Royal Colonial Institute. 219 Mr. J. S. O'HALLORAN (Secretary Royal Colonial Institute) : In the paper which he has read this evening, Mr. Boose has favoured us with an able and in- teresting record of the growth of this library, which I well remember as far back as 1872 in the days of its infancy. All who have had a share in its management are naturally proud of its expansion, and we rejoice in having had the privilege of assisting in the nurture of a once tender and delicate plant, which has since developed into a healthy and vigorous tree. The process has of course been a gradual one, seeing that the Royal Colonial Institute is a self-supporting Society without endow- ments or subsidies. It presents a notable example of the result of a policy of self- reliance and faith in the future qualities which have been the mainspring of success- ful British colonisation in every quarter of the globe. While relying solely on the Fellows for financial support our doors are open to all enquirers who seek special information or advice on subjects relating to the Colonies ; and the authors of many useful works declare that they could hardly have been written but for the help afforded them here. It sometimes happens that demands are made upon us that are quite beyond our means and outside our scope, such as the supply of wall-maps and Colonial literature to National Schools ; but we are ever ready to offer sugges- tions as to the best text-books, and this Institute has done good service to the cause of education in directing public attention to the great importance of a better know- ledge of our Colonies. A considerable sum has just been voted by the Council for the publication of a new and up-to-date catalogue of this library, which has been prepared by Mr. Boose, and must prove of the greatest value throughout the British Empire as an aid to the study of Colonial literature. The CHAIRMAN : It is now my pleasure and privilege to propose a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Boose for his admirable paper. I thought I was pretty well acquainted with the value of our library, but I certainly had no conception that we possessed one of such extent and importance until I had the opportunity of hearing the details which Mr. Boose has presented to us in his paper. Reference has been made to the forthcoming catalogue which has not only entailed an immense amount of work upon Mr. Boose, but the cost of which will be very considerable, amount- ing to nearly three hundred pounds. I am sure we are deeply indebted to Mr. Boose for the admirable manner in which he fulfils the duties of librarian, and I think we have a good illustration of the way in which those duties are performed in the paper which he has given us this evening. Dr. GARNETT : I desire to express the gratification with which I have listened to Mr. Boose's paper, both individually and as aa officer of the British Museum. The Library of the Royal Colonial Institute is evidently extensive, progressive, and well administered. The proverb says, " ex ungue leonem" and by hearing from Mr. Boose how many publications it possesses relating to such a colony as Hong-Kong, it is possible to form an idea of its extent and probable development as regards the growing empires of Canada and Australasia. The British Museum has always taken a lively interest in Colonial literature. Its founder, Sir Hans Sloane, laid the foundation of his fame by a work on what was then the most important British colony Jamaica. A copy of this book, copiously annotated by himself, is exhibited to the public as a treasure in the King's Library, where are also to be found the first books printed in New South Wales and the Cape Colony. A new room has recently been fitted up for the reception of Colonial and Indian state papers, the construction of which presents many features of interest, and which I shall be happy to show to any here present. The Museum is under very special obligations to the Royal Colonial Institute for the donation of Colonial newspapers which have now been made annually for several years. It is of the greatest importance to collect and preserve such docu- ments which reflect the daily life of society with a truth which no other form of literature can, but which the resources of the Museum and the numerous other claims upon them will not allow it to assemble in any degree approaching com- pleteness. By the generous aid of the Institute, however, the Museum is form- ing what will one day become a noble collection of priceless advantage to the historian. I am sure it will be borne in mind that the utility of such a collection depends upon its indefinite continuance. The files of a few consecutive years can but constitute a mere isolated fragment of little worth, but perseverance will, in course of time, build up a great national collection in which every Colony
