216 The Library. most desirable books more had to be rejected than could be purchased. Now that the library has become so extensive and important, no less attention will have to be given to the selection of books in the future. The Colonies grow fast and the latest information must be found here. In this and old continental countries it is different, guide books are not so soon out of date In the Colonies the British Colonies, progress is so rapid, that a guide book soon Incomes obsolete. I feel sure that when the Council see that the library is held in so high estimation all over the world, and that their efforts are appreciated, that it will be an incentive to them, and that they will continue to add to the shelves, and so keep the library up to date. I should like to say a word or two upon the services of Mr. Boose. I did not know before he read it what form his paper would take. I congratulate him upon it, and I congratulate the Council upon possessing so active and intelligent a librarian. His whole energies are devoted to his work, and I am sure that the catalogue when it is printed will add largely to the value of the library : without a comprehensive and detailed catalogue so extensive a collection would largely lack in usefulness. Mr. F. P. DE LABILLIERE : Having been a member of the library committee, and having missed but few of its meetings for nearly the same time as Mr. Boose has been connected with this Institute, I have much pleasure in testifying to the value of his services in the library, about which I should also like to say something. Mr. Boose has told us that in 1873 the collection consisted of 300 volumes. He might have added that the number of Fellows of the Institute was then also about 300, so that there was just one book for each of them. But how different is our condition now ! Mr. Petherick has said that of the books offered to us for purchase only a very few were taken. He must remember, however, that we were obliged to cut our coat according to the cloth, and that in our earlier days we had not much money to spend. Mr. Boose has referred to the valuable gifts of their official books, for which we are indebted to the various governments of the Empire. But we could not thus have obtained the works of different kinds, relating to all the British possessions, which now fill our shelves. They had for the most part to be procured by purchase, although we have to thank donors for many contributions ; and as the financial condition of the Institute improved, the Council increased its annual votes for the purposes of the library. Mr. Boose, in his very interesting and valuable paper, has really taken us round the Empire this evening, in taking us round the shelves of this library ; and he has strikingly illustrated what the aims and objects of this Institute are and what it really is. Its library contains works bearing on every part of the United Empire. Care has always been taken not to favour any particular portion of it, but fairly to embrace all. This has been the steadfast policy of the Council, whether as regards the stocking of the library, the reading of papers at the meet- ings, or the nominations to seats on the Council. Our desire always is to diffuse information as widely as possible, respecting all our British dominions, so that the people of the different parts of them may become intimately acquainted with each other, and may take a large and enlightened interest in each other's concerns and countries, and that thus a fraternal, national, imperial feeling may be culti- vated and strengthened among them. By going on adding, as we have been doing, to the contents of this library, we shall soon make it the very best if it is not so already -collection of literature on the Colonial Empire in existence, and the name of Mr. Boose will always be honorably mentioned in connection with it. Mr. THOMAS MASON : I have listened to Mr. Boose's paper with very great pleasure. He has given a bright and exceedingly interesting account of the library under his charge a library that is of great interest to librarians of the Free Public Libraries as a special collection. Special collections go so far beyond what a Free Library can, and in most cases ought to do, that it is of value to know where a subject can be exhaustively studied, and I would like to ask Sir P'rederick Young whether we may send bond fide students of Colonial subjects to the library of the Royal Colonial Institute. If we can do so it may occasionally be of great service. The CHAIRMAN : In reply to Mr. Mason, I will at once say that the Council of the Royal Colonial Institute are most desirous of giving any information in their power, and more especially of rendering the contents of the library available to all properly introduced persons.
