and is a boystous stone, and never the les it is
precious."

He describes it as most abundant and of best quality in Britain of two
kinds, yellow and black; it drives away adders,--

"Is contrary to fendes,--helpeth for fantasies and ayenste vexacions of
fendis by night.--And so, if so boystus a stone dothe so great wonders,
none shuld be dispisid for foule colour without, while the vertu that
is within is unknowe." (Translation by Trevisa.)

ALBERT WAY.

* * * * *

{101}

ON CATALOGUES OF BOOKS.

A series of notes on the _utility_ of printed catalogues of public
libraries may seem to be a superfluity. It may be said, _Who ever denied
it?_ Relying on a official document, I can assert that it _has_ been
denied--in defiance of common sense, and the experience of two hundred and
fifty years!

At such a time, it behoves every lover of literature to declare himself,
and to furnish his quota of facts or arguments corrective of this upstart
paradox. It is under the influence of that sentiment that I submit, for
consideration in the proper quarter, some short extracts from my
bibliographic portfolios.

BOLTON CORNEY.

"The forwardness of your CATALOGUE [of the public library at Oxford] is
very good tidings.... I would intreat you to meditate upon it, how it
may be performed to both our credits and contents."--_Sir Thomas_
BODLEY to _Tho. James_, c. 1604.

Habes, benigne lector, catalogum librorum, eo ordine dispositum, quo in
celeberrima Oxoniensi bibliotheca collocantur; opus diu multumque
desideratum, et jam tandem editum."--_Thomas_ JAMES, 1605.

"Quamprimum benignis academicorum suffragiis in bibliothecarium electus
essem, videremque justum bibliothecae publicae catalogum ab omnibus
desiderari, ego ut gratiis litatum irem, me protinus accinxi ad
conficiendum proprio marte novum catalogum."--_Thomas_ HYDE, 1674.

"The general use of catalogues of [of books], and the esteem they are
in at present, is so well known, that it were to waste paper to
expatiate on it."--_Gerard_ LANGBAINE, 1688.

"Quelles obligations la republique des lettres n'a-t-elle pas aux
Anglais, d'avoir donne les catalogues des livres que renferment leurs
bibliotheques! Celui d'Oxford est d'une utilite reconnue, par le grand
nombre de livres qu'il contient, et par l'ordre alphabetique qu'on leur
a donne."--JOURDAN,