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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 Suffoll 
 
 Presented by
 
 PROCEEDINGS 
 
 ON THE OCCASION OF 
 
 LAYING THE CORNEK-STONE 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE CITY OF BOSTON, 
 
 17 SEPTEMBER, 1855. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 MOORE ft CROSBY, CITY PRINT EttS. 
 1855.
 
 CITY OF BOSTON. 
 
 IN COMMON COUNCIL, 
 October 11, 1855. 
 
 ORDERED : That the Commissioners on the erection of the Pub- 
 lic Library Building be, and they are hereby authorized to cause 
 to be printed for the use of the City Council, the addresses deliv- 
 ered by the Hon. E. C. WINTHROP, and His Honor the MAYOR, at 
 the laying of the corner-stone of the building, on the 17th of 
 September last, together with an account of the proceedings upon 
 that occasion, and such other matter connected therewith as may 
 be deemed proper by them. 
 
 Sent up for concurrence. 
 
 WILLIAM A. BELL, 
 
 PRESIDENT, pro tern. 
 
 IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, 1 
 October 15, 1855. j 
 
 Concurred. 
 
 W. WASHBUEN, 
 
 CHAIRMAN. 
 
 OCTOBER 17, 1855. 
 Approved. 
 
 J. V. C. SMITH, 
 
 MAYOR. 
 
 A true copy. Attest : 
 
 S. F. MCCLEARY, 
 
 City Clerk. 
 
 724864
 
 PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 THE Corner-Stone of the Public Library of the City of Boston 
 was laid on the 17th day of September, 1855. 
 
 On the 5th of September, the following letter on the subject 
 was addressed to the Mayor of the City by the President of the 
 Board of Commissioners on the erection of the building : 
 
 BOSTON, 5 September, 1855. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : I am instructed by the Commissioners on 
 the erection of a building for the Public Library of the City of 
 Boston, to inform you that the work is in such a state of forward- 
 ness that the Corner-Stone may be conveniently laid on the after- 
 noon of the 17th inst., our Municipal Birthday. 
 
 The Commissioners have not contemplated any ostentatious 
 display on this occasion, nor would they feel at liberty to make 
 arrangements, on their own responsibility, for any public ceremo- 
 nial which might involve the City in expense. 
 
 They have presumed, however, that such a step in the progress 
 of so interesting and important a work would hardly be allowed 
 to be taken without something of solemn form. And they 
 especially desire that whatever is done, and their own preference 
 is for simplicity, should be done in the name and by the 
 authority of the City. 
 
 I have, accordingly, the honor, in their behalf, to invite you, as 
 Chief Magistrate of the City, to lay the Corner-Stone of the 
 building for the Public Library, on Monday, the 17th inst., at 4 
 o'clock, P.M., with such assistance and such ceremonies as may be 
 thought fit for the occasion.
 
 The Commissioners desire to leave it entirely to yourself to 
 invite the presence of the whole or any part of the City Authori- 
 ties, and to extend the invitation to any others whom it may he 
 considered proper to include on the occasion. It will afford them 
 pleasure, however, to co-operate with you in carrying out any 
 arrangements which may be decided upon. 
 
 I am, my dear sir, 
 
 With great respect and regard, 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 EGBERT C. WINTHROP, 
 
 PRESIDENT. 
 
 His Honor J. V. C. SMITH, 
 Mayor of Boston. 
 
 At a meeting of the Board of Aldermen, on the 10th of Sep- 
 tember, the foregoing letter was communicated to the City Council 
 by His Honor the Mayor, as follows : 
 
 MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY HALL, 1 
 BOSTON, SEPT. 10th, 1855. J 
 
 To the Chairman of the Board of Aldermen : 
 
 SIR : Through you, I have the honor to transmit a commu- 
 nication from the Hon. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, President of the 
 Commissioners on the erection of the Public Library, notifying the 
 City Government that it is proposed to lay the Corner-Stone of 
 the new edifice on Monday, Sept. 17th. Allow me to suggest the 
 propriety of raising a Special Committee, clothed with authority 
 to confer with the Commissioners, and make such arrangements 
 as may be proper for the occasion. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 J. V. C. SMITH, 
 
 MAYOR.
 
 The letter of the Mayor was thereupon read, and referred to 
 
 Aldermen, GEORGE W. MESSENGER, 
 BENJAMIN F. COOKE, and 
 WILLIAM WASHBURN, 
 
 with such as the Common Council may join, to constitute a Com- 
 mittee of Conference with the Commissioners on the subject of the 
 ceremonies, with full powers to make the necessary arrangements. 
 On the 13th of September the Common Council concurred in 
 the action of the Board of Aldermen, and 
 
 Messrs. FARNHAM PLUMMER, 
 GEORGE S. DEXTER, 
 HEZEKIAH PRINCE, 
 SYLVESTER P. GILBERT, and 
 WILLIAM MARBLE, 
 
 were joined as members of the Committee. 
 
 On the morning of the 17th, the following resolutions were 
 adopted in the Board of Aldermen, on the motion of Alderman 
 COOKE : 
 
 " Whereas the ancient and honored institution of Free Masons 
 has and recognizes the Supreme Architect of the Universe as 
 its chief corner-stone, and in all ages, from the building of Solo- 
 mon's Temple, that body has officiated or taken part in the laying 
 of the corner-stones for public buildings ; and whereas said insti- 
 tution is Christian and charitable and in no way or manner tends 
 to promote infidelity, and takes no part in political questions ; and 
 whereas no expressed opinion of any gentleman of the Commis- 
 sion or City Council has been given adverse to the observance of 
 this time-honored custom, 
 
 " Therefore it is resolved, on the part of this Board, that his 
 Honor the Mayor, having charge of invitations, be and hereby is 
 requested to invite the attendance of the Grand Master of the 
 Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, with such as the Grand Master
 
 may desire, in an official capacity, to be present and take part in 
 the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the Public Library." 
 
 Agreeably to the arrangements made by the Joint Committee 
 of the two branches, the City Government, with the Trustees of 
 the Library, the Benefactors of the Institution, the past Mayors of 
 the City, the past Trustees, the past Commissioners, and many 
 other invited guests, assembled at the City Hall at half-past 3 
 o'clock, P.M., on the 17th inst., and thence, under the marshalship 
 of GEORGE W. MESSENGER, Esq., Chairman of the Committee 
 of Arrangements, proceeded to Boylston street in the following 
 order: 
 
 1. National Brass Band. 
 
 2. Chief of Police. 
 
 3. Committee of Arrangements. 
 
 4. Mayor, Chaplains, and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of 
 
 Free Masons. 
 
 5. Board of Aldermen. 
 
 6. Common Council. 
 
 7. Trustees of the Library. 
 
 8. Past Commissioners and Past Trustees. 
 
 9. Invited Guests. 
 
 On arriving at the ground, they were met by the Commission- 
 ers on the erection of the building, when the following Exercises 
 took place :
 
 8 
 
 PRAYER, 
 
 BY THE REV. E. N. KIRK, D.D. 
 
 Thou ! from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift : 
 Thou art the Father of our spirits, for Thou hast made us in 
 Thine own image. Assembled on this occasion, reverently and 
 gratefully do we thus acknowledge Thee to be the source of all 
 our endowments and faculties. Thou hast also made the Universe 
 to be our school ; and all the works of Thy hands, and the opera- 
 tions of Thy Providence to be our teachers. We thank Thee that 
 we are made capable of knowing Thee and Thy works ; that 
 before us the pages of science, of history, and of literature, lie 
 open ; and that we may always sit at Wisdom's feast ; that these 
 noble faculties which Thou hast stamped with the seal of immor- 
 tality, may now, in the present life, be cultivated, strengthened 
 and refined. 
 
 And we acknowledge the unfolding of Thy benevolent designs 
 in all the progress which human society is making, and especially 
 in the opening of fountains of knowledge at the door-step of 
 poverty ; in the instances which we behold of the rich devoting 
 their wealth to the improvement of the poor. We especially 
 thank Thee on this occasion, that Thou hast inclined the hearts of 
 Thy servants to devise liberal things, and to lay the broad and 
 substantial foundations of that institution, in whose interest we 
 are here before Thee assembled. We thank Thee for this, and 
 for every other indication that men are appreciating the true 
 value of superabounding wealth. Thus may men delight in 
 advancing the happiness and the improvement of each other : 
 thus may the bands of brotherhood be strengthened ; and the 
 selfishness which has so long blighted Thy heritage, cease from 
 the earth. 
 
 O Lord, except Thou build the house, they labor in vain that. 
 build it. We therefore commend to Thy guardian care, and to
 
 9 
 
 the benediction of Thy kind Providence the edifice we are here 
 constructing. Thou that didst " call by name Bezaleel, the son 
 of Uri, and fill him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in 
 understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of work- 
 manship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in 
 silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in 
 carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship," put 
 Thou " into the hearts of all the wise-hearted, wisdom ; " that they 
 may skilfully and successfully bring this work to a conclusion. 
 Save Thou the workmen from all harm and sickness ; let no 
 untoward event interrupt this work ; crown it with Thy blessing ; 
 " let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto 
 their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be 
 upon us ; and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us ; 
 yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it." 
 
 We now commend to thy goodness, O Thou, the God of our 
 fathers, this institution, designed to promote the great end they 
 sought in coming to the wilderness ; the establishing of a free, 
 enlightened, and Christian people, apart from the conflicting 
 elements which are disturbing the ancient kingdoms of the earth. 
 Forbid, O God, that this noble institution should ever be so per- 
 verted as to defeat that end. May it never become a fountain of 
 corruption and destruction to our city ; may it furnish no wea- 
 pons for the overthrow of truth and righteousness. But do 
 Thou, in thine infinite mercy, watch over it, and preserve it as a 
 fountain to refresh and purify the community, with its overflowing 
 streams. May the books here to be gathered become a source 
 of healthful relaxation, of manly culture, and of Christian 
 instruction. 
 
 And, over all the interests of our beloved city wilt Thou still 
 kindly watch. Promote in the midst of us sound learning and 
 true godliness. Make us a wise and a righteous people, to the 
 praise of Thine own infinitely revered and holy name. 
 
 These our thanks wilt Thou kindly accept, and graciously 
 answer and exceed our requests, for the sake of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ AMEN. 
 2
 
 10 
 
 HYMN, 
 
 Written for the occasion by the Hon. GEORGE LUNT, 
 
 And sung by the pupils of the Girls' High and Normal School, 
 under the direction of Mr. L. H. SOUTHARD. 
 
 Deep lay in earth the corner-stone, 
 
 Rise, shafted arch and airy dome ! 
 On morn a light diviner shone, 
 
 When Knowledge found this other home. 
 
 Be this her fane ; and thither lead 
 
 The willing steps of generous youth, 
 And point the high emblazoned meed 
 
 Of souls that seek immortal Truth. 
 
 Here, bid them learn the lore of old, 
 
 Here, touch the future's hidden seal, 
 The secret depths of thought unfold, 
 
 And all its flight sublime reveal. 
 
 And long, amid the City's din, 
 
 In sweet seclusion stand enshrined, 
 Peace reign, thy cloistered walls within, 
 
 Oh ! sacred temple of the Mind. 
 
 The following Address was then delivered by the Hon. EGBERT 
 C. WINTHROP, President of the Board of Commissioners for the 
 erection of the Library Building, on delivering the Trowel to the 
 Mayor :
 
 11 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 WE are here, Mr. Mayor, Gentlemen of the City 
 Council, and Fellow Citizens, to lay the Corner-Stone 
 of a Building for the Public Library of the City of 
 Boston. We have come to take the first formal step 
 towards making permanent provision for an institution, 
 which we believe is to exert a most important and 
 powerful influence upon the character of our commu- 
 nity, so long as our community shall have a character 
 among men. 
 
 By a more than fortunate coincidence, we have been 
 able to select for this purpose the 225th anniversary 
 of the day, which has become associated in New 
 England history with the original foundation of our 
 City. On this day, just two centuries and a quarter 
 ago, at a Court of Assistants of the Massachusetts 
 Company, held at Charlestown, (Governor Winthrop 
 in the chair,) it was Ordered, That Trimountaine shall 
 be called BOSTON. 
 
 I know not how a nobler commemoration of our 
 Municipal Birthday could have been devised than that 
 in which we are engaged, or one calculated to invest it 
 with a more enduring charm in the hearts of future 
 generations. Certainly, no Birthday Offering could 
 easily have been arranged, more welcome to a vener- 
 ated mother, or more worthy of grateful and affection-
 
 ate children, than the institution wliich is here to he 
 established. 
 
 It is fit, my friends, that such a transaction, on such 
 a day, should be marked by something of public and 
 solemn ceremonial. It is fit, that the voice of prayer 
 should be lifted up at such an hour and in such a con- 
 nection, and that songs of praise should flow forth 
 from the lips and from the hearts of these graceful 
 young ladies and these joyous pupils of the schools. 
 It is eminently fit, that the Conscript Fathers of the 
 City should lend the sanction of their official presence 
 to the scene, and that some word of remembrance, of 
 congratulation and of hope should not be wanting on 
 the part of those, who have been honored with a com- 
 mission to conduct so interesting a work. 
 
 I think myself happy, Mr. Mayor, in being privi- 
 leged, as President of the Board, to speak that word, 
 and in being allowed to associate myself, in ever so 
 humble a manner, with this crowning act of the matu- 
 rity of my native place. 
 
