20 tracts contained in this collection, and not to be found elsewhere in the Advocates’ Library; and surely it were to be regretted if such books should be ordered anew from the Continent, in consequence of the'Dietrichs’ collection being in such a state of confusion that it is quite inaccessible.* 4. A large public library can be in various ways benefited by maintaining a continual correspondence with libraries and literary institutions abroad ; not only because by such means copies of manuscripts and rare and original documents may be obtained, (as was the case with the Bothwell MS. of which a copy was ob- tained from Sweden through Mr Repp’s means,) but also, because such learned bodies abroad frequently publish valuable and instructive tracts never meant or intended for sale, and which they are proud to commu- nicate to such literary institutions as maintain any cor- respondence with them. The belief that it is for the mutual interest of all literary institutions in Europe to maintain a frequent literary commerce and intercourse, has long been acted upon on the Continent, and is now beginning to be received in Great Britain. Some members of Faculty are aware, that Mr Repp’s letters to distinguished men abroad have been kindly attended to by them. 5. And lastly, Although the literary duties, in a public library, certainly comprise more than the mere cataloguing and arranging of books, yet the cataloguing and ar- ranging comprise more than generally is apprehended. Nothing can be more clear than that, if there are to be found in a library, books written in more than forty lan- guages, and in which more than twenty-five alphabets, or systems of letters, are used, the knowledge of three or four alphabets alone is insufficient for cataloguing. In the Advocates’ Library are books in which the following alphabets are used : the Latin, Greek, German, Anglo- Saxon, Irish, Runic, Slavonic, Russian, Glagolitic, Maesogothic, Georgian, two very distinct Armenian alphabets, two distinct Arabic alphabets, Hebrew, Samaritan, Syriac, Ethiopic, Zend, Sanscrit, Singalese or Burmese. And every one knows that it is utterly * This great collection has lain, ever since it was brought to this country, eight or nine years ago, in cellars inaccessible to the Faculty.

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