Chap-books of the Eighteenth Century, with Fac-similes, Notes, and Introduction. By John Ashton. London: Chatto and Windus, 1882. Sm. 8vo, pp. xvi.-486. Price 7s. 6d. The eighteenth century was the golden age of Chap-books, and those who are interested in this literature will find Mr. Ashton's book one of considerable practical value. Its bibliographical usefulness is much increased by many woodcuts of title pages and a list of Chap-books issued from the chief factory of such publications. Bibliographie général et raisonnée du droit Belge: relevé de toutes les publications juridiques parues depuis 1814 réunies, mises en ordre et annotées pour la rédaction des Pandectes Belges Par Edmond Picard et Ferdinand Larcier. Bruxelles: F. Larcier, 1882. Livr. I. La. 8vo, pp. xiii.-15–300. Price 5s. This important legal bibliography will form a volume of 1,100 pages, and will be completed in three livraisons. The work is to be in three divisions; the first comprising works, articles in periodicals, collections, &c., under names of authors; the second containing anonymous publications, reports of commissions, &c. and the third consisting of an alphabetical index of subjects. The titles are given at length, with a few notes. La curiosité littéraire et bibliographique: articles littéraires, extraits et analyses d'ouvrages curieux, notices de livres rares, anecdotes, etc. 2e série. Paris, 1882. Sm. 8vo, pp. 240. Price 10s. Futile gossip; but unfortunately this manner of writing is not uncommon among Bibliographers. Catalogus bibliothecae Danteae Dresdensis a Philalethe B. Rege 8vo, pp. vi.-126. The excellent metrical translation into German of Dante's Divina Commedia, published by the late King John of Saxony, under the pseudonym of Philalethes, is well known; this is a catalogue of the valuable Dante library left by the king, and which has been added to by his son, Duke George. The name of the compiler is a guarantee of the excellency of the catalogue, which is in classified order. The titles are given at length, with occasional notes in Latin. Das antike Buchwesen in seinem Verhältniss zur Litteratur, mit Beiträgen zur Textgeschichte des Theokrit, Catull, Properz und anderer Autoren. Von Theodor Birt. Berlin: Hertz, 1882. 8vo, pp. viii.-518. Price 12s. This is the most valuable contribution to bibliography proper which has appeared for many a day. It abounds in new and ingenious views, worked out with rare learning and laboriousness, and is full of interest to the bibliographer, the literary historian, and the classical scholar. Biographisches Schriftsteller-Lexikon der Gegenwart, unter Mitwirkung namhafter Schriftsteller: die bekanntesten Zeit genossen auf dem Gebiet der Nationallitteratur aller Völker mit Angabe ihrer Werke. Von Fr. Bornmüller. Leipzig: Bibliogr. Institut, 1882. 8vo, pp. vi.-800. Price 78. 6d. This follows in the steps of the excellent "Dizionario degli scrittori contemporanei, da Angelo de Gubernatis, 1879." But why cannot each country publish a thoroughly trustworthy dictionary of its own living celebrities, instead of the dozens of different "Men of the Time," containing unsatisfactory accounts of the notable persons throughout the world? Aarsberetninger og Meddelelser fra det Store Kongelige Bibliothek, udgivne af Chr. Bruun, Bibliothekar. III. Binds 7 Hefte. Kjobenhavn: Gyldendalske Boghandel, 1882. 8vo, pp. clx.-lxxiv., 177-208. The part in Roman numerals contains statistical information for the financial year 1880-81, and that numbered in Arabic figures is the continuation of the catalogue of the manuscripts. Verboden boeken, geschriften, couranten, enz. in de 18e eeuw. : eene bijdrage tot de geschiedenis der Haagsche censuur. Door A. J. Servaas van Rooijen. Aflef. I. Haarlem: de Graaff, 1882. 8vo, pp. 1-48. Price 38. A companion to Drujon's "Catalogue des ouvrages poursuivis, supprimés ou condamnés, 1814-77." It will be completed in six parts. Mr. A. J. Frost's Report, for 1881, on the Library of the Society of Telegraph Engineers, contains a list of works on lightning, lightning-rods, &c., presented to the Library by Mr. G. J. Symons. M. René Kerviler has published the first part of a bibliography of the periodical publications of Brittany, in the Bibliophile Breton. One chapter will be devoted to each of the five departments of the province; a sixth chapter will deal with works devoted to all or several of the departments. The bibliography is arranged chronologically, with ample noies. Revue mensuelle du Bibliophile militaire is the title of a new Parisian review, which is distributed without charge to all military institutions and libraries. A bibliographical notice is to be found, in a new edition of the Discours de la méthode of Descartes (Paris: Dupont), prepared by Professor Ludovic Carrau. Herr Karl M. Kertbeny, author of "Handbuch Ungarischer Bibliographie," 1880, died at Budapest on January 23, aged 58 years. The editor and publisher of the "Gesammt-Verlags-Katalog des Deutschen Buchhandels," Herr Adolf Russell, died at Münster on December 26. The Verlags-Katalog is not yet complete, but the remainder of the manuscript has been left in a state ready for the press. The bibliography of Russian hagiology has been dealt with by Mr. Nikolai Barsukof, in a recent work," Istochniki Russkoi Agiografii" (Sources of Russian Hagiography). NOTES AND QUERIES. A REMINISCENCE OF THE LIVERPOOL LIBRARY.