Catalogue of the London Library. By Robert Harrison, Secretary and
Librarian. Fourth Edition. 1875.—The publication of a new edition of this catalogue reminds us that five-and-thirty years have passed away since the London Library was established, to supply a want that had been long felt by students and by general readers. Circulating libraries no doubt abounded then, and the more recent formation of such libraries as Mudie's and Smith's has done much towards satisfying the growing appetite for novels, biographies, popular scientific works, voyages, travels, and periodical literature. The aim of these and similar establishments is to supply new books ; the object the founders of the London Library had in view was to establish a great circulating library, comprising important works of all periods and in all languages, so that men of letters and others might be able to pursue their researches at their own firesides. When Robert Southey took up a special branch of study—Wesley and Methodism, for was generally obliged to purchase all the books which he required. Had he lived in these days, be would have had his box of books from St. James's Square, and would have been spared no trifling trouble and expense. The value of the library in this respect is proved by the great number of literary men who appear in the list of sub- scribers, but its advantages are by no means solely appreciated by readers who are themselves authors. Every one who is not content to read for mere amusement, and who likes old books as well as new, will find the value of a comprehensive library like this, and we are glad to see that its advantages are becoming more and more appreciated. Much praise is due to the secretary for the satisfactory state of the library in a financial point of view, and much also for the ability with which the literary department is managed. This new catalogue, which contains more than a thousand pages, and the titles of nearly one hundred thousand volumes, is the best possible proof that the object of the original promoters has been satisfactorily carried out.
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