PREFACE. 
These pages contain a list of nearly 1900 books, pamphlets, papers, 
and prints, by upwards of 700 different authors, connected mor6 or 
less intimately with the three towns of Plymouth, Devonport, and 
Stonehouse. The aim has been to include so far as possible every 
distinct work written by natives of the Three Towns, or by per- 
sons whose long residence has identified them with the locality ; 
every book or pamphlet published therein ; and such scattered 
scientific and other papers as specially refer to the district, or are, 
from authorship and other circumstances, entitled to particular 
reference. It was not possible — nor even if possible would it have 
been desirable — to expand this Bibliotheca to the bulk requisite to 
set forth completely the fugitive literature which has originated in 
the associated metropolis of the West. Por the same reasons it has 
not been deemed expedient to deal with publications of a merely 
official character, unless in certain exceptional cases, nor to make 
more than a passing reference to the bulk of the reports of the 
charitable and other public institutions. 
The materials for this Catalogue have been sought in every 
available direction, including the British Museum, Devon and 
Exeter Institution, Plymouth and Cottonian, Plymouth Institution, 
Penzance and many private Libraries. Davidson's BiUiotheca 
Bevoniensis has likewise been carefully collated. Its references to 
the literature of the Three Towns are, however, scanty. A far 
more thorough work is the BiUiotheca Cornuhiensis now in progress, 
to the completed sheets of which I have been frequently indebted. 
Much assistance has been rendered me privately, especially by Mr. 
J. Brooking Rowe and Mr. H, S. Hill, which is here thankfully 
acknowledged. Por a number of the entries second-hand references 
only exist; the titles therefore are in many cases necessarily 
imperfect. 
It has been thought desirable, in order to facilitate reference, 
that the works should be arranged alphabetically, according to the 
first prominent word in their titles, under different heads. This 
arrangement is qualified by the grouping together of works which 