 And now, Fellow Citizens, it is most agreeable to 
 reflect that the institution which we are engaged this 
 day in establishing, is in such precise and beautiful 
 conformity with the policy and the principles of those 
 noble Colonists by whom Boston was founded. Too 
 often, alas ! in the progress of great cities, the most 
 costly and conspicuous structures serve only, as they 
 rise, to signalize some fresh departure from the sim- 
 plicity and purity of the olden tune. But we are 
 here to erect no such monument of our own degen- 
 eracy. We are here to engraft no strange or uncon- 
 genial branch upon the old Puritan Vine. We have
 
 13 
 
 come rather, in the fulness of time, to carry out to its 
 legitimate consummation a system which was the pecu- 
 liar pride and glory of the New England Settlers, 
 and which they cherished and cultivated as the especial 
 strength and safeguard of the civil and religious Free- 
 dom which they planted upon these shores. 
 
 With a wisdom and a forecast, which seem, as we 
 look back upon them, little less than the immediate 
 promptings of a Divine Power, the Fathers of Massa- 
 chusetts and Founders of Boston allowed scarcely an 
 hour to elapse after their arrival, before making some 
 incipient provision for the public instruction of their 
 children. Within five years after Trimountaine was 
 called Boston, the small beginnings of our Common 
 School System may be distinctly traced upon our 
 ancient records. And from that day to this, the Insti- 
 tutions of Free Popular Education have gone on from 
 strength to strength, have been extended and im- 
 proved, year by year, under the liberal and fostering 
 care of our Public Authorities, until, during the 
 single year last past, nearly 25,000 children have 
 received, within our City limits, as good an education 
 as the wide world can afford, without cost or charge to 
 themselves, but at the willingly incurred expense, all 
 told, of little less than four hundred thousand dollars 
 to the public treasury.* 
 
 By the munificent bequest of a native son of 
 Boston, whose name will be remembered among us 
 as long as the Pyramids amid which that memorable 
 
 The precise figures in the City Auditor's Report, just published, are 2-i,827 
 pupils; Expenditures, including new school-houses, $389,135 Gi.
 
 14 
 
 Codicil was conceived, or the palaces of the Pharaohs 
 on one of which it was written, (JOHN LOWELL, Jr.) 
 a system of Free Lectures has been added, of late 
 years, to our other means of popular instruction, and 
 has abundantly justified the generous purposes of its 
 lamented Founder. 
 
 But Education does not end with the schools ; nor 
 is all education conducted within the School-room or 
 the Lecture-room. Even a College Degree is but the 
 significant A B of a whole alphabet of learning still 
 to be acquired. The great" work of Self-Culture re- 
 mains to be carried on long after Masters and Tutors 
 and Professors have finished their labors and exhausted 
 their arts. And no small part of this work, I need 
 hardly say, is to be carried on under the influence of 
 good reading and by the aid of good books. 
 
 Who shall undertake to measure the importance or 
 calculate the value of good reading, as an instrument 
 in advancing the welfare and promoting the happiness 
 of mankind ! Even one good book, read by snatches, 
 in the intervals of labor, or in the watches of the 
 night, what unspeakable comfort and aid has it not 
 often imparted to the humblest, or, it may be, to the 
 loftiest mind and heart! 
 
 I speak not of the Bible, which is an exception 
 to all books, and which might almost be a substitute 
 for all ; a library in itself, able alone to carry civili- 
 zation and culture into every home where it is thor- 
 oughly and thankfully and thoughtfully read ; itself 
 the corner-stone of all Christian literature forever ! 
 
 But even among books of merely human composition 
 and origin, and dealing with merely human and mortal
 
 15 
 
 relations and interests, how many have there not 
 been, and are there not still, for a good book never 
 dies, of a power not only to afford amusement or 
 instruction for an hour or a day, but to mould a whole 
 character and marshal a whole life ! How many of 
 the mightiest, as well as of the humbler, intellects of 
 the world's history have borne testimony to the influ- 
 ence of " the precious life-blood of some master-spirit, 
 embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond 
 life!" 
 
 Need I recall to you the example of our own 
 FRANKLIN, who tells us himself, in his charming little 
 autobiography, that, while indulging his passionate 
 fondness for reading, as a child of twelve years old, he 
 found among the few books which his father could 
 afford to own, " a work of De Foe's, entitled an ' Essay 
 on Projects,' from which, perhaps, (says he,) I derived 
 impressions that have since influenced some of the 
 principal events of my life ! " Or, need I remind you 
 how much of that clear, pure, transparent style, which 
 distinguished him above almost all other American 
 writers, or even English writers, of his own day or of 
 any day, he attributed to the use which he had made 
 of " an odd volume of the Spectator which fell into 
 his hands" by the merest accident! 
 
 Such were the instruments by which the great Bos- 
 tonian pursued that system of self-culture which 
 prepared him for his wonderful career as a Philosopher 
 and a Patriot ; books, odd volumes, sometimes found 
 by chance on the meagre shelves of the family book- 
 case, sometimes falling into his hands by less natural 
 and accountable accidents, sometimes borrowed from
 
 16 
 
 his fellow apprentices and read by stealth while they 
 were sleeping. " How often (says he) has it happened 
 to me to pass the night in reading by my bedside, when 
 the book had been lent and was to be returned the 
 next morning, lest it might be missed or wanted ! " 
 And you all remember the practical testimony which 
 he gave to his own sense of the value of reading, by 
 setting on foot the very first Social Circulating Library 
 known to the annals of the world. 
 
 But I may not take up more of the time of this 
 occasion in rhapsodies upon reading, or in illustrating 
 or exemplifying the value of good books. I have said 
 more than enough already to justify the remark, that 
 in establishing this Free Public Library, we are but 
 carrying forward another stage, and that a great stage, 
 towards its ultimate consummation and perfection, that 
 noble system of popular education which our fathers 
 founded. It has originated in no mere design to 
 furnish a resort for professed scholars, where they may 
 pursue their studies, or prosecute their researches, his- 
 torical or classical, scientific or literary, important 
 as such an object might be. It is to be eminently a 
 library for the people, for the whole people. 
 
 Doubtless, in the gradual accumulation of such a 
 library as we hope to see here, or as we hope others 
 at least will see here, when this spacious area shall 
 be filled with books, and when, perhaps, the building 
 now about to be erected shall have been extended to 
 the utmost limits of this ample lot, doubtless, in the 
 gradual accumulation of such a library as future gen- 
 erations will witness and enjoy here, no books will 
 be excluded because they may not seem to be of imme-
 
 17 
 
 diate, general, or popular use or interest. No books, 
 certainly, will ever be rejected in this land of universal 
 education and intelligence, as being beyond the com- 
 prehension or capacity of the people. That compre- 
 hension will be subjected to no narrow gauge, nor that 
 capacity measured by any reduced or stinted standard. 
 Those who shall have charge from time to time of 
 making its collections, will not be likely to forget that 
 we are no dwindled or degenerate offspring of a race 
 which John Milton so justly and so nobly characterized, 
 when he said, " Lords and Commons of England, 
 consider what nation it is whereof ye are, and whereof 
 ye are the governors : a nation not slow and dull, 
 but of a quick, ingenious and piercing spirit ; acute to 
 invent, subtle and sinewy to discourse, not beneath the 
 reach of any point the highest that human capacity 
 can soar to." 
 
 Here, doubtless, in due time, will be found works of 
 the deepest philosophy and science ; and, until the 
 name of BOWDITCH shall be lost to our remembrance, 
 it will hardly be suggested that others beside professed 
 scholars may not be able to turn these volumes to the 
 best account, and even to add new ones of their own. 
 Here, without question, in due time, will be found 
 books in every language and tongue which is read or 
 spoken beneath the sun ; and, while the living example 
 of an ELIHU BURRITT is still before us, no one will doubt 
 that others beside what are called the educated classes 
 may be eager to decypher their mysteries, and may 
 find no characters too difficult for their mastery. The 
 least popular books of the collection may still find 
 3
 
 18 
 
 their best readers coming forth from the forge or the 
 forecastle. 
 
 But as a general rule, and for the present at least, 
 our professed scholars and students will look to the 
 libraries of our Universities and Athenaeums and Acad- 
 emies of science, for the volumes which may aid them 
 in their special investigations and pursuits. 
 
 The Library whose corner-stone we are now about to 
 lay, in its primary and principal design, is to furnish 
 entertainment and instruction for the whole community. 
 Central in its situation, the dwellers in all quarters of 
 the City may approach it with almost equal facility. 
 Standing on the margin of our beautiful Common, it 
 will reflect and reproduce some of the peculiar and 
 truly republican features of that charming play-place 
 of our children, and pleasure-ground of us all, where 
 we see, at this moment, the choicest seats and most 
 inviting shade ranged along the trodden paths, and by 
 the side of the broad and beaten tracks ; and whose 
 crystal fountains, though now and then they may 
 leap to the skies and sparkle in the sun and waste 
 themselves in glittering spray, to furnish a holiday 
 spectacle, find always their better use and their 
 daily beauty in ministering to the refreshment of the 
 wayfaring and the weary. 
 
 And this, Fellow Citizens, is to be our intellectual 
 and literary COMMON, beneath whose roof and within 
 whose alcoves fountains of living waters shall be ever 
 open, and upon whose tables shall be always spread a 
 banquet of wholesome and nutritious food for every 
 mind, with a cover and a cordial welcome for every 
 comer, and where no guest, whatever his garment, so
 
 19 
 
 it clothe an honest man, shall be excluded or disdained. 
 " Free to all, with no other restrictions than are neces- 
 sary for the preservation of the books," these are 
 the noble terms of its greatest benefactor.* 
 
 It may never vie, indeed, with the sumptuous libra- 
 ries of the old world, in the magnitude or magnificence 
 of their structure, or in the costliness and rarity of 
 their contents. We have aimed at no imposing faQades, 
 or splendid colonnades. But it is confidently believed, 
 that, by the skill of our ingenious architect, (Mr. C. 
 K. KIKBY,) few buildings will be found to equal it in 
 practical appropriateness and convenience; and that, 
 through the discriminating care of the distinguished 
 Trustees of the Library, our Everetts, and Ticknors, 
 and Shurtleffs, who, like the Irvings, and Astors, and 
 Cogswells of a sister City, are devoting themselves so 
 assiduously to this particular province, no collection 
 of books will ultimately surpass it in its adaptation to 
 the improvement and instruction of a free people. 
 
 Here, especially, will be collected without delay, 
 whatever may throw light on the great practical arts 
 which have characterized our age and country, and 
 whatever may assist our ingenious mechanics and 
 inventors, second to none throughout the world, 
 in their attempts still further to simplify the magic 
 processes, and to perfect the marvellous implements 
 and engines, by which difficulties and distances may 
 be annihilated. 
 
 Here, too, it is to be hoped, will be found, from time 
 
 * Letter of Joshua Bates, 1 October, 1852.
 
 20 
 
 to time, whatever our people may be able to point to, 
 us the product of their own intelligence, their own 
 genius, their own institutions. Here will be seen the 
 whole body of American literature, as it shall gradu- 
 ally unfold and develope itself under the influence of 
 American liberty. No book or pamphlet, certainly, 
 which shall emanate from a Boston mind or a Boston 
 pen, W 7 ill be long wanting to its shelves. For here, as 
 one after another of her sons or of her daughters shall 
 employ the talent which her schools or her social 
 advantages shall have enabled them to improve, they 
 will themselves be seen hastening to lay the earliest 
 fruits upon the maternal altar. In the admirable lan- 
 guage of one of our early benefactors, " Every son of 
 Boston justly regards the City as an illustrious parent."* 
 And here that parent may peculiarly be pictured as 
 opening her lap to receive gifts from her- grateful 
 children, at once the pledges of their love and the 
 proofs of their worthiness. 
 
 And now, Fellow Citizens, we should be ungrateful 
 were we to forget, on this occasion, those among the 
 living, and those among the dead, to whom we are 
 indebted for the establishment and endowment of this 
 institution. The building, indeed, upon whose walls 
 we are standing, is intended to be, and is, wholly a 
 City building. It owes its projection and its progress 
 to the enlightened and liberal counsels of the succes- 
 sive City governments, who have made the necessary 
 appropriations for the purchase of the site and for the 
 erection of the edifice. It owes much to your imme- 
 
 Letter of Jonathan Phillips, 14 April, 1853.
 
 21 
 
 diate predecessor, (Hon. BENJAMIN SEAVER,) and it owes 
 still more to yourself, Mr. Mayor, and to your asso- 
 ciates in the present City Council. I am persuaded, 
 Gentlemen of the two branches, that if the enterprising 
 contractor (Mr. NATHAN DRAKE) and the faithful labor- 
 ers in his employ, shall fulfil the promise of these first 
 beginnings, you will have no cause to regret what you 
 have done. I am persuaded, that you will find few 
 items on the list of your annual expenditures, be 
 your terms of service longer or shorter, upon which 
 you will look back with greater satisfaction or with 
 greater pride, nor any item for which the whole 
 people of Boston, in all time to come, will be ready to 
 acknowledge themselves more deeply in your debt. 
 
 But we have other and individual benefactors to be 
 remembered in connection with this work. And, first 
 of all, it becomes us to name with the highest distinc- 
 tion, and with the most grateful regard and respect, 
 that eminent and excellent merchant and banker, 
 whom, though long resident in London, we are always 
 proud to recognize and to claim as a native son of 
 Massachusetts, JOSHUA BATES, whose munificent 
 donation of fifty thousand dollars, with its wise and 
 well-considered conditions, put an end to all further 
 doubt that this institution would have an immediate, 
 prosperous and permanent existence. 
 
