CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM The Ustate of "Villard Austen Cornell University Library Z732.C3 L88 olin 3 1924 029 530 049 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029530049 THE LIBRARIES OF CALIFORNIA. CONTAINING DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES. THROUGHOUT THE STATE. Flora Haines Apponyi, '2© vJG^V\.e«v.c\, SAN FRANCISCO: A. L. BANCROFT AND COMPANY. 1878. Copyright, 1878, By Flora Haines Apponyi. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PRIVATE LIBRARIES. " :* PAGE. William Alvord San Francisco ■ 9 Milton Andros " " ....* 11 Hubert H. Bancroft " " 13 Geofge F. Becker Berkeley.. . 61 A. S. Bettelheim San Francisco 62 A. J. Bowie " '* 64 J. Ross Browne 65 A, Leon Cervantes San Luis Obispo 67 John M . Chretien San Francisco 69 Alfred A. Cohen Alameda 71 P.C 75 Adley H. Cummins San Francisco , , 81 Horace Davis " " go . Charles and M. H. DeYoung " " 92 William Doxey " " 95 John T.Doyle Menlo Park 9S JohnB. Felton \ Oakland ro6 H. H. Haight i... Alameda; 108 Ralph C. Harrison San Francisco " no Addison E. Head " " 116 Ceorge Hewston.... " " 118 A. P. Hotaling *' " 121 Ji. F. Houghton Oakland 123 John R. Jarhoe San Francisco 125 William Ingraham Kip " " 135 Ralph W.' Kirkham Oakland, 139 Delos Lake San Francisco 143 Milton S. Latham " ' " 147 Albert J. LeBreton.. ■ " " 151 John LeConte . . .' Berkeley i5S Joseph LeConte " 156 J. E. McElrath .Oakland 157 Molera and Cebrian San Francisco ^59 William Norris " '* 170 A. A. O'Neill " '* 175 Loring Pickering " " 176 William H. Piatt " *' 179 T.H.Rearden « " 181 R. C. Rogers " ** 187 L. S.B.Sawyer " •' 188 William Scott '* " 192 Theodore Shillaber " " 194 G. Frank Smith " " 198 Leland Stanford " *' 201 W, C.Talbot « " 206 R.A.Thompson Santa'Rosa 208 Joseph W. Winans San Francisco 219 R. B. Woodward Oak Knoll 221 W. A. Woodward San Francisco 225 Lorenzo G. Yates ' Centreville 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. J. S. Alemany San Francisco 228 Faxon D. Atherton Fair Oaks 228 Charles W. Banks ..Oakland 228 CISCO 229 229 230 230 230 230 230 231 231 231 Henry P. Bowie San Fraii James W. Brown ... Eugene Casserly... D. D. Colton.',.... Daniel Cook Benjamin D. Dean. Joseph A. Donahoe — — Eldridge Geary Henry George .... Arpad Haraszthy. . . John C. Hall " " 232 A. S. Hallidie " *' 232 C. C. Keeney R.H.Lloyd , " " 235 John T. McGeoghegan " " 235 J. P. Manrow " " 235 Mrs. C. L. Maynard " " 236 A.J. Messing '* " 236 R. S. Messick *' " 237 John Mone *' " 237 Bernard Moses Berkeley 238 J.MoraMoss .Oakland 238 D.J. Murphy San Francisco =39 James Murphy " " 239 Charles Page " " 239 Gilbert Palache " " 239 H. A. Palmer Oakland 239 George Frederick Parsons Sacramento 240 J. P. Pierce .Santa Clara 240 Professor Price San Francisco 241 Willard P. Rising Berkeley 241 C. P. Robinson San Francisco 241 John H. Saunders San Rafael 241 Horatio Stebbins San Francisco 242 J. D. Whitney " " "242 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. State Library Sacramento 243 University of California Berkeley 251 Mercantile Library San Francisco 261 Mechanics' Institute , *' " 269 Odd Fellows' Library " " 277 Law Library " '* 2B6 Art Association 290 La Ligue Nationale Francais " " 293 California Pioneers " " 206 Microscopical Society " *• .... 298 Knights of Pythias, etc " *' 200 y.M.C. A " '« :.: 299 San Jose Library Association ** *' , 300 Table of number of volumes in Law Libraries 301 INTRODUCTORY. In writing of the private libraries of California, I have not sought merely to represent' a few of the most extensive private collections in the State, but have attempted rather to bring to- gether records of the book's belonging to the reading people apd bibliophiles of California. Several of those mentioned have but a modest number of volumes. A few among these are young men with small incomes; their means do not allow them to make extensive purchases, and many a sacrifice is made to procure a coveted work, but they are increasing their little libraries so steadily and so intelligently, that the day will come when their collections will be counted among the largest and most impor- tant upoh the coast. If the collector be a man of family, he is creating in his home a safeguard for his children that all the elegant furniture and luxuries in the world could not effect. If children cannot find amusement at home they will seek it abroad. Even if the young taste runs to impossible faity tales and nonsensical stories, it is better to encourage it. These are only beginnings. Young people will always have a season of reading for amusement be- fore reading for profit. Many library owners are seriously annoyed by careless book- borrowers, who either re-lend books, or keep them so long that they forget the original owner, and claim them by the law of appropriation. Individuals of otherwise good moral character seem to have no sense of any moral obligation in regard to borrowed books. If they should borrow garment, a fan,- a cane, or a boot-jack, from a friend, they would be punctilious in returning it. But when they borrow a book, which the owner probably values much more than garment, utensil or money, they either ill use it or lend to another friend, who will in turn lend it, and when the book finally comes back to its original possessor, it is in a condition which inspires wrath and dismay. A few possessors of choice libraries have suffered so much by such inroads that they have made it a rule not to lend. 6 INTRODUCTORY. I would suggest that a practice already adopted by some of our citizens should become general. These gentlemen, who lend freely to friends, keep a supply of little blank cards always at hand. When the loan of a book is requested, they make a counter-request that the borrower shall place his name, togethar with the tide of the book and date, upon a card, and drop it into a little drawer for the purpose. When the book is returned the card is destroyed. In this way they easily keep trace of their books, and find that it also protects a volume from ill usage. In passing, it would be well to state that where a book or set of works is mentioned in one librar}' and not in another, it must not always be taken as an indication that it is not included in the latter collection, unless the fact is explicitly stated. I have endeavored to give simple and truthful accounts of the various libraries, public and private, as I have found them, with a men- tion of their most interesting features. In some libraries certain features have received more elaborate notice than in others. To have treated all in the same manner would have involved countless repetition. It is with mingled pride and shame that this record, of one literary epoch in the history of our State, is presented for public inspection. Californians have only recently had time or thought to devote to literan,' culture. "The child is young, but is it not vigorous for its age V On the other hand, a number of wealthy Californians live in superb style. They have palatial mansions, luxuriously fur- nished. A guest is regaled with the most sumptuous food, the most costly wines; well-trained servants attend his slightest bid- ding ; he is driven out in a magnificent equipage, behind blooded horses, controlled by a liveried coachman. But, should he desire to pass a quiet hour in reading, he ma}' search in vain for a book. Eveiy provision is made for the comfort of the body, nothing for the refreshment of the mind. Among these miUion- aires are a few, who, in the rush and press of a busy life, have simply let other things come first. The majority are vain and ostentatious, with a vulgar love of display ruling their lives. To this latter element may be attributed the inspiration dicta- INTRODUCTORY. 7 ting an eloquent description of the diamonds possessed by San Francisco ladies, which followed closely upon a series of articles on the libraries of the city published some months ago, the spirit of which was: "If we haven't got books, we have got diamonds." The result was a scathing editorial from the Lon- don Times, of September 19th, 1878, in which the following passage occurs: San Francisco does not care for art and learning; it has not been educated to see beauty in an intaglio. A brilliant is the measure of its taste, and we cannot affect to be surprised. The public libraries will speak for themselves. Almost with- out exception, they have bravely battled with adversity, but have reached solid land at last, piloted by energetic and courageous men. Aside from their mission as popular educators, they e.xert to-day the best, and almost the only counteracting influence, to draw the youth of our cities away from the dens of corruption enticing on every hand. The labor involved in my work could hardly be explained, and the unpublished, but not unwritten, portion of my experi- ences is undoubtedly the most entertaining. No one could be more -painfully aware than the writer of the imperfections of the work. Had the support been better, it could have been better and more elaborately done. The public libraries, which I have taken great pains to well represent, have given me no reason to hope that the bare cost of the printing will ever be returned to me, much less any recompense for my time or trouble. Alto- gether, it has been a faithful and arduous labor to which I have devoted many months of time, with small possibilities and less expectations of profit, and I lay it down with a sense of needed rest. To those who have given me sympathy, as well as valuable co- operation in my work, I tender my sincere thanks, especially to Mr. H. H. Moore, the well-known book connoisseur, whose assistance has been especially valuable. F. H. A. San Francisco, December, 1878. T H- E Private Libraries OF CALIFORNIA. WILLIAM ALVORD. Mr. Alvord, for many years president ,of the Art Association of San Francisco, has a collection of books, numbering a little less than one thou- sand volumes, devoted to miscellaneous literature. A large proportion of these books relate to the subject of art, consisting of choice engravings, lives of famous painters, histories of art, together with the most valuable modern standard works on the subject. The collection includes Monuments des Arts du Dessin, by Vivant Denon; Decrits et Expliqu'es, A. Duval, Paris, 1829; Meyer Von Bremen's Gal- lery; Etchings for the Art Union of London^ by the Etching Club; Tuscan Sculptures, by C. C. Perkins; D'Agincourt's History of Art, three folio volumes, thick paper, printed only on one side; Abregi de la Vie des phis Fameux Peintres^ Paris, 1745, three octavo volumes; Antiquities of Her- cidaneum, Martyn and Lettice, London, 1773; Recueil de Testes de Caracters et de Charges, des- lO PRIVATE LIBRARIES. sin'ees par Leo De Vinci, Florentin, 1730; and Ansichten aus Griechenland^ by Frommel. The gem of Mr. Alvord's collection is the orig- inal manuscript of The Culprit Fay, by Joseph Rodman Drake, bound with every edition ever published of that fine poem of the imagination, together with the various illustrations. This was presented to him by his uncle, Hamilton W. Robin- son, of New York. In speaking of this poem, Fitz-Greene Halleck, the authors intimate friend and literary partner, quoted the following line from Campbell: " Poetry should come to us in masses of ore, that require sifting." And then added : '' It is compact with imagination." Among works of art decorating the walls of the somewhat contracted little room which serves as a receptacle for the greater portion of the books, are two rustic scenes by Turner, a couple of superior engravings of Hero and Leander and Enee, and a remarkable portrait of Washington Irving exe- cuted by Erwin, a promising artist, formerly of San Francisco, but now pursuing his studies in Rome. MILTON ANDROS. Among our citizens are a few to whom books are a necessity, rather than a luxury. With no distinct purpose of collecting, their tastes demand them, just as the artistic eye craves artistic surroundings, and books crystallize about them naturally. Such collections are very unlike those gathered by the methodical patron of literature, who acquires what is probably a rpore systematically arranged library; but they possess more individuality, be- coming, as it were, exponents of the tastes of their owners. To this class belongs the library of Milton An- dros, numbering between two and three thousand volumes. The specialty of this collection, if spe- cialty it has, is in the department of history, which is unusually complete for a gentleman's private library, comprising the principal standard works, ancient and modern. It is also very full in poetry and the drama, with all the British and almost all the American poets, and the British dram- atists complete. The works of the latter consist of different editions gathered at different times. Altogether, it may be said that Mr. Andros has as complete a collection in these departments as will be found in the library of any gentleman not having a special hobby in that direction. He also has a complete edition of the British Essayists. 12 PRIVATE LIBRAKIES. Biography, the classics, science and romance, are well represented, and there are a goodly number of standard works of reference. The library also embraces an interesting collection of antiquarian researches, and all the books of African travel and exploration procurable. No special attention has been shown to bindings in this library, some of the books being in hand-_ some attire, others in plain dress, just as they have been picked up. One of the choicest editions is Scott's complete works, issued by Black Brothers of Edinburgh, in one hundred volumes, really more desirable in many respects than the prized Abbots- ford edition. Mr. Andros has, also, many rare edi- tions of the life of Milton, and his works, including the large pa'per edition, four volumes, royal octavo. HUBERT H. BANCROFT. Of all books printed, probably not more than half are ever read. Many are embalmed in public libraries; many go into private quarters to fill spaces; many are glanced at and put av\ray for future reading or reference. Hundreds of tons of public documents are carted from government print- ing-offices around unclean commercial corners to the paper-mill; while by far the greater part of the effusions sent by self-admiring law-makers to their constituents are scarcely opened until the fire needs kindling. The most ardent book-lovers are not always the greatest readers; indeed, the rabid bibliomaniac seldom reads at all. To him books are as ducats to the miser, something to be hoarded and not em- ployed. In the elegant apartment of the average collector, in himself, his wife, or children,- we should hardly look for the best-improved minds. Con- noisseurs in bindings and editions have little taste left for the higher art. Your true scholar will study a few books, in- stead of rambling through many. The libraries of professional men are for reference rather than reading. . Educational works are the apparatus of mental gymnastics, making no pretensions to in- tellectual nourishment; they are conned, not read. How few are read of all the millions of bibles sent 14 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. from the teeming presses of the devout in various languages to convert the world ! Some affect books who care nothing for them; yet all refined persons love their mute companion- ship, and will have it, though they may not read a page a fortnight. Whether from love or affecta- tion comes the prompting, this harvesting of ripen- ed and recorded thought is the most delightful of accumulatings. So pleasant it is to buy books; so tiresome to utilize them. Now, to buy books as one buys furniture is one thing ; to gather for intelligent and progressive purpose is quite another. In the former instance, beauty and rarity are considered; in the latter, pnly intrinsic merit. Not that he who most keenly ap- preciates authorship must necessarily be insensible to elegance, or even to the baser satisfaction of having what few possess. But to set great store on bindings, rare editions, or even illustrations; to care more for the leather and pasteboard, the paper and pictures and print, than for the sparks of im- mortal mind that illuminate the pages, seems to the earnest, thoughtful man a trifling with the higher good. Yet the most slovenly pedant need not complain if another prefers his immortality gilt- edged and embossed. In whichsoever category we place Mr. Hubert H. Bancroft and his twenty thousand volumes, cer- tain it is that both signify action, performance. The collection is a means, not an end. Collecting HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 1 5 is the least part of it; is, indeed, only the beginning of something infinitely greater, wherein fact absorbs fancy. To him material conditions are shadows; only ideas are substance. A soiled dime tract he might possibly regard as tenderly as the six thou- sand dollar Mexican Concilios Provinciales manu- script. Not that the collecting was a slight affair, or easily accomplished. In some respects it was as novel as the subsequent utilization. First, a, field was chosen, a fresh field, the western portion of North America. Everything possible, written or printed within this territory, or elsewhere if relating to it, was purchased. So far, there was nothing remarkable about it. Time, money, and enthusiasm in a score of years can accomplish something in any direction. But it so happened that throughout a portion of Mn Bancroft's territory printed matter respecting it was scarce and exceedingly trashy. In Mexico and Central America, where history recorded in Latin characters runs back nearly four centuries, and in aboriginal hieroglyphics as many more, books and manuscripts were abundant. All that was neces- sary was to watch opportunity and buy as authors would sell. But throughout the vast region north of Mexico; throughout the Californias and their collateral ter- ritories, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada; throughout the Oregon country, which included Washington, Idaho and Montana; in British Colum- I 6 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. bia and Russian America, there was little in printed books that could be called history, science, or any- thingf else. What, then, was to be done for a literature here? Make one. History would do for a beginning, and if this was not to be found in books, there was plenty of it in the air, in the mouths of men, and in yet more substantial shape. First, there were the archives of the missionaries, and of the settlers who came immediately after them; the letters and jour- nals of fur-traders, and the records kept at their several forts. Some of the mission archives had been carried away to Mexico; some remained. The pueblo archives had been partially gathered by the government; and throughout the north the records of the fur-companies had been kept by the great companies representing government, but only par- tially. Much remained to be unearthed. Mr. Bancroft's library is rich in manuscripts, and his manuscripts are richest in California history. Fourteen men in ten months placed upon his shelves copies and abstracts of the three hundred volumes of documents lodged in the United States Surveyor-General's office in San Francisco. But thrice as much more remained of this kind of material, which was by no means so accessible. There were yet collections of Spanish docu- ments at Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and other missions; in the public offices at San Diego, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Salinas, and HUBERT H. BANCROFT. I 7 Santa Clara; in the hands of the old Californian famihes, such as Bandini, De la Guerra, Castro, Alvarado, Pico, Estudillo; or treasured by such col- lectors as Hayes, Larkin, Vallejo, and the Arch- bishop of San Francisco. Nor was this all. In the memory of men still living was treasured more of living, breathing his- tory, aye, ten times as much as had ever been placed on record in any shape. Here then was the arduous part of it; to gather from a thousand quarters volumes or scraps, to fasten to paper the fleeting recollections of men whose numbers death every day lessened. This Mr. Bancroft did. Thus far it was his greatest achievement; and the hun- dreds of dictations, narratives, and manuscript his- tories standing upon the shelves of his library to-day, and which, but for him, never would have been, attest his diligence. It is impossible to over- estimate the value of this rich mass of material, rescued absolutely from oblivion; and upon which, to a great extent, the history of this country must forever rest. The same thing has been done in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. All these fields Mr. Bancroft has personally visited and labored in, with the exception of the last-men- tioned, whither he sent an agent, a Russian gentle- man who belonged to his corps of assistants. The mere mention of one in a hundred of these precious manuscripts — and we could here do no 15 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. more — would convey little idea of what they are; and feeling that but poor justice has been done this part of the collection, we must pass on to other subjects. The field next in importance is Mexico, the cradle of the northern settlements, in whose rec- ords lie buried the germs of their history. The facilities which enabled Mr. Bancroft to form his immense California collection of manuscripts do not exist with regard to Anahuac, and his documents on that region, although more numerous than those possessed by any other collector, are not nearly so bulky as the California material; but, then, they possess the extra attraction of venerable age. They embrace unpublished letters and chronicles by military participants in the conquest of the Nahua and Maya countries, by religious fathers who carried forward their work with the cross, and by eye-witnesses of the historic evolutions that followed. Among the earliest of the original Mexican manuscripts is a pastoral letter in Latin, of 1534, by Joannes de Zumarraga, the first bishop of Mexico, whose zeal was surpassed only by his bigotry, and who owed his preferment to the ad- miration of Charles V. for his piety. Within its musty parchment cover lies also the approbation of Queen Juana, signed Yo la Reyna. An older manuscript, but of no historical value, is the hom- iletic of Gregory the Great. HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 1 9 Moralia S. Gregorii Pape, in thirty-five books, and in double-columned Latin text; the small, close Gothic lettering of the fourteenth century, is a marvel of evenness and caligraphic skill. The numerous marginals and references, in Greek style, and the preface and index, which are in larger and more open letters, and of a later period, present less excellencies. The running title consists of blue roman numerals with red tracery, accompanied at times by an index to the contents of the page, in the same style as the marginals. The chapter divisions are, on the other hand, marked in black Arabics, and the same figures in red are used to number the lines. The books begin with large blue head-pieces, adorned with intricate tracery in red and blue, smaller initials of the same class being used at the head of the rare paragraphs, while every sentence starts with a red letter. In the in- dex these initials are very profuse, and occur in altefnate red and blue. Red underlining is also frequent, but rubrics are rare. This monument of the patient labor of monastic clerici forms a thick folio volume of vellum leaves, bound in parchment- covered pasteboard, and bearing on the recto of the cover" a triangular shield with colored em- blazoning. Less artistic, but, perhaps, more curious speci- mens of illuminated manuscripts are contained within antique-looking parchment covers, several bound with thongs, which are protected from dust 20 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. either by a flap that extends from one side of the cover, or by a fastening of thong hooks, and but- tons. Among these is the Colegio de Nuestra Senora de Guadahipe de Zacaiecas, Escriptura de Protestacion, a pious address in large, irregular chirography of nine lines to the black-bordered octavo page, illustrated with dazzling pictures and title page in irisated colors. A better illustration of caligraphic art, and at the same time an interest- ing type of the visionary writings wherein the con- vent recluse delighted, is furnished by Angeles^ Grandezay Excelencia de los siete principes, which consists of a series of prayers and allegories on Heaven and its inhabitants, with an octosyllabic ode in triple measure and assonant rhyme, and with learned marginal references. The careful Roman lettering is illuminated with a profusion of rubri- cated head-lines, quotations, and capitals. Equally profuse in rubrics, and head-pieces in red and blue ink, is the Sermones, In Festis, written in the six- teenth century. Among other religious manu- scripts, in more or less artistic penmanship, may be noticed, the diffuse Obra of the Canon Conde y Oquiendos, in two volumes, on the apparition of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe; Frey Hieroni Bap- tista's treatise on the canons regulating marriage, bearing the autograph of the friar; Amadei, Apocalypsis, a folio collection of sermons, hymns, and allegories; and Fray J. de Schevelar^ Ques- tiones sobre la Regla de San Francisco. HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 2 1 Turning from these curious, rather than intrin- sically valuable books, we come to the gem of the collection, the costly Concilios Provinciales Mexi- canos, in four large parchment-covered volumes, which form the original record of the proceedings of the first three ecclesiastic councils of Mexico, held in the sixteenth century. This invaluable por- tion of a national treasure had found its way to Europe, probably through the gross negligence of the same class before whose bigotry fell the aborig- inal records during the early days of the conquest. Mr. Bancroft was fortunate enough to discover and secure the prize. The acts recorded in these vol- umes, together with the petitions and communica- tions, on civil as well as religious affairs, submitted to the councils, bear the autographs and seals of sovereigns, church dignitaries, officials, and leading civilians. They contain the decrees by which a then all-powerful church regulated the secular ■ and ecclesiastic administration of Spanish North America, and with which it left its impress on a race. The first council, which sat in 1555, under Archbishop Alonso de Montufar, of Mexico, issued a reglamento, in ninety-three chapters, for the rule of parishioners, clergy and Indians; and the second met under the same presidency to adopt the reso- lutions of the council of Trent, and some additional canons. Despite the comprehensiveness of these decrees, it was found necessary to hold a third council in 1585, under the able Pedro Moya y Con- 2 2 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. treras, as archbishop and viceroy, assisted by six prelates, by whom the previous acts, as well as those of the later council of Lima, were partially incorporated in the five books of enactments, which became the standard authority for priests and laity throughout the northern continent. The paper on which the acts are written is rough, with frayed edges, and the chirography is most varied, and even mtricate, while the text, contrary to what might be expected from a council of prelates, is in Spanish, with only occasional Latin paragraphs. Some of the communications addressed to the prelates are almost ludicrous, albeit of considerable value in depicting the condition of society and affairs at that time. While one urges the necessity of checking the growing vanity of women, another suggests re-' strictions on their intercourse with monks and priests, and a third petitions that moderate gam- bling among the clergy may not be interfered with. The autographs form a great attraction, not only from the illustrious character of the names, but from the curious outline of the letters and rubricas. There, among others, may be seen the autocratic signature, Yo el Rey, of Philip II, the scarcely less imposing patronymic of the viceroy, and the revered signature of the monk-prelate, often re- stricted to the modest initial, while certain person- ages and corporations limit themselves to mere rubricas. The proceedings of the first and third council were published several times in more or HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 23 less incomplete form, copies of which also exist in the collection. The acts of a fourth council, held in 1 77 1 , exist in two manuscript volumes, formerly belonging to the Mexican Imperial Library, but they do not appear to have been of much importance compared with those of the preceding councils. In a neatly writ- ten folio volume, in blue velvet cover, containing the revised catechism by this council, may be seen the autographs of the celebrated primate Lorenzana and his five episcopal coadjutors. The council can have signed but a few copies, and this specimen must accordingly be considered rare. The gor- geously illuminated title-page lends" it additional interest. The division of political history is rich in early originals and copies of documents bearing on Mex- ico and Central America. Many of the former class belonged at one time to the Imperial Library, while the copies have been obtained from archives in Spain and elsewhere. Zurita, Brebe y Sumaria Relacion, of 1 554, in parchment binding, is a lengthy dissertation on the tribute system before and after the conquest, addressed to the king by this oidor. The Libra de Cabildo relates to the municipal acts of the Mexican capital from 1524 to 1529, and in- cludes the names of early settlers. Among the chronicles are the bulky volumes of Duran's His- toria de las Indias de la Nueva Espana, in three tratados, on the ancient history of the Indians, and 24 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. their feasts and rites, of which one voliime only has been published lately. The oldest copy, at the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid, dated 1571, contains several colored illustrations. Its claim to being an original has of late been disputed on the ground of misspelling of Indian names with which Duran, as a Mexican on the mother's side, was known to be familiar. To the same subject is devoted a goodly portion of the still older Historia Apolo- g'etica, and Historia de las Yndias, by Las Casas, the champion of the oppressed natives. Some of these volumes have lately been taken in hand by the printer. To this period belong the letters of Cerezeda to the king, dated 1529 and 1533, and describing the state of affairs in Nicaragua and Honduras. A collection of extracts in Spanish, from Munoz, marked Central America, 1545-55, relate to the history of this region, and so do Ve- lasco, Carta escrita al Rey, 1558, on the French inroad in Honduras, and Coronado, Relacion, 1562, of conquests in Costa Rica. Invaluable for the history of the northern provinces of Mexico are the bulky Documentos para la Historia Ecclesiastica y civil de la Nueva Vizcaya, Mater iales para la Historia de Sonera, and Documentos para la His- toria de Texas, which consist of reports and jour- nals formed by priests and officials during the sev- enteenth and eighteenth centuries, and collected from the Mexican general archives. A portion of them have ajapeared in the published collection of HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 25 Documentos para la Historia de Mexico. Me- morias de Mexico is a collection of documents on the history of the capital, with particular reference to the foundation of her convents, illustrated by a pen map and plan of the city and surrounding coun- try, dated 161 8. Another municipal history is Al- cala, Descripcion de Puebla, in two parts, carried to 1769, and containing a full account of its build- ings, interspersed with sonnets and odes. The crudely colored town plan and map of the district exhibit a striking array of dark-green peaks and red-topped houses, while the rather faded writing is relieved by numerous head-pieces in foliage tracery. Rivera, Diario Curioso, is a chronicle of events in Mexico from 1676 to 1696, with a preface by the hand of Bustamante, to whom the work had with reckless generosity been presented by the librarian of the University of Mexico. In this case, however, the gift was judicious, for Bustamante published the document in the Museo Mexicano of 1843. A similar Diario, by Gomez, of events from 1776 to 1798, has also a preface by Busta- mante, and an appendix of printed matter. Mex- ico, Archivo General, is the title of a collection from this archive of curious biographies of Mexican kings and martyrs, in connection with which may be noticed the Vida de Beatriz de Silva, the founder of the order of Primera Concepcion. To the following century belong the valuable Crbnica de la Provincia de S. Pedro y S. Pablo de 2 6 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Mechoacan, from 1522 to 1575, by Beaumont, who appears to have been a doctor and man of the world before he retired from social vanities to the purer companionship of friars. A want of judg- ment is shown in the application of his extensive research, and the influence of the monastery is ap- parent in the style. Several bright water-color drawings help to illustrate the most remarkable incidents, and the copyist has added a specimen of his artistic skill in a pillar frame for the title page. What Beaumont did for Michoacan, Mota Padilla accomplished for the country northward in the Historia de la Conquista de la Ntieva Galicia, folio, Guadalajara, 1 740, which embraces the polit- ical and ecclesiastical history from the conquest to the date of the book. The original is said to exist in the Biblioteca del Carmen, but several copies are extant, as well as a faulty printed issue in El Pais, a periodical of 1856. and a better edition in book form, of 1872, by the Mexican Geographical So- ciety. Padilla had also turned churchman, after . holding the important position of fiscal' to the Audiencia of Guadalajara, and other offices, which doubtless helped to fit him for his future work. The Representacion Politico Legal of Aumada, the advocate of the Mexican Audiencia, is a plea for the free admission of Spanish Indians to secular and ecclesiastical offices; wherein may be found many of the causes, in the form of race prejudice and oppression, which gave rise to the war of inde- HUBERT II. BANCROFT. 