140 LECTURES. 



later, however, for some division, (for instance, the old maps of Scan- 

 dinavia^ or those of Northeastern Asia^ or the maps of the world 

 before Columhiis, or the general pictures of America of the 16th 

 century,) there may arrive a time when we can deliver the loose sheets 

 to the binder, and form a finished and complete atlas of them., finished 

 and complete at least for a certain period and for a certain class. 

 The same may be done with propriety even in some branches of our 

 collection which are subject to perpetual changes and additions, when 

 we have carried these branches to their complete development through 

 a certain period. If we are sure, for instance, on the appearance of 

 a very excellent map of the harbor of New York, that we possess 

 pretty much all the other preceding surveys, we may then connect and 

 bind them, in a volume in chronological order, and may begin anew to 

 collect the following surveys for a subsequent volume. With these 

 different volumes and atlases, then, we would have at least reached 

 that useful and manageable form of exterior arrangement at which 

 we aim in regard to all our geographical documents. 



Having now shown, in a gcineral way, what external accommoda- 

 tions we want, it remains still to inquire how every particular sheet 

 should be treated, to make it most serviceable to our purposes, and to 

 prepare and strengthen it for the most lasting use. 



We have already shown, in a previous section, that with the map 

 itself a concise sketch of its history and origin and an indication of 

 its principal contents should be given on one and the same sheet. The 

 question arises, in what manner this ought to be done. 



The maps, especially the ancient ones, have sometimes very curious 

 titles, given to them by quaint old writers. If we should give to a 

 map only this title, nobody would at first know what country was 

 meant by it. Sometimes the strangeness of the title arises from the 

 primitive but now obsolete names given to different countries. But 

 besides this, the titles of the maps are given in all sorts of languages, 

 in Latin, Spanish, Swedish, Dutch, &c. To apply only these titles 

 to our maps, and catalogue them under the same, would be very in- 

 convenient for English readers, for whom our collection is principally 

 destined. Therefore, all the titles of our maps should be in plain 

 English, and the countries, oceans, and other principal objects, should 

 bear in the added title the names by which they are now generally 

 known among English geographers. Otherwise, who would know, 

 for instance, that by the title "Tabula terrae Sta3 Crucis" (Picture 

 of the Land of the Holy Cross,) was meant Brazil, that " A Map of 

 the Country of Parrots," represented the Antarctic regions, or that 

 " Peruviana" was but another name for South America? 



To the general title of the map the year of its production and the 

 name of the author should be added. If we do not know the year, 

 at least the century to which the map belongs should be indicated; 

 and if we cannot find out the autlior we should, at any rate, designate 

 the country in which the map was composed, as "French maj)," 

 " Spanish map," &c. Nor should the old original title of the map — 

 though we cannot make use of it for the purpose of speedy reference 

 and of cataloguing — be omitted ; while there should also appear on 

 the map itself some more explicit information about its Origin, and 



