272 The Smithsonian Institution 



Congressional and others, connected with the history of the 

 Smithsonian bequest, and of its legislation, and cause them 

 to be substantially bound, as a commencement of its library." 



In a letter written by Professor Charles C. Jewett to Pro- 

 fessor Henry, the former proposed that the library should 

 consist of three classes of books ; first, those which may be 

 immediately needed in the scientific department; second, the 

 bibliographical works and descriptions, histories, and cata- 

 logues of similar institutions ; third, a general collection con- 

 sisting of memoirs, transactions, and journals of the learned 

 societies of Europe and America. " These three classes of 

 books," he says, "will form a library quite unique, and one 

 of great utility." There were other details of Professor 

 Jewett's plan which will be referred to later. 



These various ideas were reduced to form in the program 

 of organization presented to the Board of Regents by Profes- 

 sor Henry on December 8, 1847, the following portions of 

 which relate to the library. 



" To carry out the plan before described, a library will be 

 required, consisting, ist, of a complete collection of the trans- 

 actions and proceedings of all the learned societies in the 

 world ; 2d, of the more important current periodical publica- 

 tions, and other works necessary in preparing the periodical 

 reports. 



" With reference to the collection of books, other than those 

 mentioned above, catalogues of all the different libraries in 

 the United States should be procured, in order that the valu- 

 able books first purchased may be such as are not to be found 

 in the United States. 



" Also catalogues of memoirs, and of books in foreign libra- 

 ries, and other materials, should be collected for rendering 

 the institution a centre of bibliographical knowledge, whence 

 the student may be directed to any work which he may 

 require." 



