324 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. I. No. 12. 



with veiy extensive floor space for tables, is 

 exceptionally adapted to the needs of an ex- 

 tensive exhibition of the annual progress of 

 science. Henry F. Osboen. 



COBBESPONDENCE. 



AN INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CATALOGUE 



AND CONGRESS. 



Editor of Science: Dear Sir : — In consid- 

 ering your very courteous invitation to con- 

 tribute something of present interest to your 

 valuable journal, it has occurred tome that 

 I could not perhaps do better than to follow 

 the example set in your issue of Feb. 15th, 

 by the distinguished representatives of my 

 alma mater, Prof. Bowditch and his commit- 

 tee, in their report to the Harvard Uni- 

 versity Council on the circular of the Eoyal 

 Society, respecting the proposed Interna- 

 tional Catalogue. My letter of reply to this 

 circular does not, as you will see, in any 

 way conflict or interfere with the recom- 

 mendations made in that excellent report. 

 It deals almost entirely with other points in 

 the circular which are not directly noticed 

 in the report. 



Should the suggestions which I have ven- 

 tured to make, especially in regard to the 

 meetings of an International Congress of 

 Science in connection with the proposed 

 Catalogue, be finally approved and carried 

 into effect, they may lead to practical re- 

 sults of great importance. Such meetings, 

 held from time to time — ^perhaps in various 

 cities of the two continents — may not only 

 bring together from all parts of the globe 

 the most eminent votaries and friends of 

 science in fraternal conference, but may 

 help not a little, with other influences which 

 are now constantly at work, in converting- 

 Tennyson's ' parliament of man ' and ' fed- 

 eration of the world ' from a poetical vision 

 into a beneficent reality. 



Yours faithfully, 



Horatio Hale. 



Clinton, Ontario, Canada, 



May 30, 1894. 



Gentlemen: As you have honored me 

 bj' addressing to me a copy of your impor- 

 tant circular letter, in which j-ou solicit from 

 the recipient the expression of his views re- 

 specting the establishment of a ' Central 

 Ofiice or Bureau,' by ' international cooper- 

 ation,' for the purpose of preparing and pub- 

 lishing, at brief intervals, a catalogue of all 

 scientific pubUcations of every description 

 (whether appearing in periodicals or inde- 

 pendently), I cannot, in due courtesj^, de- 

 cline to offer in response such considerations 

 as occur to me, however inadequate they 

 may seem in comparison mth others which 

 will reach you ft'om better qualified corre- 

 spondents. 



That the proposed scheme is both highly 

 desirable and abundantly feasible cannot 

 reasonably be doubted by anj^ one who is 

 aware of the immense increase in the num- 

 ber of scientific publications of late years, 

 and the equally rapid increase of scientific 

 associations, public libraries and high insti- 

 tutions of learning, for most of which such 

 a catalogue will be found of very great ad- 

 vantage and ultimately a necessity. The 

 most convenient ' method of inaugurating 

 the scheme '' would seem to be by first ascer- 

 taining the probable annual cost, which can 

 readily be judged through the experience 

 already gained by the Eoyal Society in the 

 publication of its annual ' Catalogue of Scien- 

 tific Papers,' and then by appointing in each 

 (presumed) contributing country, under 

 some appropriate title, an ' Aid Bureau,' 

 which should be an existing institution of 

 high standing, and one that either is already, 

 or can easily be placed, in touch with the 

 chief scientific associations, colleges and 

 public libraries of the countiy, and can ascer- 

 tain the amount of contributions which 

 could be obtained fi'om them . In the Un ited 

 States, for example, such a suitable Aid 

 Bureau at once presents itself in the Smith- 



