MERCANTILE LIBRARY OF NEW YORK. 199 Both, however, can look back on a long career of usefulness, and forward to one of indefinite progress. BOOK IV. Chapter II. Subscription Libraries of the Library of New The name "Mercantile Library Association" scarcely United States. describes the original scope of the Society of New York, or of the others, having a like designation. But it [13.] Mercantile seems to become less inapplicable with every passing year, from the widening process which time has brought to bear on the first plan. Originally, it was an association of merchants' clerks, to the exclusion as well of merchants as of all others. Within seven years the collection had grown sufficiently to need better accommodation than seemed attainable without the erection of a new building. In 1828, a meeting of prominent merchants was convened with a view to the provision of a suitable structure by a joint-stock. It was to be named "Clinton Hall," and the shareholders the "Clinton Hall Association." The members of the latter became, ipso facto, members of the Library society. The building thus erected-at a cost of about £11,000,was opened in 1830. At that date the Library possessed but 6000 volumes. During the next thirty years, 37,000 volumes were added, at a cost of £13,071 sterling (65,356 dollars), from which number must be deducted about 6000 volumes (of the more ephemeral sort) worn out during the same period. So that the increment, since 1820, would pretty accurately represent the actual contents of the Library in 1850, as respects mere numbers. During the same period 14,616 members were admitted. 1 Thirty-fourth Annual Report (1854), p. 5. BOOK IV. Chapter II. Libraries. of the In 1853 it was found to be desirable that a more ca Subscription pacious building should be procured. A joint-stock United States. fund was again resorted to, with such success as led to the obtainment, and thorough adaptation to its new purpose, of a very suitable building, at a cost, including furniture, of £49,200, nearly the whole of which has been defrayed. When the small remainder of debt shall have been paid off, the entire income of the “Clinton Hall Association" will be applied to the increase and improvement of the Library. The total number of volumes in the Library on the 1st of May, 1856, was 46,383, of which 3588 had been added during the preceding sixteen months. Of these 3004 were purchased, and 584 presented. The sum expended in books and periodicals was about £900, and in binding about £300. Of the presented books, the greater part were public documents, including the "Annals of Congress."1 The Reading Rooms are amongst the finest in America, and are probably better supplied with periodicals in all departments of literature, both English and foreign, than any other. The New York Mercantile Association owes the perfection of this department, as it does the general efficiency of the institution, to the talents and energy of its Librarian, Mr. S. Hastings Grant. [14.] Mercantile Library of Cin The "Mercantile Library Association of Cincinnati" cinnati; and of was formed in 1835, and incorporated in the following [15.] St. Louis. 1 Annual Reports, passim. LIBRARIES OF CINCINNATI AND OF ST. LOUIS. 201 2 year. In 1856, it contained 16,423 volumes, and its annual aggregate circulation is about 30,000 volumes.1 That of St. Louis dates but from 1846. It now contains about 13,000 volumes,3 the money value of which, with the other property of the Association, is estimated at upwards of £9000. The annual circulation, during 1855, was 15,219 volumes. 1 Twenty-first Annual Report (1856), 6. * Homes, Inaugural Address at the Opening of the Mercantile Library Hall of St. Louis (1855), 26. Tenth Annual Report (1856), 15. BOOK IV. Chapter II. Subscription Libraries of the United States. CHAPTER III. THE CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LIBRARIES OF THE UNITED STATES. men. In our American Revolution, a dignity was seen in human nature, a generous confidence was placed in It was believed that they would attain to greater nobleness by being left to govern themselves; .... to greater energy of intellect. and to higher truths, by being left to freedom of thought and utterance, than by the wisest forms of arbitrary rule. .... Such is the grand idea which lies at the root of our institutions; such the fundamental doctrines of the political creed into which we have all been baptized. The recent history of the country shews the worship of wealth taking the place of reverence for liberty and universal justice. The Free States are called to watch against this peril; to regaid Government not as a machine for creating wealth, for subserving individual cupidity, for furnishing facilities of boundless speculation; but as a moral institution, designed to secure Universal Right, to protect every man in the liberties and immunities through which he is to work out his highest good. CHANNING, (The Duty of the Free States, part ii.) BOOK IV. Chapter III. The Congressional and State Libraries. THE first Library of Congress was founded in April, 1800. It was collected under the superintendence of Mr. Gallatin, Dr. Mitchell, of New York, and others. Library. [1800] Though small, it was valuable, and is said to have been much resorted to in the early days of Washington [1] Congress City. On the 24th of August, 1814, it was totally destroyed by the British Army. THE CONGRESS LIBRARY. 203 The loss induced Mr. Jefferson to offer to Congress BOOK IV. Chapter III. and State Libraries. his well-selected Library of 7000 volumes. It was pur- Congressional chased in 1815 (for £4600 sterling), and became the nucleus of the fine collection which, on the 24th Dec. 1851, was partially destroyed by fire. Both books and catalogue were arranged in subjects, according to Bacon's Classification of Human Knowledge, of which Mr. Jewett has said very appropriately: "It was not intended by its author as a bibliographical system. Nor has any improvement which it has received rendered it convenient or useful for that purpose. The system was introduced by Mr. Jefferson, and, unfortunately, has been continued here long after its abandonment in most other Libraries." At the time of this second calamity, the Library contained upwards of 50,000 volumes of printed books. The MSS. were but few. The then yearly appropriation for the purchase of miscellaneous books was £1000, and for that of law-books £200. About 20,000 volumes were saved from the fire; including the greater portion of Jefferson's valuable collections on the History and Political Affairs of America, and nearly all the books of the law department. At the beginning of 1854, at least an equal number of volumes had been added to the salvage. With a liberality worthy of the occasion, Congress had appropriated to this purpose 85,000 dollars (£17,000,). The purchases are controlled by a joint committee of the two Houses. In the course of 1855, the number of volumes had grown to upwards of 60,000, including many extensive and costly sets, such as the Archæological and Scientific 1 Notices, etc., 139. |