LECTURES. 137 



But how shall we deal with those maps which are designed as 

 genuine illustrations of a literary work, and are so interwoven with it 

 that map and book seem to form one inseparable whole, but which, 

 at the same time, would seem to be an indispensable complement to 

 our proposed collection? 



Cases of this kind must be numerous ; whether in the instance of 

 discoverers and travellers, whose maps and narratives are sometimes 

 mutually explanatory, or in that of historians, whose plans and 

 diagrams can only be satisfactorily explained by the work for which 

 they were specially composed. Again : there are numerous scientific 

 maps — geological, magnetical, hyetological, and others — which can 

 be thoroughly understood only in connexion with their respective 

 works, and which nevertheless would fill a place in a series of pictures 

 representing to the eye the progress, development, and present state 

 of these branches of knowledge. 



The statement of this objection shows that it cannot be our inten- 

 tion completely to dispense with literary help or renounce the assist- 

 ance of books. On the contrary, as we now proceed to announce, we 

 must have the books too ; our scheme must include a library of a cer- 

 tain extent and character. Our intention has only been to insist that 

 the chartographical documents should be put forward as the principal 

 thing, tliat they should not be mixed up with the books on the shelves, 

 or be deposited in corners of the library, as is their usual fate ; but 

 that they should stand before the eye as the prominent and independ- 

 ent object of the collection. This plan excludes the books only from 

 our chief and central compartment. It by no means refuses them ad- 

 mission as auxiliaries, or denies them the shelter of a side-room in our 

 establishment. In fact, our chartographical institute will stand so 

 continually in need of books of reference of various kinds, that we 

 would propose to lay the foundations of such a collection from the 

 very commencement of our enterprise. Its nature, limits, and manner 

 of arrangement, ought therefore to become an object of inquiry from 

 the first. 



This auxiliary library, then, should first contain the historical works 

 and books of travels from which we have taken maps, and which are 

 necessary to explain these maps. Further, it should contain all im- 

 portant works on the subject of American discovery, geography and 

 history, and at least some good dictionaries of those languages in 

 which the legends on the maps have been written ; always, however, 

 keeping in view the subordinate character of the collection, and 

 restricting it to what is clearly indispensable. 



Still more to circumscribe the requirements of our library, wo have 

 yet other means, which the nature of our maps suggests to us. We 

 propose to append to every map that may require it certain notes 

 touching its history, origin, and value. How this may be done in an 

 efiicient and tasteful manner I propose to show in the following sec- 

 tion, where I treat of the principles on which the exterior arrange- 

 ment of our collection is to be made. 



. Here it may suffice to observe, that only in this way probably can 

 the inspection of any map be made in the highest degree useful, 



