ter, numbering 260,000 volumes, is the largest in America.
The second is the Boston Public Library, which has about
200,000.
This national collection of hooks has many distinctive fea-
tures. It is richer than any other — ^perhaps than all others
combined — in books, pamphlets, journals, manuscripts, and
maps relating to the history and topography of America. It
is only approximated in this particular by the library in the
British Museum in London. It is also well stocked with the
printed literature, in various languages, relating to South,
Central, and British America, and the Islands of the West
Indies. Its collection of pamphlets illustrating the progress
and political history of the country is unrivaled.
The next great featm-e is the completeness of its law de-
partment, including, as it does, complete sets, nearly all in
duplicate, of English and American reports, the statute law
of all countries, and the best editions of most published text-
LIBRARY OF THE UNITED STATES. 81
books ill the common and civil law. Every department of
jurisprudence is represented, and the collection is kept up to
date by purchase and the importation of freshest works in
every field. Tlie general library is very complete in its peri-
odical collections. Full sets of all tlie British and American
reviews and magazines are kept up, and bound files of the
leading newspapers of the country are here stored for refer-
ence. One of the most valuable files of newspapers is a full
set of tlie London Gazette, from its first issue in 1665 down
to date. Only one other complete set exists. This contin-
ues the official organ of the British Government. Besides the
valuable collection of colonial and revolutionary newspapers,
the Library is in possession of a complete file of the New York
Evening Post, from its first issue in 1801 to the present year ;
the Charleston Courier, from its first issue in 1802 down to
its demise in 1873 ; and the Savannah Kepublican for the same
period. Also files of other metropolitan and provincial news-
papers. oSTo department of literature, art, or science is neg-
lected. There is a good library of works on chess, angling,
cooking, and all miscellaneous topics, while in the exact
and applied sciences the wealth of the collection is inesti-
mable.
The Library of tlie United States became the repository of
the entire Smithsonian library after the fire in 1866, which
destroyed so large a portion of that building. This part of
the collection embraces the largest assemblage of the trans-
actions of scientific and learned societies to be found in the
world. Among the rare works are two great folios, written
on vellum, with numerous illuminations by hand, executed
with the utmost care in the 13th century. The oldest printed
book in the library is a Constitution of Pope Clement V, of
Rome, printed in 1467, by Peter Schoeff'er, at Mentz.
Among the most rare works of the Force collection are a
copy of Eliot's Indian Bible ; 41 difl"erent works by Increase
and Cotton Mather, printed in Boston and Cambridge, 1671-
1735; files of early American newspapers, from 1735-1800;
300 early atlases and maps, some unpublished, covering the
country from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico ; a large number
of inciniabula or books printed during the infancy of the art,
embracing a complete series of imprints by the most distin-
guished early printers, representing every year from 1467 to
1500, and a large number printed in the following century;
also 48 folio volumes of historical autographs of great rarity
and interest, embracing a collection of revolutionary letters,
chiefly military and political, covering the whole period,
from 1765 to 1787. The numerical extent of this collection is
22,520 volumes, or, including pamphlets, 60,000 titles.
6
82
LIBRARY OF THE UNITED STATES.
The Library is also rich in illustrated works in fine arts,
architecture, and natural history.
Under the Rides of the Library^ the privilege of taking
books out is accorded by divers statutes to the following per-
sons : The President of the United States, Vice President of
the United States, members of the Senate, members of the
House of Kepresentatives, members of the Cabinet, judges of
the Supreme Court, judges and solicitors of the Court of
Claims, representatives of foreign governments residing at
Washington, Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House of
Eepreseiitatives, Solicitor of the Treasury, Financial Agent
of the Library Committee, ex-Presidents of the United States,
Chaplains of the two Houses of Congi-ess, the Secretarj^of the
Smithsonian Institution. All persons 16 years of age and up-
wards are permitted to call for books to be used in the li-
brary hall, and may obtain the same by tilling one of the
blank forms of tickets found on the tables and handing it to
the assistant at the Librarian's desk. Books taken out by
persons authorized thereto must be returned in two weeks.
Ko maps, manuscripts, or printed books of especial rarity are
permitted to be taken out of the Library.
1\\ addition to the Library of the United States, each
House of Congress has a documentary collection of its own,
comprising all official documents published under their au'
thority.
THE CAPITOL,— WEST FKONT.
