We may include in one paragraph notices of the four
volumes now to be mentioned : —Attempt at a Catalogue of the late Prince Louis-Lucien Buoztaparte. By Victor Collins. (Sotheran and Co.) —Prince Lucien Buonaparte carried the energy characteristic of his family into the collection of a library which should illustrate linguistic science. To possess himself of specimens of every European language and dialect was his first object ; later on he extended his ambition to all the languages of the world. His in- tention was to construct out of the vast mass of material thus gathered a catalogue which should also be an exposition of Com- parative Linguistic ; but life failed him. It was a great loss, but we can hardly complain of fate, as he was seventy-eight when he died. In what Mr. Collins modestly calls an "attempt at a Catalogue," more than thirteen thousand works are enumerated, and, when occasion demands, described. The Prince's widow wishes this library to be preserved intact. Here is a chance for a millionaire. Let Mr. McCalmont devote a small part of his four millions to A.—Historical Catalogue of the Water-Colour Drawings by Deceased Artists in the Manchester Whitworth Institute. (Cornish, Palmer, and Howe, Manchester.)—Mr. Cosmo Monk- house contributes an Introduction and edits the whole. It is illustrated by photographs. We are glad to see a list of photo- graphs for sale (at a shilling each). This is an effectual way of extending the benefits of the collection.—List of Books and Pamphlets Relating to Orkney and Shetland. Compiled by James W. Cursiter. (Peace and Son, Kirkwall.)—We did not know, we might say, in imitation of Pliny the Younger, that there were booksellers in Orkney. But it seems that there are, and that of strictly local works there is a considerable supply. Mr. Cursiter's collection fills seventy-three pages, and may be reckoned to amount to about eighteen hundred volumes.—St. George's, Hanover Square, Public Libraries. (For the Public Libraries Commissioners, by Wightman and Co.)—The Public Library of St. George's, Hanover Square, was founded in 1890, and already contains a very respectable number of volumes. This catalogue (of the Lending Library) extends to 405 pp. The number of books may be estimated at fifteen thousand, allowing for double entries.
Previous page