27 pendence. In support of this plea appeared the Representacion Umilde, of May 2, 1771, by the Ayuntamiento of the capital. Cartas Americanas, Queretaro, 1812, in two volumes, contain a transla- tion from the Italian of the learned epistles by Bianchi, dated 1777-9, o" the sunken Atlantides and the American aborigines, which form a com- panion work to De Pauw's. The dedication to Franklin is abstracted. The Instry,cciones by the Mexican viceroys Linares, Branciforte, and Revilla Gigedo, to their successors in the government, appear in several volumes. Those of Revilla contain a woodcut portrait of himself, with coat of arms, and give an exhaustive review in two volumes, of the admin- istrative departments, so highly valued as to lead to their publication in 1831; In Adalid, Causa Formada, 18 15, in three volumes, bound in old-fashioned parchment, is found the trial of prominent supporters of the insurgents in Mexico. A similar trial is given in Extracto de la Causa of Matoso, whose case created more than ordinary attention from the fact of his being Relator to the Audiencia. On this tumultuous period bear also Orizava, Libra Noticioso^ an original diary of occurrences in Orizaba from 181 2 to 182 1, prefaced by Bustamante; and the letter of the leader Domingues on his operations against the Spaniards. The most important of the modern manuscripts, however, are from the pen of Carlos Maria Busta- 2 5 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. mante, the most prolific historical writer of Mexico. He had early gained distinction, not only in the legal profession, but as editor of the Diaro de Mexico, and other journals; and, on joining the revolutionary party, toward the close of the Spanish rule, he was elected deputy for his native province of Oajaca. This position he retained for many years, and became, at one time, president /ri? tern. of the Congress. Between the years 1836 and 1 84 1 he was one of the five conservadores of the supreme power, while his brother attained to the presidency of the Republic. Nearly all the im- portant manuscripts left by him, chiefly auto- graphic, passed to the Maximilian Library, and thence to Mr. Bancroft's shelves. The earliest historical effort of note, and which exhibits greater care than the less pure style of later works, is the Medidas para la Pacificacion de la A^nerica Mexicana, in two parts, which reviews the various branches of administration, and points out the re- forms needed to ensure the re-establishment of peace. It was his last plea for Spanish rule, and written during his confinement in the Vera Cruz dungeons, 181 7 to 181 9. Passing a number of essaj's, biographies and minor writings, it will be sufficient to enumerate the more important histor- ical narratives of Bustamante, of which are Materiales para el Ctiadro Historico^ on the events of the autumn of 1822, and Apuntes para la Historia del Gobierno del General Victoria, 1825 to 1830, pub- HUBERT II. BANCROFT. 29 lished in his periodical, ^os de la Patria. Volumes VI to XIV of the latter are in Bustamante's hand- writing, and give the history from 1831 to 1838. A part of this matter, as well as of the Continna- cion del Ciiadro Historico, from 1837 to 1841, in eight volumes, were published in Gabinete Mexi- cano, 1842. Following this is the Diario de lo Oczirrido, 1 841-3, in four volumes, interspersed with printed matter, and Memorandum para Escri- bir la Historia, from 1844 to 1847, to which belongs the Invasiojz de Mexico par los Anglo- Americanos, printed in 1847. The sequel to the historical series appears in the incomplete Historia del Gobierjio de los Generales Herrera y Paredes, which carrries the narrative to 1848. The latter part of this manuscript is by a different hand. Two valuable adjuncts to the Invasion, by other writers, exists under the titles, Asedio y Defensa de Mexico, ■dnd Diario Esactisimo, 1847. Whatever has been needed to fill the voids among the published works, in the department ot voyages and geography, has been obtained in the shape of manuscript copies from original journals and papers in the archives and libraries of Seville and Madrid, in the Deposito Hidrografico, the Munoz Collection, and other sources, together with many original documents. Here are the letters of Alvarado, the co-conquistador of Cortes, relating to the king his South Sea projects from 1534 to 1 541; the Relacion, by Grijalva, of his oceanic 30 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. expedition in 1833; the reports of D'Avila on liis conquests in the Isthmus i-egion from 1519 to 1524; and of Andagoya, in 1534, on interoceanic communication across Panama. Hermosilla treats the same subject in his Memorial to the king, dated 1556, but advocates the superior advantages of the Honduras route, and is supjsorted in this view by Aninon, Discurso, 1565. Among geo- graphic memoirs are, Ravago, Descripcion^ ^57-1 of the provinces between Mexico and Colombia; Miranda, Vera Paz, 1575; and Alcalde Mayor Chavez' Relacion^ on Meztitlan, which has found a place in Ternaux-Compans' collection of Voyages^ but without the notes on the Indian calendar ap- pended to the manuscript. Zapotitlan province is described in Niebla, Memorial, 1579, and portions of Honduras in Vsaguirre, Relacion, 1604-5; Duarie^ Relacioft, and Avila^ Descripcio7z de las Islas Guaiiijas, Descripcion de la America, 1701-10, is a compilation from D'Avity and other geographers, serving chiefly as an introduction to the secret report of the fiscal on the political ad- ministration of Spanish-American provinces. De- scripcion de Daricn, is a statement addressed, in 1754, by Governor Remon to the Viceroy, and forming the most complete report ever made on this not yet fully known province. During Spanish rule the archives in America were generally left in undisturbed repose, but, on the accession of Repub- lican administrators, it was resolved to extend the HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 3 1 revolutionary ideas even to dust and parchments, and devote them to some use. In the interest of political affairs, the cartridge-manufacturers were accordingly given free access, and a similar favor was granted, for the benefit of trade, to shopkeep- ers in want of -v^apping-paper. It was among a pile of such paper, in a Bogota store^ that this orig- inal was found by a friend of Mr. Bancroft, and presented to the fibrary. Another valuable report on the same region is Governor Ariza's Comentos de Darien, of 1 7 74. Metodo para Recibir y Dispachar el Galeon de Filipinas, Cadiz, 1763; Lynch, Relacion^ 1757, of a voyage along the Honduras coast; and Oyarvide y Heredia^ Diario, Havana, i 764, relate to navi- gation. To this class belongs the extensive ap- pendix to Sharp' s South Sea Waggoner, which describes the ocean routes along the west coast of America, and is illustrated with seventy-two crude ink charts. An autograph preface in Dutch, written in 1692, by the traveler, N. Witsen, refers to the loss of a much larger collection of Pacific charts, sent to the king of Spain. The pasteboard bind- ing, covered with vellum, bears a curious stamped tracery. A part of this coast route is described in a French plaquette, entitled, Route du Port de Panama, a celui d' Acapulco. The division of jurisprudence forms no inconsid- erable part of the collection, thanks to the inclina- tion of. the Hispano-Americans to forensic lore and 32 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. phraseology, and to their aptitude for making laws, if not for observing them. So numerous are works of this class, that the press in America has been almost monopolized by them. A characteristic specimen is furnished by the Iglesia Metropolitana de Mexico, Defensa JuridicS,, Mexico, 1741, which treats of the prerogatives of the chapter when calling at the vice-regal palace. The partly Roman lettering is neat, and the binding presents a curious cloth pattern, embroidered with flowers in silk and silver. Of almost similar contents and exterior, is the Vozes Juridicas, by Velasco y Texada. The remainder of these manuscripts are chiefly municipal and diocesan regulations and pleadings. Ticknor has made us familiar with the softness of the Spanish language, and its easy versification, particularly in connection with assonant rhyme, for which the rich vowel construction is well suited. This very flexibility has led to great abuse of form, and, among the more impetuous Spanish-Ameri- cans, irregularity of metre as well as rhyme is carried to great extreme. It is doubtful whether they can produce a single lengthy work of merit, although short lyric pieces of great beauty are not wanting. Of these there are numerous instances in the several volumes of collected poems in the library, and also among the collegial exercises which appear under the titles of Universidad de Mexico, Acta Liter ario,]\Ay, 1803, in honor of the HUBERT H. BANCROFT, 33 visit of Viceroy Iturrigaray; Garcia, Vexamen, at the Palafoxian college of Pueblo, 1 795 ; and Medrano y Pena/oza, Aleg'orza, GusLuajuato, 1782. Consejos Economicos, 1799, is a pretentious epistolar poem, of little merit, by Terralla y Landa, in eighteen cantos, Avith notes and postscriptum, and in octosyl- labic triple measure with irregular rhyme. Of equal merit and pretence is the satirical Poema Comico sobre la Aparicion de Nuestra Senora de Guada- lupe, by Avila y Uribe, written in dialogue, alter- nate assonant rhyme, and varying metre. A more interesting volume, with curious tables for verse- making, acrostics, riddles, and neat illuminations, is the Palafox y Mendoza, Clionico Panegirico, ' Puebla, 1730, consisting of a series of elegies, hymns and sonnets, often' in consonant rhyme, in honor of the saintly prelate of this name. Among the several volumes of original and translated dramas, in verse and prose, is a short essay on the art of acting, daintily written on yellow, gilt-edged paper. There are, also, a large number of treatises on the origin of the Indians, on logic, agriculture, mining, and translations of Latin classics. This concludes the review of the manuscript col- lection, which, large as it is, forms but a small pro- portion compared with the printed matter in the same field. Mr. Bancroft is constantly adding fresh books, chiefly new publications; for of old works bearinsf on the Pacific states there are few extant which are not represented in the collection, in one 34 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. form or another. Thus, a few of the rare editions of the beginning of the sixteenth century exist only in later reprints; but even of the rare issues this library possesses a larger and more complete set than any other in America. Peter Martyr, the fountain-head of American history, whence so many of. the early compilers drew their information, is represented in three" editions: De Insvlis Nvper In- ventis, Coloniae, 1532, bearing on the title-page the wood-cut portrait and coat-of-arms of Charles V.; Or at or is clarissimi de rebus Oceanicis & Or be 710UO, Basilese, 1533; and the Venetian edition of 1534. Earlier in date is the Stipplementi Clironi- carii,m ab ipso Miindi, recast from Patre Jacobo Phillippo Bergoniate, ordinis Heremitaruz, Venice, ' 15 13, in old clasp binding, with metal corners and stamped arabesque ; but which disposes of the newly discovered continent in a short chapter en- titled, "De quattuor q maximis insulis in India extra orbem nuper inuentis." Libra di Benedetto Bordone Nel qual si ragiona de iutte I' hole, dated 1528, presents a striking contrast between its large, clear type and small, crude maps. The Novvs Orbis Re- gionvm ac insvlarvtn veteribvs incognitarznn, 1532, by John Huttich, although best known under the name of the voluble Simon Grynoeus, who wrote the preface, contains, in addition to the collection of general voyages, an epitome of Vespucci's four voy- ages and Martyr's De Insvlis. Apia7ii, Introdvc- tio Geographica, bears the imprint Ingolstadii, HUBERT H. BANCROFT, 35 1533, and Za Cosmographia^ that of Anvers, 1575; while Munster's bulky cosmographies are dated i545> 1553. 1598, and i6]4. An earlier German issue is the WelibUch Spiegel vnd bildtnis des gant- zen Erdtbodens von Sebastiano Franco W'oi'densi, of 1 533> i" four" books. Remarkable for highly col- ored and curious maps and title-pages are the At- lases, with text, of Mercator and Ortelius, dated 1569 and 1 57 1. An early edition exists of that most learned compilation, Ramusio, Delle Naviga- tioni, in three folio volumes, the first bearing date 1554, the last, 1565. The third volume relates wholly to America, and contains three of Cortes' relations, part of Oviedo's histories, Alvarado's letters, Vaca's relation, Guzman's expedition to north-western Mexico, and other valuable matter, forming perhaps the most important collection of the kind. In Hakluyt's famous and rare black- letter edition in three volumes, London, 1599, the last volume is also devoted to the new continent, and contains many valuable journals, although much is borrowed from Ramusio. As a supplement to this stands the Selection of Curious^ Rare and Early Voyages^ of 181 2. Connected with the His- toria del gran Reyno de la China, Anvers, 1596, is an interesting Yiinerario del Padre Cvstodio fray Martin Ignacio, giving a description of New Spain, as observed during a journey through the country. In the following century the cosmographic works 36 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. give way to quaint black-letter compilations, more or less bulky and curiously illustrated, at the head of which stands the rare and costly editions of Purchas, his Pilgrimage, London, 1614, which is incomplete, and his Pilgrimcs, of 1625-6, in five large folio volumes. The set must have proved costly to him also, for it is reported that he died in destitute circumstances, the result of losses on his literary venture. Caspar Ens^ West-vnnd Ost Indischcr Lusigart, Collen, 16 18, in two parts, is chiefly devoted to American expeditions; and the West-Indische Spieghelhy Athanasium Inga, 1624, to exposing the cruelty of the Spaniards toward the Indians, a labor of love to the Dutch writers. Philoponus^ Nova Typis Transacta N avigatio Novi Orbis, Monacho, 1621, is truly curious with its startling illustrations of monsters. Copies of this edition often differ in contents and arrange- m.ent. Another Novvs Orbis, by De Laet, 1633, appeared originally in Dutch, a few years before. De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld. 1671, by his countryman Montanus, is the best of the Dutch works in the collection. A German translation appeared two years later. Gottfriedt^ Newe Welt, 1655, forms an abridgment of a larger collection, and is attributed by some bibliographers to Abelinus, who began the Theatrum. In U Avity, Le Monde, Paris, 1637, a large folio volume is de- voted to America, and four others to the old world. Ogilby, America, is dated 167 1. Two encyclo- HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 37 pedic geographies of America appear under Villa- Senor y Sanchez, Theatre^ 1746; and the valuable Alcedo^ Diccio7tario, in five volumes, of which an English translation also exists. A great aid to the study of Pacific coast voyages is Cabrera Bueno^ Navegacion^ which includes a coast pilot of the west coast of America. To the region further north belongs the very rare little book entitled Neue Nachrichien von denen Neuentdekten Insuln in der See ZwiscJien Asien und Amerika, 1776, probably by Shamaleff, which treats of Russian dis- coveries in Alaska. Under personal voyages come Gemelli Careri, Giro del Mondo, 1699, Dam- pier s Voyage^ in four volumes, of the same date; Funnell's account of the same cruise; Sharp's Voyages^ 16S4; Liissan, Wafer, the series of Buccaneer voyages of this period; Rogers^ 1718; Shelvocke, Betagh, Anson; Cook's and Vancouver's several editions in English and French; Parkinson^ Portlock and Dixon, Meares^ La Perouse, Forster. Krusenstern^ iZi-^, Langsdorff^, Lisiansky, Kotse- bue, Roquefeuil, Beechey^ Petit- Thouars, La Place, Duhaut-Cilly, Belcher, Simpson^ and, above all, the rare and costly set of twenty quarto volumes, with eight folio volumes of plates, the United States Exploring Expedition, under Wilkes, 1844-58. Only one hundred copies of this edition were printed, and very few complete sets are now to be found. Among the collections of voyages are: Harris' 38 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. two large folio volumes of 1705; Naaukeurige Versameling, Leyden, 1707, in thirty volumes, by Van der Aa, which has been severely criticized for its many exaggerations. A reduced form of this set is found under Gottfried, De Aanmer- kenswaardigste, 1727, in four large folios; the CJiurchill and Harleian collections, 1745-52; forming ten volumes; Drake ^ ^77 ^\ Forster; Ber- enger's French collection, 1788-9, in nine volumes; the Spanish Viagero Universal, 1 796-1 801, in forty-three volumes; and about twenty minor col- lections in different languages. To the present century belong: Burney s Chronological History of VoyageSy in five volumes; Pinkerton's excel- lent Geiteral Collectiojt, in seventeen volumes, and his Modern Geography, in three volumes; Bou- cher de la Richarderie, Bibliotheque, six volumes; La Harpe, abrige, in twenty-four volumes; Kerr, in eighteen volumes; and the Annales and Nou- velles Annales des Voyages, issued periodically since 1809, and forming over two hundred vol- umes. A decided departure from the hackneyed com- pilation and reviews of well-known voyages was made by Navarrete, in the publication of Coleccion de los Viages y Descubrimientos que Hicieron por mar los Espanoles, 1825-37, in five volumes, which contain a series of hitherto unpublished documents on the voyages of Columbus, Vespucci, and others. To the same, author is due' the able HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 39 preface to Relacion del Viage hecho por las Golc- tas Sutil y Mexicana, en el am de 1792, wherein he reviews previous voyages to the north-west coast of America. The laudable endeavor to find new fields and new material, and thus to verify or to correct former publications, rather than to reproduce them and their errors, this has become the task of the various geographical societies of England, France, Germany, United States and Mexico, whose transactions are well represented in this collection. Those of Mexico deserve special attention for their extensive and thorough statis- tical and descriptive researches on the various states. The division relating to personal travels, which form the characteristic publications of our age, are numbered by the thousand, and embrace the rarest work as well as the most insignificant pamphlet, from the travels and geographic memoirs of the illustrious Humboldt, which cover several shelves, to the brief account of a railroad trip. The Central American region, which has been somewhat neg- lected by, writers since the conquest, is again to the front with a long list of descriptions in various languages. The works on Mexico are still more numerous, and those on California and Oregon, including the countries north and west, from Alaska to Montana and Texas, are innumerable, owing to the attention called to this region by the gold dis- covery, and by its geographical position. The 40 PKIVATE LIBRARIES. scientific information therein is based on the numer- ous reports of government and railroad explora- tions. On the subject of history the collection is equally complete. Gomara is represented by the Historia General, Anvers, 1554, Historia de Mexico, of the same imprint, and several other editions, in- cluding Historia di Don Ferdinando Cortes, Ve- netia, 1560, in clear script type. This hero is the subject of quite an array of special narratives and biographies, from the early editions of Coloniae, 1532, and the German of Augspurg, 1550, to the latest collection of papers. Benzoni, La Historia del Mondo Nvovo, is found in the Italian edition of 1572, the Latin of 1578 and 1589, and the English of 1857; Acosta, De Natvra Novi Or his, bears the imprint Salmanticae, Apud Guillelmum Foquel, 1589; and his Historia Natural y Moral, that of Sevilla, 1590, of which there is also an English version dated 1604. To this group belongs Ovi- edo, part of whose histories appeared as early as 1526, but the complete edition, Historia General y Natural de las Indias, in four large volumes, was issued only in 1851-55, under the supervision of Jose Amador de los Rios, and by the authority of the Real Academia. Six collections of extracts from Martyr, Cortes and Oviedo, besides a number of separate abridgments, exist between the dates 1532-55- The works of the following century begin with HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 4 1 the first printed general history of America, the esteerhed Historia General de los Hechos de los Castellanos^ in four volumes, of the rare edition of 1601, by the royal chronicler, Antonio de Herrera. The superior edition of 1730, and the English translation of 1775 are also here. This is fol- lowed by the curious Monarchia Indiana, by Torquemada, in three bulky volumes, which are particularly profuse in their account of the aborig- ines. The library possesses the superior edition of 1723. Similar in character, and based on Torque- mada, is Vetancvrt, Teatro Mexicano, which appeared later in the century. Of an earlier date than these noted works is Caspar de Villagra, Historia de la Nveva Mexico, Alcata, 1610, an epic in thirty-four cantos, preceded by several lyric pieces, and chiefly in blank verse, triple measure. The valiant captain poet dedicates it to the king, and adds a crude wood-cut portrait of him- self, as he appeared at the age of fifty-five. To this period belongs Bernal Diaz, Historia Verdadera de la Conquista de la Nueva-Espana, 1632, embracing the years, 1518 to 1547, when the author died. The title of True History may probably have had something to do with the delay in its publication, as well as with the many transla- tions which subsequently appeared. The library possesses four versions, besides the original. An interesting, little volume is the Historie Del Signor D.Fernando Colombo, by his son, Venetia, 1709, in 42 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. a narrow i6mo form, which has been declared a forgery by some bibliogonostes, but without just reason. Pizarro y Orellana, Varones Ilvstres del Nvevo Mvndo, is dated 1639, and in the same year was pubhshed Solorzano Pereira's great work, De Indiarvm Ivre. luan Diez de la Calle, Memo- rial y Noticias Sacras y Reales, of 1646, is a com- pendium of political geography, with statistical ac- counts of secular, as well as ecclesiastic offices, in America, for the use of the Council of the Indies. Later in the century appeared the first English ac- count of Spanish-American affairs in the peculiar, yet meritorious^ New Survey, by Thomas Gage, whose exposures have drawn upon him the odium of Catholic writers. A prominent feature in the historical department is the missionary chronicle of the ecclesiastic provinces, which constitutes almost the only origi- nal record of many districts, even in political mat- ters. They are as a rule verbose, and full of miraculous occurrences and religious sentiments, which tend to increase the obscurity surrounding the interpolated facts. Although they are rare and costly, Mr. Bancroft has been so fortunate as to secure a nearly complete collection, including the verj' rare Remesal, Historia de la Provincia de S. Vincente de Chyapa y Guatemala^ Madrid, 1619; Grijalua, Cronica de la Orden de N. P. S. Au- gustin, Mexico, 1624; Davila Padilla, Historia de la Provincia de Santiago de Mexico, 1625; Ribas, HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 43 Historia de los Trivmphos, 1645, o"^ of the rarest, and particularly valuable for the history of the Californias, since it treats of the north-western provinces of Mexico, which form the portal to those states. Even more rare are Burgoa's Palestra Historial^ and Geograjica Descripcion, Mexico, 1670 and 1674, the standard authorities for the south-west provinces of Mexico. Arlegui, Chronica de Zacatecas, 1737; Espinosa, Chronica Apostblica, 1746; and its continuation, Arricivita^ Cronica Serafica, relate to the Propaganda Fide missions in Mexico; while Florencia's incomplete Historia, 1694, and Alegre's lengthy records, contain a full account of Jesuit labors. The latter was published only in 1841, in three volumes, and then at the in- stance of the patriotic Bustamante. Returning to secular writings, we notice the ele- gant Historia de la Conquista de Mexico, by Soils, Madrid, 1684, which has been honored with more reprints and translations than perhaps any other Spanish-American s.tandard work. Besides this first edition the library has four Spanish versions, two English, and one French. The continuation of this history appeared in 1743, under the name of Salazar y Olarte. What Soils' work is to Mex- ico, Cogolludo, Historia de Yucathan, 1688, may be said to be to this province, in a historic, if not rhetorical, sense; and Villagittierre, Historia de el Itza, 1 701, to Guatemala. In 1699 and 1700 appeared a number of now rare pamphlets on the 44 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. famous Scots' colony at Darien. That most clear and delightful Storia Antica del Messico, by Cla- vigero, 1 780-1, in four volumes, together with an English translatipn in two volumes, treats not only of the ancient history of the Aztecs, but of the conquest. Ol the projected Historia del Nuevo Mundo, by Munoz, only one volume was ever pub- lished, which bears the date of 1793. The valuable and already rare collection oiBarcia, Historiadores Primitivos, 1 749, in three volumes, contains very full accounts of Columbus and other early voyagers. Despite the internal disorders, and consequently backward condition of Mexico, the nation did not fail to respond to the efforts of such men as Hum- boldt and Navarrete to teach her the value of the literary treasure she possessed, and under the guid- ance of Bustamante and others a movement was inaugurated for the collection and preservation of historical and archaeologic material, which has borne the most glorious fruit. Not only have literary societies been formed to carry on the work, but the government has set a good example by issuing, as a folletin to the Diario OJicial, a series of Docu- mentos para la Historia de Mexico, 1853-7, i" twenty-one volumes. This forms one of the most valuable collections extant, and refers to nearly every Spanish North American country, the jour- nals of early expeditions to the north and north- west of Mexico being particularly interesting. Among other collections of rare and original docu- HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 45 ments are those of Cardenas' in seven volumes, re- ferring to the early days of the conquest, and Icaz- balceta's in two large volumes, containing some of the choicest documents on Mexican history. Cavo, Los Tres Siglos de Mexico, is a valuable history of the Spanish rule, which Bustamante rescued from oblivion and issued in 1836-8, in three volumes. Calvo, Recueil Complet des Traites, in sixteen vol- umes, relates chiefly to diplomatic affairs in Latin America, and the Diario de Cortes, of Spain, pub- lished since the beginning of this century, and oc- cupying several shelves in the library, are full of leg- islative measures for the American possessions. The prolific and meritorious Bustamante, to whom full reference has been made under manuscripts, is also represented by a large number of printed books, the chief of which have already been named. Of the one hundred and seven titles of works from his pen, ten are of an original historic character, in from one to seven volumes each, nine are edited, nine are periodicals, and the remainder miscellane- ous memoirs and pamphlets. Another celebrated contemporary statesman and historian was Lucas Alaman. He went to Europe at an early age, published there a number of articles and pam- phlets, and on returning to Mexico received the port-folio of Ministro de Relaciones. In 1849 he issued two volumes of Disertaciones sobre la His- toria de la RepUblica, adding in 1849 the third volume, and also the first of his Historia de Me- 46 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. jico, which was completed in 1852; in five volumes. These works rank among the best Mexican produc- tions, in a literary as well as historical sense, pos- sessing a clear simplicity of style which is so rare among writers of his race. Carbajal Espinosa is also a good writer, but his chief work, the Historia de Mexico, 1862, in four volumes, is largely plagi- arized. Rivera, Historia de Jalapa, 1869-71, in five volumes, embraces much of the general history of the Republic. Of importance for the history of the northern states of Mexico are the various No- ticias by Escudero. Among French writings on Mexico are the Lettres, the two Mexique, and several minor works, by Chevalier, and the your- nal, Mexique, and Deserts, by Domenech, while English works are represented by such names as Prescott, Helps, and Brantz Mayer. The Californias had early become an object of attention, owing to the wealth in pearls and metals attributed to them since the time of Cortes; and although, by the middle of the eighteenth century, there were merely a few missions to indicate the peaceful conquest of Lower California, yet Venegas considered the country of sufficient importance to honor it with a chronicle in three volumes, the Noticia de la California, Madrid, 1757, of which the collection also possesses the English translation of 1 759, and the French of 1707. The rapid trans- lation of Venegas encouraged others to follow his example, as for instance Baegert, an ex-mission- HUBERT H. BANCKOFT. 