ing, in point of cost, was gained by the wide survey, in many other respects it was serviceable to the library. It enabled me to form a personal acquaintance with the leading book sellers in the places visited, made me more familiar with the book trade, and with the libraries abroad, and afforded me an opportunity of making our own institution more widely known than it had been before. It was very gratifying to hear men like HUMBOLDT, and BUNSEN and LEPSIUS speak of it as an institution, in which the world was interested, and to find many persons desirous of offering some valuable volume or volumes to enrich its collection. Within a few years a great number of important and costly scientific, statistical and historical works have been published by direction and at the expense of the different governments of Europe, which we might have gratuitously, I have no doubt, if application were made for them through the proper channel. This expectation is based on the fact that the Astor library is universally free to foreigners as well as citizens, and on this ground it is especially entitled to favor. In the few instances in which the request has been made, it was promptly granted. Through the kindness of the Right Honorable EDWARD ELLICE, M. P., application was made, in behalf of the library to the Record Commission, for the volumes of documentary history, published under their direction at the cost of the British government, and an order immediately obtained for every work of which any copies remained on hand. With like readiness, the important statistical works published by the Danish government were given to the library, on application through JUSTITSRAAD BÖLLING. Through our ministers abroad, we might apply to the other governments for similar documents not yet obtained. A considerable part of the books bought in Europe the past year, being either not yet arrived or not yet unpacked, and consequently not verified by invoice, I cannot now lay before the trustees a particular specification of the purchases. The whole sum, $25,000, appropriated to this purpose by a vote of the trustees referred to, has been expended, and I have ventured to exceed the limit by about five thousand dollars, having had a very favorable opportunity for buying an additional number of books to that amount. The whole expenditure for the year, therefore, is thirty thousand dollars. For this sum the library obtains an addition of twenty-eight thousand volumes, if counted as they were published, but as in binding two or more are often reduced to one, the actual number, as now bound, does not much exceed twenty-five thousand volumes. These, with the volumes previously collected, make the whole number now be € longing to the library nearly, if not quite, sixty thousand volumes' if counted as first mentioned, or not far from fifty-five thousand as they will stand on the shelves. The forming of so large a collection would have been attended with great difficulty, as well as labor, without the aid of the alphabetical list or index, which was prepared and submitted to the trustees early the last year. With this manual in hand, it could readily be seen, both what books the library already possessed, and what additions had been proposed to be first made. The copies laid before the trustees were marked so as to show what had been obtained, and similar marks now to be prefixed will show the acquisitions since made. This index, interleaved, may serve as an inventory of the library, until the collection shall be more nearly completed, and a perfect catalogue prepared. The additions in manuscript now amount to about two thousand volumes The principle on which this list was formed, made it a safe and in general a sufficient guide. The wants of the community, as far as ascertained, was the ground work of the selection, and next the supplying of deficiencies in the previously existing libraries of the city. The selection has been made with due regard to the claims of every department of learning, and without giving preference to any one to the prejudice of another. I make this statement with great confidence, knowing how uniformly it has been my aim. But as books in some departments are much more costly than in others, and as it is in the most costly that the wants are greatest, large sums have necessarily been applied to works of that description, including those on civil engineering, public improvements, architecture, and the arts generally, and the voluminous accounts of the voyages and researches for scientific, geological and archæological discoveries. All of these belong to the class of subjects of particular interest in the present day, and form an indispensable part of the collections of a public library. Ours is now rich in them. It is also well provided with the transactions of the learned societies; with works on natural history in all its divisions; on the mathematical and physical sciences; on civil history and its kindred branches, with good collections in general literature, both ancient and modern, and is approaching towards a full apparatus of grammars, vocabularies, dictionaries, and other facilities for acquiring the various languages of the earth The last named class is becoming one of great importance to Americans. The position we now occupy brings us into near relation with countries formerly the most remote, and makes the study of languages one of practical utility as well as of necessity, for the learned inquirer into the origin and affinities of the various tribes of the human race. It may be thought, perhaps, that the learned professions have not been borne in mind, as fully as the other departments in our collection as thus far formed, but it should be recollected that the library is bound to preserve its character as a general one, and hence cannot be expected to be made as complete in any speciality, as those which are established exclusively for such a purpose. It may be added, that it has repeatedly invited suggestions from professional gentlemen, of books by them deemed valuable and desirable in the collection, and that when made they have invariably been attended to. As respects the completion of special departments, it may be remarked that this desirable condition of the library can only be hoped for when they shall be made the objects of the fostering care of individuals whose studies and tastes are so directed. The funds of the library cannot properly be so applied, until it is brought much nearer completion as a general collection. Acting under this conviction, and knowing the necessity of a complete bibliographical apparatus for the proper performance of my own duties, I asked to be allowed to provide for the speciality of my own individual charge; it was kindly granted to me, and I have now the satisfaction of seeing the object so nearly accomplished that the collection is entitled to be called a well furnished bibliographical library. A thousand volumes have been added to it during the past year, and its whole number is now above two thousand. A summary of a few words will exhibit the exact present condition of that part of the affairs of the library which is placed under my more immediate superintendence. The collection of books to constitute the library, in its original formation, is now about half made, and the unexpended portion of the fund set apart by the will of the founder for this distinct purpose, will probably increase its number of volumes so as to give it a hundred thousand when completed. In what remains to be done, a great service would be rendered to the library, if gentlemen conversant with books would send in lists of such as they desire to see added to it. In another way much may be done for its benefit. We want the public documents and State papers, both of Congress and the individual states, and may we not hope that they will be furnished gratuitously by legislative acts? Our American library is already very respectable in point of numbers, in the early histories and original authorities. The more recent works of every kind, would be very acceptable to it. Before closing this report, I beg to be permitted to say a word in relation to the library edifice. On examining it since my return from Europe, I find that although it may easily be completed in time to receive the books by the first of May, as was intended, the walls cannot be dry enough to make it safe to place them there. They will require the drying of a whole summer before the building can be occupied as a library. A list of donations to the library is subjoined. It will be seen that the number is increasing, but still far less, I presume, than may reasonably be expected when the library edifice shall be opened, and the influence of a fine array of books be felt upon the community. Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH G. COGSWELL, Superintendent of the Astor Library. New-York, Jan. 29, 1352. DONATIONS To the Astor Library, during the year 1851. Catalogue of the Mercantile Library in New-York, 8vo. By the Mercantile Library Association. Astronomical observations, vol. 2, 1851, 4to. By the National Observatory, Washington. History of the Indian tribes of the United States, p. 1, 1851, 4to. By L. Lea, Commissioner of Indian affairs. Annual report of the Regents of the University, for 1851, 8vo. By the Regents of the University. Documentary history of New-York, vol. 3, 1850. By the Regents of the University. Smithsonian contributions to knowledge, vol. 11, 4to. 1851. By the Smithsonian Institute. Ticknor's history of Spanish Literature, eng. ed., 3 vol. 8vo. By George Ticknor, esquire. Catalogue of maps and surveys in the public offices at Albany v. 1, 8vo. By A. G. Johnson, deputy Sec'y. of State. Binney's terrestrial mollusks and shells of the United State 2 vol. 8vo. A. A. Gould and D. H. Storer. A history of the Massachusetts general Hospital. By N. A. Bowditch. Mac Gregor's commercial tariffs and regulations, 4 vol. 4to. Compte générale de l'administration de justice, 1833, 4to. Enquête relative á diverses prohibitions des produits, 3 vol. 4to. |