some changes connected with the political revolutions of the country, without being brought into the ordinary course of trade. Other works of great value were exposed for sale, but in that indirect manner well known to the amateurs of rare books and paintings in Italy. The extensive pecuniary resources of Count Boutourlin enabled him to avail himself of these opportunities, and his profound knowledge of bibliography secured him from imposition. The purchase of a private library, which had been originally formed after the suppression of some of the old convents of Tuscany, gave him the basis of his new collection and put him in posses- sion of some of the rarest articles which it contains. The remainder was the work of a patience and assiduity seldom, if ever, surpassed. Nearly every article was a personal purchase. Many were brought to him in sheets, others merely divested of their original binding. These were to be numbered, and subjected, in short, to that rigorous examina- tion by which the skillful bibliophilist distinguishes the really rare from spurious editions. Thus, unwearied in his labors and unsparing in his expenditures, he continued to the last years of life daily adding to his collection, and has left behind him a monument of taste and skill which any bibliophilist might envy. * * * * Job R. Tyson, esq., in an address before the Athenian Institute and Mercantile Library Company of Philadelphia, April 13, 1838, referring to the need of the establishment of a national library and to the offer of the Buturlin collection, said: However learning and genius have added to the national fame, par- tiality itself must admit that little active aid has been contributed from 1 North American Review, July, 1837, pp. 137-143. This article was written by George Washington Greene, United States consul at Rome, at the suggestion of Mr. Wilde. It is reprinted in Greene's Historical studies (1850), pp. 277-322. NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — BUTURLIN COLLECTION. 237 the public bounty. Astronomical science yet asks for an observatory and the National library languishes for the want of encouragement. When we compare the pigmy collections of Philadelphia and Cambridge, the largest libraries in this country, with the magnificent cabinets of Paris, Vienna, London, and many others, it need not be concealed that the national pride receives a wound. In the various departments of history except domestic, modern literature and science, our collections do not embrace all which the wants of the learned student demand. The life of Columbus, by Irving, a work destined to imperishable fame, could not, from the absence of materials, have been written in America. Mr. Wheaton could not have brought to completion his learned and elegant history of the Northmen except in Europe. The admirable work of Ferdinand and Isabella, by Mr. Prescott, though written on this side of the Atlantic, was chiefly dependent for its materials on the other. The library of Philadelphia is upward of a century old. Its late highly intelligent librarian computes the present number of volumes at 46,000, a number exceeding, it is true, any other library on this side of the Atlantic, but not commensurate with the growing wants of the lit- erature and science of the city. The Royal Library of Paris less than half a century ago numbered only 80,000 printed volumes and manu- scripts. It now presents in its totality upward of 700,000 volumes. The British Museum, founded long since the establishment of the Philadelphia Library, now amounts to 240,000 volumes. The value of a library, it is true, does not depend upon its numerical superiority alone; but there is no doubt, from the bibliographical knowledge which guards the Royal Library of Paris and the British Museum, that the excellence of their contents is in proportion to their number. It becomes a wise and enlightened people, intent upon a high destiny, to adopt the means necessary to subserve it. It was one evidence of decay that in the luxurious age of the Roman Empire the reading of Roman senators was confined to Marius Maximus and Juvenal. In a country in which native energy has not been debilitated by luxury; where mind, untrammeled, roves with perpetual activity, explores new regions of thought, and penetrates new sources of truth and intelligence; where every man is a reader and all have a keen appetite for knowledge, the means should be multiplied commensurately with its importance and necessity. Without dwelling longer upon a theme which might be amplified by so many reflections, it is enough to say that no act would confer higher literary glory upon the United States than adding to the treasuries of its Public Library. The Government of France requires a copy to be deposited in the Royal Library of every work which is issued from the press throughout the kingdom. A similar regulation obtains in Austria and Russia for the benefit of the royal libraries of Vienna and St. Petersburg. From the operation of so wise and salutary a provision these libraries are monuments of honor and renown to those despotic 238 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. nations. The British Museum, which has proved in England the great nursery of merit, the light of genius, the ladder to eminence, has been fostered by the same liberality, aided by the direct munificence of the sovereign. Congress has already purchased the papers of Washington and Madison. It could present adequate inducements to private persons for the opening of their private cabinets, in which are deposited those documents which are so material to illustrate our national history and transmit our national fame. It could enact a law similar to those which augment the libraries of France and England, Austria and Russia. It could enrich the present collection by a purchase now offered to its acceptance of the greatest treasure of one of the greatest bibliopolists of this bibliothecal age. 1 The legislative history of the proposition to purchase the Buturlin collection was different. On the 18th of February, 1836, Mr. Preston submitted to the Senate a resolution direct- ing the Committee on the Library to inquire into the expedi- ency of purchasing the library of the late Count Buturlin, of Florence. 2 On the 19th the resolution was taken up for consideration. Mr. Preston said that this library had been examined by a late and distinguished member of Congress from Georgia (Mr. Wilde), who was a gentleman of great lit- erary attainments, and eminently qualified to judge of its value, and who had strongly recommended to this country the purchase of it. It was worth much more than it was offered for. He (Mr. Preston) believed there was no differ- ence of opinion in regard to the great value of it, and that it would be a proper acquisition to the Library of Congress. An opportunity would never perhaps occur again to purchase such a collection. It was by mere accident that this oppor- tunity had presented itself. Mr. Webster also had a high opinion of the great value of this library. It was one of those collections rarely found, and such as he believed did not exist in any library of any of the United States, private or public. He understood the expense would not be very great. He thought this was a favorable opportunity to make a valuable addition, if Con- gress saw fit to make such addition to their Library. 1 "Hazard's Commercial and Statistical Register 1: 221-222; Waldie's Circulating Library 12: 225-228. "Register of debates in Congress, 12: 578. 9#«w?b of ii^' ^V*V*,WWMA\\v»^ ^5yi I tJ N IT'E D S T A TES OF »9JHEKZCJ. PgWg 1815. ' //ir/t . If. jM-. p ^3xkL 11N!!TIKJ> S'l'.VI'KS () I' AMERICA. 1 ==^ ■■•:^5a* CHAP No _, _ _ ■ _ 1851. I IJ BKAIJV, OF CONGRESS. I i UNITED STATES I OF AMERICA. £ . ■wM«-r-ViS' :i WM 1862. WCONGi:KSS.g DXITED f»TES OF AMEUIC \. • 1852. J LIBRARY OF .CONFESS. f. UNITED STATES OK AMEttlCAv|| BOOK PLATES OF THE LIBRARY OK CONGRESS. History of the Library of Congress, vol. I, plate 17 [NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — BUTURLIN COLLECTION. 239 The resolution was then adopted. 1 On the 14th of March Mr. Preston, from the Committee on the Library, made a report, which was ordered to be printed. In this report, after speaking of the history of the Library of Congress, he goes on to describe its existing condition: Since the destruction of the Library in 1814, [he said,] $99,950 had been expended in the purchase of books. The whole number of volumes in the Library, exclusive of Congressional documents and laws of the United States, was about 24,000, so that the Library had thus cost about $4 a volume. Of the 24,000 volumes thus purchased there were about 6,000 volumes in other languages than English, of which 4,083 were in French, 844 in Latin, 314 in Spanish, 268 in Italian, 281 in Greek and Latin, 66 in Greek, 29 in Chinese, 13 in Saxon, 12 in German, and 52 in all other languages, ancient and modern. ******* ' In the additions which the joint committee have purchased with the annual appropriations made to the Library, they seem to have been gov- erned by the practical declaration of its intention made by Congress in the purchase of Mr. Jefferson's library. They had to build it up on this most various and miscellaneous foundation, and in the absence of any specific instructions in regard to its character (while they have had a special view to the peculiar wants of Congress), have made additions to the original stock in all the branches of general science and literature. The primary object in instituting the Library unquestionably was to afford to members of Congress the means of knowledge necessary for the intelligent discharge of their official business. It is very difficult to prescribe bounds to the demands which may be made for books in every branch of learning by the multifarious subjects brought before Congress and its committees. "There is no subject," Mr. Jefferson says, "to which a member of Congress may not have occasion to refer. ' ' The abso- lute necessity of Congress suggested the Library, the utility of extending it beyond actual necessities early become apparent, and erecting an insti- tution upon these foundations it was competent to Congress to extend and adorn it in reference to the dignity and opulence of the Government. As it was manifestly proper that, in the erection of the public buildings, vastness and elegance should be united with utility and comfort, so these qualities may be fitly consulted in whatever is required to be done for the use and accommodation of the Government. The public buildings have been erected at a cost of $6,000,000, and, in many instances, with an elaborate display of architectural ornament, intended to gratify and perhaps to improve the public taste, or to indulge a just national pride. 'Register of debates in Congress, 12: 578. 240 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. "With the same feelings Congress has not hesitated to make requisitions upon the arts of sculpture and painting. This enlightened and liberal regard to the gratification of the tastes and elegant improvement of the country, though made secondary by the nature of the Government to other objects, is not without great importance. It is not a substantive power of Congress to furnish means of knowledge or models of taste, but, in the necessary and proper arrangements of its establishment, they may and ought to be so extended or modified as to contribute to both these objects. A library is necessary; that it should have a certain degree of completeness and elegance is as proper as that the shafts of the columns around the halls should be polished or surmounted by a capital, and the remark applies with greater force to the library, not only on account of the superior value of learning, but on account also of the great destitution of the means of knowledge in a country as new as the United States. In all the public libraries of the United States, including those of schools and colleges throughout our wide territory and counting all the duplicates, there are not as many books as are contained in the Bibliotheque du Roi in Paris. It is a very large calculation to estimate all our libraries at 400,000 volumes, and of these there are not more than 50,000 distinct works. In Paris there are 1,200,000 books deposited in public libraries, and in all France 4,200,000. In Germany the reading public is still more liberally provided with books. The whole number of printed vol- umes of distinct works in the world may be estimated at 600,000; of these there is certainly not more than one-tenth in the United States. Our whole body of literature, if collected in one place, would not afford the means of investigating one point of science or literature on it. Here where the foundations of the Government repose upon the aggregate intelligence of the citizens, the assistance afforded by public institutions to the exertions of intellect is but one-tenth of that within the reach of the mind of civilized Europe. Besides private libraries of much greater extent than the greatest public collection in this country, there are in many of the German towns collections of from 100,000 to 250,000. The number of books in public libraries in Germany are to the population as one to ten; in the United States as one to forty. And this disparity is still more striking if we compare the means of knowledge within the reach of the functionaries of this Government with those which are furnished at the principal capitals of Europe. London and Paris, of course, are replete with means of knowledge, which would require much time even to enumerate; but it may be stated that there are in the British Museum, besides its rich and vast collections of art, 180,000 volumes and 60,000 manuscripts. The Royal Library in Paris has between 400,000 and 500,000; Royal Library at Berlin, 200,000; Imperial Library at St. Petersburg, 300,000; Imperial Library at Vienna, 300,000; the Vatican, 400,000, print and NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — BUTURLIN COLLECTION. 24 1 manuscripts; at Stuttgart, 120,000; at Copenhagen, 250,000. In short, it would not be going too far to say that there is not a Government in Europe, down to its principalities and dukedoms, which has not provided its functionaries with more ample means of useful, elegant knowledge than ours. We do not, however, ascertain our wants merely by a com- parison with the abundance of other Governments. The experience of members of Congress has taught them how often their inquiries are arrested by the want of books. No day elapses during the session of Congress that there is not a call for many volumes which can not be fur- nished. On a recent occasion the Senate's Committee on the Judiciary, in the investigation of an important question regarding the boundary of a State, was compelled to borrow the necessary materials from colleges and societies at a distance from the seat of government. Whether it be proper for Congress to remedy in some degree these defects by the purchase of the library of the late Count Boutourlin at Florence is the immediate subject of the committee's consideration, and they are not without difficulty in coming to a satisfactory conclusion. This collection consists of 25,000 volumes, of which a catalogue has been before the committee, and other information in regard to it has been fur- nished by an intelligent and public-spirited gentleman, lately of the House of Representatives. The collection was made under the most favorable auspices during the French war in Italy, when the monasteries and all the depositories of art and literature were thrown open to the plunder of invading troops or exposed to the purchase or acquisition of public agents or wealthy private collectors. To this last class belonged the Count Boutourlin. At the price of a million of francs and with many years of enthusiastic industry he made the present collection, which is perhaps richer and more valuable in its kind than any which is now or can be expected to be hereafter on sale in the world. It is especially rich in that species of literature which can be scarcely said to exist in this country, for neither the Library of Congress nor any of the public or private libraries of the United States possess anything in bibliography beyond an occasional specimen, or of that noble literature (the whole body of which is contained in this collection) which was the first that came into existence upon the revival of learning, awakening the genius of modern Europe and inspiring new views of literature from Chaucer to Milton. The catalogue presents a complete collection of the Italian classics, as designated as such by the Academy Delia Crusca, a collection so com- plete as perhaps to leave nothing to be added. It contains also a very full collection of the ancient, especially the Latin, classics, leaving little more to be desired in this department. There are 419 copies of Aldine editions, 368 from the Bodoni press, many hundred volumes printed in the fifteenth century, and many others illustrative of the early achieve- ments of typography and its progress to perfection. 23399— 4 16 242 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. The library also contains many valuable manuscripts. In the preface to the catalogue it is said that there are ' ' very few private libraries which present such a collection of valuable books, as well manuscript as printed, and in such perfect preservation," and less questionable testimony is given to the same effect by the gentleman above referred to. After an attentive examination, and writing from the spot, he says: "It contains about 25,000 printed volumes, embracing the earliest and richest speci- mens of the Greek and Latin classics that were issued from any press, the Aldine and other celebrated editions, and upward of 240 manuscripts, some of them unique, most of them scarce and curious. It is most com- plete in those departments in which the Library of Congress is most deficient, particularly the ancient authors, belles-lettres, literary history, the fine arts, and the standard productions of France and Italy. After a careful examination of the books and catalogue I have no hesitation in saying, so far as my opinion has any weight, that the collection is a most desirable one of its kind, and would be a valuable addition to the Library of Congress. ' ' The 25,000 volumes are offered at fifty or sixty thousand dollars. The 25,000 now in the Library have cost $100,000, and it will always happen that the books bought by retail will cost a great deal more than when purchased in large collections. In the collection of this library, the com- mittee is informed by Mr. Wilde, the founder expended a million of francs upon it, or nearly $250,000. If it be the pleasure of Congress to add this collection to its Library, the whole number of volumes will be about 50,000, and of them about one-half will be in our own language, and the others in foreign, ancient, and modern languages. It will add several thousand duplicates in French, Spanish, Italian, and Latin, which might either be sold without loss or exchanged for works in English. The number of works in foreign languages would form an insuperable objection to the purchase if it was intended that the Library should be completed by it; but this the committee by no means believe to be the intention of Congress, and when the collection shall consist of 100,000 or 150,000 volumes, 30,000 or 40,000 in foreign languages may not be an undue proportion when it is considered that not a fourth of the litera- ture of the world is in our own language; still, however, this purchase will unquestionably give for the present an undue proportion to the literature of the Italian language over that of other foreign languages, especially the French and German. In the German language the Library contains, at present, twelve works, and the proposed purchase makes but inconsiderable additions to them; and the number of books in the French language, whose literature is more extensive than that of any other, and the knowledge of which is most extensively diffused, is left entirely too small. In Latin, Greek, and Italian the Boutourlin library would make the collection complete, would add very considerably to the French and NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — DURAZZO COLLECTION. 243 Spanish. It would make with the library now owned by Congress about 50,000 volumes, of which 20,000 would be in English, 10,000 in French, 20,000 in Greek and Latin, Italian, and Spanish, with a few German. The collection in Greek, Latin, Italian, and Spanish might be considered complete. Future additions would be necessary in English, French, and German. If it be the purpose of Congress to extend the Library to 100,000 or 150,000 volumes, the committee think that the proposed purchase is very desirable; and, believing that such ought to be and is the intention, the committee recommend the following resolution: " Resolved, That the Joint Library Committee of the two Houses of Congress be, and they are hereby, empowered to contract, on their part, for the purchase of the library of the late Count Boutourlin at Florence. ' ' * On the 4th of June this resolution was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. On motion by Henry Clay, "Ordered, That it lie on the table." 2 In 1844 a second opportunity to establish the Library upon a wider and more substantial basis was presented by the offer of the Durazzo collection to Congress. On the 10th of January, 1844, the Library Committee received a letter from C. Kdwards Lester, American consul at Genoa, recommending the purchase of a library belonging to the Durazzo family, consisting of about 10,500 volumes, principally folios and quartos, in handsome uniform bind- ing, price $30,000. — "Referred to the Hon. Mr. Burke and the Hon. Mr. Marsh to report on the subject." On the 26th of January, 1844, the following letter from Mr. Lester, addressed to the editor, was published in the Globe: United States Consulate at Genoa (Italy), October 15, 184.2. Dear Sir: Since the object of this commnnication can not fail to interest every patriot and friend of learning, I offer no apology for addressing you. Owing to reverses of fortune, the present representa- tive of the Durazzo family (one of the most ancient and illustrious of Genoa, and indeed all Italy), has offered his celebrated library for sale. "Twenty-fourth Congress, first session, Senate report No. 242, March 15, 1836. [Washington, Gales & Seaton, printers, 1836.] 6 p. 8°. Caption title. 2 Senate Journal, p. 405. Regarding this collection Charles Sumner wrote to G. W. Greene, December 30, 1839: " Cogswell has come abroad again * * * to pur- chase the Boutourlin library. Mr. Astor is about founding a public library in New York, and this library was to be the basis of it, but unfortunately it is already under the hammer in Paris, selling piece-meal, and Cogswell has abandoned the purchase. — Edward L. Pierce, Life of Sumner, 2: 131. 244 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. As soon as I learned his intention I called on the proprietor and obtained his lowest terms, with the refusal of the library for five months, with the view of writing in the meantime to the United States to see if Con- gress could not be prevailed upon to purchase it for the use of the Gov- ernment. This library has been in the process of collection for several hundred years and always in the possession of the same family, who have at all times been distinguished friends of learning. It has long been esteemed one of the choicest private libraries in Europe. It con- tains over ten thousand volumes of the most valuable and beautiful edi- tions of the most celebrated authors of the ancient and modern world, with several hundred very rare and valuable manuscripts in different languages (many of them older than the art of printing), works of inestimable value never printed, and of which no other copies are known to exist. Although the number of volumes is no greater, yet almost every celebrated author of every language is found in it, since the entire library is made up of large folio and quarto editions, which are very comprehensive. It is bound uniform in the most beautiful and durable style, and the whole is in a perfect state of preservation, not an imper- fect copy or volume. The catalogue can not be forwarded, as only one exists (in seven manuscript volumes), and only a general idea can be given of its contents. Of the great departments of learning, the most extensive are history, laws, jurisprudence, and diplomacy; the classical is also very full, containing all the Greek and Roman classics in manu- script by the scholars of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. These among the most valuable in Europe. I have spent several days expressly in the examination of the library, and obtained the opinions of some of the best Italian scholars, and they all concur with the books of bibliog- raphy in the opinion that it is one of the choicest and most valuable private libraries in Europe. The price is so low it can offer no obstacle, it being only thirty thousand dollars, which is much less than the original cost of the binding, and I am universally assured it is not one-tenth of the original cost of the printed volumes, not to mention the manuscript. The want of such a library is felt by American statesmen and scholars, and it may safely be asserted that a more valuable treasure could not be possessed by the present or left to future generations. I then, dear sir, make this appeal to you in the name of country and education, and for these two sacred objects I ask that you will in every manner in your power do all you can to have the matter brought up before Congress this session. The library can be had for no less. It can be boxed, insured, and sent to Washington in a perfect state for $5,000, and I am willing to propose to do it for that sum; otherwise, to merely charge costs alone. Let Congress choose its own mode, however, and its own agent, only let the library be bought for the American people. I have the honor to be, dear sir, your obedient servant, C. Edwards Lester, U. S. Consul at Genoa. NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — DURAZZO COLLECTION. 245 On the 29th of January, 1844, on motion of Mr. Joseph R. Ingersoll, the House of Representatives, "Resolved, That the Joint Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the expediency of purchasing the library of the Durazzo family in Italy." And, on the 7th of June, 1844, just before the close of the session, Mr. Marsh, from the Committee on the Library, made the following adverse report, which was read, and laid upon the table : The Joint Committee on the Library, to whom were referred the memorials of the faculties of Amherst College and Illinois College pro- posing to Congress the purchase of the library of the Durazzo family at Genoa, report: That the subject of the purchase of the library in question was brought to the notice of the committee by the President of the United States, before the presentation of the memorials; and the matter was then informally considered by the committee, and measures taken to obtain further information respecting the character and value of the collection. A printed catalogue of the library " has been lately obtained through the agency of Mr. C. K. Lester, United States consul at Genoa, and sub- mitted to the examination of the committee, who have come to the con- clusion that the purchase of the collection is inexpedient. The catalogue being of great extent, and arranged alphabetically, a full analysis of its contents would be a work of so much labor that the committee have not thought it necessary to undertake it; but they submit the following statement of the results obtained by a careful examination of the first half of the catalogue: Works in the Italian language, 700; in French, 240; in Greek and Latin classical literature and criticism, 350; in modern Latin miscellane- ous literature, 250; in Latin and Greek theology, including the fathers, 240; in English, 11; in other languages, 14; modern manuscripts, 72; manuscripts of ancient authors, 33. A large proportion of the books in the Italian and French languages, as well as of those in modern Latin, : consist of local histories and scientific works; and neither in these lan- guages, nor in the department of classical literature and criticism, is the collection furnished with the investigations of scholars of the modern school of historical and literary criticism. Indeed, the committee have observed but a single work printed within the last half century upon the , catalogue. In the department of classical literature the library is rich 1 in palseotypes; and early editions of both ancient and modern authors are numerous, and described as in excellent condition. The manuscripts are represented as being of extraordinary beauty, though there are few of great antiquity; and both these and the early printed books are of great 1 Catalogo della biblioteca di un amatore bibliofilo, Italia. 1 1., 251 pp. 8°. 246 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. interest as illustrations of the history of literature, but the manuscripts do not in general appear to be otherwise of great value. Duplicates in different editions are very numerous, and there are not less than one hundred copies of parts or the whole of the works of Cicero and com- mentaries on his writings. The books are described (and no doubt truly) as being very select copies, in excellent condition and beautifully bound; but the committee observe few illustrated works, and few which, apart from their rarity, would be very costly. The library is principally interesting as furnishing abundant mate- rials for literary history, and in this respect it is of great value; but it contains few works which have not been superseded by later authors or editions; and, though it would be a highly desirable acquisition to a well-endowed literary institution, it is not, in the judgment of the committee, suited to the purposes of Congress. ' Both of these movements to form a national library uni- versal in its scope by the purchase of special collections thus failed. It was easier to adopt a more limited programme, and make the chief aim of the national library the collection of the nation's literature. The British Museum was beginning to think the collection of American publications worth while; in 1846 ordered the purchase of American publications of every kind, including pamphlets, sermons, schoolbooks, chil- dren's books, etc., 2 and in 1848 had the largest collection of books relating to America in the world. 3 Moreover, such an aim did not require either so much knowledge or so much labor on the part of the purchaser. Accordingly, on the 24th of January, 1844, the committee ordered that the Librarian send to Mr. Rich, agent of the committee in London, a full catalogue of the books in the Library, to enable him to furnish a list of books relating to America which he could supply in completion of that division of the Library. On the 1 6th of December, 1844, a letter was received by the committee in reply, accompanied by a printed catalogue of books in relation to America which he offered to sell to the Library, and the consideration of the subject was postponed until the next meeting of the committee, and then apparently forgotten. 1 Twenty-eighth Congress, first session, House report No. 553. ■'National Intelligencer, Augusts, 1846. 3 Literacy World 3: 529. In 1859 the collection was said to number 30,000 books, or more than double that of any library in this country. —Historical Magazine 3 : 213. NEED OF NATIONAL LIBRARY — AMERICANA. 247 On the 10th of August, i846 > too, it was provided that the Library should receive one copy of every work copyrighted under the laws of the United States. 1 But the collection of books even within the field of Ameri- cana went on slowly — most of it seems to have been done in London — and the Library continued its hand-to-mouth exist- ence. At the time of the excitement over Cuba in 1832 the committee voted that Mr. Shaler be authorized to purchase, at Havana, books and periodical publications to the amount of $50 annually. 2 At the time of the Mexican war it "Resolved, That the Librarian be authorized to purchase all the consti- tutions and laws of Mexico, and also to subscribe for a news- paper published in Vera Cruz and for one published in the City of Mexico." 3 At the time of the revolution of 1848 it ordered that the Librarian purchase immediately all works of any reputation touching the modern history, existing condi- tions, and prospects of Hungary and Germany; 4 and during the Civil War the committee ordered that the Librarian expend from the book fund a sum not exceeding $100 in procuring pamphlets relating to the existing war, 5 and a law was passed June 25, 1864, appropriating $4,000 to enable the Library Committee to purchase a complete file of selections from European periodicals from 1861 to 1864, relating to the rebellion: Provided, That no part of said sum should be expended until the entire collection and an index thereto was completed and approved by the committee. 6 At the same time it refused Henry Stevens's offer of the Laws of Vermont and Journals of the general assembly of Vermont from 1779, together with about 500 volumes of Vermont newspapers from 1783 on, 7 and though the Senate, on motion of Mr. Clarke, directed the committee to ascertain from the owner of the library of George Washington whether ■This law was so generally disregarded that it was repealed February 5, 1859. 2 Minutes, December 29, 1832. 3 Minutes, August 4, 1848. ■•Minutes, February 13, 1850. sMinutes, May 7, 1862. 6 This sum, having failed to be used for this purpose, was authorized April 7, 1866, to be expended in the purchase of books, one-half for the law department of the Library. 'Minutes, January 31, 1846. 248 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. the same was for sale and of what number and value the books in the library were and at what price they might be purchased, nothing seems to have been done to bring the library to Washington, as the manuscripts had been in 1834, and the library was saved from being carried to a foreign land only by the patriotic efforts of a few citizens of Boston, who subscribed the amount necessary to purchase the library, and presented it to the Boston Athenaeum. 1 THE LAW DEPARTMENT. Although the committee did not accomplish much in the formation and realization of plans for the bibliographical development of the Library during the period before the war, it did succeed in passing two legislative measures affecting the organization of the Library which were of considerable importance. These were, first, the act to increase and improve the law department of the Libra^ of Congress, approved July 14, 1832, and, second, the acts providing for the exchange and distribution of public documents, approved June 26, 1848, and January 28, 1857. On the 1 6th of February, 181 6, a bill had been introduced into the Senate providing for the establishment of a law library for the use of the Supreme Court. On the 24th of February, 1826, and again on the 19th of February, 1828, and on the 9th of February, 1830, Mr. Wyckliffe had sub- mitted a resolution in the House of Representatives that the Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the expediency of separating the law books from the other books in the Library of Congress and placing them under the superintendence of the Supreme Court. On this last occasion the National Journal said: Mr. Wyckliffe wishes to separate the law books from the rest of the Library of Congress and to place the former in the Supreme Court, under 1 A catalogue of the Washington collection in the Boston Athenaeum, compiled and annotated by Appleton P. C. Griffin. In four parts: I. Books from the library of Gen. George Washington. II. Other books from Mount Vernon. III. The -writings of Washington. IV. Washingtoniana. With an appendix: The inventory of Wash- ington's books drawn up by the appraisers of his estate, with notes in regard to the full titles of the several books and the later history and present ownership of those not in the Athenaeum collection. By William Coolidge Lane, librarian of the Boston Athenaeum. The Boston Athenaeum, 1897. xi, 566 pp. front, (port.), plate. 8°. THE LAW DEPARTMENT. 249 the superintendence of a new librarian. This would certainly afford great facilities both to the bench and the bar, but the members themselves are often in want of books of jurisprudence, and should not be deprived of those which are now in the Library of Congress. Mr. Wyckliffe does not seem to have any peculiar penchant for any other reading than that of law, and one would think his inclination might be amply indulged during the session by the access he has to the fine law library of Con- gress and the facilities which the knowledge of its present keeper is so well calculated to afford. From the very scanty majority in favor of the appropriation for the purchase of books it would seem that Congress is either satisfied with the number of volumes already in the Library or dissatisfied with the manner in which they are kept. Mr. Wyckliffe has for some time been anxious to remove the law department of the Congressional Library, but his efforts have never been successful. To allay this anxiety, it would perhaps be better to alter the rule for Mr. W.'s special accommodation, and allow him to have full range among his favorite volumes during the sessions of the Supreme Court. Mr. W.'s desire to remove will, if gratified, be a reform like that produced by the present Administration, as it will take away the most valuable part of the Library and perhaps fill its place with something that is less so." Finally, on the 14th of December, 1831, on motion of Mr. Grundy, the Senate "Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of pro- viding a law library for the use of the Supreme Court of the United States," and on the 20th of the next month Mr. Marcy, from the same committee, reported a bill to increase and improve the law department of the Library of Congress, which on the 14th of July following became a law: AN ACT to increase and improve the law department of the Library of Congress. Be it enacted by the Senate a?id House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the Librarian to prepare an apartment near to, and connected by, an easy communication with that in which the Library of Congress is now kept, for the purpose of a law library; to remove the law books, now in the Library, into such apartment; and to take charge of the law library, in the sune manner as he is now required to do of the Library of Congress. Sec 2. And be it further enacted, That the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States shall have free access to the said law library; and they are, hereby, authorized and empowered to make such rules and regulations for the use of the same, by themselves and the attorneys and counsellors, during the sittings of the said court, as they shall 1 National Journal, February 15, 1830. 250 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. deem proper: Provided, Such rules and regulations shall not restrict the President of the United States, the Vice President, or any member of the Senate or House of Representatives, from having access to the said library, or using the books therein, in the same manner that he now has, or may have, to use the books of the library of Congress. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the law library shall be a part of the Library of Congress, subject to the same regulations, except such alterations as are herein provided for, as now are, or here- after shall be established for the Library of Congress; and the incidental expenses of the law library shall be paid out of the appropriations for the Library of Congress. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That there shall be, and hereby is, appropriated, for the present year, a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars, and a further annual sum of one thousand dollars, for the period of five years, to be expended in the purchase of law books; and that the Librarian shall make the purchases of the books for the law library, under such directions, and pursuant to such catalogue, as shall be furnished him by the Chief Justice of the United States. Approved, July 14, 1832. In accordance with this law a room north of the main Library was fitted up for the use of the law library. This it occupied until 1843, when, as we have already noticed, it was removed to an apartment on the west side of the basement of the north wing of the Capitol, near the Supreme Court room. There it remained until December, i860, when it was removed to its present quarters in the old room of the Supreme Court, on the east side of the basement. In the formation of the law library the most important steps besides the act of 1832 were, first, the resolutions passed by the committee January 9, 1830: "Resolved, That the reports of cases determined in the superior courts of the sev- eral States of the Union be purchased for the Library when- ever published, and that the existing deficiencies be supplied as early as possible;" "Resolved, That the laws of every State of the Union not now in the Library be purchased or other- wise obtained." The second important step was the delegation of the duty of selecting books for the law library to experts in legal literature. On the 7th of February, 1835, tne committee voted "That Mr. Preston and Mr. Binney see the Chief Jus- tice on the expediency of appointing a committee of the bar to select law books to be purchased for the law library," and THE DOCUMENT DEPARTMENT. 25 1 on the 30th of January, 1836, it voted "That the honorable Mr. Porter and the honorable Mr. Preston be a committee to consult the Supreme Court on the subject of law books for the law library;" and the act of March 3, 1837, stipulated that the books purchased for the law library be chosen from a catalogue furnished by the Chief Justice. Mr. C. H. W. Meehan, who was intrusted with the custody of the law , department of the Library, remained in that position until his death, July 5, 1872. The law library was thus, as the North American Review observed, 1 placed upon a sound basis, and with the appropria- tions provided by the act of 1832, supplemented by an addi- tional grant of $5,000 March 3, 1837, and by the annual appropriation of $1,000 — increased to an annual appropriation of $2,000 in 1850 — grew from a collection of 2,011 volumes (639 of which belonged to the Jefferson collecton) in 1832, until at the close of this period it was considered the best and largest collection of law books in America. Catalogues of this collection were printed in 1839 in 98 pages, in 1849 ^ n 139 pages, and in i860 in 225 pages. THE DOCUMENT DEPARTMENT. The changes in the department of documents — that other important branch of a legislative library — were more exten- sive than those in the department of law, but not of so lasting a character. Up to this time the Library had been both a collector and a distributer of public documents, but in both capacities its activities had been limited. In 1839, however, new steps were taken to complete the collection of documents in the Library. On the 15th of Feb- ruary Mr. Allen submitted the following resolution in the Senate: "Resolved, That the Librarian be directed to make out and to report to the Senate at the commencement of the first session of the next Congress a catalogue of all the laws and of all the legislative and executive journals and docu- ments of the several States and Territories now in the Library." ■Vol. 45, p. I39(l837)- 252 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. Mr. Allen said it was necessary to offer some remarks explanatory of this resolution. Being upon the Library Committee, he felt it his duty to make some inquiry as to the contents of the Library, and he was very much surprised to learn that the journals and documents of the States and Territories of the Union were not to be found there; and indeed but few complete sets of the laws of the States and Territories were there. In a conversation with the Libra- rian, he had learned that with the exception of the State of New York there was no instance of a complete set of the public documents of the legislature of any State in the Union being in the Library ; and in the case of the State of New York this was true for only a few years back. His object in submitting the resolution was to show the extent of the deficiency, in order to predicate on it a movement at the next session to supply this unaccountable defect in the National Library. "It is a remarkable fact," said Mr. Allen, " that you can lay your hands on all the proceedings of the Bnglish Parliament in our Library, and yet you can not find the journals and public documents complete of any State in the Union." He believed that in most cases the journals of the State legislatures might be found from the foundation of the State governments. There could be no question with the members of Congress as to the necessity of having these documents preserved in the National Library. This was all he had to say in explanation of the resolution, "which, from its nudity, might appear light and ridiculous." The resolu- tion was then adopted. 