47 ary of that country, with Nachrichteii von der Amerikanischen Halbinsel California, 1772; Clav- igero with his clear Italian version, Storia della California^ 1789; and a dominican missionary with three letters under the title oi Noticias^ i794. traced by Mr. Bancroft to the pen of Fray Luis Sales. The chronicle of the Upper California missions was published within eighteen years of their foundation in the Relacion Historica de la Vida y Apostblicas Tareas del venerable Padre Fray jfunipero Serra, y de las Misiones que fundo en la California^ Mex- ico, 1787, by his disciple, the future guardian Fran- cisco Palou. Of this rare work the collection has several copies. Palou also wrote the Noticias de las Calif ornias, containing a detailed history of Upper •California from 1768 to 1784, and many important data on Lower California. This work was published in the Documentos par la Historia de Mexico, and reprinted in 1874, at San Francisco, in four volumes. Besides the numerous books of travels referring to the Pacific slope, there are several special histories under Irving, Forbes, Greenhow, Dunn, Cutts, Frost, Capron, Annals of San Francisco, Tuthill, Dwindle, Gray, Hall, and others. Federal and state government reports, congressional and leg- islative journals, and pamphlets innumerable, cover the rest of the field. Codes, law reports, and briefs, form a large di- vision, not only for the California region, but for Mexico and Central America, including several 48 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. sets of Leyes and Recopilaciones, and among them Puga, Provisibes, Cedulas, Instruciones, 1563; the earliest collection of laws issued from the Mexican press. Theology claims the first book printed in Amer- ica, the Escala Espiritual, which appeared at Mexico, probably as early as 1536, from the press introduced by Cromberger at the end of 1535. Indeed, the church almost monopolized printing in early times, and of the less than one hundred books printed in America during the sixteenth century^ seventy-four are ecclesiastic manuals, catechisms and regulations. Of the Escala no copy is now to be found, the earliest imprint in existence being that of 1 540 in the Manual para Adtdtos. Equally rare is the fine copy, on Mr. Bancroft's shelves^ of Doctrina Crisiiana, a catechism for the instruction of Indians, which was printed at Mexico, 1546, by order of Bishop Zumarraga. The size is octavo, with narrow margins, and the type, heavy Gothic, relieved by numerous small head-pieces in tracery. On the title-page, within the tassels of a prelate's hat, is asmall wood-cut, representingthebishop in the act of blessing a number of kneeling women. A second Doctrina bears the date 1575. Preceding this issue from the Mexican press is the Bvlla Con- firmationis^ 1568, conferring certain privileges on the mendicant orders. The title-page bears a crude wood-cut of the crucified Saviour, with two adorers at his feet. Sermonario^ Mexico, 1577, is a homi- letic in the Aztec lang-uage. HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 49 The religious publications of the following cen- tury present an imposing array, including accounts of miraculous apparitions, and biographies of saintly individuals, wherein the chief object is to illustrate christian virtues rather than events. Discursive and obituary sermons are still more numerous, one set alone in the collection numbering forty-nine volumes, with over one thousand sermons, whiich owe their publication to pious admirers, or to per- sons whose vanity have been tickled by some flattering allusion. In the funeral sermons there is often no reference to the deceased, except in the fulsome eulogy on the title-page. Gonzales Davila, Teatro Eclesiastico, 1649-55, ^^ invaluable on early church affairs in America, and so is Mendieta, His- toria Edesiastica Indiana, written at the close of the sixteenth century, but published only in 1870. A significant work is the Reglas y Constihuiones of the Inquisition, Mexico, 1659. Tratado breve de Medecina, by Farfan, 1579, is interesting from the fact that it is one of the two medical treatises published in Mexico during this century. Of an earlier date is Monardes, Hisioria Medicinal, 1 5 74, in three parts, the earliest issue of the complete work. To the following century be- longs the celebrated work on American botany, Hernandez, Nova Plantarum, Romoe, 1651, and his Medici in three volumes. Less complete is Erasmus Franciscus, Guineischer und Ameri- kanischer Blumen-Diisch, Nurnberg, 1669, all three illustrated. 50 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. The historical works on America, from the earliest times, contain more or less extensive speculations on the origin of the new race, strange animals, and curious things, which had risen out ot the Sea of Darkness. The geocentric and discoidal theories of ecclesiastic teachers had been over- thrown, and while closet philosophers went back to Greek and Roman writers for light to help them in their groping, the orthodox convent historians renewed their application to Holy Writ. The one race theory predominated, but as to the nation which had emigrated to America, and the route followed, the opinions were as numerous as the writers. Among the special works on this sub- ject are, Garcia, Origen de los Indios, which re- views at some length the various theories current in the sixteenth century ; George Horn, De Originibus, 1652; Spizelius, Elevatio Relationis, 1 66 1, which supports the Israelitic origin; and Z>^ Pauw, Recherckes, 1770, three volumes. The archaeologic division includes also the Idea de una Nueva Historta, by the unfortunate anti- quary Boturini; Cabrera, Teatro Critico ; the learned essay of Leon y Gama on Las Dos Pie- dras; Bradford s American Antiquities; Mor- tons Crania; and the histories of Sahagun and of Veytia, whose manuscripts on aboriginal history and customs were discovered and published in this cen- tury. The National Book of the Quiches was issued in 1857, by Scherzer, under the title oi Las Histo- HUBERT H. BANCROFT. 5 I rias del Ortgen de los Indios, and as Popul Vuh, by Abbe Brasseur de Bourbourg. The writings of the latter on Indian history, customs, and antiqui- ties, form quite a large set in this collection, among which are the valuable Histoire des Nations Civi- lisees, in four volumes, and the illustrated inter- pretation of Maya hieroglyphics in the Manuscrit Troano. Miiller, Geschichte der AmerikaniscJien Urreligionen, forms the ablest review of Ameri- can mythology. Among the imperial folio sets on antiquities are the famous edition oi KingsborougJi s Mexico in nine bulky volumes, and the Antiquit'es Mexicdines; Waldeck, Voyage Pittoresque, pre- sents the first information on the grand ruins of Yucatan, while Nebel, Viaje, contains the only ex- tant drawings of those at Quemada. The works, of Squier, Stephens, accompanied by Cather- wood's drawings, Charnay, illustrated by a folio set of photographs, and other travelers, give new and corroborating descriptions of Mexican and Central American relics, while the whole of these, and a thousand other treatises on Indian history, customs, languages, mythology, and antiquities, are embodied in Mr. Bancroft's five volumes, en- titled The Native Races of the Pacific States. In connection with the numerous religious man- uals in native dialects, chiefly Aztec, are often found brief grammatical rules and vocabularies, which must always make these books valuable to the student. Special vocabularies were also issued. 52 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. and among them the very rare Vocabulario en Lengua Castellana y Mexicana, of 15 71, by Mo- lina, in Mexican as well as Spanish, which proved of great value in writing the Native Races. Lin- guistics include Hervas, Catalogo and Adelung, Mi- thridates, in five volumes, with the dominical prayer in nearly five hundred dialects. One of the four volumes, prepared by Vater, refers to Amer- ican tongues. The extensive and valuable treat- ises by Buschmann, Ludewig, Veniaminoff together with Shea's series, and the Mexican works of Orozco y Berra and Pimentel might be mentioned. As the earliest work on American bibliography, the three volumes of Leon de Pinelo, Epitome de la Bibliotheca, are of great interest. The most valuable collection in the department of periodic literature is that of the Gasetas de Mexico, issued between 1784 and 1821 as a sum- mary of current events and interesting facts in New Spain, with illustrations. Mr. Bancroft has been so fortunate as to secure from the Maxi- milian Library the complete set of forty-nine vol- umes, which is now priceless. Alzate, Gacetas de Literatura, Mexico, 1790-4, belongs rather to the scientific class. Publications of learned societies, quarterly and monthly journals in English, French, German, and Spanish, are well represented, includ- ing every monthly periodical which has appeared in California. Pacific Coast newspapers, from the files of the rare Alta Califor7tia, the com- HUBERT n. BANCROFT. 53 plete Sacramento Uttion and San Francisco Even- ing Bulletin, to the latest county paper, are ranged in files numbered by the hundred. Calen- dars are also numerous, particularly the Mexican. Nor are belles-lettres neglected, but they are chiefly such as have been printed within the terri- tory and collected with a view to form data for a history of Pacific Coast literature. A fine selec- tion of ancient and modern classics is, of course, at hand, together with several shelves of diction- aries, encyclopedias, and bibliographies^ including Brunet, Sabin, Stevens, Ternaux and others. Among the curiosities of the library are speci- mens of the first printing in California, issued from a small press which had been introduced from Bos- ton, in 1833, by Zamorano, the private secretary of Governor Figueroa. The earliest specimen, dated Monterey, i6 de Enero de 1833, is a circular by Jose Figueroa, announcing his arrival and assump- tion of the governorship. An autographic ru- brica is attached to the printed name. The type is small pica, and the impression faulty and blurred. A very fair specimen of printing, how- ever, is presented in the first book, a neat i6mo, entitled Reglamento Provicional para el Gobier- 710 Interior de la Ecma, Diputacion Terri- torial de la Alta California. Monterey, 1834. Imprenta de A. V. Zamorano y C^, treating of the internal regulations of the territorial assembly, in fourteen titulos and seventy-six clauses. But this 54 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. claim of being the first book has long been unjustly held by the better known Manifiesto a la Republica Mejicana que hace el General de Brigada Jos'e Figueroa, a i6mo from the same press, dated 1835. It forms a review and defense of Governor Figueroa's administration, and was issued immedia- tely after his death, in an edition of one hundred copies, which were distributed in accordance with his orders. The first school book appeared from the same press in 1836, under the title of Catecisvio de Ortologia, dedicated to the pupils of the normal school at Monterey, by Director Romero. It is a 3 2 mo edition of sixteen pages. This review of a Pacific Coast library would be incomplete without some reference to the aborig- inal writings, which have reached their greatest excellency in the Anahuac and Usumasinta regions. The Aztec hieroglyphics, which are of a far more complex order than the Dighton and other rock inscriptions in the north, consist of pictorial and symbolic ideography, and occasionally of cruder phonetics; but they had not yet approached the higher border-land of letters, as the Maya charac- ters appear to have done. Indeed, it is possible that a later Champollion may accord the Maya tablets at Palenque an alphabetic rank. The inter- pretation of the Aztec records has met its greatest difficulty from the frequent use of a double system of symbols by clerical chroniclers, one exoteric, the other esoteric. As to phonetics, they enter Cut a. Cut B, CcTT E. 58 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. into the representation of certain abstract notions and names. The records consist chiefly of laws, tribute rolls, ritual tables, and biographies of rulers and nobles, written on strips oimetl or agave paper, of which the collection possesses some curious specimens. They are rare, however, thanks to the Vandalic ravages of early missionaries; and the various Codices in Europe, which contain sam- ples, are highly prized. Among the antiquarian works, already referred to, there are numerous copies, and also an ideographic history of Mexico, with explanatory Aztec text in Roman letters. Cut B is a copy from Bancroft's Native Races of the hieroglyphic record of the Aztec migra- tion. The tribal chiefs, whose names are de- picted above their heads, are seen following a winding path which starts from the square repre- senting an island in a lake. The trees, buildings, and living forms, along the path, indicate stations and incidents; and the sheafs and small circles the dura- tion of their stay and march. The path divides towards the end, and terminates at the different places selected for settlement. A more pictorial account is furnished by Cut C, representing the training undergone by Aztec chil- dren. The first two groups represent theif punishment; the last two their work, as, bringing wood and marking tortilla bread, fishing and weaving. The OODOO OOOOO ■><■ OO ooooo OOOOO „rPOO ,, COOOO coooo vy^ Cut C. 6o PRIVATE LIBRARIES. small circles indicate their age; the larger, adjoin- ing, their allowance of tortillas. Among the many specimens of Maya hierogly- phics which yet await solution, we have room but for one, Cut A, taken from the Tablet of the Cross at Palenque. Beside the twenty thousand books, manuscripts, maps and pamphlets, constituting the Bancroft Library proper, there are belonging to the collec- tion two hundred thousand Pacific Coast journals, and an Index of Subjects, embracing every branch of knowledge. The Index alone cost Mr. Ban- croft thirty thousand dollars to make, but it adds four-fold to the value of his library. This collec- tion occupies over half a mile of shelving. GEORGE F. BECKER. The collection of books belonging to George F. Becker, Professor of Mining and Metallurgy, in the University of California, numbers about twenty-five hundred volumes, and is partly devoted to the special subjects of technology, mining, metallurgy and the natural sciences, partly to general litera- ture. Many of his scientific works are probably not to be found elsewhere in the state; all are valuable as being the best authorities to be obtained on the subjects of which they treat. The most notable are Michaud's North American Silver^ in two volumes, published early in 1800 ; Journal der reinen und angewandten Mathematik, heraus- gegeben von Crelle, in seventy quarto volumes; CEuvres de Laplace^ government edition in seven volumes, quarto; Zeitschrift fiir das Berg, Hiitten und Salinen- Wesen in Preusschen Staaie, in twenty-six quarto volumes ; Revue Universelle des Mines J in forty-one volumes, octavo ; Berg-und Hutten-M'dnnisches Jahrbuch, fifteen volumes out of twenty-five ; Fortschritte der Physik von der physikalischen Gesellschaft zu Berlin, twenty-eight volumes; Agricola de re Meiallica, published in 1557; Brueckmann ; Magnalia Dei in Locio sub- terraneis, 1727; Reamur^ L! Art de convertin le fer forge, en acier, 1722; and Kirchmayer ; In- stitutionis Metallicae, 1687. THE REV. DR. A. S. BETTELHEIM. Dr. Bettelheim, Rabbi of the church Ohabai Shalome of San Francisco, whose broad and liberal views have attracted much attention, has a collection of about sixteen hundred volumes, com- prising- some Latin, Greek, German and English standard authors, but consisting mainly of Hebrew works, theological and belles-lettres. Many of the latter, even those of more recent date, are of great rarity. There are usually much smaller edi- tions published of works in the Hebrew than in other languages, consequently a Hebrew book fifty years old is frequently much rarer than an English, French or German book, dating two or three centuries back. Among the most valuable in this collection are Midrash Rabba, editio princeps, folio, Amsterdam, 1622; the Old Testament, folio, Benevenisto, Venice, 1593; TarjumiTn Sh'lah, editio princeps, Amsterdam, 1642; Mechiliah^ editio princeps, Venice, Daniel Bornberg, 1544; ArucA, Talmudi- cal lexicon, Basil, edited by Samuel Arcavalty, 1698; Tashbatz (in rich old binding), Amsterdam, 1683; Zohal^ with Latin index and preface, Cre- mona, 1658; Abaravanel^ Latin index and preface, rarest edition, Hanau, 1710; Meor Enayim, from Azaryah De Rosse, and editio mantua, eighteenth November, 1573, a very rare edition. THE REV. DR. A. S. BETTELHEIM. 63 The literature of Talmudical Responsis is repre- sented in about one hundred and fifty volumes. The rarest is the Responis of Rabbi Meyer Rothen- burg, Prague^ 1608. The collection, of course, in- cludes a full set of the Talmud, etc. A curious book, and one of some bibliographical note, is the original edition of the Fox Fables, published with- out name or date, but supposed to be printed at Amsterdam^ in 1599. A. J. BOWIE. This collection, consisting of about three thou- sand volumes, is very complete as a chemical and engineering library, embracing the various stand- ard works on these subjects in the English, French, and German languages, and including a number of books probably not to be found elsewhere on the coast. Among the rarest and most valuable may be mentioned Flaxman's ALschalus, Faraday's Chemical Manipulation, published in London in 1843, and an old copy ol Agricola^ published in 1557, with quaint and curious old cuts, represen- ting the various processes in mining and concentra- ting ore in olden times, and the machinery and utensils used. The remainder of Mr. Bowie's collection — which he considers yet in its infancy — consists of choice editions of English, French and German authors, with a fair proportion of works of reference, and some choice volumes of engravings; among the latter the Gallerie Real, Turin, in four elephant folio volumes. Mr. Bowie has made a little spe- cialty of memoirs, and has a collection of publica- tions from the time of Louis XIV. down to the present day. He also has the whole of the British poets and essayists, in two hundred and fifty vol- umes, and is one of the few subscribers on this coast to the publications of the Shakespeare Society of London, so that his collection is being constantly enriched with their elegant editions. J. ROSS BROWNE. The late J. Ross Browne, the well-known author, left but a small collection of books, five or six hundred in number. It should be understood that this does not at all represent the accumulations of Mr. Browne's life- time. Peculiar in his character, as he was quaint and eccentric both in his literary productions and manner of writing, it was a habit of his life never to lobk ahe^d from one year to another. Leading a somewhat itinerant life, sojourning now for a few years in this place, now for a few years in that; wherever he remained for any length of time he acquired a considerable number of books, and among others many interesting pres- entation copies from distinguished literary acquaint- ances and friends. When a time came that it seemed desirable to change his residence, remark- ing that he could not be bothered with "moving books," he would dispose of his collection in the easiest manner possible, selling some for a song, distributing others as gifts. In this way what would have become a large and interesting collection was dispersed as fast as acquired. The books that he left at the time of his death were, therefore, a recent accumulation of ordinary 66 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Standard English works, with a few autographical copies, preserved by accident, as it were. One of the most notable among the latter is a little book of Hans Christian Anderson's, bearing a presenta- tion inscription from the author on the fly-leaf. A. LEON CERVANTES. Far up on the top of the coast range of mount- ains, on the pubHc road from Los Angeles to San Francisco, by way of San Luis Obispo and Santa Margarita, between the two last mentioned places, is the residence of A. Leon Cervantes, the pos- sessor of a small collection of books, somewhat singular in character. The books are of a mis- cellaneous nature, with a fair proportion of scien- tific works, astronomy, geology, physiology and mathematics, each being well represented, as well as ancient and modern history. No inconsider- able portion are in French, Spanish and Latin. The collection is mainly of a liberal and material- istic character, and contains the latest researches of European and American writers on socialism and other questions of the day, together with such periodicals as the Truth Seeker, the Positive Thinker, the Physiologist, published in New York, and the Boston Investigator. The views of the collector are best expressed in his own words: "This 'last quality, and the main character of the whole collection above stated, makes it worthless and worse than worthless, hurt- ful to the people of this country, with the (excep- tion of those blessed, because happy, few, who are not afraid to make use of the only quality which distinguishes them from the unreasoning 68 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. animals, and prefer to love the God of nature, meaning the exact sciences, humanity, truth, etc., to loving myths of every conceivable description and no description at all, which are generally held as holy, because incomprehensible, and the more they are so, the holier they become." Mr. Cervantes adds that no separate rooms are devoted to reading, as his whole house is at the dis- posal of those friends, few' indeed, who will dare peep into his books and periodicals, and that, in his opinion, his cases will hardly bear description; all that could be said being that they are stout, clean, and to the purpose. JOHN M. CHRETIEN. The collection belonging to John M. Chretien consists of over one thousand volumes. In it are to be found most of the standard works of both American and English authors, also many volumes in the French language, some of which are rare and old editions. Prominent among these may be mentioned the complete works of Rousseau and Voltaire ; the memoirs of Madame Recamier, the Life and Letters of Madame De Stael; the poetical works of Victor Hugo; and the complete works of the French moralists, Pascal, La Rochefoucault, La Bruyere, Vanvenargnes and Chateaubriand. The works of Voltaire are in seventy volumes, by Benchot, and were a present to Mr. Chretien's uncle, in the year 1830, by the Marquis de La Fayette, of Revolutionary fame. The works of Rousseau are in seven volumes, by L. Fauche-Borel, and of the Neuchatel edition of 1790. The poetical works of Victor Hugo, were a present from General William I. Sherman, when a lieutenant in the United States army. The collection also contains many valuable art works, with all of those illustrated by Gus- tave Dore, It also includes the most extensive collection of large photographs of actors and ac- tresses to be found on the coast. These are kept JO PRIVATE LIBRARIES. in an elegant album of monstrous size, made for the purpose. Mr. Chretien has endeavored, as far as practica- ble, to have a uniformity in the binding of the different works, pleasing to the eye. With this end in view, he has had most of his books bound in calf. This collection has been gathered in the last six years, and is increasing rapidly, as the owner is desirous of having as complete and valu- able a library as possible. ALFRED A. COHEN. Mr. Cohen's library, numbering about five thou- sand volumes, is regarded by some as the choicest private collection in the State. The room con- taining the books is about twenty-nine by thirty- nine feet, situated on the ground floor, and receiving its light from two great bay-windows, which look out on the ever.green lawns, sweeping drives and choice shrubbery of the hundred-acre grounds surrounding Mr. Cohen's mansion in Ala- meda. The carpet of the room is shaded crimson, with a Turkish border, and Turkish rugs lie scattered about before mantel, windows, and library tables. Besides the regular library furni- ture upholstered in red morocco, chairs and sofas with cloth of a Persian pattern are distributed about the room. The high ceiling is frescoed in India style, with black walnut mouldings. The book cases, which occupy every side of the room, save the spaces relinquished for windows, door and mantel, are of black walnut, exquisitely carved and finished, and arranged after a unique and tasteful design of Mr. Cohen's. The angles made in the cases at the four corners of the room, usually waste space, are converted into niches for the reception of statuary, the sides lined with mir- rors, and the black walnut pediments of the cases forming a graceful arch overhead. The lower 72 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. divisions of the cases are finished into cupboards, for storing away pamphlets, and just above is a convenient sliding panel, which, pulled out, makes a little desk, eighteen inches broad, on which to rest heavy and awkward folios. The majority of the books are composed of standard English authors. The various depart- ments of history, biography, classical literature and belles-lettres are well filled. The most notable book in the collection is an original copy of the famous suppressed works of John Milton,, published in 1660, together with a broadside from John Goodwin. So few other copies exist that the book is almost unique. Mr. Cohen also has a copy of the original proclamation by Charles II., issued immediately after their pub- lication, a stained yellow document in Gothic text, quaintly worded, which begins, "By the king, a proclamation for calling in and suppressing of two books written by John Milton, the one entitled: Johannis Miltoni Angli pro Populo Aitglicano Defensio^ Contra Claudii^ Anonymi alias Salma- sii. Defensionem Regiam ; and another in answer to a book, Intitled, The Portraiture of His Sacred Majesty in his Solitude and Sufferings ; and also a third book, Intitled, The Obstructors of Justice, written by John Goodwin." Further on the following remarkable passage occurs : " And we do hereby also give special charge and ALFRED A. COHEN. 