Page 19 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

C'lassijcation of the Libmry.
Works on history, biography, travels, bound ncwspapcr files,
and publications of IIistorical and Anbiquarian Societies,
2,609 vols.
Congressional Publications, - 628 "
Agricultural, Mechanical, and Scientific, - 191 "
State Lams ancl State Legislation, - 194 "
Miscellaneous, 524 "
Total, - - 4,146 "

It mill be seen by this classification, that over eight-teqzths of
the additions of the past year, were works on history, biogra-
phy, travels? bound newspaper files, and publications of IIistor-
ical slid Antiquarian Societies; while previous to 11356, less
than half thc works in the Library were of this character. It is
gratifying to observe that thc solid works in this departnlent are
fast gaining on the others, and now number nearly two thirds of
the whole. Of the additions of the past year, 49 volumes were
folios, and 163 quartos; niakirig altogether 257 folios in the
Library, and 405 quartos, the rcst being chiefly of octavo uize.
The duplicates are few, and are exchanged, as opportunities
occur, for tlcsirable works not already included in the collection.
Princil~al Works Purcl~ased.
In the year 1856, in round numbers, there wcre 1000 volumes
added to the Library-600 by purchase, and 400 by donation;
the year 1857, exhibits nearly the same aggregate increase, but
the purchases and donations are reversed, cxhibiting 683
volumcs donated, and 341 purchased. All these purchased
marks inay be rcgardcd as historical, and nlnny of then1
exceedingly rare and valualsle. Among the nlorc impor-
tant of tl~cm inay be namcd-Monthly Bevielu, 1783 to 1801, 51
vols.; Lettres Edi$antes et C'zcrieuses, 1717-1749, in 27 vol-
umes, relating in part to the Jesuit missionaries in the North
Wcst; Edinburgh A~~nual Register, 1110-1825, 23 vols.;
Ternaux Crampans' American Voyages, 20 vols.; Parliamen-
. tary Register, 1774-1780, 17 vols.; Nezo and General Bio-