The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-14
The Pnbiic Library.

The Portland Institute and Public Library
takes pleasure IN acknowledging the receipt
from the Hon. Mr.. Fessenden of sixty-tbree
volumes OF Public Documents, among them
the rare and very valuable 'American Ar
chlves," the 4th and 5th SERIES in nine volumes,
folio; also from our representative, the Hon.
Mr.. Lynch, seventy-seven volumes of mis-
cellaneous Public Documents. These publica-
tions contain an infinite variety of statistical,
political and economical information; and it
is an object of this Institution 10 place within
reach OF our people full series of these yalua-
BILE documents, which may be consulted BY all
classes engaged in the various pursuits OF our
many sided Industrial life.
The Society also acknowledges with great
qualification the receipt from Capt. John W.
Chase, of thirty-six volumes of Hunts Mer-
chants Magazine, very handsomely bound,
and Edwards History of the British Colonies
in the West Indies, in three octave volumes,
standard and excellent work. Captain
Chase happened to stroll into the library room
one day last week, and while the librarian
was employed sorting and arranging the
scattered mass of books, he seemed to be quite
interested In the progress of the work, and
testified his approval OF the objects of the In-
stitution by bringing in the next day the
above appropriate contribution.
The Institution also acknowledges the re-
ception IRON Mr.. Willis, its President. of one
hundred volumes of bound pamphlets, col
lected and bound by the great bookseller,
Isaac Riley of New York, in the early part OF
the present century. They are rich in the
exciting political history OF that period, and
many of them beyond the reach of collectors
at this time, at any price. These are in
addition to about sixty five volumes
previously contributed by him. He also sent
to the rooms the busts OF Shakespeare and
Milton, it being the design of the Institute to
grace its rooms by works Of art as well as
| literature.
1t is hoped that our fellow citizens, both
men and women will feel such pride in this
Institution as to make liberal donations in
money or books or work OF art, 80 that it may
not only become an ornament and an honol
10 our city, but be a powerful auxiliary il
| the great cause of education, which oul
people have much at heart. In large Insti
tuition of this kind, every book, however hum
bic it may be, one which would not hav,
room given it in private library, may profit
ably find a place; it may contain somethin,
which will be useful or interestingto somebody
1t was upon this principle that the British
Museum purchased some years ago at iargt
price, collection of the school books pub
lished and used in this country, which som,
eccentric collector had gathered together
They have agents every where picking W
what seema trifes to many, but which contrib
ute to form the immensly valuable repositor,
of ancient and modern history, literature ant
aIt-the very age and body of all time, whicl
that magnificent Institution contains.
Another object in well appointed Publ,
Library is selection of the principal work.
of the prominent religious denominations
For this purpose applications have beer
made TO persons in the different seets amoni
US to cause this speciality to be Supplied. Tit
Swedonhorgan and Unitatarian danomina-
tions have promptly responded, by donation
of their leading works. 1t is earnestly hop
ed that other sects will see the advantage o
having their prominent publications acces