There is another important matter which should not be omitted, namely, the regulations under which photography of rare, often fragile and easily injured, objects should be allowed. They should of course be such as to combine the least handling of the objects with the most worthy copies of them. In some museums, and in the Louvre sculpture galleries, only dry-plate photographs are allowed to the general photographer-at least, this was so until lately. At the Bibliothèque Nationale very great restriction, if not total prohibition, was placed upon the photography of MSS. some time ago. In any case, supervision by officials should be exercised over all kinds of photography. Copying requires the most motionless floor. It is a good plan to photograph books, &c., on a horizontal stand, as they require in this position less fixing and therefore less handling, and are also better lighted. This may be done by placing a very fine silver mirror at an angle of 45° to the axis of the lens. This of course gives unreversed negatives, which, however, may easily be reversed in different ways.

In conclusion, the processes of mechanical reproduction and multiplication have reached such excellence that it is worth considering whether they may not be more widely used than at present in popularising really artistic works and counteracting the influence of the numerous coarse chromo-lithographs which tended to the debasement and not the elevation of the public taste.

DISCUSSION.-Mr. OVERALL exhibited a copy of Aggas's map of London, executed in facsimile by Mr. E. J. Francis, and a History of the Charters of the Leathersellers' Company, with facsimiles of the charters by the same hand. In reply to questions, Mr. WILSON said, with regard to Photogravure, that he did not think that Dujardin's copies were from the glass itself. Dujardin took care to obtain good copies of the engravings and reproduced them very exactly, As to wood blocks, water injures the fibre of the even to the burr. wood; therefore, some use ether or alcohol. One of the commonest methods is an Albert-type transferred to the wood. Illustrated charters such as those produced by Mr. Overall, might now be reproduced, as to the text, by photography, and the coloured portions by hand. For colours, hand-work had a charm not attainable by mechanical processes.

A vote of thanks to Mr. WILSON for his interesting paper, and the valuable specimens exhibited by him, was then carried unanimously. Mr. OVERALL produced some specimens of morocco cloth for binding, which had been sent to him by Mr. Archibald Winterbottom, and some conversation on binding ensued.

Two new members were proposed, and will be balloted for at the next meeting.

The further consideration of the resolution as to Parish Registers was adjourned to next meeting.

London: TRÜBNER & CO., Ludgate Hill. Single Numbers, Threepence each. Annual Subscription, post free, 3s. 6d.

MONTHLY NOTES

OF THE

Library Association

of the United Kingdom.

Ar the Meeting on Friday, July 2, a paper will be read by Mr. W. E. A. AXON (Manchester), entitled "The Poetry of the Bibliomania."

MEMBERS are begged to attend the Committee Meetings held on the third Friday of each month, as the Annual Meeting is now approaching. Among the matters to be discussed by the Committee on Title Entries at the next meeting (June 18) will be the subject of cross-references.

JUNE MONTHLY MEETING.

THE eighth Monthly Meeting of the third year of the Association was held at the London Institution on Friday, June 4, 1880, at p.m., Professor W. S. JEVONS in the chair.

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The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, Messrs. C. H. WADE, Jun., and C. A. V. CONYBEARE were elected members, having been duly proposed at the May Monthly Meeting. The Chairman then called on Mr. CORNELIUS WALFORD to read his paper entitled:

BOOKS I HAVE SEEN; BOOKS I HAVE NOT SEEN; BOOKS I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE; BOOKS I NEVER EXPECT TO SEE.

Mr. WALFORD said: Some few years since, when establishing a system of boxes for literary gatherings, I allotted one to "Books, curious and rare," and in a moment of pedantic reverie, scribbled inside its lid the words which constitute the title of the present paper. From time to time I deposited in it memoranda of books and tracts, to a very large extent clippings from second-hand book catalogues. I had never made any examination of the contents of this box, and probably should not have done so for a long period, but from the fact of receiving an invitation to read a paper. In my perplexity for a subject ready to hand, I turned to the said box, and propose to lay before you some of its contents-poor as I fear they will be found.

