4 6 



being confined to the introduction of works which are not 

 published according to law. But I venture to assert that 

 the Polish, Hungarian, Russian, and Scandinavian books 

 have been greatly neglected since the death of Mr. Watts. 

 The French and German books are supplied by book- 

 sellers, whose interest it is to send in as many as possible. 

 The authorities of the British Museum buy only what is 

 offered them, and do not seek to make the Library 

 complete, or to supply any deficiencies. The consequence 

 is that, except in one or two directions, the Foreign Library 

 is ill supplied. There are men in the Museum in a position 

 to note these deficiencies, and to make suggestions as to 

 filling them — such for instance as the special catalogues of 

 Chinese, Oriental, and Hebrew books, before mentioned. 

 But these men are not allowed to order books, they have 

 nothing to do but to catalogue what is in the library. 

 During Mr. Deutsch's life-time, at all events, no assistant 

 was allowed to take any share in the management of 

 the department. The assistants were mere cataloguing- 

 machines, and if they ever attempted in their zeal to do 

 more than catalogue, they were immediately snubbed. 

 Meanwhile the officials who snubbed them are utterly 

 unable to supply themselves the work thus patriotically 

 volunteered. 



Ohe ! jam satis est / I pass to the brief consideration of 

 my last point. 



III. THE WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY. 

 r 1 A HE last point I have undertaken to demonstrate is 7 



JL that the mismanagement I have described is not un- 

 accompanied by a scandalous waste of public money. Di- 

 rect proof is difficult, because one has little more than the 

 meagre accounts furnished to Parliament. Incidentally, 



