useum, London, 435,000 31,000 "
Bodleian, Oxford, 220,000 21,000 "
University, Cambridge, 166,724 3,163 "
Advocates', Edinburgh, 148,000 2,000 "
Trinity College, Dublin, 104,239 1,512 "

There are in the United States of America at least 81 libraries of 5000
volumes and upwards each, to which the public, more or less
restrictedly, have access, and of these 49 are immediately connected
with colleges or public schools. The aggregate number of volumes in
these collections is about 980,413. We subjoin the contents of a few of
the largest:--

Harvard College Library, 72,000 vols.
Philadelphia and Loganian Library, 60,000 "
Boston Athenaeum, 50,000 "
Library of Congress, 50,000 "
New York Society Library, 32,000 "
Mercantile Library, New-York, 32,000 "
Georgetown College, 25,000 "
Brown University, 24,000 "
New-York State Library, 24,000 "
Yale College, 21,000 "

America will, however, soon possess a library worthy of its character as
a great nation. The Astor Library, now in the course of formation, owes
its existence to the munificence of John Jacob Astor, who died on the
29th of March, 1848, leaving by his will the sum of 400,000 dollars for
the establishment of a public library in the city of New-York.
Seventy-five thousand dollars were to be appropriated to the erection of
a suitable building, and 120,000 dollars to the purchase of books as a
nucleus. The smallest number of books which the trustees consider it
safe to estimate as a basis for enlargement is 100,000 volumes. The
Astor Library will probably, when first formed, contain a larger number
and a better selection of books than any other in the United States.
With the generous provision which the founder has made for its increase,
together with the liberal donations which will undoubtedly be made to
this as the chief library in the country, it is likely to grow rapidly,
till it will take rank with the large libraries of the old world. Under
the direction of an enlightened and judicious Board of Trustees, with
Washington Irving for president, and Dr. Cogswell for superintendent of
the institution, there is every reason to believe that the desire so
warmly expressed at the conclusion of their report will be fulfilled:
"That the Astor Library