The Smithsonian Library 287 



tion, and, although some inconvenience would be experienced 

 in regard to ready access to the books, yet, in consideration 

 of the great value of the collection, by far the most perfect of 

 its kind in the United States, it has been thought proper to 

 ask Congress to allow the deposit of this library to be made 

 in one of the new fire-proof rooms preparing for the exten- 

 sion of its own collection of books. 



" I am informed by Mr. Spofford, the librarian of Congress, 

 that these two new rooms will be sufficient to accommodate 

 the Smithsonian library, and to furnish space for the growth 

 of the Congressional library for the next fifteen or twenty 

 years. The object of the transfer is, of course, not to sepa- 

 rate this unique and highly-prized collection of books from its 

 relations to the Smithsonian Institution, for it must still bear 

 its name and be subject to its control, but merely to deposit 

 it where its preservation will be more certain and its useful- 

 ness more extended." 



This act made it incumbent upon the government to care 

 for the collection, preserved to the Institution its customary 

 use of its library, gave to it, through the Secretary, the use of 

 the Library of Congress, and authorized the Institution to 

 withdraw the library upon reimbursement to the Treasury for 

 the expenses incurred in binding and care. 



The passage of this bill through Congress aroused consid- 

 erable interest. Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts, said, on 

 March 22, 1866, "I am very much interested in that question. 

 I have paid some little attention to the subject in advance." 

 On March 27 the bill again came up. Senator Hendricks, 

 of Indiana, inquired 



"whether this bill contemplates the permanent transfer of 

 these books to the Congressional Library ? These books 

 belong to the Smithsonian trust fund, which I think ought 

 not to be diverted." 



