The Library. 31 



is hidden away an immense amount of information of value to students of sociology, 

 history, ethnology, &c. Of specially important publications may be mentioned the 

 various geological, archasological, ethnological, and other surveys, the gazetteers 

 issued by the Indian Government, and the difierent departmental reports. This room 

 has been fitted with roUing book-stacks which contain long sets of periodicals, agricul- 

 tural journals, and publications of a similar nature, including a collection of colonial 

 municipal reports, regulations, and mayors' minutes. On the ground floor are some 

 of the proceedings of the learned and literary societies, many of which are of great 

 importance. It is only necessary to name a few, such as the Royal Society of Canada, 

 the Royal Societies of Victoria and other Australian States, the Royal Geographical 

 Societies of the different portions of the Empire, as well as the British and Foreign 

 Geographical Societies, such as those of London, Liverpool, Paris, Lisbon, Vienna, 

 Madrid, and Antwerp. Next to the general library, on the first floor, is situated the 

 law library and map-room. This portion of the library is one of its most valuable 

 sections, for it not only contains almost complete sets of the statutes of the Dominions, 

 Colonies, and India, but also long sets of the various law reports and law journals and 

 many treatises on special aspects of Colonial law. 



The practical importance of the law library has been demonstrated by the frequent 

 reference to its contents by lawyers engaged upon Privy Council and other legal work 

 connected with the Dominions and Crown Colonies. In the law library is also kept 

 an extensive collection of several thousand maps and charts, presented mainly by 

 the Admiralty, the War Ofiice, and the Overseas Governments. 



The additions to the library are catalogued upon cards, and every item which 

 deals in any way with the British Empire, be it book, pamphlet, or magazine article, 

 is carefully noted for future reference. The first printed catalogue was published 

 in 1881, and the last in 1901, since which date no catalogue has been issued for 

 distribution. The printed catalogues form a fairly complete bibliography of the literary 

 activities of the Empire, and the manuscript catalogues reveal the immense range of 

 literature published during recent years. Amongst the treasures of the library are 

 many books of great value and rarity, both bibliographically and historically. 

 The collection of drawings made by William Westall, A.R.A., who accompanied 

 Flinders on his expedition to the shores of Australia in 1801-2, is unique, as are 

 those of scenes in the Transvaal and in Rhodesia made by A. A. Anderson. The 

 collection of books relating to Australia is extensive, and contains the chief col- 

 lections of voyages to the South Seas, a valuable set of Gould's Birds, and many 

 scarce pamphlets. The Dominion of Canada is also well represented, and amongst 

 the rarer books may be noted Colden's " History of the Five Nations " (1747) ; Jeffrey's 

 " Natural and Civil History of the French Dominions in North and South America " 

 (1761) ; Rogers' " Account of North America " (1765) ; Sagard's " Le Grand Voyage du 

 Pays des Hurons " (1632) ; Bacqueville's " Histoire de I'Amerique Septentrionale " ; 

 Charlevoix' " Histoire de La Nouvelle France " (1744), and the celebrated series of 

 the Jesuit Relations. The literature relating to the West Indies is extensive, and 

 contains Davies' " History of the Caribby Islands" (1666) ; Burton's " English Empire 

 in America " (1685) ; Blome's " Jamaica " (1672), and Hickeringill's " Jamaica Viewed," 

 an extremely rare publication issued in 1661. The African section. Eastern, Western, 

 and Southern, is of great interest. Here are the sumptuous volumes issued by Ogilby 

 in 1670, containing some of the earhest illustrations of the Cape, the quaint literary 

 hoax written by Damberger in 1801, Kolbe's " Present State of the Cape " (1718), and 

 the works of the principal African voyagers and discoverers, such as Sparmann, 



