The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-05-02

exceeds the eIcrtion necessary for the com.
prchension of the compliments of weak.
minded young men, to those who can enjoy
the nobler pleasures Of the intellect, and
who add to the charms Of beautiful face
those of cultivated mind. Fa4 ''
Here a a'vacant-visaged youth pores over a
novel and therca red.faecd, rcd-fsted man
with an extensive assortment Of rings, chains,
and othea jewelry about his person, is turn
ing the leaves Of huge work on hcraldry
to select coat Of arms and motto, which
his late successful speculation in candles
justifes his assuming. Sometimes, too, art
seen the lofty mien, the dignifed bearing
and the sunny face of that giant OF Ameri'
can writers, Washington Irving; the manly
form of Bayard Taylor, the jovial face o'
George p. Morris, and his still elegant coal
utor, n. p. Willis. ..,.tst,
Indeed nearly all the lterat' of our city
may be seen here at times. Nor is the us'
of the Library limited to the citizens OF New
York. Students from our first colleges often
visit the city for the purpose of consulting
rare works, and possibly to read upon theil
prize essays or Senior Orations.' indeed
students of various sciences have thought II
worth their while to spend several weeks
here in order to have the use Of some of the
departments u -. l..r
II is curious fact that the works most
called for are those of Henldry and Geneal'
ogy-the very works for which one would
suppose there would be the least demand in
a country so violent in its denunciations o'
everything that sayors of aristocracy' NeS'
to this department those of the arts are most
extensively used. Works on Metaphysics
Pure Mathematics, and Oriental Philology'
are in great demand, as also are those oil
the Practical Sciences, Engineering, and
Mechanics. ... .
The number of visitors per diem averages
about eighty. The Library contains at
present about one hundred thousand vol
umes. The whole amount expended up to
this time for books and binding has been
little over Sl2O, 900, and the total cost oi
the library building, its site and equipments
Sl23,352. The productive fund invested
in bonds and mortgage, is S2Ol 800. Mr..
William B. Astor has lately presented to
the Library the lot adjoining the northerly
side of the building, which is eighty feet in
front and one hundred and twenty in depth.
and was purchased by him for the sum oil
S3O,47G. Mr.. Astor has generously signi'
fed his intention of erecting, at hls own ex-
pensc, the new library building, which will
be connected with the present one, in the
same style of architecture. .-
Mr.. Astor has thus associated his own
with his fathers libcmlity, not only in thi'
donation, but in that of large sum given
some time since for the foundation of one oil
the most fourishing and important depart
mcnts Of the Libary-that including the
various branches of industrial science. DIR.
Coggswell, too, has made a valuable dona-
ton of 5000 volumes, embracing the whole
department of photography. A general in
terest seems to be taken in the Library
Large acccssions are made to it annually by
donations, not only from our own country
men, but from foreigners. The Lords oi
the Treasury of Great Britain have present.
ed work of great value, the portion now
published of Fauna Antigua Siyalcnsis."-
We notice among the various institutions
and individuals who have contributed to 1t
the National Observatory at Washington,
the Marquis Campana of Rome, the Danish
Government, Mesrs. Querard and Bossangc
of Paris, Mr.. Bohn of London, and many
of our most distinguished countrymen.