A fine view of the business and ofiicial quarters of the city
LIBRARY OF THE UNITED STATES. 83
may be bad from tbe W. Portico, reacbed tbrono:h tbe door
ill the centre of the W. side of tbe main ball. Immediately
belovv are tbe terraces which form tbe AY. face of tiie emi-
nence upon which the Capitol stands. Pennsylvania av.
diver£:es from the r., and Maryland av. from tbe 1. Towards
the W., between tliese, lie the Botanical Garden, with its
conservatories, and the Mall, from which rise the towers of
the Smithsonian Institution, the square outlines of the De-
partment of Agriculture, and tbe unfinished Obelisk to tbe
memorj^of Washington, all surrounded by beautiful gardens,
and tbe Long Bridge. On tbe summit of tbe bill still farther
W. are tbe two domes of tbe Observatory, and still beyond
tbe Heiglits of Georgetown. To tbe S., at tbe point where
tbe two rivers join, lies the Arsenal. Following tbe broad
bosom of tbe Potomac, at a distance of 7 m. the shipping and
buildings of Alexandria are visible, and upon tbe river sail-
ing and steam-craft. On the heights overlooking tlie oppo-
site bank of tlie river is Arlington, famous as tbe former
residence of the Confederate Gen. Lee, and now the resting
place of thousands of soldiers of tbe national army. A little
to tbe r. and rear stands Fort Whipple. Looking towards
the K., on tbe distant hills may be seen tbe tower of tbe
Soldiers' Home, and nearer tbe Howard University. A fine
view may also be bad of Pennsylvania av., with the Treasury
Department, President's House, and tbe new State, War,
and Navy Department, visible at the other end. At various
points may be seen the other public buildings, school-bouses,
and churches, blending with tbe mass of tbe city.
Librarians of the United States. — Clerks of the House of
Representatives : 1802-1807, John Becldey, of Va. ; 1807-
181'), Patrick Magruder, of Md. Librarians: 1815-1829,
George Watterson, D. C. ; 1829-1861, John S. Meeban, N.
Y. ; 1801-1864, John G. Stephenson, Lid. ; 1864, Ainsworth
11. Spoflbrd, Ohio.
Histonj. — Tbe act of April 24, 1800, providing for tbe re-
moval and accommodation of the Government of the United
States, authorized tbe expenditure of $5,000 for the purchase
of such books as might be necessary for tbe use of Congress
at Washington, and for fitting up a suitable apartment in
tbe Capitol for their safe-keeping. A small number of books
was purchased and forwarded to tbe Seat of Government.
Tbe chief promoter of tbe interests of tbe Library from tbe
beginning was Thomas Jefierson. On Dec. 18, 1801, Uriah
Tracy, of Connecticut, and three daj's later John Randolph,
of Roanoke, respectively of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, and of the new committee appointed on tbe li-
brary, made an important report to their respective Houses
84 LIBRARY OF THE UNITED STATES.
on the subject of the needs of the Library of Congress. The
effect was beneficial. A few weeks later, Jan. 26, 1802, the
act ''concerning the Library for the use of both Houses of.
Congress" was passed. Under the provisions of this act
all the books or libraries previously kept separately by each
House were placed in the Capitol, in the room in the N". wing
occupied by the House of Representatives during the last ses-
sion of the Sixth Congress. The House, from 1801 to 1805,
occupied the temporarj^ structure outside, known as the
" Oven," south of the building. The unexpended balance of
the first appropriation of $5,000, together with such sums as
might be thereafter appropriated, were to be expended under
the direction of the joint committee. The early appropria-
tions were very small, as low as $450. The first collection
of books under the new act was made in 1802, under the
direction of Albert Gallatin, of Penn., Dr. Samuel Latham
Mitchill, of X. Y., and others, and comprised about 3,000
volumes.
In 1806, on the report of Dr. Mitchill, Congress appropri-
ated $1,000 for the purchase of books. Since that time that
amount has been increased from time to time, as the neces-
sities of the Library became apparent to the slow appreciation
of Congress. The present average annual appropriation is
$12,000.
• During the brief occupation of the city by the British, in •
1814, the Library was destroyed, with the rest of the interior
of the Capitol. To repair this loss, Thomas Jefferson, in a
letter dated at Monticello, Sept. 21, 1814, addressed to Samuel
H. Smith, tendered the sale of his library of 6,700 volumes
to Congress. The Senate accepted the offer at once. In
the House, however, there was considerable debate, but the
offer was there also accepted. The collection contained
many rare works, gathered by Mr. Jefterson in Europe.
