ciation. This is the subject of Bibliography. This was included by our original Constitution amongst the main objects which the Association was intended to promote. And it can hardly be denied that the claim of the librarian to rank as a man of letters and a minister of culture must rest not upon his skill in the stowing away of books, or even in the mere cataloguing of them, still less in the facility with which he deals with the issue of them upon a large scale, but upon his knowledge of books and his acquaintance with something more than the labels and numbers upon their backs. The multiplication of books is now proceeding so rapidly, that it must every day become more and more impossible for private students or collectors to cope with it. It is of vital importance for the needs of students and men of letters that there should be a set of men to whom they can look for information on the history of the various books and branches of study with which they are concerned. And such men it must be obvious can only be found in connexion with large collections of literature. The days of amateurishness in biblio graphy are, or ought to be, over. No one indeed can be expected to cover the whole field in any considerable department of literature of science. But it is still more true that no one unless he has not merely access to a large collection but can also fall back upon its custodian for assistance, can expect to cover satisfactorily even a small portion of it. It should surely be the aim of the librarian to cover as much of it as he can. Knowing that these views of the intimate connexion between librarianship and bibliography are held by our leading librarians, I have naturally attempted to pay as much attention to bibliography as was compatible with the limits placed upon our space. In the year 1882 notices were given of all bibliographical publications of importance, and I am the more entitled to speak freely of the great value and interest of those notices, first, because of the flattering way in which they have been spoken of by others, and secondly, because that department was practically under the management of Mr. Tedder. Unfortunately the space at our dis posal was found to be insufficient for the adequate treatment of bibliography, as well as purely library matters, and during the present year I have been obliged with great reluctance to drop these

notices.

If I have thus dwelt so long upon the past, it is because this general exposition of the aims and manner in which the "Notes" have been edited sufficiently indicates, I think, the direction in which we should seek to develope the "Monthly Notes" in the coming

year.

May I now point out briefly in what way the members may help the future Editor of the "Library Chronicle" in his efforts to make it a credit to the Association, and a fit exponent of the work and

aims of our members?

1. In the first place I may urge upon them the great assistance which all librarians can render to the Editor by sending copies of their Reports and Catalogues, or other library publications.

2. It is hardly less important that our members should send early

intelligence of any library events or movements of interest, and copies of local newspapers containing library news.

3. Though these minor contributions will give interest and even value to the "Chronicle," it must be apparent that more extensive communications in the shape of articles will be required to lend it weight; and I should like to urge upon even the busiest of our working members that if he were to write--say one article a yearit would be no very heavy tax upon himself, and a great assistance to the Journal.

4. If the "Chronicle" is to be financially successful, by which I mean that it is not to be too heavy a burden upon the funds arising from members' subscriptions, it will be important to increase our circulation. This may easily be done if our members will see that their libraries subscribe for a copy in addition to the copy which the librarian may receive as a member, and if they also endeavour to secure fresh members or subscribers.

5. Another means of assisting the financial success of the Journal may be found if our members will endeavour to secure the insertion of advertisements on our wrapper, which will obviously be an excellent channel for advertising library appointments, books wanted and other advertisements, which are now sent to some general organ.

I have, as I think it will be admitted, proposed nothing that is not racticable and easily within our reach, if the future editor receives from the members of the Association the co-operation he is entitled to expect. On his behalf, as well as on my own, I invite those who are present and those who will see these words in type, to communicate any suggestions which may occur to them as likely to increase the interest or add to the usefulness of their own organ,

The Library Chronicle.

POSTSCRIPT.

As the arrangements for the publication of the LIBRARY CHRONICLE are not yet completed, and as the first number is not likely to appear before the 1st of February, an account of the January Monthly Meeting is appended to the present number of the NOTES.

JANUARY MONTHLY MEETING.

THE Fourth Monthly Meeting of the Seventh Year of the Association was held at the London Institution on Friday, January 4th, 1884, at 8 P.M., Mr. F. T. Barrett, Librarian, of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow, in the Chair.

