New-York tribune., 1896-03-29
CAT4LOGCING Az EMPIRE.
THE ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE OF cooks
ABOUT BRITAIN's POSSESSIONS.
F BOOKS
From Tho Westminster Review

From TIE Westminster Review
The institute was founded ,wenty-seven years
of the leading thoroughfares OF London.
most complete and representative collection OK
At present time there are over $500 volumes in
the library and third edt.on Of the catalogue has
two previous catalogues. has been compiled by
hcially connected with the institute for the last
tweniy-three years: he Is now laying the toundat!on
amounting TO 100 works month or mere. necessi-
tating an early beginning.
quently consulted by statesmen, scientific men and
travellers alike. The collection OF the Government
GaZettes' OF all the colonies is as complete as that
OF the Colonial Office. but while these "Gazettes'
remain permanently in the library the &c; eGoniai
annually to the British Museum. yearly grant OF
ETC. bit '''r BY far the larger portion Of the library
is made up OF gifts. the records OF which show
sbat are Wantei are are ' adyertsed for in The ins
tutes Journal" under the heading OF "Desderata;
byorbt by 1hf IN means m bdmH many stray volume mas Dee"
The caaIo.ua Is divided into sections, which may
countries, to which the inquirer will turn. 4 he be
desrous of finding ont what books are ppbllshe;d ID
which reference page numbers will indicate whore
he shall rn hnd al the na p na
alpha be;icaly. III which the ame Of every author
ence page number where the full title and other
particulars are given. These two indexes are. in
ose S f proper SS to o be "S cut no
without mystifylng the reader, who cannot fail
they ' exist st in the library and en- passan II may bs
said very few books are wanting: -
After the authors index which occupies 10
PAGES closely printed. have the catalogue proper:
This Is cut up into sections beginning win general
collections OF travels and voyases. containing Hik-
luyt. Purchas. Churchill; Burney. Pnkerton etc.
h com x n M f o yeTy os nS ns rsyas n n
various parts OF the British Empire; then follow the
Antarctic and Pacific regions. after this we get 20
the list OF books treating OF our colonies grouped
strae and it's divisions, Tasmania New.Zeaand.
New-Gunea Fiji. etc. The British North American
Scotia New-BrunswicN etc. Then We have the
African. the East Indian and the West indian Ian
the Falklands Gi5raltas, etc.
A special section is devoted 70 works on me
British colonies their history. trade. resources ana
government; emigration and federation Other sec
colonial poems. colonial fiction and c"oniai school
Then follows a very interesting section and ono
of considerable practical use containing the trans
actions and proceedings of colonial societies cham
bers OF commerce. university calendars aImanaSs'
directories. newspapers. magazlnes,, per.od.cals.
AIRY papers United Kingdom relating to the colonies
and Parliamentary papers publshed in the COLO
Mes ana Iniia, Finally we have the Challenger
In ali the sections following the two indexes the
lists OF books are arranged according to date OF
issue. an arrangement which would perhaps inter.
fere with easy search but for the fact thai me
reference page numbers giYen In the two Indexes
From this summary 1t will be evident that the
ca alOcue mas Deei pfepdleu WIN sitti
and care II possesses all the qualities ,hs; make
il useful with the least possible amount Of handling
those who have much TO do with catalogues VIII
appreciate the iast-named vrtue-and We may aid.
personal experience has proved this. for we fre-
auently turn to IT'S pages for Information.
To conclude. the reader on examining the PAGES
of this elegant volume Will probably be much as
tonshed AZ the enormous quantity OF colonial liter
ature possessed ny the institute he will be ini-
pressed with the extent Of our colonial empire as
evidenced by It's literature. and he VII concur IN
the opinion that the council; by the assistance OF
its abe librarian, has well accomplished one
OF the objects foi which the Royal Colonial lnsti-
tute was founded.