The price paid by Congress was $23,950.
It was objected to Jefferson's collection, that some of the
volumes were of an infidel character, and by others that it
contained too many Bibles. His books may be distinguished
by a private mark. Wherever the printer's signature occurs
at the bottom of the page as a J, he has made a T before it,
and when T occurs, a J after it. This makes the initials of
his name.
The new Library was deposited in the Post-office building,
an old structure commenced by Samuel Blodgett, in 1793, as
a hotel, and situated on the S. side of the present Post Office
square. Congress also held one session here, but in Dec,
1815, met in the building on Capitol Hill, erected for its
temporary accommodation by the citizens of Washington.
LIBRARY OF THE UNITED STATES. 85
The Library, however, was not removed till after the resto-
ration of the N. wing was completed. It was then trans-
ferred temporarily to apartments on the W. side of the build-
ing, over tlie present offices of the Clerk of the Supreme
Court.
In 1824 the Library was removed to the hall in the centre
of the W. front of the Capitol, specially designed and fitted
lip for its accommodation. The same hall, reconstructed of
fire-proof materials, now constitutes the central library of
the superb suit of apartments devoted to the uses of the
Library of the United States.
In 1824 all duties upon books, maps, and charts imported
for the Library were remitted by act of Congress.
In 1846 a copy of all books, maps, charts, &c., copyrighted
in the United States, was required to be sent to the Library
of Congress. This w^as generally disregarded, and was re-
pealed in 1859, and re-enacted in 18Go. In 1867 a penalty
was placed upon any violation of this law.
In 1851 the Library numbered 55,000 volumes. On Christ-
mas Eve of that year the Library took fire in one of the
alcoves, from timbers carelessly exposed to the flues. The
progress of the flames was rapid. In a short time 35,000
volumes were destroyed.
Tlie destruction cTf a few works of art in the hall was irrep-
arable. Of these the following are mentioned : Stuart's paint-
ings of the first five Presidents of the United States; two
portraits of Columbus, one said to have been an original ; an
original of Pej'ton Eandolph, Pi-osident of the first Conti-
nental Congress, and others of Boliver, Baron Steuben by
Pyne, Baron De Kalb, Cortez, Judge Hausom, of Maryland ;
about 1,200 bronze medals of the Vatt(Mnare Exchange, some
over two centuries old ; a likeness of Washington in bronze ;
and busts of General Taylor by an Italian, and La Fayette
by David. The fire, however, was confined to the central
library.
Congress, within the year ensuing, appropriated $157,500
for the restoration of the. library hall and the pui-chase of
books. In the meantime one of the document rooms and ad-
joining passages was occuj)ied.
In 1866 the custody of tlie valuable library of the Smith-
sonian Institution, consisting of 40,000 volumes, was transfer-
red to the Library.
In 1867, at a cost of $100,000, Congress purchased the Peter
Force collection of books, manuscripts, maps, and papers re-
lating to American histoiy, the most complete private collec-
tion extant. Mr. Force was born in New Jersey in 1790, and
died in Washington, D. C, in 1868.
86 LIBEARY OF THE UNITED STATES.
The act of Congress to revise, consolidate, and amend tlje
statutes relating to patents and copyriglits^ approved July S,
1870, abolished the earlier system of entering in the clerk's
office of the district courts, and established a general law,
providing that all records and other things relating to copy-
rights, and required by law to be preserved, should be uiidej"
the control of the Librarian of Congress, (the United State?,)
and kept and preserved in that Library. In accordance with
this the Librarian has the immediate care and supervision of
all matters touching copyrights, under the general direction
of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library. The
Librarian makes an annual report to Congress of the number
and description of copyright publications for which entries
have been made dm'ing the year.
Two copies of the best edition of each book copyrighted are
required to be sent to the Librarian, and one copy of each sub-
sequent edition. The term of copyright is twenty-eight j^ears,
and, under certain regulations, may be extended for an ad-
ditional term of fomteen years.
The Law Branch of the Library of the United States occu-
pies an apartment on tlie E. side of the basement of the X»
wing of the main Capitol building, used from 1800 to 1860 by
the Supreme Court of the United Statea, and immediately
below the room at present occupied by that tribunal. The
law books of the Library for a time occupied a room S. of the
central library, and in 1848 were removed to an apartment on
the W. side of the basement, near the Supreme Court room.
