The New York herald., 1869-01-03

argument In their behalf would seem almost super
nuous; yet 10 write OF them and describe them may
not be for although what be told Is, OF ought 70
be, known to all residing the city, yet 10 s DOUBT
Sul whether many have taken the trouble 10 become
Informed upon the subject. An anecdote Is tod Oh
two men who met accidentally at iashionapie
watering place and the acquaintance proved mutu-
ally agreeable. At parting they expressed some
regrets, and upon exchanging addresses dis
covered that they had been neighbors
for many years, wholly ignorant OF each
other. NAY not something like this be said
OF majority OF the residents OF New York and her
public ubraress There are many born and raised
in this city who have been inside OF either one
or these Institutions. To such this brief account VIII
no. be wholly unnteresting.
THE Library OF THE NEW YORK SOCIETY,"
This is the Oldest library in the city, and for that
reason deserves to be the first mentioned. Its his
tory commences in the year 1900, At that period,
during the administration or the Earl OF Beamont,
Governor Of lie province Of New York, his chaplain,
the Rev. John sharp, bequeathed his private library
TO those coming after him, and upon this as nu-
cleus 'srhe Public Library OF New York was
founded. This library continued 10 increase and
acquired considerable Importance. In 1920 another
clergyman, the Rev. Dr. Millington, rector OF New
ington, England, "bequeahed his library TO
the Society Tor the Propagation OF the Gospel
in Foreign Parts,n and they presented it TO
the city OF New York for the use OF the clergy and
gentry OF New YORK and the neighborng provinces"
These books were Incorporated in tue public library
already founded. The whole collection was placed IN
charge OF the corporation OF the city, but 1t appears
TO have been mlsmanaged an1 neglected until
1854, when an ASSOCIATION OF gentlemen was formed
for the purpose OF carrying on such an institl-
ton more efficiently. These gentlemen raised the
OF f60O, by subscription which they laid in
the purchase OF some 700 new books. They also
offered TO take charge Of the public library, which
proposition being acceded to- they incorporated the
books collected with those OF the old library, and all
were deposited in The City Ha under the care OF
trustees chosen by them. The Institution was then
called '.The City Llbraryn-a name by which
n has been commonly designated ever since.
The collection appears, from the minutes OF
the trustees to have largely and constantly
increased by purchase OF books from 1854 down to
the breaking out OF the Revolution. In 17T2
charter was granted 10 II, and the Official style OF
''The New York Society Library' adopted. The
events of the war nearly destroyed the library 'rhs
war threw the country into state OF confusion not
easily realized at the present day and New York.
being peculiarly exposed suffered greatly. The
library was left as a spoil TO the invading army.
An eye witness Gir. John Pintard) has affirmed that
hlc b4teAcA SosuAtI- were III the udDI OF CarrtlDS
away the books N their kaapsacks ana bartering
them for grog.'' No meetings OF the trustees were
held from the last Tuesday in APRIL l774 until saur-
day. December u, l7Ss, when twelve trustees we've
chosen. The fragments Of the library gathered
togelher-600 volumes were found In a room IN st.
Paui's church, buf no one could tell how they
came there-new subscriptions were Obtained and
the institution resumed Its quiet course. A portion
only Of the original books gwen by Dr. sharp were
recovered; these are sil preserved in the library
and consist mostly or the writings OF the Fathers and
standard authors or the Church, with few classics
and histories.
In lfs9 an act OF the Legislature OF the State OF
New York was passed confirming the charter In
the same year the first Congress under the constu-
tion met In the old City Hail. and George Washing
ton was then sworn ia as first President OF the
United States. The federal Congress mad also pre-
yiousIy met In the place in 1884, and their de-
lberaticns were, doubt materially assisted by
this collection OF books which constituted at that
time the only library OF Congress. An additional
value IL thus lent to many OF the volumes.
The growing importance Of the establishment de-
manded more extensive accommodations; accord.
inqly additional subscriptions were obtained land
was purchased and building erected expressly for
the Of the library IN Nassau street. opposite the
Middle Dutch church. now used as q post Office. To
this building which OF considerable size and
of the most conspicuous public edlnces OF that day.
the library WAS removed frorn the old city Hal IN
I7s5. and there II remained until 1886, when the In
crcasing commerce Of the city compelled the
trustees TO seek another situation, when the
property at the corner OF Broadway and Leonard
etreet was purchased and another edihce erected
There IS no record OF the number OF volumes when
the library was scattered by the Revolution. The
minutes Of the trustees and other documents how
ever, warrant lis being estimated 81 that period Ut
several thousands of Volumes in 1898. the date OF
the first catalogue printed amer the war. IL Is stated
10 have possessed al that time 5000 volumes: In
IsI3 the number was Is COO; Ia ISIS was IC 0c0;
In SIS it had reached %, COOS IN 1850 II X0ao
and the present number amounts 70 about $4,000
volumes.
have existed before the Revolution. but tue dates
Their publication are not accurately ascertain
The earliest after the war was tlat OF lsgS ~.
next OF any importance In 1878, with q supplement
In lsaf. Ia 1888 a new one made, a. complete
a. possible, containing ootn an alphabetical and an
aDay tlcal arrangement OF titles In ls4l a supple
mcnt on the same plan, was published and second
one ia ls43. The one now used has been prepared
with great care and expense, and arranged on the
plan or the former OF 1853 which Is admitted 10
be the best adapted Tor convenience in use and now
generally followed.
In Is;s the New York Athenmum was merged in the
New York Society Library. in l536 the properly In
Nassau street was sod and the library was removed
10 the Mechanics Society, In Chambers street. In
1870 The new building on Broadway was finished,
and u removed there In 1858 THIS property was
sod and the library removed TO the Bible House.
in The year the society purchased its present
site In University place, and erected It's present ed
nee, into which II was finally moved In 1851.
Many rare and valuable books have from time TO
time been presented TO the library: among tie most
noted gifts OF the Kind may be mentioned that OF Mr.
Robert Lenox Kennedy, which consists OF $50
volumes, being tie greater part OF the Circulating
Library OF the late James Hammond, OF Newport, X.
II Is very curious memorial OF the taste, man
aud light literature Of the country from the pc
riod of 1883 until about near 1890 Another Ia
that OF Oliver Bronson, NJ. d., and consists or 3Sl
volumes OF standard books OF medical science, all OF
them the best editions and well bonnd. This sam
gentleman mad previously given about 100 volumes
0 excellent works OF foreign literature, with some
of physical science. Mr.. winthrop, too made do
nation OF some 300 most curious aud valuable books.
Mr.. Gulian q. Nerplanck has also been constant
and most liberal donaior 0f books 70 the library
during series OF years but the list Of this charac
Ter rs TOO long for notice like the present. IL Il
noticeable fact IN the history 0f this library taat
resources have been confined almost exclusively 10
the Individual subscriptions OF members and the
annual fees, there having been but one pecuniarY
donation OF any importance, aud that, too, from
woman Miss Jane Demllt, who, by her last wIl
among other bequests, bequeathed 5000 TO the in
etitution- IL seems little strange that In period
of century and a half OF the many tnOu.