64. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



the privileges they now enjoy, but also be admitted to the fairs 

 and lectures of the Institute free of charge." 



A majority of the library shareholders agreed to surrender to 

 the Institute their shares in consideration of being made life 

 members. This proposition being accepted, the library thus 

 became the sole property of the Institute. 



For some years past the library committee have confined their 

 purchases to works treating on agriculture, manufactures and the 

 arts, with the exception of works on other subjects to complete 

 sets already in the library. 



It is thus gradually acquiring a solid and substantial character 

 as a scientific library, and for the number of volumes which it 

 contains is perhaps the most valuable, and purely scientific of any 

 library in the countr3^ It is the constant resort of members, 

 inventors and others, for reference, as many of its practical works 

 are not to be found in other libraries in the city, 



While the library committee have cared for the pi'eservation of 

 the volumes already in the library, and to the completion of sets 

 of works of importance, the}^ have not overlooked the suggestions 

 of members in the purchase of new books, as will appear by refer- 

 ence to the list of purchases herewith annexed. 



The donations and exchanges during the year have been larger 

 than for a number of years past, and your committee take this 

 opportunity of acknowledging the valuable contributions from the 

 Imperial Agricultural Society of France ; Imperial and Central 

 Society of Horticulture, France ; Imperial Society of Acclima- 

 tion, France ; Mons. A. Vattemare, France ; Imperial Academy 

 of Sciences, St. Fetersburgh ; Trades Society of Lower Austria ; 

 Royal Agricultural Society of England ; Society of Arts, London ; 

 Smithsonian Institute, Washington ; Commissioner of Patents, 

 Washington; Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington; Lieut. 

 Gillies National Observatory, Washington ; Marjdand Institute, 

 Baltimore ; Massachusetts Board of Agriculture ; Maine Board 

 of Agriculture ; New Hampshire Agricultural Society ; Hon. 

 Preston King, U. S. Senate; Hon. F. A. Conkling, House of 

 Representatives; Board of Supervisors, New York; Commis- 

 sioners of Emigration, New York ; Astor Library ; Governor E. 

 D. Morgan, Albany ; Regents of the University, Albany ; L. S. 

 Doty, Albany; C. Van Benthuysen, Albany; Edward Walker, 

 Thomas McElrath, Prof, James J. Mapes, John M. Ferrier, Chas. 

 A. Seely, J. M. Sanderson, D. T. Valentine, Jireh Bull, George 

 Peyton, S. W. Francis, Thomas F. De Voe, New York. 



