THE LIBRARY OP THE NEW YORK LAW INSTITUTE.
 

IHE early records of the New York Law Institute strengthen
the statement of the younger Kent that the establishment
of a society law library in the City of New York was owing
in a great degree to the influence and exertion of Chancellor
Kent. The project grew out of the necessity of providing the legal
profession with an extensive and easily accessible collection of books
in every department of law, and such collection was manifestly be¬
yond the means of individual members of the bar.

A vivid personal recollection of the disappointments and embar¬
rassments which he experienced in his own youth in consequence of
the lack of library facilities may have influenced Charles O'Conor in
old age to make his generous and gracious gift to the Law Institute
Library. There are incidents in his career that show his lasting
gratitude to those who in early life gave him access to the books of his
chosen profession. The only collections of law books of any extent or
value in or near the City of New York were private—the library of
Chancellor Kent and the Bedford House library o£ Chief-Justice Jay.
A union of effort and means became an urgent necessity in order to
provide even the active practitioners of the bar with the working tools
of their profession.

The flrst regular meeting of the society, of which any written
record is extant, was held in pursuance of notice at the American
Hotel, at the corner of Broadway and Barclay street, on the fifth day
of February, 1828. At this meeting were present Ogden Hoffman,
Thomas Addis Emmet, Hugh Maxwell, James W. Gerard, and nearly
all the leading members of the bar. Ex-Judge Jonas Piatt was called
to the chair, and Charles G. Troup was made secretary. An election
being held, James Kent was chosen president and Smith Thompson,
Peter A. Jay and Beverly Robinson, vice-presidents of the association.
Previously to this meeting, however, on the 19th day of January, 1828,
the constitution as drafted by Chancellor Kent had been submitted at
a conference held at the residence of William T. McCoun, and it was
subscribed by Chancellor Kent, Hugh Maxwell, William T. McCoun,
John Duer, James W. Gerard, Daniel Lord, George Sullivan, David
Ogden and the others present—nineteen in all.

In the beginning the Law Institute was meant, says Mr. Gerard,
" to be very much of the character of the presentBar Association—not
merely a library but an association which should, by salutary rules,
guard the purity of the profession and hold a check upon the members