73 command to the said Chief Magistrates, Justices of the Peace, and Vice-Chancellors respectively, that they cause the said books which shall be brought unto any of their hands or seized or taken as aforesaid, by virtue of this our proclamation, to be delivered to the respective sheriffs of these counties where they respectively live, the first and next assizes that shall after happen. And the said sheriffs are hereby also required, in time of hold- ing such assizes, to cause the same to be publickly burnt by the hand of the common hangman.' ' The collection also contains a number of bibles of various dates in diverse tongues, notable among which is the Wy cliff e Bible, the Cambridge edition, and the Hexapla. Mr. Cohen also has many quaint old books of more or less variety, and a number of compara- tively late publications, which it would be difficult to duplicate, all possessing some inherent interest for which they were purchased, rather than for their rarity or bibliographical value. Among these may be mentioned a beautiful copy of Dante, published in 1568; a fine old edition of Pliny, translated into English by Philemon Holland, Doctor of Physicke, London, 1634; an interesting old book, of curi- ous character, called Universus Terrarum Nobis Orbis, Scriptorum Calamo, illustrated, in two folio volumes, published in 171 3; an uncut edition of Henry Gibbon s Miscellaneous Works, with old silhouettes, 1796; jfure Divine^ a satire published in London in 1 706, by " The true born English- 74 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. man;" an original set of American Archives, of the momentous years, 177 S-7^'' the History of the Civil Wars of France^ in Italian, by H. C. Davila, published in 1647 ; and the original edition of Smollett' s History of England^ 1758- Among other prized works is an original Boy- dell' s Shakespeare, a reprint from the fam-ous first folio; The Holy Court, in five tomes, by Sir James Macintosh ; two folio volumes of superb botanical plates by Robert John Thornton; Jardin's Natu- ralists Library^ fifty volumes, colored plates ; Selected Pictures ; Rogers' Imitations of Early Drawings ; Facsimiles of the National Manu- scripts of England, Scotland and Ireland (similar to those described in Governor Haight's collection), and Holbein s Court of Henry VII f the latter a handsome copy, presented to Mr. Cohen by his friend Judge Lake. Another interesting historical work of which, probably, no other copy has found its way to this coast, is known as Cartas de Indias, a thick folio volume, published in 1877, by the Spanish govern- ment. This is a history of the various colonization schemes, and of the countries colonized by Spain, taken from the old Spanish archives, with fac-similes of the most important manuscripts, and copies of early maps. It also contains fac-similes of the autographs of men of note in the early history of Spain, including many distinguished soldiers and navigators, among these Christopher Columbus, Americus Vespuccius, and Cortez. p. c On the line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, within an hour and a half of San Francisco, resides a gentleman of means and culture^ devoted to scien- tific agriculture, the improvement of the breed of domestic animals, and the collection of rare books. "Procul negotiis Ut prisca gens mortalium, Paterna rura bobus exercet siiis, Solutus omni fonore." As we are only permitted to notice his unique collection on condition of suppressing the owner's name, we have to designate Mr. C. by an initial only. Many of our readers will probably recog- nize him ; to those who do not we can only say, in the words of the good book, ''Seek ! and ye shall find;" and judging from the cordial greeting with which one stranger at least was welcomed, we be- lieve we may add: "Knock! and it shall be opened unto you." Entering by an unpretending avenue, skirted by a vineyard on either hand, you alight at the door of a typical Swiss cottage, built in the form of an L, at the re-entering angle of which is a covered por- tico some twenty feet square, furnished plainly, as an out-door sitting room — a feature characteristic of the half-tropical climate of Menlo Park and its vicinity. ' At a moderate distance in the rear stand 76 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. the farmbuildings.consisting of barns, horse and cow stables, wine-house and presS; milk-house, boarding- house for the laborers employed, etc., all constructed in uniform elevations, andarranged in convenient and symmetrical quadrangles. Pipes are laid, conduct- ing through the grounds abundant supplies of water, derived from tunnels in the neighboring hill- sides, and collected in a large stone reservoir of five million gallons, constructed at an elevation of about one hundred feet above the dwellings. Mr. C. is his own engineer, architect, draughtsman, and general superintendent; and in the tower of the brick edifice in which are his office and "cabinet de tra- vail," a large four-dialed clock, visible from every part of the fourteen hundred acres included in the ranch, insures regularity in the movements of the hundred or more laborers constantly employed. "Pars duciere muros Molirique arcem, et manibus subvolvere saxa: Pars optare locum tecto, et concludere sulco. Hie portus alii effodiunt." Here is to be found one of the most remarkable collections of books in America, if not in the world. Outside of the current literature of the day, its special character is derived from the completeness of its collection of the publications of the great continental printers, Aldus, Stephanus and the Elzevirs. The press of Aldus began its issues in 1494, and one of its earliest productions was the first edition p. c. ']^ of the works of Aristotle (1495-98). This was followed in rapid succession by the other Greek and Latin classics. The labor of deciphering man- uscripts, and editing and superintending the press, was soon found to transcend the power of any one man, and to second the zeal of the learned printer, the famous Aldine academy was formed. Its hfe was not long, but it comprised some distinguished men and did good work for the cause of learning. Bembo was one of its members; so was Erasmus and the monk Bolzanus, the a,uthor of the earliest Greek grammar; Alcionius also, who burned the only manuscript of Cicero's treatise^ De Gloria, after having spoliated its ideas; and that eccentric Andrew Navagero, who yearly sacrificed to the manes of Catullus a copy of the poems of his rival, Martial. To Aldus, the elder, we owe the pro- duction of the first italic character, which it is said he modeled on the handwriting of Petrarch. Through three generations the Aldine press contin- ued to give to the world the works of the greatest writers and scholars of antiquity, many of which it rescued from oblivion, and thus entitled its founders to the gratitude and admiration of men of letters throughout the world. The press of Stephanus was founded at Paris, by Henry the Elder, nearly simultaneously with that of Manutius at Venice, and is the most famous of France. Greater accuracy is claimed for its editions, especially in the Greek, than for 78 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. those of Aldus, and probably with reason; for the utmost care was taken to avoid errors, Robert, the son and successor of Henry I, going so far as to publicly post his proof sheets, with the offer of a reward for every error detected. They were also enriched with notes which were of great value, by reason of the erudition which characterized their famous family for several successive genera- tions. Besides the Greek and Latin classics, we owe to the Stephanus press a magnificent early edition of the bible and many other works. Robert was the author of the Thesaurus Linguae Laiinae, printed by the house; and Henry Jr., of that world-known Thesaurus Linguae Grcec, of which Didot has recently put forth a new and splendid edition, in five enormous volumes. The Elzevirs, the great printers of Holland, came later than both Aldus and Stephanus, and the beauty and accuracy of their editions are more generally known. The library of Mr. C. contains not less than fifteen hundred volumes of their issues, each selected with the greatest care, every copy a gem in itself. Wynne's "Private Libraries of New York City," published a few years ago, in describing the library of George Folsom, a valuable collection,' mentions as a remarkable feature the number of Elzevir editions, which are estimated at about four hundred volumes, "which are probably more numerous than in any other [library] in this country." p. c. 79 Many of the specimens in Mr. C.'s collection are enriched with fine bindings bearing the coats- of-arms and family crests of previous noble and royal owners ; others on which the most famous binders of the v/orld have been prodigal of their skill, and others again in the virgin purity in which they issued from the press, neatly folded and col- lated, but neither sewed nor cut. The tiny volumes, ranged in treble rows on the book-case shelves, with their diverse bindings, pre- sent a most curious appearance. Mr. C. has also a collection of books printed previous to the Elzevir publications, in the same form, some of which are more valuable than the latter. Among these are four books, Roman de la Rose, 1529, Alain Ch' artier, 1529, Champion des Dames, 15 30; and one other, the first books ever printed in round characters, in elegant early bind- ings of red morocco, embellished and gilt-edged, for which he paid five thousand five hundred francs. Another, L Armure de Patience, cost eight hun- dred francs. Notable among these early publications is Divi- ni Platoni Opera, Lyons, press of Jean de Tour- nes, 1550; and Ciceronis de Philosophia, 1585, printed in italic text, and bound in brown morocco, bearing the arms of Henry III. on the cover. The Elzevirs began publishing in 1590. The earliest specimen in Mr. C.'s collection. Cento Ethi- cus, Amsterdam, 1599, is in italic text. Among 8o PRIVATE LIBRARIES. other notable specimens is Theodoreti Episcopi Cyri, 1630, bearing on the brown morocco binding the coats-of-arms of Louis XIII. and his wife, Queen Anne of Austria, and hundreds of g\\tjieur de lis, alternated with the letter L bearing a crown. Among the rarest of the Elzevirs may also be mentioned Illustre theatre de Corneille (of which there are but three known copies in the world), Le Pastisfier Francais, CEuvres de Moliere, L'Aima- ble Mere de Jisus^ (Etivres de Balzac^ and Les Odes d Horace en vers Biirlesques. Two books from the famous press of Wolfgang, deserve special mention, CEuvres des deux Corneille, and Illustre Theatre de Corneille, the latter bear- ing Charles Nodier's autograph, attesting that it is the only known copy extant. Many pages might be .written upon the elegant morocco and vellum bindings ornamenting these tiny books. The choicer specimens have the in- side of the covers finished exactly like the outside, or else lined with watered silk, frequently with fly leaves of silk. The edges of the pages in meeting form bands of gold, and the corners are like the sharp edge of polished metal. These books are from the libraries of Charles Nodier, Comte d'Hoym, Longepierre, Pixerecourt, Marquis de la Valliere, Colbert, Charles Pieters^ Baron de Pichon, Marquis of Montesson, King Henry III., King Louis XIII., and -many other celebrities. ADLEY H. CUMMINS. The polyglot library belonging to Adley H. Cummins, of San Francisco, representing upwards of fifty languages and dialects, has no parallel upon this coast. Numbering only eight hundred volumes, but rapidly increasing, the majority of the books are so- large that they absorb twice the shelf-room a like number of ordinary books would occupy, and have been collected with large expense and dif- ficulty. Mr. Cummins studies each language as a part of one grand whole, of the science of comparative philology. His collection includes books in the following languages, and dialects, arranged in their families : Semitic — Hebrew, Chaldee, Ancient Syriac, Modern S3'riac, Samaritan, Arabic, Ethiopic. Indo-Aryan and Iranian — Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindustani, Zend, Persian. Miscellaneous and Turanian — Turkish, Basque, Chinese, Japanese, Malayan, Australian. Classic, etc. — Ancient Greek, Modern Greek, Latin. Romanic — French, Proven9aI, Langue d'Oil, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Italian, Romansch of Switzerland, Roumanian or Wallachian. Germanic — Gothic, Old High German, Middle High German, Modern High German, Anglo-Saxon, Old Saxon of Germany, Old Friesic, Modern Friesic, Icelandic, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, English. Celtic — Gaelic, Irish, Manx, Cornish, Welsh, Breton. Slavonic — Old Slavic, Russian, Polish, Bohemian. 82 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Among the rare, remarkable and valuable works therein, the following deserve mention: English-Saxon Grammar; by Elizabeth Elstob, London, 1715, quarto. This, the first Anglo- Saxon Grammar written in English, all previously having been in Latin, is remarkable for being the production of a woman. Sisson s Anglo-Saxon Grammar; Leeds, 18 19, i6mo. This work is remarkable only for the fact that F. Michel, the French Saxon scholar, who had an almost complete Anglo-Saxon library up to 1837, the date of the publication of his Biblio- theca Anglo- Saxonica, could never find a copy of it on account of its great scarcity. Wilkins' Sanskrita Grammar; London, 1808, quarto. The first Sanskrit grammar printed in England. Gram^natica Linguae Copticae; Peyron, Turin, 1840, octavo. A valuable and critical grammar of the Coptic language; very scarce. Grammatica ^gyptiaca; Scholtz, Oxford, 1778, quarto; also rare. Grammatica^tJiiopica; Ludolf. Frankfurt, 1702, folio. This is the first comprehensive grammar of the Ethiopic or Abyssinian language, an important and peculiar member of the Semitic family, ever published. This scholar, by his great industry and several works regarding Abyssinia and its lan- guage, ancient and modern, did great service to Semitic philology. This copy has bound up with ADLEY H. CUMMINS. 83 it a very elaborate Dissertatio de Loaistis anno Praeterito Immensa Copia in Germania visis, dated 1694, by the same author, from whose title and contents it would appear that Germany was visited by great swarms of these pests in 1693. It is illustrated with quaint engravings of the locusts of North and South Africa. Stephani Thesaurus Grecae Linguae)- Paris, 1573, six volumes, folio. This is a fine copy of the first edition of the famous Thesaurus of Stephanus, or in French, Henri Etienne. Cleas!)y s Icelandic- English Dictionary; Claren- don press, Oxford, 1874, quarto; a monument of modern philology. Lexicon Arabico Latinum; Freytag, Halle, 1830-7, four volumes, quarto. This is an'enlarged and vastly improved edition of the far-famed Ara- bic Lexicon of Golius. Piatt - Deiitsches W'drterbuch; Dahnert, Stral- sund, 1 78 1, quarto. A scarce and excellent dic- tionary of the Piatt- Deutsch dialect, which prevails over a large part of Germany. Castelli, Lexicon Heptaglotton; London, 1669, two volumes, large folio, in the original binding of calf. This work contains grammars and diction- aries of Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Samaritan, Ethi- opic, Arabic and Persian, the adjunct to Walton's famous Polyglot Bible, in six volumes folio. Castelli Lexicon Syriacum/ Michaelis, Gottingen, 1787, quarto. This is the Syriac portion of the 84 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. preceding work, added to and improved by Mi- chaelis — a lexicon which is every year growing more scarce and valuable. It is sought for in Eu- rope by the increasing numbers of those devoting their attention to the Oriental languages, for the reason that it is the only Syriac lexicon that can claim any approach to comprehensiveness. It will, however, be superseded by the following: Thesaicrus Syriacus; London, folio. This mag- nificent work, which will be of infinite credit to the Orientalists who are at work upon it, and of the greatest imaginable service to the students of Syriac, a language possessing a very rich literature, is to be completed in ten fasciculi (at twenty-one shillings each), at the Clarendon press, Oxford. Four parts have already been issued since 1868. The managing editor is R. Payne Smith. Etymologicum Anglicanum; Junius, Oxford, 1 743, folio. An English etymological dictionary of the last century, with definitions in Latin; a creditable performance for its time; now a scarce and valuable work. Lexicon yEgyptiaco-Latinum; Scholtz, Oxonii, 1775' quarto; an early and scarce Coptic lexicon. Etymologice yEgyptiaccB, Rossii, Romae, 1808, quarto, a lexicon of the Coptic, composed with a view to proving the Coptic to belong to the Semitic family of languages. Sanskrit-English Dictionary ; Monier Williams, Oxford, 1872, quarto; a most excellent Sanskrit ADLEY H. CUMMINS. 85 lexicon, philologically arranged with special refer- ence to Greek, Latin, Gothic, German, Anglo- Saxon and other cognate Indo-European languages. Lexicon Aethiopico-Latinum, Dillmann, Leipzig, 1865, folio. An important work, the only Ethiopic lexicon, issued since that of Job Ludolf. Bibliotheca Anglo- Saxonica, Michel, Paris, 1837, octavo, intended to be a complete bibliog- raphy of the Anglo-Saxon language up to the date of its issue. This is a very scarce work, only one hundred copies having been printed. Evangelia Gothica et Saxomca, Dordrecht, 1655, Junius and Marshall, small quarto. This is the first edition of the Gothic Gospels, and second edition of the Saxon, printed in parallel columns. The Gothic text is very corrupt. The Gothic glossary therein is, therefore, necessarily uncritical. The Gothic text is in the original character. A vast amount of general erudition was expended upon this work by its editors. Layamon s Brut, Sir Frederick Madden, Lon- don, 1847, three volumes, royal octavo. A highly important publication of the poetical semi-Saxon paraphras'e of the Brut of Wace, with translation and glossary. The Oera Linda Bdk, London, 1876, octavo; written in old Friesic by a modern Hollander; one of the most successful and astonishing literary for- geries of history. C///f /aj, Gabelentz & Loebe^ Leipzig, 1843, quarto. 86 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. This is the best edition of the remains of the Bible translated into Gothic in the fourth century, by Bishop Ulfilas. The manuscript from which the fragmentary gospels are edited is a mulberry-tinted vellum, termed the "Codex Argenteus," the letters upon it being in silver (and in gold), in a hand of the fifth century. It is now in the library of the university of Upsala, in Sweden. The letters are inscribed upon it with such marvelous regularity and accuracy that a well-known Scandinavian scholar erroneously imagined that they were printed upon the vellum, but tests with the microscope have demonstrated that they were written, and not imprinted. Hickesii Lingiiarum Vett. Septentrionalium (Anglo-Saxon., Moeso-Gothic, Franco-Theotisc, Island). Thesaurus grammatico-criticus et Archce- ologicus, Oxonii, 1703-5, three volumes in two, folio. A valuable work, of which some copies have been sold at twenty-six pounds and over. This is the famous Hickes' Thesaurus of Northern and Germanic literature, a work of great indus- try, remarkable research, and considerable eru- dition; which contains Anglo-Saxon, Icelandic and Gothic grammars, plates of Saxon coins, valuable Anglo-Saxon fragments, and a comprehensive cat- alogue of Anglo-Saxon codices and literature. Anglo- Saxon Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Star- craft, Cockayne, London, 1854, three volumes, octavo. This is a work illustrating the medical ADLEY H. CUMMINS. 87 and other sciences of our ancestors prior to the Norman conquest. These volumes are interesting, not only for the scientific, but also for the social aspect of the Saxons that they present. It may be remarked that their medical science was a perfect riot and chaos of superstition. Baedae, Historia Ecdesiasiua, Smith, London, 1722, folio. The venerable Bede's ecclesiastical history, with King Alfred's Anglo-Saxon transla- tion. A new edition of the Saxon text is greatly needed on account of the scarcity and cost of this folio. Schilteri Thesaurus^ Ulmae, 1727—8, three vol- umes, folio. Schilter's valuable Thesaurus of Ger- manic antiquities, literary, civil and ecclesiastic. The Bhagvat-Geeta, translated by Wilkins, 1 785, subscribers' reprint at the Bradstreet Press, New York, of an otherwise unprocurable work'. Kalidasae Sakuntala. M. Williams, Hertford, 1853, octavo. Elegant edition of the original text of this excellent Hindu Drama. The Sanskrit text is in black type; the Prakrit, the dialect spoken by the women and inferior characters, in red. A caustic commentary on the gallantry of the Orientals towards women. Mahabharata^ Pandits, Calcutta, 1834-9, five volumes, quarto. The scarce and valuable edition of an .enormous Sanskrit Epic, or collection of epics. Mr. Cummins- designs to gather, read and study the standard works of the various languages; in 88 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Other words, their classical literature, together with their grammars and vocabularies. In many languages there is nothing, or almost nothing, but a Biblical or religious literature. Others, as the Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Icelandic, and Proven9al, have a magnificent literature. It may be interesting to note that the following languages possess an indigenous religious literature. The Sanskrit in the Vedas. The Zend contains the sacred literature of the Parsees, the Zoroastrian writings termed the Zend Avesta. The Chinese, in the writings of Confitcins, and Lao-tsie, both contemporaries of Sakya Buddha, whose sacred writings are to be found in the Pali of Ceylon, a language which bears the same relation- ship to Sanskrit that Italian does to Latin. The Icelandic, which has handed down to us in the Edda (Norse for "great-grandmother," or perhaps in this case rather " Grandmother's Tales ") the ancient myths and fables of the northlands, illus- trating the mythology of the Scandinavians. This is in two divisions, named respectively^ Saemund's, or the '' Elder Edda," and the younger, or prose Edda, termed sometimes the "Snorre Edda." As intimated before, this library has not been collected as a curiosity, but for practical use by the owner, and the majority of the works are full or half bound in morocco, vellum or calf, as books in- tended for a life-time of constant use should be. Mr. Cummins is a philologist in the truest sense of ADLEY H. CUMMINS. 8g the word : a lover of languages. Nine years ago, with a foundation knowledge of the languages com- prised within an ordinary college course, he took up by himself the study of several others, more for the sake of usefully employing his leisure time, than of making a specialty of the study. Gradually he became conscious of the wide field afforded by the study of philology, and went to work with a vigor. The very fact of the limited time at his disposal, remaining from his business engagements, has only added to his zeal. It must not be understood that a student of comparative philology acquires a speaking knowl- edge of all, or in fact necessarily many of the languages with whose grammar, vocabulary and literature he becomes thoroughly familiar. Speak- ing a few of the tongues with which he has become acquainted, this gentleman has investigated and mastered, in the manner indicated above, as many as thirty-nine different languages and dialects. HORACE DAVIS. The collection of books belonging to our worthy representative in Congress is a family library of about fourteen hundred volumes, composed mainly of English standard literature, with the complete works of leading French and German authors. The list of English books embraces the complete works of Leigh Hunt, Lamb, De Quincey, Gold- smith, Scott; Dickens, Thackeray, etc., and among American writers in prose and verse are Haw- thorne, Irving, Cooper, Longfellow, Whittier and many others. The collection contains a number of valuable books of political history and records of the Pacific coast. Mr. Davis also has The Aldine Poets ^ and a full set of The British Poets, in eighty- eight volumes. In the collection is an elegant large paper edition of Bancroft' s United States History, presented to Mr. Davis by his uncle, the eminent historian. He also has a number of books formerly belonging to his father, "Honest John Davis," Governor of Massachusetts. Among these are The Memoirs of Aaron Burr, by Matthew L. Davis, published in 1836, and The Life of George Washington, published in 1807, both bearing the authors' auto- graphs. Mr, Davis also has some curious fac- similes of ancient maps, which have been made for him. HORACE DAVIS. 9 1 The library is tastefully furnished with carpet of softly-toned drabs and shaded red border. The furniture is of black walnut and red morocco, some odd chairs interspersed, a handsome library table occupying the centre of the room. The cases are of black walnut, nicely finished, and sev- eral engravings and paintings of merit hang upon the walls. Above one of the cases is a bust of John Davis. A group of Rogers, The Union Refugees, has some little historical interest. The artist himself gave it to a fair, during the war, to be sold for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission. It was purchased by Mrs. Davis and sent to her son. In the little study adjoining the library is a rich, old-fashioned rosewood secretary, with silver handles to the drawers, a curious old clock, and several other pieces of furniture long in the pos- session of the family, looking quaint in a new country like California where the furniture is so prone to smell of fresh varnish. CHARLES AND M. H. DE YOUNG. The proprietors of the San Francisco Chronicle have, at their elegant residence on Eddy street, one of the most tastefully fitted up libraries in the city. The room is located on the parlor floor, is about eighteen feet square, and well lighted. The fur- niture is massive black walnut, covered with horse- hide leather colored red, with a monogram in gilt embossed on the backs and cushions of the easy chairs. The room also contains a capacious lounge similarly upholstered, a heavily carved writing-table, and companion dwarf book-cases in walnut. Here, also, is an elegant and complicated music- box, about 18x36 inches, lately bought at Geneva, Switzerland, by Mr. De Young, during his late trip to Europe, which plays eight different operatic gems. Besides, there are separate accompaniments of the mandoline, harp and bells, either or all of which can be connected with the music-box proper at pleasure when playing. The bells are acted upon by a string of hornets attached to springs worked by the machinery of the box. The music is clear, the notes distinct, and the effect most pleasing. It is a wonder in the way of invention, and is so ar- ranged as to play waltzes, galops and polkas for quadrilles and other terpsichorean amusements. Another novelty and curiosity is a beautiful trans- parent glass wine-decanter, at the bottom of which CHARLES AND M. H. DE YOUNG. • 93 is a musical contrivance concealed by a ground- glass covering, which, upon being wound up, plays the ''Miserere" from Trovatore, and the ''Man- dolinata." It is, however, so ingeniously arranged that it is not until the decanter is lifted from the table that it begins to play, when a strange and beautiful melody issues from the otherwise morose and taciturn decanter. Upon the book- cases are a pair of Japanese vases, which are wonders in their way. Although but about eight inches in height, they bear on their exterior figures representing the hundred wise men of Japan, who lived in huts and subsisted on herbs, and who were consulted upon all matters of state by the rulers of the country. The faces of " the hundred" are of ivory, inlaid upon the vases, and above, below and between the figures pulverized gold is brazed upon the surface, that and the fig- ures being highly polished. The ware is what is known as the "Kutani," from the Congo district, and said to be upwards of a century old. Besides these, two fine vases in bronze, and two in Italian marble, the latter representing winged dragons, rest upon the book-case. On the walls hang several pictures, and among them a most unique device, constructed of pins inserted in a large oval silk cushion, the handiwork of Mrs. Amelia De Young, mother of the Messrs. De Young. It contains thirty-one thousand six hundred and twenty pins, of five different sizes, the 94 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. head of every one of which was filed bright and shining by Mrs. De Young. The figure represents a half wreath combining the sturdy oak and twin- ing vine, and shows the acorns and bunches of grapes in juxtaposition, the vines, twigs, leaves, fruit and tendrils being fashioned to nature by pin- heads of different sizes. At the base is a spread eagle supporting a shield bearing the date '' 1869," all in pin-heads. Surrounding this marvel of skill and patience is a deep oval frame supporting a clear glass covering. Within the wreath is the in- scription " 'Unequaled Success Our Glory,' dedi- cated to the San Francisco Chronicle, September 14, by Mrs. A. De Y." Bronze busts of Beethoven, Bach, Humboldt and Washington, occupy niches in the room. Engrav- ings representing a family of stag-hounds, and figures of "May" and "Meditation," hang upon the wall, with a striking crayon sketch of '' A Pea- cock and Family," by Mrs. De Young. " The Pet Fawn," a very life-like engraving, also finds a place upon the walls. The language of the surroundings is that of ease and evident refinement. The books, numbering something less than a thousand volumes, are of miscellaneous literature, well selected, with some choice editions. WILLIAM DOXEY. The collection of books belonging to Mr. Wil- liam Doxey, though small in number, comprising some eight hundred volumes, contains some feat- ures worthy of note. This gentleman has made a specialty of works and criticisms on English literature; and while his collection is already rich upon this subject he has an extensive and carefully prepared list of works needed to make this depart- ment complete, which he is acquiring as rapidly as his means will allow. He has, also, a few well chosen books of reference, romance, poetry and art. In every instance the editions are the best procurable, and the majority are handsomely bound. Among the choicest books is a reprint of Hogarth, from the original plates retouched; a Gillray from the original plates, with full set of notes and com- mentaries ; the large paper Golden Treasury edition of Bacon's Essays (of which only five hundred copies were printed) ; and a choice edition of White' s Selborne. For four years past Mr. Doxey has been gather- ing all the illustrations of Dickens that have ever been published. He has collected six hundred and twenty-five of the original illustrations, fifty-one of Darley's, three hundred and fifty-eight from the American Household edition, two hundred and twelve of Sol. Eytinge's, over eight hundred from 96 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. the English Household edition (three volumes of which have not yet been issued), and a number from other sources, making in all over two thousand three hundred, many of them superior impressions. The artists represented are Cruikshank, Darley, F. Bernard, Nast, Sol. Eytinge, A. B. Frost, Sey- mour, Phiz, J. Mahoney, C. S. Reinhart, Cattermole, Brown, C. Green, Thos. Worth, W. L. Sheppard, Marcus Stone, F, A. Frazer, Landseer, Maclise, E. A. Abbey, E. G. Dalziel, G. S. R., S. L. Fildes, and others. When his collection is finally completed, which will be a twelve-month hence, selecting for his text the English Illustrated Library Edition of Dickens, he will procure the sheets, have the plates uniformly mounted and inserted at the proper places, and the edition elegantly re-bound, making two volumes of every one. This will be, beyond question, the finest and most unique edition of the works of the great novelist in the world. Mr. Doxey is also making a collection of Cruik- shank's engravings, and already has thirty-five steel engravings from the original plates prepared for the Routledge edition of the Waverley novels, a book of eighty-two illustrations, and several other works illustrated by that artist, among these, Life ill London and Finish to Life in London, the latter containing the original hand colored plates, both presented to the collector by Jos. W. Winans. Mr. Doxey also has several Decamerons, one of WILLIAM DOXEY. 