THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 197 



is to stereotype the titles of books on separate movable blocks. These 

 blocks once prepared, and kept in a central depository, may be used 

 for the printing of new editions of the catalogues for which they were 

 originally made, allowing the interposition of additional titles in their 

 proper order ; as well as for the printing of all other catalogues con- 

 taining the same titles. The collection of the stereotype blocks of the 

 titles of the several libraries will thus form the stereotyped titles of a 

 general catalogue of all the libraries. They will lend themselves to 

 the construction of bibliographies of particular branches of knowledge, 

 and will admit of being arranged alphabetically, chronologically, or in 

 classes, in accordance with any required system. 



These blocks are not to be made in advance of a demand for their 

 use. They are to be gradually accumulated, by an arrangement, 

 which, imposing only a temporary and light burden upon the funds of 

 this Institution, will effect the great public object desired, at the same 

 time that it diminishes to but a fraction of the present cost the expenses 

 of publishing catalogues, and secures the construction of them upon a 

 uniform and approved system. 



The details of a plan so comprehensive may well be supposed to be 

 difficult of adjustment, and not capable of being clearly described within 

 the limits of a few paragraphs. These, however, have been fully con- 

 sidered by a competent tribunal ; and the plan has received commenda- 

 tion and promises of co-operation from some of the principal institutions 

 of the country. 



During the last year, the library has continued to increase by dona- 

 tion, by receipts under the copyright law, by exchanges for the 

 publications of the Institution, and by purchase. It now numbers, in 

 all, nearly ten thousand separate articles, and bids fair, from the same 

 sources, to become a very valuable collection. 



Though one half of the annual interest is to be expended on the 

 library and the museum, the portion of the income which can be 

 devoted to the former will, in my opinion, never be sufficient, without 

 extraneous aid, to collect and support a miscellaneous library of the 

 first class. Indeed, all the income would scarcely suffice for this pur- 

 pose. Still, by means of exchanges, donations, and purchases, a 

 library of great value may be collected and sustained ; and* this, with 

 the constantly increasing library of Congress, the libraries of the De- 

 partments, and that of Georgetown College, will furnish a collection of 

 books not unworthy of the capital of this nation. 



From the report of Professor Jewett, it will be seen that a Gallery 

 of Art has been commenced, and that it is already in possession of a 

 valuable collection of engravings. 



In this connexion, I may mention that at the last annual meeting of 

 the Board a letter was presented from the Hon. Abbott Lawrence, 

 informing the Regents that a portrait of Smithson had been offered 

 through him for sale to the Institution. This portrait, which was in 

 the possession of the widow of John Fit all, a servant of Smithson, men- 

 tioned in his will, was purchased for thirty guineas, and is now in the 

 Gallery of Art. It represents the founder of this Institution, in the 

 costume of a student of Oxford, and was probably painted when he 

 was not more than twenty years of age. There is, also, in the pos- 



