45 



"by a man," it goes under " man," if "by a young man," 

 the pseudonym is ignored. Of what possible use can a 

 catalogue so compiled be to any student. Instead of 

 bringing the Library within easy reach of all it is framed on 

 a design of burying for ever a very considerable proportion 

 of the most curious and valuable book. 



Q. Have you any reason to suppose that the cost might 

 be diminished? 



A. Yes. In the evidence before the Royal Commission 

 of 1850 the Rev. S. Maitland said that a catalogue con- 

 taing 800,000 titles might be drawn up in three or four 

 years, and printed in one; and another witness estimated 

 that the whole catalogue might be printed for ^4,000. 



The British Lion. Before you leave the box, I wish 

 to remind you that you are on oath. Are the jury then to 

 understand that you have monopolised the labour of some 

 twenty-five men for near a generation • that you have cost 

 already ,£200,000; that you are almost useless to the 

 public ; that the system on which you are being compiled is 

 a thoroughly bad one ; that, owing to the incompetence of 

 officials, both time and money are wasted upon you ; and 

 that there is no definite prospect of your being ever 

 finished ? 



A. I swear it. 



The British Lion. That will do. You may stand 

 down. 



After that evidence I might well close my case under 

 this head; but I have a few words more to add. It maybe 

 contended: "After all, the British Museum has still the 

 best Library out of each country of each country's books." 

 This was the boast of the late Mr. Watts. Of course the 

 Library of English books is kept complete, copies are sent 

 in by force of law — the exertions of officers in this branch 



