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notice. It is well known among us, that since 

 the formation of the Subscription Library, in 1775, 

 a considerable portion of the income of the Insti- 

 tution has been expended, under the judicious 

 management of successive committees, in the 

 purchase of standard works in every department 

 of literature and science. Its shelves now contain 

 nearly 15,000 volumes, which, however valuable 

 in themselves, would, without arrangement, be 

 little more than a mere chaotic mass of learning, 

 " rudis indigestaque moles !" Through the means 

 of Mr. Clarke's excellent catalogue, the rich store 

 of varied information which they contain is laid 

 open to the subscribers, and made accessible by 

 every possible facility of reference. It has long 

 been my conviction that the subscribers generally 

 are not aware of the treasure they possess in Mr. 

 Clarke's admirable catalogue, and it is therefore 

 peculiarly gratifying to me to have the means of 

 doing ample justice to the modest merit of its 

 compiler, by adducing the testimony of the ablest 

 and most enlightened of British bibliographers in 

 favour of his labours : that testimony is now be- 

 fore me in a communication, with which I have 

 been favoured, from the Rev. Thomas Hartwell 

 Home, who is engaged in preparing a catalogue 

 of the printed works in the British Museum. The 

 liberality with which that gentleman has ex- 

 pressed his sentiments on the works of a fellow- 



