The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-19
evening State So,trnal.
CAPITOL NOTES.

Aho osoeO hoiooiy CohpriocS huoub ~
600 volumes, embracing some choic
copies Of the rarest works extant, eithe
ancient or modern. Additions have bee
regularly made to it during the past fiv
years. The volumes purchased last yea
numbered 942, and the donations, in ex
change, 34S books and 140 pamphlets
Among the notable works purchased dur
ing thatperIod was Napoleon's great worl
on Egypt, one of the noblest monument
of the great Captain who ellis so large
space in the history of the world. Alsc
an elegant copy of Kingsborough's Mexi
can Antiquities, nine volumes. large
folio, the greater portion of them contain
ing illustrations which represent the mon.
uments, temples, idols, pcture-writing,
manners and religion of this singular PEG.
pie as they existed centuries before the
advent of the Spanish conqueror.
Next in order should be named the
Chronicon Nurembergense, published at
Nuremberg in 1893. This massive folio is
printed on elegant paper, in clean German
type, and is bound in thick oak boards,
covered with pig skin, deliberately orna.
mented. 1t contains nearly 1900 wood
engravings, including curious maps of diff
ferent countries.
The Vetusta Monumental, containing val
liable plates of the most interesting and
venerated relics connected with the ancient
history Of Great Britain.
Frampton's Joyful Nerves from New
Found World, printed in 1880
Public Good without Private Interest,
published in 1867, being an address to the
Lord Protector Cromwell, in regard to the
condition Of Virginia at that time.
Meyrick's Ancient Armor, in three vol
umes folio styled by Sir Walter Scott "the
incompatible armory"). gives a correct
history and description Of the armor used
at all periods in the worlds history.
The library also possesses copy of Sa-
bine's admirable reprint of Hariot's Vir-
ginia.
Among the modern publications OBJ
tanned, none can rank higher than Halli-
wells matchless edition of Shakespeare, in
sixteen volumes folio, of which only one
hundred and fifty copies were printed, and
these for subscribers exclusively.
The most ancient, as well as one of the
most beautiful specimens of paper, ink,
and typography which have been added, is
a copy of Pliny's Natural History, printed
at Venice in 1476, only thirty-six years
after the invention of printing while one
of the rarest is an original edition of the
Book Of Mormon. the Bible of The Latter
Day Saints, now occupying the territory of
Utah; printed at Palmyra, N Y, in 1880
the later editions of which being, as is
alleged, materially different in text and
doctrines from this original.
The library, taken altogether, is very
considerable institution. and if its use by
the people were, permissible it would be
an invaluable source of knowledge.
A new report on this subject will be
out in few days from the secretary of
the commonwealth and library COM
mittee announcing the purchase of addi-
tional b ooks, &c.
The idea of memorial monument in
the shape of lighthouse to the memory
of Commodore Matthew F. Maury was
first suggested by Commodore Jansen, of
Holland. The Rocco islands, on which it
is proposed to place it, is point in the
Atlantic ocean on the path to Brazil.
They are in lat. three degrees and fifty
one minutes south, long. thirty-three de-
grees and forty.nine minutes west. Two
small islands, Grass and Sand islands, are
on these shoals. They are few feet above
the water. The first warning that navi.
gator has of his approach to them is gene
rally by the breakers. The scheme will
have the support of the geographical So
ciety of Great Britain. Money is not
asked. 1t is proposed TO collect that from
all civilized nations. What is asked is
such an endorsement of the memorial by
the people of this country, through their
chamber of commerce, boards of trade, or
other interests, as will constitute pro-
per beginning Of the undertaking, and then
foreign nations and societies will promptly
respond in substantial ways. The resolu-
ton introduced in the General Assembly of
Virginia on this subject has yet to be acted
on.
A legislative conundrum is to the effect
that John Bell Bigger, clel k of the House,
should be well bread man, having been
so long "keeper of the rolls" We may
remark briefly and mildly that the s2nd rule
of order Of the House disallows any attemp
at punning on the name of this courteous
and efficient officer.
Among the bills introduced in the House
is one for the completion Of the James
river and Kanawha canal to the terminus
SO far mapped out. We are not advised
as to whether this is gentle reminder to
Congress to hurry up its contempt ated
finishing touches Of the great central
water line" or is an effort in I" dead
earnest" The truth of the business how