Ixxx, 



Appendix : — Proceedings of 



books are analyzed, and the several subjects treated of ar- 

 ranged under their respective heads. Such an analysis is to 

 a library what an index of contents is to a book: it is an 

 aggregate index. 



This is an important step towards the better preservation 

 and diffusion of knowledge ; and, if judiciously executed, it is 

 calculated materially to advance literature : it will lessen the 

 labour and anxiety at present unavoidable merely to find out 

 where a particular subject is treated of, and prevent much of 

 that waste of intellectual power now constantly going on 

 from ignorance of what has been thought or done in the 

 matter by others before us. 



In one instance in America, the design of the analysis is 

 "to make the catalogue so full, that no one shall be obliged 

 to remove a book from the shelves in order to learn its con- 

 tents or subjects." See Report on Public Libraries in America, 

 p. 64. It may be doubted, however, whether such a catalogue 

 of a general library would not, by its bulk, lose its utility in 

 its accuracy. The true principle, perhaps, is to adapt the 

 index to the character and wants of the Society of whose 

 library it is the catalogue; and, no doubt, the aggregation of 

 all such would become a Universal Catalogue, embracing 

 the whole body of extant literature. See an interesting 

 article on the formation of Library Catalogues by stereotype 

 and separable titles, in the Proceedings of the American 

 Association for the advancement of Science, held in August 

 1850, p. 165. 



The plan of a stereotype catalogue here suggested, and the 

 principle of analysis above indicated, might both be applied 

 to the Library of your Society with advantage. 



In the pursuit of knowledge in Ceylon, there are difficulties 

 not a few, particularly as regards native literature. For after 

 you have mastered the characters, and are able, as you think, 

 with your Clough to make your way through a native pas- 