The Minutes of the last Meeting having been read and confirmed, the following gentlemen being engaged in library administration, were announced as having joined the Association:--- Mr. Frederick Braby, President of F. Braby & Co.'s Library, Ida Wharf, Deptford, S.E.; Mr. James D. Brown, Senior Assistant, Mitchell Library,

Glasgow, reported by Mr. Barrett; and Mr. William Simpson, Libr rian, Free Library, Dumbarton, reported by Mr. Barrett.

The following gentlemen who had been duly proposed and elected at the previous Meeting were elected Members of the Association:Mr. R. S. Faber; Mr. Charles Hindley; and Mr. John Moore, Chairman of the Local Board, Northwich.

The following gentleman was proposed by Mr. Haggerston and seconded by the Hon. Secretary, for election at the next Monthly Meeting: Mr. William Beer, 30, Ashfield Terrace East, Newcastle upon-Tyne.

The Chairman then called upon Mr. H. R. Tedder to read a Paper on "The Free Library Movement in 1883."

A discussion followed and Mr. E. C. Thomas moved: "That Committee be appointed to collect information as to the working of the Free Libraries Acts in small places."

The motion was seconded by Mr. Haggerston.

Mr. Overall objected that the motion came within Article 23 of the Constitution, and could not be brought forward.

The Chairman ruled that the motion fell within the provisions of Article 21, and was in order.

Mr. Overall then moved "That the question be adjourned, and s meeting of the Association be called specially to consider this question The motion was seconded by Mr. Welch, but upon being put was lost by 8 votes to 2. The original motion was then put and carried by 7 votes to 2.

Mr. Overall gave notice that at the next Monthly Meeting be would move that the motion be rescinded.

Mr. Thomas then moved and Mr. Haggerston seconded a motion to the effect that the proposed Committee consist of the following members (with power to add to their number), who have all er pressed by letter their willingness to serve on the Committee:Major W. B. Arnison, Chairman, Free Library, Penrith; J. Ballin ger, Librarian, Free Library, Doncaster; J. Bailey, Librarian, Free Library, Smethwick; F. T. Barrett, Librarian, Mitchell Library, Glasgow; Ambrose Berry, North Moor Free Library, Oldham; T. Bonner, Librarian, Free Public Library, Ealing; J. Potter Briscoe, Librarian, Free Public Libraries, Nottingham; J. D. Buckland, Librarian, Free Public Library, Stockport; D. R. Chapman, Librar ian, Free Public Library and Museum, Hereford; M. Comerford, Librarian, Free Public Library, Dundalk; A. Cotgreave, Librarian, Free Public Library, Richmond; P. Cowell, Librarian, Free Public Library, Liverpool; B. A. Dromgoole, Member Free Library Com mittee, St. Helens; G. Easter, Librarian, Free Library, Norwich; J. Elliot, Librarian, Free Library, Wolverhampton; G. B. Finch, Member Free Library Committee, Wigan; J. E. Foster, Member Free Library Committee, Cambridge; D. Geddes, Librarian, Free Library, Blackburn; D. Gorman, Librarian, Free Library, Chesterfield; W. H. Greenhough, Librarian, Free Public Library, Reading; W. J. Haggerston, Librarian, Free Public Libraries, Newcastle-uponTyne; Ald. R. Handley, Chairman, Free Library, Blackpool; J. D.

Jones, Librarian, Free Library, Runcorn; Mr. Lacy, Chairman, Free Public Library, St. Helens; T. Lakin, Librarian, Free Library, Devonport; Alfred Lancaster, Librarian, Free Public Library, St. Helens; Charles Madeley, Librarian, Museum, Warrington; William May, Librarian, Free Library, Birkenhead; Alfred Morgan, Free Library, Walsall; Jas. Needham, Member Free Library Committee, Stockport; The Mayor of Wigan; Mr. John Plant, Librarian, Royal Museum and Library, Salford; T. G. Rylands, Member Museum Committee, Warrington; Samuel Smith, City Librarian, Worcester; W. J. Stewart, Member Free Public Library Committee, Liverpool; C. W. Sutton, Librarian, Free Library, Manchester; John Taylor, City Librarian, Bristol; S. E. Thompson, Librarian, Free Public Library, Swansea; E. Tonks, Member Library Committee, Birmingham Free Libraries; Thos. Wilcock, Librarian, Free Library, Chester; W. H. K. Wright, Public Librarian, Plymouth; J. Yates, Librarian, Public Library, Leeds.

