6 AUGUST 1910, Page 26

List of Books in the Reading Room of the British

Museum. Vol. I., " Authors"; Vol. II., " Subjects." (The British Museum. .21 11x. 6d.)—This is a "fourth" edition of a work published for the first time in 1859,—the Reading Room itself was opened in 1857. Probably not many readers survive who knew the old double-chambered room. Those who do fully appreciate its successor. The present edition is especially important because it represents the existing arrangement, dating from the six months' interval in 1907, when the room was closed for repairs and rearrangement of the contents. It would have been a graceful

recognition of a great benefaction if the name of Mr. Stuckey Lean had been mentioned. He left £50,000 for Library purposes. And it would be interesting to know how the money has been applied, though this is, of course, more than can be expected.