1 In accordance with this resolution, Librarian Meehan sub- mitted a report to the Senate December 27, 1839, containing a catalogue of all the laws and of all the legislative and execu- tive journals and documents of the several States and Terri- tories in the possession of the Library; 2 and on the 9th of 1 Congressional Globe, 5: 496. 2 Twenty-sixth Congress, first session, Senate report No. 16. Report of the Libra- rian of Congress, transmitting, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, a cata- logue of all the laws and of all the legislative and executive journals and documents of the several States and Territories now in the Library. December 27, 1839.— Read and ordered to be printed. [Washington], Blair and Rives, printers', [1839]. 14 pp. 8° THE DOCUMENT DEPARTMENT. 253 January, 1840, the Library Committee voted that the Libra- rian prepare a letter to be addressed to the executives of the several States, requesting them to supply the Library of Con- gress with copies of the laws, journals, and documents of the States. 1 This interest in State documents naturally led to a renewed interest in Federal documents, and on the 24th of March, 1840, it was " Ordered, That the Librarian be authorized to com- plete the set of documents and journals of Congress in the Library by purchasing from Mr. George Templeman or others, as he can do it on best terms." The acts of June 26, 1848, and January 28, 1857, providing for the exchange and distribution of public documents, were of much greater significance. Up to this time all documents ordered to be printed by any Congress were distributed to members of that Congress only, and others could only obtain them by buying them either from those members or in the second-hand book market. 2 The first exception to this rule was in the resolution of May 24, 1828, which provided for the distribution of the duplicate books and documents in the Library to members of Congress, State and college libraries. This distribution eventually relieved the Library of much useless material, but the Library had received nothing in turn except the room occupied by the material thus distrib- uted. On the 19th of June, 1834, however, a resolution was approved providing that 25 copies of every work printed by the order or at the expense of the United States should be placed at the disposition of the Joint Library Committee to be by them disposed of in return for donations to the Library of Congress. On the 10th of January, 1837, too, the Library Committee " Voted, That the Librarian be authorized to exchange Gales and Seaton's State Papers, if they could be obtained, and other public documents with the French Gov- 1 Another order to the same effect was issued February 19, 1845; and April 9, 1862, it was " Ordered, That the chairman introduce in the Senate a proposition to amend the statute providing for the transmission of State documents by mail, so that they might be received at the Library without postage." 2 National Intelligencer, February 3, i860. 254 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. eminent;" "Voted, That the Librarian report how far the Library is furnished with documents to exchange with the French Government." Finally, the joint resolution of July 20, 1840, authorized the Librarian to exchange such duplicates as there were in the Library, and provided 50 additional copies of documents printed by order of either House for the purpose of exchange in foreign countries. The history of the system of inter- national exchange thus established was as follows- INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. In 1815 Alexandre Vattemare, 1 of Paris, began an investi- gation into the conditions of European libraries, which resulted in his discovering large collections of duplicates. Munich, he said, had 200,000; Jena, 12,000; St. Petersburg, 54,000; Vienna, 30,000, and other cities like numbers. This discovery led him to establish a system of exchange among the different nations of Europe which would bring into cir- culation these valuable but useless treasures. In four years the enthusiastic projector of this system was so successful, according to his own story, that in France 600,000 volumes had been forwarded to the central depot for either inter- national or internal exchange, and in the various countries of Europe a total of nearly 2,000,000 volumes had been withdrawn from dust and oblivion and placed where they might assume their real value. The movement had led also to the interchange of the modern publications of the various countries, the publishers of both Saxony and France having placed at the disposal of their Governments for the purpose of exchange five copies of all their publications. Encouraged by Lafayette, Cass, and Cambreling, M. Vatte- mare embarked for the United States September 20, 1839, to lay the plan before our Government and learned societies. The Boston Atlas said of him: " M. Vattemare is rather under the medium size, spare, with long hair, sparkling eyes, and an energy of gesticulation which well accords with his ani- ' There are biographical sketches of Vattemare in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register 19: 367 (October, 1865), and in the Historical Magazine, 2d series 4: 297 (December, 1868). "" /. -> ft (f< ->'- ■ : ~> / S£i* 4/ f-f c£\ ~e iS. INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. 255 mated countenance. * * * Everybody with whom he converses becomes enlisted in his project, nor is it possible to withstand his earnest arguments, which evidently come direct from the heart. Meet him where you will, you have to stop and listen to his account of some success — some valu- able contribution — some legislative enactments — and though you may be busy, before he has talked to you five minutes, you will lend him your attention with interest." On the ioth of December M. Vattemare addressed a me- morial to the House of Representatives. 1 In this he said concerning the system of international exchange: Of all the countries in the world, America will have the most to gain in entering into this plan. The libraries of Europe, splendid, copious, rich, have been the slow accumulation of nearly four centuries. Few in the United States can date back half a century. If our best-endowed public institutions possess works which show the present state of science, and the triumphs of modern literature, they are wanting in all that can be called the history of art, of science, and of the gradual progress of the human mind, from the time that Faust and Guttenberg first called into action that mighty engine which has established the future liberty of the human race, upon the basis of intelligence diffused and every- where accessible. Were he to venture any suggestion on the subject, it would be that the librarian of Congress, under the direction of the Joint Library Committee, be authorized to open correspondence with the executives of the several States of the Union, and with the representa- tives of foreign powers, for the purpose of obtaining catalogues of such articles as might be available for exchange on the part of the United States or disposable as a return on the part of foreign nations; and that for the purpose of making a beginning, the copies which are now by law directed to be deposited in the Department of State of every copyright book or engraving, with the printed reports of the two Houses of Con- gress, be placed at the disposal of the library Committee for the purpose of exchange. * * * This memorial was referred to the Committee on the Library, and on the 5th of June, 1840, Mr. Preston, from that commit- tee, made the following report in the Senate: 2 * * * The committee believes that this Government may, to a limited extent, advantageously enter into the proposed arrangement. "Twenty -sixth Congress, first session, House document No. 50, read February 5, 1840. 3 Twenty-sixth Congress, first session, Senate report No. 521; House report No. 586. 256 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1829-1851. The passed and passing history of this Government, as embodied in its published documents, necessarily produces the annual publication of many volumes, containing the most authentic and exact account of the progress of national events and the working of our political machine. To the intense and enlightened curiosity of the world is thus exhibited, at each step of their progress, the new and great experiments we are making, the accurate knowledge of which by foreign nations may sub- serve our interest and promote a favorable estimate of our institutions. It is very desirable, too, that we should have the means within the reach of Congress of as minute a knowledge as authentic records can furnish in regard to foreign governments. There are now in the possession of Congress many hundred volumes of public documents, some of which might well be distributed among friendly governments, and, for a like return and at a very small expense, permanent provision might be made to supply them in future. As, in this department of publication, we probably exceed most foreign nations, the exchange would be equalized by receiving in return national works of science or art, which the more ample powers of other governments enable them to execute. Besides this not inconsiderable means of profitable exchange, Congress also has, occasionally, the disposition of duplicate books in the Library; and this might be increased by an amendment of the copyright laws, directing three copies of every publication under a maximum value in the Congressional Library. For the purpose of carrying out these views, the committee offer the following resolutions, and a bill: ****** *« On the 19th of June action was again urged in a letter from M. Vattemare, submitted by Senator Benton, 2 and on tbe 20th of trie next month a joint resolution for the exchange of books and public documents for foreign publications was passed. 3 JOINT RESOLUTION for the exchange of books and public documents for foreign publications. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Librarian, under the supervision of the Committee on the Library, be authorized to exchange such duplicates as may be in the Library for other books or works. Second. That he be authorized, in the same way, to exchange docu- ments. 'Twenty-sixth Congress, first session, Senate document No. 521, p. 2. 'Twenty-sixth Congress, first session, Senate document No. 559. 3 Statutes at Large, 5: 409. INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. 257 Third. That hereafter fifty additional copies of the documents, printed by order of either House, be printed and bound for the purpose of exchange in foreign countries. Approved, July 20, 1840. The bill to furnish the Librarian with three copies of every work copyrighted in the United States for exchange with foreign libraries, presented at the same time as the resolution, after the first and second reading was laid on the table: A BII * * * What galleries of sacred memorials would these be to the American people ! And what pride would each State of the Union take in sending its authentic record of the time-honored and man-honored events that have helped to make our nation what it is ! Such a Library would be national indeed." * * * No serious effort to complete the collec- tion of local histories and local prints, however, seems to have been made, and the Library remained exceedingly weak in this direction until the acquisition of the Force collection in 1867. One other notice of the collection of books in the Library before the close of this period may be quoted. It appeared in the Washington Chronicle, November 13, 1864, and was as follows: We learn that the additions to this noble collection of books during the current year will number nearly 4,000 volumes, embracing valuable works, old and new, on a great variety of subjects, and especially rich in books relating to the discovery, settlement, history, and topography 1 The offer of the collection of Persian literature made by Prince Dimitri Dolgo- rukov of Russia was declined May 14, 1858, as the offers of the Durazzo and Bu- turlin and other collections had been declined before. 312 DEVELOPMENT OP THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. of the American continent. This latter branch of literature has been made a special feature of the selections for increase of the Library under its present management, and if continued as zealously as heretofore, there will soon remain few works on our history, geography, or politics of which the Congressional Library will not possess a copy. The law department of the Library, which is used alike by Congress and the Supreme Court, has also received valuable additions, especially in the department of trials, American and foreign, including, in addition to all the most celebrated collections, hundreds of interesting trials reported separately. This collection embraces nearly every trial for treason, ancient or modern, and is undoubtedly the most complete one outside of the British Museum. In the department of finely illustrated works the Library is steadily growing. The most noteworthy addition of the present season is, per- haps, the splendid French edition of Don Quixote, in two large folio volumes, illustrated by Gustave Dore, whose wonderful illustrations of Dante and other strikingly original works have rendered him famous among living artists. Of the policy of the Library regarding the special depart- ments of law and documents before the war we have already spoken. Of the other special departments — manuscripts, newspapers, and maps — we have still to speak. The collection of manuscripts contained but little. There was a journal kept on board the British ship Zealous in the year 1792, presented to the Library by Col. Joseph Watson, a resident of the city, March 13, 1830; a copy of " Instructions of the Count Revillagigedo, viceroy of Mexico, to his succes- sor in 1794," presented by Jose Maria Tornel, minister from Mexico, April 10, 1830; the Jefferson MSS. acquired in 1815 and in 1829, 2 & volumes, including laws and orders of the general assembly of Virginia, 1622-1712, 8 volumes; minutes of the assembly and other colonial records, 1606-1700, 7 volumes; records and papers of the London Company of Virginia, 1619-1624, 2 volumes; Notes on Virginia, 1 law notes, historical notes, and copies of treatises upon religious and philosophical subjects. These were all. 2 One attempt J The Literary World called attention to the value of these, but the National Intelligencer, April 2, 1849, observed that of the 75 pages in this manuscript only about ten were in the autograph of Jefferson. This manuscript had only recently been presented to the Library.— Union, March 10, 1849. 2 An exhibition in the Library of the oriental manuscripts collected by William B. Hodgson, consul-general at Algiers, is noticed in the National Intelligencer, March 2, 1830. DEPARTMENT OF MANUSCRIPTS. 313 on the part of the committee to add to this collection is recorded. On the 28th of January, 1848, they "Resolved, That the Honorable Mr. Pearce, chairman of the committee, be requested and authorized, in behalf of this committee, to purchase on such terms as he may deem reasonable, of Har- vard University, if it will sell the same, De Brahme's MSS., reports, and maps, and other manuscripts owned by it relating to Florida, for the Library of Congress, and if said university will not dispose of such manuscripts to obtain, if practicable, the loan thereof for a few weeks, and permission to have the same transcribed for said library upon such terms as said university may prescribe; and that in such case the chairman procure the same to be copied and defray the expense thereof out of the Library fund." Nothing, however, seems to have come of this. As far as the department of manuscripts was concerned, nothing more than the passage of this resolution seems to have been accomplished during this period. December 27, 1856, the remarkable collection of manuscripts made by William Upcott, of Islington, England, was refused; J January 29, 1845, a letter was received from Obadiah Rich, agent of the committee in London, in which he offered to sell the com- mittee for the sum of ^240 sterling 24 volumes of unpublished manuscripts in relation to the earliest history of America, and it was referred to the honorable Mr. Pearce for exam- ination. February 23, 1861, the memorial of Charles B. Norton, praying Congress to make an appropriation, not to exceed $4,000, for the purchase of a collection of original manuscripts now in his possession, containing, with many others, the famous "Hartley correspondence" and the origi- nal map of the United States sketched by Benjamin Franklin, referred to in the treaty with Great Britain in the year 1783 — the manuscript bound in five volumes folio and the map bound to match — was considered and laid on the table. But, worse than all was the treatment accorded the impor- tant propositions made by Mr. Converse, Mr. Somerby, and 1 Minutes, December 27, 1836. This was sold by Sotheby in 1846, and is said to have realized ,£4,125 17s. 6d. There is a catalogue of it entitled "Original letters, manuscripts, and state papers, collected by William Upcott." London, pr. pr., 1836. I p. 1., 64 pp. Facsimile. 4 . 314 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. Mr. Sainsbury, for the copying or calendaring of manuscripts in the English archives relating to the American colonies, propositions which were first treated with neglect and finally rejected altogether, so that the work which might have been done by one authority once for all was left to be done by different persons having different objects in view, and so never completed. 1 These propositions for the calendaring of manuscripts in the English archives relating to the American colonies are of such lasting interest that, although they came to nought at the time, their history may be given here as an indication of what scholars looked for from the Government in these early days. On the 24th of February, 1827, Mr. Everett had introduced into Congress a resolution providing that copies of all papers in the archives of Great Britain relating to the history of the American colonies be secured and placed in the Library of Congress. February 8, 1828, Mr. McDuffie, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported a bill (Twentieth Congress, first 'Among local efforts to index this material, the results of which have been printed, the following may be noted: "Indexes to documents relative to North Carolina dur- ing the colonial existence of said State, now on file in the offices of the board of trade and state paper office in London," Raleigh, 1843; "Calendar to the London documents in the office of the secretary of state, etc., transcribed from the originals in the Queen's state paper office, in the office of the privy council, in the library of the British Museum, and in the library of the Archbishop of Canterbury," in the final report of John Romeyn Brodhead made to the governor, February 12, 1845, New York, Senate document No. 47; "Catalogue of papers relating to Pennsylvania and Delaware, deposited at the state paper office, London," in Pennsylvania histori- cal society memoirs (1850), vol. 4, pt. 2; "The list and abstract of papers in the state paper office, London, relating to South Carolina," published in the collections of the South Carolina Historical Society, vols. 1-3, 1857-59; "A catalogue of original documents in the English archives relating to the early history of the State of Maine," collected by H. G. Somerby and edited for the Maine Historical Society by George Folsom, New York, 1858; "An analytical index to the colonial documents of New Jersey in the state paper offices of England," compiled by Henry Stevens and edited by W. A. Whitehead for the New Jersey Historical Society's collections, vol. 5, 1858; "List of documents in the public record office in London, England, relating to the province of New Hampshire," New Hampshire Historical Society collections, vol. 10, Manchester, 1893. Some of the difficulties which stood in the way of these local undertakings are shown in the correspondence relating to the investigation instituted by the State of New York. Twenty-seventh Congress, second session, House document No. 108, February 19, 1842. TRANSCRIPTS OF COLONIAL RECORDS. 315 session, H. R. 154) authorizing the President of the United States to employ an agent to procure from the plantation office and other offices in England copies of such documents as would serve to illustrate the early history of the States of the Union up to the year 1783 and appropriating the sum of $2,000 for the purpose. Referring to the failure of this measure, Jared Sparks said: r It was hoped that Congress would take measures to procure copies of these papers, as both the States of Georgia and North Carolina had made application to the General Government for this object in reference to those States. * * * Congress have so much to do with the present that they have no time to think of the past. "We all love to boast, and even our members of Congress are not loath to proclaim in the halls of legislation that we are an enlightened, liberal, and improving people; yet the British Parliament make an annual appropriation for printing ancient manuscript records and documents to more than double the amount it would cost to procure a copy of all the American colonial papers. Judge William Law in an address before the Georgia His- torical Society, February 12, 1840, quoted this and continued: ■'Yet these essentials of American colonial history remain shut up in the office of the board of trade and plantations in England. The National Library at Washington is repre- sented as being remarkably deficient in books and informa- tion relating to America. Copies of these papers deposited in the national archives would constitute an invaluable addition and secure the necessary materials for the future history of our country." 2 On the 13th of January, 1831, the Library Committee received a letter from S. Converse, esq., saying that it was his intention to visit England during the coming summer for the purpose of selecting from the records of the Colonial Office, etc., such "interesting matter as is indispensable to a full and accurate history of the American colonies." On the 9th of February the committee received memorials from New Hampshire and from the Historical Society of Rhode Island relative to historical documents in the public offices of Eng- 1 North American Review 30: 3. "Collections of the Georgia Historical Society 1: 6. 316 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. land. On the 25th of January, 1832, it "Voted, That the chairman of the Library Committee of the House of Repre- sentatives be instructed to move for leave in the House to introduce a bill for the appropriation of $2,000 to be used in procuring copies from the plantation records in England." Again, on the 14th of April, 1856, the matter was brought up by the following remarks of Mr. Clayton in the Senate : Mr. President, the Committee on Foreign Relations have received a communication from the Secretary of State, transmitting a copy of a letter of H. G. Somerby, esq., suggesting the importance of having cop- ied, under the direction of this Government, the manuscript documents relating to our country's history now in the state paper office in Lon- don. Mr. Somerby states that there are upward of 2,000 folio volumes of manuscripts in the archives of the British Government, containing original, yet almost unavailable, materials, in the history of the found- ing and progress of the original States of the Union, illustrating almost every possible interest, public and private, during our dependence on the mother country; that they show the origin, character, and position of the individual colonists; the physical, moral, and religious history of the founders of the nation, the men who determined its character, and whose history is that of the nation; the periods and amounts of emigra- tion; the products of the country; the course and changes of trade; the amount and increase of navigation from time to time; the revenue laws and their operation; that they throw light on the history of the aborig- ines, and the mutual relations of the Indians and colonists; that they contain copies, and in many instances the original records, of the legis- lative assemblies of the colonies, occasionally supplying a hiatus in our own records; the private and official correspondence of the royal govern- ors and subordinate officers of the Crown; the reports and res gestee of cases appealed from the colonies to the higher judicial tribunal at home; these often involve the titles and boundaries of large tracts of territory, occasionally of towns, counties, or even colonies; original charts and surveys; that though these documents belong to the English Govern- ment, they historically belong especially to our own country and Gov- ernment, and historical justice and good faith to ourselves manifestly require that copies of them should be preserved at the seat of the National Government, where the statistician, the historian, and the general student may consult them at the smallest possible expense of time and money; that of a large proportion of these papers there are no duplicates, and the originals are constantly exposed to loss and destruc- tion by accident and decay; and this is suggested as a sufficient reason for the prompt and efficient action of the Government. Accompanying this communication are letters from Henry Barnard, president of the Connecticut Historical Society; of S. F. Streeter, secre- TRANSCRIPTS OP COLONIAL RECORDS. 317 tary of the Maryland Historical Society, and of Robert C. Winthrop, late a distinguished member of this body, and now, I believe, president of the Historical Society of Massachusetts, and from other gentlemen of distinction, recommending strongly the suggestion of Mr. Somerby. It may be recollected that on the 26th of January, 1854, Mr. Everett, then a member of the Senate, presented a memorial of the Massachusetts Historical Society praying that an appropriation be made to defray the expense of procuring from the archives of the British Government, and especially from the state paper office in London, copies of documents, records, and correspondence pertaining to the early history of the colo- nies and of the United States. The memorial was then referred to the Committee on the Library, but no action was taken by the Senate in the matter during that session. Concurring as I do in the views expressed by the Historical Society of Massachusetts, I move, by authority of the Committee on Foreign Relations, that this memorial be withdrawn from the files of the Senate and again referred to the Committee on the Library, and that the com- munication from the Secretary of State, with the accompanying corre- spondence, be also referred to the same committee." The motion was agreed to, 1 but nothing seems to have come of this movement, either. Finally, however, Henry Stevens, who had compiled "An analytical index to the colonial documents of New Jersey in the state paper offices of England" 2 for the New Jersey Historical Society, together with indexes to the colonial records of Rhode Island, Maryland, and Virginia, issued proposals for a calendar of all the colonial papers, 1497-1783, in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, including such other important papers pertaining to the British colonies as were known to exist in the British Museum and other libra- ries, public and private. His proposals were these: The plan of arrangement of the nine volumes of calendars, domestic series, already published, will in general be followed, but with some modifications. Of each document there will be given an abstract and a description. The abstract will present, in as condensed a manner as possible, the date, positive or assumed, and the leading points, however numerous, of each paper, particular attention being given to the names of places and per- sons. The description will convey an idea of the length of each docu- ment in the estimated number of folios, with consequently the cost of 1 Congressional Globe, 39: 894. 3 Collections of the New Jersey Historical Society, vol. 5, 1858. 318 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. transcribing; the language, if other than English; whether holograph, original, copy early or late, minute, draft, or entry; if printed, when and where; and, if deemed important, when received, when read in council or elsewhere, and how disposed of. In short, such information respecting the character and condition of each paper will be given, con- sistent with the limits of the work, as may be deemed of importance to the student at a distance, to whom access to the papers themselves is difficult or impossible. It is proposed to have but one index to the entire series, but much greater prominence will be given to it than heretofore. As every topic of each paper is to appear in the abstracts, so they will all reappear in a condensed form in the index, with a precise reference not only to the page, but to the number of the abstract in the page. In this way it is designed that there shall appear, under any given heading, a recapitula- tion of every point in the entire series on that subject. Notes, biographical, historical, statistical, genealogical, and literary will be given when thought necessary, including references to original maps and portraits, parish registers, university records, etc. A specimen of the proposed work was annexed. This was in 1859. In the following year the first volume of the Calendar of state papers, colonial series, edited by W. Noel Sainsbury, upon the same plan as the domestic series, was published by the Master of the Rolls; and on the 1 2th of June the Library Committee received letters from Mr. Sainsbury in relation to an extra edition of that part of the calendar relating to the American colonies and offering to continue the calendar from the year 1688 to the year 1783. But it voted that the propo- sition of Mr. Sainsbury be not accepted. The matter did not rest there, however, for on the 21st of June, i860, the following article in explanation of the propo- sition, with further suggestions, was published in the National Intelligencer: It is known to some among our readers that a series of works is now in course of publication by authority of the British Government, under the general name and title of ' ' Chronicles and memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages." The Master of the Rolls, early in the year 1857, submitted to the department of the British treasury a proposal for the publication of works coming within this category and comprising materials for the illustration of the history of Great Britain from the invasion by the Romans to the reign of Henry VIII. Of this series 18 volumes have been already published, and copies of each may be found in the Congressional Library. TRANSCRIPTS OF COLONIAL RECORDS. 319 Another enterprise similar in design witli this and published by the same authority, under direction in like manner of the Master of the Rolls, relates to the colonial papers found in the state paper office at London. In order to afford a knowledge of the general contents and value of a portion of these documents the British Government has made appropriation for the publication of a series of volumes under the designa- tion of "Calendars and indexes of the state papers," down to the year 1688. The first volume of this series is now in course of publication, if it is not already completed, and brings down the record of these colonial papers from the year 1574 to 1660. The papers relating to the period comprised within the remaining twenty-eight years, being relatively much more numerous, will, it is calculated, require for their proper description and classification 4 additional volumes. As this work will end precisely at the point of time where its continu- ation might be made specially valuable to the history of British coloni- zation on the American continent, it has been suggested to the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress that seme provision should be made by the Government of the United States for the further prosecu- tion of a work which would doubtless shed much light upon the found- ing and planting of those colonies which have now strengthened and widened into the United States of America. For here it is that we look for the very incunabula gentis nostra. It is said that the papers relating to American colonization, as now found in the British state paper office, are comprised in two large series of documents, termed those of the "Board of Trade," and those concern- ing ' 'America and the West Indies, ' ' of which the former, detailing the proceedings of the body in question, are continuous and regular, while the latter are subdivided into several minor series, according to the order of time or subject in which they were differently received at the State Paper Office, or as the}' accumulated in that department by being sepa- rated and sorted from other state papers. In regard to the nature and quality of these latter documents, we may add that they consist of orig- inal letters and papers from governors and other officers of the different provinces. A gentleman connected with the British state paper office, Mr. W. Noel Sainsbury, has recently desired to bring the question of publishing a description and analysis of these documents to the serious consideration of our Government. To this end, we understand, he has addressed a communication on the subject to our minister at London, Mr. Dallas, as also to Mr. Senator Pearce, chairman of the Senate's Committee on the Library. He gives it as his opinion that the whole series of papers comprised within the period extending from 1689 to 1783 might be appropriately calendared and annotated within about 25 volumes octavo, of 700 pages each, of which 600 pages would be devoted to the calendar and 100 to the copious index. He further states that the cost of print- ing each volume of 1,000 copies would be, according to the estimate of 320 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. the Queen's printer, about $1,500; and as Mr. Sainsbury proposes that the compiler should receive for his labor of research and digest $1,250 per annum during a period of twenty years (within which he thinks the whole 25 volumes might be completed) , with an additional compensation of $5 for every sheet (8 pages) passed through the press under his crit- ical revision, it follows that an annual sum of $30,000 would, according to these calculations, be required to insure the execution of the work, which, if completed within the time and in the manner designated by Mr. Sainsbury, would cost altogether $600,000. This amounts, in the aggregate, to a very considerable sum, and we learn that the Joint Committee on the Library declined acceding to the proposals made on these terms by Mr. Sainsbury, who, being connected with the state paper office, would naturally possess superior facilities and, we may also suppose, superior qualifications for the due perform- ance of the task. It has been suggested, however, that the work may be more readily effected through another agency than that of the General Government, if only the necessary concert of action could be secured on the part of the various historical societies existing in the several States of the Union. It will be perceived that, if each volume of 1,000 copies could be dis- posed of at the price of 10 shillings ($2.50) per copy, the sale would realize more than the outlay demanded for the compilation and publica- tion. The whole series of 25 volumes, if published at this rate, would amount in the aggregate to $625,000, or $25,000 more than the cost of the work according to the estimates of Mr. Sainsbury. If, then, the historical societies of twenty of our States would severally agree to take 50 copies of each volume for a period of twenty years, they might, by an annual outlay of only $125 for each society, launch this great work upon ' ' the full tide of successful experiment. ' ' The significance and value of such an enterprise will, we hope, secure for it the early consideration of those associations which have already done and are still doing so much for the perpetuation and diffusion of the records which constitute the materials of American history. It will not, we should think, be found difficult to devise the way any more than to raise the means necessary to the attainment of the end proposed; and if measures could be efficiently taken by any one society for advising and consulting with the various affiliated historical societies in the country, we presume that at least twenty could be found ready to further a move- ment so promising to the cause which they all have at heart. 1 This interesting article was the subject of a communication to the Historical Magazine for October, i860 (4: 314), entitled 1 National Intelligencer, June 21, i860. Mr. Sainsbury requested the Massachu- setts historical society to lend its influence in behalf of his proposals. — Proceedings* Sept. 13, i860 (vol. 5, p. 60). JEFFERSON AND HAMILTON MSS. 32 1 "A great historical enterprise," but beyond this it seemed to excite no attention. More interest was shown in the manuscripts relating to our early national history. On the 30th of June, 1834, $25,000 was appropriated for the Washington Papers ; on the 3d of March, 1837, $3°,ooo was appropriated for the Madison Papers, and on the 12th of August, 1848, $20,000 was appro- priated for the "Jefferson Papers and a like sum for the Ham- ilton Papers. Neither of these collections was at that time transferred to the custody of the Library of Congress, which then had no department of manuscripts. We need therefore only refer to the documents describing them. 1 There seems, however, to have been some idea of depositing the Madison MSS. in the Library of Congress, for in the report upon that subject, March 9, 1846, the committee to whom the matter had been referred said: " It is deemed useless to raise and discuss the question of the power of Congress to make such a purchase. Congress has established a Library, and has procured on its account works both printed and in manuscript. The question is at rest. * * * Congress by the purchase and publication will secure for the Public Library, and thereby for the benefit and information of the whole Union, the valuable writings of one of its most useful, virtuous, and distinguished statesmen." The debate in the House of Representatives July 11, 1848, on the purchase of the Jefferson and Hamilton MSS. is also of permanent significance, as showing the intention of Con- gress, at first, to place these manuscripts in its own Library and as indicating the policy of the Government at that time in the matter of national records. It was as follows: Mr. Goggin moved to add an item to those for the I/ibrary of Con- gress to appropriate $20,000 for the purchase of the manuscript papers of the late President Jefferson. 'Twenty-third Congress, -first session, House report No. 381, April 1, 1834, relates to the Washington Papers; Twenty-ninth Congress, first session, House report No. 410, March 9, 1846, relates to the Madison Papers; Twenty-ninth Congress, second session, House report No. 39, January 20, 1847, Thirtieth Congress, first session, House Miscellaneous Documents, No. 7, December 30, 1847, an d Thirtieth Congress, first session, Senate report No. 167, June 8, 1848, relate to the Jefferson Papers, and Twenty-ninth Congress, first session, Senate documents No. 52, January 12, 1846, relates to the Hamilton Papers. 