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pages. Plantagenet's New Albion, Leah and Rachel, and other scarce. books, were reprinted in Force's Historical Tracts, from originals in this Library. Aikin's Bible of 1782, published under the patronage of Congress, and Poor Richard's Almanac from 1733 to 1747, are very rare works. The Library's set of the Laws of Pennsylvania is complete from the beginning, and of the Journals of the Legislature nearly so. Indeed, but few works relating to Pennsylvania and Philadelphia are wanting, and of the local histories of other States the collection is good. The collection of the Public Documents of the General Government is respectable, and will shortly, it is hoped, be as complete as any other in the country.

Not the least interesting portion of the Library is that consisting of works in the languages of CONTINENTAL EUROPE. In the departments of Belles Lettres and IIistory, the collection of French, Spanish, and Italian books embraces most of the standard authors. The edition of the French Classics, in 32 large quarto volumes, entitled Collection du Dauphin-a beautiful specimen of typography-and Landino's "rare et recherché" edition of Dante, Venetia, 1512, are worthy of notice. The German library is, by no means, so valuable, but it includes the "sämmtliche Werke" of Luther (89 vols.), Goethe, Schiller, Jean Paul, Zschokke, Heine, &c. The collection of Spanish authors (mostly in the Loganian Library) is the most complete, and was, and perhaps is, the finest public collection in the country. Many of the volumes are interesting either from their rarity or intrinsic worth. Among these may be mentioned El Conde Lucanor, by the Prince Don Juan Manuel (Sevilla, 1575), described by Ticknor as "one of the rarest books in the world;" an unmutilated edition of Celestina, the first Spanish dramatic work of note (1599); the Cronica del famoso cavallero del Cid (Burgos, 1593), and the Coronica de el Rey Don Alonzo (1604). It contains, also, the excellent reprint of the ancient Spanish Chronicles (1787), and Zurita's Anales de la Corona de Aragon, with the supplement of Argensola. Not to mention the better known names of Calderon, Lope de Vega and the other early dramatists, it may be said that all the modern authors of consequence, Feijoo, Father Isla, Moratin, Yriarte, Melendez Valdes, and many others, have been added to it. The Spanish writers on America are equally well represented.

In the large collection of ENGLISH works may be found complete sets of the Royal Philosophical Transactions, the Gentleman's Magazine, the Annual Register, Cobbett's and Hansard's Parliamentary Debates, Curtis' Botanical Magazine, and other periodicals, some continued for more than a century: the publications of the Record Commission in 77 vols. folio and 25 vols. octavo: a curious collection of 700 English pamphlets in 36 vols. quarto, published during the revolutionary

period from 1620 to 1720, which with Somers' Tracts, the Harleian Miscellany, and the Camden Society's publications, eminently deserve the attention of the student of English history: a series of the English Chroniclers from Bede downwards, in the original Latin, as well as in English: and Dansey's English Crusaders.

The above imperfect outline of certain features of the collection will serve, in some measure, to indicate the value of the Philadelphia and Loganian Libraries, as well to the public as to the members of the company; it being customary to permit persons who are not members, to consult works of reference in the rooms, without charge.

Unfortunately, this highly valuable collection is not in a fire-proof building; and the destruction of the Congress Library by fire, and other similar calamities, warn us not to presume too much on the impunity in this respect enjoyed for more than a century. Moreover, the accommodations in the present edifice will, in a few years, be exhausted, and further room will have to be provided. In view of these facts, the Directors have decided to make an appeal to the Stockholders and to the citizens of Philadelphia, for contributions to a BUILDING FUND, to be invested separately until it is sufficient for the erection of a perfectly fire-proof building, of dimensions suited to the wants of the Library. It is not doubted that this appeal will be generously and liberally responded to.

APRIL, 1856.

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Showing the Number of Shares Sold and Forfeited, and the Number Held at the end of each year, from 1834 to 1854.

[NOTE.-For previous years, see Vol. I. of this Catalogue, p. xxx.]

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