The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-03

AkUaUY.
correspondence Of the Herald
ALBANY, Feb. %, 1874.

ALBhNf, Gu. 80 1871.
DEAR Sn;-- 81
In my last had completed survey Of the Ar
sembly chamber, &c, and now propose getting up
stairs. First however, merely en- Yassamf OF general
matters The Assembly are discussing the reform
resolutions, and will continue to do every after
noon till the subject and the speeches Of members
are exhausted. Mr.. Bosworth opened the ball yes
terday in speech, that was truly eloquent and for
chile, and with my heretofore expressed views of
this gentleman, you may be sure the speech was
good TO call forth my commendation Mr.. Hoff-
man will join the melee and then all the small fry,
including probably Messrs. Janson, Davis and d.
Lee, will follow suit, for not one of them can
trump. To resume my description ofthe capitol
The second story cont ,ins the Senate Chamber, a
small, but extremely handsome room, furnished
with broad mahogany desks, large stuffed mahog-
any arm chairs, and other similar conveniences.--
Two desks compose the perimeter Of circle, about
30 deg. of which is cut of, to allow the introduc-
tion of the Presidents chair, beside which is the
clerk With the exception OF the u >. Senate
Chamber at Washington, have never seen room
Tor any portion OF legislative body, so well lifted
up, and having an air SO quiet and senatorial The
Supreme Court room, also appropriately decorated,
is on thus floor, as isthe gallery Of the Assembly,
two rooms, and numbers between and 5000 vo-
Tunes, many Of them exceedingly valuable and
rare. The most valuable books are collection of
81 immense volumes in folio, and Is small folio.
printed and presented by the British Government,
under the direction of commiss oDers, CONNIE ncing
in 1898 A mere list of the titles Of each volume
nearly all in Latin it would need translation
The first volume contains the laws enacted under
the Anglo. Saxon King, from Ethelberht to Cnut,
with an English translation to the Saxon. The
laws called Edward the Confessor's laws of
William the Conquerer, Henry LIST, Monumental
Ecclesiastical from the 7h TO the 10th century, and
the ancient latin version OF the Saxon laws The
second volume contains the celebrated " Dooms-
day Book" and each volume is almost equally
valuable. In civil law, there is " Meermans Urea
sury Of the Civil and Common Law vol folio,
Of high repu.e, and believed to be the only copy in
the United States; also, "The Theodoslan Code"
with commentaries, In vols. folio. Amongst other
rare and valuable books, are Ceases Of Appeal to
the House of Lords" IL vols folio, only to be pur
chased from the libraries of M. P:'s; "Arch@lo-
gia,'' in 25 vols journal OF the House of Lords
and Commons" complete set from 1903, with in,
dexes, &c, 1873 vols folio, and numerous others of
great value well as the statutes and reports Of
every State in the Union, and large and complete
collections Of elementary works, and English,
Dutch and French reports, and many old and an
cient volumes--tbe very existence OF which are I'M
known to nlne-ten1hs OF modern lawyers. The mis-
ceaneous library, containing about the same Nom
Der of volumes, in the Sd story, and contains also
large work is here, cost $500 There is also u
complete Sc, OF the Gen'rmens Magazine, from
1871, and$of Amer lean State papers. A new French
Biographical ilcionary, IN 40 vols; and host of
other works rarely found in American hbrares-
Amongst the exicons, ! find one called "Caepini
Dictionarum,"' folio, in eleven languages, 1871.
| J here Was quite an accession of books during the
! lash year under Mons. Vatemere's system of Elk
changes There is yearly fund, about $4,000, for
the gradual increase OF this library, winch will,
with the same AS has heretofore been exer-
cised, max This combined library of almost inesti
mahie value, and render it the best in the
world. The trustees the Governor, 1t Cover
nor Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Attorney
| General, and the selections made under their
direction by gentlemen of knowledge and expe
renee, including the librarian, when is OF sufficient
capacity. The present Librarian, Mr. Casslssy, is
gentleman Of very considerable talent, much cru
| ditIon and jealous student; his predecessor
a taor-the appointment being a political one
Butal am exceeding my limits Ia one of my letters
| will give a full and minute account of DR..
| Sprague's celebrated collection Of autographs, con-
tanning over 10000 specimens.
OLD KNIcK.