New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-03-11
THE TRIBUNE.
Public Libraries.

this Country, to which the student can resort, and
obtain full and perfect information on the subject
OF his investigation; where the lawyer can find
every book thas is regarded as authority in our
Courts; where the physician need not look in vain
for any work of science which can throw light
upon the varied departments of his arduous and
most useful profession And we should have con-
nected with this American Institute perfect Ii
brary of Practical Science and Art. In that Lii
brarv should be able to their past history
from their early dawn to their present condition; and
more important still, there should find displayed
the progress which the human mind is now max
ing in every part Of the civilised world. There
should we receive the first intimations of every
new discovery and invention These are to be
found in the various periodicals which the press is
sending forth-periodicals conducted by men of
the first abilities, and employing the most skilfu
intelligent and practical pens. Private collections
however extensive, will not supply the place of
large Public Libraries. Those collections should
mainly consist of comparatively few, well-choscn
books, OF which the owner can make himself the
master. Bibliomania is but species of intellect
ual dissipation. The complaint has been made
from Bacon down, that the increase of books and
the general reading which results therefrom, pro-
duce diminished originality and vgor of thought.
He who is always reading can have but little time
to think. A large private Library crowded with
every variety Of literary and scientific production
is, after ALL only splendid luxury. Its like gold
in a mser's chest-gazed upon, admired, and
dearly priced; but of no utility even to the owner
himself. But large Public Library is like that
gold, circulating in the community, rewarding
and enrichng multitudes
aWe are singularly ingenious people. We i'm
prove upon every discovery and every invention
Nothing has ever endeveoped in mechancswhich
American ingenuity has not seized upon, expanded,
and improved. We ought to cherish this spirit of
enterprise We must give American ingenuity some
thing to work upon. The means, the materials, the
facilities should be afforded to stimulate inventive
genius, and encourage intellectual effort and manly
emulation. The American Institute is doing this
Within ten years, by individual exerton alone, it
has collected Library of about five thousand
volumes. Already is it supplying with important
information numbers of periodicals and newspa.
pers devoted to Practical Science and the Useful
Arts Thus does it send forth its thousand rills
to deepen and expand that broad stream of intel
ligence, which is spreading through our country,
refreshing and vivfying every portion OF IT. Well
NAV it be said that the extent and the value OF the
influence of the American Institute are both meal
culable.'
The KK1cKgRpecKER.-Itis pleasant to remark
the change which is observable in the foreign est
nate of American literature, both as it regards
books and periodicals. "Whe reads an American
book?" is not now the question. 1t ID not long
since the London Examiner spoke of the hn'cker-
booker as an honor to our literature, and even as
presenting "an example of various attraction
b,,;. E,,ol Itch nDtn M
And late London Literary Gazette, precedes
certain quotations from the Knickerbocker with the
remark that the work is " one of the best month
lies in America" But the X. deseraes the praise
which it elci,s, whether at home or abroad.
Ny The Boston Courier pays this compliment
TO Rev. Dr. SPRING of this city:
We have no hesitation in pronouncing Dr. Spring,
in his combined qualities, the most accomplished
preacher this side of the Atlantic. Some have
more logic. others more pathos, and some are
more capable of making deeper impression on
single occasion. But for filling the middle ground
of chastc eIoauence for the power OF uniformly
enightenng the head while he touches the hearti
for illusions that are classical without beng re-
condite ornaments that adorn without making
farccal and epi,hets which fill but never overload
who goes before the pastor of the brick Presbyte-
rian church in the city of New York. His melodi-
GUS voice sometimes verges to monotony, and his
elaborate industry is sometimes manifested IN
something which locks like constraint. But time
has mellowsd his excuses, and he is one OF that
happy class of writers whose last productions are
their best.
A MosT DREADFUL AvALANcHE IN FRANCE.
The Courier de 7 Isere gives the following addl-
uonal details Of the overwhelming of the greater
mar, of the village of Valcenestre. The avalanche
aeer reaching the foot of the mountain, was car
red over space of several hundred yards by us
own imne;us, before it could reach the village and
covered it with snow and timber, and pieces OF
rock borne down with it in its course, 10 the deP'
OF from twenty or thirty feet, burylng e1saiy-t@o
persons beneath it's weight. VI these sevehty-s"o
have been dug out unhurt, but the ten others per-
ished To accomplish tkeir release, aPef'ufes
We're made over the chimneys OF the houses' anu
through them the living were drawn up oa' .ie
dead were not reached until transversal cuttings
could be made. Several animals were also Saves .,
alive The avalanche made so little polss IN iei-
ing, that the inhabitants who did net suher 'iosi
IT, were not aware Of the disaster TIL seven ~.
next morning, three hours after II happened ana
even those who were caught by it, believed !. -
be only heavy fall of snow that had crushed their
roofs, and stopping up their doors and windows,
waited patiently TIL day expecting their neighbors
to come to their release.
EAST INDIA SeulDRos.-We understand that
the Brandywine frigate, now lying at Norfolk, IS
fitting ont for the East Indies and China. She Is
10 be accompanied by the ST. Louis sloop of-war.
The squadron is to be commanded by Capt. Fox