It will be a foregone conclusion that a collection of odds and ends thus gathered together, mainly because they admitted of no more scientific arrangement, constitute a species of literary scavenging from which little can be hoped. Pressed with professional engagements, I must make the best of the task before me, claiming all requisite indulgence.

I need hardly say here that the clippings from catalogues were only preserved as indications of the existence of the publications to which they are supposed to relate. They were never designed to be regarded as conclusive, but they constitute very fair prima facie evidence upon which to found further enquiry. In the absence of anything even approaching to a general catalogue of English literature, these miscellaneous records occasionally throw light where otherwise all had been darkness. In this sense I speak with thankfulness of them. If I were to say that misprints, unscientific abridgments of titles, and slips as to authorship, were never found in these catalogues, I fear I should not secure absolute credence. I will, therefore, make no assertion of the kind. I might accomplish the task before me by the construction of four several lists, corresponding with the divisions of my title, from the contents of the box; but such a mode of proceeding would be defective in many respects, more particularly as regards the books I have seen, for of these my memory, rather than my box, contains the record. There is yet another difficulty. The scene is changing all the time; every book or tract which falls into the category of those I have seen, lessens in some degree the lists of each of the other classes; and here, perhaps, I ought to state, by way of avoiding confusion, that I only speak here after the manner of a special collector in certain walks of literature, and a lover of odds and ends in general. To apply any such fancied classification as that now assumed to books in general would be out of the question, the more so that I have seen nearly all the great libraries of Europe and America. In many of the more important libraries the out-of-the-way things do not seem to exist; they have probably been accounted as trash, and made away with accordingly; or if they do exist, they are not brought into the catalogues. I will illustrate more in detail my meaning about the transition from class to class by the following narration, the main incidents of which are of very recent occurrence.

The first book set up in type at the printing-office of the illustrious Benjamin Franklin, in Philadelphia, is one with a very remarkable history. Its title was as follows: "Ways and Means for the Inhabitants of Delaware to become Rich: Wherein the several growths and products of these Countries are demonstrated to be a sufficient Fund for a flourishing Trade. Humbly submitted to the Legislative Authority of three Colonies. . Printed and

sold by S. Keimer, in Philadelphia, MDCCXXV." I was anxious to see this book, or more properly speaking, tract of 65 pages, mainly for the reason that it contained a reference to a proposed scheme of marine insurance which I thought might have borne

some fruit as probably it did. I found that the author of this tract was Francis Rawle. With this fact before me, I searched Watt, but found not a word, the same with Allibone, and this was the more remarkable, in that this latter work was itself published in Philadelphia, and there is a good deal about the Rawle family, descendants of the one wanted. I tried the British Museum, and in the Catalogue there, I found its title, but that was all: the tract itself was not to be met with. I consoled myself with the thought that in a few months I should be in the United States, and a visit to Philadelphia would of course accomplish all I wished. I searched the libraries there, but the result was disappointing; finally in the Loganian Library I found it, i.e., the entry in the catalogue: the tract itself could not be found. It was known indeed to be in the building, and was believed to be the only copy extant. My disappointment was great, but as there seemed to be no help for it, I made the best of my bad luck, and (mentally at least) consigned this tract to the box, to take its place in the list of those I never expected to see! In this last proceeding I was premature. Quite a history has since been developed concerning this tract, as the correspondence I now proceed to read will show. [Mr. WALFORD then read his correspondence with Mr. William Brooke Rawle, of Philadelphia, concerning this book, which was found in the autumn of 1878, and privately reprinted: and continued].-I now place upon the table an elegant reprint of the tract which deserves attention, if for no other reason than that of exhibiting an act of generous regard on the part of a descendant of the original anthor. I trust that many other rare books and tracts may yet share a like practical resurrection. It is a feature of our age to love revivals of the past.

