THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT AND OFFICERS OF THE LONDON INSTITUTION: AT THE COMPLETION OF THE FOURTH VOLUME OF THE LIBRARY-CATALOGUE, APRIL M.DCCC.LII. President. THOMAS BARING, Esq., M.P. Vice-Presidents. THE REV. JOHN RUSSELL, D.D. WILLIAM HASLEDINE PEPYS, Esq., F.R.S. Managers. THE RIGHT HON. WILLIAM HUNTER, LORD MAYOR. JAMES SANER, Esq., M.D. THOMAS CORNEY, Esq. JOHN RENTON, Esq. GEORGE APPOLD, Esq. JONATHAN PEREIRA, Esq., M.D., F.R.S. RICHARD DAVIS, Esq. DAVID TAYLOR, Esq. RICHARD LAMBERT JONES, Esq. JOHN PRYOR, Esq. THOMAS PIPER, JUN. Esq. EDWARD GREENAWAY, Esq. HENRY POWELL, Esq., M.D. JOHN TRICKER CONQUEST, M.D., F.L.S. EDWARD POYNDER, Esq. NATHANIEL GOULD, Esq., F.S.A. Bonorary-Secretary. WILLIAM TITE, Esq., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.G.S. Visitors. JOHN GOLDSMID, Esq. JOHN DREWETT, Esq. EDWARD WIGAN, Esq. SAMUEL GALE, Esq. Anditors. THOMAS PIPER, SEN. Esq. Treasurer. ABRAHAM GEORGE ROBARTS, Esq. Standing-Counsel. HENRY ALWORTH MEREWETHER, Esq. Solicitor. JOHN CURTIS, Esq. Bonorary-Librarian. WILLIAM MALTBY, Esq. Librarians. RICHARD THOMSON. EDWARD WILLIAM BRAYLEY, F.L.S., F.G.S. Assistant-Berretary, CHARLES J. EDDRUP. INTRODUCTORY PREFACE TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE CATALOGUE OF THE GENERAL LIBRARY OF THE LONDON INSTITUTION, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION ON WHICH IT IS CONSTRUCTED. IN preparing a Second Supplement to the Classed Catalogue of the Library of this Establishment, it was considered that two principal objects were to be especially regarded and effected. The first was obviously to produce an accurate and a methodised record, of the very important increase of the collection since the year 1843, when the previous Continuation was delivered to the Proprietors; and then to impart, so far as might be possible, an individual interest and a separate value to the new volume. These were the chief results proposed to be attained in the execution of this work; but other improvements appeared also to be suggested, in the form of additional information and more easy reference. All such improvements were attentively considered, and adopted in the way in which they appeared likely to prove most generally useful. At the period when the Board of Management of The London Institution directed the printing of a new part of the Catalogue, comprising the accumulations of the Library, the additional experience of Seven Years had confirmed the value of the simplicity of the system adopted for the two previous volumes. In the Catalogue issued in 1843, the same arrangement was ob served as in that finished in 1835, with such revisions only as were naturally suggested by observation and experience; and in this volume also the same uniform principle has been generally adopted. As the former books, however, will probably be always less familiar to most of the present Proprietors of The London Institution, than that which is now issued,-a very brief account of the method of their construction may advantageously be inserted in this place; and the rather, as it will naturally lead to some notices of the improvements which have been now introduced. The whole series of Classes and Subdivisions of the Catalogue, is exhibited in the Synoptical Table immediately following this Preface; and the titles of the several works will be found alphabetically arranged, according to the names of the Authors or the Subjects in every separate Class, on the pages to which that Table refers. With respect to the Transactions of Scientific Societies, which have been sometimes found equally difficult of distribution and of consultation, it is believed that a ready method of reference has been adopted. They are divided generally into British and Foreign; the former being again separated into those established in London, or in the Provinces; and the latter into the nations to which they respectively belong: the several Associations are then inserted alphabetically in their proper divisions. The same scheme of arrangement has been also observed, in regard of Scientific and Literary Journals; and in every instance the peculiar bibliographical distinctions of the different series are explicitly stated. Such then being the uniform plan adopted in arranging the titles of the books inserted in the ensuing pages, some explanation may be offered of the systematic principle on which the classification of these Catalogues is founded. In every work of this character, the design is to exhibit a methodical distribution of the collected amount of human knowledge as contained in printed-books, into a series of the most natural and copious, though distinct classes; each of which is subdivided into such general smaller sections, as may properly comprise all the several branches of the main subject. Clearness of order, combined with simplicity of classification and facility of reference, are of course the most important qualities of such a work; the principal design |