42 PRESENT SYSTEM. 



examination, those of like nature are grouped together into 

 " abstracts." The form of these abstracts varies according as 

 they relate to transactions with one, or with more than one, 

 person or purpose. They may thence be called single or double 

 abstracts respectively. 



A single abstract is a mere classified list of names. A double 

 abstract in one in which both names* and agenciesf are classi- 

 fied, the names generally in the top horizontal row, and the 

 agencies in the first vertical column, p. 46. To borrow an 

 illustration from geometry, a voucher may be said to correspond 

 to a single point ; a single abstract to correspond to a line made 

 up of points, and to be a paper of one dimension ; and a double 

 abstract to correspond to a surface determined by co-ordinate 

 lines, and to be a paper of two dimensions. It is as hard to 

 conceive of an abstract classifying information as to more than 

 two headings at once, as it is to conceive of a surface of three 

 dimensions or of a space of four. Any attempts to make an 

 abstract serve such alien purposes can only prove useless or 

 confusing. 



Material. 



By material I shall mean all property dealt with, whether so- 

 called "raw," or in the form of Ordnance Stores complete for 

 issue, or incomplete. 



NOMENCLATURE AND CLASSIFICATION OF MATERIAL. 

 Nomenclature '. 



Inasmuch as the names on the return represent in a peculiarly 

 strict sense the articles to which they belong, it is essential in 

 all official papers that the names of material be correctly given. 



An extended nomenclature, found in the Property Regulations,, 

 pp. 180-227, assists in giving to the same objects invariable 

 names ; although embracing some 7,000 names, it is of course 



* Names. 



By names, I shall mean the official names of the material concerned, 

 t Agencies. 



For want of a better term, I shall call the persons or purposes involved " agencies. >r 