 Amid all the cares and riches and honors by which 
 he is surrounded in the distinguished position which 
 his integrity and enterprise have so worthily won for 
 him in the metropolis of old England, he has never 
 forgotten his humble beginnings, his early friends, or 
 his native soil. Let him be assured, that the metropo-
 
 22 
 
 lis of New England does not forget him on this occa- 
 sion, nor will ever fail to hold his name and character 
 in fresh and grateful remembrance. We send him our 
 greetings tlus day from these firm foundations of an 
 institution which owes so much to his unprompted and 
 unstinted generosity, and we waft the best wishes of a 
 hundred thousand hearts across the Atlantic for his 
 continued prosperity and welfare ! 
 
 In fit connection with this central figure in the 
 group of our benefactors, we next recall a name asso- 
 ciated in successive generations with not a few of our 
 most valued seminaries of education and of science, 
 and now worthily worn by one born and bred and still 
 residing among us, one whose excellent words I 
 have just quoted, and who is present with us at this 
 moment, to receive our cordial and grateful acknowl- 
 edgments, JONATHAN PHILLIPS; may he long be 
 spared to witness the results of his large and timely 
 bounty ! 
 
 And there are others with us here on this occasion, 
 whose early and liberal gifts of money or of books 
 cannot be forgotten. 
 
 I need not name a late Mayor of our city, (Hon. 
 JOHN P. BIGELOW,) who so handsomely diverted the 
 amount which had been raised for a well-merited 
 memorial of his own faithful services, to the purpose 
 of conferring a fresh benefit on those who had thus 
 sought to honor him. 
 
 I need not name the distinguished and eloquent 
 orator and statesman, (Hon. EDWARD EVERETT,) who 
 was seen, about the same time, in fulfilment of a pre- 
 vious and cherished purpose, gathering up the accu-
 
 23 
 
 mulated treasures of his long public life, and laying 
 them at the feet of those in whose behalf he had 
 already so successfully and so brilliantly employed 
 them. 
 
 Others, too, might be referred to, among the living, 
 and some of them among the present, who have made 
 large and valuable additions to our collection, or who 
 have rendered services to our infant library, more val- 
 uable than any volumes; and more than one might be 
 named, had they not fprbidden me to name them, who, 
 in the double capacity of Commissioner and Trustee, or 
 in the threefold capacity of Commissioner, Trustee and 
 Donor, have identified themselves with the whole prog- 
 ress and prosperity of the institution. 
 
 Nor can I omit to allude to that ardent and enter- 
 prising foreigner, (Mons. VATTEMARE,) whose offerings 
 were the earliest of all, and whose enthusiastic zeal in 
 the cause of intellectual and literary exchanges among 
 the nations of the earth, have recently called forth 
 the commendations of a Guizot and a Dupin at the 
 Academy of Moral and Political Sciences at Paris. 
 
 Nor shall " the last, best gift " be forgotten. Honor 
 to the liberal lady,* not alone of her sex in remem- 
 bering us, who, on the very eve of this occasion, 
 has given so welcome a pledge that the mothers and 
 daughters of Boston are not insensible to the value of 
 such an institution. 
 
 But the living must not alone be remembered on 
 such an occasion as this. I cannot forget the generous 
 gift of that intelligent and enlightened publisher, whose 
 
 Mrs. Sally Inraan Kast Shepard.
 
 24 
 
 name had so long been the best guaranty of a good 
 book, and whom few of us can miss from the scenes of 
 his useful and honorable occupations, without a keen 
 sense of personal and of public loss, JAMES BROWN. 
 
 I cannot forget, either, the even earlier contribution 
 of that kind-hearted and venerable merchant, SAMUEL 
 APPLETON, whose countless benefactions to our commu- 
 nity will render hi$ memory fragrant to a thousand 
 generations. 
 
 Still less may I omit to allude to the recent most 
 liberal and noble bequest of the lamented ABBOTT LAW- 
 RENCE, a bequest which we would all have prayed 
 heaven still longer to postpone. His life was better to 
 us than any legacy, for his heart, untouched to the 
 last even by the cruel disease w r hich pervaded and par- 
 alyzed every other organ, was in every good cause, and 
 his hand w r as ever ready to sustain what his heart 
 approved. 
 
 These all, and still other honored names will be 
 found inscribed on the memorials which we are about 
 to deposit beneath this massive stone. They are not, 
 however, about to be buried out of our remembrance. 
 They will be registered " where every day we may turn 
 the leaf to read them." They will be inscribed on the 
 hearts of all true Bostonians, and our children and our 
 children's children will repeat them as the names of the 
 earliest friends and benefactors of an institution, which 
 is destined, in all time to come, to be the source of so 
 much true satisfaction, and the subject of so much just 
 pride. 
 
 I have reminded you, Fellow Citizens, that we had 
 fortunately been able to appropriate to this occasion
 
 25 
 
 the anniversary of the foundation of our City. But I 
 cannot but remember that it is the anniversary of 
 another great and memorable event in more recent 
 American history. 
 
 " Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of 
 the States present, the seventeenth day of September, 
 in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
 and eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the 
 United States of America the twelfth. In witness 
 whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names. 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON, President" 
 
 Such is the final clause, and such the illustrious 
 attestation, of the Constitution of the United States, 
 whose formation is thus forever identified with the day 
 on which we are assembled. 
 
 I hail the omen of a coincidence which thus binds 
 together, by the associations of a common anniver- 
 sary, the birthday of our City and the birthday of the 
 Federal Constitution. Let us renew our pledges of 
 fidelity to them both. Let us accept the full import 
 and cherish the whole significance of that coincidence, 
 and embrace our entire Country in the good wishes of 
 this occasion. And while we lay these foundations in 
 the hope and in the confidence that they will never be 
 overturned nor shaken, let us hope and trust, also, that 
 they will not survive either the City in whose service 
 and by whose authority they are laid, or the Liberty of 
 which that city was the cradle, or the Union which is 
 the best and only sure guaranty of that liberty. May 
 these walls never witness a decayed Boston, a prostrate 
 Freedom, or a divided Nation !
 
 26 
 
 It only remains for me, Mr. Mayor, in the name of 
 my brother Commissioners, to whose faithful and 
 valuable co-operation in executing thus far the trust 
 committed to us, I hope I may be permitted thus 
 briefly to bear witness, to invite you to proceed to 
 the ceremony for which we are assembled, and to 
 deliver to you this Trowel, which has been prepared for 
 the purpose, and which is to be preserved as a memo- 
 rial of the occasion. It is, as you perceive, Sir, of no 
 precious material or elaborate workmanship, but we 
 are satisfied that it will derive a more than common 
 interest and value from the service in which you are 
 about to employ it. 
 
 And, in the language of our City motto, "May 
 God be with us, as he was with our Fathers ! " 
 
 In closing this Address, Mr. Winthrop, in behalf of the Com- 
 missioners, presented a new and beautifully burnished steel trowel 
 to the Mayor, who, on receiving it, replied as follows :
 
 27 
 
 ADDRESS, 
 
 BY HIS HONOR JEROME V. C. SMITH, MAYOR. 
 
 FELLOW CITIZENS : The laying of this corner-stone, 
 with solemn ceremonies, will be regarded in after times 
 as an epoch in the history of Boston. 
 
 The Commissioners having in charge the responsi- 
 bility of carrying forward to completion the edifice so 
 auspiciously commenced, happily for themselves, enjoy 
 the perfect confidence of a community appreciating 
 the advantages to be derived from studying the opin- 
 ions, the published attainments and suggestions of 
 those who have preceded them on the active stage of 
 life, which are to be collected here and systematically 
 arranged. 
 
 You, Mr. President, the descendant, and bearing the 
 name of one who is illustrious in the annals of the 
 country, and who assisted in the first settlement of 
 Boston, a theatre on which extraordinary movements 
 have since transpired, have an opportunity on this occa- 
 sion of being identified with a celebration occurring on 
 the two hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary, that will 
 transmit your patriotic services most favorably to re- 
 mote generations, associated with the intelligence and 
 public spirit of your birthplace. 
 
 While monuments raised to perpetuate the remem- 
 brance of great events may have wasted away, and 
 the special objects for which they were reared are lost
 
 28 
 
 to the archives of chronology in the revolutions to 
 which nations are incident, those provisions which con- 
 template the intellectual advancement of man are the 
 surest and most hopefully calculated to endure through 
 the ever-changing conditions of society. 
 
 Civilization is essentially dependent for its progress 
 on the labors of those who have wrought out problems 
 in the various departments which they occupied, and 
 whose collected wisdom in books is the common foun- 
 tain from which each succeeding age takes a departure 
 for new explorations into the regions of imagination, 
 art, literature and science. 
 
 The moral atmosphere, the claims of Christianity, 
 domestic comfort and economy, the courtesies, influ- 
 ence and dignity of any people, are best sustained 
 where the public sentiment is habitually directed and 
 strengthened by a judicious system jof general educa- 
 tion. 
 
 This Free Library will secure, if human foresight can 
 accomplish it, the certain means of supplying every 
 man, woman and child, who are qualified to read, 
 within our boundaries, with an unfailing source of 
 intellectual gratification and rational enjoyment. 
 
 When this large concourse of spectators, the 
 crowds of moving, thinking beings, who are threading 
 their way through the narrow streets, and the busy 
 inhabitants residing in pleasant habitations, have re- 
 turned to rest in the bosom of their mother earth, and 
 even a far larger population shall be standing in their 
 places, who are yet unborn, and the thronged avenues 
 extended beyond their present limits to the surround- 
 ing environs; this noble institution, we fondly trust,
 
 29 
 
 will remain firmly established, braced and defended 
 against the assaults of ignorance, fanaticism or politi- 
 cal turmoil, the pride and crowning glory of our 
 beloved City. 
 
 Of what value is mere wealth, without a cultivation 
 of those immortal attributes that will never die ? 
 When the results of honest industry become instru- 
 mentalities for developing the mind, and multiplying 
 resources for bettering the conditions of humanity, 
 society is permanently advanced. That philosophy is 
 false which only provides for the few what God in his 
 goodness evidently designed for all. This idea has 
 been beautifully illustrated in the munificent benefac- 
 tions made to this library. Gentlemen eminent for 
 their probity, elevated positions, energy of purpose, 
 sympathy, love of home and love of country, have 
 remembered those less fortunate than themselves, by 
 bestowing the accumulations of successful labor with 
 unsparing liberality on this long to be cherished temple 
 of knowledge. Who does not repeat the names of 
 JOSHUA- BATES, JONATHAN PHILLIPS and ABBOTT LAWRENCE 
 with feelings of respect alone due to exalted moral 
 worth and virtue ? May their example in the infancy 
 of the institution tend to call forth a fostering patron- 
 age in other directions from those who are to follow in 
 the same exhaustless fields of enterprise, that a current 
 of vitality so necessary to the perpetuity of the under- 
 taking shall never cease to flow. 
 
 Past City Councils and the present, have discharged 
 their official duties acceptably and satisfactorily to a 
 vigilant public, in respect to their legislation for the 
 library. Their earnest endeavors to give form and
 
 30 
 
 character to the designs of the original projectors, 
 entitle them to the consideration and gratitude of their 
 constituents. Posterity will recognize them individu- 
 ally as faithful servants, who planted that others might 
 participate in the rich fruits of the harvest. 
 
 Within the metallic case, let into this huge block of 
 stone, hermetically sealed, is a brief account of the 
 preparations for the transactions in which we are 
 engaged, with various documents, chronicles, a register 
 of the municipal organization, together with ordinances, 
 coins, the city newspapers of the day, an engraved 
 tablet, and photographic miniatures. 
 
 Contemplate for a moment that distant period when 
 this fair city shall have expanded over a territory of 
 many miles into the suburban precincts, and adjacent 
 cities coalescing with the population and increasing it 
 to hundreds of thousands, or even millions, and com- 
 merce, manufactures, and industrial pursuits, have 
 given it a wide-spread renown. 
 
 A point of culmination will come at last. Decay, 
 slow but sure, like the admonitory advances of gray 
 hairs, cannot be resisted. Rival ports may rise to view, 
 the old familiar channels of trade become choked, till 
 inch by inch, weak and powerless, the stately dwellings 
 are forsaken, the massive warehouses crumble into 
 ruin, neglected and unowned. In the last phase of ap- 
 proaching obliteration, some curious antiquarian trav- 
 eller, stimulated by a zeal for discovery, may search 
 among the ruins of past architectural grandeur for 
 fragments to demonstrate the traditional opulence of 
 the ancient capital of the once celebrated Common- 
 wealth of Massachusetts.
 
 31 
 
 The memorials about to be lowered into place are 
 actually designed for examination when all these 
 mighty changes have been effected. What emotions 
 they may excite, to what speculations they may give 
 rise, or to what conclusion they may lead, can neither 
 be foretold or imagined. 
 
 Should the language in which they are written be 
 lost, and a new race, speaking a dialect not yet devised, 
 hereafter obtain possession of our delightful inheritance, 
 the exact representation of the features of several 
 persons now standing in your presence may be con- 
 templated. 
 
 In short, enough, in all probability, will survive the 
 friction of some coming thousands of years, should no 
 unforeseen accident occur to disturb the foundation, to 
 give a comprehensive notion of the arts, social order, 
 government and tendencies of the inhabitants by whom 
 the articles were fabricated. 
 
 If these are unprofitable speculations, they are both 
 grave and agreeable topics for reflection. 
 
 Harmony of action characterizes the inauguration of 
 this favorite institution. Let those who have charge of 
 it in its maturity distinguish themselves by a faithful 
 devotion to the plan marked out by the early friends, 
 still living, to watch over its infancy. 
 
 In closing these observations, and before retiring 
 from the ground consecrated to the use of all citizens, 
 of every denomination, where they may come and 
 learn to be wise, without money and also without price, 
 allow me to remind you of your inestimable privileges. 
 
