New York's oldest library can finally fill a gap left on its shelves two centuries ago when George Washington borrowed a book and failed to bring it back.
The first US president took "The Law of Nations" by Emer de Vattel from the New York Society Library on October 5, 1789 and, like many a less illustrious borrower, didn't remember to return it, the library said in a statement Thursday.
"The book was not returned, nor any overdue book fine paid," the library statement said. "This was a well-kept secret at the library for years."
Back in 1789 the library shared a building with the US government, which was then based in lower Manhattan. Members of Congress, the government and the president were regular visitors.
Washington can rest in peace, though: the museum at Mount Vernon, Virginia, his family home, "offered to replace Vattel's 'Law of Nations' with another copy of the same edition," upon learning of the missing tome.
The book was replaced at a ceremony here Wednesday.
Copyright 2010  AFP Global Edition
