factories, Y.M.C.A., etc., accompanied by a slip calling attention to them, and furnishing a little more detailed information about the library, it is hoped to increase the membership and circulation.

SYRACUSE (N.Y.): Central Library.-At a meeting of the Library Commissioners recently it was decided to establish library stations in each fire-engine house in the city. It is hoped to extend the station system later so as to include the large engine works, factories and similar manufacturing establishments.

UTAH: Travelling Libraries in.—A report on the travelling library work conducted by the women's clubs of Utah was presented at a recent club federation meeting. It was stated that three travelling libraries were in use, and that applications had been received from many sparsely settled districts. Two more libraries are to be established.

WASHINGTON: Capitol.- An explosion followed by fire caused much damage and threatened general destruction in the Capitol on 6th November. The explosion occurred directly under the Supreme Court room, which was badly wrecked. The file room, in which the official records and documents were stored, suffered severely, and the extent of the loss has not yet been fully stated. The law library was damaged by smoke, fire and water, but the loss is not serious. It is estimated at about $1500, and the books injured were chiefly textbooks and commentaries, which can be easily replaced. The valuable Toner collection and the more important sections of the library were unharmed.

WASHINGTON: Congressional Library.-For the first time in its history the library was opened to readers in the evening on Satur day, 1st October. The evening opening is in accordance with the Act of Congress, approved 15th March last, when appropriation was made for the additional expense thus entailed. The new departure has proved entirely successful. On the first evening the beautiful building was thronged, and the number of readers was larger than is usual during the day; in all about 1500 persons visited the library. An exhibit of rare and valuable books, prepared by A. R. Spofford, is now displayed in the north-west gallery of the library building. It includes fine examples of early printed books, early Spanish and West Indian books and maps, manuscripts, missals, and an interesting collection of Americana.

RECORD OF BIBLIOGRAPHY AND LIBRARY

U

LITERATURE.

NDER this heading we shall record, month by month, the titles of bibliographies and works on library economy and kindred topics which may have appeared in this and other countries during the month preceding the issue of the journal.

In the case of the more important works, the titles will be accompanied by careful critical notices.

In addition to this, the field of bibliographical research will be carefully watched, with a view to keeping our readers posted in what is being undertaken and accomplished by such institutions as the Bibliographical Societies of London and Edinburgh, the Institut International de Bibliographie of Brussels, the Bureau Bibliographique of Paris, and kindred societies, in the hope that by so doing we, as an Association, may be awakened to a much keener appreciation of the value of this most important science of books than we have displayed in the past.

The report presented to the annual meeting of the BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY of London, on Monday, the 19th December, gives a highly favourable account of the Society's progress. Despite the loss of an unusual number of members by death, the roll of the Society has always been full, and the balance sheet shows a very considerable surplus. The chief publication for 1899 will be an illustrated monograph on Antoine Vérard, by Mr. John Macfarlane, of the British Museum, Mr. Wheatley's promised monograph on "Portraits in English Books" being not yet ready. At the conclusion of the annual business meeting, Mr. F. Shum of Bath read a short paper on Some Books about Bath, and Mr. Weale exhibited facsimiles from the newly discovered Missale Speciale in the smaller type of the Mainz Psalter of 1457.

The INSTITUT INTERNATIONAL DE BIBLIOGRAPHIE of Brussels has just put out the first volume of its Bulletin for the year 1898. It is as usual almost exclusively devoted to the interests of decimal classification, and includes a most valuable contribution to the literature of that subject in the form of a Manuel de la classification bibliographique décimale. Exigencies of time and space prevent us from giving an exhaustive review of the interesting collection of papers contained in this volume. We hope to return to the subject next month.

The BUREAU BIBLIOGRAPHIQUE, which was established in Paris in the early part of last year, is justifying its existence by the issue of a set of rules for securing uniformity in the compilation of bibliographical notices, to serve as a guide to those who may be called upon to cooperate in the preparation of the Bibliographia Universalis.

The forthcoming volume of Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion will include among other papers one by J. H. Davies on Early Welsh Bibliography, which will be illustrated with facsimile reproductions of the title pages of several of the earliest printed Welsh books.

By far the most important contribution that has yet been made to the bibliography of Welsh literature is the Catalogue of the books contained in the Welsh department of the Cardiff Free Library, compiled by John Ballinger and James Ifano Jones, which has just been issued. It is a volume of some 500 closely-printed pages, in which the titles of upwards of 12,000 works are recorded. Its preparation must have entailed a prodigious amount of labour, and we most heartily congratulate the compilers upon the completion of their task. A review of the catalogue will appear in an early number of the Record.

We know of no more striking illustrations of the growth and development of London than that which the Post Office London Directory furnishes. The first directory, which was issued in the year 1677, was a modest, unassuming, even despicable little volume when compared with the proportions of the current issue of Kelly, with its 3000 and odd pages. One shudders to think what it will be like in another 250 years. Happily none of us will have occasion to consult it! Striking as is the contrast which we have drawn, the growth of the work has been slow and almost imperceptible, hence it would be in the highest degree interesting to be able to trace that growth through all the various stages of its development. Mr. Bernard Kettle of the Guildhall Library, with a view to satisfying our curiosity, is collecting material for a "Bibliography of the London Directories," and will be grateful for any information bearing upon the history of his subject; or as to the present location of copies of the earlier issues. We wish Mr. Kettle success in his undertaking, and shall look forward to the pleasure of reviewing his handiwork.

