Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/230

 2 i8 The Library. copyright requires that copies shall be deposited in the public libraries, but copy- right is rarely claimed, and I do not think that the Colonial Governments burdened as they are, not only with the expenses of ordinary government, but with so much other work which is here carried on by private enterprise are likely to spend much at present on bibliography. In a work known to all of you, 1 I attempted a catalogue of publications issued in all the Colonies, and I am sorry to say that English public libraries, for which Mr. Campbell desires this information, have not, so far, given me much encouragement. Among them how many could I reckon as subscribers? Not twelve. After five years, owing to the recent financial troubles and lack of funds, I have had, for the present, to suspend the publication. Knowing the difficulties attending the compilation of such a work, I do not think it likely to be undertaken by the various Colonial Governments. Mr. MACALISTER : Before you close the discussion, Mr. Chairman, I should like to add my tribute of thanks to the reader of the paper. Only yester- day I was lamenting and blaming myself that, although I had passed the Institute so often, I had never carried into effect my often-made resolution to visit its library, of which I had heard a great deal ; but after hearing Mr. Boose's paper, I rather congratulate myself, for now I shall be able to learn more of it in an hour than I might have learnt in a week. I have never listened to a better paper, either as regards the historical portion of it, or the practical and descrip- tive part of it, which seems in a few sentences to bring before us the varied contents of the Library. It was said by a cynic, whose name I forget, that "gratitude is a lively sense of favours to come," and I am sure that Mr. Boose will take it rather as a compliment than otherwise, if I confess frankly that my gratitude is tinctured in this way, for I am going to ask him a favour which I feel quite sure he will grant, and which I feel quite sure his Council will regard as a practical carrying out of one of their most important objects, viz., the diffusion of knowledge about the Colonies and Dependencies. I want him to draw up a list, or rather two lists, of the best books on colonial subjects. I shall gladly print them in our magazine for the service of public libraries throughout the country. One list should be a rather generous one and contain such books as should be within the means of comparatively wealthy libraries, like those of Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester ; and another a more modest list which might be adopted by the smaller public libraries. It is no reflection upon our zealous public librarians to say that they cannot know the best books on these subjects. It is beyond the reach of any general librarian to know them, unless circumstances make him such an expert as Mr. Boose has become. I hope, and believe, that I am not asking a thing that will entail great labour upon Mr. Boose as I am quite sure he has the material at his finger ends. I am sure that Mr. Boose will understand that this request is really a proof of my high appreciation of his admirable paper. Mr. F. H. DANGAR : I share in the gratification which I am sure is felt by all present, at what Mr. Boose has told us about the Library of the Royal Colonial Institute, and I have great pleasure in congratulating him on his able and instructive paper. As a Member of the Library Committee of the Institute, I have many opportunities of appreciating the zeal and ability which Mr. Boose has shown in the administration of his office, and to him in a great measure the Fellows of the Institute are indebted for the very excellent library we possess. The meet- ing will no doubt be interested in knowing that I have been fortunate enough to secure a very valuable book, viz. : Captain Cook's Journal of his Voyages in the Endeavour," 17681770, when he discovered Port Jackson, and which it is my intention to present to my old colony of New South Wales, where I have no doubt it will be regarded with great interest. I believe that two other copies of the journal exist, one being in possession of the Queen, and the other of the Admiralty. I shall be very glad to leave the book here, for a short time, where Fellows and their friends may be able to see it. 1 The Torch and Colonial Book Circular.