7 86 The Smithsonian Institution 



"first, a complete collection of the transactions and pro- 

 ceedings of all the learned societies in the world ; and second, 

 of the more important current periodicals, publications, and 

 other works necessary in preparing the periodical reports." 

 Subsequently he further recommended that "catalogues of all 

 the different libraries in the United States should be pro- 

 cured," as well as "catalogues of memoirs, and of books and 

 other materials for rendering the Institution a centre of biblio- 

 graphical knowledge." 



Again, in his Report for 1851, Henry remarked: "One 

 of the most important means of facilitating the use of libraries 

 (particularly with reference to science), is well-digested in- 

 dexes of subjects, not merely referring to volumes or books, 

 but to memoirs, papers, and parts of scientific transactions 

 and systematic works." 



He then refers to Doctor Thomas Young's " Catalogue of 

 Books Relating to Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical 

 Arts," published in 1807, and remarks: "I know of no richer 

 gift which could be bestowed upon the science of our day 

 than the continuation of this catalogue to the present time. 

 Every one who is desirous of enlarging the bounds of human 

 knowledge should, in justice to himself as well as to the pub- 

 lic, be acquainted with what has previously been done in the 

 same line ; and this he will only be enabled to accomplish by 

 the use of indexes of the kind above mentioned." 



These brief extracts show the mental attitude of Henry 

 toward bibliographical labors. Reference will be made later 

 to his splendid contribution to bibliography in suggesting 

 the work which led to the publication by the Royal Society 

 of London of the "Catalogue of Scientific Papers." 



As in many other departments of activity, the foundations 

 laid by Henry for bibliography have been constantly built 

 upon by his successors in the secretaryship. Their policy 



