27 



It has occurred tome that perhaps the several district clerks might be in- 

 duced to attend to the business: it is perhaps legally their duty to do so, but 

 I suppose it would be unsafe to rely upon their performing faithfully such au 

 unexpected duty, unless they received for it some additional compensation. 

 Besides this, a circular might be printed and sent to publishers, setting 

 forth the advantages which would result directly to the cause of letters, 

 tond indirectly to themselves, from compliance with this requirement. By 

 these means I think we should obtain nearly all the publications of impor- 

 tance issued from the American press. 



3. The selection of books for the first purchase must be made. This 

 will, I suppose, comprise three classes of works: 1. Those which may be 

 immediately needed in the scientific department; 2. Bibliographical works 

 and descriptions, histories and catalogues of similar institutions; and, 3. 

 The general collection, consisting of the memoirs, transactions, and jour- 

 nals of the learned societies of Europe and America. These three classes of 

 books will form a libraiy quite unique, and one of great utilit^^ The 

 catalogue, if it be made with fulness and accuracy, will be a valuable pub- 

 lication. I think, further, that a somewhat extended list of books should 

 be made out for future purchases. These lists should be intrusted to 

 honest and faithful men in some of the principal book marts in Europe, 

 with orders to buy the books whenever they can find them — at say one- 

 half the ordinary p'ices. In this way we should obtain at very low prices 

 great numbers of the books which we shall want. Of course, the same 

 list should not be left with different men. The work should be done 

 with care, and by consultation with the best scholars in the country. It 

 will be difficult to find the necessary bibliographical helps. The best col- 

 lection of them in the country is in the library of the Brown University, 

 but this is very imperfect. 



4. The first purchases are to be made, and the arrangements for future 

 purchases. These, of course, should not be commenced until the lists are 

 as far completed as they can judiciously be in this country. 



5. Another subject contemplated in the programme of organization, and 

 which should receive immediate attention, is the procuring of copies of some 

 of the most celebrated loorks of art. It will probably be best to confine the 

 purchases at first principally to plaster casts of some of the finest specimens 

 of ancient and modern statuary. These can be procured very cheap, and 

 convey, of course, a perfect representation of the original. I have no doubt 

 that for a public institution, and one under national auspices, we could, 

 whenever we desire it, obtain permission to take casts directly from tJie 

 statues. 



The expense of doing so would of course be somewhat greater than 

 that of purchasing such copies as might be found in the market, but a 



