usand volumes. Its
proprietor had constructed for its accommodation and preservation a
three-storey fire-proof building, about thirty feet square, which is
isolated from all other buildings, and is connected with his residence
in Hudson Street by a conservatory gallery. The chief library-room
occupies the upper floor of this building, and is about twenty-five feet
in height. Its ceiling presents a series of groined rafters, after the
old English style, in the centre of which rises a dome-skylight of
stained glass. The sides of the library are fitted up with thirty-six
oak book-cases of a Gothic pattern, which entirely surround it, and are
nine feet in height. The space between the ceiling and the book-cases is
filled with paintings, for the most part of large size, and said to be
of value. Specimens of armour and busts of distinguished authors
decorate appropriate compartments, and in a prominent niche, at the head
of the apartment, stands a full-length statue of Shakespeare, executed
by Thom, in the same style as the Tam o' Shanter and Old Mortality
groups of this Scotch sculptor.

"The great specialty of the library is its Shakespeare collection; but,
although very extensive and valuable, it by no means engrosses the
entire library, which contains a large number of valuable works in
several departments of literature.

"The number of lexicons and dictionaries is large, and among the latter
may be found all the rare old English works so valuable for reference.
Three book-cases are devoted to serials, which contain many of the
standard reviews and magazines. One case is appropriated to voyages and
travels, in which are found many valuable ones. In another are upwards
of one hundred volumes of table-talk, and numerous works on the fine
arts and bibliography. One book-case is devoted to choice works on
America, among which is Sebastian Munster's Cosmographia Totius Orbis
Regionum, published in folio at Basle in 1537, which contains full notes
of Columbus, Vespucci, and other early voyagers. Another department
contains a curious catalogue of authorities relating to Crime and
Punishment; a liberal space is devoted to Facetiae, another to American
Poetry, and also one to Natural and Moral Philosophy. The standard works
of Fiction, Biography, Theology, and the Drama, are all represented.

"There is a fair collection of classical authors, many of which are of
Aldine and Elzevir editions. Among the rarities in this department