American and British Libraries. 115 required in the southern states of America, and the needs of our own rural population, as cases in point. It is certain that both British and American librarians stand in sore need of greater instruction in what has taken place and is being done in each country, and as a prac- tical way to that end, I suggest that the 1895 conferences be held at some convenient point in England, when an opportunity can be given British Librarians to show their work, and for American librarians to expound their views. In the past each association has been so engrossed in its own work and in the contemplation of results, that too little heed has been given to the progress achieved by other nationalities, so that the danger arises of both becoming so puffed up with conceit as to emulate the little boy who thought to teach his granny how to suck eggs. The mere exchange of journals and reports is not enough to help on the work of mutual advantage. We want to see the American librarians and hear them in private, as well as through the unconvincing channel of print, or when charged with oratory. Let them, therefore, come over in 1895, as it is easier and pleasanter for them than for us, to undertake the journey, and we can assure them of cool weather and a warm welcome. In conclusion, I can only hope that none of my remarks have jarred the feelings of anyone, American or British. On the con- trary, I trust my jottings will even prove acceptable to many Americans, if only for the novelty they present of being a trifle more honest than the foolish statements of the passing unprofessional stranger, who is so prone to see for the first time abroad, the very institution to which he lives next door at home. Nothing, I am sure, would please British librarians more than a thorough scrutiny of their libraries and methods by a competent American librarian, who could be candid without being unfair ; and who took the trouble to look into the historical aspect of matters, as well as at their mere present-day surface appearance. JAMES D. BROWN. IRecorfc of Bibliograpbs anfc Xibrars ^literature. Voyage d'un livre a travers la Bibliotheque Nationale. Par Henri Beraldi. Extrait du journal La Nature, Paris, G. Masson, editeur, 1893, 4 to > PP- 45- Only 95 c pi es printed. The brief account of the working of the Bibliotheque Nationale here, reprinted from La Nature, is written with M. Beraldi's accustomed charm of style, and is full of interesting information. A book may arrive at the Bibliotheque, as at the British Museum, by one of three different ways : (i) presentation, (2) purchase, (3) legal enactment" depot legal." According to M. Beraldi, the French library is more enterprising than its English rival in the matter of soliciting donations, provoki? g-fthem " avec une seduction infinie " by means of letters " which thehsirens would not disavow." In point of numbers, however, the nett result of its efforts is not very great, M. Beraldi stating it as from 2,500 to 3,500 " articles," against 3,914 received by the Museum in this way in 1891. Perhaps, however, M. Leopold Delisle's little notes may have been rewarded by a difference in value, to which statistics cannot do justice. By purchase, the Bibliotheque acquires annually about 4,500 articles, a very good return for the miserable 70,000 francs (2,800) placed at its disposal. The Museum, in 1891, purchased no less than 1 8,6 1 8 separate works, or more than four times as many. When we come to books received under the Copyright Acts in the two countries it
