r were the
societies entirely free from internal dissensions. The records contain
accounts of 'conspiracies,' and attempts to destroy the societies,
accompanied by reports of committees, treating the subject with the
dignity of a danger to the State. One of these 'conspiracies' in 1793,
terminated in the destruction of nearly all the records of the 'Social
Friends' and almost caused the dissolution of the society. Much of the
strife between the societies was caused by the mode of securing
members, and though there were amendments intended to lessen this,
nothing like a settlement was made until 1815, when an order from the
officers of the college limited the membership of each society to one
half of the number in the different classes. It was probably this
question of membership that caused, in 1799, the division of the
'federal library'; the 'United Fraternity' that year demanding a
separation, and the 'Social Friends' replying that they cheerfully
concurred. With the strong rivalry existing, the libraries could but
increase more rapidly under separate management, especially as the
students for many years taxed themselves severely, and contributed
generously by subscriptions and donations to fill up their few
shelves. Nearly all the books were contributed by under-graduates, and
the value placed upon them forms a marked contrast with the present
use of library books. It was upon these libraries that the students
more generally depended, and while their additions were larger they
also had larger losses and suffered more from the wear of usage. They
obtained from time to time the books that were needed, the college
library such as were given, and that was doubtless true during all of
the time which was said of it fifty years later: 'The library contains
some rare and valuable works, but is deficient in new books.' The
society libraries from the beginning had regular and frequent hours
for drawing books, while the college library during a great part of
its history has been from various reasons hardly accessible, or open
only at long intervals. In 1793, the college began the yearly
assessment of eight shillings on each student, one fourth for the
salary of the librarian, and the remainder for the purchase of new
books.

"The first printed catalogue of any of the libraries was of that of
the college, and was merely a list printed in 1810. It mentioned 2,900
volumes, but as there were many duplicates the number of books of