[23 J 



168 



be, as heretofore expressed in the report of the Committee on Organization ,. 

 of '^ such vahiable works of reference as in the prosecution of its plan may 

 be required." In accordance with these views the committee report a reso- 

 lution. 



If any considerable amount of books, beyond those required for present 

 reference, be purchased at this time, they will lie in boxes, with much risk 

 of injury, and no possibility of being accessible to the public. Nor, the 

 committee think, will it be prudent or desirable while the main building 

 is in progress, and while temporary arrangements must be made in one of 

 the wings for the reception of such works as by purchase, by exchange, 

 and from other sources, shall have accumulated in the library, to open that 

 provisional library to the public. Few would be likely to resort to it as a 

 place of study, amid the noise and confusion incident to the erection of an 

 extensive building. 



Again, though no large sums be spent directly for books, for the pres- 

 ent, every appropriation made for the publication of Transactions or other 

 ■works, to be distributed to learned and scientific societies throughout the 

 world, is a virtual contribution to the library. It cannot be doubted that 

 the exchanges to which, by such extended distribution, the institution 

 will be entitled, will in many cases overpay, in the shape of additions to 

 the library, the cost of the works distributed. 



And, finally, it should be remarked, that under the scale of expendi- 

 ture herein proposed, the simi of a hundred and forty thousand dollars 

 will be added to the original capital of the institution; making an addition 

 to its income of eight thousand four hundred dollars annually, forever; 

 one half of which, by the resolutions hereinafter recited, commonly called 

 the compromise resolutions, will inure to the benefit of the library. It 

 was doubted, at the time of the passage of these resolutions,, whether, 

 under their operation, and supposing the entire income of the institution to 

 be the interest from its original capital, the permanent annual appropria- 

 tion for the purchase of books could exceed from four to five thousand 

 dollars. 



By the operation of the present plan it may^ therefore, be considered as 

 doubled, or nearly so. The additional four thousand two hundred dollars 

 added by that plan annually, forever, to the libra.ry appropriation, is far 

 more than an equivalent for the delay it presupposes, in the accumulation 

 of works not wanted for immediate reference, or present purposes; a delay 

 extending only to the period when suitable permanent arrangements can 

 be made for their reception. 



In accordance with the views herein given, th© committee append to 

 their report a series of resolutions, of which they recommend the passage. 



All which is respectfully submitted. 



W. W. SEATON, 

 ROBERT DALE OWEN, 

 JOSEPH G. TOTTEN, 



Cmnniittee. 



Resolutions appended to the report of Ejsecutive Committee. 



Resolved, That the balance on hand, standing to the credit of the 

 chairman of the Executive Committee, on the first of December current, 

 together with all interest accruing to the institution up to the 19th of 

 March next, to wit: the interest due on the first of January next, and oa 