97 which has bound up with it the Leopold Fleming illustrations, the Milan plates and the Stodhart il- lustrations, making- a unique edition. He is also extra-illustrating Walton's Complete Angler, and is engaged, in addition to the literary enterprises cited above, in making a collection of portraits of English poets and authors. JOHN T. DOYLE. The library of John T. Doyle, the veteran San Francisco lawyer, occupies a pleasant room on the ground floor of his charming cottage at Menlo Park. A large bay window, opening upon a ve- randa, commands a view of a portion of the grounds, with wide spreading evergreen oaks and fresh green lawn, where bright blooming fuchsias and gerani- ums, tropical shrubs, palms with fan-like leaveSj roses and climbing vines flourish, unterrified by the approach of our California winter. The room is cosily furnished, plain book-cases with open fronts taking up all the available space around the walls. On the oaken mantel stands a clock, a parian bust, and two of Rogers' groups: "The Country Post-ofifice," and "One More Shot." Large logs smoulder in the ample fire-place, and the low ceiling, the red and black paper on the walls, contribute to the quaint, old-time air that prevails throughout the room. The library contains over three thousand vol- umes, about one tenth of the number being ency- clopaedias, dictionaries, and works of reference on special subjects, as languages, literature, politics, law, and especially biography, geography and travel. One case is occupied by a set of the Del- phini and Variorum classics. Early Spanish- Amer- ican colonization, however, seems to have been the JOHN T. DOYLE. 99 favorite study with the owner, for in this respect the collection is unusually full, containing most, if not all, of the original historians of the Spanish conquest; as Bernal Diaz, Gomara, Mendieta, Cortes, Las Casas, Jerez, Cabeza de Vaca, Venegas, Baegert, Palou, and Mota Padilla, besides the anonymous writers to whom we owe the Apos- tolicos Afanes, Tres Cartas, etc. The folios of Torquemada, Oviedo, Herrera, Lorenzana, Solis and Salazar y Olarte are also there, and, in more convenient form, the histories of Boturini, Cavo, Alegre, Alaman, and Carlos Maria Bustamante, besides particular biographies, and the publications issued under the name of Documentos para la His- toria de Mexico. The oricfins of these collections are not generally, known, as the books themselves, especially the fourth series, are rare. We owe the preservation of these latter to aroyai 9edula of February, 1 790, whereby Charles IV. directed the collection and transcription of a large number of manuscripts illustrating the colonization and history of the various provinces of his Indian empire, for deposit in the archives in Spain. The supervision of this work, so far as Mexico was concerned, was confided by Revillagigedo, the Viceroy, to Father Fray Francisco Garcia Figueroa, under whose direction a most valuable compilation was formed, consisting of thirty-two folio volumes, which, until a recent period, existed complete in the Mexican archives, but which of late have been lOO PRIVATE LIBRARIES. allowed to go the way of all things else in Mexico. The fourth series of the ''documentos" was extracted from these volumes and published in ^G.folletin of the Diario oficial. The ' other three series come from other sources: mss. diaries, official juridical investigations deposited in the Mexican archives, etc. Most of our readers will recollect the account of the insurrection in the city of Mexico against the Viceroy Galvez, related in the Bachiler of Sala- manca. In one of these volumes may be found the original depositions of the witnesses of that emeute, wherein various imps and devils are gravely stated to have appeared on the house-tops and fired on the soldiers with worldly muskets! The publica- tions issued under the same title o{ Documentos para la Historia de Mejico, by D. Joaquin Garcia Icaz- balceta, is, of course, a different collection. It is known to all students of Mexican history and has rendered the name of its compiler, who has sacri- ficed his time and private fortune from devotion to the history and literature of his country, honored throughout the world of letters. Icazbalceta real- izes in his life the beau ideal of the ancient printer and bookseller; a man of learning himself and whose pursuit is dictated not by sordid consider- ations of gain but by the pure love of letters. Few things in literary history is more touching than the concluding paragraph of his ''Advertencia" pre- fixed to Mendieta's Historia eclesiaslica Indiana. "My cherished hope" says he "to save from ob- JOHN T. DOYLE. lOl livion some portion, however insignificant, of our historical documents, and long habits of continuous labor may possibly lead me hereafter to some unimportant publications, but I do not expect to continue the 'coleccion de documentos,' to which, for years back, I have given all my disposable time. Alone, and entirely unaided, I have completed the publication of three great volumes, and I may claim to have done all that could fairly devolve on a private citizen. But I do not adopt this determin- ation without pain when I contemplate the rich col- lection of materials, which have been accumulated in my hands, and which yet remain inedited. May they some day fall into hands more able than mine to continue and complete the laborious task which I undertook with more good will than money, and more enthusiasm than pecuniary success." We echo Mr. Icazbalceta's pious wish and venture to suggest to him Mr. Doyle as the heir to these inedited treasures. That he has all the necessary good- will and ability to give them to the public is evinced by the publication, not long since, of Noticias de la Ntieva California,^ a valuable contribution to the history of our State, elegantly printed, with photographs of various mission churches and scenes and localities in California, the publication of which was due to Mr. Doyle's enterprise, and the liberal- ity of Joesph A. Donohoe. Among Mr. Doyle's wealthy and public spirited neighbors at Menlo Park the means could doubtless be obtained to publish these valuable documents. I02 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. The California collection is particularly com- plete, containing, we believe, every work known to exist on the subject, even to the journal of the Jesuits expelled from Lower California under the famous pragmatic sanction of February, 1767, from the time the decree was made known to them at Loreto till they reached their destination in the Azores, of which only fifty copies were ever print- ed, and the manuscript History of California dur- ing his own time, by D; Antonio Ma. Ozio. Some of these old books contain information on subjects of natural history often supposed to be of more recent discovery. Ex. gr. In the diary of P. Con- sag, of his voyage of exploration of the peninsula and gulf of California (1751), we find a description of the " boomerang," as a weapon in use among the California Indians. It is popularly supposed to have been confined to the barbarous tribes of Australia. In the narrative of the French expedi- tion to California in 1 767, to observe the transit of Venus, will be found a description of the big trees of California (Sequoia gigantea), the engraving of the leaf and cone of which leave no possible doubt of its identity, and the Vivaparous fish of California, the discovery of which is usually credited to Agassiz. A pretty full collection of early French mission- ary "relations" are to be found on the shelves, including all those issued by Dr. Shea, of New York. Here is another instance of a self-sacrificing JOHN T. DOYI.E. IO3 devotion to learning and science worthy of com- memoration. Mr. Shea was brought up to the bar, but early in life became devoted to the study of early American missionary efforts, and in con- nection therewith, of Indian ethnology and history. Becoming possessed of about four hundred dollars beyond his immediate wants, he set about the pub- lication of such inedited manuscripts on his favorite subject as he was able to obtain access to. He secured the names of about eighty gentlemen who were willing to take each a copy of such works as he should print. One hundred copies of each manu- script were issued; the price of the eighty brought back the cost of publication, and the extra twenty •copies furnished the means of obtaining other manuscripts and gradually increasing the small cap- ital invested in the enterprise. By this means over forty interesting early manuscripts have been res- cued from loss, among which are some fifteen vocabularies of the various Indian dialects, which present probably the only reliable hope of ever obtaining any reliable light on the origin of the North American tribes of savages. During the thirty years of his labors Dr. Shea has had to con- tend with poverty and ill health, and to supply the wants of a numerous family by his daily literary labor; but his devotion to learning has never flagged, and the crowning effort of his press has been the production of the translation of Charlevoix' s New France, in six ponderous octavo volumes, a 104 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. magnificent specimen of typography and a lasting monument of the learning and devotion of the translator. Among the materials of Mexican history is to be found Suniario de la Residencia Tomada a D. Ferdinando Cortes^ Gobernador y Capitan- General de la N. E. (Nueva Espana), This book is a com- paratively recent publication, a copy of the deposi- tions taken in the proceedings against Cortes, with the questions put to each witness^ together with the full answers. The manuscript from which it was copied had been so eaten away by mice and insects in Mexico, that it was illegible in places. These blanks are supplied conjecturally, as sug- gested by the context in notes. Prescott, in the third volume of his "Conquest of Mexico," page 327, cites it as an instance of the indignities to which the very greatness of a man will some- times subject him. The collection also contains a curious little French book called A Voyage to the Purgatory of St. Patrick, published in 1867. Mr. Doyle has had one hobby — a fancy for col- lecting various editions of Don Quixote, and Don Quixotiana. After giving away a number, he still has twelve or fourteen editions left. Among these are Smirke's, with proofs of the plates, London, 1818; Cleniencin s ; Smollett's quarto (1755); Ton- sons four volume quarto; Do re's two volume folio, and the Spanish Academy's first edition, which Mr. JOHN T. DOYLE. 105 Doyle has made unique by inserting a collection of illustrations from various editions, making eight volumes out of the original four. This library is also notable for its extensive col- lection of maps, some of which are bound up in atlas form, others nicely mounted, jointed, and folded in cases, covers, or packed away in drawers. It is safe to say that no other private and probably no public library on the coast, has so extensive a collection. Many of these are government majDS, published on a large scale and in many sections, and not easily procurable. JOHN B. FELTON. The library of the late John B. Felton, of Oak- land, is a large and attractive room on the ground floor of his beautiful residence at Adeline Station. Several windows to the south and west look out upon the extensive and artistically laid out grounds surrounding the house. The carpet is of rich shaded crimson, and the book-cases and library furniture are of heavily carved black walnut, the chairs and sofas upholstered with brown morocco. A bust of Mrs. Felton's father, the late Judge Bald- win, of the Supreme Court, adorns the top of one of the cases, and a portrait of Judge Field with reliefs of the latter and F. L. A. Pioche, hang on the western wall. Above the marble mantel, on the south side of the room, hangs a large oil painting by a famous French artist. Two choice bronzes of Michael Angelo and Leonardo da Vinci, are notice- able among works of art, and a small upright piano and rosewood escritoire complete the appointments of the room. The library contains about five thousand volumes, and is one of the best selected in the state. Mr. Felton was a man of cultivated taste, possessing rare mental attainments, and an ardent bibliophile. Had he lived, with his love for books and his well- known liberality, his collection would have soon attained magnificent proportions. A notable feat- JOHN B. FELTON. IO7 ure of the library is its lack of complete editions. He bought only the books he liked, and many standard writers whose works seem a necessary element in the smallest collection, are here only represented by a few scattering books. The subjects take a wide range, embracing romance, history, biography, poetry and the drama, with many rare and elegant editions, and a large proportion of French and Spanish books. The Shakespearian collection comprise the Halliwell, Verplanck (original), Boy dell. Knight, Collier, Hazlitt^ Reed-Johnson aitd Steevens, and Handy ■ Volume editions, with many commentaries on the works of the great dramatist. A second and re- markable feature of the library is the collection of editions of Rabelais^ six in number, one of. which is of great rarity. Among other rare or choice works is the original edition of Horace Walpole's works, richly illus- trated. The comedies and tragedies of Dryden^ 1701; the 1692 edition oi Ben. Jonson's Works; Froissart' s Chronicles.^ illuminated ; Wraxall's Memoirs; and a beautiful copy of Ovid, two folio volumes, Amsterdam, 1702. The collection also includes a number of art works, among them several that are costly and rare. H. H. HAIGHT. The lat& Governor Haight, a man of libera] cult- ure, resided with his family in the suburbs of the quiet village of Alameda. A simple white- painted fence incloses the extensive grounds surrounding his residence. It is a miniature farm, with fields, orchard, large barn and barnyard; the grounds im- mediately adjacent to the house being tastefully laid out, with trees, flowering shrubs, bunches of pampas grass, and almost every variety of flowers loading the air with their fragrance. The house is a plain, low frame building, modest without, but nicely furnished within. The library is on the ground floor, a room twenty by twenty-three feet, lighted by a large bay window. The cases are of black walnut, six in number. The room is cheerfully furnished, with comfortable easy chairs and sofa, library table, desk, organ, etc. An oil painting of a Scotch colly hangs over the mantel, and there are portraits of the chief justices of England above the cases. On the walls hang two paintings, one by J. G. Brown, of New York, " What's Your Name?" representing a sweet faced school-girl standing before the black-board, chalk in hand, gravely looking askance; the other a "Sunset near Monterey," by Rix, the ocean waves lashing themselves to a foam against some rugged rocks, on the summit of which grow a few H. ?I. HAIGHT. 109 gnarled old cedars, all lighted up by the glow of the sunset. The books are about two thousand in number, chiefly consisting of the standard works usually found in a gentleman's library, with a few old books of early English history, among which may be noted: A Chronicle of the Kings of England^ published in 1679, and Historie and Lives of the Kings of England from William the Conqueror to the end of the Reigne of King Henry VIII. by Wm. Martin, London, 1615. The specialty of the library is, however, the books relating to Scotland and early Scottish his- tory. Governor Haight, himself of Scotch descent, would seem to have been something of an enthusi- ast upon this subject. His collection embraces every reliable and interesting work on Scottish his- tory, customs, manners, dress, and clans, that he was able to procure, and is probably the finest col- lection on that special subject to be found in the State. Among the books are The Scottish Gael; The Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland, by John Macculoch, four volum~es, London, 1824; History of Scotland during the Reigns of Queen Mary and fames VI, London, 1781; and Fac- similes of Ancient Manuscript of Scotland, in three immense folios, a collection of historical mss. illustrating the progress of society, as well as early political changes in Scotland. RALPH C. HARRISON. The majority of bibliophiles, in their zeal for accumulating books, will acquire many that possess no practical value or intrinsic interest; that come home only to be stored away upon the shelves, and are never taken down save to be dusted and replaced. Such books grow to be a burden to the purchaser. They look a mute reproach for his indiscretion whenever he approaches his cases. To get rid of these volumes the ordinary collector, at regular in- tervals, puts his books through a process which he calls ''weeding out," when he culls out worthless volumes, and either gives them to less critical friends or sends them to auction to be sold for a song. If Mr. Harrison has any such weakness for in- discriminate collection his books do not betray it. Among his three thousand and more volumes there is scarcely one that does not attest intelligent and thoughtful selection. A distinguishing nega- tive characteristic of the library is the almost total absence of sets of books, aside from a few works of reference in many volumes, and the works of some of the leading standard authors in history and general literature. The volumes, therefore, present a diversity of appearance upon the shelves, gratifying to the eye, as the diversified character of their contents is refreshing to the mind. Such a library it is hard to justly describe with RALPH C. HARRISON. I 1 1 limited space; so many books are included that would admit of special mention, and some that almost demand extended notice. I can note but a few, premising that these are only representatives of the rich literary stores of the collection. The oldest book in the library is a treatise printed by Ulric Zell, the first printer of Cologne, before the custom of inserting dates in books became prevalent. It is in elegant binding by the younger Derome, and the best authorities place the date of its issue at 1469. Following this, is Valerius Max- imus, printed by Peter Schoffer, one of the invent- ors of printing, at Mentz, in 1471, with rubricated capitals; and Appians History of the Ro7nans, printed at Venice in 1477, by Bernard and Erhard Ratholdt. The Nuremberg Chronicle, printed in 1493, a large folio, in the original hog- skin bind- ing, with brass corners and metallic clasps, bearing the coat-of-arms of the city of Nuremberg on the cover, is a book well known to collectors, though of considerable rarity. It has always been styled, by way of distinction, the Nuremberg Chronicle. It is really an encyclopaedia of general knowledge; up to the date of its publication. The engravings, which are upwards of two thousand in number, are in wood, and were executed by Michael Wolgemut and Pleydenwurf, the former of whom was the master of Albert Diirer. The subjects are por- traits of illustrious characters, views of towns, etc. This is said to be one of the most extraor- I I 2 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. dinary and curious productions of the fifteenth cen- tury, very interesting to the lover of ancient en- graving and printing. Among other incunabula is a copy of Stullifera Navis, by Sebastian Brant, printed in 1497, in the original binding; the Aldine edition oi Euripides, with illuminated capitals, bound by Chambolle- Duru. There is also a copy of Sophocles^ printed at Paris by Simon of Cologne, in 1528, notable as being the first works of any Greek author pub- lished as an entirety in Paris. The library also contains as good a collection of books on the history of Typography as will be found in the State, including Sotheby's Principia Typographica; The Typography of the Fifteenth Century, elegantly illustrated, by the same author; Ottley's History of Engraving^ Facsimiles of Scarce and Curious Prints, and Ottley's Inquiry concerning the Invention of Printing; Singer's History of Playing Cards; and Merlin's Origine des Cartes a Jouer. A prominent feature of this library is the num- ber of extra illustrated works it contains. Among these may be mentioned Hallani s Literatitre^ in three volumes, illustrated with over two hundred engravings of authors named, and beautifully bound by Mathews, an excellent American binder, in red levant ; Spence's Anecdotes, on largest paper; Wright's History of England, with over one hun- dred illustrations; Campbell's Life of Mrs. Siddons, RALPH C. HARRISON. I I 3 extensively illustrated by the addition of more than one hundred plates ; and Cunningham's Life of Nell Gwyn, very profusely illustrated. A copy of the original edition of Bewick's Fables, published at Newcastle, in 1820, bears his auto- graph on the fly-leaf. Balzac's Les Contes Drola- tiques, illustrated by Dore, contains the autograph of the latter. Mr. Harrison has also Didot's editions of Virgil and Horace, published by the elder Didot for the purpose of presenting to his friends, when he retired from business. The collection of dramatic literature is very com- prehensive, containing the works of the best drama- tists and dramatic critics. It includes ten editions of Shakespeare, Webster's Dramatic Works, and the complete works of Jonson, Davenant, Cokain, Ford, Middleton, Marlowe, Chapman, Crowne, Peele, Shirley, Lilly, Dekker, Voltaire, Moliere, etc., with the publications of the Shakespeare Society. Among Art works may be noted Albert Durer's Little Passion; The British Gallery (India paper); Monuments Inedits de Libri; Holbein s Court of Henry VIII; We^ s Rome; Gillray s Caricatures; Racinet's L' Ornament Polychrome; Wilkie Gal- lery; Turner Gallery; Stafford's Gallery; Ho- garth' s Gallery; Ema^tx de Petitot (India paper) ; Trajani Colonna (containing engravings of all the sculptures on Trajan's Column by Bartolo), an oblong folio containing one hundred and twenty I I 4 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. plates; David's Etruscan Antiquities, 1785, five quarto volumes; Stothard's Monumental Effigies; several books of etchings; a prayer book, exquisitely illuminated after the style of old missals ; the original edition of Harding's Illustratioits of Shakespeare, on large paper, 1793; and Spence's Polymetis, together with a fine collection of rare old engravings. Other books and editions deserving mention are: an edition of Rabelais^ published at Amsterdam, in 1 741, three volumes, with Picart's illustrations; Johnson's Typographia, largest paper; Harleian Miscellany; Cory at' s Crudities, three volumes, 1786; GuW's Horn Book; Catlin's North American Indians, edition with colored plates; Tree and Serpent Worship, by James Ferguson; The Tri- umphal Entry of Louis XIV, after his marriage, 1661; Geological survey of the State of California, one of the four copies with plates of birds colored by hand; Jackson's Treatise on Wood Engraving; large paper edition of Disraeli's Cziriosities of Literature; Notes and Queries, in fifty-six volumes ; Brunet's Manual oe Libraire; La Rousse's Ency- clopcsdia, seventeen volumes; F.ncyclopedia Brit- tanica; and Bayles Dictionary, ten volumes, 1738, together with a large collection of books of refer- ence in almost every department of literature and- art. The books in this collection, while devoid of any uniformity in binding, are all well bound, and show RALPH C. HARRISON. II5 many fine specimens of the art, from the hands of famous early binders and those of to-day. Hayday, Riviere, Pratt, Matthews, Pawson & Nicholson, Magnier, Chambolle-Duru and Derome have all contributed towards the elegance and durability of the books. Mr. Harrison's library is a large room, of irregu- lar shape, on the first floor of his house, tastefully furnished, with choice paintings upon its walls, and many bronzes, little elegancies, and works of art, bric-a-brac meeting the eye in every direction. ADDISON E. HEAD. An attractive room, artistically furnished, with broad library table in the center, and a number of easy chairs enticing with a promise of restful com- fort. A curious hue of sage green, with a tinge of blue, toned down with a grayish smoke color, per- vades carpet, damask window drapery, and fur- niture, walls and ceiling. Low book-cases of black walnut, with hand carving, occupy places against the walls, and a mantel of that wood graces the north side of the room. Between the two western windows stands an ex- quisite piece of sculpture, representing the little daughter of the house at the age of six, a pet dog in her arms, and a book in one hand. At the top of the page is the word ''dog," to which she is calling the attention of her obstinate pupil. The piece is the production of Ansiglioni of Rome, and finely executed; the graceful posture and earnest countenance of the child, and comical expression of the dog, being rendered with charming effect. A large mirror between the two windows, extend- ing from floor to ceiling, reflects back the gleaming child figure, and the hazy green color pervading the room. A bronze and ebony clock occupies the center of the mantel piece, bronzes of Pliny and Archimedes serving as companion pieces. A ladies' writing desk, a sofa and some odd chairs complete the furniture of the room. ADDISON E. HEAD. I I 7 Mr. Head's collection of books, numbering about two thousand volumes, consists almost exclusively of the best and choicest editions of standard au- thors, with a number of rich art works. Among the latter is an original Boydell Shakespeare^ Thg Dusseldorf Gallery, Engravings of Corregio, The Lights and Shadows of New York Pichire Gal- leries, Kaulbach' s Schiller Gallery, The Galleries of Munich, Vieitna and Berlin, and Liibke and Caspar's Monuments of Art, together with a num- ber of works illustrated by Dore. Among choice books on the shelves is the Edinburgh edition of Scott's works, in eighty- seven volumes, a fine edition of Thackeray, in twenty-two volumes, a full set of the Oxford clas- sics, a London translation of Voltaire, published in 1764, in thirty-six small volumes, and a collection of Lives of the Old Masters, in different editions^ published at different times. A curiosity of the collection is an old Lutheran family bible published at Augsburg, in 1530, in the original wooden covers with metallic fastenings. The French language is well represented in this collection with choice editions of the works of the best known French authors. PROF. GEO. HEWSTON, A.M., M. D. This library contains about two thousand vol- umes of works in every department of literature and science, carefully selected for reference, em- bracing full editions of choice and valuable works, elegantly illustrated, many of them in the highest style of art. This selection and collection has been the work of over thirty years of one thor- oughly conversant with literature and science and their bibliology. It includes voyages, travels, his- tory^ poetry, theology, antiquity, miscellaneous literature and rare literary pamphlets, scientific works of standard authors on ethnography, eth- nology, geography, mechanics, mineralogy, geol- ogy, paleontology, natural history and zoology, mammalia, ornithology, herpetology, entomology, conchology, botany and popular science. Among these we would mention Voyage of Cir- cumnavigatton of the Globe, by the Austrian frigate Navara, in the years 1857-59, being one of the best descriptive works ever published in English, and held in high esteem by all navigators and scientific men. Narrative of the Surveying Voy- ages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Bea- gle, with Charles Darwin's Journal and Remarks. Clarendon^ s History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England in 1641 and up to 1660, six vols., Oxford edition, full bound, calf extra, gilt PROF. GEO. HEWSTON, A.M., M. D. II9 edge. Pope s Poetical Works, Carruther's edition, handsomely illustrated, and published in London by Ingram Cooke & Co. in 1853, and said to be one of the finest editions of this celebrated poet's "works. Prichard' s Researches into the Physical History of Mankind, five vols., profusely illustrated with colored portraits of the various races of men Wilson s American Ornithology, being a natural historv of birds of the United States, with life of Wilson, by G. Ord. A list of water-birds and general index, 9 vols. Original edition with one hundred and three splendid engravings, exhibiting three hundred and eighty-six figures of different species of birds, the whole accurately and most beautifully colored from the original drawings after nature. The natural colors and feathers of the bird more accurately represented than in any work before or since his day. Together, thirteen vols., imperial quarto. The English Physician, by