OF PAMPHLETS, TRACTS, PROCLAMATIONS, IN THE LIBRARY OF THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF-LINCOLN'S INN. LONDON PRINTED AT THE CHISWICK PRESS FOR THE PREFACE HE Society of Lincoln's Inn has in its Library a very TH large number of pamphlets and other publications of a similar nature. Some of these, e.g., reports of Trials, are included in the general Catalogue, but the bulk of them had not hitherto been catalogued according to modern requirements, though a manuscript slip-catalogue rendered them available to a certain extent. The Masters of the Bench, wishing to make the pamphlets more easily accessible, directed me to prepare a catalogue, to include all items down to the year 1700 as a first instalment. In order to make this as complete as possible, it was decided that a very wide interpretation should be placed on the word "pamphlet," so that sermons, trials, proclamations, et hoc genus omne, should be included, whether or not they already appeared in the general Catalogue. The question of the best arrangement of a catalogue of this nature is one of some difficulty. In the old manuscript slip-catalogue referred to above, each item appeared under the head of the author, when known, and where this was impossible, under the subject. This plan works admirably with known authors, but in other cases is exceedingly troublesome. It was therefore decided to follow the plan adopted in the Catalogue of the Thomason Tracts, recently issued by the Trustees of the British Museum, and to print the titles in chronological order so far as possible. The advantages of this system to the student of history are incalculable; a proclamation or speech may beget a sermon, which in turn may give rise to a tract. The pamphleteers |