23399—04 21 322 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. Mr. G. W. Jones interposed, and inquired if the motion was in order, there being no law authorizing the appropriation. He based his objec- tion on the eighty-first rule, which provides that " no appropriation shall be reported in such general appropriation bills, or be in order as an amendment thereto, for any expenditure not previously authorized by law. ' ' Mr. Goggin said it was an amendment relating to the Library of Con- gress, for which it proposed a purchase of books, and it was therefore in order. The Chairman said the amendment was in order. Mr. Jones submitted that there was no law authorizing the purchase of these papers, and therefore it was not in order to introduce an item in the general appropriation bill to pay for them. The Chairman said that the item was proposed for the purchase of books for the Library, which was now in existence; and *he rule from which the gentleman from Tennessee had quoted gave authority to make appropriations ' ' in continuation of appropriations for such public works and objects as are already in progress." He held the amendment to be in order. Mr. Goggin said he did not want to discuss the amendment at all, but simply to remark that a memorial had been presented to this House, and it had been referred to the Library Committee, thus bringing the subject under consideration, and hence he had been induced to offer this amendment. The object was to make an appropriation to purchase manuscripts which were said to be very valuable and of which he had some proof if it was deemed necessary to produce it. He referred to two letters which he held in his hand from two gentlemen who belong to the two political parties of the country (Mr. Van Buren and Mr. W. C. Rives). The author of these papers belonged to the Democratic party, but he nevertheless desired that those papers should be published, for he believed they were very valuable papers, many of a character which showed that they belonged to the country, and he hoped they would share the fate of others which this House had heretofore purchased. He would not detain the House with a speech on the subject, but refer the gentlemen to a report which was made during the last Congress by the gentleman opposite (Mr. Brodhead) on this very subject. Mr. Palfrey moved, for the purpose of obtaining an opportunity to make a few remarks, to amend the amendment, by adding $20,000 for the purchase of the papers of Alexander Hamilton. The subject had come upon him very unexpectedly, but as allusion had been made to the views of the Library Committee, though he was not authorized to speak for that committee, as no other member of the Library Committee was present he would say a word or two expressive of his own views upon the subject. He was not aware that the Library Committee had ever had the subject under consideration. If they had, it was at a time when JEFFERSON AND HAMILTON MSS. 323 he was absent; but if he was to express his opinion of this set of manu- scripts he should say that he deeply regretted that their purchase had not been earlier ordered, so that the writings of Mr. Jefferson could have been given to the world under the responsibility of the nation and not under such auspices as those under which a part of Mr. Jefferson's papers had been published. They should all be published in a manner that would be creditable to the fame of that great man and of this nation. The Chairman reminded the gentleman from Massachusetts that five minutes were allowed to him to explain his amendment, to which he must confine himself. Mr. Palfrey submitted that in order to make his own amendment sat- isfactory it was proper that he should make some remarks on the subject contemplated by the amendment which he proposed to amend. How- ever, the remarks which he desired to make applied equally to the papers of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Hamilton. What he had to say was true of both, and therefore when he spoke of Mr. Hamilton he hoped the com- mittee would understand him as speaking likewise of Mr. Jefferson. The papers which yet remained in manuscript, both of Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Jefferson, he understood were very voluminous; they were intimately connected with the history of the country through a long series of years; nothing could be more important than these writings were to our history, and it was in the highest degree material that these papers should be rescued from the possession of anybody where they would be exposed to any chance or accident, and placed in the possession of this country and of the world through a channel such as this nation could approve. He felt confident that the library Committee entertained these opinions in common with himself. Mr. Nicoll inquired if these matters had ever been referred to any committee of this House. If so, he would like to have the report read. The Chairman reminded the gentleman from New York that this was not a debatable question under the order of the House. The Chairman had not the information required by the gentleman from New York. Mr. Nicoll supposed the information could be obtained at the Clerk's desk. The Chairman said, doubtless; and the gentleman from New York could obtain it there and relieve the Chair from further responsibility. Mr. Bowlin said it was proper that the point should be settled whether these amendments were in order under the eighty-first rule of this House. The Chair, on the question being raised by the gentleman from Ten- nessee (Mr. Jones), decided that they were in order, and he now again raised the question for the purpose of taking an appeal from the decision of the Chair. Tellers were demanded on the appeal, and Messrs. Venable and Pollock were appointed, and they reported 66 in the affirmative and 51 in the negative. The decision of the Chair was therefore sustained as the judg- ment of the committee. 324 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. The question then recurred on the amendment of the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Palfrey) to the amendment of Mr. Goggin, and it was adopted by a majority of 63 to 55. The question recurred on the amendment as amended. Mr. Venable made a pro forma motion, that he might express his uncompromising opposition to this whole matter, from beginning to end. He believed it was the introduction of a system which involved an incal- culable amount of money. He would vote for the purchase of the manu- scripts of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton as soon as for those of anybody; but if this course was to be pursued, it would not be many years before the hundred volumes of Mr. J. Q. Adams's journal and writings and perhaps the papers of ex-President Tyler would be purchased. Mr. Palfrey with some warmth denied that the House would ever be asked to purchase the papers of Mr. Adams. Mr. Venable said they should have been told the same thing about these Jefferson and Hamilton papers ten years ago. He was opposed to the whole system, as one which would inevitably be attended with mis- chievous results. As to the purchase of Mr. Adams's papers, he hoped the question never would be tested. When papers were valuable, they would most assuredly come to the light. If he had been present when the Madison papers were purchased, he should have voted against that motion for the same reason that influenced him to vote against this. The whole was wrong in principle. Mr. Miller also made a pro forma motion. He was opposed to the amendment, and he was opposed to the manner in which it was urged on the attention of the committee. The gentleman from Virginia, in offering his amendment for the purchase of the papers of Thomas Jeffer- son, addressed himself to the members on the Democratic side of the House, and the gentleman from Massachusetts made a motion which commended itself to the gentlemen on the other side of the House; and by these means both sides of the House were appealed to, these two gen- tlemen — Jefferson and Hamilton — being the founders of the two great parties which now divide this country. As these questions were pre- sented to the committee in such a manner, it was apparent that the gentlemen who made the motions were satisfied that they could not be sustained by argument, and hence they appealed to the prejudices of both sides of the House. Now, he was opposed to this system. He was opposed to the purchase of the papers of Mr. Madison, and he should be equally opposed to the purchase of the papers of anybody else, even of the illustrious Jefferson. He would give no vote for any such purpose, for the whole system was wrong. If any writings were valua- ble and worthy of publication, they would present inducements for their publication without the interference of the Government. By private enterprise they would come to light, and hence no justification could be JEFFERSON AND HAMILTON MSS. 325 furnished for such an extravagant waste of the public money. He might here remark that all the papers of Mr. Jefferson which were deemed valuable had been published already. What evidence was there before the committee that these papers were of the value which was placed on them by the movers of these amendments, and which the com- mittee was called upon to vote ? He did not even know what these papers were. It might be that the papers of Alexander Hamilton advo- cated a policy which had been repudiated by this Government from its foundation to the present moment. What, he asked, was their object? He was unwilling that the committee should be brought to sanction the purchase of papers until they knew what it was they were called upon to publish. Who had given them that information ? The chairman of the committee said that he did not even know that they had been before the library Committee. Did any of them know ? And yet they were asked to appropriate $20,000 for each of two sets of papers of which they knew nothing. He thought it was a matter of some importance, and, especially as the case of Mrs. Madison had been quoted, it was time that this system should be arrested; but if it was to be adopted and carried out, he hoped that when it was carried to the House that the record would be made to show who it was that advocated the system. Mr. Clarke, having made a. pro forma motion, said he took occasion to object to the appropriation of $25,000 for the purchase of the Madison papers, and he then argued that that appropriation was designed and intended to fasten and rivet on the country an enormous pension list; that it would furnish a precedent for all time to come which, if it would not be dangerous to the well-being of the country, would be disastrous to its finances. There were various reasons why they should not tolerate the amend- ment which had been proposed. They had heard yesterday from the other side of the House — and not yesterday only, but on all occasions when those gentlemen obtained the floor — that, by the prosecution of the Mexican war, and by other Democratic measures and policy, they had involved the country in a debt which would put the face of the people of this nation to the grindstone for years to come. And yet, in the face of these charges and statements, which were designed to have an effect on the approaching elections — statements and charges made, in many instances, by a direct suppression of the truth — there was not a solitary proposition in our whole legislation where an attempt was made to appropriate the public money which had not met the approbation of the gentlemen on the other side of the House. All propositions for wild and extravagant expenditures have invariably been sustained and voted for by the gentlemen on the other side of the House. And yet the charge was to go to the country that the Democratic party here was in favor of squandering the public money, and comparisons were instituted between the expense of this and former Administrations for the purpose 326 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. of fixing on the Democratic party the charge of extravagance. And, in bringing this House into disrepute, and in casting reproach on the President, language was used which was only fit for a fish market; cer- tainly not adapted to the halls of legislation. $ The Chairman reminded the gentleman that he must confine himself to his amendment. Mr. Clarke then proceeded to protest against the amendment as a dangerous precedent. Mr. C. J. Ingersoll rose and moved to reduce the two sums of $20,000 to $5,000 each. Mr. Sawyer rose to a question of order. He said it was not in order to move an amendment solely for the purpose of making a five minutes' speech. The Chairman decided that the gentleman from Pennsylvania was in order. Mr. Ingersoll said that he should vote in favor of the amendment. As to establishing a system of literary pensioning, if gentlemen could produce any number of such men as Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, he, for one, was ready to pension them all; but he greatly feared that such men would continue to be very rare. There was very little danger, indeed, that the pension roll of men like these would be ruinously extended. As to Jefferson, we knew, from such of his writ- ings as were already in print, what it was we expect to get should the resolution be adopted. After all his public situations and advantages, Mr. Jefferson died $50,000 in debt, and two of his granddaughters were for many years keeping a school, out of the proceeds of which they had paid $15,000 of it; and he had been told that they were still employed in the same way. And, in regard to Alexander Hamilton, the act of 1789 establishing the Treasury of the United States was a monument of his public character such as he had been assured by Albert Gallatin and Alexander Dallas and Richard Rush and Robert J. Walker and other men competent to judge was not to be found in England, nor in France, nor in the government of any other country in the world. For his part, Mr. I. was quite ready to take all the responsibility of voting not only this $20,000 but a much larger sum. Mr. Goggin said he had letters before him from William C. Rives and Martin Van Buren in favor of the purchase, and these, on such a subject, were good authority. Mr. Houston, of Alabama, said that neither of them was good authority. The question was then put and decided in the affirmative — ayes, 60; noes, 58. ' The debate over the purchase of the manuscript of Wash- ington's Farewell address is also instructive. On the 24th 1 Congressional Globe, 18: 919-920. MS. OF WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 327 of January, 1850, Henry Clay presented in the Senate the following resolution: "Resolved, That the Joint Committee on the Library of the Senate and House of Representatives be authorized and directed to purchase the manuscript of the Farewell address to the people of the United States of George Washington, if the purchase can be effected on just and fair terms in the opinion of the committee." The ensuing debate then took place: Mr. Clay. Mr. President, I intended that that resolution should be a joint one, and I believe that the Secretary has given it that form at my instance. Sir, I did not wish to trouble the Senate in presenting this resolution. I was anxious to accomplish the object it proposes without the formality of the passage of a resolution by Congress, and I addressed myself to the Joint Committee on the Library in consequence of a wish to avoid the passage of my resolution. The committee took the subject into their consideration, and came to the conclusion that, as they had never hereto- fore applied the funds intrusted to them to the purchase of manuscripts without the sanction of Congress, they could not venture on any expend- iture for the purchasing of this manuscript without some other authority than that which they now possessed. This reply led me to the presen- tation of this resolution. If the object which it contemplates could have been accomplished without presenting it here, I would not have taken up one moment of the precious time of the Senate. I will now state some of the motives which led me to the presentation of this resolution. It is about fifty-three years ago since General Washington, the Father of his Country by universal consent, addressed to the people of the United States the document described in that resolution. At the time of the preparation of it there was a paper which, those who are conver- sant with the history of the country at the time will recollect, was published at Philadelphia by an extremely respectable and intelligent gentleman, Mr. Claypoole, called the Daily Advertiser. General Wash- ington selected that paper for the publication of his Farewell address; and, after it was committed to print, Mr. Claypoole proposed to return the original document to General Washington and waited upon him for that purpose; but being extremely desirous to possess it he expressed his wish that, if the General did not wish it himself, he would like to retain it as a memorial. General Washington assented to the request, and the paper from that day to this has been in the hands either of Mr. Claypoole or some of his descendants. But I was struck by an advertisement which I saw some short time ago, published in one of the papers of Philadelphia, to this effect: 328 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. "The original manuscript of General Washington's valedictory address to the United States will be sold on Tuesday, February 12, 1850, at 6% o'clock. The paper, in the handwriting and bearing the signature of General Washington, was presented by him to Mr. Clay- poole, the then editor and proprietor of the Daily Advertiser, the paper which General Washington had selected for its publication. The sale will be peremptory." Well, sir, when I read that advertisement I said to myself, ' ' What is to become of that precious document? Is it to be sold, to be perhaps transferred out of the country and made the ornament of the parlor of some of the distinguished men of Europe — men of rank or title or liter- ary fame — or shall it remain here?" Sir, I could not for a moment hesitate as to the promptings, of my heart. I said, "Here — here in this Capitol, in the Library of this nation — ought this document to be deposited." * * * Mr. Pearce. I suggest to the gentleman from Kentucky that the resolution is scarcely complete without a clause for an appropriation proper to provide the Joint Committee on the Library with the means of paying for this manuscript. Mr. Clay. I do not think there can be any difficulty on that subject. It can be provided for when the appropriation bill comes in. Mr. King. I rise to ask the Senator from Maryland (Mr. Pearce), as a member of the Joint Library Committee, a question. Is it not entirely in the province of the Joint Committee to purchase such papers, if they think proper, without a resolution of this kind on the part of Congress? Mr. Pearce. We thought not. The Library fund we believed to be appropriated for the purchase of books, and not of manuscripts valuable merely as relics. Mr. King. I was under the impression — and certainly this is the first time that anything has occurred to induce a change in the opinion which I have always entertained — that the Library Committee had the power to purchase either printed or manuscript works. I think I know instances since I have been here where the Library Committee have purchased manuscript books. Mr. Pearce. The Library Committee do not think that they are authorized to purchase manuscripts which are valuable as relics merely. Certainly they may purchase a manuscript work, but they would only make such purchase when the work could not be procured in print. They think they would misapply the appropriation for the increase of the Library by purchasing any relic, whether of manuscript or of another kind. The appropriation for the increase of the Library would place very few volumes on our shelves if it were diverted from its legitimate purpose to the purchase of interesting and valuable relics. Even if the committee had the authority they would prefer not to exercise it without the instruction of Congress. ******* MS. OF WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 329 Mr. King. I would suggest an alteration in the resolution to the Senator from Kentucky. It is that the committee should be ' ' author- ized," and not " directed" to purchase the manuscript, provided it can be purchased on fair terms. I move to strike out the word ' ' directed ' ' and insert in lieu thereof the word "authorized." Mr. Clay. I have no sort of objection to strike out the word "directed," but if the Senator from Alabama will attend, the latter part of the resolution expressly provides for the contingency of the manuscript being purchased on what, in the opinion of the committee, shall be fair and reasonable terms. But I have no objection to the amendment. The motion to strike out the word ' ' directed ' ' and to insert in lieu thereof the word ' ' authorized ' ' was agreed to. The joint resolution as amended was then reported to the Senate. The Vice-President announced the question to be on ordering the resolution to be engrossed for a third reading. * * * Mr. Davis of Mississippi. If the vote is about to be taken on this resolution, I shall have to submit a few remarks. I made the motion to pass it by informally, in order that the special order, now delayed for half an hour, might be considered. The amendment which was proposed by the Senator from Alabama [Mr. King] removes part of the objections which I had to the resolu- tion as it was originally drawn. It is not now mandatory in its terms; still it conveys authority, and construed in connection with such expres- sion as will, probably, be given by the Senate, it does, after all, amount to nearly a mandate; it approaches very nearly to instructions to the committee. It becomes us at the present stage of our proceedings in reference to such matters to ascertain where we are to stop before we take the first step; before following this path to inquire whither it will lead us. We have purchased the manuscripts of Washington; every- thing, even to the copy book which he kept when a boy. This is but a corrected copy of his Farewell address, known not to have been entirely the result of his own mind; and if what we desire is merely manuscripts of Washington, we have enough of them to satisfy more than moderate desire. The value of the Farewell address is twofold: First, for the opinions contained in it, and next, the authority from which they are derived. I am of opinion that no benefit can result to the country or to the people generally from the owning of these sheets of manuscript. No one scarcely will be allowed to read it, for it will have to be locked up securely where it can not be touched, because if handled it will soon be worn out. It will therefore merely gratify that feeling to which the Senator from Kentucky [Mr. Clay] has so eloquently alluded, and to which undoubtedly every heart will respond, that feeling which endears everything pertaining to the beloved or ven- erated dead. But are we, the representatives of the people, justified in making appropriations from the Treasury to gratify our sentiments? 330 DEVELOPMENT oE THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. Certainly not. We should regard no such feelings, but should act as practical men. We should become as nearly as possible an abstraction, to use the expression of the gentleman from Kentucky, as far as may be — divest ourselves of all feeling in legislation. If we are to indulge the desire to possess all objects associated with the ' ' Father of his Country, ' ' we shall have to purchase the walking canes he used, the medals and other personal articles identified with him by possession. His residence, the battlefields he illustrated, the routes of his marches through the old thirteen States, over which he shed unfading glory — all, all are closely associated with his memory. Shall they be purchased, too, and held as the property of the Government? But what is there so sacred in the manuscript of this address? It is known to have been the joint production of Washington and one, at least, of his Cabinet — not the emanation of his mind alone. I feel no such respect as has here been expressed for it, and can not see how this manuscript is to effect such happy results. Anyone can have a printed copy, and read it, who desires. There is nothing to be gained by the purchase of this manuscript any more than there would be in the pur- chase of a walking stick which Washington used. I must be pardoned for a want of veneration for relics, or for symbols of faith in the faith- ful; nay, more, for saying that a devotion to men which extends to the inanimate objects connected with them is an extreme unworthy of our people. We are utilitarians, and it is not in keeping with that character to be led away by sentiment. I have no objection that the resolution should go to the committee, as a mere authority further to inquire whether it would be well to purchase this manuscript. The rough sketch of this address, connected with the work of others, and showing what was his own, would be far more valuable to us than this, the form to which it was modified and extended, and is the same as every printed copy. I believe we have the first sketch of the address, and perhaps a copy of it in the form in which it was printed, purchased among the Washington MSS. This and other questions the committee will have for inquiry, if left to their discretion. Mr. Borland. Mr. President, I will yield to none in my veneration and respect for the services of Washington, and I agree with the Senator from Mississippi [Mr. Foote] that if the objects proposed by this resolu- tion, so eloquently spoken of by the Senator from Kentucky, could be accomplished, I should be willing to vote not only the price required for the manuscript but millions besides. But it seems to me the main object to be accomplished by the passage of this resolution is to reiterate what I have seen session after session, and what I think is disgraceful to many citizens of this country — that is, the disposition to speculate upon the patriotism of the country, and to bring here and hawk about at the door of this Capitol, and offer to the Senate or the House of Representatives, the relics of the patriots who achieved our independ- ms. of Washington's farewell address. 331 ence. And, in passing this resolution, I consider that the only tangible object we will accomplish by it will be to put money in the pockets of various speculators who, under color of professions of patriotism, come here and ask the Senate to purchase these relics. Perhaps the very persons who have this manuscript for sale received it as a donation or purchased it for a small amount, and now come here as speculators upon our patriotism and ask a pecuniary compensation for it. Mr. Clay. A single word. The Senator from Arkansas [Mr. Borland] is laboring under a total misconception in regard to this matter. The proprietors of this paper have not come here; it is not at their instance; not one single word has come from them to me, or from any friends of theirs. Nor is the paper hawked about the Capitol, as the Senator seems to suppose, and offered for sale with a view to specu- lation or the acquisition of a large sum of money; no such thing. The representatives of the respectable Mr. Claypoole have not moved in the affair at all. It is my own motion, and if there is any responsibility in regard to it I bear it, and not them. But I do not wish to detain the Senate for a moment, especially as the Senator from South Carolina [Mr. Butler] ought to have been heard before this time. Mr. Borland. My remarks were not particularly applied to the indi- viduals offering this manuscript for sale. I think the Senator from Kentucky is mistaken in saying they have not been here; for I learn from Senators that the manuscript has been exhibited here. Mr. Clay (in his seat). I certainly had no knowledge of it. Mr. Borland. What I referred to was the practice which has hitherto prevailed of the representatives of distinguished revolutionary characters coming here and offering for sale, and getting appropriations of large sums of money, for the relics of their ancestors. I should not be sur- prised, if this manuscript is purchased, to have the sacred bones of Washington himself brought here for sale. The question was then taken on ordering the resolution to be engrossed for a third reading, and it was agreed to. * * * The resolution was then read a third time and passed. In the House, January 29, 1850, trie joint resolution from the Senate to authorize the purchase of the manuscript of the Farewell address of General Washington, coming up in its order, was read the second time. Mr. Jones moved that it be referred to the Committee on the Library. Mr. Casey remarked that he hoped the reference would not be made, but that the resolution would be put upon its final passage, nor could he see any objection to this course, as every gentleman would feel proud to see this precious relic of the Father of his Country among the archives of the Government, and that if the resolution be committed it would, in all probability, be delayed till a time when it will be beyond the 332 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. reach of Congress — as it is announced in the public papers that this manuscript will be sold at public action on the 12th of February next — and, therefore, requires prompt and immediate action on the part of this House. I hope, therefore, that the affection for the name and character of George Washington, and the patriotism of the House, will promptly vote down the motion to refer, and that the country shall be put in possession of this invaluable document. The question was then taken on the motion to refer to the Library Committee, and decided in the negative. The bill then received a third reading with a view to its passage. Mr. Carter moved so to amend the bill as to limit the amount to be paid by the committee to $500. He said the amendment was to protect the Government against an exorbitant demand. Mr. Brown of Mississippi said that if such a limitation were inserted in the resolution it would be tantamount to saying that Congress would give that amount. If the manuscript was worth being purchased by Congress, it was worth paying more for than would be paid from any other source. He hoped the gentleman from Ohio would withdraw his amendment. Mr. Johnson of Tennessee adverted to the appropriation of $20,000 which had heretofore been voted for the papers of General Washington, and asked if Congress was willing now, because the name of Washing- ton was made the pretext for this new claim, to submit to anything like this. He characterized it as an attempt to rob the Treasury. Why may not some one come to Congress hereafter for the purchase of a uni- form or the sword of General Washington, or for the cracked brandy bottle said to have belonged to him, which he believed was now in the Patent Office, with a little brandy remaining in it? What would there be to prevent an application to Congress hereafter for the purchase of any or all of them ? It appeared to him that this was merely a scheme to extort money from the public Treasury. * * * Mr. Chandler said the lowest price which had been fixed was $1,000. * * * Mr. Johnson hoped that if it was the understanding that $1,000 would buy this document, that this sum would be inserted as a limit. Why should Congress, by leaving out the limitation of price, put it in the power of any one to make a speculation on the public Treasury? He would move to fill the blank with the words ' ' one thousand, ' ' and then if that was agreed to, he hoped the resolution would be rejected. * * * Mr. Chandler said that if he could ever bring himself to believe that General Washington had ever entertained a thought that anything he had ever written or worn would be kept as relics to be worshiped by those who would come after him, he (Mr. C.) should entertain a much lower opinion of that distinguished man than he ever had entertained. The General had given this document to Mr. Claypoole, and it was given MS. OF WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 333 him without restriction as to his disposal of it. The family of Mr. Claypoole were always proud of it. But, in consequence of his death, it must now be exposed to sale by public auction, under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. And when he had named $1,000 as the price of the manuscript, he had only placed on it the estimate to meet the demands of the law. The gentleman from Tennessee had asked why the uniform, the sword, and the brandy bottle might not hereafter be purchased by Congress. He could give no reason except it might be the brandy was all out of the flask. The manuscript was offered and ought to be purchased by Congress or it would fall into other hands. It had become necessary that it should be sold. There had been no hawking of it about, no cut- ting of it up to be sold by installments. If the Government does not buy it others will, and according to the estimate which is set upon it, on the other side of the Atlantic. He repeated that there could be no doubt of the genuineness of the document, which had been substantiated by persons who had known General Washington and who were familiar with his handwriting. Mr. Johnson asked if the gentleman from Pennsylvania believed that General Washington would have permitted the present possessors of the document to retain it had he supposed it would have been offered at public sale. Mr. Chandler had no means of answering the question. Mr. Johnson of Tennessee repeated the question. Mr. Chandler replied, but his exact words did not reach the reporter's desk. Mr. Stephens of Georgia thought it extraordinary that gentlemen were not disposed to place confidence in the committee in reference to the subject. They argued as if the manuscript had been pressed on Congress for purchase. The fact is that the executors and heirs of the proprietor had no control over it. Had the original owner been yet alive Congress would not have had the opportunity of becoming pos- sessed of it. He had deceased and the heirs had no control over the matter. The document must be sold; and he hoped the day would not be consumed in debating whether $1,000 or $500 should be given for it, but that the purchase should be left in the discretion of the Committee on the Library. Mr. Stephens concluded by remarking that he had risen principally to move the previous question, which he now did. He, however, with- drew the motion at the request of Mr. Holmes, who said that if there were a relic of Washington which should be treasured in the Capitol it was this identical paper. It had been often disputed, and until this paper had come to the view of the public it had been seriously doubted whether that Farewell address was the production of Washington, or whether the great mind of Alexander Hamilton had not conceived and 334 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. expressed the sentiments of that immortal paper. And now, as if Prov- idence had come to vindicate the fame of Washington, it so happened that upon the decease of the person with whom this precious document had been deposited the fame of Washington was vindicated and all doubt was removed. In the Capitol, where it was intended by act of Congress that his ashes should lepose, we ought to preserve as a sacred deposit this memorial of his living virtues. Mr. Stephens renewed his demand for the previous question. There was a second. And the main question was ordered to be now taken (which was first on the amendment limiting the amount of purchase money to $ 1,000). The yeas and nays were asked and ordered. And, pending the question, The House adjourned. Finally, on the 6th of February, 1850, the joint resolution from the Senate, authorizing the purchase of the manuscript of the Farewell address of General Washington, came up in its regular order. The pending question was on the amendment heretofore offered by Mr. Carter, limiting the amount to be paid for the manuscript to $1,000. On which amendment the yeas and nays had been ordered. Mr. Stephens of Georgia asked Mr. Carter to withdraw his amend- ment. Mr. Carter said that if the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Stephens) could assign any good reason why the amendment should be withdrawn, he (Mr. C.) would withdraw it. The yeas and nays were then taken, and resulted — yeas 66, nays 93 — as follows: Yeas.— Messrs. Albertson, Allen, Ashe, Bay, Beale, Bingham, Bissel, Booth, Bowlin, Boyd, Burt, Joseph Cable, Carter, Cleveland, William- son R. W. Cobb, Daniel, Dimmick, Disney, Edmundson, Featherston, Fitch, Fuller, Gilmore, Green, Hammond, Isham G. Harris, Sampson W. Harris, Thomas L- Harris, Hubbard, Hunter, Andrew Johnson, Jones, Kaufman, Preston King, Littlefield, Job Mann, Mason, McQueen, McWillie, Miller, Millson, Morris, Olds, Orr, Parker, Potter, Robbins, Savage, Sawtelle, Frederick P. Stanton, Stetson, Strong, Sweetser, Thomas, Jacob Thompson, James Thompson, William Thompson, Toombs, Venable, Walden, Waldo, Wallace, Whittlesey, Wildrick, Wood, and Young — 66. Nays.— Messrs. Alexander, Alston, Andrews, Baker, Bayly, Bowie, Breck, Briggs, Brooks, Buel, Burrows, Chester Butler, Thomas B. Butler, Joseph P. Caldwell, Campbell, Casey, Chandler, Colcock, Con- rad, Corwin, Dixon, Doty, Duncan, Nathan Evans, Ewing, Fowler, Goodenow, Gott, Gould, Halloway, Hampton, Harrolson, Hay, Hay- MS. OF WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 335 mond, Henry, Hibbard, Hilliard, Holliday, Holmes, Houston, Howard, Howe, Inge, Jackson, Julian, Kerr, Daniel P. King, George G. King, James G. King, John A. King, Horace Mann, Marshall, Matteson, McKissock, Robert M. McLane, Meacham, Meade, Moore, Morse, Mor- ton, Nelson, Ogle, Otis, Peaslee, Peck, Phoenix, Pitman, Putnam, Reed, Rockwell, Root, Ramsey, Sackett, Schenck, Schermerhorn, Schoolcraft, Seddon, Shepperd, Spalding, Sprague, Stanley, Richard H. Stanton, Alexander H. Stephens, Taylor, John B. Thompson, Underhill, Van Dyke, Vinton, Watkins, White, Williams, Wilson, and Winthrop— 93. So the amendment was rejected. Mr. Sweetser moved that there be a call of the House. The Speaker decided the motion to be out of order, the previous ques- tion having been ordered. The question then was on ordering the bill to be engrossed for a third reading. The resolution was read a third time by its title, and the question then being on the passage thereof — Mr. Johnson of Tennessee understood, he said (addressing the Chair) , that the previous question had now been exhausted, and that, on the question of its passage, the bill was open to debate. The Speaker assented. Mr. Johnson said he understood from the vote just taken the House intended to authorize the committee to pay any price they might think proper for this manuscript. It seemed that the House was not satisfied to limit the amount to be paid to $1,000. It was conclusive, then, to his mind, if not to the minds of others, that the committee was expected to pay more than this sum. Now, he asked in the name of his constitu- ents and in the name of the American people, what was this whole manuscript worth ? He presumed that every gentleman on this floor had the Farewell address of Washington in its spirit, as correctly printed. On what principle was this manuscript now offered to the Congress of the United States? * * * Was there not the same reason to purchase the pen, if it could be found, with which the manuscript was prepared, or to purchase the old printing press and the type upon which the Address was printed? * * * If Congress paid a large price for this manuscript, there would soon be a dozen copies of the manuscript which Congress could purchase. * * * There had already been too many impositions of this character practiced upon the Government, under these appeals to the patriotism of Congress. There was a good deal more of pretense than of reality in this thing called patriotism. A great many men — gentlemen, as they were called — were ready to make a dis- play of their patriotism by putting their hands into other people's pock- ets. Their views were then very large and patriotic, but they were very different when it came to putting their hands into their own pockets. # * * The opinion was becoming very common that he who plucked the Government most was the best fellow. * * * 336 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. Mr. Inge rose and said that he had voted against the amendment which had been moved by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carter), although the rejection seemed to imply that it was the sense of the House that the committee should be empowered to purchase the manu- script at any price at which it could be obtained. Had the amendment of the gentleman from Ohio been adopted, it was clear that the purchase could not have been made for any sum less than $1 ,000, the amount limited in the amendment, because that would have been considered as conveying the opinion of the House that this was the value set upon it by the Government. This was the reason which had influenced him when he gave his vote against the amendment. He was opposed to the resolution in any form, while he was willing to give it that shape which would be most acceptable to the House. He was as much disposed as any gentleman to attach a high value to everything which was represented to us as a relic of the immortal Washington. There was no man who could be more eager than himself to treasure up the sacred memory of that great man. But he thought that this was no time for the adoption of this resolution. The glorious sentiments embodied by General Washington in his Farewell address had faded away. These sentiments which were so wisely, so patriot- ically expressed in that important paper had passed away, and were now lost sight of. Does public opinion respond to the sentiments contained in that Address? No. There is no such response. Instead of respond- ing to the exhortations contained in that paper our country throughout her whole extent is at this moment torn by dissensions which threaten, in their progress and their termination, to tear down the existing fabric of our Government and to destroy the most precious relic which has heretofore been preserved in the ark of the Constitution. He could not give his assent to this resolution, which contemplated a measure derogatory to the character of General Washington. He renewed the motion to lay the resolution on the table, but subse- quently withdrew it. Mr. Stephens of Georgia had no desire to say much in reply to the gentleman from Tennessee and the gentleman from Alabama. But the truth, the solemn, warning truth, of the present dissensions in the country uttered by the gentleman from Alabama, and on which he had based his opposition to the resolution, was, in fact, the strongest argu- ment in its favor. It was true, indeed, and a mournful truth it was, that the spirit of Washington's Farewell address seems no longer to govern and guide our councils. But was it not the more important that gentlemen from all sections of the Union should pause and consider well the grave and weighty lessons taught in that paper, which by every American should be cherished as the most valuable legacy bequeathed us by the greatest benefactor of his country? It is true we hear nothing but discord in the land. It is not my purpose to speak of the cause or MS. OF WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 337 origin of this lamentable state of things. Perhaps the gentleman from Alabama and myself might not disagree as to them. We conceive that a portion of the people in one section of the Union, disregarding the solemn injunctions of the parting farewell of the Father of his Country, are threatening aggressions upon our section, which, if persisted in, may bring upon us all those dire calamities which are so prophetically set forth in this Address. Could we address to that spirit of aggression a stronger or more suitable argument than an appeal to the principles of brotherly kindness and mutual forbearance which that address so forcibly and eloquently inculcates? Before we despair, let us again invoke that same spirit of justice, forbearance, harmony, and amity which breathes throughout that Address, and which has never failed in times past to save us in times of the greatest danger and peril. The gentleman from Tennessee had put the question, ' ' What is the old writing worth? " He would not give an answer to this question. He trusted that we had not yet arrived at that point when the value of the sentiments of the immortal penman of that paper was to be estimated by a money standard. He hoped that in no part of the Union had we come to this low point. He hoped we had not for the honor of the country. He believed that if all the people in all parts of the country could meet together and listen to the noble sentiments of that address, the nickering hope of tranquillity, which is now scarcely visible, would be speedily strengthened and would reillumine the country from one end of its limits to the other. * * * Who was there who had not placed a high estimate on the autographs of the distinguished men of England and of her old writers? Who did not know how eagerly the original facsimiles of the writing of the letters of Junius, with all the interpolations and corrections, were sought after? Who did not attach a high value to the facsimiles of the writings of Byron — even the inter- lineations and erasures of the most beautiful and sublimest parts of Childe Harold? What would you not give, Mr. Speaker, for the original man- uscripts of Manfred or Hamilton? Yet who among us would compare these with the original of the most important paper ever written by Washington? He could not consent that a manuscript of that distin- guished man should be compared with the writings of any other man who had ever lived. Mr. Johnson asked if the Government did not pay $40,000 for all the original papers of Washington, and now it appeared that this manuscript was not among the papers thus paid for. Mr. Stephens said this inquiry showed that there was a wide difference between the sentiments of the gentleman from Tennessee and his own. He (Mr. S.) could not estimate the value of these papers by mere dol- lars and cents. If the Government had paid one million for the papers of Washington, and had the Government been even cheated in the pur- chase, he would not suffer such considerations to influence his course. 