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Potters.

Class XXV.-Porcelain and Earthenware.

China painters.

gilders.

Porcelain letter manufacturers.

Stone bottle manufacturers.

Class XXVI.--Decoration, Furniture, and Upholstery, Paperhangings, &e.

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Class XXVIII.—Manufactures from Animal and Vegetable Substances, &c.

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Class XXIX.-Miscellaneous Manufactures.

Umbrella and parasol makers.

Walking-stick makers.

Whip mounters.

Firework makers.

Toy makers.

Doll makers.

Case makers.

Desk and dressing-case makers.

Card-case makers.

Work-box makers.

Fancy-box makers.

Clock-case makers.

Snuff and fancy box makers.

Chess and backgammon board makers.

Artificial florists:

Bugle and bead makers.
Theatrical ornament makers.
Projecting letter makers.

Bird and beast stuffers.

Fan inakers.

57 Class XXX.-Sculpture, Models, and Plastic Art.

Sculptors.
Statuaries.

Plaster cast and figure makers.

Artists in alabaster.

Ivory carvers.

Wood carvers.
Medallists.
Die sinkers.
Letter cutters.

Seal engravers.
Engravers in general.
Wood engravers.
Heraldic engravers.
Architectural modellers.
Enamellers.

XI. Thus, out of the whole 30 classes into which the general producers have been divided, a large proportion of no less than 24 classes are immediately interested in matters of art and taste, over and above the mere mechanical skill implied in their avocations; and however unconscious many of the above-enumerated artizans and skilled workmen may be of the essential importance of what is termed taste to their own success in their several trades, it is an absolute truth, that however useful and mechanically ingenious an article may be, it becomes greatly more valuable in every sense, if it combines elegance with use. It performs higher services, administering to intellectual as well as material wants.

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XII. It is the little more or less taste that is displayed that often decides the fortunes of individuals, and will frequently explain the inequalities in life, which it is difficult to account for in any other way.

XIII. It is, then, to give every man his chance for the common advantage, that the present organization of what may be termed an Art Manufactures Library has been undertaken. Its peculiar advantages are these: it is intended to bring together, in the course of time, all works, wherever published, which may in any way illustrate, or aid in the development of, the useful arts in relation to taste, in matters of personal or domestic use, and every variety of social refinement depending on manufacturing skill.

XIV. The arrangement of this library is as important as its contents. Many libraries in Europe may already contain an immense assortment of such works as the scheme of this library indicates, but they are inaccessible to the class above all others calculated to derive immediate benefit from them. The artizan, or even the manufacturer, is able to make but a limited use of the vast library of the British Museum. It may contain all that he wants, and is accessible to him after he has obtained the privilege of admission to the library; but, when he has conformed to the rules which give him access, he must know exactly what he wants, and look for it; but the chance will be, that he may not find what he wants, and his trouble and labour will be thrown away. There is, however, this serious obstruction in the way of the student,-it is the necessity of knowing the precise work

he wants. It is unreasonable to expect a precise knowledge in a class not very familiar with books, especially such books as they probably never have had access to in their lives; and until there are special classified catalogues of the library, accessible to the applicants in the reading-room, the classes in question are most efficiently excluded from all participation in the benefit of the great National Library.

XV. This library of the Department of Science and Art is organized with a special view to meet these difficulties. The library is accessible to all on the payment of a small fee, either for the particular occasion, for the month, or for the year. If a special work be asked for from the catalogue, provided the book be not actually in hand, the longest delay will be that of two or three minutes; and if the student or applicant should be indisposed to look into the catalogue, he has only to mention his object in coming, or his business, and the best on that special matter that the library contains will be immediately shown to him. An artizan whose knowledge of books may be limited to the ordinary periodicals of a mechanics' reading-room, may here at once, by simply stating his business, see some of the most costly works on his art in the world, collected from the remotest regions of the globe,—from Egypt, from China, or from Peru.

XVI. Of course, such a library, though special, must eventually become one of great magnitude, and can be only gradually developed; its development will depend much on the use those for whom it is organized may make of it. In its present incipient state much will be required of it that it will not be able to supply; but the knowledge of wants must inevitably precede their supply; all requests will be attended to, and all genuine requirements will be met as soon as possible, in accordance with the means of the institution. This, however, is certain, that the efficiency of this library rests with the public themselves, and that its growth will be dependent on the use that is made of it.

