THIS VOLUME IS

PUBLIC PROPERTY.

"The Act of August 8, 1846, for the distribution of Little and Brown's edition of the Laws of the United States contains the following proviso:

“Provided, That the copies of the laws thus distributed to public officers shall be held for the use of their respective offices, and as the property of the government; and that in case of the death, resignation, or dismission from office of either of said officers, or whenever their terms of office shall expire, the said copies of the laws shall be delivered up to their successors in said offices; and a printed copy of this proviso shall be inserted into each of the volumes thus distributed."