Culpepper, printed in London, i665. This is one of the few works published in 1666, which escaped the great fire of that year. Books of this date are very rare. Icon- iim Anito7nicarum, three volumes quarto, text, two volumes folio plates, by Claudius Caldinie, or Cal- dini's Anatomy. The plates of minute structure in this work are fine specimens of art. This work was purchased in Vienna at the sum of four hundred dollars and brought to America by a naval officer, U. S. N. It is exceedingly rare. Falconer and I20 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Cautley s Fatina Antiqua Sivhlensis, or the Fossil Zoology of the Sewalik Hills, in the north of India, Folio maps and plates representing, in many cases, the fossils of the natural size, with the letter press to part one all issued. The beautiful execution of the plates render the work of great use to the stud- ent or naturalist. Holbroolis Herpetology of North America^ being a description of the reptiles inhabit- ing the United States, by John Holbrook, five vol- umes, quarto. This is the most complete work of the kind on the reptiles of the United States. It embraces the land and water tortoise, terrapins^ snakes, toads, frogs, lizards, and salamanders. Or- iginal editions are very rare and in great demand in Europe, where they command a large price. This is one of the few copies remaining in America. The older Sydenham publications, with most of the valuable foreign publications and works in these different departments, among which we would mention Pantologia, being an encyclopaedia of arts, sciences and words in English; profusely illustrated, with colored plates of animals, mechanical drawings and elegant engravings, twelve volumes, a rare and valuable work, now rarely seen except in large ■ libraries. These works are contained in handsome walnut cases, but without any extra parade or show, being divided between his offices and residence. The greater portion of this collection was imported from abroad and brought with him from Philadelphia, in 1861. A. P. HOTALING. Partly scattered through the rooms of his pleasant San Francisco residence, partly in his elegantly furnished down-town ofifice — itself a small gallery of art — Mr. Hotahng has a somewhat widely distributed collection of books. The number it would be difficult to accurately estimate, but is somewhere between one and two thousand volumes, chiefly devoted to history, art and belles-lettres. The most notable feature is the number of choice editions and full bindings in morocco and tree and polished calf. Mr. Hotaling has an original edition of Byron, six volumes; Wey's Rome; an early Edinburgh edition- of the Waverly novels, in twenty-five volumes ; Wood' s Natural History ; Guizot' s His- tory of France; Michelet' s Works, and Rous- selet's India. The latter is known as the "Prince of Wales' book," as it contains a dedication to that eminent personage, and is said to be a favorite book with him for presenting to his friends. Notable in this gentleman's collection is a small case containing books which formerly belonged to his father-in-law, the late James Linen, the poet. These latter are mostly books of old poetry, and include the works of Shakespeare, Cowper, Gold- smith, Byron, Hood and Burns, with some Amer- ican poets. Tales and Sketches by the Ettrick 122 PRIVATE LIBRARIES, Shepherd, a particular favorite of Mr. Linens, a few historical works, and several bound volumes of short-lived Edinburgh periodicals, published many years ago, now partaking of the character of literary curiosities, find a place upon the shelves. J. F. HOUGHTON. Mr. Houghton's library is a spacious room ia his beautiful home on the corner of Thirteenth and Jackson streets, Oakland, receiving abundant light from two windows on the west and a double window on the south. A fourth window, which is always open, leads into the conservatory, and through it the fragrance * of a wealth of flowers and the subtle essence of aromatic plants steal into the room. The low cases containing the books are of toa wood, in the Queen Anne stylC; and were made to order, the design corresponding to the architecture of the house. A pleasing variety is presented in the furniture of the room, which is partly leather- cushioned, partly of willow, and partly with em- broidered stripes. On the mantel is a highly ornamental French clock, representing Progress carrying a locomotive on her left arm, the up- lifted right hand holding a pendulum, vibrating in circles. The walls are decorated with engravings, oil paintings and chromos. Two crayons, one of "Odalisque, the Egyptian girl," the other represent- ing a woodland stream, both of superior merit, are the work of Mr. Houghton's son. The books, which number upwards of one thou- sand volumes — a fast increasing collection — consist chiefly of standard English authors, with a number 124 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. of scientific and engineering works, the selection indicating a cultivated taste. Among the choicest books is an elegant edition of Dante, bound in full Russia, and an English work containing fine steel engravings of every work of art in the London Gallery, giving in the text the size, history and value of every picture. JOHN R. JARBOE. To the true lover of books it is a pleasure not often experienced, to meet with such a collection of books as that with which Mr. Jarboe has sur- rounded himself. It neither consists of long arrays of sets in uniform bindings, nor is it the collection of a bibliomaniac, bought only to be stored away and forgotten. His shelves are weighted with the productions of the best minds of every age, and contain books on every conceivable subject, the prevalence of choice editions being a notable feature. One book-case is devoted exclusively to rare and curious books. Prominent among these may be named: Quadragesimale Aureuni, by Leo- nardus de Utino (editio princeps), a specimen from Francisco Renner de Hailbrun, Venice, 1471; Bernardi casus longi super quintos libros decre- talium, 1493; LaHenriade^oYigvndX edition, London, 1728; Chertablon, La Maniere de se bien preparer a la Mort, quarto, Antwerp, 1 700; Curmer's U Imi- tation de Jesus Christ, two volumes, with richly illuminated borders, after the style of old manu- scripts. A copy of A Mitrmurer, one of the rarest books known to book collectors, printed in Lon- don, 1607. But one copy has ever been described. Collier, in his Bibliographical Account of Early 126 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. English Literature, says (vol. II., page 350) : ''This work is not to be traced in any catalogue." The peculiarity of the book is that it is printed from beginning to end without a single break to indicate chapter or paragraph. Phillip's MottJtt Sinai, Robert Southey's copy, with his autograph. Puckle Club, subscriber's copy, on large paper, with proof plates inserted, London, 1829. Doran's Annals of the English Stage^ large paper. The Character of a Trimmer, London, small quarto, 1688; Rufus Choate's copy, with autograph and autographical notes. Heywoode's Gunaikeion, or nine Bookes of Various History concerninge Women; London, 1624, folio. Thomas Moore's copy, with auto- graph. Martin's Kings of England, small folio, with full set of prints. The Rogue, or The Life of Guzman de Alfa- rache^ London, 1634, folio, with the arms of Charles II., when Prince of Wales, on the cover. Moliere, six volumes, Paris, 1863, with the plates in two states — proofs before and after letter. Only one hundred copies were printed in this con- dition. Sully s Memoirs, three volumes, quarto, Lon- don, Paris, 1745, with plates of Odieuvre. Life of Falstaff, with Cruikshank's engravings, London, 1858. JOHN R. JARBOE. 12 J England's Helicon, London, quarto, reprint, 1 812 (only fifty copies printed). Erasmus' L'Eloge de La Folic, 1758, largest paper, with the plates of Eisen. Philiobiblion, two volumes, New York, 1862 (printed on India paper). Catalogue de la Vente Fortsas, published in 1 840, a curious catalogue of books that never were printed. This singular publication advertised a list of imaginary books, and created the greatest sensation among bibliophiles, who sent from all over Europe to make purchases only to discover that a cruel hoax had been perpetrated upon them, and there were no such books in existence. Les Amours Pastorales de Daphnis et Chloe, London, Paris, 1779, with proof impressions of all the plates. Solid Silver. By W.. H. L. Barnes, of San Francisco, presentation copy, with autograph and photograph. dementis Romani Episcopi^ de rebus gestis, printed at Paris, in 1555, by Adrian Turnebus. The Life and Times of Bertrand du Guesclin, by Jamison. Published at Charleston, in 1864. The curiosity of this book is that it was '• Entered according to the Act of Congress of the Confed- erate States of America, in the District Court of South Carolina." The second rarest book in the collection is Vol- taires's Za Pucelle U Orleans, Paris, 1865. Of this book there were fifteen copies published. In 128 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. size it is the largest paper, printed entirely upon India paper, with proof portraits and vignettes. Pepy s Diary ^ extra illustrated; Evelyn s Diary ^ five volumes, uncut edges, extra illustrated. Robinson Crusoe, in three volumes, the third edition of volume I, and the original editions of volumes II and III, published in 1719 and 1720, with rare cuts and maps. History of China (Gonzalez de Mendoca), His- toria de las Cosas mas notables, Ritos y Costumbres del Gran Reyno de la China^ Rome, 1585. This is reputed to be the first European book in which Chinese characters occur, but it is actually the sec- ond, as some Chinese words were engraved on a map of Ortelius, 1584. The Art of Rhetorike, Thomas Wilson, London, 1567, small quarto. This is from the ''White Knight's " collection, and said to be one of the books that Shakespeare studied. Eikon Basilike^ 1649, with the plates. This is in the original black stamp binding, and in mourn- ing, the covers and edges being stained black. Boccacio's DecaTueron, Madame du Pompadour's copy, edition of 1757, in five volumes, with plates by Gravelot. Another edition of the same is in ten volumes, printed at London, 1779, and con- tains the plates of Gravelot and Boucher. Farmer General edition of Les Contes de la Fon- taine, two octavo volumes, in the original binding of old French morocco, gilt embellished. Drummond's History of Scotland, London, 1682, JOHN R. JARBOE. 1 29 nicely bound by Nutt, of Scotland, in polished calf, with emblematic ornamentation. Anecdotes Eccl'esiastiques, two octavo volumes, bound by Padeloup. La traicte des deux amans, bound in polished dark green calf, by Bauzonnet. A little reprint of The Rehearsal, by the Duke of Buckingham, elegantly bound in San Francisco, and noticeable as being one of the first attempts at inlaid binding done in the city. Boileau's Works, Paris, three tiny volumes, bound by Derome. Lucretius, printed by Gryphius in 1576. Organt, by St. Just., Paris, 1789. yure Divino^ original edition, London, 1706. The original edition of Hobbes' Leviathan. Original editions of all of Scott's poems, in quarto. The works of Mrs. Mary Robinson (Perdita), three octavo volumes, with portrait, London, 1806. Sabine, ou Matinee D'une Dame Romaine a sa Toilette, Paris, 181 3, by Boettiger. Original editions of The Newcomes, Pendennis, Vanity Fair, and The Virginiatts, in the original parts, in paper covers. Purchas, his Pilgrimes, in five books, London, 1625. Original editions of De Foe's Tiistory of the Devil., Memoirs of a Cavalier, and Voyages of Captain Geo. Roberts. Illustrated History of Fonthill Abbey, with plates in three conditions. 130 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Horace, largest folio, printed at Parma, by Bodoni, 1791, bound in crushed levant morocco by David, with the paper and text in their original purity intact. This is said to be the finest edition of Horace ever published. The library also contains a number of Aldine and Elzevir publications, the Pickering editions of Shakespeare, Dante, Petrarch and Terence, and several Mexican imprints from the library of Maximilian. The department of reference is very full, and contains the best standard encyclopaedias and dic- tionaries of art, science and the languages. Besides the rarer works already specified, there are in the collection many choice books and edi- tions, some of them of practical interest and value, others desirable as being either out of print and difficult to obtain, or possessing the greater merit of being beautiful editions of excellent works. To this class belong a collection of memoirs concern- ing Napoleon, nineteen volumes, London, 1823; Luttreir s Diary, six volumes; a full set of Drama- tists of the Restoration (large paper) ; Works of Aphra Behn^ six volumes (large paper, reprint); Collection of Old Ballads (reprint); Shakespeare Society Papers, full set; Peter Pindar's Works; La Fontaine, complete works, from the print of Didot the elder; Modes et costumes Historiques, Paris, 1862; Memoirs of Mrs. Coghlan (large paper), 1864; original edition of Moore's Life of Byron; Baskerville edition of Shaftesbury s Characteris- JOHN R. JARBOE. I3I ticks; Walpole's Royal and Noble Authors, five volumes, with fine impressions of the plates; The Works of jfonathan Richardson^ printed at the Strawberry Hill press (Horace Walpole's private press), in 1792; Rabelais, nine volumes, variorum edition, Paris, 1823, by D'Alibon, uncut edges; Memoirs de Saint Simon, twenty-one octavo vol- umes; a full set of D idol's Greek Classics; Harle- ian Miscellany, twelve octavo volumes, London, 1 8 10; Voltaire, large paper, with the plates of Moreau; Rabelais^ three volumes, with plates of Picart, Amsterdam, 1741; Holbein s Court of Henry VHL; Picard's Manners and Custom,s; a folio volume of caricatures on the subject of the South Sea bubble; six large folio volumes of auto- graphs of the court and nobility during the reign of George II., consisting chiefly of documents relating to the South Sea bubble; History of Westminster election, with caricatures of the period, ijg/^.; Lady Hamilton s Attitudes, London, 1794; the French encyclopaedia, formerly the property of Louis Buonaparte, father of Louis Napoleon, and a number of books more commonly seen, as. Meyrick^ s Armor, Ottley s Facsimiles^ and the ordinary art works of Hogarth, Gillray, etc. The specialty of Mr. Jarboe's library, however, is his collection relating to the period of the French Revolution, which, it is very moderate to say, has no parallel in this country. On this particular 132 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. subject he has about five hundred bound volumes, one thousand pamphlets, and upwards of two thousand original engravings. The latter consist of portraits of eminent persons of the day, pict- ures of buildings at that period, and representa- tions of various historical scenes and events. All are original impressions of the plates, mostly en- gravings of the period, many of them artist proofs, and have been collected for the purpose of illus- trating the history of the French Revolution and the life of Marie Antoinette. Among the works relating to this subject most valued by the collector are Collection Complete des Tableaux Historiques de la R'evohUion Fran^aise, three folio volumes, Paris, 1804, remarkable for the fidelity of its engravings of scenes in Paris during the revolution; Galeries Historiques de Versailes, ten volumes, folio; Galerie du Mus'ee Napol'eon^ ten volumes; a history of the diamond necklace affair, with a complete collection of briefs and arguments, and old copper-plate portraits of the actors and actresses therein; R'eimpression de L Ancien Moniteur, thirty-two imperial octavo vol- umes; Compte Rendu au Roi^ by Necker, Paris, 1 781 — the original edition of the book said by Carlyle to have brought on the French Revolution; Coronation of Louis XVI., original edition; The Royal & Natio7ial Almanac, in its various forms, 1 787-1 795; collection of memoirs relative to the French Revolution, sixty-five volumes; Thier's JOHN R. JARBOE. 1 33 French Revolution, profusely extra illustrated; Robespierre and the Guillotine, or Pictures of the Time, extra illustrated; and a large number of atro- cious libels against Marie Antoinette, which Mr. Jarboe has collected for their historical value, but keeps stored away on a top shelf. He is also receiv- ing a book now being published by the Didots of Paris, called Paris through the Ages of its History, to be complete in twenty or thirty parts; and has just .acquired E. et J. de Goncourt's Histoire de Marie Antoinette, recently published in Paris by Char- pentier, the first copy which has reached Califor- nia, a beautiful work, every page ornamented with different illustrated borders, the finest specimens of wood engravings. In addition to the text, ten plates are inserted, copies of engravings of the period. The collection also includes autographs of Napoleon and Louis XVI., and others, and a scrap-book containing fifteen hundred specimens of assignat used during that period. With the strong prejudice in favor of foreign bindings existing among our book collectors, it is gratifying to state that the owner of these books, a connoisseur in such matters, points with pride to several specimens of San Francisco bindings, and maintains that whenever sufficient patronage shall be accorded them, we have binders who will turn out as fine binding as can be done anywhere in the world. The somewhat contracted apartment which serves 134 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Mr. Jarboe as library and study is lighted by two windows opening into a conservatory. Carpet of shaded brown leaves on a neutral ground. A few easy chairs, a desk and swivel-chair. Black walnut book-cases lining the walls and teeming with their accumulated treasures; shelves groaning beneath their burdens, many holding double rows of books. Drawers filled with engravings, documents and pamphlets relating to the French Revolution. The books have fairly overrun the room, and escaped into the hall, where a capacious case stands, filled from lower to upper shelf. Mr. Jarboe modestly estimates the number of volumes in his collection at about three thousand, but if submitted to the test of an actual count, they would doubtless num- ber fully a thousand more. I can only add, that as an expression of intelligent selection and critical taste, it is rivaled by no library in the State. WILLIAM INGRAHAM KIP. The library of William Ingraham Kip, Episcopal Bishop of California, is a spacious apartment on the south side of his charming San Francisco re- sidence. The room is lighted by a bay-window overlooking the well-kept grounds, with their wealth of verdure and flowers all the year round. The finish, including book-cases and mantel, is in black walnut, and the walls are covered with a paper bearing gilt figures on a crimson ground. A library table, with convenient drop-light from the chandelier above, occupies the center of the room, and easy chairs and sofas are scattered about. The walls above and between the book-cases are lined with old family portraits, which, aside from their value as family mementoes, possess an additional interest, owing to the famous hands by which they have been executed. . Above the mantel hangs a nearly full length portrait of Duncan Ingraham of Greenvale, Dutchess Co., New York, grandfather of the bishop. He is represented in dress of crimson velvet, with silver-hilted rapier, the court-dress in which he was presented to Louis XVI, and has a singularly winning young face. The portrait was painted at Paris in 1779. John Adams, in his Journal in Paris in that year, when American minister to France, frequently mentions Mr. In- 136 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. graham's name. Two other portraits are by Copley, and were painted in 1760. Copley afterwards re- turned to England, wriere his son became Lord Chancellor of England, with the title of Lord Lynd- hurst. A family portrait by Copley is so greatly esteemed in some parts of New England, that its possession is looked upon almost as a patent of nobility. Another notable picture is a three-quar- ters portrait of an ancestor of Bishop Kip, exe- cuted in 1 740, by Smibert, famous as the instructor of Copley. Stephen Greenleaf, another ancestor, appears in a crimson robe, showing his office as member of the king's council in the colony. A Latin inscrip- tion on this states that it was painted in 1722. The remaining portraits represent the bishop's great-great-grandfather in official dress as judge, painted by Grimwood in 1747; Leonard Kip of New York, the bishop's brother, by Chester Hardinge, in 1831; and Isaac Lawrence of New York, (Mrs. Kip's father), by Inman, in 1833. On a pedestal in the bay-window is a marble bust of Bishop Kip, a remarkably fine likeness, executed by Reinhart, at Rome, in 1865. The collection of books numbers between five and six thousand volumes, chiefly composed of the usual standard English works, with a liberal sup- ply of French and German literature, in the various fields of history, biography, travel, romance, poetry and theology, no one subject preponderating. WILLIAM INGRAM AM KIP. I 37 The most remarkable feature of the library, how- ever, is an autographical collection, consisting of presentation copies of upwards of two hundred and fifty books. Among the authors who have con- tributed to this treasured collection are Lady Ver- ney; the Archbishop of Armagh; Christian Words- worth, the Canon of Westminster; Miss Sewell, the author of "Amy Herbert"; Bishop Mead, of Virginia: the Archbishop of Canterbury; Bishop Hopkins, of New York; Hillhouse, the poet; Bish- op Burgess; Leonard Kip, of New York; Mrs. Sig- ourney; William Palmer, of Magdalen College, Oxford ; Clement Moore ; Alfred B. Street, the poet; Robert C. Winthrop, of Massachusetts; and the Marquis Di Nigee, of Genoa, who once had the reputation of being the first poet of Italy. The collection also ijicludes a translation of the Prayer Book into Mohawk, by Eleazer Williams, a character who became famous owing to a rumor which once confounded him with Louis XVII, and a copy of Noah Webster's Work on Pestilence, presented to the Bishop's grandfather in the year 1800, and bearing the eminent author's autograph. Bishop Kip is himself an author of considerable repute; one of his books, Christmas Holidays in Rome, having reached its tenth edition in London. Among rare books worthy of note in this library is a beautiful black-letter copy of Plato, in the orig- inal binding, bearing the date of 15 18, a copy of Plotinjts, in ancient wooden covers, 1492; and a I XS PRIVATE LIBRARIES. quaint little book, printed in 1525, known as A , Dominican MonM s Reply to Luther. In the small outer library or study which contains the autographical collection and a majority of the theological works, hang engravings of the present Archbishop of Canterbury; the late Bishop Selwj'n, of Lichfield, and the present Bishop (Wordsworth) of Lincoln, presented by them and each bearing the autograph of the donor. RALPH W. KIRKHAM. This collection, consisting of upwards of two thousand volumes, has been the slow accumulation of a number of years in the hands of a book lover and reader. It embraces the best standard works in various departments, with an unusually fine col- lection on military subjects. Among the books are a number of considerable age and rarity. None of these have been re-bound or renovated in any way, their owner preferring to preserve them in the state he has found them; and the old vellum and calf bindings are in many cases musty and worm-eaten, presenting an aspect in keeping with their age. One quaint illuminated missal, without date, but evidently the production of an epoch many cen- turies past, is in an excellent state of preservation, the text clear and distinct, and the parchment of finest texture and spotless cream color. This was probably the work of some Dominican monk, and contains a number of illuminations so delicate in their coloring and finish that the glossy surface of the vellum is preserved. One of these illustra- tions represents Jesus Christ toiling up Calvary, a Dominican friar assisting him to carry the cross ! Among other noteworthy books may be men- tioned: The Historic of Guiccardin, translated by Gef- 140 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. fray Fenton, and published in London in 1579, a rare edition of an interesting work, of which War- ton says: "The predominating love of narrative, more especially when the exploits of a favorite nation were the subject, rendered this book very popular; and it came recommended to the public by a title-page which promised almost the enter- tainment of a romance." ^sopics, a translation of ^sop's Fables into English verse, published in London in 1548. The second French edition of Boccaccio's De- cameron, a small book, copiously illustrated. This translation is by Ant. Le Ma9on, and was pub- lished at Paris in 1545. Brunetsays: "The first edition of this translation is greatly esteemed, and brought one hundred and eighty francs at the last Berlin sale." El Libri Rojo^ por V. Riva Palagio y Manuel Payno, is a Mexican history, comprehending the period from 1520 to 1867, a large volume profusely illustrated, dealing almost exclusively with the hor- rors of Mexican history. Only a small edition of this book was published, and it was under excep- tional circumstances that this copy was procured. A Relation of a yournie, published in London in 1637; The Book of Martyrs^ 1586; The Gen- eral Marty rolopie, 1660; La Doctrine des Moeurs, published at Paris by Sivestre in 1546, Ciceronis SententicB^ 1569, and a folio edition of jfohn Ogilby RALPH W. KIRKHAM. I4I in two volumes, are books of some rarity and in an excellent state of preservation. The Military History of the late Prince Eugene of Savoy ^ and of the late fohn^ Duke of Marl- borough, illustrated with copper plates by Claude de Bosc, in two folio volumes, published in Lon- don in 1737; A Discourse against Nicholas .Ma- chiavel^ the Florentin, translated by Simon Pater- icke, published early in 1600, Sir Matthew Hale's Pleas of the Crown ^ London, 1594, and The Lawes and Actes of Parliament made by Kifi^ jfames and his Successors, Kings of Scotland^ printed by Robert Waldegrave in 1597, are works of histor- ical interest and considerable rarity. General Kirkham's library is, in some respects, the most perfect in its interior arrangement and finish of any in the State. The room, though some- what inadequate for the number of books, is a cosy family reading-room, and is enlarged by the addi- tion of a deep bay-window, affording ample light- The finish of the whole room is in solid black wal- nut; and the mantel, book-cases and bay-window arch, all of chaste architectural design, are heavily and richly carved. The book-cases are finished upon the walls, and occupy every available space. A large library table, with full set of leather- covered furniture, complete the appointments of the room, arid on either side of the curious clock finished in the mantel is a pair of bronzes. Among other 142 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. ' ornaments in the room are two valuable old Roman bronzes, one of Cupid and Psyche, and the other a Satyr and Bacchante. A quaint Japanese seal carved with rare delicacy represents the Opium- Eater's Dream. DELOS LAKE. Some collections are the expression of the indi- vidual tastes of a family. All have brought their contributions from time to time, until the shelves are filled with a host of dear friends, with any one of whom they would be loth to part. Of such a nature is the collection belonging to Delos Lake, a well-known San Francisco lawyer. The books number about two thousand volumes, and the subjects embraced are many and diverse, the departments of history, biography, romance and poetry receiving equal attention. Little thought has been paid to editions or binding, yet the books are generally in excellent order, and include some fine editions. Among the books is a handsome edition of Froissarf s Chronicles, and an early edition of the History of Sir Charles Grandison. The gem of the collection is a manuscript copy of The Lotus Eaters, with numerous original water- color illustrations of superior merit, executed by Henry Hobart Bates, formerly Professor in Hobart College, Geneva, and now one of the Judges of Appeals in the Patent office a! Washington. 1 he text is similar to the elegant specimens seen in old missals, in red, blue and black inks, with illuminated initials heightened with gold, exquisite both in de- sign and execution, the whole on rice paper of finest texture. 