1843.] THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 277 



of which number there were derived from tho Columbian Institute, 

 Volumes, 43 



Pamphlets, 178 



221 



Smithsonian Bequest, 



Volumes, 113 

 Pamphlets, 85 



198 



American Historical Society, 



Volumes, 58 



Pamphlets, 105 



163 



Deposited by Mr. Castelneau, 

 Volumes, 150 

 Pamphlets, 70 



220 



802 



Direct presentations to the National 

 Institute from scientific institutions, 

 and from its own members, 1138 



1940 



Besides which may be enumerated fifty-three maps, many of which are rare and 

 curious. 



A full and regular catalogue of the books has been prepared, which the under- 

 signed has the honor to submit herewith. No system of loans has been adopted as 

 yet, excepting to the gentlemen immediately occupied in the scientific classifica- 

 tion of the specimens, &c., arranged in the Hall, who have free access to the Li- 

 brary at all times. It has not been thought convenient to loan the books to the 

 members of the Institute generally, until a respectable number of publications on 

 various branches of literature and science should have been collected together, so as 

 to form a tolerably well chosen library, and until the Institute should have adopted 

 a regular plan for the safe return of such books as should be borrowed. 



The Philadelphia Library requires from each person who borrows a book, abend 

 for a specified sum far exceeding the value theieof, which on its return is can- 

 celled. 



Appended hereto is a list of books formerly in the library of the American His- 

 torical Society, now become the property of the Institute, which have never been 

 delivered over : they are probably in the possessioia of gentlemen who were members 

 of the Historical Society, and should be returned. 



The undersigned would suggest the propriety of having an emblematic seal or 

 stamp engraved, for the purpwse of stamping each book, pamphlet, map, print, or 

 M. S., which is presented to tho Library. This mode of marking would be neat 

 and appropriate, and would be a safer guarantee for the return of borrowed books, 

 than the simple mark witii a pen now made use of. Tlic cost would be a mere trifle. 



In June, 1841, before the undersigned took charge of the Library, Captain Chase, 

 of the Engineer Corps, presented to the Institute fifteen original letters in M. S., 

 from Generals Washington, Heath, Hamilton, and other distinguished charurterg 

 of the Revolution, addressed to the Honorable ,Tohn Hancock, President of Con- 

 gress. When these papers were handed to me, on my taking charge of the Library, 

 I observed that No. 1, purporting to bo a letter from General Washington, was 

 missing ; and that No. 2, in tho M. S. of General Washington, and No. 3, in the 

 M. S. of Mr. Jefferson, had had the signatures cut from them. I immediately cal- 

 led tho attention of the then Curator, Dr. King, from whom I received them, to 

 this circumstance, who informed mo that he had examined them at the time of their 

 receipt, and had then observed tlio mutilation of the two letters, and also stated 

 that the missing letter was probably mislaid among tho papers of the Institute. I 

 also called the attention of the Vico President to the fact, who agreed with me in 



No. 3. 8 