In 1860, after the removal of the Supreme Court, the books
were deposited in the present place.
In February, 1816, an effort was made to establish a law
library at the Seat of Government for the use of the Supreme
Court of the United States. The measm-e failed for want of
action by the House of Kepresentatives.
In 1832 an act ''to increase and improve the law depart-
ment of the Library of Congress of the United States " was
the Srst official recognition of this important subject. The
fine and newly assigned apartment was authorized to remain,
however, under tlie superintendence of the Librarian of Con-^
gress. The Justices of the Supreme Court were to have free
access to the library, and to make rules and regulations for
its proper custody and management, but not in conflict with
the same for the government of the Library of Congress, nor
to exclude any officers or persons having access to that Library.
The sum of $5,000, and|in annual sum of $1,000, for a pe-
riod of five years, was appropriated, to be expended in law
books, the purchases to be made by the Librarian of Con-
gress, under the direction of the Chief Justice of the United
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. 87
States. Tliese appropriations have since varied in amounts,
at present averagino- $2,000 each year. At that time there
were about 2,000 law books in the Library of Con_i>Tess, of
which 639 were of the Jefferson library.
Under a resolution of Congress, the law library of James
L. PetigTu, of S. C, was purchased in 1867 for $5,000.
The law branch of the Library of the United States is now
the largest and most valuable law collection in the United
States.
North Wing.— Leaving the Rotunda by the X. door, the
passage leads into a small elliptical vestibule, in imitation of
a Greek temple, containing a peristj'le, supported on an arched
substruction in the basement. The capitals of the pillars are
ornamented with the leaf and flower of the tobacco plant. A
dim light is admitted through the cupola. The door imme-
diately on the 1. entering this space leads to the electrician's
apartments and the top of the Dome. On the 1. of the nar-
row {)assage is the apparatus which operates the Avires con-
necting the batteries and gas jets. Across this vestibule is a
second vestibule, which leads into the Supreme Court room
on the E. Opposite is a prostyle of Potomac marble. The
door on this side opens into the otRces of the Marshal and
Clerk of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court of the United States.— (Ope?? to visitors every
day^ except Sunday.) The apartment occupied by this tribu-
nal, formerly the Senate Ciiamber, is semi-circular, with a
rather flat dome, enriched "va ith square caissons in stucco, and
circular apertures to admit light. The chamber is 75 ft. great-
est length or diameter, 45 ft7 greatest mdth, and 45 ft. high.
On the E. side a screen of Grecian Ionic columns of breccia^
or variegated Potomac marble, with capitals of white Italian
marble, modeled after those of the Temple of Minerva, pol-
ished, extends along the back of the range of seats of the
Justices. These columns, with the entablature, support a
gallery. The seats of the Justices are raised several feet
above the floor, and are ranged behind a low screen, which
answers the purpose of desks. The Chief Justice occupies
the centre seat. The officers of the court have desks at either
end and at the foot of the Justices' platform. The floor is
beautifully carpeted, and tables and chairs are placed within
the bar for the accommodation of those having cases before
the court. Outside the rail are seats for Aisitors. Ai'.ainst
the W. wall are a number of consoles, supx3orting busts of the
departed Chief Justices:
John Jay, by Frazee, 1831, $400; John Rutledge, 1857,
OS SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES.
$800 ; Oliver Ellsworth, by Auger, 1834, $400 ; John Mar-
shall, 1836, $500.
The times for holding the sessions of the Supreme Court
have been vSubjected to frequent changes by statute since 1789.
Under the act of January, 1873, the annual session com-
mences on the second Monday of October in each year. The
adjournment usually takes place in May folloA\ing. Daily
sessions from 12 noon to 4 p.m. The Justices, wearing their
judicial robes, enter from the IST. door of the chamber, and
are formally announced by the Marshal or deputy. The peo-
ple in the room rise and remain standing till the Justices are
seated. The opening of the court is then proclaimed by a
proper oflScer.