144 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Across the center of the title-page is "The Lotus Eaters," in old English text, shaded in red and blue. Above hovers a female form, with floating hair, closed qyes and peaceful face, and outspread wings. Below the title is a male figure, the eyes closed, flaming hair erect, only the grim face and bat-like wings being visible. The first page represents the Grecian mariners arriving in sight of land, their eager faces looking with longing upon the far-off misty hills. A little further on peculiar interpreta- tion is given to the lines: "Branches they bore of that enchanted stem Laden with flower and fruit, whereof they gave To each, but whoso did receive of them And taste, to him the gushing of the wave Far, far away did seem to mourn and rave On alien shores; and if his fellow spake His voice was thin, as voices from the grave; And deep asleep he seemed, yet all awake. And music in his ears His beating heart did make.'' At the top of the page is an owl with wings out- stretched, on the inner margin of the page three figures in Oriental costume, bearing lotus branches, and below a curious design, representing the sleep- ing face of a dreanler, and his vision. Fronting him, across a sea, appears a row of phantom cowled heads, the larger and nearer the senile faces, with dropped jaws, of old men, but changing as they recede into grinning fleshless skeletons. One of the most beautiful illustrations accompa- DELOS LAKE. 1 45 flies that line of the ''Choric Song:" " In the stream the long-leaved flowers weep." A limpid stream with little naked children playing; one little fellow is floating in a huge pink-lined conch-shell under "the long-leaved flowers," and two others are sporting in the water, the half-veiled appearance of the warmly-tinted flesh of childhood, under the crystal water, being given with charming efl^ect. "Nor ever fold our wings, nor cease from wander- ings," is realized by a female figure floating on the clouds, with beautiful sleeping face and restful fold- ed wings. "To muse and brood and live again in memory With those old faces or our infancy." Above appears a noble male head, with drooping eyelids, and far away musing look upon the face. The last illustration in this unique work repre- sents the lotus flower, with pure white petals nest- ling against glossy green leaves, and one bud just opening. Mr. Lake's library is an attractive little room of indescribable shape, with one window to the west and two double windows to the south, a sky-light overhead and homelike air pervading everywhere. It is cosily furnished, with softly-cush- ioned' chairs and sofas, a rich, deep shaded red pre- dominating in carpet, upholstery and papered wall. An upright piano stands on one side of the room, and a library table occupies the center. Crystal chandeliers and side brackets dispense our brilliant 146 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. San Francisco gas, but a student's lamp on the table eclipses them with its steady, softened light. The books are in black-walnut cases of tasteful design^ nicely finished, and busts of Milton and Shakespeare rest above them. MILTON S. LATHAM. The library of Milton S. Latham at his San Fran- cisco residence, is a large, lofty apartment on the north side of the house, with a bay window over- looking the tastefully laid out grounds, while the chief light is diffused through a skylight in the cen- ter of the ceiling. The ceiling itself is elaborately frescoed in neutral tints. The floor is covered with a heavy Persian carpet in rich oriental colors, made to order in Smyrna, and said to be the largest ever made in a Persian loom. The room is fur- nished with classic severity, but with perfect taste. The book-cases, completely lining the walls, are of black walnut, about nine feet high, of simple design. An elaborately carved black walnut mantel has a large clock on the face, with busts of Milton and Shakespeare on each side, and Science above rep- resented by a child crowned with wreaths of immor- telles. Below are two busts of Lucius Verus and Plotinus in black marble and bronze, and two bisque busts of Webster and Washington. In the center of the room, beneath the sky-light^ stands a beautifully carved library table from Berlin, corners supported by Caryatides. Two Faust armchairs, heavily carved, lounges and easy Turkish chairs, a couple of quaint- looking Quaker rocking chairs, gilt rosewood table, and an exquisitely embroidered Japanese 148 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. screen of silk, with richly carved ebony frame, are distributed about the room. Two gigantic figures in full coats of polished armor, one res,t- ing on his weapon, the other lifting his sword in belligerent attitude, stand on either side of the bay window and guard the approach to a pedestal on which stands the most superb work of art in the room, Hiram Power's life-size statue of California, the only one ever brought to this country, and which cost the possessor $10,000. It is a nude fe- male figure in spotless marble, of exquisite form, lightly poised, one hand grasping a divining rod, the noble face bent slighth' forward with a far-seeing look; pride, courage, resolution in her countenance, as if reading her glorious future. On each side of the entrance into the conservatory adjoining on the west are two marble busts of Plato and Seneca on column pedestals of Cippilino marble, the only copies ever made after the bronze originals in the Museum Pompeii at Naples. The heads are strange contrasts, that of the old Roman rugged, harsh, aggressive, the hair roughly tumbled, the lips slight- ly parted as if panting to speak, and the neck bent forward; that of Plato grand and calm as a god's, powerful in its silent majesty. These works of art were obtained through the intercession of Count Cipriani with Victor Immanuel, at the time Mr. Latham was in the Senate, that sovereign ordering the head of the Academy of Arts in Italy to detail a sculptor to make these copies. MILTON S. LATHAM. 1 49 On the south side of the room is a bust of young Augustus Caesar, a copy from the Vatican, resting on a column pedestal of Vero Antico marble com- posite. Two marble busts of Cicero and Demos- thenes, on column pedestals of Rosso Antico marble, near the door, complete the works of art in the room, noticeable not so much for their pro- fusion as their beauty and value. Mr. Latham's books number about five thousand volumes of standard literature of every variety, with a large collection of senatorial, legislative and political documents, and many rare and choice works, col- lected at various periods of his life with great care, research, and expense. While many of the books are full or half bound in calf or morocco, there are few rich bindings, and the general appearance of the collection would indicate that the books are intended for use rather than show. Among the rarer and more noticeable works are a History of jfapan, in two folio volumes, with copper plates, published in 1727; Pictorial History of England, from B. C. 55, to A. D. 1820, in eight volumes; Bell's British Theater, forty-six volumes, pub- lished in 1 79 1 ; J he Chinese Classics, five octavo volumes, in a peculiar marbled mohair binding; Ihe Variorum Edition of Shakspeare, edited by Reed, Johnson and Malone; Naval History of England, from io56 to 1734, published in 1735; Reprint of Rushwood' s Collections^ eight volumes, published in 1721; Ruffle's History of Java, 150 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. very handsomely bound; the original edition of Vancouver s Voyages; the Abbotsford edition of the Waveriey Novels, elegantly bound in full brown morocco and profusely illustrated; and Ogil- by's Virgil, a folio, published in 1668. The most notable and valuable works are a very complete set of British Parliamentary Debates from 1803 to 1868, two hundred and fifty-nine volumes, bound in half calf; and the Parliamentary History of England, from 1072 to 1803, thirty-six octavo volumes, full calf. The library also comprises many French and German works, including most of the standard authors in the respective languages, and numerous fine art works. ALBERT J. Le BRETON. Mr. Le Breton's library is coniposed of about two thousand volumes, one fourth consisting of rare works, the remainder of standard miscellany, French, German and English, selected with taste and judgment, in the best editions procurable. Among the rarest and most valuable of the books is Histoire d'un voyage fait en Am'erique (terre du Bresil), par Jean de Lery, natif de la Margelle, La Rochelle, 1578; the original edition, an octavo volume, with plates, exceedingly rare; Ceremonies et coutumes religieuses des Peuples de P Amerique, first edition, Amsterdam, 1723, one folio volume, with thirty-four plates by Picard; Kingsborough's Mexican Antiquities^ nine vol- umes, folio, the latter a valuable and expensive work rarely seen in private libraries. Mr. Le Breton has a number of rare books on California and her history. Before noting these it should be remarked that many books of a com- paratively recent date, relating to our State, have become exceedingly rare, and are scarcely to be purchased at any price. Whether this is due to some destructive fate pursuing the books, to small editions, or unexpected appreciation of works of this class, I do not know. The latter belief is the most comfortable, and to that we shall incline. Mr. Le Breton's collection includes Exploration 152 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. du territoire de /' Oregon et des Calif ortiies, Du- flos de Mofras, two octavo volumes with plates and maps, published at Paris in 1844; Voyages y Edward C. KembJe, and the Placer Times and Transcript, into which it was afterwards merged. For many years Mr. Pickering has been saving material, printed and written, and gathering histor- ical matter with the intention to first publish a history of the California press, then of the press of St. Louis, and finally — if he lives long enough — a history of the press of the United States. This work he is doing in the most faithful and elaborate manner. The plan he pursues is to take up every important subject and occurrence, as, in our own State, the proceedings of the Vigilance Committee in the early days, political struggles, various resources of the State, mining develop- ments and bubbles, etc., and give the positions taken by the various newspapers at various times. A journalist of full forty years' experience, a newspaper owner the greater portion of that time, and an able writer, Mr. Pickering possesses rare qualifications for the task he has undertaken. During his life-time he has seen most of the im- portant newspapers of the country rise and many of them fall. Newspapers are mutative, change- able. Paper, type, issue, politics, name, proprietor- ship and editors are constantly changing, and to follow them up to the extent required in making a faithful and comprehensive history of the press of 178 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. the country is a formidable task requiring rare courage, patience and perseverance. He has already written enough to fill six or eight large volumes, and has exhausted but a small portion of his field. In addition to the books already mentioned, Mr. Pickering has a number of works relating to early New England history and the genealogy of old New England families. He has also a choice col- lection of illustrated works, including Pictures and Painters; The Sculpture Gallery (by Daffone, Hervey and others) ; Kaulbach's Schiller Gallery, and Tomes' Battles of America. Mrs. Pickering has a very interesting and extensive collection of photographs of the most celebrated paintings and sculptures in the principal galleries of Europe, of European scenery, eminent personages of Europe, gathered during a foreign tour, showing much taste in selection, and appropriately arranged in a series of albums. WILLIAM H. PLATT, D. D. The library of Dr. Piatt, Rector of Grace Church of San Francisco, is a cheery room of generous proportions, lighted by a bay window commanding a view which is in itself an inspira- tion, and may, without exaggeration, be called one of the most superb in the world. Situated on the northern slope of Clay-street hill, that portion of the view from the house commanded by this window looks down upon the Golden Gate straits and far away, through the sun-lit hills at the entrance, out upon the broad waters of the great Pacific. Across the straits appear Angel Island and the sloping hills of the mainland, all vailed by a blue gray mist; grim Fort Alcatraz, less formid- able to behold since the renowned naval battle on our centennial anniversary, lies to the northeast, and beyond stretch the dancing waters of the bay, until, dwindling into the narrows, the water and the land become one. Then there is one little corner of the window from which Oakland, in her emerald setting, gleams across the bay, and the blue hills . of the coast range rise beyond. In the near fore- ground, on the one hand, lies San Francisco, with a glimpse of hundreds of tall masts in a cobweb of rigging at her wharves; on the other hand, the beautiful residences adorning the slopes of the hill to the west, and the green fields and rolling ground l8o PRIVATE LIBRARIES. of the Presidio military reservation. I have de- scribed this somewhat at length, as a specimen of the beautiful views to be obtained from so many of our San Francisco residences, rather than an ex- ception. The room is plainly but comfortably furnished, with book-cases of black walnut. The books number about three thousand volumes, and are largely composed of solid literature^ with some standard works of romance and poetry; every sect and every religious belief finds representation among the theological works, Calvin and Arminius stand- ing peaceably side by side. Dr. Piatt has a extensive collection of the best authors on material philosophy, which he reads and studies, as any fair disputant will always select the best and strongest of his foes to combat. There are also a number of books relating to art, a sub- ject to which he has given considerable attention, the fruits of which may be seen in his compilation from Ruskin, a text-book for students of art which has been received with much favor. The library contains few rare books save among theological works. The most notable of these is probably the first American editjon of Rees' En- cyclopsedia, in eighty volumes. ' T. H. REARDEN. Some sensible people buy books as they build houses, first study up a plan which will meet all their wants, consult their means, then build and finish accordingly. But we all know that some of the most attractive old houses are those which are built — now a wing in one style of architecture, fitted up and furnished in keeping — then an addition on some other plan, possessing distinctive features of its own, and so on from one period to another. It may be an eccentric kind of a house, and a curious medley of a house, with queer ells jutting out here and there, and unexpected nooks and corners, and lack some features essential to every well-regulated house; but for all that it possesses a quaint charm of its own; it has somehow acquired an individu- ality that distinguishes it from other homes. The somewhat eccentric collection of books be- longing to Mr. T. H. Rearden, consisting of about a thousand volumes, is in some respects the most interesting in the city. The peculiarity of his lit- tle librarj' is the collections he has made in various directions. He has a Homeric collection of about fifty volumes, including some twenty-five editions of Homer, the remainder consisting of translations, Homeric dictionaries, etc., with a number of Homeric illustrations. Several of these editions are of an early date, but the choicest is the Clarke- I 82 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Ernesti edition, printed at Glasgow in 1814, in five volumes vellum, a beautiful and correct reprint from the Leipzig edition of 1759-64, with the addition of Wolfs prolegomena. This copy has a special interest, from having once been in the li- brary of the celebrated Greek scholar Yemeniz. A small collection of Decamerons, the choicest of which is the Pickering edition,- an English trans- lation of 1684; across the title-page is written in faded ink: "The gift of Jno. Deane, Chaplain of their Maj'sts shipp Restauration, to Mr. H. Jones." As the only time, since the publication of the book, that ''their Majesties" reigned in Eng- land was in the time of William and Mary, 1689 — 94, a curious feeling is inspired as one thinks of the experience the book may have undergone since it became the property of " Mr. H. Jones," to finally reach the distant shore of a then almost un- known country. Mr. Rearden's Tennysonian collection consists of about forty editions of the poems of the Laure- ate, single poems and complete works, by English and American publishers, from vest-pocket copies to the most exquisite illustrated editions, from 1842 to the present time, together with the various con- cordances, etc., that have been published. Mr. Rearden is not merely an admirer but a critical reader of Tennyson, and in many of the poems are inserted little slips of paper containing passages from Greek and Latin authors, suggested by the T. H. REARDEN. I 83 poems; sometimes a quotation that would seem to have led to the production of a sonnet — all written in an elegant copper-plate hand. Mr. Rearden takes no pride in his Tennysonian collection be- cause the famous first publication and others is lacking, a little book of great rarity, which he has given up all hopes of ever obtaining. Among the Anacreons, there is a thin folio, bearing on the fly-leaf the autograph of A. J. Valpy, the English Hellenist, which was, until lately, in the collection now dispersed, of a scholarly lawyer resident in Alameda. The work is com- posed of five prefatory folios and sixty pages of text, whereof the first sixteen are a fac-simile of as many pages (pages 676-91, inclusive) of the Palatine Codex (so called from its having been discovered in 1606 in the library of the Elector Palatine),'by means ofa fontof type expressly cast for the contractions, the matter is then given a second time in a parallel column with the same in un- contracted letters. The original writing of the Anacreon portion of the Codex is by the hand of a scribe of the tenth (or po.ssibly eleventh) cen- tury. Copper plate etchings illustrate the work, which is accompanied by a prose Latin translation. This Anacreon was published at Rome in 1783, by Joseph Spalletti (an exceedingly patient student, who made an almost fac-simile transcription of the entire Codex), assisted by a number of Roman artists. The Codex referred to is a quarto ms., on parchment, containing an Anthology or Flori- 184 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. legium (as such collections were styled), by one Constantinus Cephalas, of pagan and Christian epigrams and other more extended works (includ- ing the Anacreontia, spurious or genuine), classic and post-classic. It was sent, as its brass inscrip- tion attests, from Heidelberg, in 1623 (after the capture of the place by Count Tilly in the thirty years' war), by Maximilian of Bavaria, as a sort of tribute to Gregory XV., then pope. It remained at the Vatican until 1797, when, as part of the revolutionary spoils, it went to Paris. It has, however, since been returned to Heidelberg, and now rests in the University library. Negatives havd quite recently been prepared, under supervi- sion of the academic authorities, of the entire Codex, photographs from which can, we believe, be procured at comparatively small cost. By way of illustration of mediaeval chirography, we here insert, as germane to a work on libraries, a reduced fac-simile of one page (684) of the Anacreon text, followed by the same matter from a revised text written in modern uncontracted character, together with a metrical Latin version by the eminent French philologist of the sixteenth century, Henri Estienne (Stephanus), and an Eng- lish version. It may interest college lads to puz- zle over the contractions in use by ancient scribes, which became so numerous that, by the time print- ing was invented, a Greek font of type was com- posed of upwards of seven hundred and fifty sepa- rate characters. X>o ,»\Xo — ^ fiupoinaitr -r^piNOKr xnrvp cu/vOn ^-neurw pu/t TpoyooTttpap^roa oJo/ ■ii alfS^A imjJ^uipiSiin rrv haoos UaJ-lfff^StupUAM vnb N ^ TipwN 'y^pqtur •^fiAvp vlun'oi anbrmpoua- 3£ hatrm/y^'p arrUw UoatTVU ijrvujmhiosatsi Sixp^frra. -^vpa-aiN ^oTTT cV^i^XT lvarrap,Sxiyl^'(r on Off our up S"^g 'iffupJi li auifcg luvniA/^lvTwrnir^ cvyhf/ai eivciStSJfu KvyfjopiuftMj ^avptu ^ (poplurro lop vntpM^l'iqHuv luu&i'otKr apWi^prrdp^ffi^ycii rUa d^&or^hpii^ pJO-VihJ- To'm TV? OjJ '6jt JJlOlp (Zu 68^ (jrri yunipainrw o nbtm u/Atj^it 6p cf^oiff honoavL^'6poLmp UpM ovSf^i^pimN a>noplt^i^0i -riu/aimuM ov ^/jU^ upo -wimp ^1 Au)t^t jiopaivotiy T£p£tvy,cAvoiy£.,cpr|crL, KCXTCX VUKTOC TT£TTAO(Vl^JXal(,. iLiXet^trOC TOtyT' Co5,ju.EY "EjCTQoa), ^£povTa.T<§oY, Trripuydj T£ koJl ^cxpE-rpi-jv ITaooC d'lcTTmv Kaflto-oc, 7TcxAo(uat*£¥ ecrrccrJ de Koysdt'rjy TToyna-£i^ S^^W««ptfe^ev^,T£TTt|,. «bTt af^ap^cov iTr'SKpaiY, ^dy. ^^C (II > i/'v o^oooyTTerrcoKttjy.^acrTAEi/f oTTftjy o(eidEi^. ^ Zj vi^ ^"l^J^ ^*^T'' «£iyo^Tro(yTa, onoVaSAETreiy Iv&ypoLy, ^X'oTTocra. cpipooo-tv ojpat, ^u tie cpt^ioc ^EiopySv, '" ^Atto jxt^cieYoy tl jSAcXTTTCOV. 51iu tie' Tijxtqr^orolo-L, VtTvtEL dc ^oTpps auT05, AtyupriY- d' £.bcoKcv,o'i.jxr)Y. Tode. ynpasouOSTtwa.croqJE. Y'lYivii? cptTv UJXYE., §knat»:«o«. The same — a Latin version. By Uenricus Stephanas, (Estienne), who died a.d. 1598. &^ SCipSO. Ij^eneris superque niyrtis, super ec virente loto (^ Reoubans, bitain lubenter: religatus at papyro I Tunioam Cupido coUo, mihi pooalum ministret. Rota nam velut ouruhs properat volucris setas: Tenuis jacebimusque cinis, OBsibuB Bolutis. Tumulum quid est quod ungas, Tel humo quod ebibenda Peritura dona f undas ? Potius, manente vita, RoseaB raeo corollas capiti, ferasque odorcs: Mihi et evoces amicam. Etenim priuaquam ad Orci Rapiar nigri choreas, volo dissipare curas. §£ Cupibiuc. Ji^uper silente nocte, quum jam routur Ursa t St Ciraba. Circa manum Bootse. et corpus omne somnos Fessura labore carpit: Bupervenit, foresque Meas Oupido pulsat. Quis tundit ostium, inquam, Turbatque Bomniantem ? Reclude, clamat ille, Fores, metumque pone. Nam sum puellus, et per Illunem oberro noctem madens ab imbre totus. Ut audii haec, misertuB accendo lumen, atque Meos recludo postes. Tunc conspicor puellum Sed arcum habentem et alas, sed pendulam pharetram. Foco admovetur a me, manibus manus et ejus Foveo ut calescat, imbrem et exprimo capillis. Ille, ut recessit algor, Probemus, inquit, arcum, An laesus imbre nervus. Statimque tendit ilium, Ferit et mihi aagitta medium jecur, quasi oestrum. Tunc exsilit cachinnans, aitque, Gratulare, O hospes, Fcce salvus meus quidem mihi arcus At cor tibi dolebit. S2^ ter quaterque felix Cicada, quas supremis \ In arborum virelis, roris parum ut bibisti, Cantaro dulce gaudes reginam agens potentem. Quodcunque conspicaris tuum est, quod arva gignunt. Quod sylva cunque profert. Te amplectitur colonus, Quod ejus in labores injurio&a non sis : Colunt, Cicada, te omnes, divina quod puteris ^statis imminentis. Te diligunfc CamoeuEe. Te diligitque Phcebus, vocemque dat canoram. Te non senecta carpit. Festiva, terrse alumna, Cantus arnica, et oiunis mali et doloris expers. Ulla noc aucta came, nee aucta sanguine ullo Ipsis abes parum a diis. The same— an English version. QI/OtncWRUlg ^^frew me a couch with tender sheaves of clover blossom, myrtle leaves ; ^imsclf. @ And bring me wine ; while in due state, let Eros, linen-cinctured, "Wait. I Swift as a chariot wheel, away spins the bright circle of Life's day ; And soon, our crumbling bones are dry ; and soon, as blanching dust, we lie. On soulless atone, why waste thy myrrh? Why grace, with wine, the sepulchre ? In Life, let perfumes cool my brow: I'll don the rosy chaplet now. And bid the Fair One come to day: for, Eros, I, (ere called away To join the sullen choir below), would free my heart from carking woe. ^;«t/§, published in 1739; Valerius Maximus (English translation), pub- lished in 1678; Age of Louis XIV. (original Lon- don edition), 1779, and a few others of even later date, of which there are no reprints, or later copies, difficult to obtain, comprise the exceptions to what would otherwise be a strictly modern col- lection. LELAND STANFORD. The library of ex-Governor Stanford, President of the Central Pacific Railroad, occupies a large apartment on the ground floor of his elegant San Francisco mansion, lighted by a broad bay-window and two single windows. The room is lofty and spacious, about fifty feet long and thirty feet wide, the floor is covered with a rich Persian carpet, the window draperies corresponding in style. The furniture is partly of willow, partly upholstered with green and brown morocco, with heavily carved tables and desks of solid mahogany. A revolving book-case, standing near the bay- window, bears an exquisite bronze of Poesy on the apex. The interior woodwork of the room, probably unsurpassed for elegance in the United States, is of solid mahogany, inlaid with rosewood; the window-cornices, arches over doors, mantel and book-cases, in the Louis Quatorze style, are graceful in their architectural design and perfect in their finish; an imposing mantel-piece, eight feet wide and sixteen feet high, is elaborately carved and inlaid, with several panel bas-reliefs of bronze; a large mirror occupies the center of the upper por- tion, and on either side of the opening below are two cases with heavy doors, devoted to the recep- tion of large folios. Busts of Byron and Milton rest above the cases, and two full-length portraits 202 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. of Mr. and Mrs. Stanford adorn the walls. In a little corner between the bay-window and an adja- cent book-case hangs a testimonial from the Fifteenth Session of the Legislature of California, attesting their appreciation of the able, upright and faithful manner in which Leland Stanford has dis- charged his duties as Governor of California; a little certificate below states that the resolution was adopted in the Senate without a dissenting vote, and ^in the Assembly with one dissenting vote. The ceiling is painted on canvas, by supe- rior artists, and has portraits of Shakespeare, Humboldt, Agassiz and J. Fenimore Cooper in the frieze, and Morse, Franklin, Stephenson and Fulton in the corners of the center panel. Low book-cases, handsomely finished, line the walls of the room on every side, but the books have already outstripped the space allotted to them, although in some places in double rows. The col- lection is fast increasing; and at no distant day it will become necessary to increase its accomoda- tions. A little more than three thousand volumes now repose upon the shelves, excellently selected for reference, study and recreation. In the department of history the collection is very full, with the complete works of such authors as Momson, Gibbon, Thiers, Robertson, Motley,, Knight, Froude, Hume, Macaulay, Grote, Bunsen, Rawlinson, Buckle, Napier, Bancroft, Lossing, LELAND STANFORD. 203 Prescott, and many others, and comprises a very complete collection of works relating to China. In poetry, we find the works of Hood, Words- worth, Pope, Goldsmith, Byron, Moore, Mrs. Hemans, Schiller, Goethe and The Aldine Poets, with a reprint of the folio manuscript edition of Percy, and the best edition of Butler's Hudibras, published in 1744, with the cuts beautifully en- graved by Hogarth. The departments of science and philosophy are represented by the productions of Charles Morren, Darwin, Tyndall, Wilson, Hamilton, Max Miiller, Cuvier, Jardin, etc., and include several books of extreme rarity, with a number of United States government reports and explorations. Deserving of mention in this connection are : The Yellowstone Park, with Prang's chromos of scenery; Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas, i)y Catesby, with plates colored by hand, text in French and English, published in 1754; Bradford's Arctic Region^ a magnificent work; and one of the four volumes of the Geological Survey of Cali- fornia, with the plates colored by hand. Among the miscellaneous works are a full set of The BritisJi Novelists, and the collected works of De Quincey, Swift, Howitt, Guizot, Addison, Pascal, Bacon, Dickens, Thackeray, Smollett, Borrow, Irving, and others, the majority in plain, serviceable editions, on good paper and with clear type. 204 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. The department of reference comprises the usual standard encyclopedias, etc., almost uniformly bound in full russia. The library also contains a fine collection of books relating to art, among others La Croix's Moyen Age, Baronial Halls, Meyer Von Bremen's Gallery, Mclan's Costumes of the Scottish Clans, Wey's Rome, Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones, and the London Art Journal, from 1 849- 78. Among choice works is a late reprint of the much-prized original edition of Ruskin, each book bearing the author's autograph, attesting that it is one of a thousand accurate reprints, issued under his personal supervision ; an edition of Voltaire in eighteen volumes, published in 1 780, and Knight's Arabian Nights, three volumes printed in 1839, illustrated by Harvey, a choice and much-sought edition, now out of print. The library also includes an extensive collection of early voyages, among which are Harris Voy- ages, published in 1744; Hakluyt' s Voyages; An- son's Voyage Round the World, 1748; the orig- inal edition of the Explorations of Sir John Frank- lin; and Cook's Voyages, published in 1773, ^<^- companied by the large atlas. Mr. Stanford's books exhibit many elegant spe- cimens of binding, but the owner evidently cares more for the contents than their dress, as the li- brary editions proper are largely in plain but sub- LELAND STANFORD. 205 stantial bindings of half calf. The collection prob- ably includes more American bindings than any other of its extent in the State, and its exterior appearance goes far to prove that American work- men are rivaling those of the same craft in the old world. W. C. TALBOT. This collection, consisting of about two thou- sand volumes, is notable more for the taste dis- played in the selection and the number of choice editions than for any special feature. Largely composed of standard English literature, with the works of some of the best French and German authors, romance, poetry and the drama are very full, and the collection includes a number of early voyages, elegant illustrated works of travel in various countries, and a few choice works relating to natural history. Among the many illustrated books and art works we find the Queen's Book of Balmoral; Boy dell Shakespeare; a series of studies by Michael Angelo, Correggio and Leonardo da Vinci; Flaxman's Dante; Lii'ike's History of Art; a collection of line engravings illustrating the life of Luther, by Labouchere; Baronial Halls; La Croix's Moyen Age; The Gothic Revival; Hogarth; Kaul- bach's Schiller Gallery; The Sermon on the Mount ^ illuminated by Hudsley; the works illus- trated by Dore; and Regen Sonnenschein, a beauti- ful work, illustrated by Louise Kugler. Mr. Talbot's library is a large room, with so much space given to windows that the book-cases have insufficient accommodation. The room is taste- fully furnished with Wilton carpet of deep-shaded crimson, the walls softly tinted, the ceiling elabo- W. C. TALBOT. 