New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-10
THE AsTOR LIBRARY.

country whose free Institutions powerfully aided him
in the accumulation Of an immense fortune is partially
repaid According TO tie will Of Mr.. Aston, new
building has oeen erected to receive these treasures of
the human mind. The eiifce is simple and inornate
externally AID the interior is well adapted TO its OBJ
ect notwithstanding a feeble effort OF the architect
the gaudy and tie Ornamental which, in the of
time and with the increase Of books, will undoubtedly
make room for the absolutely useful The hall spa
ciou and very well lighted II wears the appearance
of luminous sanctuary OF progress, not like the cold
and gloomy vaults where human science was once
secreted accessible only to a select few. Here il il
brought within the reach OF every member Of the
community. The light pouring from above, will not
tax the eyesqht Of the student through the daily hours
during which the Library is accessible and thus phys
cal influences will facilitate the kindliug OF the inter
nal light of the mind.
Whatever expectations may have been raised in
respect 10 this establishment thing is clear, that
no attempt has been made to rival the public
libraries OF Europe They the works of centuries
accomplished gradually and with means far ex.
ceoding the resources that could be drawn from any
private fund Besides a new public library in America
ought al owe all to correspond with the intellectual
exgences of the people by increasing scientific Light
and facilitating the uutifarous mental pursuits TEEN
ing in the country We have already here in New
York several other Libraries belonging TO various So
ceties Of general well Of special scientific
character and a newy-erected one ought to III up the
partial deficiencies of each preceding collection
Merely popular works published in tho last quarter Of
a century, either here on the other side of the
Atlantic are 10 be found in previous establishments and
in private collections. Thus the Aston Library is nltur
ally not so much intended for the Accumulation Of works
calculating in detail either OF the special branches Of
human knowledge 70 representing the general out
lines Of tie whole Standard predictions, marking pro-
uneny the successive elopmonts OF the mind in s
eliminating stages, should be here laid. before the stu
dent rather than works to encourage erIatc aud waste
f excursions in the wilderness OF secondary and
important books As no special studies are to be par
ticulsrly favored by means OF tas establishment, it
properly aims to accumulate sources Tor reference aud
researches which not possessed by other collections
Considering the library from this point of view,
broad foundation is already laid, in having eninently
the required comprehensiveness and generality.
Other libraries in New-YOrk, or in other
parts OF the country, may have special depart
ments more completely filed but here are to be
found rare works needed By the scholar not collected
anywhere else As it would be impossible to embrace
in single article the minute details Of this institution,
general outline may serve to guide the visitor. We
pass without enumeration the several works which
to be classed bibiogaphical curostes unavoidable
ornaments Of every collection, and turn to objects of
immediate utility Tor those who shall here seek nstruc
ton.
Theology has, in opinion, reason 70 complain,
since comparatively large space devoted to it. The
choice is made in harmony with the prevailing religious
views country But Theology in general enjoys the
largest share of works on the shelves OF American libra
RES Equally liberal is the proportion Of works An
gloAmerican jurisprudence The Astor Library could
with difficulty have added to the large aud complete
stocks possessed By other public establishments and
private collections of juriconsults aud law
practitioners But with sound appreciation Of the
present condition of this science and of the real want
of aid in the elaboration Of our codes the best theo
retc calculations and specific explanations relating to
tie French Code are here supplied. This Code has
in respect Of immediate use, inherited the scientific
Specification Of the great fountain Of laws, the Ro
nan NS Grille 1t is marked by tie elearness and pre-
cison of definitions cOngeua 70 the French mind aud
tie French language and is completely as possible
adapted TO the economy OF private and individual s
fairs, well as 70 the prevailing state OF European
society For this reason Il may be said TO rule over
tie greater part Of Continental Europe l. is used in
Piedmont, LOmbardy in some parts of Central Italy.
with the exception of the Papal States, and also in
Naples and Sicily. II is also adopted in Belgium and
partly in Holland while tie civil part OF it is used in
the former Kingdom of Poland. It's influence is now
powerfully felt in the continually remOdeied jurispru-
dences OF Prussia. Wurtemberg and even of Baya-
ria. Thus a thorough acquaintance with It's spirit
is first necessity for an accomplished juriseOn-
suit and this can be amply satisfied here Neither
is the only msserworks left by the Romans neglected
Aside from several editions Of the Corpus Jnris in
Gliding the most and elaborate there are the
standard works of Potbier, Domat Heiueccus AMI,
above all of Sayeuy, forming collection which can
easily be completed b. few additions. While speaking
ofiursprudence must mention hat in this branch as
Wei in the historical branch two natonalties haze
been especially favored We mean the Spanish and the
Scandinavian Ii they TO Oyershadow others tits
an eXeussble Partially for il might become difficult
70 gather them together at q future period
The linguistic department Is provided largely with
grsUnaTs and dictionaries. II embraces the original
or mother languages and the deryatiye dialects and
idioms Their arrangement is commenced with iadg
ucut aid wiz be continued with care. The books
are ranged by families for example, the Latin with
tho Italian Spanish. Trclch Roasr &c Tie
'orceu hreusges cccr7y prouileu- Plsce inoag