the Boston News-Letter, 37-70 (71 is imperfect), 76-80, 87, 90-140, 144-167, 189, 194-206, 220-256, 259-381, 383387, 393-399, 405-415, 442-453, 455-466, 495-515, 517, 518, 521-558, 572-578, 581-584, 598-606, 608-610, 614620, 629-634, 637-639, 643-645, 649-656, 689-691, 693-720, 723-725, 727-763, 765-768, 774-783, 785-789, 791-793, 807-809, 811-815, 817-820, 823, 826-833, 837-863. It will be understood that the dash indicates that we wish the numbers named and all between.

Among our wants should be included any books formerly owned by Richard, Increase, Cotton or others of the Mather family. We own so many of the working tools of the early Mathers that it would seem desirable that all these tools should be gathered into our Mather alcove as a memorial of their scholarship. The books are usually indicated by their autographs which are frequently in latin. It is quite well known that original portraits of the three above named members of the family as well as of two of the Samuels have for many years been the property of the Society and that our collection of their own works is one of the very best. I further wish at this time to make an urgent appeal for church music, early and late, to be added to our collection, already large and rare. Even before the musical library of Mr. Oliver Holden was sent us by some Charlestown friend, we had numerous specimens made from copper-plates, the early typographically printed music and many later products of the musical press. The unknown donor of the Holden Library may be glad to learn that by it we were enabled to answer some important questions for use by Rev. Dr. Henry S. Burrage in a biographical sketch of its owner.

The arrival in America of the historical library of Leopold Von Ranke, is worthy of mention. Chancellor Lewis of Syracuse University is authority for the statement that it will there be furnished with fire-proof quarters, and be made as useful as possible to the American scholar. As a national body we should be especially grateful for every

such addition to our rapidly increasing library wealth. It may be questioned whether it is better to keep such a library wholly together, but it will be generally agreed that it should, at least, be under one administration.

It seems proper occasionally to remind our members and friends that scarcely anything they are likely to send us will come amiss. One of our careful and industrious historians, in the preparation of an article upon the early paper makers of Worcester County, recently made good use of the manufacturers' water-marks upon the unprinted pages kindly given us for use in the repairing of books or pamphlets requiring old or discolored paper. Our large collection of arithmetics was examined, the past season, by a distinguished mathematician, who was seeking information as to the history and progress of such text-books. Let us remember that collectors as wise as Messrs. George Brinley and George Livermore did not ignore even this class of books. One of our latest calls for what would ordinarily be thought worthless has been for a collection of the art sale catalogues of the past twenty-five years for use in tracing an artist and the person portrayed, and thus settling important points in dispute. These examples once more enforce the truth of the statement that a library of American history can hardly be too inclusive. It should always be a trial to the custodian of such a library to be obliged to give a negative answer to a call for any authority, old or new, however trivial, remembering always the saying of Dr. Holmes that old books are the books of the world's youth and new books are the fruits of its age." The following from the Library Journal of July, 1887, bears directly upon this subject, and, while it may be too strongly stated, contains food for reflection. The editor says: "We believe in having one library in the world where all literature, so far as it can be brought together, shall be kept, not for reading, but for reference. In that place and for that purpose it does not matter whether the literature is

valuable or worthless from the point of view of a newspaper writer or anybody else. The object to be attained is that anybody at any time shall be able to find anything that has once been printed, which for any reason he desires to see. This object is defeated if any part of the books which come into the repository are carried off to be read to pieces in popular libraries."

On the 26th day of April last your librarian read a second paper before the Columbia College Library School, taking, this time, for his general subject, "Minor Topics in Library Economy." As it was to some extent the recitation of those practical lessons learned under a good master in Antiquarian Hall during the years 1866-1881, the hare fact is here mentioned.

The following contribution to the literature of slavery in Massachusetts was found carefully bound with our file of the New England Weekly Journal for 1737, and has been transferred to the alcove of Slavery and Rebellion. The endorsement thereon-which is in the hand-writing of Chief Justice Sewall-reminds one of Mr. Weeden's statement in his paper upon The Early African Slave-Trade in New England, read at our meeting last October, that "even Cotton Mather employed his negro servant." It is as follows: "Left at my house for me when I was not at home, by Spaniard, Dr. Mather's Negro: March 23, 171." I do not find that this document has seen the light in any other form, and therefore reproduce it as exactly as possible. The text follows:

RULES

For the Society of

NEGROES. 1693.

