578 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
[Dec., 
Shipments from Germany and Austria were stopped by a British 
Order in Council in June. We are informed, however, that the 
British Government is now prepared to issue permits for shipment 
of scientific books to the United States from Germany and Austria 
if destined for universities, colleges, scientific societies or public 
bodies. We may profit during the coming year by this relaxation, 
although it is accompanied by a great deal of annoying red tape. 
The interruption of exchange noted in the report of the Recording 
Secretary of course greatly affects the receipts from corresponding 
societies. Even when regular shipments are made invoices and 
bills of lading are held up on the other side and insufficient steamer 
accommodations cause uncertain deliveries. 
Chapter IX, Art. 3, of the By-Laws was amended in January so 
as to permit of the loaning to members of certain books specified by 
the Librarian and the Library Committee for a period not exceeding 
one month. 
Although it was held by Mac lure and his contemporaries that all 
books belonging to the Academy should be exclusively for use within 
the building, both for the good of those working on the premises 
and to lessen the danger of loss, it was considered that such a rule 
was not practicable until the services of a Librarian during portions 
of the day could be secured. Certain designated books were there¬ 
fore permitted to be borrowed until 1850, when Thomas B. Wilson 
presented to the Academy the extremely valuable works which he 
had from time to time deposited with the understanding that they 
should never be loaned on any condition. This applied to such an 
important portion of the Library that the rule was then made 
general and from 1850 until last January no books were knowingly 
allowed to leave the building except to be bound. 
Since the new rule has been in operation forty-six works in fifty- 
eight volumes have been borrowed. These have all been returned 
but two, which are now alone outstanding. 
A system of registry of works taken for use in the Academy’s 
study rooms has been adopted. 822 titles in 1,061 volumes have 
been placed at the service of students and workers in the building. 
375 of these are still in use. 
While a few of the books taken from the building have manifestly 
been for more or less desultory reading, the others have undoubtedly 
been for serious consultation and study, so that there is reason to believe 
that the operation of the new law is, as far as it goes, for the advance¬ 
ment of science without any counterbalancing disadvantage. By 
