86 S. Mis. 53, 



The number of articles received under the copyrlgVit law is some- 

 what larger for the last, than for the preceding year. It has increased 

 from year to year since the organization of the Institution, although 

 no special efforts have been made to induce publishers to comply with 

 the law. Every book which has been received has been immediately 

 and carefully recorded, and a certificate of deposit sent (generally 

 by return of mail) to the depositor. The same care has been exer- 

 cised for the most insignificant as for the most important; and has 

 been dictated by a sense of justice to the publishers, inasmuch as the 

 deposit was supposed to be essential to the perfection of their title. 

 Had the articles thus sent been regarded merely as donations to the 

 library, many of them might have been differently treated. Loose 

 sheets of music, school-books, and many " cheap pubhcations," might 

 merely have been placed together in some spot where they would 

 long have remained undisturbed. For themselves, and as parts of an 

 imperfect collection, they were hardl}^ worth recording. It should be 

 particularly observed that any article, however apparently worthless, 

 acquires value and importance as an integral part of a complete col- 

 lection. A collection of all the productions of the American press 

 would, if perfect and entire, teach lessons which could not be gleaned 

 rom its parts. 

 It would show the extent of the literary labors of the time. 



Vol. XXXEK. — Accounts for laboring work done for Sir John Webb at Adstocke, 1636. 

 Fol. 



Vol. XL.— "A cash booke for moneys received and paid ffor my master, William Archer, 

 esq., per George Burton, 1707." Fol. 



Vol. XLI. — An account-book of the Archer family, commencing in the year 1691. Narrow 

 fol. 



Vol. XLII.— The account-book of Thomas Brook of Cold Hall, Co. Suffolk, 1713. Fol. 



Vol. XLIII.— "The accounts of my charge and all receipts for rents and other concerns 

 for my master, the Hon. Sir John Newton, Bart., from and since the 11th of June, 1716, by 

 me, John Richardson." Fol. 



Vol. XLIV. — " The accounts of the Honoured Squire Archer, from my furst goeing downe 

 into Suffdlke, June the 13th, 1692, to looke after tht'se consarns for your worship." Fol. 



Vol. XLV. — Household account-book, 1715. 4to. 



Vol. XLVI. — A small account-book of Sir John Newton, commencing October, 1699. 4to. 



Vol. XL\T^I. — Account-book of the Rev. H. Arlington. 4to. 



Vol. XLVIIL— Account-book of John Fi-ench, 16.53. 



Vol. XLIX. — Wright's account-book, J676. Thin 4to. 



Vol. L. — Mr. Poole's account-book from 1675 to 1679. Fol. This volume contains some 

 curious entries. 



Vol. LI. — Private account-book of Sir John Newton, commencing in March, 1719-20. 

 12mo. 



Vol. LIT. — Memorandum-book of expenses of Antony Fowle, esq., of Goudhurst, Co. Kent, 

 a justice of the peace, 1671, written in a copy of Lilly's Ephemcris for that year. 12 mo. 



Vol. LIII. — A book of the accounts of the Hon. Lady Archer, from 1683 to 1689. Fol. 



Vol. LIV. — The Easter-book of Campsall, Co. York, commencing in the year 1.576. Small 

 fol. This is of an earlier period than it was proposed to illustrate by this collection, but it is 

 admitted as a specimen of more ancient accounts. 



There is scarcely a branch of trade, an article of manufacture, or a produce of agriculture, 

 the history of which is not illustrated by these papers. They are often brief; but a close 

 examination can scarcely (ail of discovering minute traces of past times in particulars for 

 which it would be vain to search elsewhere. To say more might exaggerate the importance 

 of the collection ; to say less would be to conceal its value, which, to some extent, may be 

 Baid to consist chiefly in the circumstance that the information it contains could not be 

 yielded by the treasures of any library in the world, with the exception of those in the 

 British Museum. 



AvKNUE Lodge, Brixton Hill, near Londo.v, 28/A October, 1852. 



