THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
277 
1843.] 
of which number there were derived from tho Columbian Institute, 
Volumes, 43 
Pamphlets, 178 
- 22 ! 
Smithsonian Bequest, 
Volumes, 113 
Pamphlets, 85 
- 198 
American Historical Society, 
Volumes, 58 
Pamphlets, 105 
- 163 
Deposited by Mr. Castelneau, 
Volumes, 150 
Pamphlets, 70 
- 220 
802 
Direct presentations to the National 
Institute from scientific institutions, 
and from its own members, 1138 
1940 
Besides which may be enumerated fifty-three maps, many of which are rare and 
curious. 
A full and regular catalogue of the books has been prepared, which the under¬ 
signed has the honor to submit herewith. No system of loans has been adopted as 
yet, excepting to the gentlemen immediately occupied in the scientific classifica¬ 
tion of the specimens, &c., arranged in the Hall, who have free access to the Li¬ 
brary at all times. It has not been thought convenient to loan the books to tho 
members of the Institute generally, until a respectable number of publications on 
various branches of literature and science should have been collected together, so as 
to form a tolerably well chosen library, and until the Institute should have adopted 
a regular plan for the safe return of such books as should be borrowed. 
The Philadelphia Library requires from each person who borrows a book, a bond 
for a specified sum far exceeding the value thereof, which on its return is can¬ 
celled . 
Appended hereto is a list of books formerly in the library of the American His¬ 
torical Society, now become the property of the Institute, which have never been 
delivered over : they are probably in the possession of gentlemen who were members 
of the Historical Society, and should be returned. 
The undersigned would suggest the propriety of having an emblematic seal or 
stamp engraved, for the purpose of stamping each book, pamphlet, map, print, or 
M. S., which is presented to the Library. This mode of marking would be neat 
and appropriate, and would be a safer guarantee for the return of borrowed books, 
than the simple mark with a pen now made use of. The cost would be a mere trifle. 
In June, 1841, before the undersigned took charge of the Library, Captain Chase, 
of the Engineer Corps, presented to the Institute fifteen original letters in M. S., 
from Generals Washington, Heath, Hamilton, and other distinguished characters 
of the Revolution, addressed to the Honorable John Hancock, President of Con¬ 
gress. When these papers were handed to me, on my taking charge of the Library, 
I observed that No. 1, purporting to be a letter from General Washington, was 
missing ; and that No. 2, in the M. S. of General Washington, and No. 3, in the 
M. S. of Mr. Jefferson, had had the signatures cut from them. I immediately cal¬ 
led the attention of the then Curator, Dr. King, from whom I received them, to 
this circumstance, who informed me that he had examined them at the time of their 
receipt, and had then observed the mutilation of the two letters, and also stated 
that the missing letter was probably mislaid among the papers of the Institute. I 
also called the attention of the Vice President to the fact, who agreed with me in 
No. 3. 8 