23399—04 22 333 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. If the father of any gentleman before his death had left a letter full of instructive suggestions and of solemn warnings against evils which were likely to come, and that letter had been lost, and if it had fallen into the hands of some individual, who, actuated by mercenary views, desired to make sale of it, would not the person to whom it was addressed, and to whom it was dear as a relic of paternal love, submit to any sacrifice to prevent it from passing into other hands? * * * Let the paper, then, be bought; let it be placed in the Library, where the people from all sections, when they come up to the Capitol, may look upon it and read it; and when they behold the lines made by the hand of Washington may they invoke and catch the spirit of patriotism, harmony, and love of country which animated his breast when he traced these wise and fatherly admonitions to his countrymen. Let the case- ment that shall contain the sacred treasure be a national altar, about which and around which the true friends of the Republic from all sec- tions may come and renew their vows to the Constitution and its com- promises in the spirit in which it was formed; and from this may the spirit of Washington rise from its slumbers and go forth amidst the roar and tumult of the storm now raging and calm the excited waves of popular opinion now running so high and portentously speaking to those dismayed by the revolutionary prospect before us, in the language of Him who spoke as never man spake, when He allayed the boisterous sea, " Be of good cheer, It is I, be not afraid." Mr. Chandler said he had not risen to make any speech. He trusted it would be found that the Father of his Country, although dead, would be heard speaking through the House. Whatever fate then might await this resolution, it would be subject for gratification with him that it had been brought forward. He trusted that the House would con- sider itself brought not to estimate the value of the Union but of these sentiments which are now brought back vividly to our remembrance; and that we would suffer ourselves to be carried back to those times and those scenes when these sentiments flowed from the Father of his Country and found expression on the paper which it is now proposed to purchase. He would rejoice, with the gentleman from Georgia, to see the origi- nal document deposited among the precious things in the Library. He would rejoice could all the people of the Union be assembled here, and that you, sir, should read to all the great truths contained in that inter- esting paper, and we should all consider ourselves as brothers, members of the same family, having the same interest and united by one common feeling of love. He esteemed the yellow paper on which the manuscript was written as far superior in value to any paper of this time, as much so as he regarded the sacred tomb at Mount Vernon as above all other tombs, the one as the depository of the bones sanctified there, as the other for the spirit of the immortal chief which breathed in it. Before i860. After i860. LIBRARY STAMPS AND BOOK LABELS. History of tie Library of Congress, vol. 1, plate ; ,,W!***jH*fcv MS. OF WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. 339 He did not believe, with the gentleman from Alabama, that the spirit of this address had departed from among us. He thought it was not dead, but sleeping, and he agreed with the gentleman from Georgia that the influence of this paper would reanimate it. He had no desire to make a speech, but merely a brief explanation. If the possessors of this document came here as the sellers of it, he had not been so informed, or that they had come into the market with this paper, or are anxious that the Government should become a competitor for its purchase. There are some who may want it and not be able to buy it. We may not want it, yet ought to buy it. * * * The question on the passage of the resolution being ordered, Mr. Mason and Mr. Carter asked the yeas and nays, which, being taken, were— yeas, 103; nays, 45— as follows: Yeas. — Messrs. Allen, Alston, Anderson, Andrews, Baker, Bayly, Bowie, Briggs, Brooks, Allen G. Brown, Buel, Burrows, Chester, Butler, Joseph P. Caldwell, Campbell, Carter, Casey, Chandler, Conrad, Corwin, Deberry, Dickey, Dimmick, Disney, Dixon, Duncan, Nathan Evans, Ewing, Featherston, Fitch, Fowler, Fuller, Gerry, Goodenow, Gott, Gould, Halloway, Thomas L,. Harris, Hay, Haymond, Henry, Hibbard, Hilliard, Holmes, Houston, Howard, Howe, Hunter, Jackson, Kerr, Daniel P. King, George G. King, James G. King, John A. King, Marshall, Matteson, McDowell, McKissock, Robert M. Mcl,ane, Meacham, Meade, Millson, Moore, Morton, Nelson, Ogle, Otis, Parker, Peaslee, Peck, Phoenix, Pitman, Potter, Putnam, Reed, Robbins, Rockwell, Root, Rumsey, Sackett, Savage, Schenck, Schermerhorn, Schoolcraft, Seddon, Spalding, Sprague, Stanly, Richard H. Stanton, Alexander H. Stephens, Taylor, Underhill, Van Dyke, Vinton, Walden, Waldo, Watkins, White, Whittlesey, Williams, Wilson, and Winthrop — 103. Nays. — Messrs. Albertson, Ashe, Averett, Bay, Beale, Booth, Boyd, Burt, Joseph Cable, Williamson R. W. Cobb, Colcock, Conger, Daniel, Edmundson, Giddings, Green, Hammond, Isham G. Harris, Sampson W. Harris, Hubbard, Inge, Andrew Johnson, Jones, Preston King, I/ittlefield, Job Mann, Mason, McQueen, McWillie, Miller, Morris, Orr, Phelps, Frederick P. Stanton, Strong, Sweetser, Thomas, Jacob Thomp- son, William Thompson, Toombs, Venable, Wallace, Wildrick, Wood, and Young — 45. So the resolution was passed. Mr. Stephens of Georgia moved a reconsideration of the vote, and that that motion be laid on the lable. Mr. Mason moved that the House adjourn. The House refused to adjourn. The question then recurred, and was taken on the demand for the previous question, and was decided in the affirmative. So the motion to reconsider was laid on the table. And the joint resolution stands passed. 340 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Joint Committee on the Library be authorized to purchase the manuscript of the Farewell address to the people of the United States, of George Washington, if the purchase of it can be effected on fair and just terms, in the opinion of the committee. Approved, February 12, 1850. On the same day that the resolution was approved the manuscript was sold at auction, as had been advertised. The purchaser was James Lenox, of New York. The price paid for the manuscript was $2,30O. 1 MAPS. The only evidence there was of an interest in the collection of maps before 1865 was the vote in the committee, March 20, 1830, that the Librarian be instructed to procure Burr's County atlas of the State of New York, and the best maps of the several States which were not already in the Library; and in the appropriation, July 2, 1864, of $1,000, to enable the Library Committee to purchase of Edward Everett Hale a collection of maps and plans, chiefly manuscript originals, illustrative of the French and Indian war and the Revolu- tionary war. 2 During this period, however, Lieut. Edward B. Hunt, U. S. Army, formulated a plan for the geographical department of the Library of Congress, which he discussed at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at Cleveland, July 28 to August 2, 1853, as follows: The present occasion seems peculiarly appropriate for bringing for- ward and initiating a plan or project which has been for some months maturing in my own mind, and which has been well received by those 1 Public Ledger, February 13, 1850; North American, February 13. There is another interesting newspaper notice of the MS. in the National Intelligencer, September 18, 1857. 'Catalogue of a curious and valuable collection of original maps and plans of mili- tary positions held in the old French and Revolutionary wars; with plans of differ- ent cities, and maps of the country. Most of these are original manuscripts, drawn at the time by officers in the English army. * * * [Boston, 1862]. 13 pp. 8°. These maps and plans, about 100 in nnmber, were secured by Rev. Mr. Converse at the sale of the collection of William Faden, geographer to the King, and passed from Mr. Converse into the possession of Nathan Hale, the father of Edward Everett Hale,— Letter from Edward Everett Hale, January 7, 1904. DEPARTMENT OF MAPS. 34 1 to whom I have mentioned it. I trust I do not exaggerate its merits or overrate its importance in anticipating that this association will give it the whole weight of its influence and indorsement. Having occasion, as an assistant on the Coast Survey, to make various researches into special points of our coast geography, I found it a matter of great difficulty to collate the various authorities bearing thereon, and still more difficult to make sure that I had not omitted some such authorities, possibly of the first importance. It then occurred to me to attempt the collection and methodizing of information relative to maps and charts, and of the localities where they might be found. Something was being done in this way, but it was soon clear that a formidable difficulty would still remain in the dispersion of the materials thus indexed. To remedy this in part, some tracings and printed copies were added to the Coast Survey collection, though the limited means thus applicable prevented anything bordering on completeness, even in regard to our own seacoast. At this stage of affairs it occurred to me that a complete and special geographical library, not only of materials on the United States sea- coast, but of those relating to the whole country — to America at large, and to the whole world — would be a highly valuable aid to all researches, whether undertaken for the Coast Survey or for any other purpose — either of history, of commerce, of home policy, or of foreign relations. This idea at once connected itself with the library of Congress as the place of all others where it could best be executed and where it would prove of most value and convenience. Congress is reinstating the library, after its burning, and now is the time when this plan can best be undertaken. These geographical aids are greatly needed in Congress for the clear understanding and discussion of many important questions, both domes- tic and foreign, and in no place could such a collection better serve all interests. The definite plan which seems to me most worth to be adopted is essentially the following: I. Let a geographical department of the Congress library be estab- lished as a distinct and independently organized department, with its own executive officer, the general direction being by the Joint library Committee. II. Let special appropriations be made for this department, or let the Library Committee set apart a portion of the general Library appro- priations for this purpose. During the period of collecting the great mass of existing materials these appropriations would require to be pro- portionately large. III. Let the appropriated funds be applied to the collection, arrange- ment, and indexing of all important geographical materials relating to the whole world; also in part to the necessary expenses of administration. 342 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. IV. Among the materials thus to be collected, the following classes may be mentioned: 1. A first-class terrestrial globe. 2. All materials illustrating the early and recent geography of the United States, both its seacoast and interior, including traced copies of all valuable maps and charts in manuscript and not published. The materials for illustrating the past and present geography of each State, county, township, and city should be gathered by purchase, correspondence, and tracing. 3. All maps and charts on the remainder of America. 4. The Admiralty or seacoast charts of all the European and other foreign States and the detailed topographical surveys of their interiors where such have been made. 5. The most approved maps published from private resources, whether as atlases, nautical charts, or mural maps, including publica- tions on physical geography, guide books, railroad maps, and city hand- books. 6. A complete collection of all the narratives of voyages of dis- covery and exploration, especially those undertaken by the English and French Governments. 7. Geographical, geodetic, and nautical man- uals and treatises with all the requisite bibliographical aids to the amplest geographical investigation. V. Having an organization and appropriations for gathering such a mass of materials, it would be of the first importance to arrange com- plete and systematic indices or catalogues, which would at once make known all the material on each locality, and to have those materials so arranged as best to facilitate special research. VI. A drawing room, in which materials for the collection could be copied either for its files or to answer public and private calls, would be indispensable for the completeness of this scheme. In this room compilation could be conducted in answer to Congressional calls and in keeping constantly corrected and filled out a set of State maps on large scales to which map publishers should have free access. VII. A competent executive officer would be able to maintain corre- spondence with persons having special geographical knowledge, and to keep a list of persons who could be addressed for additional information on foreign and domestic localities. Also, corresponding relations should be maintained with foreign geographical societies, and their publications secured with promptness. VIII. The head of this department could present, through the Library Committee, an annual report on the geographical explorations by our own and foreign Governments, or by individuals, so far as their results can be learned; making this, indeed, a synopsis of all the interesting and important geographical facts or publications for the year. IX. Among the duties which should belong to this department would be that of calling attention to points demanding examination, or locali- ties needing exploration. Also it would be able to furnish the prelimi- nary information for such explorations or to indicate the sources whence it could be derived. DEPARTMENT OF MAPS. 343 Anyone who will reflect on the outline now presented, must, I am sure, concede that here is a field hitherto unoccupied among us, wherein much good can be done by one possessing the proper qualifications, and that these qualifications must be eminently special if successful results are to be obtained. No collection in the United States approaches to the organic completeness or efficiency here contemplated. The Harvard collection, so excellent in old maps, is very deficient in those great works of interior and exterior survey which characterize the last fifty years. No collection exists in our land which furnishes full materials for exten- sive investigations, such as are now more and more demanded by ques- tions of history, science, commerce, and policy. There is no probability that such a collection can soon be formed anywhere besides in the Con- gress Library. As Congress has so much to gain by this plan, and as the several Executive Departments in Washington would find so great an advantage in such a systematic collection, it should really be made a national undertaking. In the facilities it would furnish the State Department, the Engineer and Topographical Bureaus, the Coast Sur- vey, the National Observatory, and the several naval bureaus the Government would derive a full equivalent for all its cost. The value of such a collection in its relation to legislation; in its illustration of river and harbor questions; in its prospective use for illustrating history, and, generally, as a means of exalting and correcting our geographical knowledge, gives it, most truly, the character proper for a national enterprise. Nor need we doubt the liberal action of Congress if the subject be well and earnestly brought before it. All intelligent mem- bers must at once perceive its advantage and convenience to themselves in discharging their high trusts. There is scarcely a day of Congres- sional session without some question of home or foreign localities so coming up as to need full and correct geographical resources. More- over, Congress is always well inclined toward actual surveys and explorations, and it would be peculiarly inconsistent for it to lack liberality in appropriating the comparatively trifling amount needed to bring together and arrange the published and manuscript results of such surveys. There appears, on the whole, no valid objection to the plan proposed and no reason to question that it can be really executed if those who know how to appreciate it will exert themselves somewhat, as is always requisite for the attainment of even the least questionable improvements. Hoping that this association will cordially approve the views thus presented and be ready to act in favor of their realization, I will now respectfully submit the following resolution: "Resolved, That the president of this association be requested to appoint a committee of five members to prepare and present, in the name of this association, a memorial to the Joint Library Committee of Con- gress, urging on it, and through it on Congress, the advantages of 344 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. establishing a complete, thoroughly organized, and liberally sustained geographical department of the Congress Library, and presenting therein such a project or plan of organization of this department, as shall seem to the committee best adapted to promote its final usefulness and success in relation to the Government and country at' large. ' ' r This resolution was accordingly passed and the following committee was appointed to memorialize Congress upon the subject: Prof. A. D. Bache, Gen. Joseph G. Totten, U. S. Army, Col. J. J. Abert, U. S. Army, Lieut. M. F. Maury, U. S. Navy, Lieut. C. H. Davis, U. S. Navy, Peter Force, Prof. A. Guyot, Lieut. E. B. Hunt, U. S. Army. The committee at once drew up a memorial urging the importance of such a department in the Library, stating what the collection should consist of, and what would be necessary to its continued usefulness. They said: There is not in the United States nor on this continent a single col- lection of geographical materials which is even tolerably complete. The Harvard collection, the collections of the State Department, the Hydro- graphic Office, the topographical and engineer bureaus, the Coast Survey, the Smithsonian Institution, and those of libraries, colleges, societies, and scholars generally throughout our country, have been formed for some special and limited purpose, and hence, all are at present very imperfect. None rises to the rank of a true geograph- ical library, in which should be found the means of investigating all geographical questions, both of sea and land, at home and abroad. * * * In the French Dip6t de la guerre, on the contrary, we would be able to trace each step and probability, because the French Govern- ment has been systematically collecting, through many years, all pos- sible information on this as on all other supposable theaters of war or policy. It is a singular and striking fact that the most extensive col- lection of maps now in America even in the American department, was collected by Professor Fbeling, of Hamburg, and that this collection, purchased by Mr. Thorndyke, of Boston, and by him presented to the Harvard Library, has been laid under serious contribution for some of our most important negotiations, especially that on the northeastern boundary question. Next are enumerated the several materials which should be embraced in such a collection. These are, first, all maps and charts, whether pub- lished or unpublished, which relate to the United States and its waters or to any portion thereof, however minute; second, a complete collec- ' Norton's Literary Gazette 3: 129-130; Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1856), 7: 171-175. DEPARTMENT OP MAPS. 345 tion of maps and atlases which have been published abroad, and which relate to other countries; third, geographical-society publications, the results of the various exploring expeditions sent out by the various governments, and such other books and periodicals as are especially devoted to such intelligence; fourth, works on geographical bibliogra- phy, and, lastly, a pair of first-class terrestrial and celestial globes. The amount which would be requisite for the establishment of such a depart- ment is estimated somewhat as follows: For the purchase of the 2,000 Admiralty charts, the 1,400 French charts, the English, Irish, French, German, Prussian, etc., surveys; the principal atlases; the English, French, Russian, Spanish, American, and other volumes of explorations; the geodetic and nautical works; the gazetteers, encyclopedias, hand- books, etc. ; the globes, and many other items which should be procured almost at once, it would seem that an appropriation of $30,000 would be no more than a judicious and efficient beginning would require. For subsequent years a less amount would suffice, as the requisite appropria- tion would but slightly exceed that needed for administration and for the purchase of the special publications of the year. The qualifications of the superintendent of this department are thus described: A geographical library can only be formed and duly administered by being placed under the special direction of one versed in geography as a science. In this respect it differs much from any other section of a gen- eral library. The materials to be accumulated must be procured from sources so diverse and special that a general bibliographer can not be informed thereon. Many valuable maps and charts exist only in manu- script, and tracings should be procured and verified. This demands an acquaintance with drawing. An active and laborious correspondence would be necessary to bring together the vast number of local maps which are or will be published on the subdivisions of the United States; also the best foreign maps of cities, provinces, etc. Nor can anyone but a geographer of superior capacity attain that critical knowledge of the character and reliability of different maps and charts which is the first essential before using them. The system to be employed in storing, arranging, and indexing an aggregate of many thousand maps and charts differs entirely from that pursued in book libraries. The charge of compiling new maps and of tracing copies for the library and for indi- viduals, which would be cardinal features in such a library, is totally for- eign to the sphere of a general librarian. It would be incumbent on the head of this department to maintain correspondence with geographical societies, with explorers, and with map publishers, all of which could only be done by a geographer. Moreover, it would be highly desirable that an annual report on the progress of geographical discovery and science should be submitted to Congress for the benefit of all who are interested in this important branch. All care should be exercised in pro- 346 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. curing prompt information on such .dawning and passing events as involve geographical elements, by corresponding with well-informed authorities, by collecting and studying the publications bearing thereon, and by maintaining a complete reference index in as perfect a condition as practicable." This memorial was presented in the Senate March 30, 1854, by Mr. Bverett, with the following remarks: This is a very able memorial, and presents in a very striking light the importance of and the necessity for such an establishment. It is signed by the Superintendent of the Coast Survey (Professor Bache); by the Superintendent of the National Observatory (Lieutenant Maury); by the Chief Engineer (Colonel Abert); by Colonel Force, of this city, well known for his acquaintance with this subject; by General Totten; by Lieutenant Davis, who is the Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac; by Professor Guyot, a very distinguished geographer; and by Mr. E. B. Hunt, an intelligent officer of the Engineers of our Army connected with the Coast Survey. I will not take up the time of the Senate by dilating upon the importance of the subject, but I move the reference of the memorial to the appropriate committee, which is the Committee on the Library. 2 It was so referred. Mr. Hunt had proposed the establishment of a geographical department of the national library. Mr. J. G. Kohl, on the other hand, desired to begin with a cartographical depot to which a small library might be added as subsidiary merely. 3 Congress, however, profited by neither suggestion, and the national collection of maps, like that of manuscripts, remained in an inchoate state. One of the first signs of a recognition of the importance of newspapers was the vote of the committee January 16, 1836, that the newspapers of Washington City not yet taken be subscribed for by the Librarian. After the fire, however, these and other files, including complete files of the National Intelligencer and of the Richmond Enquirer, had to be replaced. February 2, 1852, a file of the Philadelphia Aurora 1 Notion's Literary Gazette, new series, 1: 189, April 15, 1854. 2 Congressional Globe, 33: 7S9. 3 Substance of a lecture delivered at the Smithsonian institution on the plan of a cartographical depot for the history and geography of the American continent. Washington, 1856. 1 p. 1., 93-146 pp. 8°. Reprinted from the Smithsonian report for 1856. These lectures were printed in full in the National Intelligencer Sep- tember 9, 1856, etc. LIBRARY STAFF AND AGENTS. 347 was purchased; April 19, files of the National Intelligencer and of the Boston Centinel; March 23, 1854, a file of the Paris Moniteur. There was also a file of the London Gazette, 1665 to 1846, and a file of the London Times, but as Poore observed, 1 no New York newspapers, and though the London Court Journal was regularly received and bound at the end of each year, the only American magazine taken was De Bow's Review. The difficulty in getting periodicals as periodicals, particularly those published in Europe, is illustrated by the Librarian's complaint that the Harnden express had charged $1.50 for the carriage of a number of the Edinburgh Review to Washington, besides 12^ cents for its delivery at the Library. 2 LIBRARY STAFF AND AGENTS. When Librarian Meehan came into office in 1829 ne was allowed one assistant. The office of second assistant libra- rian was created by the act of March 3, 1841; the office of third assistant librarian by the act of March 3, 1855. By the act of March 2, 1831, a messenger was also added to the staff; by the act of July 27, 1861, two laborers, and by the act of June 25, 1864, one laborer. The office of Librarian was held by Mr. Meehan until May 24, 1861. Upon the accession of President Pierce in 1853, a rumor was started by the Portsmouth (N. H.) Chronicle that Librarian Meehan was to be displaced in favor of Samuel E. Coues, esq., of that city, 3 whereat the Washington News on the following day observed: As we have no knowledge of Mr. Coues, personal or otherwise, we have nothing to say either for or against this appointment, but we do regret that so excellent a citizen as Mr. Meehan, of whom we have never heard an evil word spoken for more than twenty years by members 2 Reminiscences, 1: 387-388; note Meehan to Everett, March. 23, 1843. — Library of Congress MSS. The Intelligencer was purchased from the Washington City library at the subscription price of JSio per volume. The Librarian expected to pay for newspaper files the subscription price; periodicals he expected to get for less. — Meehan to Pearce, March 23, 1857. The file of the London Gazette had been intended for Windsor Castle. 2 Meehan to O. Rich, May 16, 1844. 3 National Intelligencer, May 20, 1853. See also Meehan to Pearce, May 30, 1853. 348 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. of Congress or citizens of any party, should be deprived of a valuable office, trie duties of which he has so acceptably discharged. Again upon the accession of President Buchanan, Donald Macleod wrote to Eliza Watterston, daughter of the former Librarian. 1 Irving Pi,ace, New York, March ig, 1837. * * * Kntre nous, my application for the office of Librarian of Congress has been placed before the President. I also took occasion, as I could not see him again before leaving Washington, to leave a note alluding to days of ' ' auld lang syne ' ' and very delicately to yourself, our common friend. I mention this in case he should mention the circumstance in your first interview. * * * Nothing came of these changes of administration. But with the accession of President Lincoln, Librarian Meehan, being regarded as a Southern sympathizer, was removed from office and his place filled by Dr. John G. Stephenson, who held the office until December 31, 1864, when he was succeeded by Mr. Spofford. The salary attached to the office of Librarian at the beginning of this period was $1,500. By the act of August 4, 1854, it was increased to $1,800, and by the act of March 3, 1855, to $2,160. The office of first assistant librarian was held by E. J. Hume for a year only apparently, for in 1830 E. B. Stelle was restored to the position and held it until, in the political revolution of 1861, he was displaced by Ainsworth R. Spofford. The salary of the office of first assistant librarian was by vote of the committee, January 12, 1833, increased to $1,150. This was confirmed by the act of August 26, 1842; by the act of August 4, 1854, the salary of the assistant librarians was increased to $1,500, and by the acts of March 3, 1855, and May 15, 1856, to $1,800. Before the creation of the office of second assistant libra- rian the committee had voted (February 12, 1833) that C. H. W. Meehan (the Librarian's son) be employed as assistant in the Library, at $1.50 per day during the Congressional sessions, and the act of May 9, 1836, provided $398 for his services at "Watterston MSS. LIBRARY STAFF AND AGENTS. 349 this rate from December 2, 1833, to March 4, 1835, Sundays excepted. Like appropriations were made for this office by the acts of March 3, 1837, and April 6, 1838. Finally, the act of March 3, 1841, made the position permanent, at a salary of $1,150 per annum, commencing December 1, 1840; increased to $1,500 August 4, 1854, and $1,800 March 3, I855- 1 Before the creation of the office of third assistant librarian the committee ordered, April 6, 1854, that Charles W. Hin- man be employed, at a salary of $1,150, to be paid from the contingent fund, beginning March 1, 1854; the salary was increased to $1,500 August 4, 1854, and to $1,800 March 3, 1855, at which time the office was established by law. Mr. Hinman was succeeded by Mr. D. L. Tilden in 1861, and Mr. Tilden was succeeded in 1862 by Mr. George A. Morris, a former resident of Cincinnati, like Mr. Spofford, and libra- rian of the Young Men's Mercantile Library Association in that city. 2 The salary of the messenger, by the act of March 2, 1831, was $500 per annum. On the 25th of February, 1832, how- ever, the committee voted that he be allowed, out of the con- tingent fund, $150 in addition to his regular salary for that year and the year previous; on the 27th of March, 1834, it voted that his annual salary be $700. This was confirmed by the act of August 26, 1842. It was increased to $1,200 by the act of August 4, 1854, and to $1,440 by the act of March 3, 1855. On the 28th of January, 1842, the following minute regard- ing labor was entered in the records of the committee: The Committee on the library believe that in addition to the pay recommended for the messenger of the library, that officer should be allowed also, during the session of Congress and for a month or two before, and at the short session a month or two after, a reasonable com- pensation for the expense he is obliged to be at for labor to provide for fires, etc., which the committee understand is about $25 per month, or whatever it may be shown to be. Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing minute be sent to the Com- mittee on Ways and Means. 'See Minutes, July 7, 1840; February 15, 1841. * Washington Chronicle, October 12, 1862. 350 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. On the 7th of February, 1844, the committee ordered that a boy be employed to make fires and do the chars of the law room during the sessions of Congress, at a compensation of $10 per month. July 27, 1854, $1.25 per day was voted for a laborer to do all the chars of the Library. June 12, i860, $1.25 per day was voted for an additional laborer to do the chars in the law library during the session of the Supreme Court, and for two weeks before and two weeks after each session of the court. Finally, the act of July 27, 1861, pro- vided regularly for these two laborers, at a salary of $500 each per annum, beginning July 1, 1861. One laborer was em- ployed in the general library, the other in the law department. The position of financial agent of the Library Committee was filled by the appointment of Thomas L. Smith, Register of the Treasury, to that office March 7, 1830. The business of this officer was to pay the bills of the Library and keep and settle its accounts. This became more onerous each year and finally, July 9, 1838, the committee voted $250 per annum for the services of the financial agent, to commence January 1, 1838. Mr. Smith's successors in the office of financial agent of the Library, as well as in that of Register of the Treasury, were R. H. Gillett, appointed in the spring of 1845, Michael Nourse, appointed August 4, 1848, Finley Bigger, appointed December 13, i860, and Lucius B. Chittenden, appointed July 19, 1861, giving bond in $20,000. Book agents were appointed by a resolution of the com- mittee, May 21, 1830 — Pishey Thompson for America, and Obadiah Rich for England; these agents to procure and furnish for the Library all such books as were ordered from them, they procuring such books on the best terms they could obtain, at wholesale prices, and delivering the same in the Library at the prices actually paid by them for the books, with 10 per cent thereon for their compensation including all services, profits, and expenses of transportation or otherwise. 1 The position of agent for American publications was thus occupied by Pishey Thompson, of Washington, until 1843, 1 Minutes, February 16, 1843. Wiley & Putnam offered to supply the Library with any work whatever within 35 days after receiving an order for it.— Meehan to Rich, October 28, 1844. LIBRARY STAFF AND AGENTS. 351 when he returned to England. He was succeeded by Mr. Franck Taylor, of Washington, who served the Library in this capacity from February 16, 1843, to January 7, 1863. The position of agent for English publications was held by Obadiah Rich until his death, January 20, 1850. He was succeeded by the firm of Rich Brothers, and June 10, 1858, by Edward Allen. 1 The position of agent on the Continent was not created until after the establishment of the line of steam packets to Havre in 1847. J une *7, 1842, a letter had been received from Hector Bossange, with a copy of his catalogue, tender- ing his services as agent for purchasing books published on the Continent, at 5 per cent commission, very low terms, remarked the Librarian, considering the interest on the bills against the Library for the months that necessarily inter- vened between supply and payment. 2 This offer had been repeated after the institution of the system of international exchange, with this modification, that if the services of M. Bossange as buyer were accepted and compensation made therefor at a small percentage, M. Bos- sange would, without any charge whatever, attend to the interchange of public documents, etc., for the Library, with the public offices in France. Whereupon the committee voted that the chairman be authorized to make arrangements with M. Bossange for the purchase of French books. 3 These arrangements were completed and the appointment made July 27, 1854. Imported books were consigned by the European agents of the Library to the care of the collector at New York. After 1830 the committee had an agent in the New York Custom House, assigned by the collector to look after importations. In 1847 ne was given a formal power of attorney: Know all men by these presents that I, John S. Meehan, Librarian of the Congress of the United States of America, have constituted and "The compensation for their services just after the fire of 185 1, i. e., from January 26, 1852, to July 25, 1856, was reduced from 10 to 5 per cent on all purchases made by them. Messrs. Rich did not charge a commission for books drawn from their own stock. — Meehan to Pearce, December 3, 1852. 2 Meehan to Woodbridge, October 19, 1843; November 3, 1843. 3 Minutes, January 29, 185 1. 352 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. . appointed, and by these presents do constitute and appoint Edgar Irving, of New York, my agent and attorney, to enter bond and receive any and all books and packages imported into the Port of New York from foreign countries for the Library of the Congress of the United States, and to transmit said books to me at Washington City, and draw upon me for the duties and expenses to be paid out of the appropriation by Congress for said Library. This authority given under direction of the Joint Library Committee of Congress and in virtue of my office as Librarian. The necessary bond to be in my name. "Witness my hand and seal at the Congressional Library in the Capitol, Washington, April 23, 1847. [seal.] John S. Meehan, Librarian of Congress. Witnesses — K. B. STEU.E, Robert Kearon. In the same year an agent was appointed in the Boston Custom House to look after the business of the Library there — periodicals and other works wanted without the delay attend- ing their transmission by the New York liners being sent by the Cunard line of steamers to that point. 1 THE LIBRARY SERVICE — CATALOGUING. Into the routine of the Library and the services of the Library staff, during this period, we have some interesting glimpses. On the 13th of July, 1854, the Librarian reported that a case of books, sent to the Library by the agents of the Library Committee in London, had been injured by falling into the river at Havre de Grace, Md., while in charge of Adams & Co.'s Express. On the 26th of February, 1855, the committee received a letter from Adams & Co., in relation to the books, and it was " Ordered, that the Librarian be author- ized to settle with them the amount to be paid for the injured books." July 25, 1856, the loss of this case of books being under consideration it was "Ordered, That the Librarian be directed to consult the Solicitor of the Treasury as to the legal steps to be taken to coerce payment, or supply the books." The Librarian bought books as opportunity offered at home, at auction sales or otherwise. 2 For gifts of books to 1 Meehan to J. W. Arnold, May 29, June 4, 1847. = Minutes, April 17, 1830. THE LIBRARY SERVICE. 353 the Library a copperplate form of acknowledgment was ordered, January 3, 1834. For the binding of books the Librarian was made responsible by resolutions of the committee, Decem- ber 30, 1829, ari< i January 9, 1830. The binding was gener- ally calf, varied occasionally by substantial half bindings in calf, morocco, or Russia leather, the sides of muslin marbled to resemble in appearance the best and neatest marbled papers. 1 For the convenience of readers the Librarian was instructed, January 9, 1830, to place on the tables the latest numbers of periodicals received by the Library, and, May 8, 1844, to pur- chase cheap paper, to be supplied to persons who desired to make extracts from the books in the Library. The service of the staff to the Library and to the reader was not, however, limited to these activities. The absence of a good catalogue and the existence of the iron grating in front of the shelves and alcoves made the services of the members of the Library staff indispensable, if anything whatever was to be done by the reader. And, as the following testimonial of Caleb Atwater will show, these services were appreciated: Mr. John Meehan, the Librarian, and Edward B. Stelle, C. H. W. Meehan, and Robert Kearon, his assistants, "are among the most polite and agreeable gentlemen in this city [Washington] . They are always ready to attend to the wishes of all who call on them. Person- ally acquainted with nearly all who call at their room, they are always ready to introduce a stranger to any gentleman who is in the room. Fatigued as they sometimes are with the constant labor of a long day, yet they never complain of their toil, but cheerfully attend to all the wants of the visitors. This room is opened very early in the morning, and not closed until a late hour. If any officers of the Government deserve all their salaries and more too, they are the Meehans, father and son, Stelle, and Kearon. Their salaries are small ones, and their labors are great and fatiguing all day long, during the whole session of Con- gress. During the long intervals between the sessions their labors are not so fatiguing, but they are even then constant, unremitting, and use- ful to the visitors, who are always all day long in this Library. Having known these gentlemen fourteen years and upward in their present sta- tions, I take a real pleasure in bearing this testimony in their favor. 3 ' Meehan to Bossange, March 29, 1853. "Mysteries of Washington City during several months of the session of the Twenty- eighth Congress. By a citizen of Ohio. Washington, 1844, pp. 73-74. There is a pleasant notice of Kearon in the Huntress, December 14, 1839. 23399— °4 2 3 354 DEVELOPMENT OE THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. During the period 1829-1861 four general catalogues were issued — that is, one every ten years. Bach of these, except the first, was accompanied by a special catalogue of the law library reprinted from the general catalogue, and each was supplemented by annual catalogues of accessions to the Library. The first of these general catalogues, that of 1830, was compiled by merely cutting up the catalogue of 181 5 and its three supplements and rearranging the titles. It followed the classification of the Jefferson catalogue and even preserved its typographical errors. It was an improvement upon the old catalogue in only one respect — it indicated at the head of each chapter the number of the alcove in which it was located, so that with the aid of a printed catalogue a stranger might at once obtain the object of his search without reference to the Librarian. This improvement excited the applause of the Telegraph (January 11, 183 1). The catalogue of 1840 was even worse. It necessarily became worse and worse the larger the Library became. It did not contain the feature of the catalogue of 1830 which had aroused the admiration of the Telegraph. Wheatley describes it as a typical specimen of bad work. "The index of authors in it," he says, "contains such vague references that in some cases you have to turn over as many as 70 pages to find the book to which you are referred. The third entry in the index, for example, is 'Abdy,' and the reference 'xxix, 215, i.' 'xxix' applies to the class, which is geogra- phy. The title is to be found in section v, America, so that actually 70 pages of the catalogue have to be glanced through before the work of Abdy can be found." ' There was but one Abdy, but there were many Smiths. The index entry for Smith was as follows: " Smith 1, 84, 84b, 169; in, 165b, 181; iv, 27a, 90, 91, 137, 177, 193, 238; VIII, 29; Ix > 9, *5, 20; xii, 8, 8a, 43, 80; xm, 7c, 22e; xv, 44, 74, 164a; xvi, 1, 168, 169, 174c; xvii, 260, 262b, 284a; xxiv, 64, 370a, 380b, 405, 406, 407, 445, 460, 470, 471, 474, 594; XXV, 24a; xxix, 103a, 550, 554, 807a; xxxii, 12b; xxxvi, 62; XLI, 16a; xliii, 18; xliv, 134a, 143." So that if one desired to ■H. B. Wheatley, How to catalogue a library (1889), p. 18. CATALOGUING OF THE LIBRARY. 