New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-24

The woks in Spanish Italian and Portuguese whIe-
Gil the acove adjoining that of Latin and Greek, are
about twenty-five hundred in number. The French
| department is exceedingly well filed, and numbers
| about three thousand FIVE hundred volumes. The de-
| uartmeuts of German Scandinavian and Dutch, occupy
the same alcove, and have about two thousand FIVE
| hundred volumes That Of English Literature num-
bers between three and four thousand volumes, COM
prisng. however, too many old novels of no value.
More than three hundred volumes in this department
are devoted exclusively to Shaksperian literature.
The eastern extremity Of the building is filed in its
lower acove by the Department Of Archaeology, and
above by that of Geography. The upper slcovs OF
| the west extremity Is devoted to Polytechnles and
works on Architecture; the lower is appropriated to
the Department of the Arts. This last is of the
most interesting and most extensive divisions Of the
| Library. 1t has many magnificent and beautiful
works as Gruper's "Fresco Decorations of nsly,"
colored BY hand Raphsels "Loggia Of the Vatican"
engraved by vepato and colored by hand and over
| five hundred volumes of choice musical works.
In the lower story the long room on the right ofth
main entrance will be appropriated to American Public
Documents of the United States and Of the individual
States The corresponding room on the left contains
complete collection Of English Parliamentary Jour-
mails and Debates, with other like European docu-
mepts-in all about 1000 volumes. Weeks might be
spent pleasantly merely in examining the curious
books which, the Library contains. Considerable dis
satisfaction expressed at the opening OF this col
lection that it was not to be circulating Library but
simply one OF reference. But popular Library was
not needed those in existence are amply sufficient to
supply the wants Of those who wish books to read by
the week; the Library wanted was one which might
serve as resource to all who desired such informs-
ton as could be obtained only in rare and valuable
works The accommodations at the library are ample,
and the number of hours during which open each
day (seven) is certainly sufficient for the most digent
student-if like true student he reflects at all on
what he reads The Librarians are very oblgng, and
every facility afforded the visitor for consulting the
works, We give some of the principal regulations,
and the manner in which books are to be obtained:
J, The Library is open every day, except Sundays
ard established holidays, from 10 d. w. until hau On
hour before sunset
e. Admission free to all persons over sixteen years
Of age.
g. When book is wanted, the title Is to be written
on ticket (which is furnished) with the Of the
applicant. The ticket is then to be given TO an at
tendaLt who will find the book If in the Library, and
put il into the hands of the reader without delay.
L. Readers must return their books before leaving
the Library, and take back their tickets otherwise
they remain responsible for the books.
S. No one is allowed TO enter the aicoyes or remove
a
6. Readers wishing to consult costly works Of art
must make special application for that purpose.
No where in New York can q day of leisure be spent
more pleasantly than here. There is something in the
stiffness and in the studous appearance Of the visitors
that rduces reflection and makes the place seem the
very abode of thought. There hundred thous-
and volumes around you, from which, to pass away
the hour, you may select anything that suits your
of he
Chinese philosophers-a novel or treatise on alb
struse Mathematics. The reading tables, which face
the acove are filed by busy readers there is no noise
nor loud talking and you are struck by the order and
quiet which prevail 1t place to study men as well
AZ books. Seated around the all descriptions
of students dabblers in literature, and Here
the author the mathematician the classical scholar
examining the readings Of donhtfni passages
ed-IOoking editor preparing the pasS Oh
to.morrow's leader, a lawyer looking up prsce-
dents. And now come tnppingly up the stairs, with
bright and beaming faces couple Of young ladies'
They select their works and place themselves at q
table. Curiosity prompts us to ask the Librarian
what books they have taken: "Tassos jerusalem
Delivered" and "Goethes Faust" both in the orig-
nal II is quite refreshing, in this age OF fashionable
boarding schools to meet with young ladies who can
read Tasso and Goethe in the original Ii is pleasant
to turn from the cTowds OF ulsplhy-ioVhS uanSei' on
Broadway whose highest intellectual effort never e1-
ceeds the e1erion necessary for the comprehension OF
the compliments of weak. minded young men, to those
who can enjoy the nober pleasures of the intellect and
who add TO the charms Of a beautiful face those Of
cultivated mind.
Here a yecant-visaged youth pores over novel;
and there red-faced, red listed man, with an extern
.iye assortment OF rings, chains and ether jewelry
about his person, is turning the leaves OF huge
work on heraldry TO select coat OF arms and motto,
which his late successful speculation in candles Just'
6es his assuming Sometimes, too, are seen the lofty
miep. the dignied bearing and the sunny face Of that
giant Of American writers, Washington Irving; the
manly form Of Bsyard Taylor, the jovial face of
George p Morris and his still elegant coadutor, ~ r.
Willis.
Indeed nearly all the hterati of city may be
seen here at times Nor il the use OF the Library linn
tied to the citizens of New-York Students from our
ft colleges often visit the city for the purpose of
| consulting rare works, and possibly to read up on
their "prize ESSAYS" or " Senior Orations Indeed
students Of various sciences have thought it worth
their while to spend several weeks here in order to
have the use of some Of the departments.
It's curious fact that the works most called for
are those of Heraldry and Geneaogy-the very works
for which one would suppose there would be the least
demand in country violent in its denuncations Of
everything that Of aristocrsey Next to this
department those of the Arts are most extensively
used. Works on Metaphysics, Pure Mathematics and
Oriental Philoogy, are IN great demand, a. also are
those Of the Practical Sciences Engineering and Me-
| cbancs.
1 49,