XVII. Though the attendance is at present derived mainly from the schools of the Department, comprising men of various ages and pursuits, already established in life, the public, unconnected with the schools, are gradually evincing an appreciation of the peculiar benefits afforded by the collection. The number of such subscribers for the year 1853, has been 170. In June of that year, when the library was closed in the evenings, the number was five daily; in November, when open in the evenings, the number was forty-three.

It must be borne in mind that all the visitors to the library pay,-the students, as well as the public; and though the fee may be small, it is a guarantee of the earnest nature of the studies carried on. And when this circumstance is considered, the assumption of a signal success for the library is not without just cause.

It may be allowed, as some test of the utility of this library, to compare with its attendance the number in former years, even then long after their establishment, which attended the library and print-room of the British Museum, where no payment is required. The attendance here during the last quarter of 1853, was equal to that of the British Museum in 1820; and is six times the attendance of the Museum reading-room in 1810. If, however, the comparison be made with the print room of the British Museum, a more analogous institution, the figures show very remarkably in favour of this institution. The actual numbers of the year have, as shown by the Parliamentary returns, exceeded those of the last three years at the print-room; and the average of the last three months of 1853, shows an attendance three times greater than that at the Museum, notwithstanding the fees demanded here and the gratuitous admission there; and this signal success has been secured at a comparatively insignificant

expense on account of the Department. The daily average for the present year has been about forty.

The number of subscribers unconnected with the schools of the De partment has been 233.

TERMS OF ADMISSION, &c.

XVIII. The Library is open every day, except the usual vacations at Government offices, from ten in the morning until nine at night, except Saturday evenings.

All registered students of the Central Schools of Science and Art have free admission to the Library, as also all subscribers of one guinea per annum to the Museum. The charge for an annual ticket to the Library exclusively is half-a-guinea; and occasional students will be admitted upon the payment of sixpence, which will entitle all persons paying such fee to admission for six days from that of the payment of the fee, inclusive; a monthly ticket may be purchased for eighteen-pence.

January 1855.

R. N. WORNUM, Librarian.

CATALOGUE.

A.

ALPHABETS, WRITING, &c.

BALLHORN, F.-Alphabets of Eastern and Western Languages, for the use of Compositors and Correctors of the Press.

Alphabete Orientalischer und Occidentalischer Sprachen zum Gebrauch für Schriftsetzer und Correctoren, Zusammengestellt von Friedr. Ballhorn. 6th ed. 2s. 8vo. Leipzig, 1853.

BELLAMY, T.-Writing and Drawing made easy, amusing, and instructive. Containing the whole Alphabet in all the Characters now used, both in Painting and Penmanship; each illustrated by emblematic devices and moral copies, calculated for the use of schools, and curiously engraved by the best hands. Oblong 8vo. London, n. d. BESLEY, R.-Designs for Ornamental Printing. New Specimens of Mathematical Combination Borders, and other Typographical Ornaments. 4to. London, 1848.

A general Specimen of Printing Types. 4to. London, 1848. BICKHAM, G.-The Universal Penman. 11. 10s., folio. London, 1743. CROSS, TH., JUN.-An Idea of the severall distinct charecters of the greatest part of the World. With a dedication to Charles II. Small oblong folio. London, 1680.

DEVICES.-A Collection of Printers' Devices, Arms, &c. (scrap book). FERGUSON.-Specimens of new Book and Newspaper Founts. Oblong 4to. Edinburgh, n. d.

Specimens of the Aldine Series of new Founts. Oblong 4to.
Edinburgh, n. d.

Specimens of Wood Letter. Oblong 4to. Edinburgh, n. d. FIGGINS, V. & J.-Specimens of Wood Letter. Folio. London, n. d. Epitome of Specimens 1847. Folio. London 1847.

A Selection of choice Book Founts, from the general Specimens of Vincent and James Figgins, Letter Founders. 4to. London,

n. d. GEORGII, FR. A. A.-Thibet Alphabet, with an Account of the Manners and Superstitions of the People, &c.

Alphabetum Tibetanum Missionum Apostolicarum commodo editum. Præmissa est disquisitio qua de vario litterarum ac regionis nomine, gentis origine Moribus, superstitione, ac Manichæismo fuse disseritur. Beausobrii calumniæ in Sanctum Augustinum, aliosque ecclesiæ patres refutantur. Studio et labore Fr. Augustini Antonii Georgii eremitæ Augustiniani. 17. 4to. vellum. Romæ, 1762.

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