When the court-room was occupied by the Senate the
President's chair stood in a niche in the screen of columns,
and was raised on a platform. In front and lower were the
desks of the Secretary and Chief Clerk. The entablature of
the screen supported a gallery, in front of Avhich was another,
following the circle of the room, and supported by iron col-
umns, with bronzed caps, surmounted by a gilt iron balus-
trade. Against the wall over the E. gallery was a fine
painting of Washington, hj Charles Wilson Peale, richly
framed and draped. The chamber was chiefly lighted from
the E., and the President's chair, standing on the line of
the diameter of the circle, formed the centre of the radiat-
ing aisles, between which, in concentric curves, were ar-
ranged the Senator's desks. There were accommodations
for 64 Senators. In the rear a railing enclosed the bar of
the Senate. Outside were sofas for privileged visitors. The
offices of the Senate occupied the rooms in the immediate
vicinity of the chamber.
Originally there was an upper gallery on the E. side, sup-
ported by an attic colonnade, but this was removed in 1828
to admit more light. It was then that the semi-circular gal-
lery was introduced. The approaches to the chamber and
galleries were exceedingly dark and gloomy. At night a
gas chandelier diffused light. On the W. side of the building,
across the main vestibule, were the offices of the Secretary
of the Senate, now occupied by the officers of the court. The
two rooms on the N". side were assigned to the President and
Vice President — now the robing rooms.
Latrobe, the architect, proposed to have one of the galle-
ries supported upon emblematical figures, representing the
thirteen original States. The models, by Franzoni, were
completed in Italy and brought over, but no further use Avas
made of them, Congress failing -to appropriate the funds
necessary to the execution of the design.
THE UNITED STATES COURT OF CLAIMS. 89
In the plan of the city, the reservation between D and G
sts. ]Sr. and 4th and 5th sts. W. was set apart for tlie erection
of a building- for the uses of the judicial branch of the Govern-
ment. Nothing, however, was done. In Feb., 1801, the
Supreme Court of the United States was assigned to and
assembled in the basement on the E. side, immediately be-
neath the present room, and now the Law Library. The
court was assigned to its present accommodations in Dec,
1860, upon tlie occupation of tlie new cliamber provided for
the Senate. It is proposed to erect a building for tlie inde-
pendent use of the judiciary, to include the Supreme and
otlier courts of the United States in the District of Colum-
bia. The site under consideration is the square recentlj''
added to the E. Parlv of the Capitol Grounds on the S., to
correspond with the proposed building for the occupation of
the Library of the United States in tlie same square on the IST.
These two buildings completed, standing respectively SE.
and NE., and clear of the E. fapade of the Capitol, would
add greatly to the magnilicence of the main central structure.
Chief Justices.— 1789, John Jay, X. Y. ; 1795, John Kut-
ledge, S. C, rejected; 1796, William Gushing, Mass., de-
clined; 1796, Oliver Ellsworth, Conn.; 1800, John Jay, N".
Y. ; 1801, John Marshall, Va. ; 1836, Roger B. Taney, Md. ;
1864, Salmon P. Chase, Ohio; 1874, Morrison E.Waite, Ohio.
Associate Justices, 1874. — Nathan Clifford, Me., 1858;
Noah H. Swavne, Ohio, 1862 ; Samuel F. Miller, lo., 1862 ;
David Davis, 111., 1862 ; Stephen Field, CaL, 1863 ; Wiliiam
Strong, Penn., 1870 ; Joseph P. Bradley, N. J., 1870 ; Ward
Hunt; N. Y., 1873.
The judicial poioer of the United States, by the third ar-
ticle of the Constitution, is vested in one supreme court
and in such inferior courts as Congress may from time to
time ordain and establish. The judges of both the supreme
and inferior courts hold their offices during good behavior,
and receive for their services compensation which cannot
be diminished during their continuance in office. The Chief
Justice and Associates of the Supreme Court of the United
States are appointed by the President, by and with the ad-
vice of the Senate. The Constitution defines the judicial
power of the court, Mdiich is confined to civil cases national
in their character : for instance, between citizens of different
States, or in which aliens or representatives of foreign gov-
ernments are interested, questions under treaties, and appel-
late and revisory jurisdiction in certain cases.
The United States Court of Claims occupies a suit of rooms
in the basement of the W. jprojection of the central building.
90
SENATE EXTENSION.
reached by the 1. corridor after enterh}^ the main W. door of
the Capitol. The court consists of a Cliief Justice and four
Associates. Its business is the veriflcation of claims against
theU. S. and brought before Congress for adjustment. Chief
Justice, Charles D. Drake, Mo., 1870.
North or Senate Extension. — In order to preserve the con-
tinuity of description, after leaving the Supreme Court room,
in the IST. Wing, the visitor to the Capitol should proceed di-