Mis. No. 48. 37 



This table enables us to estimate at a glance, and with a good deoree of 

 aecuracy the relative value of the public provisions made in Europe and 

 America for general intellectual culture, as well as of thote for the most 

 extensive scientific and literary research. 



It will be seen that in the number of public libraries, France is the only 

 country in the world which excels us. It should be observed that the 

 returns respecting France are official and minute, including Hhraries of not 

 more than 500 volumes. Many of our public schools, however, p(jssess 

 libraries larger than these, but they are not enumerated in our lists. If 

 they were, they would swell the number of American libraries far beyond 

 that of any other country in the world. 



In the aggregate number of volumes in the public libraries, Germany, 

 France, Great Britain, and Russia, are before us. .Were all the district 

 school libraries and village collections in the United Slates included in the 

 estimate, we should probably take the fourth rank. 



In the average size of libraries contahiing over ten tJiousand volumes we 

 are the last of all. 



In the size of the largest library we also stand last of all. 



In the number of volumes, compared with tlte population, we rank below 

 all but Russia and Spain. 



These results show that in public provisions for the general difl'usion of 

 knowledge by means of libraries, we stand in the very first rank among 

 the nations; and when we consider the cheapness of our publications, 

 and the vast number of them scattered over the land, M'ith the extent of 

 our periodical literature, we may justly and proudly challenge a compari- 

 son with any nation in the world for the means of general culture. This, 

 certainly, is much for a country so new, whose chief energies have, as a 

 matter of necessity, been directed to the felling of forests, the clearing 

 of lands, and the support of physical life. It shows, as well remarked by 

 a foreign writer, " that the men who, with steady and vigorous hand, have 

 known how to rule themselves, and be completely free, have well dis- 

 cerned the foundations upon which alone the weal of a free State can safely 

 repose." 



But this deduction, so full of encouragement, so fraught with matter for 

 gratulation and pride, must be followed by others of a different character. 



The statistics given indicate, that while no country in the world has 

 done so much for diffusing knowledge, none has done so little towards 

 furnishing the means which public libraries can supply for its increase. 

 It was doubtless the first duty of the infant i;ppublic to provide that all 

 should know something, that the mass of the people should be elevated 

 and enlightened. It has now become her duty to see to it, that no bounds 

 are placed to the culture that each may obtain if he chooses. Now, in 

 the hour of her strength, she ought to provide for her citizens the means of 

 as high cultuie, of as profound research, of as noble advances m science, 

 literature, and art, as are enjoyed by the citizens of any other nation in the 

 world. She should take care that wliile the poor man's son may obtain 

 that elementary education which will enable him to perform the duties of a 

 good and intelligent citizen, he be not, by his poverty, debarred froin the 

 higher walks of science and literature; that there be no monopoly ol learn- 

 ing by the rich— by those who are able to study at the institutions of Eu- 

 rope, or to surround themselves by the books which they need at home. 

 Our condition in these respects has been deeply lamented by our scholars, 



