24 



NINTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



have been received, for each of which two separate manuscript copies 

 of every word of the title page was required. From this single fact 

 it is evident that the operation of the present copyright law does not 

 confer a material benefit upon ihe Institution, unless it be as a means 

 of swelling the number of articles annually added to the library, which 

 would appear to be at present a matter of some popular importance. 

 It would be well to ask Congress, at least, to relieve the Institution 

 from the burden imposed upon it by the additional postage to which 

 we are constantly subjected on this account.* 



The additions to the library during the year 1854 are shown by the 

 followina: table ; 



If we add these to the number given in the report of the librarian 

 last year, we shall have the following — 



Asrsci'csroie to 1855. 



* Since this was written, Congress has passed an act allowing all copyright publications to 

 be sent to the Institution /ree of postage througli the mail. A circular sent to all the pub- 

 lishers in the United States on this subject will be found in the Appendix. 



