ATHENAEUM, LIBRARY, AND MUSEUM. 21 



many private libraries, left the inhabitants of the 

 island more destitute of reading resources than ever 

 before; hence the need of a new library was urgent, 

 although the prospect of another seemed wellnigh 

 hopeless, owing to the disastrous effects of the fire 

 upon the entire community: but through the prompt 

 action of the trustees of the institution and the gen- 

 erosity of noble-hearted individuals, the present build- 

 ing was completed, and the library opened to the pub- 

 lic Feb. 1, 1847. The library contained 1,600 volumes, 

 1,000 of which were donated by u citizens of Boston," 

 — a valuable collection of books, and solid foundation 

 upon which to build the new library.* 



A committee of the proprietors was appointed to 

 solicit contributions for the museum, and their call 

 was generously responded to. Capt. Robert M. Joy 

 presented a large and rare collection of shells; Mr. 

 Edward G. Kelly, a cabinet of several hundred speci- 

 mens of minerals. These with many other donations 

 formed the nucleus of the present attractive collection, 

 which is yearly increased by contributions from per- 

 sons interested in its maintenance. 



A prominent feature of the present museum is the 

 " mammoth whale's jaw." This jaw was taken from 

 a sperm whale, which made one hundred and ten bar- 

 rels of oil; it is seventeen feet in length, weighs eight 

 hundred pounds, and has forty-six teeth. The length 



* The compiler respectfully suggests that perhaps the writer 

 of the ahove article is somewhat in error, as will be seen by re- 

 ferring to an account of the life of Hon. Wm, Mitchell on page 

 120 of this book. y 



