Documents of the Senate of the State of New York

The Trustees have extended this report beyond the limits of the fiscal year, because they had sent an order for the importation of a bill of books to be added to the law part of the library, which had not been heard from on the 30th September last, though their arrival was then soon expected. They arrived, and were examined, and the bill was paid on the 6th of December; and as the books were to be, and have been, added to the catalogue accompanying this report, it was thought best to include their cost also in the expenditures now exhibited. This bill, including charges and duties, amounted to

8503 99

Another bill of books has also been imported since the last report, to be added to the other departments of the library, amounting to

316 40

And, in addition to these importations, a valuable purchase of miscellaneous books has been made from a well selected private library, amounting to

172 50

And leaving but $406.62 to have been paid for all ordinary and domestic purchases, including the current reports, the subscriptions to periodical works, the casual selections for all the departments of the library, maps, charts, &c.

The Trustees are not aware that bills, to any considerable amount, are outstanding for any description of expenditure, with the exception of a bill for binding not yet presented; and they are sure that a very few dollars will pay all the claims against the money in their hands., with this exception; but as no bill for bookbinding for the library has been presented or paid since the 2d December 1830, and as nearly all the books imported came unbound to save duties, and all the periodical works are delivered in pamphlet, and remain to be bound, this bill will be very considerable. It is believed, however, that the money in hand, and the appropriation from the Chancery fund for the year 1832, not yet drawn, will furnish the means to meet it, and leave a small balance still unexpended.

Their success, during the period covered by this report, in making useful and valuable additions to the Library, has been entirely equal to their expectations; and with the continuance of the same means, they hope in a few years to be able to fill up the collections for all the departments, and especially for that of the law, so as to present

a public library inferior to few, if any, in the country, and one which will do justice to the character of the State, and to the intelligence and liberality of the Legislature.

The whole amount paid out of the Treasury during the fiscal year, commencing 1st October 1831, and ending 30th September 1832, for the contingent expenses of the Library, as appears from the accounts kept in the Comptroller's office, has been $71.35. A law of 1829, respecting the State Library, (see 3 R. S. fol. 174,) limited the expenses to be so paid for stationary and candles to the sum of fifty dollars. The sum above mentioned has been expended as follows:

Making the whole sum expended as above, $71 35

The Trustees have the satisfaction to be able to continue the assurance that the duties of the Librarian are faithfully performed; the books are kept in as perfect a state of arrangement as the rooms will permit, and in as perfect a state of preservation as any vigilance can secure; and all reasonable attention is paid to the comfort and convenience of those who have occasion to visit the library.

The catalogue annexed is merely changed from that of the last year, by the addition, in their appropriate places, of the books procured and placed in the library since the last report, as no material improvement in the plan or arrangement of the catalogue has suggested itself to the Trustees since that time. The table of American Reports, arranged in the alphabetical order of the States, and with the additions of the year, is also annexed, marked A; and the usual list of the books added to the library since the last report, is annexed, marked B.

The Rules and Regulations for the government of the Library have not been altered, and accompany this report, marked C.

Having for two years now last past delivered their report, with the catalogue and other papers annexed, to the public printer in advance of the meeting of the Legislature, that it might be put into

the hands of the members at their meeting, and having received from the Legislature no expression of disapprobation of that course, it has been continued in the present instance.

All which is respectfully submitted,

SILAS WRIGHT, JR.

GREENE C. BRONSON,
A. C. FLAGG,

Dated Albany, January 1, 1833.

Trustees of the State Library.

CATALOGUE

BOOKS, MAPS, &c.

BELONGING TO, AND REMAINING IN THE STATE LIBRARY,

JANUARY 1, 1833.

N. B. All the Books enumerated in this Catalogue are bound, and of octavo size, unless otherwise expressly mentioned: Congressional and Legislative Journals will be found arranged under the head of "State Papers;" and Statutes under "Statute Law."

LAW BOOKS.

Abbot on Shipping,

Abstract of the Revised Statutes, (of New-York,)...........
Acton's Reports, (Prize Causes,)

Adams on Ejectment, see "Tillinghast's Adams on Ejectment."

Addams' Reports, (Ecclesiastical,)

Addington's Penal Statutes, (fol.)..

Addison's Reports, (Pennsylvania,)

Admiralty Decisions,

Aikens' Reports, (Vermont,)

Alabama Reports,