ADDRESS OF PROF. S. NEWCOMB. 457 



the sum of $20,000 had been appropriated for the purchase of books 

 and the fitting up of the library. Amendments reducing the sum 

 to $12,000 and $15,000 were successively voted down. At another 

 meeting a more definite plan of operations was agreed upon, to take 

 effect after the completion of the building. This was a compromise, 

 under which one-half of the annual income should be devoted to 

 the library, the museum and the gallery of art, and one-half to the 

 transactions, reports, publications, lectures, and original researches. 

 The library project thus commenced as the leading feature of the 

 Institution. It was greatly strengthened by the character of the 

 assistant whom Professor Henry called to .its , charge, Mr. C. C. 

 Jewett, formerly librarian of Brown University, a gentleman whose 

 high character and professional ability marked him as well fitted to 

 undertake the work, of collecting and arranging. a great library. 

 Mr. Jewett very naturally desired to expend the full admissible 

 amount upon his department, and thus a diflference gradually arose 

 between him and his chief, which widened as the building approached 

 completion. He began to assert his claims to an extent which 

 met with the strong disapproval of the Secretary, and in 1854 the 

 difference culminated in an appeal to the Board of Regents. 



The question was first brought before the Board in the form of a 

 resolution respecting the proper division of the fund. In April, 

 1854, the executive committee recommended an appropriation in 

 which only $6,000 was devoted to the library, more than half 

 of which was for the salary of librarian and assistants. The 

 appropriation for . the purchase of , books was only $1,800. In 

 presenting this recommendation the committee say that they have 

 not recommended an equal distribution between the active opera- 

 tions on the one hand, and the library, museum, &c., on the other, 

 because the compromise resolutions which required such equality 

 of distribution do not go into effect until, after the completion of 

 the building. 



This reduction was opposed by the other party on both legal and 

 political grounds. Two members of the Board presented resolu- 

 tions relative to the distribution of the income, which were referred 

 to a sub-committee. This committee, through Hon. J. A. Pearce, 

 its chairman, made a very elaborate report on May 25th following. 



