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were added, and at the close of the year the Board were able to report all debts paid and a balance on hand. The total receipts of the year (no lectures) were $1,351.29, and the expenditures $1,284.35.

May 5th, 1858, began another year of the Association. It will be seen by the list of officers, that at the election this year, the Board of Directors was almost wholly changed. It is but just to those gentlemen who composed the previous Board, some of whom had been connected with its management and had worked for the Association from its start, and most of whom had been associated in its direction for more than half a decade, to say that they did not leave their work, nor abandon their charge, till they saw the Association established, its position assured, and its prospects of power and usefulness bright. They now felt that they might claim a discharge and leave the work to those who might bring to it a fresher zeal, but could not feel a deeper interest in the prosperity of our Association.

The election this year was remarkable for the interest shown and the number of votes cast, being nearly two hundred-nearly three times the number of late years. The Board thus elected carried on the work vigorously. They added to the number of periodicals and newspapers of the reading-room; they increased the salary of the Librarian to compensate him for increase of duty with the increase of members; they adopted the plan of purchasing new and popular books as soon as published, and advertising them as they were received; they made special efforts for increasing the membership, and 296 new members were added during the year; they added to the library, by purchase, donation and binding of pamphlets, seven hundred and ninety-three volumes. The total re ceipts of the year were $2,522.29; the expenditures were $2,506.17. Included in the receipts was the sum of $786.67, received on insurance to cover loss by a fire in the building, which had nearly been more serious. Lectures were tried again at a cost of $66.10, and a profit of $241.15. The Board also revised and amended the General Rules and Regulations, adapting them to the wants of the Association in its present condition. These Rules were adopted at the annual meeting.

May 5th 1859-This year was a most successful one for the Association. A good deal of interest had been taken in the election, and although three tickets were in the field, the "Regular Ticket" (so called) was elected throughout. Nearly 300 votes were cast, a number of new members added, and a general awakening in regard to the interests of the Association was the result. A new set of "Rules and Regulations of the Board of Directors" was adopted, to accompany the revised Rules and Regulations of the Society, adopted at the last annual meeting, and the Rules of the Library and Reading Room were also revised by the committee in charge of that department. Everything in the power of the Board was done to improve the condition of the Association and to enlarge its means of usefulness. An address to the public was prepared by a committee, and extensively circulated, and a canvass of the city similar to that of last year resulted in a considerable increase of membership. The whole number of members added during the year was 237. A musical and literary entertainment undertaken for the benefit of the library, proved, however, that the public could not yet be relied upon with certainty to support the directors in their endeavors to push forward the institution, as the net profits of the evening amounted to the enormous sum of $4.25! During the year, application was made by the "Builders and Architects Association" for the purpose of forming a union with the Association, and a committee was appointed to confer with that body; but after a full hearing of their purposes. and demands, it was found to be inexpedient to meet their wishes, and the matter was accordingly dropped.

The course of lectures given this year proved highly successful, the receipts amounting to $1134.28, and the net profits to $463,19. The improvements in the library were also extensive, over 400 volumes having been added, of which 155 were donations. Among the most extensive donors, it seems proper to mention Mr. John Hepburn, who contributed many valuable works, more especially in a department of literature in which the library was greatly deficient, and the "friends of the new church in Milwaukee;" who enriched our shelves with a splendid edition of the complete wooks of Emanuel Swedenburg. The Association is also under a deep debt of gratitude to the Hon, John F. Potter, for

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the handsome manner in which he supplied the library with the public documents at his disposal; and the election of that gentleman as a life member of the Association, was a fitting acknowledgement of the interest uniformly manifested by him in its wellfare. A second supplementary catalogue was published during the year. The entire receipts of the Association for the year were $2153.21, and the expenditures $2080.47.

May 7th, 1860-The election of officers for this year was more severely contested, and excited a larger degree of public interest, than ever before in the history of the Association. The week which intervened between the annual meeting and the day of election (a change resulting from the Revised Rules and Regulations adopted the year before,) gave time for the holding of meetings and the discussion of the merits of the various candidates nominated. By the established custom of the Association the ticket first nominated claims to be the "Regular Ticket," and whatever comes after that is compelled to assume some other name. On this occasion half a dozen different tickets were put in circulation, but before election day, a consolidation was effected, and the field was left clear for the two tickets named respectively the "Regular" and "Opposition." And bravely was the battle fought. Many of our leading professional and business men entered the contest as if the most momentous consequences were depending upon it. Every member was canvassed and arguments the most convincing used on both sides. Newspaper squibs appeared preferring the most serious charges againt the candidates, flaming placards were posted on every available corner, and the rooms presented a scene of excitement never surpassed at the polls on any political election in the city. The result was the election of the entire "Regular Ticket." Nearly 500 votes were cast. It is much to be desired that something of the kind could be stirred up every year, as it undoubtedly tends to awaken a lively interest in the Association, and sets its objects before the public mind in the most advantageous light.

The year proved one of extraordinary financial prosperity for the Association, and to quote the language of the Annual Report of the Directors, "for the first time in the history of the Association the revenues from ordinary sources (not including lectures) were more than sufficient to meet the running expenses." The to

tal receipts for the year were $2883.61, and the expenditures $2697.68. In the month of September a fire took place in the library, but it was fortunately discovered and extinguished before much damage was done. The amount ($250,) received from the Insurance Company, amply covered the injury sustained. During the year, 234 new members were added, making the whole membership 845, a number which will compare favorably with that of similar institutions in many larger and much older cities. One fact worth noting is that the ladies' membership increased during this year from 19 to 31. The course of lectures managed by O. E. Britt, Esq., was one of the most successful ever given by the Association-the net profits footing up to $576. The improved condition of the Association having greatly increased the business devolving upon the Librarian, an Assistant was accordingly appointed at a salary of $4.00 per month, which was afterward rais ed to $8.00. During the year 624 volumes were added to the library at a cost of about $800.

May 13th, 1861-This election passed with much less stir than for several years previous, owing to the excited state of the coun try at that time. The Board found the Association in a highly prosperous condition, but it is not to be expected that much progress will be made, during a time when all public institutions of this character must suffer more or less from the terrible consequences of the rebellion, which is menacing the very existence of the Government under which we live-a government, it should here be said, whose genius is to foster every enterprise of a peaceful and improving nature. It is not the intention of the Directors, however, to relax their efforts for the weifare and improvement of the Association, as the publication of this catalogue will sufficiently indicate. The large additions made to the list of newspapers and periodicals, is another evidence of their intention not to diminish the advantages and attractions offered by the Association; and it is earnestly to be hoped that the public support will not be withdrawn from an institution capable of exerting so large a degree of usefulness, and that nothing will occur to stay its advancement in the career of prosperity upon which it has now so fairly entered.