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BOSTON 125 any city in the United States. The public li- brary, next to the library of congress at Wash- ington, is the largest in the country. Joshua Bates, a wealthy banker of London, whose early life was passed in Boston, having offered the city $50,000 toward the purchase of books if a suitable building should be provided, his offer was accepted in 1852 and an edifice was erected in Boylston street, opposite the Com- mon, which was completed and delivered to the trustees Jan. 1, 1858. The cost of the land and building was $365,000. Abbott Lawrence gave $10,000 and Jonathan Phillips $30,000 to the institution. In 1858 the library (2,250 volumes) of Nathaniel Bowditch was presented by his sons, and in 1860 the valuable collection (11,721 volumes) of Theodore Parker was re- ceived by bequest. The increase of the library has been as follows : TEARS. Volumes. Pamphlets. 1852 9.688 961 1855... 28,080 12,886 I860 97,886 27,881 1865 180,678 86,566 1871... 179,250 89.746 1872 192,958 100,888 In 1871 the library of congress had about 206,000 volumes, the Astor library 140,538, and the New York Mercantile library 127,237. The increase of the Boston public library in 1871 was the largest ever reported, being 18,- 000 volumes and nearly 15,000 pamphlets; during the same period the library of congress increased 12,441 volumes and 8,000 pamphlets, the New York Mercantile library 11,416 vol- umes, and the Astor library 1,500 volumes. In that year the library of Spanish and Portu- guese books and manuscripts of the late George Ticknor, more than 4,000 in number, was added to the public library. In 1872 the number of persona using the library was 42,453, and the number of books issued 380,343. The expen- ditures amounted to $74,924, of which $67,000 was appropriated by the city. The library is free to all, and books may be taken away ; a branch with 6,767 volumes (included in the above figures), is in operation in East Boston. In 1872 a branch with 4,365 volumes was opened in South Boston, and preparations were made for opening another in Roxbury. The Boston Athenaeum dates from 1804, its germ being the Anthology club. The association was incorporated in February, 1807. The beautiful building now used by the Athenreum was completed in 1849. It stands on the S. side of Beacon street, between Bowdoin and Somerset streets. Its length is 114 ft., and its breadth is irregular ; the height is 60 ft. The material is freestone. The first story contains the sculpture gallery and two reading rooms. The library is in the second story, and the picture gallery in the third. The building cost $136,000, and $55,000 was paid for the land. The privilege of using the library, which contains about 95,000 volumes, is limited to the holders of about 1,000 shares, but strangers may have access. The funds of the Athenaum amount to more than $250,000, besides the real estate, library, paintings, and statuary, which are valued at upward of $400,000. The chief benefactors of the institution are : James Perkins, who gave it a house on Pearl street, which was used as a library, &c., for 27 years, and then sold for $45,000; John Bromfield, who bequeathed it $25,000 ; Samuel Appleton, who bequeathed it $25,000 ; James Perkins, jr., who gave it $8,000 ; Thomas II. Perkins, who gave it $8,000 ; and T. W. Ward, who gave it $5,000. Many other persons have given or bequeathed lesser sums, or books, or articles for the picture and sculpture galleries. The American academy of arts and sciences, incor- porated in 1780, has its rooms and its library (about 15,000 volumes) in the Athenseum build- ing. The magnificent building of the Boston society of natural history (incorporated in 1831), recently constructed at a cost of $100,- 000, is on the corner of Boylston and Berkeley streets. The library contains 12,000 volumes ; the valuable cabinet is open to the public for several hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Lowell institute was founded by John Lowell, jr., who bequeathed $250,000 to provide regular courses of free lectures. The most im- portant libraries, in addition to those already mentioned, are the libraries of the American Congregational association, with 6,500 volumes and a fund of $168,000 ; the Boston library society, with 19,000 volumes; the Handel and Haydn society, with 8,000 volumes (music) ; the Massachusetts historical society, founded in 1791, with 18,500 volumes; the mechanic ap- prentices' library association, with 6,000 vol- umes; the social law library, with 8,000 vol- umes; the state library of 82,000 volumes ; and the young men's Christian association, with 4.610 volumes. The mercantile library, founded in 1820, had about 20,000 volumes, which were destroyed in the great fire of 1872. The press of Boston is the oldest in the United States. The first journal regularly published in North America was "The News Letter," which was commenced April 24, 1704, by John Campbell, postmaster. It was published 72 years, ceasing in 1776, with British rule. The second paper was the "Boston Gazette," commenced in 1719, of which James Franklin was printer. In 1721 Franklin commenced the publication of the " New England Courant." Benjamin Franklin was an apprentice to his brother, and wrote for the " Courant " at the age of 16. The paper was for some time published in Benjamin's name. There are now (1873) 143 periodicals published in Boston, of which 9 are daily, 6 semi-weekly, 61 weekly (4 German), 1 bi-weekly, 4 semi- monthly, 51 monthly, 2 bi-monthly, 8 quarterly, and 1 semi-annual. There are 150 churches in Boston, classified as follows : Baptist, 17 ; Christian, 1 ; Church of Christ, 1 ; Church of the Adventists, 1 ; Congregational Trinitarian, 22 ; Independent Congregational, 2 ; Congre- gational Unitarian, 27 ; Episcopal, 15 ; Evan-