DR.

The Commonwealth in account with the Trustees of the State Library-Continued.

1860.

CR.

Reports,.

14, Expense of purchase and freight of books,

C. B. Russell's bill-Imperial Dictionary, Divs. 5 & 6,

4 00

July 7,

Little, Brown & Co.'s bill-Books,

216 42

7,

A. K. Loring's bill-Irving's Works,

24,

C. French's bill-Private Libraries in New York,

3 50

20,

Brown & Taggard's bill-Bacon's Works, vol. 11,

1 50

The means available for the increase of the library during the year ending September 30, 1860, were the balance from the previous year of $273.06, the annual appropriation of $2,300, and the sum of $18.38 for duplicates sold, making a total amount of $2,591.44. Of this amount the sum of $2,100.62 was expended in the purchase and transportation of books; $109,07 for binding and stationery, and $287.44 for additional shelves and other conveniences, leaving a balance of $94.31.

The additions by purchase have been larger and more valuable than in any previous year since the library was established. They embrace 1,215 volumes, a large part of which are of a professional or special character-works of much higher cost than the average of miscellaneous publications. The largest number of books added by purchase in any former year was 641. Several hundred volumes were procured by one of the trustees at bookstores in New York, at a large discount from the original prices. Though miscellaneous they were almost exclusively adapted to the particular character of the library, which is specially designed to furnish means of information in respect to legislation, government, politics, history, statistics and political economy. Some 475 bound volumes were thus obtained at a cost of about $450.

A valuable addition has also been made to the law department. In accordance with the purpose of the trustees to secure a complete collection of the Statutes and Law Reports of the United States and of the several States, there have been purchased the last year, in perfect series, the Reports of all the United States Circuit Courts in the Union, with the exception of those of the First, or New England Circuit, which were previously in the library. Progress has also been made in completing the Law Reports of the several States; and the library contains all the Reports of the original thirteen States, excepting a few volumes now procured with much difficulty in consequence of being nearly or quite out of print. An important addition has also been made to our collection of English Common Law and Equity Reports, which are to be continued and perfected so far as they are of practical value in such a library. The Law Reports referred to, together with some legal works of special value, were purchased at Philadelphia, on favorable terms, at an aggregate expense of about $500.

In the last Annual Report it was suggested that it might be deemed expedient to purchase the Law Library of the late Hon. Rufus Choate, not only to enrich the department of jurisprudence, but to be preserved unbroken in our alcoves as a fitting memorial of that distinguished jurist and advocate. Upon negotiation and a prudent consideration of the proposals made to the trustees, it was not judged best to buy the entire library at private sale, upon the terms offered. A valuable part of it, however, was obtained at a public sale, embracing some 250 volumes, which are now placed contiguously upon our shelves.

The entire addition from all sources during year were 1,602 volumes. The largest number added in any former year was 1,343.

By a Resolve of April 4, 1860, fifty copies of the New Plymouth Records, now in a course of publication by the State, were placed in the hands of the trustees and librarian for domestic and international exchanges. Under this Resolve two sets have been furnished as far as published, one to the State Historical Society of Maine, and the other to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, in exchange for the publications of those societies. Negotiations are also pending for several other exchanges, which will probably soon be effected, and will aid in a suitable distribution of this costly work, while they bring a return of important contributions to our historical department.

The Resolve of 1859, chapter 143, relating to the distribution of the General Statutes, makes no provision, probably through inadvertance, for furnishing said Statutes in foreign exchanges. The Resolve authorizes a distribution to the library of Congress and to the several States in the ordinary course of inter-state exchanges, but does not provide for supplying governments and libraries of foreign States, however great may be our indebtedness to such States for their courtesy and liberality to us in the bestowment of their laws and state papers. It is respectfully suggested that the trustees and librarian be duly authorized to reciprocate such favors by furnishing the General Statutes, in certain cases, at the expense of the Commonwealth, and according to the usual comity of literary exchanges.

The library has failed for three years past to receive the series of documents published by the authority of both branches

of the United States Congress. In previous years since 1813 these documents have been regularly received, through the Executive and State Departments, under the operation of a federal statute. From this regularity in the transmission and receipt of Congressional State Papers, the series in the library is very complete from the organization of the federal government to the 34th Congress inclusive, and is of inestimable value in such a library. The failure to receive them as formerly, from the federal authorities, in full sets, now extends through both sessions of the 35th Congress, and the 1st session of the 36th, or present Congress, embracing the years 1858, '59, '60, and a large number of volumes. Such a chasm in the series, if allowed to remain and especially to increase, would occasion an embarrassment and loss not easily estimated. The matter is so important in its present aspect and its future bearings, that it is deemed proper to explain it, as well as to acquit those who are responsible for the management of the library of any undue remissness in their efforts to remedy the threatened deficiency. It was early brought to the notice of a portion of our delegation in Congress both of the Senate and House, without a successful result; and subsequently a communication was addressed to the Secretary of the Interior, which occasioned a correspondence, a part of which is here submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
August 4, 1860.

Sir,-Your letter of the 9th ultimo was duly received making inquiry about the documents of the 35th Congress. In reply I have to say that, by the law which transferred the duty of distributing the public documents from the State Department to this, the documents can only be supplied to such public libraries as may be designated by the Senators and Representatives in Congress from the several States, and the Delegates from the Territories.

For more full information on this point I beg leave to refer you to the last two annual reports of this Department, copies of which are enclosed, from an examination of which and of the laws to which they refer, you will perceive why it is that your library cannot now be supplied as heretofore. Very respectfully,

MOSES KELLY, ACTING SECRETARY.

SAM'L C. JACKSON, Esq., Acting State Librarian,

Boston, Mass.