During the last twelve months, 2,908 volumes of books have been 

 added to the Library; 2,458 of these by purchase, 120 by donation, 

 and about 230 from the ofl&ce of patents; making a total of 21,020 

 volumes now in the Library, classified as follows : — 



Classification. J^°-%{\°lh 



Ang. 31, 1855. 



Theology, Morality, and Metaphysics 1117 



Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Chemistry, 



&c 582 



Natural History, Botany, Geology, &c 786 



Science and the Arts, Architecture, Paint- 

 ing, &c 826 



History and Biography 3103 



Topography and Antiquities 848 



Geography, Voyages, and Travels 1419 



Miscellaneous Literature 3345 



Jurisprudence, Law, and Politics 1903 



Commerce, Political Economy, and Sta- 

 tistics 14C 



Education, Logic, and Language 165 



Poetry and Dramatic Literature 939 



Novels and Works of Imagination .' 2379 



Classical Literature 73 



Heraldry, Encyclopaedias, and Works of 



Reference 481 



Total 18112 2908 21020 



The readers of works of imagination naturally preponderate, from 

 the numbers of young people who crowd the reading-room every night 

 in search of amusement; but their respectful conduct, deep attention, 

 and improved appearance has been so perceptible since the opening of 

 the Library, that an inference may be safely drawn that the amuse- 

 ment lias been blended with instruction. 



During the year, the Library has been visited by many distinguished 

 persons ; amongst others, H. R. H. the Duke of Cambridge and suite ; 

 Mr. Hastings Grant, deputed by the Mercantile Library Association of 

 New York, to inquire and report upon the libraries of Great Britain, 

 who has specially referred in his Report to this Library in terms of 

 high commendation ; more recently, the distinguished Earl Stanhope 

 (Lord Mahon) has gone over the Institution, and expressed, in a 

 subsequent communication to the librarian, his high gratification, with 

 the extent and value of the collection and the system pursued. 