355 ascertain whether the Library contained Charles Hamilton Smith's "Ancient costumes of Great Britain and Ireland," which was classed in chapter 29, Geography, section 2, Europe, with the bookmark xxix, 807a, he would have to go through many times 70 pages before he discovered the object of his quest. The catalogues of 1849 and 1861 were no better, except that they dropped this poor author index, — a questionable improvement. On the other hand, as they became larger and as an author catalogue more useless, they became more expensive. The catalogue of .1840 cost $1,673, ' that of 1849 cost $2,ooo, 2 and that of 1 86 1 cost $4,ooo. 3 And in these sums are not included those expended upon the supplementary catalogues, which were also becoming each year more and more expensive. The necessity for an improved and less expensive catalogue led to an interesting correspondence in the National Intel- ligencer, which we must reproduce. The author of these letters on cataloguing was not the former Librarian, as some thought, but another gentleman. The correspondence was as follows : Mbssrs. Editors: Will you allow me to avail myself of the medium of your paper to offer a few suggestions which may be found not unconducive to public utility ? I am led to understand that it is in contemplation to give a new cata- logue of the Congress Library. Such an improvement is much called for. In the first place, the supplements to the present catalogue are growing much too numerous and embarrassing; but by far the most important reason for an entirely new catalogue is the very imperfect character of the present one. The principle on which it is framed is defective, not to say preposterous. It is one of the various modes that have been devised for facility of reference, but which has been aban- doned as defeating its own purpose. The old alphabetical plan has been returned to in drawing up the catalogues of the principal libraries in Europe, as being found, after all, the most simple and effective. In the face of such examples, it is matter of surprise that the good old rule should have been departed from in forming the catalogues of the Con- 'Acts of July 7, 1838, and September 11, 1841. 2 Act of March 3, 1849. 3 Act of March 3, 1857. 356 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. gress library, important as that collection is in richness of materials, though not numerically imposing. The method followed has been the very difficult one of a classification of the subject-matter — a method fre- quently doubtful, and always perplexed and embarrassing, and which is followed by a list of authors, attempted to be adapted to it. Now, let but the inverse order be followed, and all will be found lucid and har- monious; and of this order a masterly exemplification will be found in Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica, of which there will be found a copy in the Library. Nothing can be more simple and inartificial, and yet noth- ing more lucid and satisfactory. Let the body of the catalogue be purely alphabetical, ranging anonymous works under their respective heads and dates. To this may be appended»a synoptical table of classifi- cation according to subject-matter, comprising merely the names of the authors, a reference to which in the body of the catalogue will be immediate and unerring. As new accessions are continually making to the Library, in order to obviate the necessity of often renewing the catalogue, let the example of the British Museum be followed; let a copy of the catalogue be pasted in one or more blank folio volumes of substantial paper, leaving every other page blank to receive new-coming authors, who will find their proper alphabetical position opposite the respective printed names. Such interlined catalogue should be kept in one conspicuous place in the Library for general reference. Hoping that these hints, which are the result of some experience, may be found practically useful, I am, gentlemen, yours, etc., W. November 10, 1837. * Messes. Editors: I have, among others, to acknowledge my obligation to your corre- spondent under the signature of W. for the excellent hints thrown out by him relative to the best method of accomplishing that important object, a good Library catalogue. He says that the information com- municated by him is the result of some practical experience. I am sure that every one who has read his communication will give him full credit for his assertion, but as they were merely hints, and as he did not stop to particularize, I would beg leave to trespass on his kindness by pro- posing one or two queries for my practical guidance. He speaks of a "printed catalogue to be pasted on one or more folio volumes of blank paper, and the blank pages to be kept open for the insertion of additional works." Would he oblige me by giving some more specific particulars of a method which must be important if adopted in the great European libraries mentioned by him? He also says that in cataloguing anonymous works, one of the most difficult tasks in the operation, they should be entered according to the * National Intelligencer, November 13, 1837. CATALOGUING OF THE LIBRARY. 357 subject and date. As I can not clearly see how this is to be done with- out militating against the very rule laid down, of clearness, and more particularly, of succinctness, will he also oblige me by specifying the manner in which this is to be done? Such are the queries on which I would solicit him to throw some fur- ther light, and in doing which, at least as far as I am concerned, your correspondent would be carrying out his wish to be useful. L.' Messrs. Editors: Happy at all times in having it in my power to be useful, and par- ticularly when a favorite subject is in question, I hasten to respond to the queries put to me by your correspondent " L. " In the first place, with respect to the folio catalogue of the Library of the British Museum, it is constructed as follows: On each right hand page of a folio volume of substantial paper is pasted in the centre of the page a leaf of the ordinary catalogue, which is of the octavo size. The page opposite being left blank all addenda to the Library are entered on it, as nearly as possible opposite the corresponding name in the printed page. For instance, in the printed page is found Smith, J.; should any new work by a J. Smith be added to the Library, it is entered in the blank page opposite this name, and consequently presents a ready means of reference. N. B. — The blank folio page may be divided into two columns, which will allow room for ample additions; should the page become filled, there should be a reference to an addenda page at the end of the volume, carrying on the letter. Another useful hint that may be taken from the catalogue of the British Museum is the following: With a view to bring together as far as possible, under one point of view, all that appertains to a given author, not only the different editions should be specified (and that in chrono- logical order), but also the names of translators, commentators, etc., though their works are found under their respective headings; for instance, under the head Homer, after an enumeration of the various editions of his work, should appear: See Ogilvie, Pope, McPherson, Cowper, Southeby, Wolf, Coleridge, etc. The value of this to the student is far greater than appears at the first view. With respect to the anonymous works, they should, as I observed before, be classed under the respective heads of their subject-matter, and according to the order of date, as, for instance: Poetry — Love's Mystrie and Sondrie Sonnettes, 8vo. 1496 The Shepherde's Teares, 1 21 no. 1575 Flowers of Helicone, i2mo. 1606 Miscellaneous Poems, i8mo. 1712 ■ National Intelligencer, November 17, 1837. 358 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. . And so on through all the different headings found in the well-arranged synoptical table, by which the present catalogue of the Congress Library is prefaced. By the way, while speaking of this excellent table my suggestion would be to retain it in the new catalogue, and, exactly in the inverse ratio to the present catalogue, range the names of the authors alphabet- ically under each heading, so that the classification of subject-matter may exist as perfect as in the present catalogue. Another advantage of this arrangement is that it furnishes a chrono- logical list of subject-matter highly valuable to the curious. Before concluding, there is another suggestion which I would beg leave to offer. It would be found highly conducive to mutual interests, that, as in Europe, so throughout the Union, a correspondence should be maintained between the different librarians; so that if, as frequently happens, some library is in possession of duplicates of rare and valuable works, such duplicate may be exchanged for some other duplicate pos- sessed by that establishment. Such an arrangement would be found of great reciprocal advantage, and highly conducive to the interests of letters. W. 1 This correspondence seems to have had no immediate effect upon the cataloguing of the Library. But with the coming of Professor Jewett to Washington and the initiation of his plan of cooperative cataloguing a reform was at last inaugu- rated, and after the arrival of Mr. Spofford, accomplished in the author catalogue of 1864. A P art on ly of the history of this movement may be given in this place; the remainder will be given in a following chapter. In 1850 Professor Jewett said in his "Notices of public libraries" (p. 139): "The Library of Congress is one of great value, and is worthy of a minute and accurate catalogue, one in which every book, pamphlet, map, handbill, speech, and important article in a review or magazine should be entered carefully and accurately under the name of its author, and alphabetical and analytical indexes of subjects should be made; it should be a model performance, but it should not, of course, be required from the present force employed in the Library, which is not sufficient for the regular work of the establishment. The making of a catalogue should be a separate affair." 1 National Intelligencer, November 24, 1837. CATALOGUING OF THE LIBRARY. 359 In an address before the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the same year 1 he called attention also to the cumbersomeness of the system of catalogue sup- plements. The supplements to the last general catalogue of the Library of Congress numbered nine. The student was thus obliged to grope his way through ten catalogues instead of one in order to ascertain whether the book which he sought was or was not in the Library. And he could not be certain even then that the book was not in the collection, for it might have been received since the last supplement was printed. The commission appointed by the Secretary of the Smith- sonian Institution to which Professor Jewett's plan for cata- loguing was submitted made a report October 26 1850, which concluded as follows: 2 In order that a beginning may be made in the execution of the plan, under circumstances highly favorable to its success, the undersigned take the liberty of suggesting that it would be advisable for the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to obtain the requisite authority to pre- pare a catalogue of the Library of Congress on the above-described plan. A catalogue of this Library is now very much wanted. Originally con- structed on a defective plan, and continued by the publication of a large number of supplements, it is now almost useless, and, as the Library increases, it becomes daily more so. The preparation of an alphabetical catalogue has in this way become a matter of absolute necessity for the Library itself, while it affords the best opportunity for commencing an arrangement by which the various libraries of the country will be brought into a mutually beneficial connection with each other on the plan proposed by Professor Jewett. The undersigned consider the permanent superintendence of this plan to be an object entirely within the province of the Smithsonian Institu- tion. They are satisfied that it will tend both to the increase and diffusion of knowledge, and they therefore hope that the sanction of the Regents and of Congress will be given to the undertaking. The Library of Congress, it was felt, could bear the cost of the first collection of stereotyped titles better than any other library. Moreover, it was desirable that the first catalogue 'This address -was printed in the Proceedings of the association and reprinted with the title, A plan for stereotyping catalogues by separate titles, and for forming a general stereotyped catalogue of public libraries in the United States. By Charles C. Jewett. Washington, 1851. 14 p. 8°. 2 Charles C. Jewett, On the construction of catalogues of libraries, 1852, pp. 77-78. 360 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. should be prepared near the Institution, where the work could be more conveniently supervised and rendered accurate. Nor would it be necessary on this plan to finish the preparation of the entire catalogue before beginning to print it. The stereotyping might commence with the cataloguing, and the catalogue might begin with any part of the Library. The catalogue might thus be published in parts, each containing the books on a particular subject, and these parts afterwards be combined to form a complete catalogue, either alphabetical or classed. The stereotype blocks of the titles would be pre- served in the Institution, and a complete annual catalogue of the Library furnished at a cost less than that of the old decennial catalogues. The same titles would also be employed in printing the catalogues of other libraries, and the new titles which might be prepared for these would, in turn, be used without charge for the Library of Congress. Accordingly, at a meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, February 12, 1853, the following preamble and resolution were adopted: Whereas a plan for stereotyping catalogues by separate titles, and for preparing and printing the catalogues of the various libraries in the United States in uniform style and at greatly diminished cost, as well as for forming a general catalogue of all these libraries, was presented to the Smithsonian Institution and referred to the two commissions — one to report upon the literary advantages of the plan and the other upon the practicability of the means proposed for its execution; and Whereas on the recommendation of these commissions the Smith- sonian Institution has incurred the expense of procuring type and appa- ratus, of educating workmen, and of developing and perfecting processes to be employed, so that all arrangements are now made for the successful prosecution of the work; and Whereas the first commission appointed to examine the plan, in their report, recommended that, ' ' In order that a beginning might be made in the execution of the plan under circumstances highly favorable to its success, the undersigned take the liberty of suggesting that it would be advisable for the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to obtain the requisite authority to prepare a catalogue of the Library of Congress on the above-described plan: " Therefore, Resolved, That the Secretary of the Institution be requested to call the attention of the Library Committee of Congress to the above-described plan, to inform them that the Institution is now ready to execute the proposed work, and to invite their cooperation in aid of an enterprise so ANCIEXT HISTOKV. [Chapter 1. 173 AntiquilOs Romanies de Denys d'Halicarnasse ; traduites en Francois, avec notes, par M. Bellanger, 2 v. 4to ; Paris 1723.* 8 Apolloddrus : Bibliotheca, Gr. ifc Lat., cura Chr. G. He) ne, 4 v. 12mo; Goettinga-, 1782-3.* 120 Appianus Alexandrinus: Historia; Roman*, Gr.' & Lat; Tollii, 2 v. Svo; Amstelodami, 1070.* 33 — — — — — Istorio delle Guerre de* Romani, dal . Braceio e Ruscelli, 12mo; Venetia, 1507.* History of the Roman Wars ; traus- . 185 lated by J. Davies, folio; London, 1092. 1 38c Arnold, Tliomas : History of Rome, to the End of the Second Punic War, 3 v. 8vo ; London, 1845. 13Sd — - — History of the later Roman Common- wealth, from the End of the Second Punic War to the Death of Julius Ctesar; and of the Reign of Augustus; with a Life of Trajan, 2 v. 8vo ; London, 18-15. 74 Arrianus: Expcditio Alexandri, Gr. & Lat. Raphelii, 8vo; Amstelodami, 1757.* 179 Idem, Gr. vfc Lat. Vulcanii, folio jexcudebat H. Stephanas, 1575.* History of Alexander's Expedition j with Notes by Rookc, and Mr. Le Clerc's Criticism upon Quinlus Curtius, 2 V. 8vo; London 1814. 180 Atbenai Deipnosophist.i, Lat-Natalis Comes, folios Wnctiis. 1550.' 153a Ranks, IJiiiiv: Civil and Constitutional History of Rome, from its 1'ouiiila'i.m to the A'„'e of Augustus, 2 v. in 1, Svo ; London, 181 sj, 02 Burlhelcim,.!. .1. : V.a;-. ■' ■ Greece, t v.. "no; 1'l.ij ■ ■ 105 Basnage, J. de Frjinqtiefti : ■ ■ r-io-l;it- ed into Englisl^b} T. i ■ ■ .. I'O.H. 00 Berlie,M.PAI-be: Essai Hisioii. • ■•..•'■•jue.-lSiucj: Lyons, 1700. ■ 4 Berosus, Manetho. Xcin.phoi.ri- !!•; I'aliitu. Pu-tnr, Myrsilns, Cato de t irininibu^, \ut"iiiui hiin-rariiim. SeU)-: pi-onii Italia. Melastlit;!!!-. 1'hilu ile Tcmpoiilms, Anuti Vitorbensis Chrouonrapbia, \rciii Sicilia et 1 1 i-~p.ini.-i. 12mo ; Antvrrphe, 1545.* 67 Bingley, Wm. : Biography of Celehral ed Roman Characters; 12mo; London,* 1824, 37 Biographia Classica, 2 v. 12int>; London, 1750." 79 Blackwell, Thomas : Enquiry into the Lite and Writings of Homer, 8vo ; London, 1 757. ' 79a • ■ The same, Svo; London. 1730. 77« Blakeslcy, Joseph • \V.': Life of Aristotle, including a Critical Discussion of some Questions of Literary History con- nected with his Works, 8w; Cambridge, 1839. facsimile; of the library of congress catalogue of 1849, ands> ( History of the Library of Congress, vol. 1, plate 23. 14 ARRIANTTS, of Nkonwlia. . . . Ahriani (qui alter Xonophon vocatus fuit) Jc expedit. Alex. Magni, hUtoriariun .libri vm. Ex Bmutvcnl. Vvloanii Brvg. nuua interpretatiouc. Ab codem < L uamplnrimi loci ope vete- ris cxcmplaris restituti. Cum indieo eopiosiwinm. Alexandra vita, ex l'lvt. civsdciu libri II, do fnrtvna vol virtute Alexaudii. . , [Or. dl JUU., ill J,,n: ml*. Eilik,/ I,,/ 11. 7iVlV„«e.J [/'»/■/*,] 1575, ,.,■', ,„l.t,„i Xlcv'r. Stqikmiut. fp. (11.1 in: X 5. S) miinj. nutcx. -J. payings. [ 1421 ] Tl.i< wtirk nlH> cviioiin.-. "t. l.ivli iylirivmrto AU'Xnnilr.i. A Acln |M>rilr.iiiit(i iirmii m mtii-,.1 :" ■■l'lulli.,.1 Mi. I,.,,,,,, : v x ;,. ,.| .11. \:,i..ln M...'iii r..i.i|.:ir..li... .-X l-rei Itlj. I-..;" ■■!;. i.,n:i ,j t .IK-.a.uilri Magiil Vila, inuriljvsuf mortc iviedi-u./' :" 1AM \i neden.-ia expoditinnis Aloxandri libri septum ct •iii tudiea Cmr. ci Lit. [in Jin r. rv//<.] i:um annututmuibus ct nidi..' Gru'e.. liu iipliti.->iiii-. <; _rii Urjijlulii Arcedtmt eelogie I'lo'lii ad Arriunum pertinent..* eum leeriuiiibus vuriantibu* Dav. ll.je.-oh.lii, Miiiiiuaria III. r.. rum diMon-la \" cmendata, index rcrum aeeura(i>-iluu>. ice ti' >n ta'..uja .ji-ui: 'aphiea cxpeditinuis Aloxandri. tyitfd by .I,iii,I, I Villi,:,,.] ..t,„,i.i„ ,!,,],„: iT.-.T. s' (i;<--;.5) [iooi] AliiilAs'.s lii-tiii-v "f Aio\eii.l..|-'s oxpeilirimi. Translated from tin GlVek. Willi lo.te.- liM-eh-a]. «e.-raphieal. and eritieal. By Ir. [Mi„] U"..k,., T.i uliiel, i- prefixed .Mr, [./.»«] l.e ('lore's .•i-m I!]... it Milium- ruriiu-; and .-.Hue remarks upon A Ir. '■'■■'; l'i n/..iiiiit-'- vindie.iti..n ».f that author [/-/'. /.'.rtVJ. A ill-two velum,-. .*...-' /...,../.,«, I15U. M' ifiA iir.xSA) [1131] i i ;■ V -. ih, :....!>!, |..-..l. u r.. -Ari-i.... - - I1..II.11. tO-t-.r^." "An nc.-oimt ...I. .,.,( ■.. ....1 ,.:. -I- 1 1 \[.\;.ii.|.T. i.tl.T liisd.-iiil. ■" -A l.rli'f uc- >..-a.el...r. »l... I.,,..- e. u .-li...l u L ..u Hi.- I.i..|,.rj el Ale.vui.l.i.'' "A djruHO- (iMaii "IWi-i.- ATHEWEUS, „/ Xiiir,;ili*. Ain.KNiia dipti'i-npbislarynt sine oietiie sapientum libri XV. \Jatale de (' niiiihv.- \'enetu uvuo prtuium 6 Grteea in Latinara iin'_oiainuern-iiie. Coniplvrihvsex man vscriptis antirj vis, simisex- . in[.l .I'ihu- .eldii!-: ipuo iii tirieeo haeteuus huprossis uolumiiiibus Hon ri;r.eri..l,anliir. .... H... I.'i.'n;. /,. , tl.il. .;ij.;i) maty. note*. 2 coh. [ 1354 ] 'S .Tins I'.^ii'iimivV H'le'lC ;lS.\vuio). ; Life uf Tin i 1'oMroxus Atiiccs. ■ I SITS (Caii-s OlTAVirS). - LLTlti »I'LU^. Brevinrium : ncccdit Mcssala Corvinus do progenie Ac- CATALOGUE OF 1854, PREPARED UPON PROFESSOR JEWETTS PLAN. CATALOGUING OF THE LIBRARY. 361 important to the Library of Congress, to all the libraries in the country, and to the great object of this Institution, "the increase and diffusion of knowledge. ' ' J In consequence, on the 3d of March, 1853, the Library Committee " Resolved ', That a general catalogue of the Library of Congress be prepared upon the plan recommended by the Smithsonian Institution. That the selection of a cataloguer or cataloguers, be left to the determination of the Librarian and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and that a contract be made on the part of the Library Com- mittee, with the said Institution, in accordance with the plan submitted to the committee, and that the Librarian be directed to make said contract with the approval of the Chairman, to whose decision, in case of necessity, reference shall be had." And on the 3d of March, 1853, Congress appropriated $3,000 for the preparation and publication of the catalogue. The plan met with equal favor among librarians. On the 1 6th of September it was explained by Professor Jewett 2 to the librarians assembled in convention in New York in much the same language as he had used before the American Association for the Advancement of Science two years before, and on motion of Mr. Folsom the convention passed reso- lutions to the same effect as those passed by the Association for the Advancement of Science, as follows: Resolved, That we have considered attentively the plan for con- structing catalogues of libraries, and a general catalogue of the public libraries of the United States, by means of separate stereotyped titles originated and prepared by Professor Jewett and developed by him while librarian of the Smithsonian Institution. That we regard it as an object of high importance to the interests of our public libraries and to the promotion of learning, and worthy to share in the funds of the Institution and the zealous exertions of its officers; the more so as it is an enterprise which can not be successfully prosecuted except under the guidance, protection, and pecuniary support of this central estab- lishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Resolved, That we have learned with pleasure that Congress, on the recommendation of the Library Committee, made an appropriation 'Seventh annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, p. 95; Thirty-second Congress, second session, Senate miscellaneous documents, No. 53, March 1, 1853. 2 This is reported in Norton's Literary Gazette, 3: 173; in the Literary World, 13: 154, and in the National Intelligencer, November 26, 1853. 362 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 2852-1864. for the practical testing of the plan in its application to the Library of Congress, and that the work is now in successful progress. Resolved, That, as practical librarians and bibliographers, we take pride and satisfaction in the fact that a measure of so great literary utility has received the prompt and efficient support of our national legislature ; and we would express the earnest hope that this support may be extended to it liberally till its first great result in the complete stereotyped catalogue of the Library of Congress shall be attained. 1 Work upon the catalogue had been begun in August, 1853. By the end of the year 6,000 volumes had been catalogued, 4,000 of which were in Chapter I, Ancient history. This part was then published, at the suggestion of the chairman of the Library Committee, as a specimen of the proposed work. The volume was entitled: " Catalogue of the Library of Con- gress. Chapter I. Ancient history. Complete to January, 1854. Washington: Stereotyped and printed at the Smith- sonian Institution, 1854." The work appeared both as a manual in octavo, and as a reference book in folio in double columns. The catalogue being intended to contain a full and accurate description of the books in the Library, every title was as far as possible an exact transcript of the original, and notes were appended where essential. The book also con- tained cross references and an index of subjects. A general index to the contents of the Library was planned to supple- ment the classed catalogue. In the preparation and publication of this catalogue, how- ever, two-thirds of the appropriation had been expended. The cataloguing was thus costing about 33^ cents a volume, whereas the actual outlay upon the former catalogues of the Library had not exceeded 5 cents per volume. To meet the objection which might be raised on this score, Professor Jewett said in his report for 1853: It is obvious that the cost of the first catalogue will be greater than if it were not stereotyped. The work of preparation will also be more expensive, but the additional cost of the first edition will be more than saved in the reprinting of the whole catalogue. It will be further under- stood that the sum paid by the first library is not only for its own benefit, but for that of every other library hereafter adopting the plan, so far as its books are the same. Congress is, therefore, now conferring a great •Eighth annual report of the Smithsonian Institution, p. 32; Thirty-third Con- gress, first session, House miscellaneous documents, No. 97. CATALOGUING OF THE LIBRARY. 363 boon upon other libraries, while at the same time it is taking the course the most economical for the procuring of its own catalogue. * * * As soon as the catalogue of the Library of Congress shall be completed, other institutions, and even individuals, are ready to avail themselves of the scheme for procuring their catalogues. Its general adoption — the crowning point of all our efforts — seems, therefore, as sure as the com- pletion of the first work. 1 On the 31st of May, 1854, $5,000 more was voted for this catalogue. But in the summer Professor Jewett was obliged to resign his position as librarian of the Smithsonian Institu- tion, and though his work was carried on under the direction of Professor Jillson, of Brown University, and some 9,654 titles, or 21,805 volumes, catalogued by the end of the year 1854, no more of the catalogue of the Library of Congress was printed upon this plan. In his report for 1854, dated Feb- ruary 28, 1855, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution expressed the hope that an additional appropriation would be made during that session of Congress sufficient to complete the whole catalogue. The Institution, he said, would then have the statistics necessary to ascertain the cost of prepar- ing a catalogue of this kind, and the means necessary to give definite information in reference to it to the principal libra- ries of the country. 2 In his report for 1855, dated July 24, 1856, Secretary Henry said that the number of titles prepared was 15,885, with 7,949 cross references, the whole number of volumes catalogued being 32,986. This number, he said, embraced all the volumes which were in the Library at the time the catalogue was commenced, with the exception of the law department, the bound volumes of tracts, and some incom- plete works. It also included the additions made in the gen- eral library to Chapters I, II, III, and IV, previous to April, 1855, the additions to the different chapters previous to the time they were catalogued, and at least one-half of the additions made during the past year. The whole amount expended on the preparation of the 15,885 titles was $4,971.07, and that of stereotyping about 4,000 titles, $2,974.91. The 'Eighth annual report of the Smithsonian Institution, pp. 31, 32. •Ninth, annual report of the Smithsonian Institution, p. 23; Thirty-third Congress, second session, Senate miscellaneous documents, No. 24. 364 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. appropriations made by Congress were therefore exhausted, excepting $54.02. ' On the 14th of November the American Organ announced that the printing of the catalogue of the Library prepared upon the Smithsonian plan had been abandoned, and that a catalogue of the recent accessions prepared upon the usual plan was in press. The catalogue of the Library of Congress published in 1 86 1 was constructed upon the same plan as previous general catalogues, except that like the catalogue of 1849 ^ was with- out the poor index which was the characteristic feature of the catalogues of 1815, 1830, and 1840. The scheme of classifi- cation was also modified somewhat. In the "Alphabetical catalogue of the Library of Con- gress," published in 1864, the one desideratum of a large library, an alphabetical author catalogue, was finally secured. The preface to this volume explained this departure in the cataloguing of the Library in the following language: The last general catalogue of the Library of Congress was issued in 1861, and embraced the accessions to the close of the year 1859. Four general catalogues, besides numerous annual supplements, had been published previously, viz, in 1815, 1831, 1839, and 1849, respectively. Since the last issue, in 1861, nearly twenty thousand volumes have been added to the Library, and five annual supplements to the catalogue have been issued. To consolidate all these catalogues into a single volume, and to facilitate reference by reducing the multifarious alpha- bets of former general catalogues to one alphabetical arrangement is the object of the present volume. All former general catalogues of this Library have been arranged upon a system of classification prepared by Thomas Jefferson, and based upon Lord Bacon's division of knowledge. This classification, however well adapted, in some respects, to a small library, like that of Mr. Jefferson when adopted in 181 5 as the basis of the present collection, is wholly unsuited to the necessities of readers consulting a large library. It was never designed by its author as a bibliographical system, but rather as a scientific arrangement of the various branches of human knowledge. No further illustration of its defects need be given than the fact that in the last catalogue of the Library of Congress the titles are distributed through a series of 179 distinct alphabets, arranged in an arbitrary sequence, and without an index. Few readers have the "Tenth annual report of the Smithsonian Institution, p. 31 ; Thirty-fourth Congress, first session, Senate miscellaneous documents, No. 73. CATALOGUING OF THE LIBRARY. 365 leisure and fewer still the inclination, to study the intricacies of such a system of classification. In abandoning it for a more simple method, the officers of the Library are assured that they have consulted the convenience as well as the wishes of Congress and of other frequenters of the Library. In the arrangement of any catalogue of books, the chief desideratum, next to accuracy of description, is facility of reference, and to this end all minor considerations should be sacrificed. This volume embraces the present contents of the Library, arranged in all cases under the names of the authors, when known, anonymous works being entered, for the most part, under the leading word of the subject they treat of. This method, while it is a departure from the more uniform rule of entering anonymous works under the first word of the title, as practiced by some bibliographers, is unquestionably of greater utility to the gen- eral reader, and is not without high bibliographical authority. To complete the plan adopted, the present alphabetical catalogue of authors will soon be followed by an analytical catalogue of subjects, also arranged alphabetically, and covering the whole field which the works embraced in the present volume illustrate. Those consulting the Library will thus have before them the means of determining, by a single ref- erence, whether the Library contains any work, if the author's name is known; and also, by a single reference, whether it contains any book of which the subject is known. Library of Congress, September, 1864. This catalogue, the first fruits of the service of Mr. Spofford on the staff of the Library, was in 1869 supple- mented by a " Catalogue of the Library of Congress. Index of subjects," in two volumes. Chronologically, this work does not belong to the period to which we have limited our discussion, but as it was an essential part of the reform in cataloguing introduced by Mr. Spofford as chief assistant librarian, we must present the preface of the latter work in this place as the sequel to the preface of the former. The preface to the subject catalogue of 1869, reads as follows: The purpose of this catalogue is to afford the readiest available key to the books upon every subject which the Library of Congress embraces. It is not its purpose to furnish a bibliographical system, nor to add another to the numerous existing attempts toward the classification of human knowledge. In any such classification any arrangement except the alphabetical one must, from the nature of the case, be purely arbi- trary. While every man can construct a system which sufficiently suits himself, it is commonly found that it is clear to very few others. The 366 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. one thing needful in a catalogue of subjects is instant facility of refer- ence; and if a scientific arrangement of topics is sometimes sacrificed to this end, the student whose time is saved will be little disposed to quarrel with the bridge that carries him safely over. The alphabetical arrangement of topics has been adopted and adhered to, both in the general alphabet and under each subordinate head, with occasional modifications where there seemed to be an overruling reason for it. This method has one undeniable advantage over all others — it is its own interpreter. The alphabetical arrangement of topics, with a sufficiently copious system of cross-references, solves every difficulty as soon as it arises, instead of keeping the reader on a baffled search for knowledge. It thus fulfills the end of the highest utility. Some catalogues have endeavored to accomplish the object of a systematic index by grouping the names of authors on each topic as catch words in an alphabet of subjects, placed after a catalogue of authors, or mingled with such a catalogue in the same alphabet. This system, while it is unquestionably better than none, is open to the serious objec- tion that it demands from every reader seeking specific information a double reference for each work; first to the index of subjects to find the topic, and next to the index of authors to find the full title and the date of the work. This involves a considerable loss of time in the case of each work, and when this is multiplied by all the books to be consulted on a given topic the delay becomes incalculable. The present catalogue is constructed upon the principle that the reader is entitled to find all the works upon any topic fully described under that topic, and by a single reference, thus saving the time of the student for more important investigations than catalogue hunting. The only important deviation from this rule consists in the grouping of subordinate topics under the general class to which they belong. Thus the various divisions in theology, law, and medicine will be found arranged in subordinate alphabets under those general heads, instead of being scattered throughout the catalogue. While much may be said in favor of the latter arrangement, it is believed that the assemblage of all the titles belonging to a given subject, along with their related topics, is more in consonance with the convenience of readers, as well as far more suggestive in point of the information conveyed by the catalogue. Especially where the catalogue, as in the present case, extends beyond a single volume, the synthetic arrangement under a comprehensive head becomes a labor-saving expedient to the student, who is thus saved the constant turning from one volume to another in his investigation of one general subject. The sole objection to this method is met by a great num- ber of cross-references from particular to general topics, and by an alpha- betical arrangement of subordinate topics under their general head. The imperfections of the catalogue are many, and they represent not only the limitations of the library which is here catalogued, but defects of plan and arrangement which would have been obviated by more time CLASSIFICATION OF THE LIBRARY. 367 devoted to the publication. But the printing of some kind of a catalogue of subjects with the least possible delay being deemed a necessity, these discrepancies and faults of execution could not be wholly avoided. The work is presented, therefore, as but an approximation to a thoroughly digested index of subjects which it is hoped to issue hereafter, incorpo- rating the numerous valuable accessions to the library which have been made while this work was passing through the press. I,ibrary OF Congress, Washington, December, iS6p. Provision for the distribution of the catalogues of the Library was made by joint resolution approved January 14, 1841: 1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That one copy of the catalogue of the library of Congress be presented to each of the incorporated universities, colleges, athenaeums, and historical societies in the United States, not exceeding three hundred in number, and to the American Antiquarian Society. These changes in cataloguing were accompanied by changes in classification. The classification by format of 1802 and the classification by general subject and subclassification by format of 181 2 and 181 5 was in 1861 superseded by an arrangement by subject throughout. The substitution of a narrow for a broad classification, made necessary by the increased size of the Library, by the changes in the bounda- ries of the sciences, and by the growth of professional inter- ests, involved a readjustment of the relations of the general classes as well as a subdivision of those classes. This is shown in the transfer of "Writing," "Printing," and "Book- binding," from chapter 15, "Technical arts," to chapter 38, "Literature and bibliography;" "The law of nature and of nations" from "Moral philosophy" (chapter 16.2) to a dis- tinct place (chapter 24) between law and politics; mathe- matics, physics, and astronomy from philosophy to natural history; ecclesiastical history from history to religion, and a rearrangement of literature along lines dictated by more modern taste. In this reclassification of the Library it was necessary to adopt a new scheme of notation. In the Jefferson scheme ethics had been marked 16. i, 2 law of nature and nations 16.2. 'And Jan. 20, 1843: This distributed the remainder to colleges not already pro- vided and persons entitled to use the Library. 2 This is not a decimal number. 368 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. An inserted book was numbered by adding a letter to the book number of the book next preceding, or by renumbering the entire class. For example, a Collection of papers relating to the history of Massachusetts being numbered A, the Col- lections of the Massachusetts Historical Society when added to the Library were marked -£i. As many as a dozen or more insertions, arranged in order of accession, were sometimes made and numbered thus by the added letters 1, m, etc. In the reclassification of i860 the subdivisions of the class Politics were marked 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, etc., as the subdivisions of moral philosophy had been marked in 18 15; the book numbers were superseded by shelf numbers, and new book labels and book plates were prepared to correspond to the notation. With the rapid development of the Library after 1 86 1 the shelf numbers came in a measure to have the significance of class numbers, and the fixed location to give way to a movable one. INDEXING OF DOCUMENTS. The Library staff had no time for bibliographical work, 1 although such work clearly constituted one of the functions of the institution, both as a Library of Congress and as a national library. The custody of Congressional documents, for example, involved properly the cataloguing of them, just as the custody of the nation's literature involved the cata- loguing of it, and the publication of the catalogues. Such work was still left to private initiative; the question of Gov- ernment patronage of such work, however, was referred to the Library Committee, and thus requires notice from the historian of the Library. In 1823 an index to the House documents of the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Congresses had been printed by order of the House of Representatives. In 1824 an index to the House documents of the First to the Fourteenth Con- gresses had been printed by the order of the House. The desirability of a more comprehensive work was, however, felt. 'It was necessary to close the Library for a month in the autumn to gain time to shelve the new books and prepare the annual supplement to the catalogue. — Meehan to Everett, March 2, 1831; Library of Congress MSS. INDEXING OF DOCUMENTS. 369 Accordingly, on the 20th of February, 1830, at the sugges- tion of Mr. Watterston, Mr. Burges moved in the House "That the Clerk of the House of Representatives be directed to cause a digested index to be prepared to the Executive papers, reports of committees, and all other public documents from the origin of the Government, and also a general index to the journals of the two Houses." On the 24th this was referred to the Committee on the Library. The resolution was introduced at the beginning of the next session of Congress by Mr. Taylor, but its consideration postponed indefinitely. It appears from the correspondence between Watterston and Edward Everett that this index was to be in two volumes, one an index to the documents, the other an index to the journals. It was to have been compiled by Watterston and Fendall, the two editors of the National Journal? The measure for a comprehensive index having failed, Mr. Taylor moved, December 28, 1830, for a supplement to the two existing indexes. This passed February 11, 183 1. In 1839 Thomas F. Gordon presented a memorial to Con- gress asking for the patronage of that body for an index to the journals and documents of the two Houses of Congress. The substance of his memorial was as follows: The existing indices are confessedly insufficient and are liable to the following objections: 1 . They do not remove the great difficulty and labor, to which every member of Congress is subject, in tracing the action of the Government upon any matter. 2. Nor do they lessen the labor and perplexity of ascertaining the proceedings of any department upon its ordinary duties or upon matters specially referred to it. Hence, are induced calls upon the departments for information which has been previously rendered, and consequently great delay and expense. 3. They afford an imperfect clue to the indigested mass of valuable matter which the several hundred volumes of the Congressional proceed- ings contain, and the light of experience is thus frequently unattainable. 4. For want of a better guide these volumes, which contain the greater part of the only veritable history of the country, are sealed books to the people and their representatives. 'Watterston to Everett, February 25, December 29, 1830; February 12, 1831; Jour- nal of the House of Representatives. 