That the following gentlemen (who have agreed to serve) be appointed Secretaries of the Committee :-W. R. Credland, SubLibrarian, Free Public Libraries, Manchester; T. Formby, SubLibrarian, Free Public Libraries, Liverpool; G. Wakeling, SubLibrarian, Free Public Libraries, Birmingham.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE WRITINGS

OF THE LATE W. STANLEY JEVONS, LL.D., F.R.S.

1857.

On the cirrous form of Clouds; (in Philosophical Magazine, vol. XIV,
pp. 22-35).
On a Sun Gauge; (in Philosophical Magazine, vol. XIV, pp. 351-356).
Comparison of the Land and Railway Policy of New South Wales.

The Public Lands of New South Wales. (Articles in the Empire
newspaper, 7th April and 23rd June), Sydney, New South Wales.
1858.

On the forms of Clouds, (Phil. Mag. vol. xv, pp. 241-255).

1859.

On the semi-diurnal Oscillation of the Barometer, (in Phil. Mag. vol. XVII, pp. 313-323). Some data concerning the Climate of Australia and New Zealand. By W. S. Jevons, (Lately) Assayer in the Sydney Branch of the Royal Mint, pp. 47-98. Chap. I. Temperature of Air in Australasia. II. Rain in Australia. III. History of Floods and Droughts of New South Wales. IV. Periodicity of Floods and Droughts discussed. V. Water Courses of Australia. VI. The Barometer. VII. Concluding Remarks. 8vo. ["Some conclusions in this chapter are derived from a descriptive detail of the winds of Australia, which had to be omitted from this paper on account of want of space."]

Mr. Jevons's Meteorological readings at Sydney were published weekly in the Empire newspaper, July 1855, to 1858, and monthly in the Sydney Mag. of Science and Art, May 1857, to June 1858.

1861.

On the Deficiency of Rain in an elevated Rain-Gauge, as caused by Wind. (Brit. Ass. Rep. part 2, p. 62; Philosophical Magazis, 22, pp. 421-433).

1862.

Diagram, showing all the Weekly Accounts of the Bank of England since the passing of the Bank Act of 1844, with the Amor of Bank of England, Private, and Joint Stock Bank Promissory Notes in Circulation during each week, and the Bank Minimu Rate of Discount. London, sheet 20 by 30 inches, coloured This diagram represents to the eye all the useful results of tables, containing about 113,000 figures.

Diagram, showing the Price of the English Funds, the Price of
Wheat, the Number of Bankruptcies, and the Rate of Discount
Monthly, since 1731; so far as the same have been ascertained.
London, sheet 20 by 30 inches, coloured.

This diagram is drawn from tables carefully compiled for the purpose. and containing more than 12,000 figures. Explanatory Notes and references are appended to each diagram.

Remarks on the Australian Gold Fields [1859] (Manchester Philo sophical Society, Mem. 1, pp. 115-130).

(1.) On the Study of Periodic Commercial Fluctuations; with five diagrams. (2.) Notice of a General Mathematical Theory of Political Economy. Papers read in the F. Section of the British Association at the Cambridge Meeting. (Report, Proceedings of Sections, pp. 157-8).

1863.

A Serious Fall in the Value of Gold ascertained, and its social effects set forth. London, E. Stanford.

1864.

Pure Logic or the Logic of quality apart from quantity, with remarks on Boole's System, and on the relation of Logic and Mathematics. London, Edward Stanford.

1865.

The Coal Question: an Enquiry concerning the Progress of the Nation, and the probable exhaustion of our Coal Mines. London and Cambridge, Macmillan & Co.

On the Variation of Prices, and the Value of the Currency since 1782. Paper read before the London Statistical Society, May, 1865. (Journal of the Statistical Society, vol. XXVIII, pp. 294 320), with four diagrams.

1866.

On the frequent Autumnal Pressure in the Money Market, and the Action of the Bank of England. Paper read before the Statistical Society, April, 1866. (Journal of the Statistical Society of London, vol. XXIX, pp. 235-253).

On a Logical Abacus (Proceedings of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, vol. v, p. 161).

The Coal Question, &c. Second edition. London, 8vo, XXVI, 383 pp.