Libraries

The first library established in the United States was that of Harvard College, founded in 1638. In 1700 a public library was founded in New York City. It was afterward converted, in 1754, into a subscription library. Dr. Franklin and his a ociates, in 1731, started in Philadelphia a library company and the first subscription library. The Library of Congre was begun in 1800, on the establishment of the seat of government at Washington. The Public Library of Boston, founded in 1848, stands next to the Library of Congre in point of the number and value of its collections. It contains over 500,000 volumes and has eleven subsidiary branches. The school-district library system originated in New York State in 1838 and has been adopted by a large number of the other States. From 1820 to 1870 twenty-nine subscription or mercantile libraries were established in various cities. There are now in the United States nearly 4,000 libraries of 1,c00 volumes or more, which are more or le free and public,. Their increase and succe throughout the Union has been enormous, Library of Congre . Founded by Act of Congre April 24, 1800, and permanently organized on the basis of a report made by John Randolph December 21, 1801, $5,000 being’ appropriated for the purchase of books. It was located in the Capitol Building. When the British held Washington for a single day, August 25, 1814, the Capitol was burned and with it the library. The same Congre bought 6,700 volumes from Thomas Jefferson for $23,950. In 1824 an Act of Congre provided for an annual appropriation of $5,000 for purchasing books, aud the library was placed in the central Capitol Building. In 1851 a second fire destroyed about 30,000 volumes. In 1852 $75,000 were appropriated for the reconstruction of the rooms and $75,000 for the immediate purchase of books. By Act of April 18, 1888, a new and separate library building was ordered. This was completed in 1897, at a cost of $6,932,ooo, and the books moved into it-750,000, with 250,000 pamphlets. Its capacity is 4,000,000 volumes, Lick, James (1796-1876), bequeathed his immense fortune to philanthropic enterprises. He founded the famous Lick Observatory at Mount Hamilton, Cal.. Lieber, Francis (1800-1872), born and educated in Germany, came to America in 1827. He published the Encyclopedia American a in 1832. He ardently upheld the Union during the Civil War, and was often consulted by the executive. He wrote many important political works, among them a ‘‘ Manual of Political Ethics,” ‘‘ Legal and Political Hermeneutics” and ‘Civil Liberty and Self-Government.” He was profe or in the South Carolina College from 1838 to 1856 and in Columbia College from 1857 to 1872. Lieutenant-General. This office was first created in 1798, General Washington being chosen to fill it. It was abolished in 1799, and was. not revived until 1855, being then filled by General Win field Scott. In 1864 General Grant was appointed to this grade, and on his appointment to the generalship, William T. Sherman was chosen lieutenant general in 1866. General Philip H. Sheridan was made lieutenant general in 1883. With his death in 1888 the office became extinct. 403