-The following is culled from the minute books of this library, and dated 13th of August, 1799, some forty years after its foundation. The meeting of the committee at which this singular minute was inserted was attended by no less distinguished men than William Roscoe, Dr. Currie, and Dr. Rutter:-"This day, for the first time, the committee met at four o'clock in the afternoon, and, having transacted the necessary business of the library, they dined together at five o'clock, and spent the remainder of the day with harmonious pleasantry. Resolved unanimously, That the monthly committee meet henceforward on the second Tuesday in the month at three o'clock, and that they afterwards dine together; that dinner be on the table at four o'clock precisely, and that the bill be called at six o'clock, when such gentlemen as chuse may depart, and such as chuse may club again; that red port be the only wine allowed, and that if any gentleman prefer white wine he pay for it distinct from his share of the general shot; and that all the wine be brought up in the original bottles from the bin, and decanted in the clubroom. These festive meetings of the committee were held at the Star and Garter Tavern, in Paradise-street.-A. W. THOMLINSON LIBRARY, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE (MONTHLY NOTES, Vol. iii., p. 8).—We have received from Mr. Haggerston a long and interesting account of this library, which we hope to print in full in an early number.-ED. M. N. AUTHOR WANTED.-Who was the author of "The Perils of the Nation: An Appeal to the Legislation, the Clergy, and the Higher and Middle Classes. Seeley, London, 1844," "Remedies suggested for some of the Evils which constitute the Perils of the Nation. London, 1844"? I should feel greatly indebted for an answer. H. W. CORRESPONDENCE. TRAINING OF LIBRARY ASSISTANTS. SIR, I believe the Library Association some two or three years ago recommended that the system of having boys apprenticed to Public Libraries should be adopted. I am desirous of ascertaining if, at that or any other time, they have laid down any rules or method for training such apprentices. I have a son apprenticed to a library for five years, and am anxious to learn what is the proper system of training. It appears to me a very important matter, both in the interests of libraries and librarians, that some systematic training should be carried out. Any information you can give me on the subject will be esteemed a favour by, Yours, &c., 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. Contents:-Official Notices-May Monthly Meeting: Paper by Mr. Andrew Taylor, "Present-day Limits to Subscription Libraries The Thomlinson Library," by W. J. Haggerston-Library Notes-Notices of Bibliographies -Catalogues and Reports-Notes and Queries. THE next Monthly Meeting of the Association will be held at the London Institution, Finsbury Circus, on Friday, June 2nd, 1882, when a Paper will be read by Mr. Ernest C. Thomas, entitled "Library Statistics of a Europe." The date of the Annual Meeting at Cambridge has been provisionally fixed for Tuesday, the 5th September, and following days. MAY MONTHLY MEETING. THE Eighth Monthly Meeting of the Fifth Year of the Association was held at the London Institution, on Friday, May 5th, at 8 p.m., Mr. B. R. WHEATLEY in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr. JAMES DAUBER, Mus. B., of Wigan, was duly elected a member of the Association. The following gentleman was proposed and seconded for election at the next Monthly Meeting: Mr. William Buchanan, Registrar, 10, Carrington Street, Glasgow. It was proposed by Mr. Ernest C. Thomas, seconded by Mr. Cornelius Walford, and carried unanimously, that Mr. Edward Edwards be elected an Honorary Member of the Association. The Chairman then called upon the Secretary to read a Paper by Mr. ANDREW TAYLOR, Treasurer of the Edinburgh Select Subscription Library, entitled PRESENT-DAY LIMITS TO PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARIES. The past winter in Edinburgh has been a quiet one in reference to any discussion on the adoption of the Free Libraries Act. Random hits, reminding one of the late fierce battle, may have been YEARS. noticed once and again in the daily prints. But where are the trenchant leaders, the voluminous correspondence, and, above all, the army of sandwich-men perambulating our streets with their appeals to over-rated tax-payers, lately introduced to the Conference by Mr. Ralph Richardson? Where has the enthusiasm for public free libraries by voluntary subscriptions taken a tangible shape? Certainly not in Edinburgh, otherwise than in printer's ink. What more of the movement for opening up the Advocates' Library by the addition of a public reading-room? When the question was first mooted at the Edinburgh meeting of the Library Association, I posed as the advocate of existing institutions. But in truth, the balance-sheet over which I preside is not in such a state as to be cited as a triumphant testimony of the working of willinghood in this direction of voluntary effort. And I look in vain for similar evidence from the financial conditions of sister societies in the city. The Philosophical Institution appears to prosper, but it offers other attractions than its library. The question really is, apart from the utilisation of the Advocates' Library, Can libraries proper exist apart from public taxation? Of course, the Edinburgh Subscription, the Select Subscription, and the Mechanics' Libraries which were pointed out during the recent discussion, had solved the problem by living through most of the years of the present century. But are not all these founded on principles, though good enough in their day, now ready to wax old and vanish away? The practical experience of one of these institutions, mainly in its financial aspects, will best answer the question. A tabular statement now lies before me, detailing the income and expenditure of the library with which I am connected, for the last 1850 to 1860 605-440 17 1860 to 1870 281 30 1870 to 1880 394 3,204 130 1,697 74 1,559 eighty years. I note such of the facts as may be interesting to a general public. Established by twelve humble men, it has collected and spent fully £14,500 19s. for library purposes; and accumulated over 30,000 volumes. Its shelves illustrate the many changes in Transferred. Annual Entry Money and Catalogues. Management of Property. Books and Binding. |