The Regents of the University of the State of New York are, by law, declared to be ex-officio trustees of the State Library. The following are the members of the Board at the date of this report: JOHN V. L. PRUYN, LL. D., Chancellor. GULIAN C. VERPLANCK, LL. D., Vice-Chancellor. DAVID R. FLOYD JONES, Lieutenant Governor. (Ex-officio.) CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW, Secretary of State. (Ex-officio.) VICTOR M. RICE, Superintendent of Public Instruction. (Ex-officio.) ERASTUS CORNING, PROSPER M. WETMORE, JOHN LORIMER GRAHAM, GIDEON HAWLEY, LL. D., ERASTUS C. BENEDICT, REV. SAMUEL LUCKEY, D. D., REV. J. N. CAMPBELL, D. D., GEORGE W. CLINTON, REV. ISAAC PARKS, D. D., ELIAS W. LEAVENWORTH, J. CARSON BREVOORT, SAMUEL B. WOOLWORTH, LL. D., Secretary. Standing Committee specially charged with the care of the State" Library during 1864. * After the date of this report, and on the 27th of March, 1864, Dr. Campbell died, and the Chancellor was appointed chairman of the committee. REPORT. To the Honorable, the Legislature of the State of New York: The additions to the library by purchase during the past year have been less in proportion to the whole sum expended than in the preceding year by more than three hundred volumes. This has been caused by the largely advanced prices of books; and it is probable that the additions of the present year will be even more seriously diminished, particularly in foreign books, the purchases of which beyond pressing necessities, have been almost entirely suspended. Many valuable contributions have been made by the friends of the library, all of which will appear in the appended list of donations. Among these the Trustees mention specially a valuable collection of works, chiefly scientific and foreign, of two hundred and two volumes, from James Lenox, Esq. The system of foreign and domestic exchanges has placed in the library many valuable works, one hundred and four foreign maps, five atlases, and more than three thousand pamphlets. A set of the large county maps of the State, with the exception of those of four counties, has been purchased. At the close of the year 1862, as stated in their last report, the whole number of volumes in the library was.... 63,104 In the law department.... In the general library 17,870 At the close of the year 1863, the whole number of vol umes in the library had been increased to By addition to the law department of Total 66,301 561 2,636 3,197 6 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE LIBRARY. Of these additions there were by purchase. By donation and exchange Total 1,935 1,262 3,197 At the last session of the Legislature $750 was appropriated "for the purchase by the trustees of the library, of the manuscripts and correspondence of Sir William Johnson and others, to be deposited and preserved in the State Library." This collection did not prove as full as was expected, and only $500 was paid for it. It however forms a very valuable complement to the "Johnson Papers," previously in the library, and when the index to the whole, now in the course of preparation under a resolution of the Legislature, shall be completed, these papers, of high value in connection with the early history of the State, will be rendered easily accessible. The contributions of British Patents, made by the Great Seal Patent Office of Great Britain, have been continued, and are conveniently deposited in suitable cases. The supplemental catalogue of the law department, which was stated in the report of last year to be in the course of preparation, has been completed to the end of the year 1863, and is now in the press. The portraits of President Van Buren, Governor Seymour, Governor Morgan, Thurlow Weed, Edwin Croswell and Dr. Wen. dell, former Chancellor of the University, have been added by donation to the portrait gallery of the library. Respectfully submitted, by order of the Trustees. JOHN V. L. PRUYN, Chancellor of the University. ALBANY, March 24, 1864. The Secretary of the Regents of the University, ex officio Treasurer of the Library fund, in account current for the year ending September 30, 1863. 1. CASH RECEIVED FOR THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS. 1862-3. Dr. To balance from last account (see Senate Document No. 126, page 8)..... To amount received from the Comptroller, being the $38 64 Nov. 3. By cash paid J. W. Bouton, New York, No. 1, Cr. $35 87 2. CASH RECEIVED FOR binding, maRKING AND STAMPING BOOKS. 1862-63. Dr. To amount received from the Comptroller, being the annual appropriation for 1862-63... 1862, Oct. $1,200 00 Cr. By balance from last account (see Senate Document No. 126, 1863, page 8). - - . . $105 82 1862-3. By cash paid T. Seymour, D. L. Van Antwerp, A. 1-5 .... 1,073 53 By balance to new account... 20 65 $1,200 00 |