23399—04 24 370 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. To remedy these evils I propose to make three sets of indices, the first comprising the executive documents and reports of committees of both Houses, the second the journals of the Senate and the third the journals of the House of Representatives, each series containing the matter pertaining to it from the institution of the Government to the present time, the first in order above mentioned to be the first executed. The first index would show on its page an analytical abstract of every document referred to, with the year, the Congress, the session, the volume, and the page to which it belongs. The matter of the index will be classed alphabetically under as many titles as possible (the more titles the better) , giving, however, the syn- opsis of each volume under one title only, with reference to that from all the other titles under which the matter of the document is noticed. The matter under each title will be arranged numerically, in placita, or sections, for the convenience of reference and the avoidance of repeti- tion. The abstracts under the general titles will give the full scope of the documents, whilst due care is had to avoid redundancy. Such an index would present a general and connected view of the whole action of the Government in each and every department; a satis- factory analysis of every document and report; a ready access to each component part or principle, however widely dispersed through the records, with the means of direct recurrence to each document and report in extenso. It would be a national work, opening inlets, now imper- vious, to a correct and useful knowledge of the national history. To the agent of every department of Government it would prove a great labor-saving machine, abridging his labors, whilst it directed his proper course when seeking for light to his own path or to guide the steps of others. Knowledge is power, and this power it would be efficient to give. Such a work is one of great labor, requiring more ability than is ordi- narily needed in a clerk; requiring, also, exclusive devotion to it for a long and unbroken period; much attention to comprehend correctly the matter, and to preserve its due connexion; the command of language, and the tact to condense closely; in a word, the skill necessary for cor- rect and lucid abridgement. May I say that my pursuits for some years past have, in a measure, specially qualified me for such a labor? The work is one not only of great labor, but one requiring much time. There are some hundred volumes of documents and reports pertaining to the two Houses. It is one also of great risk, since no recompense is anticipated until the whole work shall be compiled. Death or disease, which may obstruct the work, will impose on the laborer the loss to him- self or family of the fruits of his labor. It is a national work, intended chiefly for the officers and agents of the Government, and must be created at the national expense. One INDEXING OF DOCUMENTS. 371 hundred copies beyond the number taken by the Government would be as many as I would dare to print. If the work be executed, Congress must order such number of copies as will remunerate the labor and cost. What should that number be? You will readily admit, I presume, that it would be convenient for every member of Congress to have at his chambers a copy of the work; that if he carried it home with him it would enable his family and his neighbors to acquire a knowledge useful to everyone destined to public station, and that, therefore, it might not be unwise to supply the members of several successive Con- gresses with the work. I^ess than 1,500 copies would scarcely serve these views. I am not unaware, however, that a proposal for such a number will find many and resolute objectors, to avoid whom it will be proper to reduce the amount to that which will be absolutely requisite to pay for the labor, expense, and risk of the enterprise. It is somewhat difficult to get at this desideratum from the uncer- tain extent of the labor. To render the work most useful it should be put into as compact a form as possible, and consequently in as small type as may be easily legible— say brevier. Each volume should make a convenient manual, and might contain 800 pages. The size would be properly determined by the space necessary for all the matter under the classing letters of the alphabet which it might contain. Thus, if Volume I have the indicative letters A, B, C, D, E, F, etc., it should com- prehend all the subjects under them. The page would necessarily be a heavy one, containing about twice as much matter as the page of Gor- don's Digest of the laws of the United States, and being of tabular form, with much figure work, would cost double price for composition. Such a volume, therefore, could not be printed and properly bound for less than 2,000 dollars; from the balance must be paid the compilers, copyists, proof readers, etc. It is not possible, a priori, to state the number of volumes requisite for each series of indices. The executive documents and reports of commit- tees might probably be comprised in three such volumes as I have described above, perhaps in two. Viewing, therefore, the labor, the cost, and the risk, the remuneration should be liberal, and payable in portions on delivery of the several vol- umes. By reason of the alphabetical form, the whole of each series must be compiled before any part of it can be put to press. This cir- cumstance assures the compilation of each series before demand for remuneration, and subjects the compiler alone to all the risk of the enterprise. We can not fix the price per volume, but may per page; and I propose to receive 1 cent for every printed page, 500 copies being taken. This is the price paid for printing the laws in the newspapers for pages having about one- third the matter I propose; such was the price paid me by the Treasury Department for an edition of the Digest 372 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. of the revenue laws. These terms will leave to the compiler little more than the wages of a Government clerk, whilst his labors will be treble those of such a clerk, if he would make wages at all. You will perceive, from the preceding view, that the proposed indices will differ widely in character, utility, and cost from the crude, meager brochures which usurp the name of indices, now in use in Congress. You will perceive, also, that a work faithfully executed upon the pro- posed plan will be a manual for every American statesman. 1 This memorial was presented to Congress with a favorable recommendation from the Library Committee February 16, 1839, again January 7, 1843, January 11, 1845, 2 and March 3, 1846, 3 but with no success. Other bibliographical enterprises met with a similar fate. The memorial of E. R. Livingston, submitting to the Senate his system for arranging and indexing legislative documents and papers, and his proposal for arranging and indexing all the documents and papers of Congress by that system, referred to the committee by the Senate, was on the 14th of May, 1858, referred by them to Mr. Bayard, and on the 20th laid on the table. William Elliot compiled a list of all the books deposited for copyright in the Department of State, alphabetically and analogically arranged. The National Intelligencer (March 24, 1834) expressed the hope that it would be published, and on the 16th of December, 1834, Mr. Robbins presented in the Senate a petition from William Elliot praying for the patron- age of Congress in the publication of the work; but the Library Committee, to whom the petition had been referred, voted, January 31, 1835, tnat a motion be made to discharge the committee from its further consideration. On the 21st of July, 1848, a resolution was received from the Senate instructing the committee to inquire into the expediency of purchasing for the use of the Senate an index to the National Intelligencer, from 1810 to 1820, prepared by H. Morfit, esq., of the city of Washington. "Voted, That 'Twenty-seventh Congress, third session, House report No. 41. This was pre- sented January 7, 1843, but is in substance the same as that in the unpublished report presented February 16, 1839. 2 Twenty -eighth Congress, second session, House document No. 46. ^Twenty-ninth Congress, first session, Senate document No. 184. PRIVILEGES OF THE LIBRARY. 373 the subject be laid over for the purpose of making some inquiries." On the 24th of June, 1864, on motion of Mr. Anthony, the Senate resolved "That the Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the expediency of causing a cata- logue of all the publications relating to the Rebellion to be compiled." PRIVILEGES OF THE LIBRARY. The privileges of the Library, until this time confined to members of Congress, the judges of the Supreme Court, the members of the diplomatic corps, and one or two others, were now extended to the heads of Departments and other officers of the Government. On the 9th of January, 18 17, a bill to this effect had passed the Senate but got no further. On the 22d of December, 1829, however, on motion of Repre- sentative Davis, of South Carolina, the use of the books in the Library was extended to the heads of the Departments; on the 23d, on motion of Mr. Pearce, the resolution was amended so as to extend to ex-Presidents of the United States resident in the city of Washington; on the 30th the Library Committee, to whom the resolution had been referred, recommended the further extension of the privileges of the Library to the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the chaplains of Con- gress; and on the 13th of January, 1830, the resolution was approved: RESOLUTION granting the use of the books in the Library of Congress to the heads of Departments, to certain officers of Congress, and to ex-Presidents of the United States. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the time being, be, and they are hereby authorized to grant the use of the books in the Library of Congress, to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, the Postmaster- General, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the chaplains of Congress, and any individual, when in the District of Columbia, who may have been President of the United States; at the times, and on the same terms, conditions, and restrictions, as members of Congress are allowed to use said books. 374 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. By the act of August 11, 1848, the privilege was also extended to the Solicitor of the Treasury. On the other hand, the joint resolution granting the use of the Library to the judges and Solicitor of the Court of Claims, was reported upon by the Committee on the Library as follows : That, in their opinion, it is inexpedient to extend the privilege of taking books from the Library of Congress further than is now allowed by law. The law of 1802 allowed no book to be taken out of the Library, except by the President of the United States and by members of Con- gress for the time being. But this privilege has since been granted to all members of Congress, heads of departments, and diplomatic corps; to the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States; to ex-Presi- dents when in Washington; to the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives, and to the Solicitor of the Treasury — in all, more than 300 persons. Besides this, the Supreme Court is authorized to allow the use of the books in the law department of the Library to the attends and counsellors of the court during its sessions. Thus it will be seen that the list of those who are entitled to take books from the Library of Congress is very large; and the privilege is often abused by those who are entitled to it, using it for the supply of others than themselves and their own families. Under the rules which were prescribed many years ago by the Vice- President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, by authority of law, visitors are admitted to the Library. Although these rules are silent as to the use of books by visitors, they are, in fact, allowed the use of the books by reading them while there, and the means of making notes of what they read are readily furnished. They are also cheerfully aided by the Librarian and assistants in making researches. This is greater liberality than is usually practiced in great libraries, and much increases the labor of the Librarian and his assistants. But the number of books taken out of the Library by parties entitled to do so is quite large, and, indeed, often so large as not unfrequently to impede very seriously the researches of those making extended inquiries. This inconvenience increases with every addition to the number of privileged persons, and it has been so obvious to the Library Com- mittee that they have long opposed all applications made for the exten- sion of the privilege. These applications have been made on behalf of numerous officers of the General Government, but for many years they have been invariably refused. The last addition to the list was made by Congress without reference to the Committee on Library and without due consideration. PRIVILEGES OF THE LIBRARY. 375 In regard to the books in what is properly called the law department of the Library, their use is still more largely enjoyed since the act of 1832. This act authorized the justices of the Supreme Court to make such rules and regulations for the use of the same by themselves and the attorneys and counsellors of the court, during the sittings of the said court, as they shall deem proper. During the sessions of the Supreme Court, therefore, so many books are required by the judges, and used by the gentlemen of the bar attending the court, that mem- bers of Congress (notwithstanding there are many duplicates of certain works of general use) are frequently unable to prosecute satisfactorily the study of legal questions arising in Congress or in the course of their professional business. If the use of this department of the Library were granted to the judges and solicitor of the Court of Claims the present inconvenience to members of Congress would be largely increased. The committee, therefore, can not recommend the adoption of the resolution referred to them, though, if the list of those authorized to take books from the Library is to be extended they know no function- aries of the Government better entitled than the judges of the Court of Claims. They are very sensible that it is important to the Court of Claims to have the command of a select Library of law books and of a complete set of statutes and public documents. They venture to express the hope that an appropriation may be made to purchase law books for this court, and they report a bill making an appropriation for this pur- pose, and providing them with a copy of the statutes and public docu- ments, so far as the same can be obtained from such as are now on hand, as also with all that may be published hereafter, which they recommend as an independent bill. 1 The joint resolution granting the use of the Library to the justices of the supreme court of the District of Columbia was also reported upon adversely. 2 The suggestion of the Commissioner of Patents that if he were permitted to take books from the Library of Con- gress, it would relieve him from the necessity of purchasing some rare publications for his office was not even taken into consideration. 3 Still, those who wished to borrow books from the Library could do so by obtaining a card from a member of Con- gress. 4 This was done to such an extent that on the 21st of 1 Minutes, June 10, 1858; Congressional Globe, June 12, 1858; Thirty-fifth Congress, first session. Senate report No. 328, June 12, 1858. 2 Congressional Globe, January 12, 1864. 3 Report of the Commissioner of Patents for 1844, p. 8, '■Round Table 1: 38. 376 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. April, 1854, Mr. Taylor, of New York, asked the unanimous consent of the House to offer the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire whether it be not expedient that one copy of each work belonging to the Library be constantly retained therein. Also, whether books taken from the Library should not be required to be returned within a definite time, to be fixed by the rules regulating the Library. Mr. Clingman. That is the rule now. Mr. Taylor. Yes, sir; but it is not put in force. Mr. Clingman objected to the introduction of the resolution. While only privileged persons were allowed to borrow books from the Library, all were admitted to the use of the reading room. There was, it is true, a rule which required that visitors should be introduced by members of Congress, and because of some abuse of the privileges of the reading room, the committee voted March 31, 1832, "That the rule should be strictly enforced, and that the Librarian should give public notice to that effect." But it seems to have fallen again into abeyance. But while the committee were jealous of any extension of the privileges of the Library, the public was equally jealous of any limitations of those privileges. 1 Among the limitations complained of was the closing of the Library every other day when Congress was not in ses- sion, and for the space of a month in the autumn of each year for the purpose of cleaning and arranging the books and the rooms 2 — this Library, said a writer in the United States Magazine for August, 1856, 3 should be opened on every secular day during the year. Another limitation complained of was the closing of the Library in the evening. This led to the publication of the following interesting letters in the National Intelligencer, January 3, 1844, and May 25, 1853: To the Editors: If you have at command a copy of the rules and regulations for the custody and government of the Congressional Library, you would render some public service by publishing them. 1 A writer in the Star (January 23, 1853) went so far as to protest against the custom of excluding boys from the Library. 2 National Intelligencer, October 20, 1830, and October 7, 1834; Washington Capitol, October 30, 1843; Minutes, July 7, 1861. 3 Vol. 3, p. 108. PRIVILEGES OF THE LIBRARY. 377 Is it reserved for the exclusive use of the members of Congress? If not, who else, and on what conditions, can participate in the use of it? Is it open daily, and for how many hours, as well during the session as in the recess of Congress? If it be not, ought it not to be open as well to other persons employed in the public service as to members of Con- gress? Or is it that they contribute more than others to its purchase, or pay more for its preservation ? The use of the Library would con- tribute to beguile the evenings of those who have labored assiduously ' through the day, when the humbler employees in the public service can find time to devote, which many of them can not even, their evenings to the perusal of useful and entertaining books. But, if the doors of the Library are closed even to the very few who are entitled to its benefits each day as soon as Congress adjourns, and if in the recess it be open but three days in the week, and even on those days shut up at 3 o'clock, might it not as well be hermetically sealed against persons necessarily confined in the public offices, at least until that hourf Finally, would it not be liberal and better comport with the spirit of the times if Congress would appoint one or two assistant librarians and otherwise make provision which would render the National Library accessible at all hours of the day and until 8 o'clock at night to all persons employed in the Departments? The postage on newspapers and on letters transmitting money to edi- tors of papers, which now go free of postage, would amount to more than $10,000 a year, and this on the ground that the Post-Office Depart- ment should so contribute to the diffusion of knowledge. Might not Congress, acting in the spirit of the same liberal policy, make a small appropriation to give freer vent and diffusion to the useful knowledge shut up in this great national repository? But one objection can be perceived to this suggestion and that is that the monopoly of the whole collection is necessary to satisfy the studious propensities of that honor- able body. S. S. I. To the Editors of the National Intelligences: I am a clerk in one of the Departments. I sought an office here in preference to an engagement equally advantageous in a pecuniary point of view elsewhere for the reason that I have a taste for the study of cer- tain sciences for which the libraries of the part of the country in which I resided do not afford the requisite facilities. The Government has provided an extensive Congress Library, to which the public are per- mitted access, and where the lovers of knowledge can feast without expense. The foundation for a still more valuable library has been laid in the Smithsonian Institution. It was my wish to avail myself of these wells of science and to digest their rich products in the society and con- versation of those of kindred tastes. Judge, then, of my mortification and disappointment at finding that, for all purposes of practical benefit 378 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1 85 2-1 864. to me and those similarly circumstanced, these libraries might as well be at the antipodes as in this city. It is the duty of clerks in the public offices to give their attention to business from 8 or 9 o'clock in the morning until 3 or 4 in the evening. We are paid for this service, and every conscientious clerk feels it to be his duty to render a full equiva- lent for the wages he receives. The libraries are open during our hours of business and closed at all other hours. Few of us can afford to buy all the books we wish to study, and even if we could the bookstores would afford but a meager satisfaction to those whose studies are of a recondite nature. If the inconvenience were only personal, I would not ask the space in your valuable columns necessary to call the public atten- tion to it, but it involves grave considerations which relate to the welfare of the large number of persons from every part of the Union who are engaged in the public service in this metropolis. Most of the clerks in the Departments are young men of liberal education and of literary tastes, ardent and impetuous in feeling, and peculiarly susceptible to the impressions with which circumstances surround them. They are not destitute either of character or influence — an influence which, as they return to their homes, will be felt in every part of our country. Around them, too, cling the hopes and expectations of many friends and rela- tives. They come here and are cut off from the social restraints to which they have been accustomed. Books and the societ3>- of cultivated men would go far to preserve them from the follies and vices of city life. They are practically denied access to the public libraries, and what is the consequence? The energy and enthusiasm which might be lead into a healthy current is diverted into the thousand polluted channels which present a moral counterpart to the alleys and sewers of the city. It is no light thing to be responsible for such consequences, and I con- fidently trust that the mere mention of them will lead to the adoption of the measures of remedy which readily suggest themselves. It may be the impression that if the libraries were made accessible to us but few would resort to them. I can not undertake to decide in advance, but in the limited circle of my acquaintances the complaint of the want of books has been almost universal. I hope that if these libraries should be thrown open at such hours that the clerks can visit them, they will be the resort of as numerous and earnest votaries as during the sessions of Congress. Wabash. No attention was paid to these petitions, however, for almost half a century. USE OF THE LIBRARY. 379 USE OF THE LIBRARY. While these restrictions upon the use of the Library remained, they do not seem to have hindered the growing utility of the institution as a reference library and its con- tinued popularity as a place of resort. The beauty of the room made the Library one of the attractions of Washington, and consequently one of the objects of interest to the numerous strangers who visited the Capitol. Its location between the two Houses of Congress made it a pleasant lounge for members wearied with the pros- ings of some tireless debater. The alcoves in the Library made convenient reception rooms for the wives and daughters of members, and the illustrated works were nice picture books for their children. 1 The Bnglish traveler James Silk Buckingham visited the Library in 1841 and, seeing the throng which frequented it, concluded that it was a public library and said: "As access to the Library is just as free from all restraint as access to the halls of Congress, in the galleries set apart for strangers, or to the President's levees and drawing rooms, so this Library is a very valuable resource both to residents and visitors in the city. If our Bnglish authorities could but learn the important truth that freedom of access to public institutions is not necessarily attended with rudeness of behavior or injury to their contents, a vast benefit and a most softening and refining influence would be obtained for the British popula- tion by familiarizing them through the medium of such insti- tutions with the pleasures of literature, science, and art, and the whole nation, nay, the whole world, would be directly or indirectly benefited by the change." 2 Those who saw more of the Library than Mr. Buckingham, on the other hand, knew that it was only a privileged class who were permitted to use the Library, and saw, as the Bng- lish visitor did not, that some of that class misused the Library 'Henry Tudor, Narrative of a tour in North America (1834), 1: 64; Captain Marryat, Diary in America ( 1839) , 1 : 166; Mary Clemmer Ames, Ten years in Wash- ington (1873), p. 131; National Intelligencer, March 30, 1832, December 5, 1834, and May 22, 1839; Washington Capitol, June 12, 1843. 2 America, historical, statistic, and descriptive (1841), 1: 310. ': Z7.C-MW USE OF THE) LIBRARY. 381 living Tom Thumbs of the day. One old gentleman alone, almost hidden in a corner, seemed to be aware of the place in which he was, and to have come with the wedding garment to the feast. I approached him upon pretence of looking for a book, and had an opportunity of observing him. His countenance was calm, and yet enthusiastic; benignant, yet stern. His forehead was lofty and full, and overhung his quiet, dark eyes. He wore his few surviving hairs tied into a queue, and I remarked that he was lame. The book in his hand, like its reader, must have relied upon its subject rather than its body for distinction, as it was bound in pale and unpretending sheepskin and had an ancient look. It was one of the rare Latin authors, and it had the good fortune just then to fall into the hands of one whose mind seemed devoted to its attractions. "Percy," said the Baron, "why don't somebody give that gentleman a hint of the usages of this place? Bless me! I should not have dreamed of such rudeness. To sit down in the very heart of the dominions of fashion and the ladies, turn his back upon them, hold his tongue, and read a book! Abominable! Is he mad? Really, this is a beneficent and generous Government of yours! To give the fair sex a chatting room in the very Capitol itself! A lounge! A sort of public boudoir for belles and their favorites! Bon diable! This is the climax of liberty! the apex of civilization! " The Baron was startled, when he learned that the old gentleman was a Senator, one of the few who have the true and simple dignity of nature, and that he was actually putting the apartment to its legitimate use. 1 On the 21st of February, 1835, it continued this interest- ing description of the reading room, under the caption, "An extract from the notebook of Petrus Penwaggler, Ksquire," showing how an act of presumption in the Library of Con- gress was turned into a learned disquisition: Almost thrown into asphyxia, a few days ago, by the upas eloquence of a member from the far West, I instinctively sought the Library of Congress as a means of relief. A group of laughing, chatting ladies were nonchalantly turning over the elephant sheets of Audubon's orni- thology; a sort of obligate amusement, like a flute accompaniment in a concerto, for all the fashionable idlers, who put to the test the urbanity of the librarian. Here and there a bon ton saunterer cast a listless, unmeaning eye on the glorious array of the shelves, such as would say, I care not to cultivate acquaintance with unknown persons. But not so in one of the alcoves, the ninth, I think it is, on the right, after you have entered; not so with an individual who seemed entranced in the 1 The Champagne Club, Washington, January 3, 1835, p. 55. 382 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. contemplation of a splendid folio, adorned with numerous and admirable engravings, after the manner of Sanzio. A set of pale features, almost worn to ascetic thinness, a forehead of premature wrinkles, and still more premature baldness; a sharp, quick eye, fixed in deep intensity on the page before him; full and restless eyebrows, knitted into a hundred creases, spoke of the workings of an active mind, and the pursuits of a trimmer of the midnight lamp. Drawn toward that person by an irre- sistible impulse, I approached him, and, setting aside the conventional rules of politeness, apologized for looking over the work which he was perusing, and inquiring into the subject of the engravings, which were illustrated in a foreign language. 1 Ten years later Caleb Atwater found in the Library room only persons of the most refined taste, polite manners, and agreeable conversation. "I have always found reading people," he said, "more placid and more agreeable in their manners than others, and were any whole nation wholly composed of such materials it would be the happiest and the best nation in the world." 2 In 1859 Mary McL,ane said of the Library: When we paid our last visit we found it gaily peopled as usual; couches filled with groups conversing in the customary library undertone, which is a drowsy murmur. In spite of the early hour we saw in the various alcoves scores of mute readers, who sometimes lifted up a glance as we passed and then, like Dante's ghosts, relapsed into their penance. Our eye fell on several of the habitues of the place, timidly propitiat- ing the attendant with small fragments of whispered conversation, lis- tened to with impartial politeness, again glancing up from their books with visible discomfiture as some gayly dressed belle, in all the grace of fashionable costume, floated up to the same attendant (who is especially the good genius of female bookworms) and begged to see some ponder- ous tome, which she carelessly turned over, to the imminent peril of delicate lemon-colored gloves, grievously interrupting our elderly friend, who, we have no doubt, devoutly wished all female literati, and this one especially, in some distant paradise not particularly specified. Dear readers, be with us for a brief time in these secluded alcoves, for they seem very nests for human thoughts. Stand reverently, for the voices of the dead are all about us. What hundreds of literary laborers have toiled upon the mental furniture of these walls, and many, ah, how many, that the world has never rewarded ! All the struggles, the sor- rows, and the cares which wait on those who worked with hand and 1 The Champagne Club, Washington, February 21, 1835, p. 133; Alexander Mackay in his Western World, quoted in the Southern Press, August 19, 1850, also dwelt at length upon the advantages of the Library as a place for flirtation. 2 Mysteries of Washington City. By a citizen of Ohio. 1844, p. 72. LIBRARIAN STEPHENSON. 383 brain, alas, for bread, unwinds itself as we gaze on the works of these dead patriarchs of thought. 1 During the War few visited the Library and those mostly members of Congress. 2 LIBRARIAN STEPHENSON. One more event in the history of the Library before the administration of Mr. Spofford remains to be chronicled — the appointment to the office of Librarian of John G. Stephenson. John G. Stephenson was the son of Reuben Stephenson, of Lancaster, N. H. He attended Lancaster Academy, where, in 1844, he assumed the part of Fontrailles in "Richelieu: a drama; " and in the same exhibition, given at the old meeting house in Lancaster, Tuesday evening, November 26, 1844, the part of Frank Webber in a comedy of college life written by Judge Nelson Cross, of Boston. 3 He was afterwards a practicing physician in Terre Haute, Ind. He accompanied Senator Henry S. Lane, of Indiana, to Washington in Feb- ruary, 1861, and, through the influence of Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana, Secretary of the Interior, was appointed Librarian of Congress May 24. He left the work of the Library to his assistants, however, and went out to take part in the war then being waged between North and South. In the report of Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday, U. S. Army, commanding the Third Division and First Army Corps during the Gettysburg cam- paign, dated December 14, 1863, the Librarian gained the following honorable mention: 4 Colonel John G. Stephenson, Librarian of Congress, acted as volunteer aide to General Meredith. He exposed himself freely on all occasions and rendered many valuable services. Afterwards Doctor Stephenson became interested in specu- lations created by the war, 5 and toward the end of the year 1864 resigned from his office. He died November 11, 1883. 6 "Mary Jane McLane, Life in Washington (1859), p. 239. 'Washington Chronicle, November 13, 1864. 3 A. N. Somers, History of Lancaster, N. H. (1899), p. 419. 4 War of the rebellion records, series 1, vol. 27, part 1, p. 256; Fifty-first Con- gress, first session, House miscellaneous documents, No. 146. 5 Congress, by resolution of June 6, 1872, made an appropriation to pay Edward G. Allen $1,480 purchase money for books for the Library of Congress, due in 1862. 6 Evening Star, November 12, 14, 1883. 384 DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIBRARY, 1852-1864. Charles Lanman, former librarian of the House of Repre- sentatives, was a candidate for the expected vacancy. Among his credentials I have found the following: Baltimore, November zy, 1864. Dear Sir: From my knowledge of you, I know no one better fitted for the offices of Congressional Librarian than yourself, and should the present excellent incumbent resign I shall be glad to see you his successor. With respect, Reverdy Johnson. On the 31st of December, 1864, the chief assistant libra- rian, Mr. Spofford, was appointed Librarian. Wfaxptev Utaje OTHER LIBRARIES OF CONGRESS AND OF THE GOVERNMENT 23399-04 25 3g5 Chapter Nine. other libraries of congress and of the government. These records of the early history of the national library would be incomplete without an account of the early history of the two libraries of Congress, located in the House and Senate wings of the Capitol, and of early relations with the libraries of the other departments of the Government on the one hand, and on the other hand of the development of the idea of a national library, as illustrated in the early history of the Smithsonian Library. HOUSE LIBRARY. In a letter to Bdward Everett March 5, 1828, George Watterston refers to a library connected with the House of Representatives. 1 The House librarian was appointed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives. His salary was $1,500, the same as that of the Librarian of Congress. 2 Anne Roy all thought the office a sinecure. "Where is the library of the House?" she exclaimed, and "What do they want with an extra library?" 3 An assistant librarian was added in 1852, and by 1864 three assistants were required to attend to the business of the Library. 'The act of May 24, 1828, also mentions the Library. The early librarians were Eleazer Early, 1837; Eliab Kingman, 1840; Simon Brown, 1843; Philip Williams, 1848; John A. Parker, 1852 (see Huntress July 17, 1852); Matthias Martin, 1854; Cornelius B. Adams, 1856; Andrew R. Potts, 1858; Calvin C. Chaffee, i860; Charles Lanman, 1863; Whitelaw Reid, 1863-1866. — Constitutional Union, December 15, 1863. 2 By the act of August 4, 1854, it was increased to $1,800, as was the salary of the Librarian of Congress. ^Huntress, December 14, 1839. 387 388 OTHER LIBRARIES OE CONGRESS. The duties of the library staff are illustrated by the follow- ing printed circular letter: Library of the House of Representatives, February 2J, 1833. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, who may have books in their possession belonging to the library of the House, are respectfully requested to place them in a situation to be easily come at by the mes- senger, as application will be made, from day to day, at their rooms, to bring them back to the library. 1 The library consisted mostly of public documents, of which it was in 1864, according to Librarian Lanman, the chief depository. Of these it contained several sets nearly com- plete. It also possessed at that time the best collection of Washington newspapers in existence. 2 In 1850 the library was said to contain 12,000 volumes; in 1853, 30,000; in 1859, 50,000; in 1864, 70,000. In 1 84 1 Mr. Watterston says in his "Picture of Washing- ton," when speaking of the Hall of Representatives: "On the left of the eastern lobby are the Speaker's room and that of the Sergeant-at-Arms, and above the latter an apartment for bound documents and State papers called the library of the House." 3 In 1 850 Professor Jewett refers to the library quar- ters as a series of closets, triangular rooms, and attics, and the Star (October 14, 1853) characterized the place as a dis- grace to the House of Representatives. A partial remedy for this condition of affairs was found in 1858 by making a room near the Hall of Representatives a branch of the House library. 4 A more effectual remedy was hoped for after the completion of the Capitol extension. In Robert Mills's plan for the extension of the Capitol, reported May 28, 1850, room for the House library was obtained from the square recess of the existing Hall of Representatives. Communication with the library was afforded by a gallery leading across the court from the center of the Hall on the same floor. 5 In i860 the librarian and the House Com- ' Watterston MSS. * Round Table 1: 38. 3 It was reached by a flight of stairs at the left of the entrance of the Hall. 4 Union, January 3, 1858. sThirty-first Congress, first session, Senate report No. 145, p. 4. HOUSE LIBRARY. 389 mittee on Public Buildings still hoped that this plan might be carried out, but it was understood that a majority of the Committee on Public Buildings were opposed to the plan, believing that the old Hall should be devoted entirely \o art, under the supervision of the Art Commission. 1 The most interesting incident in the early history of the House library is described in the following legislative records: In the House of Representatives, February 14., 186 1. Mr. Pryor submitted the following resolution, which was adopted: Whereas the following statements have appeared in the New York Times newspaper: ' ' providing a library for the southern confederacy. " It is ascertained that, in addition to the other frauds perpetrated by the seceding members of Congress, they have taken from the Congres- sional library, which is probably the best in this country, containing many books which can not be obtained elsewhere, some of the most valuable volumes in the whole collection. Thousands of dollars' worth have been thus abstracted and carried off by these members. Among them, a single South Carolina member, I am informed, has more than $400 worth of digests of the most valuable character, and which can never be replaced. Scarcely one of these gentlemen took the trouble to return his books, but, on the contrary, were very cautious to have them carefully packed and sent off. I am further informed that a member from one of the border States, who favors secession, and thought his State sure to secede, sent orders for upwards of $1,000 worth of books recently, which, under the rules of the Library, were refused. This is regarded here to be very near akin to what Webster defines as ' theft.' " Therefore — Resolved, That a select committee of three be appointed to inquire into the truth of the above accusations, and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers and have leave to report at any time. Ordered, That Mr. Pryor, of Virginia, Mr. Maynard, of Tennessee, and Mr. Edwards, of New Hampshire, be the said committee. On the 28th of February this committee reported as follows: A brief statement will place the House in possession of the facts as they appear from the evidence given before your committee. Not long since an employee in the library of the House prepared a statement of the accounts of the late members from the seceding States, which was taken to their respective residences for the purpose of reclaiming the ^States and Union, March 24, i860. 39° OTHER LIBRARIES OF CONGRESS. books that they had procured from the library, and which had not been returned. (See statements appended to this report.) Failing to find them, Mr. D. A. McElhone, one of the assistant librarians, was directed to take the accounts and endeavor to obtain the books. He also failed to get them, and thereupon carried the list to the House post-office in order to have the mail messengers institute a search for them. Mr. Soul£, one of the assistants in the post-office, was the only person present when Mr. McElhone called there, and to him the list was given with the request that he would see that the matter was attended to. Up to this point it does not appear that there was any belief enter- tained by any person that there had been any wrong or fraud perpe- trated upon the library in connection with these missing books. But Mr. Soul£, as he testified, seems to have jumped to the conclusion, not from anything told him but from inferences of his own, that these books had been appropriated by the late members to their own use. Active in propagating the suspicion, he voluntarily informed Mr. Hutchins, clerk to the Committee on Indian Affairs of this House, and a correspondent for several newspapers, that he had an "item" for him, and then proceeded to state what he imagined to be the facts about the missing books. Mr. Hutchins repeated that statement to Mr. H. H. Pangborn, of the New York Daily Times, who, with little if any investigation, prepared his version of the transaction, which was telegraphed to the Times newspaper. In the Times office the heading ' ' Providing a library for the southern Confederacy ' ' was prefixed to the statement, which appeared in that paper the next morning. The same issue of that paper also contained the allegation that a member "from a border State," "who favored secession," had ordered "more than one thousand dollars' worth" of books from the library, which order was refused. A subsequent statement in the paper named Mr. De Jarnette, of Virginia, as the member alluded to. It appears from the testimony before your committee that Mr. De Jarnette was engaged at one time in preparing a speech for delivery in this House. While thus occupied he remarked to Mr. Sheehy, who happened to be present in his room, and who was then an employee of the House, that he wanted certain information to enable him to prepare his speech. Mr. Sheehy replied that he could obtain it from the House library, and was requested by Mr. De Jarnette to attend to it for him. Subsequently he told Mr. De Jarnette that his order was necessary to enable him to get the books, and at his request he (Mr. S.) wrote an order which Mr. De Jarnette signed without reading, supposing, as he stated to your com- mittee, that it called for not more than 25 volumes. The order, how- ever, was written in general terms, calling for a " set of Congressional Globes, Annals of Congress, Jefferson's and Adams's works," those sets including the volumes Mr. De Jarnette desired for reference. Pull sets of these works would embrace more than 100 volumes, instead of the HOUSE LIBRARY. 