 Familiarity with our blessings may eventuate in 
 carelessness and to a neglect of efforts on which their 
 stability mainly depends.
 
 32 
 
 While the public schools, in connection with this 
 library, are confided to the protection of gifted conser- 
 vators, Boston may challenge the world for a parallel 
 system of popular education. 
 
 Grateful to our Puritan forefathers, who in com- 
 mencing the first settlement of New England, made 
 seasonable preparations for the free education of the 
 youth ; it is the undeniable duty of ourselves and our 
 successors to uphold what they so generously estab- 
 lished. 
 
 Thanking you, gentlemen of the City Council, and 
 you, Mr. President, the Board of Commissioners, the 
 Trustees, the donors, whose judicious liberality place 
 us under a weight of never ending obligation, and you, 
 Fellow Citizens, who have extended to each and all of 
 us a sustaining influence, we must now separate, but 
 with grateful recollections of the past, accompanied by 
 an earnest aspiration for the continued prosperity, hap- 
 piness and untarnished honor of the City of Boston.
 
 33 
 
 LAYING OF THE CORNER-STONE. 
 
 On the conclusion of the addresses, the Commissioners, the Trus- 
 tees, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 
 the Hon. Jonathan Phillips, one of the principal benefactors of 
 the library, and others, proceeded to the Stone, when it was duly 
 laid by his Honor J. V. C. Smith, Mayor of Boston, in the name of 
 the City, after the boxes containing the plate and the various 
 articles described in the Appendix had been deposited beneath it. 
 
 The Mayor then returned the Trowel to the President of the 
 Board of Commissioners, and delivered the Square with which he 
 had verified his work to the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge 
 of Massachusetts, both of them to be preserved as memorials of 
 the occasion. 
 
 PSALM CXVII. 
 
 Sung by the pupils of the High and Normal School, with 
 whom the assembled multitude united : 
 
 From all that dwell below the skies, 
 Let the Creator's praise arise ; 
 Let the Redeemer's name be sung, 
 Through every land, by every tongue. 
 
 Eternal are thy mercies, Lord ; 
 
 Eternal truth attends thy word : 
 
 Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore, 
 
 Till suns shall rise and set no more. 
 
 5
 
 34 
 
 The exercises were closed by the Rev. E. S. GANNETT, D.D., 
 who pronounced the following 
 
 BENEDICTION. 
 
 Now unto the Supreme and Eternal Mind ; to Him who is the 
 Author and Upholder of all Things, the former of our bodies and 
 the Father cf our spirits ; whose inspiration giveth understand- 
 ing, and without whose blessing neither can the purpose of our 
 hearts prosper nor the labor of our hands be crowned with 
 success ; to Him who, we trust, will be with us and with our chil- 
 dren as He was with our fathers ; to God only wise, be glory, 
 through Jesus Christ, forever. 
 
 And may the love of God our Father, and the grace of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, be with us all henceforth and forever. AMEN.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE CORNER-STONE AND OF THE BOXES, PLATE, 
 AND OTHER ARTICLES DEPOSITED UNDER IT. 
 
 THE Corner-Stone, a block of Connecticut sand stone, weighing 
 five tons, and of the following dimensions : 
 
 Feet. Inches. 
 
 Length, - ' - - 5 11 
 
 Breadth, - 3 16 
 
 Height, - 3 2 
 
 was laid at the north-east corner of the foundations. Within the 
 cavity, in the lower face of the stone, was placed a box made of a 
 composition resembling brass, of the following dimensions : 
 
 Length, - 12 \ inches. 
 
 Breadth, - 10J " 
 
 Height, - 8J " 
 
 In the box, the lid of which was securely soldered, were the 
 following articles : 
 
 1. A silver plate, measuring seven -and seven-eighths inches 
 by six and three-eighths, and weighing, by Troy weight, eleven 
 and one-eighth ounces, and bearing this inscription :
 
 36 
 
 The Corner-Stone of a Building 
 
 for the 
 
 Public Library of the City of Boston, 
 Laid on the 17th day of September, 
 
 A. D. 1855. 
 It being the 225th Anniversary of the day on which 
 
 Trimountaiiie was first called Boston, 
 
 In presence of the City Council, at the request of 
 
 The Commissioners on the erection of the Building, 
 
 By His Honor, 
 JEROME V. C. SMITH, Mayor. 
 
 Commissioners for the Building. Trustees of the Library. 
 
 EGBERT C. WINTHROP, EDWARD EVERETT, 
 
 Resident ; President ; 
 
 SAMUEL G. WARD, 
 GEORGE TICKNOR, 
 NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEFF, 
 CHARLES WOODBERRY, 
 JOSEPH A. POND, 
 
 GEORGE TICKNOR, 
 JOHN P. BIGELOW, 
 NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEFF, 
 THOMAS G. APPLETON, 
 JOSEPH STORY. 
 
 EDWARD F. PORTER. 
 
 Librarian. 
 
 EDWARD CAPEN. 
 
 Architect. 
 
 CHARLES K. KIRBY. 
 
 2. Act to authorize the City of Boston to establish a Public 
 Library, approved by the Governor of the Commonwealth, 18 
 March, 1848; accepted by the City Council, 3 April, 1848. 
 (Doc, 15.) 
 
 3. Eeport of the Committee on the Library in relation to the 
 donations received from the City of Paris, 22 September, 1849. 
 (Doc. 46.) 
 
 4. Communication to the President of the Common Council 
 from His Honor John P. Bigelow, Mayor, transmitting a letter 
 from Hon. Edward Everett, covering a catalogue of books and 
 documents contributed by him to the Public Library, 19 June, 
 1851. (Doc. 51 )
 
 37 
 
 5. Report of the Committee on the Public Library, 1 January, 
 1852. (Doc. 79.) 
 
 6. Message of His Honor Benjamin Seaver, Mayor, on the 
 subject of a Public Library, 19 February, 1852. (Doc. 10.) 
 
 7. Eeport of the Trustees of the Public Library, 26 July, 
 1852. (Doc. 37.) 
 
 8. An ordinance in relation to the Public Library, establish- 
 ing a Board of Trustees, passed 14 October, 1852. (Doc. 57.) 
 
 9. Order of the City Council appropriating temporary apart- 
 ments for establishing and accommodating the Public Library, 9 
 September, 1852. 
 
 10. Letter from Joshua Bates, Esq., dated 1 October, 1852, 
 submitted to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, 18 October, 
 1852. 
 
 11. Order directing the Trustees to appropriate a suitable hall 
 for the deposit and arrangement of statues, paintings and other 
 memorials of public benefactors to the institutions of the City, 9 
 December, 1852. 
 
 12. An act of the Legislature to authorize the City of Boston 
 to found and maintain a Public Library. Approved by the Gov- 
 ernor, 12 March, 1853. Accepted by the City Council, 14 April, 
 1853. 
 
 13. Majority and Minority Reports on the subject of a new 
 building for the City Government and Public Library on the same 
 site. April, 1853. (Doc. 31.) 
 
 14. Rules and Regulations of the Public Library of the City 
 of Boston, adopted 8 November, 1853. 
 
 15. Letter from Joshua Bates, Esq., dated 10 March, 1853, 
 submitted to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, 28 March, 1853. 
 
 16. Letter from Hon. Jonathan Phillips, dated 14 April, 1853. 
 Submitted to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, 18 April, 1853, 
 and action thereon. 
 
 17. Eirst Annual Report of the Trustees of the Public Libra- 
 ry, 12 November, 1853. (Doc. 73.) 
 
 18. Report of the Committee on the Public Library, recom- 
 mending an ordinance for the establishment of a Board of Com-
 
 38 
 
 missioners on the erection of a building for the Public Library of 
 the City of Boston, 23 February, 1854. (Doc. 21.) 
 
 19. Librarian's notice, 2 October, 1854. 
 
 20. Second Annual Eeport of the Trustees of the Public Li- 
 brary, 31 October, 1854. (Doc. 74.) 
 
 21. An Ordinance in relation to the Public Library, reported 
 by the Committee on Ordinances, as amended, 28 December, 1854. 
 (Doc, 114.) 
 
 22. An Ordinance for the establishment of a Board of Com- 
 missioners on the erection of a building for the Public Library of 
 the City of Boston, 27 November, 1854. (Doc. 120.) 
 
 23. The Commissioners' advertisement for designs for a build- 
 ing for the Public Library, with map annexed, 26 January, 1855. 
 
 24. Majority and Minority Keports recommending the adop- 
 tion of ordinances in addition to an ordinance relating to the 
 erection of a building for the Public Library : also, an ordinance 
 offered by Alderman Washburn, as a substitute for the ordinance 
 reported by the majority of the Committee, 5 March, 1855. (Doc. 
 19.) 
 
 25. First Eeport of the Commissioners on the erection of a 
 building for the Public Library, 9 March, 1855. (Doc, 22.) 
 
 26. An ordinance in addition to an ordinance providing for 
 the establishment of a Board of Commissioners on the erection of 
 a building for the Public Library of the City of Boston. Re- 
 ported 29 March, 1855. Passed 3 April, 1855. (Doc. 26.) 
 
 27. Specifications for a building for the Public Library, 6 
 June, 1855. (Doc, 46.) 
 
 28. Second Report of the Commissioners on the erection of a 
 building for the Public Library, 6 June, 1855. (Doc. 46.) 
 
 29. Agreement between the Commissioners and Nathan Drake, 
 Mason, 14 June, 1855. 
 
 30. Letter from Mrs. S. I. K. Shepard, 17 September, 1855. 
 
 31. Blank Letter of acknowledgment for donations. 
 
 32. Catalogue of the Public Library, April, 1854. 
 
 33. Municipal Register for the year 1855. 
 
 34. Auditor's Report, 1854-55.
 
 39 
 
 35. Rules of the School Committee and Regulations of the 
 Public Schools of the City of Boston for 1855 ; also, organization 
 of the Public Schools for 1855. 
 
 36. Boston Directory for 1855. 
 
 37. Boston Almanac for 1855. 
 
 38. Almanac of the American Tract Society for 1856, printed 
 in advance. 
 
 39. Two large bronze Medals now used by the Massachusetts 
 Humane Society, and two smaller ones of silver, in sealed metal- 
 lic cases, presented by Hon. David Sears, President of the Hu- 
 mane Society. 
 
 40. Franklin Medal for boys. 
 
 41. City Medal for girls. 
 
 42. Silver Coins of 1855 ; Dollar, Half Dollar, Quarter of 
 a Dollar, Dime, Half Dime, Three Cent Piece. 
 
 43. Copper Coins of 1855. Cent, Half Cent. 
 
 44. Order of Exercises and Blank Notes of Invitation. 
 
 45. Address of Mr. Winthrop. 
 
 46. Address of the Mayor. 
 
 47. Photographs by Whipple and Black : 
 Of the Mayor ; 
 
 Of the Commissioners, their Clerk, and the Architect, in a 
 group ; 
 
 Of the Trustees, individually ; 
 
 Of George W. Messenger, Esq., Alderman, Chairman of the 
 Committee of Arrangements, and Trustee elect on the part of 
 the Board of Aldermen ; 
 
 And of Farnham Plummer, Esq., Chairman of the Committee 
 of Arrangements on the part of the Common Council. 
 
 A leaden box was also deposited under the Corner Stone, 
 
 13 inches in length, 
 
 11 " in breadth, 
 
 5 " height, 
 
 containing a copy of the last issue of the Weekly and Daily 
 Newspapers published in the City, seventy in number.
 
 40 
 
 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS BELONGING TO THE HISTORY OF THE 
 
 LIBRARY. 
 
 The first donation of Books received by the City Library, 
 ninety-six in number, came by way of International Exchange, 
 through the agency of Mons. Alexandre Vattemare, of Paris, 
 and has been made a matter of record in City Document, No. 46, 
 for the year 1849. 
 
 The second, in point of time, was that of Hon. Robert C. Win- 
 throp, consisting of one hundred and eighty-seven volumes, sent 
 to the Library in the autumn of 1849, unaccompanied by any 
 letter, and with a verbal request that they should not be the 
 subject of any formal notice. 
 
 Two hundred and nineteen volumes were next received from 
 John I). W. Williams, Esq., of Roxbury, and other smaller con- 
 tributions from a number of other persons soon followed. 
 
 From this point the History of the progress of the Library 
 will be found in the following letters and documents : 
 
 Mr. Winthrop's donation elicited the following expression from the Hon. 
 John P. Bigelow, in a note written some time afterwards, on a different sub- 
 ject, by which it will be perceived that Mr. EVERETT had already promised the 
 large contribution which soon followed ; 
 
 City Hall, October 31, 1849. 
 
 I thank you officially for your noble contribution to our (" in esse ") 
 Free Library. It is the first American stone contributed in that behalf, the 
 corner one, which is laid most fitly by the descendant of the founder of our 
 free Commonwealth. Governor Everett promises a large contribution, so that 
 with you and him the enterprise is already in successful progress. 
 
 Very truly, yours, &c., 
 
 JOHN P. BIGELOW. 
 Hon. Mr. Winthrop.
 
 41 
 
 To HENRY B. KOGERS, ESQ., Chairman pro tern, of the Board of 
 
 Aldermen. 
 
 Boston, August 5, 1850. 
 
 SIR, An amount of money having been contributed by some 
 of my fellow citizens for the purpose of personal kindness to- 
 wards myself, I have obtained their permission to present a large 
 portion thereof to the City, in aid of the establishment of a Tree 
 Public Library. 
 
 I accordingly now enclose the sum of one thousand dollars, in 
 the hope that it may be appropriated for the furtherance of the 
 object proposed. 
 
