Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-17
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

In former article upon the Library Of Congress
we considered the paramount Importance OF judi
cious selection of books.
In order to be judicious the selection should have
primary reference to the design Of the Lbrary-the
special purpose for which it is formed 1t is not to
be supposed that library to be procured merely as an
Ornamental appendage to the Capitol 1t is intended for
use principally for the use Of Congress during their ses
sons and of the officers Of the Government at oil times
and incidentally for the use Of the public
Every one may the absurdity Of taking as guide
in selecting such library, catalogue made by the most
competent for the library Of medical school, or OF
a theological seminary, or of a mining academy Not
less unsuitable though perhaps less obviously would
it be to follow list chosen most sklfuy for miscella-
city brara collection of books for popular read
ing though many Of the books might be deemed equally
indispensable in each Of these collections The selection
should be made especially and independently for this
Library, and substantially according to the suggestions
Of the honorable senstor to which have already
ferred. ~
The Library of Congress has frequently been styled the
National Library In il is such. 1t belongs to
the nation But does the Library Of the War Depart
ment yet neither of them has answered, indeed
aimed at answering what understand to be the design
of National Library. Nor do think it likely that
the Library of Congress will supply this great de-
mand of American scholars.
There ought to be in every country at least library
accessible to all Students which should aim at possessing
every boek at meeting the wants of every investigator
great literary depot where books should be
ed as trash.
There are probably more than two million different
books Now if all engaged worthily in liter
ay pursuits could be brought together and each book of
the two million separately offered for total destruction,
unless voice in the throng declared it to be for
assgnable worthy of preservation every book
would find an advocate The books which to one man
are trash another above all price. Those which
to one age well nigh worthless the choicest trea
sures of the next Mtons Paradise Lost and Newton's
Principa would hardly have been selected for choice
library when they were first published if we may judge
from their early reception contemporary OF Shak-
speare and the founder of Of the largest libraries in
the world sr Thomas Bodley) wrote thus to his libra
rian Haply, plays may be worthy the keeping,
'but hardly in forty; for it is not alike in English
plays and others of other nations because they most
esteemed for learning the languages and many of them
compiled by of great fame for wisdom and learning
which is seldom or never here among Were 1t so
again that some little profit might be reaped (Which God
knows is very tte) out of of our books the
benefit thereof will nothing near countervai the harm
that the scandal win bring upon the library when it
shall be given out that stuffed it full of baggage
books SC. One of the largest libraries in England
rejected unworthy place upon its shelves when Offer
ed gifts the antquary, Mrs Opies Novels one of
wordsworths Odes, Cobbets Publications. Jameson on
Minerals I'd edition. the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical
Journal the Siege Of Cornth, Lord Broughams Speech
on Agricultural Distress, McCullochs Essay the Ma
tional Debt Beethessns Npsica Cempnstnns and many
year. THesS We're trash to the libra
committee who rejected them but not to the world
Yet similar Interpretations continually wherever
rejection is allowed In at least library therefore
reception and preservation should be imperative We
know what among oil the publications of the present
may, century hence be esteemed most valuable. 1t
savors of arrogance and of ignorance for any say
that any book and must remain utterly useless to
every body The book that fact thought
and happier way of stating old ones may yet be
full 1t may show incidentally custom of the age
something respecting the state of the language at the
time when it written. 1t may illustrate the history
of typography of binding II may teach lesson
by its very unproftableness
We have in the library Of distinguished citizen
of Washington Of books from which he has drawn
most valuable information made original striking and
important discoveries respecting the history and practice
Of printing in its early days; books the subecmatter
of which is to him unknown, totally matter of indf
ference The first diagram Of iron suspension bridges is
10 De Iounu III is SAID, IN youme OF neglected. anu lor
gotten plates published in Venice by Fausto Veranto to-
wards the end of the 10th century. . Who would have
imagined" asks Libr that the obscure author of
small pamphlet lie Souper de Beaucaire, would sub
sequently become the Emperor Napoleon and that to
write fully the life of the execrable Marat ought to
have the very insignificant essays on physics that he
published before the Revolution :"
Such examples could be multiplied thousandfold We
fear however, that illustrating this topic at too
great length We wished show that at least libra
ry which rejects nothing and desires every thing in the
shape Of literary productions is demanded by the ne-
rests Of science and Of literature in every country that
every Government should take pride in its own, should
foster and aid ii far possible Such would be
ida Of NATIONAL LIBRARY--an establishment like the
Bibotheque Rationale in Paris and the British Museum
in London We suppose it the intention Of Congress
and of the officers Of the Smithsonian Institution to lay
the foundations of such library there The rapdity
with which il viii grow must Of course depend mainly
upon the Hberaty of who appreciate the value of
such enterprise The spirit which made the bcquest
and which dictated its direction, is but stimulated by
success and will no doubt in time make collection wor-
thy to be called the National Library Of America. To
this end Congress will we trust be ready to con-
tribute
But the Library Of Congress suppose to be intend
ed principally for the Of members Of Congress and
Of other officers Of the Government Great ~Hberality
always been shown in exendngts privileges to others
But doubt whether it is desirable TO aim at making it
fSc ~