39 1 20 or 25 volumes that Mr. De Jarnette intended to have ordered. This order, dated January 28, 1861, was presented by Mr. Sheehy to the per- son in attendance at the library, and to whom Mr. Sheehy was a stran- ger. The fact that an order for so large a number of volumes, the body of it written in a different script from that of the signature, was pre- sented by a stranger to him at so late a period of the session led the assistant librarian to refer it to others before proceeding to fill it. And the same reasons led the chief clerk to suspend it for a time, until he could get more information in regard to it. Upon the assurance, some- time afterwards, that it was the order of Mr. De Jarnette, directions were given to comply with it. But by that time Mr. De Jarnette had prepared his speech without the assistance of the books and no longer needed them. In this case, as in the other, there seems to have been no idea entertained of any improper design in reference to the books until the account of this transaction had reached the same persons who had given the objectionable coloring to the other. It does not appear from the testimony taken by your committee that any of the books belonging to the library have been taken away by any of the late members. Nor does it appear that the books they obtained while here have not been returned to the library, except that they have not been credited with them on the account books of the library. Your committee regard this entire charge against the late and present members of this House as a fair specimen of the many sensational dispatches sent from this city during the present session of Congress by the various persons employed as special correspondents of papers at a distance, but more especially of the New York City papers. A desire to state something that shall be more startling, from its enormity or nov- elty, than their competitors have been able to discover or devise, or even a more culpable desire, would seem to be the controlling motive on the part of those who are thus engaged. With little if any inquiry into the correctness of the many rumors that come to their ears, with the most reckless and unwarranted inferences from them, with little regard to the effect of their statements upon public interests, or the character and reputation of individuals in public and private life, these sensation mon- gers daily send forth to the country statement after statement as entirely unfounded and baseless as those to which the attention of your committee has been called. Your committee, however, are not of the opinion that this House can provide any remedy for this evil. It can only be reme- died either by the public becoming convinced of the little credit and reliance to be placed upon these ' ' special dispatches, " or by the pro- prietors of the public press exercising more care in the selection of the agents they employ for this purpose, and endeavoring to secure the serv- ices of those who shall be more influenced by considerations of truth and justice, and a proper appreciation of the privileges and courtesies gra- tuitously extended to them by this House. 392 OTHER LIBRARIES OF CONGRESS. While considering the subject referred to them, the attention of your committee has been called to the present condition of the library of the House, as being such as to almost necessarily render impossible its proper management, and leading to the commission of errors in the accounts of members, such as, in this instance, have furnished the little foundation required for such statements as those to which your com- mittee have referred. The library, as many members of this House are well aware, is contained in a room illy adapted for that purpose. There is no catalogue of the books contained in it; the different sets of the same work have no mark or number on them to designate the one from the other. Those having charge of them, while they may know the number of the different works there, can have no certain information of the number of volumes that the library contains, or whether all the books taken out at any time have ever been returned. The accounts and books of the library are their only guide, and the testimony taken by your committee establishes the fact that they are not free from mistakes. For instance, Mr. Bonham, of South Carolina, was charged with 42 volumes upon the account made out and handed to Mr. Soul£, of the House post-office, to enable the messenger to reclaim books not returned; yet, upon reference to the account books, it appears that Mr. Bonham never obtained these volumes at all. Mr. Hamilton] of Texas, is charged upon the account books with 119 volumes, obtained at the last session, as not yet returned. The testimony before your committee shows that Mr. Hamilton gave those books, before the clo^e of the last session, to a messenger of the post-office, to be returned to the library; and it was not until so informed during this investigation that Mr. Hamilton had any intimation that his directions had not beer^ complied with. The necessities of the House have required their; removal to a more commodious Hall. The increase of the library,\ corresponding with the increased demands of the House, renders the accommodations provided for it when it contained a much less number! of books totally inadequate. Without recommending any particular \ action in this respect, your committee would say that they deem this a subject which demands the early consideration of the House. Your committee herewith submit the testimony they have taken, and recommend that the same, with the accompanying report, be printed. 1 SENATE LIBRARY. In 1849 (September 24) trie Intelligencer reported that a circular library room bad been provided for tbe Senate over tbe small rotunda in the north part of the Senate wing. This 1 Thirty-sixth Congress, second session, House report No. 90: Alleged abstraction of books from the House library. February 28, 1861. 64 pp. SENATE) LIBRARY, 393 room was said to be divided into 20 compartments or recesses and to be capable of Holding 15,000 or 20,000 volumes. Hither this report was based upon rumor or the room was afterwards appropriated to other purposes, for July 8, 1856, Mr. Weller submitted the following resolution, which was considered and agreed to: "Resolved, That the Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the expediency of having a suitable room fitted up for a Senate library, and the appointment of a proper person to take charge of the same." December 23, 1859, 1 a similar resolution was submitted by Mr. Mallory, and passed February 1, i860. December 14, 1863, resolutions to the same effect were sub- mitted by Mr. Solomon Foot, as follows: Resolved, That one copy of each of the books, and sets of books, maps, charts, atlases, and printed bound documents in the possession of the Senate be collected together by the Secretary from the various rooms and apartments set apart for the use of the Senate, so as to form one complete set or copy of each and all of the same, which shall be properly arranged in classes and sections, and which, together with such other books and matters as may from time to time be directed to be procured by the Committee on the library of the Senate for that purpose, shall be formed into a library of the Senate for the special use of its members and committees, and the business of the Senate and the Secretary's office, under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Committee on the Library of the Senate for the time being, which regulations shall be printed and furnished to the members, committees, and officers of the Senate at the commencement of each session, and shall be observed and conformed to by them until modified or changed by the committee or by the order of the Senate. Resolved, That a librarian shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Senate to take charge of the said library, whose duty it shall be to keep a complete and faithful record of every book, map, atlas, received or placed in such library, and diligently to make himself acquainted with the same, so as to be able, whenever called upon by a member, or on the part of a committee of the Senate, or the office of the Secretary, to furnish such book or other article for use in the library, or any infor- mation, in tabular or other form, that may be required from them, and to take a particular account of every book or other article delivered out of the library to any member, or committee, or the Secretary, and to require 1 On the 4th of January, 1859, the Senate had moved into their present Chamber in the north wing of the Capitol extension. 394 OTHER LIBRARIES OF CONGRESS. its return into the library according to the regulations prescribed by the said Committee on the Library, or the Senate, and also to perform such other duties in the said library as may be prescribed by the said com- mittee, the Senate, or the Secretary of the Senate; and the compensation of the said librarian shall be two thousand dollars per annum, with the same official qualification, under oath, and subject to the same penalties for neglect or violation of the rules as are the other officers of the Senate. Resolved, That the arrangement made for the occupation of the rooms of the north extension of the Capitol, set apart for the Senate by the resolution of the 18th of January, 1858, be so far changed that the rooms numbered 99, 100, and 101 shall be appropriated for this library, and the rooms numbered 87, 89, and 1 1 1 shall be appropriated for the use of select committees and such other committees not already occupy- ing separate rooms as may be assigned to them by the presiding officer of the Senate for the time being, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. These resolutions were accompanied with the following communication to Mr. Foot from Mr. W. Hickey, chief clerk in the office of the Secretary of the Senate: Office of the Secretary of the Senate, U. S., August 24, 186 j. Dear Sir: Agreeably to the request made when last I had the pleas- ure of seeing you in Washington, I have now the honor of submitting the following remarks in relation to the establishment of a library for the Senate, which you have so favorably contemplated and desired for some years past. The Public Library of Congress, containing books on all the various branches of history, literature, science, and on miscellaneous subjects, is accessible to and may be used by members of both Houses of Con- gress, the President, heads of Departments, the judges of the Supreme Court, and other public officers, as well as by other persons, under cer- tain rules and regulations applicable to them according to circumstances. The Congressional law library, containing a full and complete col- lection of the laws of the United States and of the several States, the reports of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States and of the States, as well as of the English and other foreign courts and authorities, and an extensive collection of the most valuable works on jurisprudence in all its departments and branches, and by the best authors, may also be used by the same persons having access to the Public Library of Congress, and under like regulations. The private library of the House of Representatives, containing the bound documents and reports, the journals of both Houses of Congress, and the documents and books compiled and printed under their author- ity, as well as other publications, is intended for the special use of the SENATE LIBRARY. 395 members of that House. It has a librarian to take care of these books and furnish them to the members when desired. The President and each of the Executive Departments has a private library, appropriately selected, and kept for his and their private use. But the Senate of the United States has no private library for the special use of its members; which privation has subjected them, for many years past, to much inconvenience and disadvantage. The library here alluded to would consist of the journals, documents, reports, and debates of the two Houses of Congress, the laws, treaties, and other books and publications, which contain a full and complete history of the national legislation, the principles governing the same, as illustrated by the reports, debates, statistics, and information upon which the action of the Government has been founded. All this information is constantly essential to the members of the National Legislature and should at all times be entirely accessible to the con- venient use of every member. The books containing this information, together with many other pub- lications referred to in the statement accompanying these remarks, have been printed, collected, or purchased from time to time for the Senate, for the use of its members and committees, and are now in its possession, in different rooms and apartments, but for the want of a proper library and librarian of suitable qualifications to take care of the books and to fur- nish promptly whatever information might be wanted from them, the books have been comparatively useless. Great inconvenience has resulted to members, on pressing emergencies, from not knowing where to find particular books, and a considerable loss of books has occurred from having no person particularly responsible to keep an account and take care of them, which evil threatens, in process of time, the loss of the most valuable of them. The private library of the Senate may properly be formed or consti- tuted of books and documents which are almost wholly within its own possession, but which, being scattered about in various rooms and apart- ments, as before stated, have heretofore been in many cases unavailable and inaccessible as sealed books, they being in different places, without any systematic arrangement and without any individual particularly responsible for their care and preservation or for their prompt use by members who may desire it. This individual or librarian should, by attention and study, acquire a knowledge of the books which would enable him to aid the members in obtaining the desired information from them, and to collect and arrange, in tabular and other forms, statistical information for their use. Much inconvenience will always arise from the mere bulk or multi- plicity of the books and documents, unless they are kept properly clas- sified and arranged under the particular care and responsibility of an 396 OTHER LIBRARIES OF CONGRESS. individual well qualified for the duty. This officer should be under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate. This duty of furnishing information from these books has heretofore, in many cases, been performed by clerks in the Secretary's office whose experience in the public business has enabled them in this way to serve the members by collecting for them statistical, historical, political, and other information from the books and documents; but this duty has been extra official, or out of the line of the ordinary official business, making it necessary frequently for the clerks to leave or postpone, for a time, such business, in order to enter into researches and examinations requiring in many cases much industry, time, and labor to accomplish. The manner in which these clerks, when called upon, have performed this duty has been well known to their friends in the Senate, and, it is believed, has generally given satisfaction where the public duties of the Senate, from their pressing nature, have not absolutely precluded the possibility of attending to such calls for information to be collected by the clerks; but members have, no doubt, on some pressing emergencies, been embarrassed by not speedily obtaining in this way information, and such members can more particularly appreciate an arrangement by which all these sources of information will always be within their own reach, aided by a well-qualified person whose exclusive duty it will be at all times to refer to or to collect and furnish such desired information. This arrangement would be intended mainly for the accommodation of individual members, but every committee would find in this empo- rium all the facts, precedents, and information appropriate to the busi- ness of such committee, to be derived from past opinions, decisions, and experience upon all subjects which had ever been before Congress; nor would this necessarily interfere with the employment or occupation of the committe clerks, for they would, without doubt, find in this library every proper aid and facility in the more thorough and prompt execu- tion of their respective duties to the committees by whom they were appointed. Experience has shown that legislators have frequent occasion in the preparation of their views, in the progress of delivering them, or in the preparation of reports, bills, or resolutions, to refer to, examine, and digest the proceedings, action, and results upon the same or kindred subjects on previous occasions, in order to ascertain or be well assured of opinions, arguments, facts, and decisions which might otherwise be unknown, or having been once heard or seen, would depend upon the memory alone. The necessity for such preparation is acknowledged by all who believe that statesmanship comes from attentive study, as well as calm, deliberate, and prudent deductions from established principles and practical experience, rather than from hasty conclusions founded on mere chimeras, speculative notions, intuitive presumptions, or on incon- siderate and unsustained opinions. SENATE LIBRARY. 397 On occasions requiring such investigations, much time and labor have been expended by members in the mere occupation of hunting up the sources and the means of obtaining the desired information, which might otherwise have been saved by this arrangement, and been more profita- bly employed upon the subject in hand. For these reasons it would, indeed, seem to be an object worthy the attention of the Senate, collectively, to provide such means to every individual member, to enable him to perform his high and important functions conscientiously and acceptably. The consistency, wisdom, and propriety of measures of legislation may frequently depend upon the proper use of such means of information and its practical application to objects necessary to secure the general interests, welfare, and happiness of the country. The proposed private library for the Senate may be located in proper apartments devoted exclusively to the use of the Senators, where a member seeking facts or information upon any given subject may, at any time, have recourse. There he would find convenient tables, com- fortable chairs, with the books properly classified and arranged on shelves around him, where he could help himself to any books he might desire to read or examine, or, by asking for what he desired to use, be furnished with it by the librarian. Here he might resort from time to time without interruption to pursue or resume investigations, or obtain information to his entire satisfaction, and with the least possible incon- venience or loss of time, for this library should be accessible -both day and night during the sessions of Congress or of the Senate. A long course of experience in the service of the Senate authorizes me to say that the proper establishment, judicial regulation, and faith- ful attendance upon such a private library for this honorable body is a desideratum of much importance, so much so that when once established and enjoyed it will be considered so indispensably necessary as to form a subject of astonishment that it had not long since been authorized. That this expectation may be fully realized, and all the advantages contemplated by this arrangement secured to the honorable Senate, to which I owe, in gratitude, my best services and the fruits of my experi- ence in its service, and that it may result in the more general and correct diffusion of facts and the dissemination of the fundamental principles of the Constitution, as expounded by George Washington and the noble galaxy of American patriots and statesmen who have succeeded him, all of which will be illustrated by this library, are my only motives for these remarks. As much of the convenience or usefulness of this library will depend upon the description, proper classification, and arrangement of the books, I beg leave to submit the accompanying programme, which presents to view not only an appropriate classification, but a description of the 398 OTHER LIBRARIES OF CONGRESS. books and means of information which the Senate has already in its own possession for the commencement of this library. These books will form a library embracing political history and the whole national legislation of the country, including reports, bills, reso- lutions, debates, proceedings, votes, and acts of Congress under the Con- stitution, and proceedings of the Congress of the Confederation; the acts and proceedings of the executive department of the Government, so far as they have been communicated to Congress; the intercourse with foreign nations, illustrating the American polity and its views of international law, and principles based upon the Constitution of the United States; the statistics of population and emigration, of the finances, commerce and navigation, the post-office, relations with the Indian tribes, the public lands and private land claims, the military and naval affairs, and public and private claims, and of all the various branches of the public service; the writings and papers of eminent American statesmen and patriots; books and compilations containing national and interna- tional laws and principles; the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, and many books of a public character that go to make up a collection peculiarly adapted to the use of Senators and statesmen. In this library should be collected and found the indexes of the Con- gressional and law libraries, of the libraries of the several Executive Departments as well as of other public libraries in the States and the District of Columbia that have been printed and can be obtained. Experience has suggested the expediency, as well as the necessity, of establishing this library for the use of the members of the Senate, if it were for no other purpose than that of preserving the books, etc. , from being lost and of securing them for future use, under the special care of a competent individual made particularly responsible for their continued care and preservation and their readiness at any and all times for the use of the members and committees of the Senate. When I first entered the service of the Senate, at the session of 1824-25, there had been no printed documents or bills of either house of Con- gress preserved from one session to another, except the few copies that were bound, but every loose or surplus copy of every document, report, bill, or resolution that had not during the session been taken away by the subordinate employees of the two Houses and sold to grocers and other merchants for wrapping paper were, at the close of every session, by those employees, gathered up and thus disposed of, so that at any future session not a single copy of any document, report, bill, or resolution could be obtained by a member for his public or private use or to facilitate the business of the committees. The only mode of obtaining a copy was by having it reprinted or copied in manuscript, either of which modes was attended with extra expense and consump- tion of time, which excluded the idea of availability for present or immediate use. Taking the matter in hand as soon as I entered the service of the SENATE LIBRARY. 399 Senate I preserved at least ten copies of every document, report, bill, and resolution both of the Senate and House of Representatives that had been printed for the future use of the members and committees of the Senate and the official business of the Secretary's office. The con- venience and advantages of this conservative arrangement were at once recognized and acknowledged by both Senators and Representatives, the latter of whom frequently availed themselves of this arrangement for the Senate, and it was not long before a similar arrangement was necessarily made for the House of Representatives. These documents, reports, bills, and resolutions have been regularly filed and labeled and continued down to the present time in both houses, whose members and com- mittees have too often been supplied and accommodated with these doc- uments, reports, bills, and resolutions for the facilities of the public business to require any further explanation upon the subject. These are now on the Senate side under the care, management, and responsibility of Mr. Titcomb, a worthy, intelligent, and obliging officer, and in such hands will always be a very great convenience to the mem- bers and committees of the Senate. These accommodations, however great and numerous as they have been in the ordinary business of the Senate, are of a minor order and degree compared with those which will result in the examination and consideration of the more important affairs of state from the establish- ment of the library now recommended for the especial use of the mem- bers and committees of the Senate. All of which, together with the following programme for the classifi- cation of the books for the proposed library, is most respectfully sub- mitted by your faithful and obedient servant. 1 This programme for the classification of the Senate library arranged the collection in twenty classes: 2 i. The colonial history of the United States and documentary and other history of the Revolution. 2. Legislative proceedings and acts of the Congress of the Confederation from the commencement of the Revo- lution to the commencement of the Government under the Constitution. 3. Journal, acts, and proceedings of the convention which framed the Constitution of the United States. 4. The journal of the House of Representatives of the United States from March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1863. 5. The legislative journal of the Senate of the United States from March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1863. 6. The executive journal of the Senate from March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1863. 7. The journal or record of the Senate on trials of impeachment from March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1863. 8. Documents or papers communicated to both Houses of Congress since the 4th of March, 1789. 9. Documents printed in octavo form by order of the Senate during each session from March 4, 1 Thirty-eighth Congress, first session, Senate miscellaneous document No. 3. 2 Ibid, No. 4. 400 OTHER LIBRARIES OF CONGRESS. 1789, to March 3, 1863. 10. Documents printed in octavo form by order of the House of Representatives from March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1863. 11. 'Debates in Congress, embracing the speeches made in the two Houses of Congress from March 4, 1789, to March 3, 1863. 12. I^aws of the United States. 13. Abridgments and digests of the laws of the United States. 14. Indexes prepared in conformity with orders or resolutions of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, respectively. 15. Reports of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. 16. Publications on the subject of the public lands and private land claims under the authority of the United States. 17. Revenue laws, commercial regulations, digests of tariff laws, etc. 18. Miscellaneous books printed or furnished under the authority or patronage of the United States and not noticed under particular heads. 19. Miscellaneous publications containing useful political, statistical, and other information. 20. Atlases or books of maps. These documents were referred to the Committee on the Library, who, on the 18th of January, 1864, submitted by Mr. Collamer an adverse report, which was concurred in. The tendency to keep the control of the Government libraries in the hands of Congress, to establish branches of the Library of Congress rather than independent libraries, is well shown in the legislation regarding the library of the Patent Office. The appropriation for that library, July 4, 1836, provided $1,500 to be expended under the direction of the Committee on the Library of Congress. The advantage of such centrali- zation was felt by the Commissioner of Patents also. In his report, January 29, 1845, be said that if he were permitted to take books from the Library of Congress it would relieve him from the necessity of purchasing some rare publications for his Office. In the relations of the Library of Congress with the only public library of the District — the Washington Library — this same tendency toward centralization is manifest. This is shown particularly in the vote of the Joint Library Com- mittee, March 13, 1830, "That the books separated from the Library, for sale, be deposited with the Washington Company, they giving a receipt therefor and becoming responsible for their return to the Library of Congress when required." r 'Journal of the Washington Library Company, October 3, 1828, March 12, 1829; Minutes of the Joint Library Committee, March 13, 1830; Telegraph, July 23, 1830. (&\mytvc %&n THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION AND PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY 23399—04 26 401 Chapter Ten. the smithsonian institution and plans for a national library. Although at the middle of the nineteenth century Wash- ington was probably better supplied with books than any other city in the Union, the United States was without a national library. The reasons for this were many. There was little local interest in libraries. An extract from the London Times on the British Museum in the National Intelligencer for September 30, 1842; articles on the new Astor Library in New York in the National Intelligencer for September 24, 1858, and February 25, 1862, and an extended series of articles on the history of libraries in the National Intelligencer for September 11 and 18, October 8, November 3, 5, and 21, and December 1 and 18, 1846, are the only pieces of mere library literature to be found in the columns of the local press. Nor was there much interest elsewhere in the establishment of a national library; one political party was opposed to the establishment of any national insti- tutions, and others were opposed to the establishment of any such institutions at Washington. Besides, as the United States Magazine* said, the great geographical extent of the United States, the number of cities scattered over the coun- try, metropolitan in their wealth and character, the absence of any recognized national university, and the fact that Washington was only the political capital, not, like London and Paris, the center of wealth, literature, and population also, all hindered the realization of the idea of a national library which had formed in the minds of a few students anxious for the literary as well as political independence of the country. This condition of affairs is illustrated by the fact that while about half of the volumes in the British 1 Vol. 3, p. 106, August, 1856. 4°3 404 PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. Museum at this time were presents to the library, a very- small per cent of the books in the Librarj' of Congress had been presented to the institution. The Smithson bequest to the people of the United States seemed to some students to present the long-desired oppor- tunity for the creation of a national library. 1 The most prominent advocate of the library plan for the organization of the Smithsonian Institution was Rufus Choate. 2 The causes in which this distinguished man was engaged during his career were for the most part private, not public causes, but here an opportunity was presented to champion a measure of national importance, to lay a founda- tion for American learning, and he grasped it, for to him the real world was the world of books, particularly Greek books. On the 9th of December, 1844, Mr. Choate wrote in his journal: "About to set off to Washington. * * * The business of the session ought to engross, and shall, my chief attention. The Smithsonian fund ought to be applied to a great library, and a report and a speech in favor of such an appropriation are the least I owe so grand and judicious a destination of a noble gift." 3 A bill to establish the Smithsonian Institution for the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge among Men was intro- duced into the Senate, December 12, 1844, by Mr. Tappan, of Ohio. Section 1 of this bill provided that the library of the institution should consist of works on science and the arts relating to the ordinary business of life, mechanical and other improvements and discoveries. On the 8th of January, 1845, tne Tappan bill was taken up for discussion, and Mr. Choate, in a speech which the North American Review* said would in future times render more memorable the day on which it was delivered than that "There is a history of the Smithsonian library, by Cyrus Adler, in "The Smith- sonian Institution, 1846-1896. The history of its first half century, edited by George Brown Goode" (1897), pp. 265-302. I shall present in this place in more detail a history of opinion regarding the Smithsonian as a national library and of the early undertakings of the Smithsonian library in its capacity as a national library. 2 Edwin P. Whipple, Some recollections of Rufus Choate (1879), PP- 38, 87. sSamuel G. Brown, Life of Rufus Choate, 2d ed., 1870, p. 128. 4 Vol. 79, p. 459. C iA^) 4'- Ui -U O) "u-t SENATOR CHOATE'S SPEECH. 405 gallant military achievement of which it is the anniversary, advocated the devotion of the larger part of the Smithsonian fund to the establishment of a national library. After review- ing the provisions contained in the bill for a college of applied science, he said: ^ It is easy to waste this money; it is easy to squander it in jobs, sala- ries, quackeries; it is easy, even under the forms of utility, to disperse and dissipate it in little rills and drops, imperceptible to all human sense, carrying it off by an insensible and ineffectual evaporation. But, sir, I take it that we all earnestly desire — I am sure the Senator from Ohio does so — so to dispense it as to make it tell. I am sure we all desire to see it, instead of being carried off invisibly and wastefully, embody itself in some form, some exponent of civilization, permanent, palpable, con- spicuous, useful. And to this end, it has seemed to me upon the most mature reflection, that we can not do a safer, surer, more unexception- able thing with the income, or with a portion of the income — perhaps $20,000 a year for a few years — than to expend it in accumulating a grand and noble public library, one which for variety, extent, and wealth shall be, and be confessed to be, equal to any now in the world. I say for a few years. Twenty thousand dollars a year for twenty- five years are $500,000, and $500,000 discreetly expended, not by a bibliomaniac, but by a man of sense and reading, thoroughly instructed in bibliography, would go far, very far, toward the purchase of nearly as good a library as Europe can boast. I mean a library of printed books, as distinct from manuscripts. Of course, such a sum would not purchase the number of books which some old libraries are reported to contain. It would not buy the 700,000 of the Royal library at Paris, the largest in the world, nor the 500,000 or 600,000 of that of Munich, the largest in Germany; nor the 300,000, 400,000, or 500,000 of those of Vienna and St. Petersburg, and the Vatican at Rome, and Copenhagen, and the Bodleian at Oxford. But mere numbers of volumes afford a very imperfect criterion of value. Those old libraries have been so long in collecting; accident and donation, which could not be rejected, have contributed so much to them, a general and indiscriminate system of accumulation gathers up, necessarily, so much trash; there are so many duplicates and quadruplicates, and so many books and editions which become superseded, that mere bulk and mere original cost must not terrify us. Ponderantur non numerantur. Accordingly the Library of the University at Gottingen, consisting of perhaps 200,000 volumes, but well chosen, selected for the most part within a century, and to a con- siderable extent by a single great scholar (Heyne), is perhaps to-day as valuable a collection of printed books as any in the world. Toward the accumulation of such a library the expenditure of two-thirds of this income for a quarter of a century would make, let me say, a magnificent 406 plans for a national library. advance. And such a step taken we should never leave the work unfin- ished; yet when it should be finished, and your library should rival anything which civilization had to show, there would still be the whole principal of your fund unexpended, yielding its income forever, for new and varying application for increasing and diffusing knowledge in the world. (Dr. Choate here read a letter of Professor Torrey, of Burlington, showing at what reduced prices valuable books may now be purchased.) I hesitate, from an apprehension of being accused of entering too far into a kind of dissertation unsuited to this assembly of men of business, to suggest and press one-half the considerations which satisfy my mind of the propriety of this mode of expenditure. Nobody can doubt, I think, that it comes within the terms and spirit of the trust. That directs us "to increase and diffuse knowledge among men." And do not the judgment of all the wise — does not the experience of all enlight- ened states — does not the whole history of civilization, concur to declare that a various and ample library is one of the surest, most constant, most permanent, and most economical instrumentalities to increase and diffuse knowledge? There it would be — durable as liberty, durable as the Union ; a vast storehouse, a vast treasury, of all the facts which make up the history of man and of nature, so far as that histor)^ has been written ; of all the truths which the inquiries and experiences of all the races and ages have found out ; of all the opinions that have been pro- mulgated ; of all the emotions, images, sentiments, examples, of all the richest and most instructive literatures ; the whole past speaking to the present and the future ; a silent, yet wise and eloquent teacher ; dead, yet speaking — not dead ! for Milton has told us that a ' ' good book is not absolutely a dead thing — the precious life-blood rather of a master spirit ; a seasoned life of man embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life. ' ' Is not that an admirable instrumentality to increase and diffuse knowledge among men? It would place within the reach of our minds, of our thinkers, and investigators, and scholars, all, or the chief, intellectual and literary materials, and food and instruments, now within the reach of the cultivated foreign mind ; the effect would be to increase the amount of individual acquisition, and multiply the number of the learned. It would raise the standard of our scholarship, improve our style of investigation, and communicate an impulse to our educated and to the general mind. There is no library now in this country, I suppose, containing over 50,000 volumes. Many there are contain- ing less. But, from the nature of the case, all have the same works; so that I do not know, that of all the printed books in the world, we have in this country more than 50,000 different works. The conse- quence has been felt and lamented by all our authors and all our scholars. It has been often said that Gibbon's History could not have been written here for want of books. I suppose that Hallam's Middle Ages, and his SENATOR CHOATE'S SPEECH. 407 introduction to the literature of Europe, could not. Irving' s Columbus was written in Spain. Wheaton's Northmen was prepared to be written in Copenhagen. See how this inadequate supply operates. An Ameri- can mind kindles with a subject ; it enters on an investigation with a spirit and with an ability worthy of the most splendid achievement ; goes a little way, finds that a dozen books, one book, perhaps, is indispensable, which can not be found this side of Gottingen or Oxford ; it tires of the pursuit, or abandons it altogether, or substitutes some shallow conjecture for a deep and accurate research, and there an end. L,et me refer to a passage or two of the complaints of studious men on this subject : [Here he quoted the articles on a national library published in the North American Review, which we have presented on pages 140 and 231. He then continued:] Yet these writers had access to the best library in this country. Now, there are very many among us, and every day we shall have more, who would feelingly adopt this language. Place within their reach the helps that guide the genius and labors of Germany and England, and let the genius of Germany and England look to themselves! Our learned men would grow more learned and more able, our studies deeper and wider, our mind itself exercised and sharpened, the whole culture of the community raised and enriched. This is, indeed, to increase and diffuse knowledge among men. If the terms of the trust, then, authorize this expenditure, why not make it? Not among the principal, nor yet the least, of reasons for doing so is that all the while that you are laying out your money, and when you have laid it out, you have the money's worth, the value received, the property purchased, on hand, to show for itself and to speak for itself. Suppose the professor provided for in the bill should gather a little circle of pupils, each of whom should carry off with him some small quotient of navigation or horticulture or rural economy, and the fund should thus glide away and evaporate in such insensible, inappreci- able appropriations, how little there would be to testify of it! Whereas 'here, all the while, are the books; here is the value; here is the visible property; here is the oil, and here is the light. There is something to point to if you should be asked to account for it unexpectedly, and something to point to if a traveler should taunt you with the collections he has seen abroad, and which gild and recommend the absolutisms of Vienna or St. Petersburg. Another reason, not of the strongest, to be sure, for this mode of expenditure is that it creates so few jobs and sinecures, so little salaried laziness. There is no room for abuses in it. All that you need is a plain, spacious, fireproof building, a librarian and assistants, an agent to buy your books, and a fire to sit by. For all the rest, he who wants to read goes and ministers to himself. It is an application of money that almost excludes the chances of abuses altogether. 