 The want of such an institution in our midst, is generally ac- 
 knowledged. It has an important prospective bearing upon the 
 moral and intellectual character of the people of Boston ; .and I 
 have reason to know that there are many persons in this commu- 
 nity, who are ready to tender valuable offerings for the purpose in 
 view, as soon as it shall be known that the City Government is 
 willing to receive such donations. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN P. BIGELOW. 
 
 Alderman Grant offered the following preamble and resolu- 
 tion : 
 
 In Board of Aldermen, August 5, 1850. 
 
 Whereas, His Honor the Mayor has communicated to this 
 Board, that he has received a sum of money, which was subscribed 
 by his fellow citizens (to be appropriated for his personal benefit,) 
 as a tribute of their respect, and whereas, consent has been ob- 
 tained from the liberal donors of the money (at the kind sugges- 
 tion of the Mayor,) that the amount be appropriated to the 
 establishment of a Free Public Library ; one of the ' most desira- 
 6
 
 42 
 
 ble and useful objects to which it could be given ; and in which 
 all classes of this community will be benefitted : therefore 
 
 Resolved, That we gratefully accept the offered sum by the 
 Mayor, of one thousand dollars, referred to above, and hereby 
 request the Committee of the City Government on the Library, 
 to proceed with as little delay as possible, and as far as the means 
 in their hands will justify, to carry into effect the establishment 
 of a " Free Public Library ;" assurance having been given from 
 several influential and wealthy persons of their readiness to co- 
 operate in the measure, as soon as the same is commenced. 
 
 The resolution passed unanimously. 
 
 On motion of Alderman Holbrook, it was 
 
 Voted, That the City Clerk furnish His Honor the Mayor with 
 a certified copy, signed by the Chairman pro tern., of the pream- 
 ble and resolution offered by Alderman Grant, and their unani- 
 mous acceptance. 
 
 Cambridge, 7th August, 1850. 
 
 Sir, You are aware that I have more than once intimated to 
 you, orally and in writing, that I should be happy to give my 
 
 Extract of a note addressed by Mr. Everett to Hon. J. P. Bigelow, then 
 Mayor of the City. The other portion of the note relates to a different object. 
 
 Cambridge, 22 Jan., 1850. 
 DEAR SIH, 
 
 o o o o o o oo o 
 
 1 hope you will be able to do something this year toward the establishment 
 of a City Library. I shall be happy to offer to the acceptance of the City my 
 collection of public documents, whenever you think it will be convenient to the 
 City to receive them. It will contain near one thousand volumes when some 
 chasms, which I hope to fill this winter, are supplied. 
 
 Yours, with great regard, 
 
 E. E. 
 
 NOTE. Mr. Everett had more than once, in the summer of 1849, intimated 
 to His Honor the Mayor, his purpose of offering his collection of Public Docu- 
 ments to the City, whenever it may be convenient to receive them, as a contri- 
 bution toward a public Library.
 
 43 
 
 collection of Public Documents and State Papers to the City. 
 Perceiving that a commencement is likely to he made toward the 
 establishment of a Public Library, I will thank you to inform the 
 City Government, that this collection is at their service, whenever 
 it may suit their convenience to receive it. 
 
 I have for nearly thirty years devoted a good deal of time, 
 labor, and expense to its formation. It amounts at present to 
 about one thousand volumes. From the foundation of the Gov- 
 ernment up to the year 1825, when I first went to Congress, it 
 contains every thing material. While I was in Congress, I took 
 great pains to preserve and bind up every document published by 
 either house ; and from that time to the year 1 840, when I went 
 abroad, the collection is tolerably complete. It is my intention to 
 add to it, as far as they can be procured, the documents since 
 published ; and I omit no opportunity of supplying the deficien- 
 cies in other parts of the series. 
 
 In addition to the State Papers and Public Documents, the 
 collection contains other works connected with the civil and politi- 
 cal history of the country. 
 
 I hope it will not be thought intrusion in me to express the 
 opinion, that, if the City Government would provide a suitable 
 building for a Public Library, it would be so amply supplied from 
 time to time by donations, that only a moderate annual appropri- 
 ation for books would be wanted. Such an establishment would 
 be an object of public favor from the outset. The people would 
 regard it as their own creation, and take a pride in its increase. 
 Authors and publishers would feel it an honor to place their pub- 
 lications on its shelves. There is hardly a citizen who would not 
 have the ability and disposition to add something valuable to it ; 
 and from time to time large and important additions might be 
 expected by gift or bequest. Within the last thirty years, two 
 additions have been made in this way to the British Museum, 
 which have probably doubled the size and value of that noble 
 collection. 
 
 If on a lot of public land, a building were commenced, aiming 
 at nothing but convenience and neatness, (and all attempts to go
 
 44 
 
 farther in architecture are almost sure to fail,) and so planned as 
 to admit future enlargement, the first expense need not exceed that 
 of one of those numerous school-houses, of which the City does 
 not hesitate to erect one every two or three years. The more re- 
 tired the situation the better. The Library ought not to be a show 
 place for strangers, nor lounge for idlers ; but a quiet retreat for 
 persons of both sexes who desire earnestly to improve their minds. 
 
 Such a Library would put the finishing hand to that system of 
 public education, which lies at the basis of the prosperity of Bos- 
 ton, and with her benevolent institutions, gives her so much of 
 her name and praise in the land. 
 
 I ought to ask your indulgence for going so far beyond the im- 
 mediate object of this letter. Though not a native of Boston, 
 nor at this time an inhabitant there, I am indebted to her for a 
 considerable part of my schooling, and feel the deepest interest in 
 her welfare. 
 
 I am, Sir, with high respect, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 EDWARD EVERETT. 
 His HONOR JOHN P. BIGELOW. 
 
 CITY OF BOSTON. 
 
 In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Aug. 12, 1850. 
 
 A communication having been received from the Honorable 
 Edward Everett, expressive of his desire to give to the City his 
 collection of Public Documents and State Papers, towards the 
 establishment of a Public Library, therefore 
 
 Voted, That the City Council, entertaining a deep sense of the 
 value and importance of the Papers collected by the Hon. Edward
 
 45 
 
 Everett, will receive the same whenever a suitable place shall be 
 provided in which they can be deposited, and in behalf of the citi- 
 zens, return their thanks to him for his generosity and public 
 spirit. 
 
 Voted, That the Mayor be requested to transmit a copy of the 
 foregoing preamble and vote, to the Honorable Mr. Everett. 
 
 Passed unanimously. 
 Sent down for concurrence. 
 
 JOHN P. BIGELOW, Mayor. 
 
 In Common Council, August 20, 1850. 
 Concurred by an unanimous vote. 
 
 FBANCIS BEINLEV, President. 
 
 City Sail, June 19, 1851. 
 
 Sin, I transmit for the information of the Council a com- 
 munication which I have received from the Honorable Edward 
 Everett, covering a Catalogue of Books and Documents contribu- 
 ted by him to the Public Library. The suggestions and senti- 
 ments expressed in the letter are entitled to especial consideration 
 for their intrinsic value, as well as on account of the honored 
 source whence they emanate. If published, (as I presume the 
 Council will authorize,) they will effectively aid in establishing an 
 institution, which has an important prospective bearing upon the 
 moral and intellectual character of Boston. 
 
 Besides the donation of Mr. Everett, the Library contains one 
 hundred and eighty-seven volumes contributed by the Hon. Robert 
 C. Winthrop : two hundred and nineteen volumes by John D. W. 
 Williams, Esq., (of Eoxbury,) and ninety-six volumes by Alex- 
 andre Vattemare. Valuable contributions have likewise been 
 made by Eev. J. B. McMahan, Ezra Weston, Esq., and others, 
 the whole number of books now collected amounting to two thou- 
 sand volumes. The Committee on the Library have funds at
 
 46 
 
 their control which will probably enable them to increase the 
 number to four thousand volumes before the expiration of the 
 year ; and if the example of the public spirited citizens, who 
 have been named, should exert its proper influence in the commu- 
 nity, the City will, within a short period, possess the largest and 
 most valuable Municipal Library in the country. 
 
 Eespectfully, &c. 
 
 JOHN P. BIGELOW. 
 To the President of the Common Council. 
 
 Cambridge, 7th June, 1851. 
 
 SIR, I beg leave to transmit to you herewith for the informa- 
 tion of the City Government, a Catalogue of the Books contained 
 in the collection of State Papers and other works, which I had the 
 honor of offering to the acceptance of the City last year, as a con- 
 tribution toward a Public Library. The number of the volumes 
 is about a thousand, and I hope to have it in my power hereafter 
 to render the collection of Public Documents more complete. 
 
 I remain of the opinion, which I took the liberty of expressing 
 last year, that if the City would provide a suitable building, 
 affording present accommodation for fifteen or twenty thousand 
 volumes, and so constructed as to admit of enlargement hereafter, 
 a valuable Public Library would very soon be formed by donation. 
 A place of deposit thus provided, the Library I feel confident, 
 would steadily increase. Large collections of Books would occa- 
 sionally be presented, and there can be no doubt that from indi- 
 viduals, and especially from authors, editors, and publishers be- 
 longing to Boston, single works would be constantly coming in. 
 If in addition to these sources of increase, a moderate appropria- 
 tion were annually made by the City for the purchase of works of 
 a class not likely to be presented, a large Public Library, with 
 assurance of regular increase, would soon be added to the means 
 of Education, possessed by the citizens of Boston. The cost of a
 
 suitable building need not exceed that of one of the larger School 
 Houses. 
 
 In the letter which I had the honor of addressing to you on the 
 7th of August last, I spoke of such a Library as the completion 
 of that noble system of Public Instruction, which reflects so much 
 honor upon the- City and does so much to promote its prosperity. 
 I am anxious to give greater prominence to this view of the sub- 
 ject than it has yet perhaps received. 
 
 The City of Boston expends annually, I believe, a larger sum 
 for Schools and School Houses, in proportion to its population, 
 than any city in Europe. Nothing like the same sum is appro- 
 priated by the City of London for these purposes. By this noble 
 liberality the means are prov^ed for giving our children of both 
 sexes a good education up to the age of sixteen or seventeen 
 years. This is done at the public expense and for public motives. 
 Individuals, as such, have no more claim upon the public for their 
 education than for their board and clothing. The first principles 
 of popular government require that the means of education should, 
 as far as possible, be equally within the reach of the whole popu- 
 lation. This can be effected in no other way than by a system of 
 Education supported by the public. The same great motive of 
 public policy requires that the Schools should be of a very supe- 
 rior order, so that every child may receive not merely an educa- 
 tion, but an excellent education ; as good as could be got at 
 the best and most expensive private Schools. I know of no place 
 where these principles are so thoroughly carried out as in Boston ; 
 in other words, where so great an equality exists in reference to 
 the inestimable benefit of an early education. 
 
 This however is the case only up to the age when School educa. 
 tion is at an end. We provide our children with the elements of 
 learning and science, and put it in their power by independent 
 study and research to make further acquisitions of useful knowl- 
 edge from books, but where are they to find the books in 
 which it is contained ? Here the noble principle of equality sadly 
 fails. The sons of the wealthy alone have access to well-stored 
 libraries ; while those whose means do not allow them to purchase
 
 48 
 
 books are too often debarred from them at the moment when they 
 would be most useful. We give them an elementary education, 
 impart to them a taste and inspire them with an earnest desire for 
 further attainment, which unite in making books a necessary of 
 intellectual life, and then make no provision for supplying them. 
 
 I would not overrate the importance of book learning. It is of 
 little value without original inquiry and original thought. But 
 good books are the record of the original inquiry and thought of 
 able men ; which surely do not lose their value by being put 
 upon paper for the benefit of others. Every one regards an op- 
 portunity of personal intercourse with men eminent for talent and 
 learning as a great privilege and source of improvement; to 
 study their works is most effectually to cultivate this intercourse. 
 It is generally impossible, from the nature of the case, to have 
 personal intercourse with any persons of eminence except a very 
 few of our own countrymen and cotemporaries. By books we get 
 access to the great men of every country and every age. 
 
 Is it not then a reproach to our City, that, as far as the means 
 of carrying on the great work of instruction beyond the limits of 
 School Education are concerned, no public provision exists in 
 favor of those unable to indulge in what is now the expensive 
 luxury of a large library? Where is the young engineer, ma- 
 chinist, architect, chemist, engraver, painter, or student in any of 
 the professions or of any of the exact sciences, or of any branch 
 of natural history, or of moral or intellectual philosophy, to get 
 access to the books which are absolutely necessary to enable him 
 to pursue his inquiries to any advantage ? There are no libraries 
 in Boston which strictly speaking are public. The library of the 
 Athenaeum and other similar collections are private property. 
 They are administered with all practicable liberality ; but are not 
 and cannot be open to the public. Nothing is left to young men 
 who cannot afford to buy books but to borrow them of individ- 
 uals ; a very precarious and inadequate dependence and one of 
 which but very few can take advantage. 
 
 For these reasons I cannot but think that a Public Library, 
 well supplied with books in the various departments of art and
 
 49 
 
 science, and open at all times for consultation and study to the 
 citizens at large, is absolutely needed to make our admirable sys- 
 tem of Public Education complete ; and to continue in some good 
 degree through life that happy equality of intellectual privileges, 
 which now exists in our Schools, but terminates with them. And 
 I feel confident that with such moderate co-operation as I have 
 indicated, on the part of the City, reliance may be safely placed 
 upon individuals to do the rest. The Public Library would soon 
 become an object of pride to the citizens of Boston ; and every 
 one would feel it an honor to do something for its increase. 
 