GENERAL.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF BIBLIOGRAPHY.

STEIN (Henri). "Manuel de Bibliographie générale Bibliotheca bibliographica nova". Paris, Picard et fils, 1898. 8vo, pp. xx., 895.

Supersedes both Petzholdt and Vallée, and in spite of its many shortcomings is of the utmost utility and merit.

ITALY. OTTINO (G.) e FUMAGALLI (G.).

"Bibliotheca

bibliographica Italica: Catalogo degli scritti di bibliologia, bibliografia e biblioteconomia pubblicati in Italia e di quelli risguardanti l'Italia pubblicati all'estero."... Secondo supplemento annuale, 1896, per cura di Giuseppe Ottino. Torino, Carlo Clausen, 1897.

The first country to recognise, on account of its vastness, the necessity for renouncing the universal bibliographies of bibliographies, in favour of special works limited to one country or one particular branch of science, was Italy. Not content to merely recognise the need, Messrs. Ottino and Fumagalli had the courage of their conviction to set to work to furnish not only their own country, but the bibliographical world at large, with a record of all bibliographies published either in Italy or relating to that country; and were by dint of indomitable perseverance enabled to put to press in 1889 the first volume of their "Bibliotheca "- -a work which cannot be too highly praised. In the present supplement-the second which has been issued since the completion of the work-which carries it down to the end of the year 1896, the high standard which characterised the earlier volumes is fully maintained.

GEOLOGY.-MARGERIE (Emmanuel de). "Catalogue des bibliographies géologiques rédigé avec le concours des membres de la Commission bibliographique du Congrès,” par E. de Margerie. (Publication du Congrès géologique international.) Paris, Gauthier-Villars et fils, 1896. 4to, pp. 733.

An admirable piece of work comprising no fewer than 3918 titles, most of which have been collated with the originals by the editor himself.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES OF PARTICULAR SUBJECTS.

AFRICA. HEAWOOD (Edward). African books of 1897-98.
In the Geographical Journal, Sept., 1898, pp. 300-306.
A review of the principal works relating to Africa, published during
the past twelve months.

ALPINE.-BALL (John). "The Western Alps." New edition, reconstructed and revised by W. A. B. Coolidge (being vol. i. of the "Alpine Guide"). London, Longmans, 1898. Sm. 8vo, pp. li., 612.

Contains 28 pp. of bibliography, classified as follows: Books relating to the Western Alps; Guide books relating to the Western Alps; Alpine periodicals; Maps relating to the Western Alps.

ANARCHY.-NETTLAU (M.). "Bibliographie de l'Anarchie." Préface d'Elisée Reclus. Bruxelles, Bibliothèque des "Temps Nouveaux," 1897. 8vo, pp. 295.

Specially interesting on account of the large number of magazine and newspaper articles which it includes. The value of the work is considerably enhanced by the inclusion of short critical notices.

BASQUE LANGUAGE.-VINSON (Julien). "Essai d'une

bibliographie de la langue basque: additions et corrections. Paris, Maisonneuve, 1898. 8vo, pp. 521-818.

A supplement to Prof. Vison's work which deservedly has beer Couronné par l'Institut. He describes some ninety Basque works which have appeared since 1891, and notes 300 works as well as journals and reviews in which reference has been made to Basque or the Basques. BERMUDA. COLE (George Watson). "Bermuda in periodi

cal literature: a bibliography" [No. 2 of the Bulletin of Bibliography Pamphlets]. Boston [U.S.], Boston Book Co., 1898. 32mo. pp. 25.

Some 200 titles are included in this diminutive list, most of which are accompanied by detailed explanatory notes.

BLIND, Books for the.-RUTHERFORD (John). "William Moon and his work for the blind." London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1898. Sm. 8vo, pp. vii., 280.

Pages 270-280 contain a classified list of works published in Dr. Moon's type for the blind.

COLONIAL COMMERCE.-LORD (Eleanor Louisa).

dustrial experiments in the British colonies of North America." Baltimore, John Hopkins Press, 1898. Svo, pp. x., 154.

Contains 4 pp. of bibliography.

CRETE. PICKFORD-SMITH (R.A.H.). "Cretan Sketches." London, Bentley & Son, 1898. 8vo. pp. 270.

Contains a 7 pp. annotated list of works upon Crete, comprising seventy-six titles.

CROSS. SEYMOUR (W. Wood). "The Cross in tradition, history and art." New York, Putnam, 1898. Includes a bibliography of the subject occupying 10 pages. EASTERN QUESTION.-BENGESCO (G.). "Essai d'une notice bibliographique sur la question d'Orient Européen," 1821-1897. Bruxelles, Lacomblez, 1897. 8vo, pp. 327.

This list comprises 2142 works published in France and Belgium relating to the principal events connected with the Eastern Question in Europe, between 1821, the date of the first insurrection in Greece and the year 1897. The arrangement is chronological with an index of authors, anonyms and pseudonyms.

ENGRAVING, ETCHING AND PROCESS ILLUSTRATION.

SINGER (Hans W.) and STRANG (Wm.). "Etching, engraving and other methods of printing pictures." London, Kegan, Paul, Trench & Co., 1897. Sm. 4to.

Pp. 188-221 are devoted to a bibliography of English, French and German works which treat of artistic and mechanical process of illustrations. The arrangement is chronological, with an alphabetical list of authors.