22 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 



world ill all that pertains to tbe mental and physical development of 

 the human family, and affording the means of tracing the history of at 

 least every branch of positive science since the days of revival of let- 

 ters until the present time.* 



"These books, in many cases presents from old European libraries 

 and not to be obtained by purchase, formed even then one of the best 

 collections of the kind in the world. 



" The danger incurred from the fire that year, and the fact that the 

 greater portion of these volumes, being unbound and crowded into in- 

 sufficient space, could not be readily consulted, while tlie expense to be 

 incurred for this binding, enlarged room, and other purposes connected 

 with their use threatened to grow beyond the means of the Institution, 

 appear to have been the moving causes which determined the liegents 

 to accept an arrangement by which Congress was to place the Smith- 

 sonian Library with its own in the Capitol, subject to the right of the 

 Eegents to withdraw the books on paying the charges of binding, etc. 

 Owing to the same causes (which have affected the Library of Con- 

 gress itself) these principal conditions, except as regards their custody 

 in a fireproof building, have never been fulfilled. 



" The books are still deposited chiefly in the Capitol, but though they 

 have now accumulated from 40,000 to fully 250,000 volumes and parts 

 of volumes, and form without doubt the most valuable collection of 

 the kind in existence, they not only remain unbound, but in a far more 

 crowded and inaccessible condition than they were before the transfer. 

 It is hardly necessary to add that these facts are deplored by no one 

 more than by the present efficient Librarian of Congress." 



At the last meeting of the Board, the Eegents passed the following 

 resolution : 



^^ Eesohied, That, since the Smithsonian deposit now numbers over 

 250,000 titles, and is still increasing, at the cost of the Institution, it 

 is, in the opinion of the Regents, desirable that in the new building 

 for the Library of Congress, sufficient provision shall be made for its 

 accommodation and increase in a distinct hall or halls, worthy of the 

 collections, and such as, while recalling to the visitor the name of 

 Smithson, shall provide such facilities for those consulting the volumes 

 as will aid in his large purpose of the diffusion of knowledge among 

 men." 



I have brought this resolution of the Regents to the attention of the 

 present Librarian of Congress and to that of the Chief of Engineers, 

 the officer in charge of the new building. 1 learn from the latter offi- 

 cial that, owing to the length of time occupied in the construction, it 

 will probably be from six to eight years before any effect can be given 

 to this resolution ; and, in the mean time, with the overcrowded condi- 

 tion of the present quarters of the Library, the chests sent up from the 

 Institution still often continue to lie unopened, so that their contents 

 are inaccessible. 



Owing to this overcrowding and, as it is understood, to insufficient 

 clerical aid in the Capitol Library, this noble collection, the product of 

 thirty years' accumulation from the fund of Smithson, is, if not alto- 

 gether lost to science and learning, at any rate so impaired in its use- 



* See Smithsonian Report of 1867. 



