chanism in general should have respect to the most
perfect development of the powers of students, and be carried on with
great exactness and fidelity; that any want of symmetry, proportion,
finish, balance, and executive ability, or frequent experimenting and
change to meet internal difficulties, or the humors and caprices of
society, must tend to failure and dishonor. But that no mechanism,
however organically perfect or judiciously administered, that does not
embody a righteous moral principle, or that cannot be operated in
consistency with it, can be otherwise than injurious in its ultimate
results.

"Whereupon your Committee propose, that a system of scholarships and
prizes, as such systems have usually obtained, cannot be introduced
into college mechanism, or be carried on, consistently with righteous
principle, and favorably to virtue in young men, or to true knowledge
and wisdom, so far as these presuppose virtue, and depend upon it."

In regard to the views here set forth, it is proper to remark, that
reasoning which had much force, a score of years since, would possibly
have less at the present time.

In regard to this period the librarian says:

"In 1830, the three libraries must have numbered in volumes between
12,000 and 13,000, with slight difference in numbers, the college
library being the largest, and the United Fraternity's the smallest.
The first library catalogue of the latter society was printed previous
to 1840, and contained the titles of 4,900 volumes.

"In 1840, the libraries obtained better accommodations by the erection
of Reed Hall, which was so far completed that the books were shelved
just before the Commencement. They were given the second floor of the
building, an amount of space which then seemed to give ample room for
additions, as the three libraries together numbered only 15,000
volumes. The college library occupied the east half of the floor,
while the west side was divided between the two society libraries. The
books were first shelved against the wall, then alcoves and cases were
added as long as space remained, while for several years previous to
the present time the least valuable books have been removed to make
space for additions.

"In the college library, borrowers have generally been excluded from
the rooms in which books are kept, while the reverse has been true in
the society libraries.

"In June, 1841, the professors of the college with the assistance of
some of th