Oct. 9. 1852.] 



I^OTES AND QUERIES. 



335 



of the fathers and schoolmen furnish admirable 

 precedents : the three indices attached to St. 

 Thomas's Summa, for instance, afford a fair summa 

 in themselves, supposing one never read a line of 

 the work. The value of a good index, whether as 

 regards time saved, or information gained that 

 anight otherwise be lost, cannot be too highly es- 

 timated. 



2. Some writers rely too much on the knowledge 

 of their readers ; one form of this error is that of 

 giving quotations without references. 



In certain cases the giving name, place, &c. for 

 •each quotation might be objected to in the text, 

 or even in a note ; well, let them appear in any 

 case in the index. If Milton be quoted in the text, 

 ;andyou object to giving the reference in the same 

 place, see that the index mentions " Milton quoted, 

 Par. Lost^' for instance, such a book and line. 

 Let not the Dictionui'y of Hackneyed Quota- 

 tions induce a violation of this rule. In some 

 works a separate "index of authors quoted" 

 ■{giving exact references) would be desirable ; but 

 in every case, if the reference be not given in text 

 or note, it should be given in the index. 



3. In making a quotation, use the very words 

 and orthography of the writer cited, giving an 

 accurate reference to volume and page, and, unless 

 the work be a very common one, edition, date, 

 and place of publication should be added. Do 

 not give quotations second-hand if possible. 



4. Omission or insufficiency of dates is a common 

 ■defect and a great source of confusion. Some 

 writers are satisfied with giving a date at the com- 

 mencement of a chapter, and referring to it, 

 perhaps, throughout the book as " this year." 

 Dates should be printed at the top of every page, 

 and in the margin whenever they change. 



5. Running titles are very useless ; either have 

 the subject-matter of the current page as the title, 

 or none at all. 



6. In mentioning a nobleman or bishop, give 

 the personal as well as the title or official name. 

 The not observing this rule causes much incon- 

 venience. 



7. In quoting from foreign writers or the dead 

 languages, as a general rule translate the passage 

 in a note, unless the work be expressly intended 

 for the few. 



8. Books should be made as suggestive as pos- 

 sible, and the reader put into possession of all the 

 available sources of information on the subject 

 treated of, so that he can follow it up if so in- 

 ■clined. 



In many cases It would be very desirable to 

 append a list of all the books which treat or throw 

 light on the subject ; with short notes, if possible, 

 respecting the character and value of each work 

 in the list. 



9. In reprints no alteration should be made 

 "without full mention j in every case an account 



of all the former editions should be given, and ia 

 some instances the number of copies in each 

 edition, and even the month of publication. Au 

 author should be preserved in his full integrity, 

 and any the slightest alteration strictly accounted 

 for. The system of suppression and mutilation 

 cannot be too severely reprehended. 



Setting out with the principle that as much as 

 possible should be worked up in the text, yet in 

 many cases notes cannot be dispensed with. The 

 matter, however, in these notes ought to be care- 

 fully indexed. 



10. The days of patrons and fulsome prefaces 

 are gone by, but we still meet with whining pre- 

 faces deprecating criticism, and making all sorts 

 of excuses, " hoping the indulgent public will take 

 the writer's peculiar circumstances into consider- 

 ation," and so forth. The absurdity of this pro- 

 ceeding is evident, as a book stands or falls on its 

 own merits. As a man will not buy bad bread 

 for himself or his family, though the baker "la- 

 bours under peculiar and unfortunate circum- 

 stances," no more will he buy a book, though the 

 author " labours under " an itch for writing, and 

 the " peculiar circumstances " of having nothing 

 to say. It is often said that the preface is the 

 most difficult part of the book to write (even still 

 more so than the title-page), and I think it partly 

 arises from the supposed obligation of writing one 

 in every case, whether wanted or not. 



11. I much regret the ancient colophon, and 

 would gladly see it revived. 



12. Booh margins I have already spoken of 

 (Vol. vi., p. 73.), and need only add that the most 

 important are those in the breadth, viz. the back 

 and front margins. 



13. How full of repose and gi'ateful to the eye 

 is the toned and mellow paper of books of the olden 

 time ! How painful is the dazzling white of the 

 present day ! Surely toned paper could be pro- 

 duced as cheaply as the other, and brought into 

 common use, to the great saving of the eyes and 

 comfort of the mind. 



At the conclusion of these rambling " hints," 

 let me crave a receipt for varnishing old books. 

 For instance, when one does not wish to cut down 

 an old tome by rebinding it, and the ordinary 

 means of brightening and polishing fails to affect 

 the worn leather, a varnish is sometimes applied, 

 and with good results. I have some books done 

 in this way, and should be glad to get the receipt 

 for making it.* Mariconda. 



* Mr. Pickering's admirable press anticipates most 

 of my observations, but my wish would be to have 

 matiT/ such as his. I had intended to have said some- 

 thing about book ornaments, initials, head and tail 

 pieces, borders, &c., but must defer it to another time. 



