Mis. No. 48. 43 



important, scientific, and literary periodicals. The continuation of these 

 may be obtamed hi exchange for our own pubUcations. 



4. The remaining funds of this department will be devoted to the pur- 

 chase of books of general importance; at first, most especially those which 

 are not to be found in other libraries of the country. 



In pursuance of this plan, I have been occupied in making lists of books 

 to be purchased. 



With reference to the first class of books, namely: those needed by the 

 authors and collaborators, it is, of course, impossible to do any thing more 

 than to meet wants as they arise. 



Of the second class of books, viz : those necessary to make the institu- 

 tion a centre of bibliographical knowledge, I have the honor herewith to 

 present a list selected with great care and the best counsel which I could 

 command. This list contains about 3,000 volumes. The \vork of Namur, 

 published in 1S37, purporting to be a complete catalogue of bibliographical 

 works, contains 10,230 titles. A complete bibliographical library would 

 contain nearly 20,000 volumes. The 3,000 volumes of the lisr, now pre- 

 sented, are not therefore to be considered as constituting a complete cata- 

 logue of books in this department, but merely as a selection of those most 

 immediately important. 



Every list of this kind should include not only works professedly biblio- 

 graphical, but also histories of literature, of science, and of' art, as well as 

 many biographical and critical works. 



It is impossible to estimate too highly tlie value of such a collection. 

 In a large library these works are the guides to research, showing what to 

 read, study, or consult. In the absence of such a library, they sitpply to 

 some extent the deficiency by describing books in such a way as often- 

 times to enable us to dispense with the books themselves.* 



And yet the importance of bibliographical studies is in this country but 



* " In literature and science boolcs are the tools, and it is impossible to under-estimate the 

 use of a critical acquaintance with them except to those who underrate knowledge itseif. Of 

 every branch of the two great suljdivisions of human learning, (viz: literature and science,) its 

 history is a constituent part, absolutely necessary to all who would be competent to form just 

 opinions on its present state. 



"The scientific societies are not very anxious to have in their libraries the rare bodks belong- 

 ing to tlieir several depanments. For this, one reason is want of funds ; but this might be 

 overcome if it were not for another, namely, a general indifference among the members to exact 

 and minute knowledge of the history of science. The peu nous Importe au restt with which De- 

 lambre often dismisses a secondary paint, of which a satisfactory settlement does not come 

 readily to hand, had been readily agreed to by his critics and his readers. The consequence is, 

 that any one who proceeds to examine closely the actual records of the progress of science, finds 

 confusion upon confusion and mistake upon mistake in all matters which are not of general in- 

 terest. 



" It is worthy of note how completely several of the best histories of branches of science are 

 on a bibliografihical basis, proceedinj rather from book to book than from man to man. Such 

 are those of VVeidler, Delanibre, and Kastner, for though the nominal arrangement of the first is 

 by men in order of time, yet the men are only constituent parts of their own title pages. 



" In literary history books are the main facts, and none but those who have tried it can tell 

 how many difficulties are thrown in the way of an investigator who has truth for his olject and 

 permanent rules of evidence for his guide, by the misstatements which exist upon works which, 

 however necessary it may be to know them, it may hardly be worth while to name. The date, 

 the author's christian name, the very size of a book may l^e the turning points of the proof of a 

 fact. The inquirer cannot have all t!ie books before him, of many he wanis only the proper 

 description, and being certain of this, he could almost dispense with any knowledge of the 

 contents. , , 



" But let the reader th'mk what he pleases, the hist^ri m of science knows that he cannot do 

 well without complete and conect bibliography."— Dui)/in Rtvinc, SepUmber, 1846, .2r<. 1, on 

 Malhemalical Bibliograiihy. 



