10 



REFERENCE LIBRARY. 



The number of volumes issued during the year has beeu 465,397, against 

 489,270 in the previous year, being a decrease of 23,873 from last year. 



This decrease is owing not to any actual falling off in the Books issued, but 

 to the closing of the Library for painting, &c., from May 28th to July 6th 

 being thirty vrorking days, which at the average of tlie year, 1,846 volumes 

 would make up a total of 520,777, showing an increase of 31,507 volumes 

 over the previous year's issues. 



The following is a classified list of the books issued : — 



Daily 



Classification. Volumes. Average 



about 



Theology, Morals, and Metaphysics 16,138 64 



Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Chemistry, &c 15,675 62 



Natural History, Botany, Mineralogy, &c 9,622 38 



Science and the Arts, Architecture, Painting, Music, &c 38,352 152 



History and Biography 23,650 94 



Topography and Antiquities 9,457 38 



Geography, Voyages, and Travels 16,730 66 



Miscellaneous Literature 151, 38 J 601 



Jurisprudence, Law, and Politics 3,623 14 



Commerce, Political Economy, and Social Statistics 4,236 17 



Education, Logic, Language, &c 9,329 37 



Poetry and Dramatic Literature 14,309 67 



Works of Imagination 125,084 496 



Classical Literature 2,568 10 



Heraldry, Encyclopcedias, and Works of Reference 25,241 100 



455,397 1,846 



During the year 2,106 volumes of books have been added to the Library, 

 viz,, 1,903 by purchase, 165 from the Commissioners of Patents, and 98 by 

 Donation, under the following heads ; — 



Classifications. 1873. Addition*. 1874. 



Theology, Morals, and Metaphy.sics 4,512 92 4,604 



Natural Philof-ophy, Astronomy, &c 1,368 49 1,417 



Natural History, Botany, Mineralogy, &c 3,283 13M 3,421 



Science and the Arts, Architecture 6,349 337 6,686 



History and Biography 7,921 223 8,144 



Topography and Antiquities 2,565 214 2,779 



Geography, Voyages, and Travels 3,483 99 3,582 



Miscellaneous Literature 10,947 459 11,406 



Jurisprudence, Law, and Politics 4,729 123 4,852 



Commerce and Social Statistics 645 24 669 



Education, Logic, and Language 931 37 968 



Poetry and Dramatic Literature 2,505 188 2,693 



Works of Imagination 5,456 68 5,524 



Classical Literature 371 8 379 



Heraldry, Encyclopcedias, and Wooks of Eeference,... 1,863 107 1,970 



66,828 2,166 58,994 