W

E the Miserable Children of Adam, and of Noah, thankfully Admiring and Accepting the Free-Grace of GOD, that Offers to Save us from our Miseries, by the Lord Jesus Christ, freely Resolve, with His Help, to become the Servants of that Glorious LORD.

And that we may be Assisted in the Service of our Heavenly Master, we now Join together in a SOCIETY, wherein the following RULES are to be observed.

I. It shall be our Endeavour, to Meet in the Evening after the Sabbath; and Pray together by Turns, one to Begin, and another to Conclude the Meeting; And between the two Prayers, a Psalm shall be Sung, and a Sermon Repeated. II. Our coming to the Meeting, shall never be without the Leave of such as have Power over us: And we will be Careful, that our Meeting may Begin and Conclude between the Hours of Seven and Nine; and that we may not be unseasonably Absent from the Families whereto we pertain. III. As we will, with the Help of God, at all Times avoid all Wicked Company, so we will Receive none into our Meeting, but such as have sensibly Reformed their lives from all manner of Wickedness. And therefore, None shall be Admitted, without the Knowledge and Consent of the Minister of God in this Place; unto whom we will also carry every Person, that seeks for Admission among us; to be by Him Examined, Instructed and Exhorted.

IV. We will, as often as may be, Obtain some Wise and Good Man, of the English in the Neighbourhood, and especially the Officers of the Church, to look in upon us, and by their Presence and Counsil, do what they think fitting for us. V. If any of our Number, fall into the Sin of Drunkenness, or Swearing, or Cursing, or Lying, or Stealing, or notorious Disobedience or Unfaithfulness unto their Masters, we will Admonish him of his Miscarriage, and Forbid his coming to the Meeting, for at least one Fortnight; And except he then come with great Signs and Hopes of his Repentance, we will utterly exclude him, with Blotting his Name out of our List. VI. If any of our Society Defile himself with Fornication, we will give him our Admonition; and so, debar him from the Meeting, at least half a Year: Nor shall he Return to it, ever any more, without Exemplary Testimonies of his becoming a New Creature.

VII. We will, as we have Opportunity, set our selves to do all the Good we can, to the other Negro-Servants in the Town; And if any of them should, at unfit Hours, be Abroad, much more, if any of them should Run away from their Masters, we will afford them no Shelter: But we will do what in us lies, that they may be discovered, and punished. And if any of us, are found Faulty, in this Matter, they shall be no longer of us. VIII. None of our Society shall be Absent from our Meeting, without giving a Reason of the Absence; And if it be found, that any have pretended unto their Owners, that they came unto the Meeting, when they were otherwise and elsewhere

Employ'd, we will faithfully Inform their Owners, and also do what we can to Reclaim such Person from all such Evil Courses for the Future.

IX. It shall be expected from every one in the Society, that he learn the Catechism; And therefore, it shall be one of our usual Exercises, for one of us, to ask the Questions, and for all the rest in their Order, to say the Answers in the Catechism; Either, The New-English Catechism, or the Assemblies Catechism, or the Catechism in the Negro Christianized.

Before closing, let me call your attention to the fact that to-morrow, October 23d, two of our most distinguished associates, honored alike for their faithfulness to this Society, and to all duties, public and private, will have served us for half a century. Their names will readily occur to you as the first two on our list of members, viz.: the Honorable George Bancroft, and the Honorable Robert Charles Winthrop. It may be proper to add that their friend and ours - Samuel Foster Haven was elected to membership at the same time.

It has been my privilege to present for your consideration five consecutive reports as Assistant-Librarian in charge, in addition to the brief reports made in Dr. Haven's absence; and the present is the twelfth since my promotion to the librarian's chair. In their preparation I have tried to have in view a definite purpose: with an earnest desire first of all to forward, in a suggestive way, the work of the Society. It need hardly be added that the second wish has been to honor the profession of my choice by giving all possible aid and comfort to my fellow-librarians, now so happily associated in their honorable calling and in their abundant labors.

Respectfully submitted.

EDMUND M. BARTON,

44

Librarian.