 I remain, Sir, with great respect, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 EDWAED EVERETT. 
 His HONOR THE MAYOR OF BOSTON. 
 
 112 WASHINGTON STREET, June 28, 1852. 
 HON. MR. EVERETT: 
 
 DEAR SIR, I beg you to accept my promise to pay for five 
 hundred dollars' worth of books, to be selected by you when you 
 please and from whatever shop you please, for the City Library. 
 I should hesitate to give you the trouble of selecting, but on recol- 
 lection, I thought you could readily write out the list now, when 
 the collection has but just commenced to be made, and there would 
 be no fear of duplicates. Please to make the money go as far as 
 it will, without regard to our shelves. 
 
 I am respectfully and faithfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JAMES BEOWN. 
 HON. MR. EVERETT. 
 
 In Board of Trustees, Oct. 25, 1852. 
 Voted, That the thanks of the Trustees be returned to Mr. 
 
 Brown for his liberal donation. 
 
 Attest, EDWAED CAPEN, Secretary. 
 
 7
 
 50 
 
 Boston, Sept. 24, 1852. 
 To THE HON. BENJAMIN SEAVER, MAYOR OF BOSTON : 
 
 SIR, I enclose you my check, on the Columbian Bank, for one 
 thousand dollars, which sum I wish appropiated to the purchase of 
 books for the Public Library lately established by the Govern- 
 ment of the City of Boston. 
 
 Having perfect confidence in the very able board of Trustees, 
 which has been appointed, I leave to them the selection of the 
 books, not doubting they will exclude all of a hurtful tendency, 
 and select such books as will be read, having for their basis piety, 
 morality, the arts and sciences, and general usefulness. 
 
 With much respect, your very obedient servant, 
 
 SAMUEL APPLETON. 
 
 City Hall, Boston, Sept. 24fA, 1852. 
 
 SIR, I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter, of this date, enclosing your check, on the Columbian Bank, 
 for one thousand dollars, " to be appropriated to the purchase of 
 books for the Public Library, lately established by the Govern- 
 ment of the City of Boston," and I assure you that the Trustees 
 of the Library will, in the use of the money, be governed by your 
 judicious suggestions. In behalf of the Trustees, I thank you 
 for this liberal and opportune donation, and trust that you may, 
 ere long, witness the usefulness of the Institution you have so 
 generously assisted. 
 
 With the ardent wish that your life, so distinguished by acts of 
 liberality to Public Institutions, and adorned by deeds of charity 
 to your fellow men, which are equally honorable to yourself and 
 to our City, may long be spared, 
 
 I remain, with sentiments of the highest respect, 
 Yours, most truly, 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVER. 
 SAMUEL APFLETON, ESQ.
 
 51 
 
 FIRST LETTER OF MR. BATES. 
 
 London, 1st October, 1852. 
 
 DEAR SIR, I am indebted to you for a copy of the Report of 
 the Trustees of the Public Library for the City of Boston, which 
 I have perused with great interest, being impressed with the im- 
 portance, to the rising and future generations, of such a Library 
 as is recommended ; and while I am sure that, in a liberal and 
 wealthy community like that of Boston, there will be no want of 
 funds to carry out the recommendation of the Trustees, it may 
 accelerate its accomplishment, and establish the Library at once on 
 a scale that will do credit to the City, if I am allowed to pay for 
 the books required, which I am quite willing to do thus leav- 
 ing to the City to provide the building and take care of the 
 expenses. 
 
 The only condition I ask is, that the building shall be such as 
 shall be an ornament to the City that there shall be room for 
 one hundred to one hundred and fifty persons to sit at reading 
 tables that it shall be perfectly free to all, with no other restric- 
 tions than may be necessary for the preservation of the books. 
 What the building may cost, I am unable to estimate ; but the 
 books counting additions during my life-time I estimate at 
 $50,000, which I shall gladly contribute, and consider it but 
 a small return for the many acts of confidence and kindness 
 I have received from my many friends in your City. 
 
 Believe me, dear sir, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 JOSHUA BATES. 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVER, ESQ., 
 
 Mayor of the City of Boston.
 
 52 
 
 CITY OF BOSTON. 1 
 
 In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, October 18, 1852. J 
 
 Resolved, That this Board is deeply sensible to the enlightened 
 generosity of Joshua Bates, Esq., as manifested in the offer of 
 fifty thousand dollars for the purchase of hooks for the Public 
 Library, and that the thanks of the City Council be returned to 
 him, on behalf of the citizens of Boston, for this seasonable and 
 munificent provision, which ensures the speedy establishment of 
 the Library on a liberal scale, and reflects the greatest honor 
 upon the patriotism of the donor. 
 
 Ordered, That a copy of the letter from Mr. Bates be placed 
 upon the records of the City Council, and that an attested copy 
 of these proceedings be transmitted to him by the Mayor. 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. Bates' letter, with the proceedings of the 
 City Council thereon, be referred to the Trustees of the Public 
 Library, with instructions to report to the City Council such 
 measures as it may be proper to adopt in the premises with a 
 view to give effect to the liberal provision of Mr. Bates. 
 
 Passed unanimously. Sent down for concurrence. 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVEB, Mayor. 
 
 In Common Council, October 21, 1852. 
 Passed unanimously in concurrence. 
 
 HENRY J. GARDNER, Resident. 
 
 In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, December 6, 1852. 
 
 Whereas, the City Council of Boston are deeply impressed 
 with a feeling of gratitude for the late munificent gift of 
 Joshua Bates, Esq., and are desirous of manifesting to him and 
 to other distinguished benefactors of the City, a sense of its 
 obligation for benefits received, it is therefore 
 
 Ordered, That whenever an edifice is constructed for the Pub
 
 53 
 
 lie Library, the Trustees be and they hereby are directed to 
 appropriate a suitable hall for the deposit and arrangement of 
 statues, paintings, and other memorials of those persons who 
 have distinguished themselves, or shall hereafter distinguish 
 themselves, by acts of liberality to the religious, charitable, or 
 literary institutions of the City. 
 
 Eead and passed. Sent down for concurrence. Came up 
 concurred, Dec. 9th. 
 
 To THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BOSTON : 
 
 GENTLEMEN, By the public journals of this day I see you 
 have purchased (and I believe very judiciously,) an estate on 
 Somerset street in this City, for the erection of a building for a 
 free City Library. Enclosed, I send you my check for one hun- 
 dred dollars for the use and benefit of said institution to be 
 expended by the Mayor and Aldermen in furnishing any of the 
 room, or rooms of the said building when the same is completed, 
 or expend the same in the purchasing of books for the benefit 
 and use of the said Library as in their judgment may seem 
 best. 
 
 Gentlemen, I remain, 
 
 Yours, with much esteem, 
 
 JAMES NIGHTINGALE. 
 Boston, March 5, 1853. 
 
 CITY OF BOSTON. \ 
 
 In Board of Miyor and Aldermen, March 7, 1853. / 
 
 Head, and referred to the Trustees of the Public Library. 
 Sent down for concurrence. 
 
 BENJ. SEAVER, Mayor.
 
 54 
 
 In Common Council, March 10, 1853. 
 Concurred. 
 
 HENRY J. GAEDNER, President 
 
 In Board of Trustees, April 25, 1853. 
 
 Voted, That the thanks of the Trustees he given to Mr. 
 Nightingale for his liberal donation ; and that the Committee 
 on the purchase of books be directed to expend the same in 
 books, inserting the name of Mr. Nightingale in each. 
 
 Attest: EDWARD CAPEN, Secretary. 
 
 London, Wth March, 1S53. 
 
 To His HONOR BENJAMIN SHAVER, 
 
 Mayor of the City of Boston. 
 
 
 DEAR SIR, I have received the Resolutions passed by the 
 
 City Council of Boston, on the 21st of October, which you have 
 done me the favor to transmit to me, and am gratified to learn 
 by them, that the assistance I had so much pleasure in offering 
 to your Free Public Library, is so favorably received. Be pleased 
 then to draw on me for a sum sufficient to contribute a fund of 
 fifty thousand dollars, to be held by the City of Boston in trust, 
 that its entire income, but only its income, shall in each and 
 every year hereafter be expended in the purchase of such books 
 of permanent value and authority, as may be found most needed 
 and most useful, and that the City will, so soon as it may con- 
 veniently be done, provide and always hereafter maintain a suit- 
 able establishment for a Free Public Library, in which arrange- 
 ments shall be made for the comfortable accommodation, at one 
 and the same time, and at all proper hours of the day and even- 
 ing, for at least one hundred readers. 
 
 Wishing to this generous and wise institution, in which I shall 
 always feel an interest, all the success you can desire for it, and
 
 55 
 
 wishing all happiness and prosperity to your City and its citi- 
 zens, with whom I have so many pleasant associations, 
 
 I remain, dear sir, 
 
 Your friend and servant, 
 
 JOSHUA BATES. 
 
 CITY OF BOSTON. \ 
 
 In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, March 28, 1853. / 
 
 Eeferred to the Committee on the Public Library, with au- 
 thority to consider and report thereon. 
 
 Sent down for concurrence. 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVER, Mayor. 
 
 In Common Council, March 31, 1853. 
 Concurred. 
 
 HENRY J. GARDNER, President. 
 
 CITY OF BOSTON, "I 
 
 April 12, 1853. j 
 
 The Joint Standing Committee on the Public Library to whom 
 was referred the letter of Joshua Bates, Esq., dated London, 
 10th March, 1853, beg leave respectfully to 
 
 REPORT: 
 
 That agreeably to the authority contained in said letter, the 
 Mayor has drawn on Mr. Bates for his donation to the Library, 
 amounting to fifty thousand dollars, which sum has, with the 
 approval of the Committee on Finance, been loaned to the City, 
 subject to the conditions affixed by Mr. Bates, at an interest of 6 
 per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually. 
 
 For the Committee, 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVER, Chairman.
 
 56 
 
 In Common Council, April 14, 1853. 
 Read and accepted. Sent up for concurrence. 
 
 HENRY J. GARDNER, President. 
 
 In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, April 18, 1853. 
 
 Concurred. 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVER, Mayor. 
 
 Boston, April \\tli, 1853. 
 To THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF BOSTON : 
 
 GENTLEMEN, Allow me through you respectfully to offer for 
 the acceptance of the City of Boston, in aid of their City Library, 
 ten thousand dollars, to he forever held and treated as a trust 
 fund the income of which shall be used exclusively for the pur- 
 chase of books for said Library ; and if, from any cause whatso- 
 ever, shall at any time happen a diminution of the capital}" then 
 the income is to accumulate and be added to the capital until its 
 original amount shall be entirely restored. 
 
 The past and present character of the City of Boston is a 
 sufficient pledge that a trust confided to its care will be faith- 
 fully and correctly performed, and I cannot discern in the future, 
 a possibility that its integrity may be impaired or its fair repu- 
 tation forfeited. 
 
 In truth every son of Boston justly regards the City as an 
 illustrious parent, and should exhibit, as well as feel in his deal- 
 ings with it, a filial regard and confidence, which its honorable 
 character in all periods for sound morals, and a profound respect 
 for the sanctities of religion, naturally produce. 
 
 Regarding, as I do, its efforts to induce the highest cultivation 
 of intellect, and to cherish a strict and wise regard for the union 
 of law and liberty, to be among the principal features of its 
 greatness, and which have conferred upon our City a name and
 
 57 
 
 a praise throughout Christendom, it gives me unfeigned pleasure 
 in a humble manner to aid in the accomplishment of these 
 efforts. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient fellow citizen, 
 
 JONATHAN PHILLIPS. 
 
 In Board of Mayor and Aldermen, April 18, 1853. 
 
 Resolved, That the munificent gift of ten thousand dollars, for 
 the use of the Free Public Library, presented by the Hon. Jona- 
 than Phillips, be accepted upon the trust affixed by him, and that 
 the grateful thanks of the City Council be, and they hereby are 
 presented to him for the same. 
 
 Resolved, That the letter of Mr. Phillips which accompanied 
 the above donation, so expressive of confidence and patriotic sen- 
 timents, honorable alike to him and his native city, be placed at 
 large on the records of the City Council. 
 
 Resolved, That the Mayor be requested to transmit to Mr. 
 Phillips an attested copy of these proceedings. 
 
 Passed unanimously. 
 
 Sent down for concurrence. 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVER, Mayor. 
 
 In Common Council, April 21, 1853. 
 Concurred unanimously. 
 
 HENRY J. GARDNER, President. 
 
 A true copy. 
 
 Attest: SAM'L F. McCLEARY, JR., City Clerk. 
 
 8
 
 58 
 
 Boston, Nov. 4, 1853. 
 HON. BENJAMIN SEAVEE, 
 
 Mayor of Boston. 
 
 DEAR SIR, The City has at last completed its purchase of the 
 Boylston street estates. I have traced the several titles back to 
 the first settlement of the Town the Book of Possessions. My 
 memoranda occupy more than twenty-five pages. One of the 
 titles was extremely complicated. A late owner had left a will 
 untechnically drawn which presented questions of difficult 
 legal construction. One devise was to the testator's son for life 
 with a remainder limited to his children, of such a character as 
 to open and let in any after-born children. This son died about 
 a year since. So long as he lived it would have been impossible 
 to have obtained an indefeasible title by conveyances from all 
 his children. There were eventually four minors interested in 
 this estate, and their shares were sold under license of court- 
 rendering necessary a careful examination of the probate pro- 
 ceedings. The fact, that two of the various deeds to the City 
 convey respectively 32-49ths of l-3d, and 17-49ths of l-3d of 
 this estate, sufficiently show the difficulties of the investigation. 
 
