1876.] '±1 [Strong. 



half its value, if it has not a pretty full index. It is 

 almost impossible without such a guide, to reproduce on 

 demand the most striking thoughts or facts the book 

 may contain, whether for citation, or further considera- 

 tion. If I had my own way in the modification of the 

 copyright law, I think I would make the duration of 

 the privilege depend materially on its having such a 

 directory. One may recollect generally that certain 

 thoughts or facts are to be found in a certain book ; 

 but without a good index such recollection may be 

 hardly more available than that of the cabin boy, who 

 knew where the ship's tea kettle was, because he saw 

 it fall overboard. In truth a very large part of every 

 man's good reading falls overboard, and unless he has 

 good indexes, he will never find it. I have three books," 

 said he, " in my library which I value more than any 

 other three, except the very books of which they are a 

 verbal index ; Cruden's Concordance of the Bible, Mrs. 

 Cowden Clark's Concordance of Shakespeare, and 

 Prendergast's Concordance of Milton." The estimate 

 of good indexes thus expressed illustrates how earnest 

 was his search for truth and knowledge, and how re- 

 luctantly he let go any of his acquisitions. 



Mr. Binney's thoroughness was accompanied by 

 strictly methodical habits. He had a place for every 

 thing and everything had its place. The arrange- 

 ment of his briefs, of his papers and books, and equal- 

 ly of his stores of knowledge and thought was perfectly 

 systematic. It was this that enabled him ever to pro- 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XVI. 97. F 



