292 The Smithsonian Institution 



In 1854, in the ninth Report, he stated : 



" The reading room of the library receives the leading peri- 

 odicals of this country and Great Britain, together with a 

 number from France, Germany, etc. ; and, therefore, offers de- 

 sirable facilities for the reading community of Washington, 

 and for those who visit the seat of government, to keep up 

 with the general progress of knowledge ; while by means of 

 the more profound transactions of learned societies the 

 student is afforded the opportunity of becoming acquainted 

 with the advances made in special branches of literature and 

 science." 



In the next Report it is emphasized 



"that the Smithsonian library is intended to be a special 

 one, as complete as possible in Transactions and all works of 

 science." 



In the Report for 1856 he stated : 



"The series of transactions and scientific periodicals is 

 gradually becoming more and more complete ; and, in the 

 course of a few years, this collection will be as extensive as 

 any to be found in the Old World." 



In 1858 l Professor Henry said: 



" The fact has been repeatedly mentioned in preceding 

 reports that the principal object aimed at in the collection 

 of the library is to procure as perfect and extensive a series as 

 possible of the transactions and proceedings of all the learned 

 societies which now exist or have existed in different parts 

 of the world. It is to works of this character that the student 

 of science is obliged to refer for the minute history of the pro- 

 gress of any special branch to which he may be devoted, 

 and to ascertain accurately what has been published on his 

 particular subject previous to commencing his own labors, or 

 at least before he gives the results to the world, in order that 



1 " Smithsonian Report," page 36. 