 Had this been a purchase by an individual for his own benefit, 
 I should have charged a large fee with a clear conscience. But 
 the establishment of a City Library is eminently an act for the 
 benefit of all an act prompted by the most liberal spirit and 
 the wisest foresight. Commencing where our system of public 
 schools ends, it will enable us to continue through life to educate 
 ourselves. It will, I trust, afford, to the latest times, invaluable 
 facilities for the intellectual and moral culture of the citizens of 
 Boston. 
 
 If, then, my professional experience has been found of any 
 slight service in promoting an object like this if the corner- 
 stone of the City Library shall have been laid more securely 
 through any instrumentality of mine in removing legal obstruc- 
 tions I assure you that I feel myself to have been fully com-
 
 59 
 
 pensated by the opportunity thus afforded me of becoming a 
 fellow-laborer in a good cause. 
 
 I remain, yours, very respectfully, 
 
 N. I. BOWDITCH. 
 
 In Board of Trustees, Nov. 12, 1853. 
 
 Ordered, That the thanks of this Board be given to Mr. Bow- 
 ditch for his services faithfully and gratuitously rendered, and 
 that in acknowledgment of their value his name be inscribed in 
 the Books of the Public Library, as their donor, to the value of 
 two hundred dollars. 
 
 Attest : EDWARD CAPEN, Secretary. 
 
 City Hall, Dec. 4, 1853. 
 
 GENTLEMEN, I have the pleasure to inform you that I have 
 received of J. Ingersoll Bowditch, Esq., three hundred dollars, as 
 a donation to the Public Library, to be expended in medical 
 books, for the use of the medical profession only. The money 
 has been placed in the City Treasury subject to your order. I 
 leave you to make the proper acknowledgment to Mr. Bowditch 
 for his timely liberality. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVER. 
 To THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY 
 
 In Board of Trustees, Dec. 6, 1853. 
 
 Voted, That the thanks of the Board be presented to J. Inger- 
 soll Bowditch, Esq., for his generous and timely donation, and 
 that the same be expended, as he desires that it should be, in
 
 60 
 
 medical books to circulate only among the members of the med- 
 ical profession. 
 
 Attest: EDWAKD CAPEN, Secretary. 
 
 Boston, Tremont House, Sept. 17, 1855. 
 
 To DK. N. B. SHURTLEFF, 
 
 One of the Commissioners and Trustees of the Boston City 
 Library. 
 
 DEAR SIR, As you know I have, from the first, taken a lively 
 interest in the success of the Boston Free Public Library, I here- 
 with remit you one thousand dollars, to be expended in the im- 
 mediate purchase of books for the same. 
 
 Being a native of this City, where, also, both my parents were 
 born and spent their days, it will ever afford me pleasure to 
 know that an institution, fraught with so much good to the citi_ 
 zens of every class as this Library must be, continues to grow 
 and flourish. 
 
 You will please to see that this donation is appropriated as 
 above requested, and so oblige 
 
 Yours, very respectfully, 
 
 SALLY INMAN EAST SHEPARD. 
 
 In Board of Trustees, Sept. 18, 1855. 
 
 Ordered, That the above sum be deposited by Dr. Shurtleff in 
 the Treasury of the City, subject to the order of this Board, for 
 fulfilling the generous intentions of the donor. 
 
 Resolved, That the President be requested to present to Mrs. 
 Sally Inman East Shepard, the thanks of this Board, for the 
 acceptable and timely gift of one thousand dollars, to be ex- 
 pended immediately in books for the Library. 
 
 Attest : EDWARD CAPEN, Secretary.
 
 61 
 
 To His HONOR J. V. C. SMITH, 
 
 Mayor of the City of Boston. 
 
 London, 6 Sept., 1855. 
 
 DEAR SIR, I learn with great satisfaction that the building 
 for a Free Public Library, for which such liberal appropriations, 
 have been made by the City Council is in progress of erection. 
 I have on former occasions taken the liberty to express the deep 
 interest which I feel in the establishment of this institution, as 
 the completion of that system of education at the free public 
 schools, by which Boston is so honorably distinguished. It has 
 therefore been with the greatest pleasure that I have from time 
 to time learned that even under the disadvantage of temporary 
 and inconvenient premises for the arrangement of its books and 
 the accommodation of those who use them, it has found great 
 favor with the community and with many liberal individuals, 
 and has already given promise of becoming an ornament and a 
 blessing to the City. 
 
 It is, I understand, certain, that within eighteen months or 
 two years, a building will be completed of dimensions amply 
 sufficient for the reception at once of a large number of books, 
 and for the regular future increase of the Library. Time and 
 the public spirit of the community will, no doubt, do much. 
 But it is desirable and important to render this Free Public 
 Library at once extensively useful as a large collection of books 
 in as many departments of human knowledge as possible. For 
 this purpose, and still further to manifest my deep interest in 
 the prosperity of the City of Boston, I now propose, if agreeable 
 to the City Government, in addition to the fund of fifty thousand 
 dollars already constituted, to purchase and present to the City 
 a considerable number of books in trust, that the same shall 
 always be accessible in a convenient and becoming Library 
 Building, to the inhabitants of Boston generally, under such 
 regulations as may be deemed needful by the persons to whom 
 the government of the institution may from time to time be con- 
 fided.
 
 62 
 
 Trusting that the steps already taken and now proposed, to- 
 gether with the continued patronage and powerful support of the 
 City authorities, and of a liberal and enlightened community, 
 will result in the establishment of an institution which will in all 
 future time prove eminently useful and honorable to the City. 
 
 I remain, dear sir, 
 
 Yours, very truly, 
 
 JOSHUA BATES. 
 
 CITY OF BOSTON. 
 In Board of Aldermen, Sept. 24, 1855. 
 
 A communication from the Mayor covering a letter from 
 Joshua Bates, Esq., of London, dated Sept. 6, 1855, tendering to 
 the City a further donation of books for the use of the Public 
 Library was read and referred to the Trustees and Committee on 
 the Public Library. 
 
 Sent down for concurrence. 
 
 Oct. 4, 1855. Came up concurred. 
 
 CITY OF BOSTON. \ 
 
 In Board of Aldermen, Oct. 8, 1855. j 
 
 The Committee to whom was referred by the City Council, the 
 letter of Joshua Bates, Esq.,. proposing to purchase and present 
 to the Public Library a considerable number of books in trust 
 for the inhabitants generally, ask leave unanimously to report 
 the following resolutions, expressing the sense of the City Gov- 
 ernment in relation to this new act of Mr. Bates' munificence. 
 
 In behalf of the Committee, 
 
 ROBERT COWDIN, Chairman. 
 
 Resolved, That in the letter of Joshua Bates, Esq., addressed 
 to His Honor the Mayor, and dated Sept. 6, 1855, the City Gov-
 
 63 
 
 ernment recognize the same wise and munificent spirit and the 
 same generous interest in the prosperity and honor of the City of 
 Boston to which they have, heretofore acknowledged the obliga- 
 tions of this whole community ; and that they now accept this 
 new trust on the liberal terms in which it is offered by him. 
 
 Resolved, That the Mayor be desired to request Mr. Bates, in 
 the name of the City of Bo3ton, to sit for his bust in marble or 
 bronze at his pleasure, and to any artist he may select, in order 
 that it may be placed in the building of the Public Library, as 
 an enduring memorial of the City's obligation and gratitude. 
 
 Resolved, T]iat the Mayor be requested to communicate these 
 resolves to Mr. Bates, and that the Mayor be, and hereby is, 
 authorized to draw on the City Treasury for any moneys that 
 may be needed to carry the same into effect. 
 
 Passed unanimously. 
 
 Sent down for concurrence. 
 Attest : SAM'L F. McCLEAEY, City Clerk. 
 
 In Common Council, Oct. 11, 1855. 
 Passed unanimously in concurrence. 
 
 WM. A. BELL, President pro tern. 
 
 Oct. 13, 1855. 
 
 Approved. J. V. C. SMITH, Mayor. 
 
 A true copy. 
 
 Attest : SAM'L F. McCLEARY, City Clerk. 
 
 CITY OF BOSTON. "I 
 
 In Board of Aldermen, Oct. 8, 1855. / 
 
 Ordered, That the letter of Mr. Bates referred to in the fore- 
 going resolves, together with copies of the action of the City
 
 64 
 
 Council thereon, be deposited with the Trustees of the Public 
 Library for their information and further action. 
 
 Sent down for concurrence. 
 
 Attest : SAM'L F. McCLEARY, City Clerk. 
 
 In Common Council, Oct. 11, 1855. 
 Concurred. WM. A. BELL, President pro tern. 
 
 Oct. 13, 1855. 
 
 Approved. J. V. C. SMITH, Mayor. 
 
 A true copy. Attest: SAM'L F. McCLEAKY, City Cleric. 
 
 Extract from the last Will and Testament of the late HON. 
 ABBOTT LAWBENCE, dated 27th January, 1855. 
 
 " I give and bequeathe to the City of Boston the sum of ten 
 thousand dollars for the use of the Public Library in the said 
 City the same to be paid within three years after the probate of 
 this my Will, and the income thereof to be appropriated for the 
 purchase of books for the said Library under the direction of the 
 Trustees."
 
 DONORS AND DONATIONS, 
 
 Appleton, Samuel .... $1,000 00 
 
 Bates, Joshua Funded, .... 50,000 00 
 
 Bigelow, John P. ... 1,000 00 
 
 Bowditch, J. Ingersoll, .... . 300 00 
 
 Bowditch, N. I. Services valued at - - 200 00 
 
 Brown, James ... . .. 5 00 00 
 
 Nightingale, James .... 100 00 
 
 Phillips, Jonathan, Funded 10,000 00 
 
 Shepard, Mrs. Sally Inman East, 1,000 00 
 
 Vols. Pamph. 
 
 1. Adams, George, - 22 3 
 
 2. Adams, Nehemiah, D.D. 4 
 
 3. Albany Young Men's Association, - 1 
 
 4. Allen, John Fiske, Salem, - 1 
 
 5. Allen, William, D.D., Northampton, - 1 
 
 6. American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
 
 Missions, by Prudential Committee, - 32 
 
 7. American Tract Society, 73 
 
 8. Anderson, Paul, Cincinnati, - 3 
 
 9. Anonymous, .... 36 16 
 
 10. Athenaeum Club, London, 
 
 11. Appleton, John W. M. 
 
 12. Appleton, Thomas G-. - 9 
 
 13. Appleton, Samuel - 1 
 
 14. Appleton, William - - 22 3 
 
 15. Austin, Edward, ... 23 
 
 16. Austin, James T. - - 2 
 
 17. Balch, Thomas, Philadelphia, 1 
 
 18. Balfour, David M. - 82 5 
 
 19. Ballard & Prince, - 1 
 
 20. Ballou, Maturin M. 6 
 
 21. Bates, Mrs. Joshua, London, 2 
 
 22. Barnard, Henry, Conn. 1 
 
 23. Bigelow, Henry J., M.D. - 6 
 
 24. Bigelow, Jacob, M.D. .... 1 
 
 25. Bigelow, John P. - - 453 624 
 
 9
 
 66 
 
 26. Binney, C. J. F. - 
 
 Vols. 
 
 1 
 
 Pam] 
 
 27. Binney, Horace, Philadelphia, 
 
 
 2 
 
 28. Bishop, Nathan, ... 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 29. Bolles, John A. - - - - ' - 
 
 24 
 
 
 30. Boltwood, Lucius M., Amherst, ... 
 
 2 
 
 
 31. Bond, William 0., Cambridge, 
 
 I 
 
 
 32. Boston, England - 
 
 I 
 
 
 33. Boston, City of - - 
 
 340 
 
 40 
 
 34. Boston Mercantile Library Association, - 
 
 1 
 
 
 35. Boston Society for Medical Observation, 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 36. Boston Society of Natural History, 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 37. Boston Young Men's Christian Union, - 
 
 
 1 
 
 38. Bowditch, Henry I., M.D. - 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 39. Bowditch, J. I 
 
 4 
 
 
 40. Bowditch, N. I. 
 
 1 
 
 
 41. Bradford, Charles F. - - 
 
 1 
 
 
 42. Bradlee, Eev. C. D., Cambridge, - 
 
 8 
 
 21 
 
 43. Bradlee, John N. - ... 
 
 55 
 
 
 44. Brooks, Peter C. - - - 
 
 144 
 
 40 
 
 45. Brown, Obediah, Trustees of, 
 
 12 
 
 
 46. Buchanan, A., by Monroe & Co. - 
 
 4 
 
 
 47. Burnham, Mrs. E. J. - 
 
 3 
 
 
 48. Burnham and Brother, - 
 
 1 
 
 
 49. Cambridge, City of, ... 
 
 1 
 
 . 
 
 50. Capen, John, - - - 
 
 4 
 
 
 51. Cass, Mrs. L. A. - 
 
 5 
 
 
 52. Chandler, George, Worcester, 
 
 
 1 
 
 53. Channing, Walter, M.D. 
 
 
 3 
 
 54. Chickering, Jesse, M.D. .... 
 
 1 
 
 
 55. Cincinnati Young Men's Library Association, - 
 
 1 
 
 
 56. Clapp, David 
 
 11 
 
 60 
 
 57. Clapp, Otis 
 
 5 
 
 41 
 
 58. Clapp, W. W. - 
 
 7 
 
 
 59. Coffin, Admiral Sir I. - - - 
 
 6 
 
 
 60. Cogswell, J. G., New York, - 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 61. Copeland, Elisha, - - 
 
 14 
 
 79 
 
 62. Cornell, Wm. M M D. 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 63. Couthouy, J. P. - 
 
 4 
 
 
 64. Curtis, Josiah, M.D. 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 65. Danforth, Mrs. Hannah G., - 
 
 7 
 
 
 66. Dall, William .... 
 
 70 
 
 150 
 
 67. Davis, David E. - 
 
 2 
 
 
 68. Dearborn, Nathaniel - 
 
 21 
 
 
 69. Dench, Lawson B. 
 
 3 
 
 
 70. Dennett, C. F - 
 
 
 2 
 
 71. Dennet, W. H. - 
 
 1 
 
 
 72. Denton, William, .... 
 
 23 
 
 22 
 
 73. Dillaway. Charles K. 
 
 
 2 
 
 A very early donation to the City.
 