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1. Books 1 have seen.-First 1 will instance a few in my own possession: "Two Godlie and profitable Sermons earnestly enveying against the Sins of this Land in generall, and in particular against the Sins of this City of London. Preached in the City of London by Thomas Hopkins, minister at Yeardley, in the Countie of Worcester." [Then, by way of indicating the drift of the contents, several texts are given in the title-page.] ... At London, imprinted by Felix Kyngeston, and are to be sold under Saint Peter's Church in Cornehill, 1615." This publication created a great deal of attention at the time, perhaps more particularly in the light of the plague visitations then prevalent. "London's Deliverance Predicted: In a short Discourse, shewing the causes of Plagues in general, and the probable time (God not contradicting the course of second causes) when this present Pest may abate, etc. By John Gadbury. London, 1665." "A True and Faithful Account of the several Informations exhibited to the Honorable Committee appointed by the Parliament to Inquire into the late dreadful Burning of the City of London. Together with other Information touching the Insolency of Popish Priests and Jesuites; and the Increase of Popery, brought to the Honorable Committee appointed by the Parliament for that purpose. Printed in the year

1667." Pepys in his Diary, under date Sept. 14, 1667, says, "Here I saw a printed account of the examination taken touching the burning of the City of London, shewing the plot of the Papists therein; which it seems hath been ordered to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman in Westminster Palace." This is a copy which survived. "Usury at Six per cent., examined and found unjustly charged by Sir Tho. Culpepper, and F. C. with many crimes and oppressions, whereof 'tis altogether innocent. Wherein is shewed the necessity of retrenching our Luxury, and vain consumption of Foreign Commodities, imported by English Money; also the reducing the Wages of Servants, Labourers, and Workmen of all sorts, which raiseth the value of our manufactures 15 or 20 per cent. dearer than our neighbours do afford them, by reason of their cheaper wayes; wherein is likewise hinted some of the many mischiefs that will ensue upon retrenching Usury; humbly presented to the High Court of Parliament now sitting. By Thomas Manley, Gent. London, printed by Thomas Ratcliffe and Thomas Daniel, and are to be sold by Ambrose Isted, at the Golden Anchor, over against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet Street, MDCLXIX."

This tract, I have reason to believe, accomplished a good deal in the way of diverting the current of anti-usury legislation, and The mere titles of hence of advancing our commercial prosperity. the large number of tracts for and against usury would constitute a very curious collection.

"An Alarm to Europe: By a late prodigious Comet, seen Nov. and Dec. 1680. With a predictive Discourse, Together with some. preceding and some succeding Causes of its sad Effects to the East and North Eastern parts of the World, namely England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Holland, Germany, Italy, and many other places. By John Hill, Physitian and Astrologer." Then a diagram on title-page "the form of the Comet with its In the Blaze or Stream as it was seen Dec. the 24th, anno 1680. evening. London, printed by H. Brugie for William Thackery, at the Angel in Duck Lane." [1680.]

"The Sinner's Thundering Warning-piece. Being an Account of the great Damage done by the late Dreadful Thunder and Lightning, on the 16th of July last, both in City and Country; particularly at Tatnum-court, Islington, and several other places in and about the City of London, by beating down Chimnies, part 9 Houses, striking some dead, and others speechless, in a sad and deplorable manner; as also how one Mr. Woollar, of Ipswich in Suffolk, and six of his passengers was struck dead in his Wherry the same day by the Lightning, and many others dangerously scorch'd and burnt. The truth of which will be attested any day of the week by Ipswich Hoy-men at Bear-key near Billingsgate, or at the Pewter Platter in Bullingbrook's-rents, near Spittle Yard. To which is added a Sermon preach'd at Mr. Woollar's Funeral on the said occasion at St. Margaret's Church in Ipswich, by Mr. Wm. Elemy, Minister of the said Parish, his text being