The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-23

voting free farm to the settlers on the public
domain. And so, rumor says, there is a pros
pect Of the passage of the bill. We shall see
Things are in revolutionary condition nj
Washington, and there is no telling what may
happen. But we should like to know whether
the constitution, in the manner of granting
lands, has made distinction between the
lunatic and the squatter. The Administrations
has declared in favor Of the railroad land job
beers. Now, let us see what are it's constitu-
tional opinions of squatter sovereignty, Let
the Senate pass the Homestead bill.
The Literary Institutions Of New York. ACTOR
Place and vici"ity.
1t has long been considered desideratlm that the
largest and most important libraries in this city
should be located in the same vicinity; and when
the Astor Library was established in Lafayette
place, and the Mercantile Library removed ~ Astor-
place, in the same vicinity, it was hoped that tho
object might be effected, and thus that grand
literary centre for the convenience Of citizens and
strangers would be permanently located in that i'm
portant and commodious section of the city. Tcn
add to the prospect so desirable, Mr.. Peter Coopsr
scientific and literary insttotion, and the spacious
building of the American Bible Society, in thcs
t4Iut Vicinity. IL only rtmalneu LOT the Ncn iOAr
Society Library and the Historical Society to obtain
sites for the buildings which they propose to erect
for their large and valuable libraries, in near
Astor place, to carry out the hopes and expectations
of the friends of literature generally.
We regret that these two SO ,ietes have each pur~
chased sites wide apart from the location referred to-
the Society Library the oldest of these institutions
intending to erect freproof edifce in University
yuhi tha
ciety are also about building fire. proof edice fm
their invaluable collection OF books, manuscripts and
antiquities, in Second avenue Eleventh street,
and quite in the eastern part of the CITY, recent
special meeting of the latter society it appearsthat
they are still deficient of the amount required for
building such as they desire to erect, abont ten.
thousand dollars, to collect which amount COM
mittee was appointed to obtain subscriptions
In this doubtful aud unsatisfactory situation Of
affairs with regard to the buildings proposed TO be,
erected by these two societies, the question hnE.
been raised by some of our citizens, whether they
had not better remain as they are until the compile
ton of the fire-proof edifce of Mr.. Cooper. Design
ed, as 1t is for an institution projected by himself
years must doubtless capse, after its compile
ton, before the books, scientific apparatus, and
other objects of interest intended to be contained
within its walls can be collected; would not
Mr.. Cooper, therefore, consent to accommodate.
the libraries Of the two societies within
the spacious iron and stone walls OF his
edifce for few years, until they
con accumulate strength from their OWE
resources and the berality of wealthy citizens to-
enable them to erect buildings of their own, and
establish permanent funds for their support? Mr.
Peter Cooper, who has already offered to accommo-
date the collection of Egyptian antiquities if pur
chased from DR.. Abbott, would thus add to the pub.
lie benefits he proposes to bestow on the city, ana
secure the location where he has fixed his own in
stituti0n, literary centre where the friends OF
learning and of the arts and sciences may daily re-
sort, as do the merchants and other votaries Of
business at the less central marts Of commerce in
the lower part the city.
By permanent fund for these societies, we mean
fund similar to that created by Mr.. Aston in hia
win establishing the Aston Library, sufficient to in.
crease the stock of books 30 much demanded by the
growing wants of the public. This is point too
often lost sight Of by those public spirited indi-
viduals who constantly making efforts to build
up literary institutions For the collection of large
library, 1t s surely far better to remain for years in
leased building, and devote all the funds of an in,
sttuton to the collection of books by purchase and
the payment Of necessary expenses, than TO ex.-
pend all the energies Of its friends in buildings.
while the increase Of the library, which shOulS be-
the main object Of such associations, is neglected
The more important operations of the two societies
referred to have been trammeed by their efforts re-
speeding buildings for their own accommodation
We hope our citizens who take an interest in such
matters will press this subject upon the attention
OF those who have It in their power to concentrate,
these libraries in the same vicinity.
The following are the reported number of volumes
in the libraries Of the institutions referred to-
Volumes
Astor Library: ..................... O,OoC,
Mercantile Library. az f0ss
New York Society Library. 4SSOts
New York Historical Society. ..... 1000
Total. ;..::............... .l72, 900
Bible Society, about. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1000
lotai ........................ ia 900
There are also located in the building Of the Anne.
ncan Bible Society several bookstores and collec.
tions Of books, belonging to various societies and
individuals. No section Of this city is more conye
nent Of access by railroads and stages than Actor
place.
1t should be mentioned that the building fund OF
the Historical Society consists of subscriptions from
citizens, and bequest Of ave thousand dollars from
the late Miss Demilt-amounting in all, with in.
tercst, to about thirty thousand dollars while that
of the Society Library, derived entirely from their
own resources, except bequest of five thousand
dollars from Miss Demilt, and including the lots
owned by them in University place, amounts to
about seventy five thousand dollars.
1t is somewhat singular that among all the doaa.
tions and requests which have been bestowed By
wealthy individuals at their deccase on the institu
tiOnB of this CITY, the only person who on making
will, has remembered the two important literary"
societies referred to, or indeed any similar nstftu-
ton here, was lady of one of our old New York