 67 
 
 Vols. Pamph. 
 
 74. Dixon, B. Homer, 10 
 
 75. Dodd, William, - - 18 
 
 76. Dupee, James A. - - - : 1 
 
 77. Durkee, Silas, M.D. - - 1 
 
 78. Dwight, Louis, ...... 4 
 
 79. Eastburn, John H. 1 67 
 
 80. Eliot, Samuel A. - < - 85 2 
 
 81. Eolopoesis, Author of, 1 
 
 82. Eustis, William T. - ... 4 
 
 83. Everett, Edward, (1 Statistical Table, 27 Maps 
 
 and Charts,) - ... 1653 836 
 
 84. Flint, Charles L. -.171 
 
 85. Foster, Miss F. E. ... 1 
 
 86. French, B. F. 3 
 
 87. French, James & Co., - - 2 
 
 88. Frost, Oliver, 10 
 
 89. Gait, J. M., Va. - - 14 
 
 90. Garrison, William L. - 1 
 
 91. Gasking, Samuel, 1 
 
 92. Gilbert, A., New York, - 1 
 
 93. Girard, Charles, Philadelphia, - 1 
 
 94. Gould, A. A., M.D. - - 1 
 
 95. Graham, Maj. George, Eegistrar General, Lon- 
 
 don, by Josiah Curtis, M.D. - 8 
 
 96. Gray, Asa, M.D. - - 2 
 
 97. Gray, Francis 0. 57 
 
 98. Greene, 0. W., Greenwich, E. I. - 33 
 
 99. Griswold, Almon W. 1 
 
 100. Guild, Albert, ... 9 
 
 101. Guild, Benjamin, 3 
 
 102. Guildhall Library Committee, London, - 2 
 
 103. Hale, Nathan and Charles, - - 1 
 
 104. Hartshorn, Eliphalet P. 99 98 
 
 105. Harvard College, President and Fellows of, - 5 
 
 106. Hastings, Mary Ann, - 1 
 
 107. Hay ward, George, M.D. 1 
 
 108. Herrick, E. C., Yale College, 1 
 
 109. Higginson, Eev. T. W., Worcester, - 1 
 
 110. Hillard, George S. .... 202 1 
 
 111. Hills, George, 3 
 
 112. Holland, Eev. F.W. - - - 1 13 
 
 113. Hooper, Eobert C. (Subscription for Work of 
 
 Prof. Agassiz,) 
 
 114. Howe, John, Jr., 1 
 
 1 15. Jackson, Abby C. 1 
 
 116. Jackson, Francis, ... 1 
 
 117. Jackson, James, M.D. 128 600 
 
 118. Jarvis, Edward, M.D. ..... 65 
 
 119. Jones, J. S., M.D. 2
 
 68 
 
 Vols. Pamph. 
 
 120. King, Mrs. Gedney - 7 
 
 121. Kingman, Charles B. 3 
 
 122. Kittredge, Edward A., M.D. - 128 13 
 
 123. Kneeland, Samuel, Jr., M.D. 2 
 12-t. Lamb, Anthony, - - 1 
 
 125. Lambord, "William, - H 
 
 126. Lawrence, Abbott, Jr. - : 14 
 
 127. Lawrence, T. B. - 4 
 
 128. Lee, Thomas J 1 1 
 
 129. Leeds, Charles H., New York, - 1 
 
 130. Lincoln, Frederick W., Jr. - 22 
 
 131. Livcrmore, George, Cambridge, - 4 
 
 132. Loring, Ellis G. - 3 
 
 133. Loring, James S 8 222 
 
 l:-J4. Lowell, John, 89 . 2 
 
 135. Lunt, Wm. P., D.D. .... 9 
 
 136. McCleary, S. F. 1 250 
 
 137. McCleary, S. F. Jr 1 
 
 138. McMahon, Rev.J. B., M.D. - 19 
 
 139. McVey, --.-..- 1 
 
 140. Manchester City Library, Trustees of, - 1 
 
 141. Manypenny, Geo. W., TJ. S. Com. Ind. Affs, - 3 
 
 142. Maryland Historical Society, 3 
 
 143. Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, 8 2 
 
 144. Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, 9 
 
 145. Massachusetts, State of - 40 
 
 146. Means, Eev. J. I 
 
 147. Merrill, Elizabeth L 23 
 
 148. Merritt, Mrs. J. - 13 
 
 149. Middlesex Mechanics Association, Lowell, - 1 
 
 150. Montagu, A. de - 1 
 
 151. Munroe, James - 3 
 
 152. Munroe, James & Co. - ... 1 
 
 153. Munsell, J., Albany, - - 1 
 
 154. Murray Fund, Trustees of, - 2 
 
 155. New York, State of, 1 
 
 156. N. Y. Mercantile Lib. Association, 1 
 
 157. New York Society Library, - 1 
 
 158. New York University, Kegents of, - - - 9 1 
 
 159. Norton, Charles B., N. Y. - 1 1 
 
 160. Norton, Charles E. 6 
 
 161. Norwood, Samuel, 7 105 
 
 162. Odiorne, George, - 22 61 
 
 163. Otis, Mrs. Harrison Gray - 1 
 
 164. Paine, Martyn, M.D., N Y., eng'd Portraits, - 7 
 
 165. Paris, City of, 2 Maps, .... 178 39 
 
 166. Parker, Henry T. 7 
 
 167. Parsons, Usher, M.D. - 1 
 
 168. Peabody, Mrs. Augustus - 90 383
 
 Vols. Pamph. 
 
 169. Peabody Institute, Danvers, - 1 
 
 170. Pennsylvania, State of, 26 
 
 171. Phillips, Jonathan, - - 31", 790 
 
 172. Phillips, Sampson & Co. 1 
 
 173. Piper, Solomon, - 1 
 
 174. Poole, William F. 1 
 
 175. Potter, E. B., E. I. 10 10 
 
 176. Prescott, Frederick W. - - 99 20 
 
 177. Pulsifer, David, ... - 1 
 
 178. Putnam, Charles G., M.D. - - 330 166 
 
 179. Quincy, Eliza S. - 1 
 
 180. Quincy, Josiah, Sen'r. - 2 
 
 181. Eeed, Sampson, - 33 
 
 182. Keid, Hiram A. - 2 
 
 183. Rhode Island Historical Society, - 21 
 
 184. Eichardson, James B. - 22 
 
 185. Rich Brothers, London, 4 24 
 
 186. Eichmond, John W., Providence, - 2 
 
 187. Eiddle, Edward, - - 1 
 
 188. Bobbins, Chandler, D.D: 4 
 
 189. Eoelker, Bernard, - 2 
 
 190. Buggies, S. B., New York, - 1 
 
 191. San Francisco Mer. Library Association, 1 1 
 
 192. Sawyer, F. W. - 1 
 
 193. Sears, David, Medals. 
 
 194. Seaver, Benjamin, 1 I 
 
 195. Shaw, G. Howland, - 1 
 
 196. Shurtleff, Nathaniel B., M.D. 23 227 
 
 197. Sinclair, A. D. - o 
 
 198. Smith, Elbridge, Cambridge, 1 
 
 199. Snow, Eev. Herman - 2 
 
 200. Southey, Thomas, England, - 3 
 
 201. Sparks, Jared, ... 1 
 
 202. Spear, Eev. Charles - 6 9 
 
 203. Spurr, 0. H. 6 
 
 204. Stodder, Charles, - 4 
 
 205. Sumner, Charles, - 37 
 
 206. Sumner, W. H. Eoxbury, - 1 
 
 207. Sunderland, La Eoy, - 6 
 
 208. Symonds, Sarah W. 3 
 
 209. Tarbell, Mrs. Thomas - 11 166 
 
 210. Thayer, Gideon F. 20 201 
 
 211. Thompson, Mrs. Louisa - 32 
 
 212. Thornton, J. Wingate, - 13 
 
 213. Thwing, Thomas, - 15 
 
 214. Ticknor, George, 14 Charts, &c., - - 1246 70 
 
 215. Ticknor, Eeed & Fields, 3 
 
 216. Torrey, Henry W. 1 
 
 217. Turner, J. W. - ... 1
 
 70 
 
 Vols. Pamph. 
 
 218. United States, - - 145 
 
 219. United States State Department, - 94 
 
 220. United States Patent Office, - - 3 
 
 221. United States Treasury Department, 10 charts. 
 
 222. United States War Department, - 16 
 
 223. Vermont University, : 1 
 22i. Wales, George W. 8 
 
 225. Walker, Amasa, ----- 1 
 
 226. Ward, Samuel G. 5 
 
 227. Ware, John, M.D. 239 307 
 
 228. Warren, John C., M.D. 5 
 
 229. Warren, J. Mason, M.D. 30 
 
 230. Warren Street Chapel Library, - - - 12 
 
 231. Webb, Thos. H., M.D. - 1 
 
 232. Webster Daniel, - - - 6 
 
 233. Webster, Eev. George W., Wheeling, - 1 
 
 234. Weld, Moses W., M.D., 1 Crystallotype, - 2 
 
 235. Wells, Eev. E. M. P. - 1 
 
 236. Welsh, Charles W., U. S. Navy Department, - 21 2 
 
 237. West, Mrs. E. L. - - - 2 
 
 238. Wetherbee, Moses H. - 3 
 
 239. Wctmore, Thomas, 8 
 
 240. Whipple & Black, 20 Crystallotypcs. 
 
 241. Whitney, Frederic A., Brighton, - - 30 
 
 242. Whitwell, Samuel, - ' - - - 68 112 
 
 243. Wilkins, John H. 69 
 
 244. Willard, F. A., M.D. - - 2 
 
 245. Williams, Henry W., M.D. - 1 1 
 
 246. Williams, John D. W. - - - 296 26 
 
 247. Willis, Nathaniel, 27 
 
 248. Wilson, John, - - 2 
 
 249. Winthrop, Kobcrt C. - - 288 32 
 
 250. Wise, Henry A. - 1 
 
 251. Withington, Kev. William, - 1 
 
 252. Woods, Charles, - : 1 
 
 253. Wright, Ephraim M. - - - 10 
 
 CONDITION OF THE PUBLIC LIBEARY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON. 
 SEPTEMBER 17, 1855. 
 
 Whole number of names registered in the Reading Eoom, 10,215 
 
 Whole number of accounts opened for borrowing Books, 8,858 
 
 Number of volumes in the Library, - - - - 22,017
 
 71 
 TEUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBEAEY. 
 
 TEUSTEES CHOSEN MAY 13, 1852, BEFORE THE PASSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE. 
 
 From the City Council. 
 
 BENJAMIN SEAVER, EDWARD S. ERVING, 
 
 SAMPSON REED, JAMES B. ALLEN, 
 
 LYMAN PERRY, GEORGE W. WARREN, 
 
 JAMES LAWRENCE, GEORGE WILSON. 
 
 From the Citizens at Large. 
 
 EDWARD EVERETT, NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEFF, 
 
 GEORGE TICKNOR, THOMAS G. APPLETON. 
 
 JOHN P. BIGELOW, 
 
 TRUSTEES CHOSEN UNDER THE ORDINANCE OF OCTOBER 14, 1852. 
 
 From the Citizens at Large. 
 
 EDWARD EVERETT, Pres., .... 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855. 
 
 GEORGE TICKNOR, " " " " 
 
 JOHN P. BIGELOW, 
 
 NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEFF, - - - - " 
 
 THOMAS G. APPLETON, " " " " 
 
 From the Board of Aldermen. 
 
 SAMPSON REED, 1852, 1853. 
 
 OLIVER EROST, 1854. 
 
 ABEL B. MUNROE, 1854. 
 
 JOHN M. CLARK, 1855. 
 
 GEORGE W. MESSINGER, -------- 1855. 
 
 From the Common Council. 
 
 GEORGE W. WARREN, 1852, 1853, 1854. 
 
 JOSEPH STORY, -- 1855.
 
 72 
 
 COMMISSIONERS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 ERECTION OF THE LIBRAE! BUILDING. 
 
 FIRST BOARD, CHOSEN UNDER THE ORDINANCE OP NOVEMBER 27, 1854. 
 
 EGBERT C. WINTHROP, Pres., l from ^ Citizem ^ L 
 SAMUEL G. WARD, y 
 
 GEORGE TICKNOR, ] from ^ B d of Trustees . 
 
 NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEFF, j J 
 
 GEORGE ODIORNE, from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. 
 GEORGE "W. WARREN, from the Common Council. 
 
 PRESENT BOARD, UNDER THE AMENDED ORDINANCE OP APRIL 3. 1855. 
 
 Named in the Ordinance. 
 
 EGBERT C. WINTHROP, Pres., GEORGE TICKNOR, 
 SAMUEL G. WARD, NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEPF. 
 
 Chosen by the City Council. 
 CHARLES WOODBEBRY, of the Board of Aldermen.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 1961 
 
 tU-lia. 
 
 
 Form L9-10m-l, '52(9291)444
 
 000 837 485
 
 4 
 1