408 PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. But the decisive argument is, after all, that it is an application the most exactly adapted to the actual literary and scientific wants of the States and the country. I have said that another college is not needed here, because there are enough now, and another might do harm as much as good. But that which is wanted for every college, for the whole country, for every studious person, is a well-chosen library somewhere among us of 300,000 or 400,000 books. Where is such a one to be col- lected? How is it to be done? Who is to do it? Of the 150 colleges, more or less, distributed over the country one has a library of perhaps 50,000 volumes; others have good ones, though less; others smaller and smaller down to scarcely anything. With one voice they unite, teacher and pupil, with every scholar and thinker in proclaiming the want of more. But where are they to come from? No State is likely to lay a tax to create a college library or a city library. No death-bed gift of the rich can be expected to do it. How, then, is this one grand want of learning to be relieved? It can be done by you and by you alone. By a providential occurrence it is not only placed within your constitutional power, but it has become your duty; you have pledged your faith; you have engaged to the dead and living that, without the charge of one dollar of the people, you will meet the universal and urgent demand by the precise and adequate supply. By such a library as you can collect here something will be done, much will be done, to help every college, every school, every studious man, every writer and thinker in the coun- try to just what is wanted most. Inquirers after the truth may come here and search for it. It will do no harm at all to pass a few studious weeks among these scenes. Having pushed their investigations as far as they may at home, and ascertained just what and how much more of help they require, let them come hither and find it. Let them replenish themselves and then go back and make distribution among their pupils; aye, through the thousand channels and by the thousand voices of the press, let them make distribution among the people! Let it be so that — Hither as to their fountains other stars Repairing, in their golden urns, draw light. I have no objection at all — I should rejoice rather to see the literary representatives of an instructed people come hither, not merely for the larger legislation and jurisprudence, but for the rarer and higher knowl- edge. I am quite willing, not only that our "Amphictyonic council" should sit here, but that it should find itself among some such scenes and influences as surrounded that old renowned assembly, the fountain of purer waters than those of Castalia, the temple and the oracle of our Apollo! It will do good to have your educated men come to Washing- ton for what has heretofore cost voyages to Germany. They will be of all the parts of the country. They will become acquainted with each other. They will contract friendships and mutual regards. They will SENATOR CHOATE'S SPEECH. 409 go away not only better scholars, but better unionists. Someone has said that a great library molds all minds into one republic. It might, in a sense of which he little dreamed, help to keep ours together. I have intimated, Mr. President, a doubt whether a college or uni- versity of any description, even the highest, should be at present estab- lished here. But let it be considered by the enlightened friends of that object, if such there are, that even if your single purpose were to create such a university you could possibly begin in no way so judiciously as by collecting a great library. Useful in the other modes which I have indicated, to a university it is everything. It is as needful as the soul to the body. While you are doubting, then, what to do, what you will have, you can do nothing so properly as to begin to accumulate the books which you will require on whatever permanent plan of applica- tion you at last determine. I do not expect to hear it said in this assembly that this expenditure for a library will benefit a few only, not the mass; that it is exclusive and of the nature of monopoly. It is to be remembered that this fund is a gift, that we take it just as it is given, and that by its terms it must be disbursed here. Any possible administration of it, therefore, is exposed to the cavil that all can not directly, and literally, and equally partake of it. How many and of what classes of youth from I^ouisiana, or Illinois, or New England, for example, can attend the lectures of your professor of astronomy? But I say it is a positive and important argu- ment for the mode of application which I urge that it is so diffusive. Think of the large absolute numbers of those who, in the succession of years will come and partake directly of these stores of truth and knowl- edge! Think of the numbers without number who, through them, who by them indirectly will partake of the same stores! Studious men will come to learn to speak and write to and for the growing millions of a generally educated community. They will learn that they may com- municate. They can not hoard if they would and they would not if they could. They take in trust to distribute; and every motive of ambi- tion, of interest, of duty will compel them to distribute. They buy in gross to sell by retail. The lights which they kindle here will not set under a bushel, but will burn on a thousand hills. No, sir; a rich and public library is no anti-republican monopoly. Who was the old Egyp- tian king that inscribed on his library the words ' ' The dispensary of the soul?" You might as well inscribe on it "armory, and light, and fountain of liberty !" It may possibly be inquired what account I make of the library of Congress. I answer that I think it already quite good and improving; but that its existence constitutes no sort of argument against the forma- tion of such a one as I recommend. In the theory of it, that library is collected merely to furnish Congress and the Government with the means of doing their official business. In its theory it must be, in some sort, 4IO PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. a professional library; and the expenditure we now make — $5,000 in a year, or, as last year, $2,500 — can never carry it up to the rank and enable it to fulfill the functions of a truly great and general public library of science, literature, and art. The value of books which could be added under the appropriations of the last year can not greatly exceed $2,200. Doubtless, however, in the course of forming the two it would be expedient and inevitable to procure to a great extent different books for each. I do not think, Mr. President, that I am more inclined than another to covet enviously anything which the older civilization of Europe pos- sesses which we do not. I do not suppose that I desire any more than you, or than any of you, to introduce here those vast inequalities of fortune, that elaborate luxury, that fantastic and extreme refinement. But I acknowledge a pang of envy and grief that there should be one drop or one morsel more of the bread or water of intellectual life tasted by the European than by the American mind. Why should not the soul of this country eat as good food and as much of it as the soul of Europe? Why should a German or an Englishman sit down to a repast of 500,000 books and an American scholar, who loves truth as well as he, be put on something less than half allowance? Can we not trust ourselves with so much of so good a thing? Will our digestion be impaired by it? Are we afraid that the stimulated and fervid faculties of this young nation will be oppressed and overlaid? Because we have liberty which other nations have not, shall we reject the knowledge which they have and which we have not ? Or will you not rather say that because we are free, therefore will we add to our freedom that deep learning and that diffused culture which are its grace and its defense?' He concluded by moving the following amendment : Strike out the eighth section and insert: Sec. 8. And whereas an ample and well-selected public library con- stitutes one of the permanent, constant, and effectual means of increas- ing and diffusing knowledge among men ; therefore Be it further enacted, That a sum not less than twenty thousand dol- lars be annually expended, of the interest of the fund aforesaid, in the purchase of books and manuscripts for the formation of a library of the Institution aforesaid, which, for its extent, variety, and value shall be worthy of the donor of the said fund, and of this nation and of this age. 2 Mr. Tappan next addressed the Senate: He doubted the utility of such an extensive and costly library as had been suggested by the Senator from Massachusetts; he doubted the pos- sibility of laying out usefully and advantageously $20,000 a year— or 1 Congressional Globe, 14: Appendix, 63-64. 2 Ibid., 14: 106. DEBATE ON CHOATE AMENDMENTS. 411 even more than four or five thousand dollars a year — in the purchase of books. It would be impossible to make such a vast collection of books as $500,000 would purchase, without including cartloads— nay, ship- loads — of trash not worth in reality the cost of transport. There was the library of Congress, to the increase of which $5,000 was annually appropriated, and it was well known that this sum enabled the com- mittee to procure everything coming out in print worth procuring. Yet, in this library, small in comparison to any of those foreign libraries alluded to by the Senator, he protested there was more than half the books that he would not take a gift of for the cost of transportation to Ohio. 1 On the following day Mr. Choate withdrew his motion of amendment, and moved instead to strike out the proviso in the first section of the bill, which runs thus: Provided, That the books to be purchased for said institution shall consist of works on science and the arts, especially such as relate to the ordinary business of life, and to the various mechanical and other improvements and discoveries which may be made. His object was to avoid a premature decision on the point at issue as to the plan of a general library, or special one limited to works on physical science. By striking out the proviso the Senate would not commit itself, the question as to the nature of the library being reserved for amendment to another section of the bill. Mr. Tappan considered the motion to strike out the pro- viso must produce a test vote on the very point at issue; and if that test was desired, it might as well be taken on it as on any other amendment. He argued that a library limited to the works on science and the arts, specified in the proviso, would be the only suit- able and appropriate library for the institution. There was no necessity for another general library in the city of Wash- ington, where the Government had already the Library of Congress, the libraries of the State, War, Navy, and other public Departments, annually augmented by means of large appropriations. 2 Mr. Pearce also wished to strike out this proviso. If he understood the object aimed at by the Senator from Massachu- setts, it was to make the interest of this munificent bequest accomplish 1 Congressional Globe, 14: 107. 2 Ibid., 14: 115. 412 PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. the injunction of the donor by such an increase and diffusion of knowl- edge among men as a complete national library, worthy of him and of this country, would undoubtedly insure. The Library of Congress, though no larger than the private collections of many private gentlemen in Europe, had been thirty years collecting, and now numbered only 40,000 volumes. The library of the British Museum consists of 200,000 volumes; yet by a recent report it appears that ^100,000 is required to render it complete. The libraries of the Government alluded to by the Senator from Ohio are indispensable to the Departments, as is that of Congress to the Capitol. They can not, with due regard to the inter- ests of national legislation, be transferred for public use as a national library. By carrying out the suggestion of the Senator from Massa- chusetts a great national library, worthy of the country and of the donor of this fund, may be established. 1 The question was then taken on the motion of Mr. Choate and the proviso was stricken out. Mr. Choate next moved to strike out the eighth section and to substitute the following: Sec. 8. And whereas an ample and well-selected library constitutes one of the most permanent, constant, and effectual means of increasing and diffusing knowledge among men; therefore, Be it further enacted, That an annual expenditure be made from the interest of the fund aforesaid, under the direction of the said managers, on the purchase of books and manuscripts for the formation of a library of the institution aforesaid, which, for its extent, variety, and value shall be worthy of the donor of the said fund and this nation and of the age. Mr. Crittenden moved to add to it a proviso that, in the purchase of books for the said institution, it should be regarded as a principal object to purchase works on science and the arts, especially such as relate to the ordinary business of life and to the various mechanical and other improvements and discoveries which may be made. Mr. Choate argued that this limitation was not only unnecessary, but would most certainly prove injurious. It was unnecessary, because no national library such as he contemplated and such as he hoped the Senate would authorize could be made complete without every one of the works on science and the arts which the Senators from Ohio and Kentucky could possibly desire. The proviso would operate injuriously by raising a constitutional question of disputation among the managers as to the quantity of money to be applied to this special description of books and to general literature. If it was stated that out of a given sum two-thirds should be devoted to these books and one-third to other books they could 1 Congressional Globe 14: 116. DEBATE ON CHOATE AMENDMENTS. 413 easily agree; but indefinitely directing a preference would be to limit exceedingly in effect the portion to be devoted to works of general literature. This point was debated at great length by Messrs. Crittenden, Choate, and Woodbury; Mr. Choate being opposed to any proviso, and Messrs. Crittenden and Woodbury in favor of one sufficiently explanatory to show a preference for the works indicated, without putting an undue restriction on the purchase of all other books suitable to a general library. Mr. Rives said he should feel very great repugnance to any provision in this bill which should assume to recognize any important distinction between the different branches of human knowledge. The general object of this bequest — of which we are constituted the trustees— is described to be " the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. ' ' Now, if we were to have a library at all to carry out this great object, it really seemed to him that that library ought to be coextensive with the limits of human knowledge. Some of his honorable friends on both sides of the House had dropped observations in the course of this debate — and he had heard them with surprise — which would seem to imply that moral science is not knowledge, and that nothing but what are regarded as the natural sciences — astronomy, mathematics, and other of that class — is knowledge. The great field of modern inquiry relating to the moral and political sciences is not to be considered at all as a branch of human knowledge! Was this so? And was this the country, or this the age, in which we were to recog- nize such a doctrine ? It did seem to him that the most important of all the branches of human knowledge is that which relates to the moral and political relations of man. It is intimately connected with the rights and duties and privileges of citizens, whether in public or in private life. How would gentlemen designate that great branch of human science, which is of very modern origin, and even now in its infancy — political economy ? Is it not a most important part of human knowledge? And are the legislators of this country, who are so deeply concerned in the destinies and progressive civilization of the human race, to regard the science of government and legislation as no part of human knowl- edge? It really seemed to him that, as representatives of the American people, they could recognize no such distinction. We have been told from high classical authority that ' ' the proper study of mankind is man; ' ' but here the idea upon which the original form of this bill seemed to stand was that the proper study of mankind is that of ani- mals, exotics, and plants only — not including at all the great moral and civil relations of man. Now, he took it upon himself to say that if gentlemen would survey the field of moral science they would find that it embraced a much larger portion of knowledge than the physical sciences, however important they may be. * * * He had no dispo- 414 PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. sition to depreciate the value of the physical sciences, but he insisted upon it that the moral and political sciences were equally important and, if any distinction was to be drawn, more important. At a very early period of his life, he was struck with a graphic remark made by the great Commentator on English law, in illustrating the fitness of associat- ing a professorship of law with the University of Oxford — and his hon- orable friend from Kentucky (Mr. Crittenden) no doubt well recollected the passage — that ' ' the sciences are of a sociable disposition, and flour- ish best in the neighborhood of each other. ' ' He would make no dis- tinction. He must be permitted to say that he thought the Senate had already decided the question in regard to the extension of this library, by striking out the proviso of the first section, and the whole of the eighth section, which provides for professors on the subject of natural sciences only. He saw no reason for any distinction between the moral and physical sciences. If such a library as was contemplated by the honorable Sena- tor from Massachusetts was established, there would be no danger of the physical sciences being slighted; but he hoped that these great moral and political sciences, which so intimately concern the temporal and eternal destinies of man, would have their appropriate space in this great receptacle of human knowledge. He had been led to these remarks because his firm and solemn con- viction was that we now have it in our power to do more good to this nation in our day and generation by a judicious and wise application of this $500,000 than by the application of the twenty-five or thirty millions that we are in the habit of annually appropriating. He was glad that it was the sense of the Senate that this subject should go back to the committee, to be matured and deliberately acted upon, and that there was to be brought forward a plan of some great and noble foundation, which would realize, to the fullest extent, the mag- nificent conception which suggested this donation. He was opposed to any limitations; he was opposed to any distinctions between the great branches of human knowledge. In the republic of letters all stood upon a platform of equality; and if we have a library at all, it should be coex- tensive with the limits of human knowledge, and with the design of the donor — "the increase and diffusion of knowledge (of all sound knowl- edge) among men." * Mr. Choate's amendment was accordingly adopted, and, on motion of Mr. Woodbury, the bill and amendments were recommitted to the Committee on the Library. On the 21st of January, 1845, this committee reported a new bill, which provided for a building for the reception of 1 Congressional Globe 14: 116. DEBATE ON CHOATE AMENDMENTS. 415 an extensive library, equal to the first class libraries in the world; and — An annual expenditure of not less than twenty thousand dollars out of the interest of the fund is authorized to be made in the purchase of books and manuscripts for the library of the institution, which library is to comprehend in due proportion, without preference or exclusion of any branch of knowledge, works pertaining to all the departments of human knowledge, as well as physical science, and the application of science to the arts of life, as all other sciences, philosophy, history, literature, and art; and for its extent, variety, and value, said library shall be worthy of the donor of the fund, and of this nation and the age. The managers to employ a librarian and assistants and to fix their salaries; also to prescribe the regulations under which the library shall be kept, visited, and used. The discussion being continued, Mr. Woodbury proposed that the board of managers of the Smithsonian fund consist of the officers of the National Institute. Mr. Buchanan observed that he had but very few words to say on this subject. According to the will of the donor this fund was to be distrib- uted for "the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." Con- sidering our peculiar position in the District of Columbia, he (Mr. B.) had arrived at the conclusion that the best mode of distributing this fund was by the purchase of a great library. If (said Mr. B.) you attempt to establish a literary institution here, with the great expense attendant upon living in this District, and from other causes which I need not enumerate, this fund in its benefits would be confined to a very small portion of the people of this country. From the very nature of our Gov- ernment and the condition of the people of this country we could never expect to erect in our day a library to compare with the great European libraries except by the application of this fund to that purpose. It was impossible, everybody knew, for any of our citizens who proposed to write a history, or any other work that required an examination into ancient books and authorities, to do so without going to Europe for that purpose. Now, he believed that an extensive library, in which all the means of human knowledge should be collected, and in which they should be equally open to all the citizens of this country, was the very best mode in which to apply the money so liberally bequeathed by Mr. Smithson for the ' ' increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. ' ' He was clearly of that opinion, but he had no idea of making a speech upon the subject. The question now before the Senate resolved itself into a very simple proposition, and that was, Shall Congress retain and direct the immediate and efficient control of this fund and of its application, or shall it be administered through the agency of the National Institution? That was the question; and on the decision of the question his own vote might 4-l6 PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. depend. Now, he entertained all proper respect for the members of this Institution, and he believed it had been already instrumental in diffusing knowledge among men, but he thought Congress was bound to keep the application of this fund distinct from that or any other literary incor- porated body. What was proposed by his honorable friend from New Hampshire (Mr. Woodbury) in the amendment under consideration? Why, to connect the National Institute with the Smithsonian library — to form a sort of partnership between the two. The National Institute is to hold its meetings in a room in the building to be erected for the use of the Smithsonian library. This was in the printed amendment, and would be the inevitable consequence of intrusting the management of this fund to that Institute ! In a great national institution like the Smith- sonian library, calculated for the benefit of the whole people of the country, he desired to keep it clear, or detach it and keep it distinct from the National Institute, or any other literary corporation whatever. Congress ought to take upon itself the immediate control of this library. It would never succeed unless this course be pursued. For one, he was not acquainted with the rules of the National Insti- tute, and he did not know in what manner the managers of that institu- tion were elected; but the proposed amendment placed the direction and supervision of the Library in the hands of managers not elected by Con- gress, not responsible to Congress, and over whom the people of this country, by their representatives, could have no control whatever. Congress was undoubtedly capable of administering this fund without the aid of the National Institute; and it was their duty to do so. Without, therefore, troubling the Senate with any further observa- tions, he should certainly go for separating the operation of this Library from those of the National Institute; wishing and hoping that that Insti- tute might have all the success which he believed is so well deserved; and if it should be made a rival in disseminating knowledge among men with the Library, well and good. The more knowledge communicated, the better for the people of this country. He, therefore, should vote against the amendment of the honorable Senator from New Hampshire (Mr. Woodbury) and, although there were some provisions in the bill to which he might object, he would vote for it, nevertheless, should it remain substantially as it came from the Committee on the Library. 1 So Mr. Woodbury's motion was lost, and on the 23d the bill moved by Mr. Choate and reported by the Library Com- mittee, devoting the larger part of the income of the Smith- sonian fund to the establishment of a general library, passed the Senate. In the House, however, where the majority favored the devotion of a part only of the income to a library, 1 Congressional Globe 14: 163-164. A RIVAL BIIX IN THE HOUSE. 417 and that to the establishment of a special library, the session ended before the matter came to a vote. On the 22d of April, 1846, the question of the disposition of the Smithsonian fund was finally taken up in the House. On that day a bill allowing an expenditure of $10,000 a year for a library was introduced by Robert Dale Owen, of Indi- ana, with the following remarks upon the library plan sug- gested by the Senate bill for the establishment of the Smith- sonian Institution and by Mr. Choate's speech delivered on the 8th of January, 1845: The library contemplated by this bill, it was expressly provided, was to be "of the largest class of libraries now in the world. ' ' We shall better understand both the object and the cost of this proposal by taking as a commentary thereon some of the remarks with which it was introduced by its author, then a distinguished member of the other branch, but no longer there to adorn its debates with the gay flowers of his brilliant eloquence. He objected to limiting the cost of the library building to $100,000; seeing, as he reminded the Senate, that the ' ' largest class ' ' of public libraries contain from a quarter of a million to upward of half a million of volumes. * * * He adds, a little further on, that ' ' such a step taken, we should never leave the work unfinished;" and that when finished it would rival anything civilization has ever had to show. * * * Then the Senator branches off, in his own brilliant style, into a dis- sertation on the value and importance of such a library; "a vast store- house, ' ' says he, "a vast treasury of all the facts which make up the history of man and of nature; " * * * "a silent, yet wise and elo- quent, teacher; dead, yet speaketh — not dead, for Milton has told us, 'A good book is not absolutely a dead thing — the precious lifeblood of man, rather, of a master spirit; a seasoned life of man, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life.' " If the question were between a library and no library — between books and no books — the language thus employed, fervid as it is, would be all insufficient to shadow forth the towering magnitude of the subject. John Faust — if, indeed, to the goldsmith of Mentz the world owe the art of typesetting — conferred on his race a greater boon than ever before did living man. There is no comparison to.be made between the effects of the art of printing and those of any other discovery put forth by human wit. There is nothing to which to liken it. It was a general gaol delivery of the thought of the world. It was a sending forth of those winged messengers, hitherto bound down each in his own narrow sphere, emancipated, over the earth. And that was the great day, not 23399—04 27 418 PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. of intellect only, but of freedom also. Then was struck the heaviest blow against lawgiving for the mind. The Strombolean Cave was opened; the long pent winds of opinion set free; and no edict-framing -Eolus could crib and confine them to their prison house again. Yes! well might Faust incur the charge of demonocracy! for, almost to the letter, has his wondrous craft realized, in our day, the fables of Eastern romance. Draw a chair before your library, and you have obtained the magical carpet of the Arabian tale; you are transported, at a wish, farther than to Africa's deserts or India's groves; to other times also. The speaking page introduces you, not to your contempo- raries alone, but to your ancestors, through centuries past. The best and wisest of former generations are summoned to your presence. In books exists the bygone world. By books we come into contact with the mankind of former ages. By books we travel among ancient nations, visit tribes long since extinct, and are made familiar with manners that have yielded centuries ago to the innovating influence of time. Con- tracted, indeed, is his mental horizon, limited his sphere of comparison, whose fancy has never lived among the sages and the heroes of the olden time, to listen to their teachings, and to learn from their achievements. As far as the farthest, then, will I go, in his estimate of the blessings which the art of printing has conferred upon man. But such reasoning bears not on the proposal embraced in the Senate bill. It substantiates not at all the propriety of spending half a million, or two, or three half millions of dollars to rival the bibliomaniacs of Paris and of Munich. A Library of Congress we already have, a Library of forty or fifty thousand volumes, a Library increasing at the rate of one or two thou- sand volumes a year. The Smithsonian bill before you permits, in addition, an expenditure not exceeding an average of $ 10,000 a year for this object. Say that but half that sum is annually expended by the managers; and still, in some twelve or fifteen years, the two libraries will probably number from eighty to a hundred thousand volumes. Are there 100,000 volumes in the world worth reading? I doubt it much. Are there 4,000 volumes published yearly worth buying? I do not believe there are. A small garner suffices to store the wheat; it is the chaff that is bulky and fills up the storehouse. Books are like wealth. An income we must have to live; a certain amount of income to live in comfort. Beyond a certain income the power of wealth to purchase comfort, or even wholesome luxury, ceases altogether. How much more of true comfort is there in a fortune of a million of dollars than in one of fifty, or, say, a hundred thousand? If more there be, the excess is hardly appreciable; the burden and the cares of the million- aire outweigh it tenfold. And so, also, of these vast and bloated book gatherings that sleep in dust and cobwebs on the library shelves of European monarchies. Up to a judicious selection of thirty, fifty, a hundred thousand volumes, if you will, how vast — yea, how price- A RIVAL BILL IN THE; HOUSE. 419 less — is the intellectual wealth. From one to five hundred thousand what do we gain? Nothing? That would not be true. A goblet emptied into the Pacific adds to the mass of its waters. But if within these limits we set down one book out of a hundred as worth the money it costs we are assuredly making too liberal an estimate. I pray you, sir, not to stretch these strictures beyond their precise application. I am not one of those who judge slightingly the learning of the past. We find shining forth from the dark mass of ancient litera- ture gems of rare beauty and value, unequaled, even to-day, in purity and truth. But then, also, what clouds of idle verbiage! What loads of ostentatious technicalities! It is but of late years that even the disciple of science has deigned to simplify and translate; formerly his great object seems to have been to obscure and mystify. The satirist, in sketching an individual variety, has aptly described the species, when he says: "The wise men of Egypt were secret as dummies, And even when they most condescended to teach They packed up their meaning, as they did their mummies, In so many wrappers 'twas out of one's reach." But there are such noble enterprises as those of Gibbon and Hallam, valuable to all; doubly valuable to the moralist and the statesman. And in regard to such it is argued that if one of our own scholars, fired with generous ambition to rival the historians of the Old World, enters on such a task he may find that a dozen books, or perhaps a single book, necessary for reference "can not be found this side of Gottingen or Oxford." Suppose he does, what is the remedy? A very simple one suggests itself — that he should order through an importer of foreign books the particular work which he lacks. To save him the trouble and expense of so doing the friends of the mammoth library scheme propose what? That we should begin by expending half a million of dollars, which would ' ' go far toward the purchase of as good a library as Europe can boast; " that "such a step taken, we should never leave the work unfinished;" and that when finished it would rival anything civilization has ever had to show. It is prudent, before we enter on this rivalship, to count its cost. Without seeking to reach the 700,000 volumes of the Parisian library, let us suppose that we try for the half million of volumes that form the boast of Munich, or fill up the shelves of the Bodleian. Our Librarian informs me that the present Congressional Library (certainly not one of the most expensive) has cost upward of $3 a volume; its binding alone has averaged over a dollar a volume. The same works could be pur- chased now, it is true, much more cheaply; but, on the other hand, the rare old books and curious manuscripts necessary to complete a library of the largest class would raise the average. Assuming then, the above rate, a rival of the Munich library would cost us a million and a half of 420 PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. dollars; its binding alone would amount to a sum equal to the entire Smithsonian fund as originally remitted to us from England. And thus not only the entire legacy which we have promised to expend so that it shall increase and diffuse knowledge among men is to be squandered in this idle and bootless rivalry, but thousands on thou- sands must be added to finish the work, from what source to be derived, let its advocates inform us. And when we have spent thrice the amount of Smithson's original bequest on the project, we shall have the satisfaction of believing that we may possibly have saved to some worthy scholar a hundred, or perchance a few hundred dollars, which otherwise he must have spent to obtain from Europe half a dozen valuable works of reference! But there are other reasons urged for this appropriation of the Smithsonian fund. ' ' There is something to point to, if you should be asked to account for it unexpectedly ; and something to point to if a traveler should taunt you with the collections which he has seen abroad, and which gild and recommend the absolutisms of Vienna or St. Petersburg." (Senator Choate's speech, as above.) This purchasing of a reply to some silly traveler's idle taunts, at a cost of a million and a half of dollars, including a fund sacredly pledged to human improvement, seems to me a somewhat costly and unscrupu- lous mode of gratifying national vanity. It is ineffectual, too, unless we are prepared to add a few millions more to buy up — if money could buy — the means of reply to other taunts, quite as just and quite as likely to be cast up to us. There is the Vatican, with its "Statues but known from shapes of the earth, By being too lovely for mortal birth. ' ' There is the Florence gallery, with its ' ' Paintings, wiose colors of life were caught From the fairy tints in the rainbow wrought — " images of beauty, living conceptions of grandeur, refining, cultivating, elevating ; worth all the musty manuscripts of Oxford, ten times told. How are we to escape the imputation that our rude land can show no such triumphs of art as these? Are we to follow Bonaparte's plan? Are we to carry war into the land of the olive and the vine, and enrich this city, as the French Emperor did his capital, with the artistical spoils of the world? Unless we adopt some such plan, must not Europe's taunts remain unanswered still? And let them so remain ! I share not the feelings of the learned and eloquent Senator to whose remarks I have taken the liberty to reply, when he says: ' ' I confess to a pang of envy and grief that there should be one drop or one morsel more of the bread or water of intellectual life tasted by A RIVAL BILL IN THE HOUSE. 421 the European than by the American mind. Why should not the soul of this country eat as good food and as much of it as the soul of Europe? ' ' It grieves me not that the fantastic taste of some epicure in learning may chance to find, on the bookshelves of Paris, some literary morsel of choice and ancient flavor, such as our own metropolis supplies not. I feel no envy if we republicans are outdone by luxurious Europe in some high-seasoned delicacy of the pampered soul. Enough have we to con- sole ourselves — objects of national ambition, how much higher, how infinitely nobler than these; objects of national pride, before which these petty antiquarian triumphs dwarf down into utter insignificancy ! Look abroad over our far-spreading land, then glance across to the monarchies of the Old World, and say if I speak not truth! * * * And shall we grudge to Europe her antiquarian lore, her cumbrous folios, her illuminated manuscripts, the chaff of learned dullness that encumbers her old library shelves? A ' ' pang of envy and grief ' ' shall we feel? Out upon it! Men have we— a people — a free people; self- respecting, self-governing; that which gold can not buy; that which kings can not make ! Grief! Envy! Theirs let it be who look upon this young land in her freshness, in her strength! Let them feel it who behold, from afar, our people bravely battling their onward way; tread- ing, with liberty at their side, the path of progressive improvement; each step upward and onward — onward to the great goal of public virtue and social equality. 1 Mr. J. R. Ingersoll agreed with Mr. Owen that a great library, such as was provided for by the Senate bill, was not desirable; and said that the necessary buildings to contain the greatest library in the world would, in its own erection, exhaust the entire sum. This Capitol itself would not be sufficient to contain 800,000 volumes, which would be the largest library in the world, so properly arranged as to be accessible. On the following day George Perkins Marsh, of Vermont, replied to Mr. Owen and advocated the library plan in the following speech: Books [he said], Mr. Smithson did not collect, as we propose to do, because to one who had no fixed habitation a library would have been but an incumbrance; and he lived in the great cities of Europe, where public and private munificence has collected and devoted to general use such ample repositories of the records of knowledge, that individual accumulation of such stores is almost superfluous. But though he gathered no library his writings show him to have been a 1 Congressional Globe 16: 469-470. 422 PLANS FOR A NATIONAL LIBRARY. man of somewhat multifarious reading; and it is quite a gratuitous assumption of those narrow minds, who think no path worth traveling but that which they have trodden, no field worth cultivating whose fruits they have never plucked. Apart, then, from the liberty which the broad words of the will give us, we are entitled to believe that the purposes of the testator were as comprehensive as the language he used — that he aimed at promoting all knowledge for the common benefit of all men. 1 * * * A library, continued Mr. Marsh, is one of the most efficient means of increasing and diffusing knowledge, and the provision in the bill before the House for a library, though too limited, constitutes its most valuable feature. I had originally purposed to examine the subject from quite a dif- ferent point of view, but the eloquent remarks of the chairman of the special committee [Mr. Owen] , which seem to be intended as an argu- ment rather against this provision than in favor of the bill; and as a reply to the able and brilliant speech of a distinguished member of another branch of Congress, upon a former occasion [Mr. Choate] , has induced me to take a somewhat narrower range than I should otherwise have done. I wish, sir, that Senator was here to rejoin, in his own proper person, to the beautiful speech of the gentleman from Indiana, who seems rather to admire the rhetoric than to be convinced by the logic of the eloquent orator to whom I refer. In that case, sir, I think my friend from Indiana, trenchant as are his own weapons, would feel, as many have felt before, that the polished blade of the gentleman who lately did such honor to Massachusetts in the Senate of the United States, is not the less keen because, like Harmodius and Aristogiton, he wraps it in sprays of myrtle. It has been objected by some that the appropriation is too large for the purpose expressed — ' ' the gradual formation of a library composed of valuable works pertaining to all departments of human knowledge." But if we consider how much is embraced in these comprehensive words we shall arrive at a very different conclusion. The great libraries of Europe range from 200,000 to half a million, or perhaps even 750,000 volumes. That of the University of Gottingen, the most useful of all for the purposes of general scholarship, contains about 300,000. How long would it require to collect a library like this with an annual expenditure of $10,000? The library of Congress is said to have cost about $3.50 per volume; but, as a whole, it has not been economically purchased, and though composed chiefly of works which do not maintain a per- manently high price, yet as a large proportion of the annual purchases consists of new books from the press in London, the dearest book market in the world, its cost has been much higher than that of a great miscellaneous library ought to be. The best public library in America, 1 Congressional Globe, 16: 851. GEORGE PERKINS MARSH. REPRESENTATIVE MARSH'S SPEECH. 423 for its extent (10,000 volumes), which I am happy to say is that of the University of my native State, Vermont, cost but $1.50 per volume. It can hardly be expected that the Government, which always pays the highest price, will be so favorably dealt with; and it is scarcely to be hoped that it will succeed in securing the services of so faithful and so competent an agent as was employed by the University of Vermont. I have myself been, unfortunately for my purse, a book buyer, and have had occasion to procure books, not only in this country, but from all the principal book marts in western Europe. From my own experi- ence, and some inquiry, I am satisfied that the whole cost of such books as a national library ought to consist of, including binding and all other charges, except the compensation and traveling expenses of an agent, should not exceed $2 per volume. If you allow $2,000 for the compen- sation and expenses of an agent (which would not be increased upon a considerably larger expenditure) you have $8,000 remaining, which, at the average cost, I have supposed, would purchase 4,000 volumes a year. How long, I repeat, would it require at this rate to accumulate a library equal in extent to that of Gottingen? More than seventy years. In some seventy years, then, in three score years and ten, when you, sir, and I, and all who hear my voice, and all the present actors in this busy world shall be numbered with the dead, we may hope that free, enlight- ened America, by the too sparing use of the generous bounty of a stran- ger, will possess a collection of the recorded workings of the human mind not inferior to that now enjoyed by a single school in the minia- ture kingdom of Hanover. And what provision is made for the increase of books meanwhile ? I 5fi s» a