42 



able testimony of a Parliamentary return published last 

 year. From this it appears that notwithstanding the open- 

 ing of the Ornament Room in 1868, and the extension of 

 hours for visitors during the summer months since 1872, 

 the total of visitors is not greater than it was in 1868, and 

 less than it was in 1869. The visits to the Library for the 

 purposes of study or research are not more numerous than 

 they were seven years ago, and show a falling off since 

 187 1. Now let us consider how much the population of 

 London has increased during that period, and how much 

 more accessible the Museum has been made from town and 

 country by improved systems of locomotion, and we shall 

 be in a position to judge of the decline of the popularity of 

 the place. 



On the subject of the Library mismanagement I have one 

 more most important witness to call. Without a really 

 good catalogue a gigantic library is only a device for 

 hiding books out of sight for ever. Students may come and 

 yearn to explore a subject through its whole domain, but 

 without an official catalogue even the best informed of them 

 will be groping in the dark. Now let me place the 

 catalogue in the witness-box and ask a few questions. 

 EXAMINATION OF THE CATALOGUE. 



Q. You are the catalogue of the British Museum 

 Library ? 



A. I am to be when complete. 



Q. When will that be ? 



A. I have not the remotest notion, nor has any one else. 

 The preface to my printed Volume I. says of me, " It remains 

 unfinished, and totally devoid of anything like an index." 

 This is quite true of my present condition. 



Q. How long have you been in growing ? 



A. More years than I care to remember. Twenty years 



