94 EiaHTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



and which it is very difficult to procure by purchase, even with large 

 tunds at command." 



Professor Baird estimated the value of the works thus received, 

 during the year 1852, at from $4,000 to $5,000. If we estimate the 

 future receipts from the S3'stem of exchange at half" that sum annually, 

 and suppose an appropriation in money of equal amount for the pur- 

 chase of books, the growth of the library will be quite as rapid as was 

 that of the library of Congress during the twenty-five years prior to the 

 late fire, and its annual increase in value more than double that of the 

 Congressional Library before the period mentioned. For several 

 years before 1825, the ordinary appropriations of Congress for their 

 library were not more than $2,000 per annum, ^ince that period they 

 have been $5,000. 



The Committee of Organization, in their report submitted in 1847, 

 recommended such a selection of books as w^ould " make the Smith- 

 sonian Library chiefly a supplemental one," and "to purchase for the 

 most part valuable works which are not to be found elsewhere in the 

 Union." 



Of course this was not to be a universal rule, and not to exclude 

 standard works of authority and reference. They particularly desired 

 to see the library so supplied with important works on bibhograph}'', so 

 that it might become the centre of literary and bibliographical reference 

 for the whole country. This desire has always been entertained by the 

 Regents, and mu-^h has already been done tovyards this object. The 

 collection of printed and manuscript catalogues has already been 

 commenced with this view, and should be steadily followed up. It is 

 believed that the appropriations suggested, together wath the exchanges 

 and occasional special appropriations, will, in a reasonable time, not 

 only secure this object, but make the library the most important collec- 

 tion of valuable books, pertaining to all departments of knowledge, 

 to be found in our country. 



Suggestions have been made to the Committee of certain alterations 

 in the organization of the Institution, which your Connnittee think not 

 warranted b}^ the letter and spirit of the law, -and in conflict with the 

 seventh section, which defines the duties and powers of the Secretary. 

 That section admits of only one interpretation. Its terms are direct 

 and explicit, and its objects are expressly and pointedly set forth. The 

 entire property of the Institution is placed by it in the Secretary's 

 hands, and he is distinctly constituted the responsible agent of the 

 Board of Regents. He is *'to make a fair and accurate record of all 

 their proceedings," "to take charge of the building and property of 

 the Institution," to discharge the duties of librarian and keeper of the 

 museum. This language clearly shows the intention of the framers of 

 the law to secure unity of action, to admit of no separate and indepen- 

 dent departments, as is often the case in other institutions All the 

 duties enumerated are devolved solely on the Secretary, and though 

 other persons may be employed, they are merely his assistants, the 

 offices being emphatically one. The Secretary alone is authorized to 

 act, and if the business of the Institution demanded no more than the 

 mind and labor of one man might be competent to perform, there would 

 be no occasion for the employment of any one else. 