207 rately frescoed in an artistic design; a large center table with colored marble top, and a little side- table of richly carved ebony. Near a side window stands a megaletoscope, from Venice, beautifully carved, with numerous large photographs of Euro- pean scenery. An interesting collection of curios from the Sandwich Islands, together with an ex- tensive collection of ferns, the latter classified and beautifully mounted, are deserving of notice. Among the choice works of art decorating the room are, a Scene in Napa Valley, by Virgil Will- iams; a View in the White Mountains, by Knapp; and copies of Murillo's Beggar Boys. R. A. THOMPSON. This select private library of about one thou- sand volumes, consists mainly of "Americana," and is especially full in the local history of California, Oregon and Mexico. It includes nearly all of the early voyages to the South Seas in search of a north- west passage, down to the beginning of thiscentury, and the much rarer travels overland toward the '' Shining Mountains," as the early explorers called the great continental divide which separates the Atlantic from the Pacific slope. The early navigators were from the heart of civilization in Europe, and large editions of the most important voyages, printed on their return, were distributed over the world, and are found in most libraries. The collection of Mr. Thompson contains nearly all the voyages from Drake to Van- couver, many of them original editions, curious in matter, style and typography. The books in the collection of this class come down in order to the time of Vancouver — when the ever to be remem- bered and honored American skipper Captain Gray crossed the fresh track of the English navigator, discovered the mouth of a great river, sailed inland on its waters, and named it for his good ship the " Columbia." From this period, or very shortly thereafter, commenced the voyages of discovery by land R. A. THOMPSON. 2O9 from the then western frontier of the United States and Canada, towards the sources of the great rivers flowing eastward from the unknown heart of the continent. The voyageurs were fur hunters who had a thorough contempt for Hterature. Accounts of their explorations were rarely published, and had but limited circulation. They have now be- corne of great interest, and are only to be pro- cured on the breaking up of old libraries. In books of this class the collection of Mr. Thompson is unusually complete. The oldest by priority of date is entitled Travels through the Interior Part of North America, in 1 766-68, by Capt. Jonathan Carver, with maps and plates, London, 1778. The author left Boston in 1766, and claims to have traveled to the head of the Mississippi river. The originality of the work is questioned by some authors, wlio accuse Captain Carver of plagiarism, especially from the letters of P. De Charlevoix, giving an account of a voyage to Canada, and travels through that vast country and Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico, which antedated by some years the "publication of Captain Carver. Be that as it may, the work contains a great deal that is curious, and is notable as having first mentioned the river Oregon, which he was told flowed from the "Shining Mountains," westward to the Pacific. This name was thence- forth given to that vast territory "where rolls the Oregon," though the river itself, on its discovery, was called the Columbia. 2IO PRIVATE LIBRARIES. The next of the works of this class in the col- lection is an early English edition of The Voy- ages from Montreal, Canada^ through the Con- tinent to the Frozen and Pacific Oceans, from 1789-1795, by Sir Archibald Mackenzie. This daring explorer, on his first voyage, settled be- yond controversy the question of a north-west passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, which for three hundred years navigators of all na- tions had believed to exist, and had eagerly sought. On his second voyage he went to the Pacific ocean, and was the first explorer to cross the con- tinent. The collection contains the best edition of Lewis & Clark's Travels to the source of the Missouri, then down the Columbia river to the Pacific ocean — the Paul Allen edition, with the original map, now (difficult to procure. The next work of this class is a quarto, entitled An Account of an Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi, the North-west Provijices of Louisiana, and the Sources of the Arkansaw, hy Captain Zebulon M. Pike, with maps, London, 181 1. Of about the same date is Baron Hum- boldt's Political Essay on New Spain, in four vol- umes, a neat London edition. One of the rare books in the collection is the account of a voyage up the Missouri to the Mandan village, by H. M. Breckinridge, printed in Baltimore, 181 1. The next in order of the American explorers is an account of an expedition from Pittsburg to the R. A. THOMPSON. 2 I I Rocky Mountains, performed in 1 8 19-1820, by Major S. H. Long, by order of the Hon. John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War. This is a beautiful edition in three volumes, bound in Turkey moroc- co; and illustrated by maps and colored plates, printed in London, in 1823. The journal of the voyages and travels in the interior of North America, by Daniel William Harmon, a partner in the North-west Fur Com- pany, printed in Andover, Mass., 1820, is one of the rarest books of this class in the library. Mr. Harmon resided in the interior of the continent from 1 800 to 1820; eight and a half years of that time west of the Rocky Mountains, and on his re- turn published his journal. But the most remark- able of the many interesting events in the life of the author is the fact that, though far from the re- fining restraints of society and religion, and in fact under the very worst opposite influence, he seems to have lived the life of a conscientious and de- vout Christian. In this regard he was certainly an exception to the early Canadian voyagers, who were, as a rule, as wild as the wild tribes with whom they were associated. Among other works worthy of note of this period are well - preserved editions of Major Long's Expedition to the Source of the St. Peter s River, in 1 819-2 o; Narrative of a Voyage to the North-west Coast of America, in the years 181 1- 12-13, by Gabriel Franchere; Ross Cox's Adven- 2 I 2 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. tures on the Columbia; Alexander Ross' First Settlers oil the Oregon^ and the beautifully writ- ten works of Astoria^ and Adventures of Captain Bonneville, by Washington Irving. Between 1832 and 1S45, a number of books were published on Oregon, most of which are in this collection. Among them John B. Wyeth's Oregon, or a long journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific region, printed at Cambridge, Mass., in 1833; also Townsend's Narrative, 1839; Par- ker's Tour, Ithaca, N. Y., 1842; Dr. White's Travels, and early histories of Oregon, by the following authors, respectively: Dunn, Greenhow, Hines, Thornton, Tucker, and others; also volume one of the Oregon Spectator, printed at Oregon city in 1846, the first paper published in the Eng- lish language On the Pacific coast. The early works on California, in the collection, are : Pattie's Narrative, the first published account of an overland journey to and through California, made in 1827-30, a very scarce work. Alfred Roberson's Life in California, Boston, 1846; Wilke s Expedition. All the reports and explor- ations by United States Army officers, from Fre- mont down to and including the Pacific railroad reports, in thirteen volumes, published in 1854. Of the miscellaneous works on California are L. W. Hasting's History; Farnham's three publica- tions; Alexander Forbes' //M/oriv Bryant's What T saw in California; History of Lower Calif or- R. A. THOMPSON. 2 I 3 nia^ and Life of yunipero Serra, by Francisco Palou; Dr. Palmer's Old and New; Hinton Row- an Helper's Land of Gold; Life in California, by Marryatt; Lieut. Wise's Los Gringos; Bart- lett's Personal Narrative; all of Colton's works; Life of Com. Stockton, and Four Years in the Pacific^ by the Hon. Fred. Walpole, an officer in the Collingsford. The collection also contains bound volumes of Hutching's Magazine^ a com- plete set of the Overland Monthly, and all the late publications on California, and the most im- portant books published in this State, from the first — A Guide to the Gold Regions, by F. P. Wierzbicki, San Francisco, 1849, printed by Washington Bartlett. There is also a collection of rare works on Mexico. The oldest of which is De Solis' Con- quest by the Spaniards^ '^r'mX&di in London, 1727, with the original illustrations, which are both in- teresting and curious; Ward's Mexico; Poinsetfs; Waddy Thompson s Recollections; Madame Cal- deron De Barca's Life in Mexico; Kendall's Santa Fe Expedition; Gregg's Commerce of tJte Prairies; with later works and travels, and most of the histories of the war between Mexico and the United States. Of the curious books in the col- lection is El Dorado, being a narrative of the cir- cumstances which gave rise to the reports in the sixteenth century of the existence of a rich and 2 I 4 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. splendid city of that name in South America, with a defense of Sir Walter Raleigh. Of English history and miscellaneous literature, the library contains standard works, of which some are rare. One of the latter is called Sylvia Sylvarum, or a Natural History in Ten Centurys, by Lord Bacon, published soon after the author's death, in 1660, with a quaint portrait of the great philosopher en- graved on steel. The collection also has a num- ber of works upon the life, history and campaigns of Napoleon the Great. But it is only in Amer- ican history and literature that Mr. Thompson' claims any degree of completeness for his library. His idea has been to gather the best American au- thors in all branches of literature. He has a com- plete set of Hawthorne's works — a writer, he deems unsurpassed by any modern author in pur- ity of style, pathos and in dramatic power. The works of Prescott and Irving, ornaments to our age and language, and the readable sketches en- titled Roba de Roma, by the gifted American poet and sculptor, W. W. Story. It is not creditable to our literary tastes, as a nation, that most of the distinguished American writers grew popular at home, only after they had received the unqualified approbation of foreign critique and review, and it cannot be denied that there is a numerous class of our own countrymen who know more of foreign literature and authors R. A, THOMPSON. 215 than of our own. With that class, the collector of this library has little in common; hence his collec- tion, while it contains many standard English works, is in the main a Bibliotheca Americana, especially complete in works relating to the Pacific coast. States and territories. JOSEPH W. WINANS. One of the largest and most interesting collec- tions in the city is possessed by Mr. Winans, who is an enthusiastic collector and lover of books. His library contains about five thousand volumes, and has not one alone, but many remarkable feat- ures. It is like a tree that has never been pruned or trimmed, but, planted in good soil, has had a healthy, vigorous growth, thrusting out a branch here and a branch there, with hundreds of spread- ing boughs and twigs, until there becomes a charm in its very irregularity. This library covers a wide field, embracing a large and choice collection of valuable works in the several departments of Greek and Latin classics, both- in the original and annotated copies; archaeological works; ballads; anecdote and jest; atlases and geographies; bibli- ography; biographies; botany; collections of cari- catures, entertaining and instructive; civilization; chronology; constitutions; correspondence (diaries and letters); costumes; countries, places and to- pography; cyclopaedias; dictionaries; drama and dramatic literature; essays; facetia;; history; ethnology; illustrated fine art words; legends; metaphysics and philosophy; nature and natural history; sciences; novels; painting, sculpture, etc.; poetry, quotations, extracts and selections; religi- ous works; works on romantic literature; fairy JOSEPH W. WINANS. 21 7 tales; Greek and Latin translations; narratives and travels and voyages. It includes as many as three hundred rare and choice art works, among which are several volumes of steel plates of the old masters of the English, Flemish, Spanish, French, German and Italian schools; elephant folio Boy dell Shakespeare^ original edition; Racinet's Polychromatic Orna- ments; Owen Jones' Gram,m.ar of Ornam.ent; Dell's Antique Statues of Greeks and Romans, two elephant folios; Illuminated Arms of all the Bishops of England; engravings of Michael Angelo's works; Albert Durer's Great and Little Passion; and Life of the Virgin Mary; La Croix's works complete; Panquet P'reres' steel plates of costumes, hand colored; Elijah Walton's vignettes of Alpine flowers and lake scenery; the Schiller, Goethe, Stafford and other galleries; Hakewell's Italy, with Turner's plates; a collection of Cruikshank's eighty-four plates, folio size ; Gill- ray' s Caricatures; a copy of Tasso's Jerusalem, with the original engravings; Napoleon's Cam- paigne d Italie; and the Art Journal from the commencement. Among other notable works is a splendid copy of Don Quixote, with seven hundred illustrations; a folio reprint of the first edition of Shakespeare; Westwood's Anglo-Saxon and Irish Manuscripts, and Jardine's Library of Natural Science, in forty- two volumes. 2 I 8 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. The library also contains a large collection of fundamental religious works, consisting of the Bible, Koran, Dabistan, Book of Mormon, Ar- cana of the Spirits, Zenda Vesta, Confucius, Swedenborg, and the Wheel of the Law, contain- ing the Buddhist faith. The collection also in- cludes works of the standard French and German authors, Goethe, Schiller, Cazanova, Moliere, Ra- cine, etc. R. B. WOODWARD. The country residence of Mr. R. B. Woodward, one of the oldest, most energetic and public spirited business men of San Francisco, is pleas- antly located in Napa Valley, six miles from Napa, on his Oak Knoll ranch of some eighteen hundred acres, through which the Calistoga Railroad passes for the distance of one mile. The house is built on a knoll, covered with beautiful flowers and shrubs, and surrounded by large and lofty, oaks, with a fountain filled with gold fish, and a large trout pond. A long avenue of trees leads up to the house, and the whole place has the appearance of an old English home. The library is a large room, tastefully furnished. Among the works of art adorning the room are bronze busts of Shakespeare, Milton, Byron and Scott. A painting of Linda di Chamouni, by A. Ratti of Rome, represents a scene from the well- known opera; Pierotto appears on the hill, descend- ing pensively, playing his usual tune. Linda fal- teringly follows the sound of the music, till she reaches a bench on which she falls exhausted. A fine copy of Rafael's Madona della Seggiola is painted by Berti of Florence. A striking pict- ure of Italian life, called "Sunday in an Italian Village," the work of a Swiss artist in Rome, and a beautiful portrait of Beatrice Cenci, from the original by Guido, also decorate the walls. 2 20 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Mr. Woodward's books number about two thou- sand volumes of choice selections, with the com- plete works of most of the best standard authors, including Dickens, Scott, Marryatt, Irving, Milton, Byron, Pope, Macaulay, Bancroft, and in fact all the leading historians, poets and novelists, with an extensive collection of travels and voyages, especially such as have been elegantly illustrated. The library also contains Bohn's Classical Li- brary, complete; Audubon's Birds of America; an extensive collection of travels; and a number of works on art, sculpture and painting, both an- cient and modern, many of them highly illustrated. In concluding our description of Mr. Wood- ward's library, it is but justice to him to say that his generous gifts to various public libraries have reduced his collection to about one ■ half or less than one half of what it would have otherwise been, though he would be the last one in the world to mention it. • W. A. WOODWARD. The library of Mr. W. A. Woodward, of the Alta California, is a room of moderate size, taste- fully furnished and frescoed, lighted by north and east windows. On the walls hang two companion water- colors of peculiar character and merit, the one representing "Vesuvius by Night," the flame and heavy smoke rolling up against a dark sky, with weird effect, and throwing a red path over the murky water; the other, "Vesuvius by Day," shows only a stately mountain, with placid white clouds floating above. Another, a conflagration, after Rubens, is a remarkable old picture, and an old painting of great merit and peculiar coloring, by an unknown artist, represents an old saint bending over a book. An original portrait of Sir Francis Drake, a marine view by Denny, and a view in the Yo Semite, by Jewett, are also notice- able. Mr. Woodward's books are so scattered between town and country house, that it would be difificult to make an accurate estimate of the number, which may, however, be safely placed at several thou- sand volumes. They include a liberal supply of standard literature, but are remarkable fdr the number of old curios, many of which are almost unique. In this almost inexhaustible store of literary 2 22 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. treasures, we note a rare old book published at Amsterdam, in 1658, called Nouvelle Alliance; an early copy of the Breeches Bible, printed in 1591; Theatrttm Artis Pictorice, by De Prenner, pub- lished at Vienna, 1728, a fine folio volume con- taining etchings of old paintings, with Latin text; the hundred-guinea Macklin Bible, in six volumes, folio, with magnificent copper plates; a rare old Ccesar, printed at Venice in 1544, in the original binding of embossed pigskin, one of the most per- fect specimens of an Aldine in the country; a rela- tion or Diary of the Siege of Vienna, by John Peter, printed in 1682; Kreuterbuch, a German encyclopaedia of arts and sciences, with curious old illustrations of plants, animals and machinery, dated 1587; Trevisanus, a quaint book published in 1623, containing an account of chemical marvels in relation to the philosopher's stone ; Ortelius' Redivivus et Lotitinuatus ode Ungarische, a curi- ous chronicle of Hungary, published in 1635, by Martin Meyern; a fine old copy of Sallust, printed in 1574; yacobi Sanazarii Opera Omnia^ 1569; Suetonius, Amsterdam, 1580; Pontanus, Basil, 556 ; Patercuhis, 1746; an early edition of Young's Night Thoughts, published at Dublin in 1754, from the library of General Washington, bearing his crest and book plate, and containing some notes in his hand; a fine old edition of Livy^ printed at Frankfort-on-the-Main in 1588, Cicero de Oficiis, Lyons, 1544; Auligeleii Nodes Atticce. W. A. WOODWARD. 223 Frankfort, 1603; and Opera Horariim subcisi- varium sive Meditationis^ Frankfort, 15 15. Unlike most people who glance over a picture, catching only the general effect, Mr. Woodward is a most critical observer -of old engravings, and this keen study of details has led him to many in- teresting and amusing discoveries in old illustra- tions. In the first place he has noted that in the early days of engraving, the reversed effect of the pic- ture, when printed, was not calculated upon, and consequently soldiers appear to brandish swords, kings to, bear scepters, and workmen to hold im- plements in their left hands. One old illustrated work, by De Royaumont* L' Histoire de la Bible et du Nouveau Testament, printed in 1696, con- tains a copper-plate engraving, in which Jael is represented driving the nail into Sisera's head with her left hand. In A History of the Turkish Wars,, published in 1587, is one engraving illustrating the siege of a city, in which Mr. Woodward points out cannon', battering-rams, spears, bowS; and a mortar casting shells. This library also contains a folio reprint of Ho- garth, Audubon's Birds of America, and a collec- tion of representations of frescoes in Pompeii, which may be considered the most beautiful art work in any private collection in the State, and is probably unique. These consist of beautifully 2 24 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. executed oil paintings of female figures, and illu- minated photographs of scenes. Among other rare and curious works are Aurea Legendra Lombardica. Nuremburg, 1 496 ; Cowper's Commentary on the Revelations^ London, 1619; Cornelii Taciti, Antwerp, 1627; The Whole Duty of Man; Necessary for All Families, London, 1 663, printed for Timothy Garthwait; Jervis' Don Quixote, two volumes, London, ij ^6 y Beaumont and Fletcher, seven volumes, London, 1 7 1 1 ; Bun- yan's Pilgrim's Progress, London, 171 5; a re- print of A Citizen of the World, Letters of a Chinese Philosopher, printed at Albany, N. Y., 1794; Martin Luther's Bible, a large book printed at Regensberg, in 1756; Travels in Hungary, by Robert Thompson, illustrated by copper plates and published in 1793; the original edition of Burney's Discoveries i?t the South Sea, four volumes, Lon- don, 1803; and Caulfield's Remarkable Persons, London, 1819. LORENZO G. YATES, M. D. Dr. Yates' collection, of about one thousand volumes, consists largely of scientific works, with books of reference and general literature. The most remarkable feature is the number of works relating to natural history, which comprise fine col- lections of the standard authors in the various de- partments of botany (recent and fossil), con- chology, entomology, geology, mineralogy, orni- thology, paleontology and zoology; making a rich library of reference for a student in these branches. A number of Government geological surveys and explorations form a valuable accessory. Among works deserving special mention are: Tableau Encyclopedique et Metkodique, des Trots Regnes de la Nature; contenant: I'Hel- minthologie, ou les vers infusoires, les vers in- testins, les vers mollusques, etc.; par M. Bru- guire, Docteur en Medecines; a Paris, chez Panck- oucke, Lebraire, Hotel de Thou, rue des Poite- vins, 1 79 1 ; five volumes, with four hundred and eighty-eight plates of several thousand figures. Palceontological Memoirs and Notes of Hugh Falconer, A.M., M.D., compiled and edited by Charles Murchison, M.D., F.R.S. Vol. I. con- tains, " Fauna antiqua Sivalensis," thirty-four plates. Vol.11. ''Mastodon, Elephant, Rhinoceros, 2 26 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Ossiferous Caves. Primeval Man and his Cotem- poraries," thirty-eight plates. "Fauna, Antiqua Sivalensis," being the Fossil Zoology of the Sewalik Hills in the North of In- dia, by Hugh Falconer and T. Cautley; royal folio, map and one hundred and seven plates, by Ford, parts one to nine (all issued). Odontography; or, a Treatise on the Compara- tive Anatomy of the Teeth; their Physiological Re- lations, Mode of Development, and Microscopical Structure in the Vertebrate Animals, by Richard Owen, F.R.S., etc., etc.; two vols,, London, 1840 -45 (out of print), with one hundred and fifty plates. Agassiz' Nomenclator Zoologictis^ continens: no- mina systematica generum animalium tarn viven- tium quam fossilium, secundum ordinem alphabet- icum disposita, adjectis auctoribus, libris, in quibus reperiuntur, anno editionis, etymologia et familiis, ad quas pertinent, in singulis classibus, Auctore L. Agassiz, 1842-46. Also, No7nenclatoris Zoologici^ Index Universa- lis, continens: nomina systematica classium, ordi- num, familiarum et generum animalium, omnium, tam viventium quam fossilium, secundum ordinum alphabeticum unicum deposita, adjectis homonymiis plantarum, nee non variis ad notationibus et emen- dationibus. Auctore L. Agassiz, 1846. This work, of over one thousand four hundred quarto pages, represents a vast amount of labor and research, and being a work of reference only, for LORENZO G. YATES, M. D. 22 7 the use of scientists in their literary researches, it has not been brought to the notice of the majority of the admirers of the lamented Agassiz, a great proportion of whom are probably unaware of its existence. Collected Notes. In the library of J. S. Alemany, Archbishop of California, at San Francisco, there are two thou- sand seven hundred and fifty volumes, consisting principally of various versions and editions of the holy bible, commentaries on the same, the writ- ings of the fathers and doctors of the church, bul- larisms, canon law, theology, history, liturgy and the classics. Among the editions of the holy scriptures, one is printed in 1565, and another in 1475, probably the oldest in California. The late Faxon D. Atherton, residing at Fair Oaks, left the largest and rarest collection of voy- ages on this coast, numbering about fifteen hun- dred volumes, with some standard authors. Charles W. Banks, of Oakland, possesses a small but valuable library, embracing about one hundred and fifty volumes of natural histor)^ chiefly in microscopical, botanical and histological branches, including several of the oldest books on the micro- scopical science extant, viz.: Power on the Micro- scope, 1664; Hooke's Micrographie, 1665; Lee- wennock's Micrographical Discoveries, and two editions of Waker, of 1764 and 1769. The collec- COLLECTED NOTES. 229 tion also includes a complete series of The Student and Intellectual Observer, in seventeen volumes; Phycologia Britannica (British sea- weeds), by Harvey, illustrated with three hundred and sixty plates, colored by hand, the minute structure of each species being beautifully shown. The re- mainder are principally works of modern standard authors, with a curious old work by Dr. Brown, published in 1655, known as Pseudographia En- clopedia. Mr. Henry P. Bowie, President of the Mercan- tile Library Association, has a collection of about two thousand volumes, chiefly composed of the choicest editions of standard works, with a num- ber of classical and art works, and many early printed books. Among rare books is Junius, editio princeps, three volumes, and an early copy of Cato Verro, published about 1480. Mr. Bowie, well known as an amateur violinist, has the finest collection of works relating to the violin to be found on the coast. The library also contains the best standard works of reference, with a number of choice French and German works, and is the collection of a dilettante. James W. Brown, of San Francisco, has a limited, but extremely valuable library, consisting of about one thousand volumes, with a number of very costly illustrated works. Among those are Bartlett's Pictorial Works, with views in the United States, France, Italy, etc. ; Robert's Egypt 230 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. and the Holy Land, printed in colors, six elephant folio volumes; Rousselet's India and its Native Princes, and Shaw's Dresses and Decorations, illuminated. Eugene Casserly, formerly United States Senator, has a library of about three thousand volumes, se- lected with great taste and intelligence, and com- prising many choice editions. The late D. D. Colton left about fifteen hun- dred volumes, very general in character, embrac- ing a fine selection of standard authors. The greatest treasure in the collection is probably the edition of Dickens, in fifty-five volumes, with all the original engravings by Cruikshank and Darley, on india paper, and mounted. Daniel Cook has a small but choice collection of best editions of standard works, comprising the Boydell Shakespeare, in nine folio volumes; the Boisure Gallery, ten mastodon folios, Hume's edition, containing fine copper-plates. The collection of books belonging to Dr. Ben- jamin D. Dean, consisting of about one thousand volumes, contains the works of the most notable standard English authors in history, science, bio- graphy, travels, and romance. In the two former it is practically complete, and constitutes a good library for reference, study and recreation. Joseph A. Donohiie, now absent in Europe, has one of the finest libraries in California, chiefly con- sisting of the best editions of best authors, nearly' COLLECTED NOTES. 23I a)l elegantly bound. Most notable among the books is Halliwell's great edition of Shakespeare, in sixteen volumes folio, with the variorum notes, published at London, 1860-70, printed on draw- ing paper, the type being made for the work. He also has the Boydell illustrations of Shakespeare, in nine volumes folio, with the text; Mrs. Jame- son's art works, six small quarto volumes; the best edition of Dodsley' s Old Plays, in twelve vol- umes; the Modern Drama, a fine set, in fourteen octavo volumes; the Art Journal, complete, and Froissart's Chronicles, illuminated. Captain Eldridge has a collection of about one thousand volumes, mainly consisting of travels and voyages. Dr. Geary, of San Francisco, has a miscel- laneous library of about thirteen hundred volumes, which he terms a " Scholar's Dictionary/' com- prising nearly all the Greek and Latin classics, and standard English literature, carefully selected. Among choice works is the original edition of Matthew Prior, London, 1.7 18; the original edition of Byron' s Sardanapalus, London, 1821; a beauti- ful edition of Dryden's Virgil, London, 1806; and Clarke's Concordance to Shakespeare, presented by the Duke of Manchester. The collection also ihcludes several fine illustrated works. Henry George, of San Francisco, has a small library of about one thousand volumes, mostly of standard English literature, with a selection on 232 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Political Economy, second to that of no other pri- vate hbrary in the State. The small collection of books belonging to Arpad Haraszthy is notable from the fact that Mr. Haraszthy has made it a principle never to buy a book that he could obtain in a public library; con- sequently, his six hundred or more volumes are composed almost exclusively of rare and out of the way books, with some fine illustrated works and rare works of French authors; were these not temporarily packed away they would have afforded some interesting bibliographical notes. John C, Hall is the possessor of a few hundred volumes of well-selected standard English and German literature. Although this collection is small, a cultivated taste is shown in the selection; and, as Mr. Hall is a young man and a book-lover, this is probably the nucleus around which a con- siderable library will some day be formed. The library of A. S. Hallidie, consisting of about twenty-five hundred volumes, is lodged in plain redwood cases of neat design, extending from floor to ceiling of the room devoted to books. A tasteful Brussels carpet of brown, with a little dash of red here and there, covers the center of the floor, which is finished in hardwood. Leather- covered furniture and a large desk of inlaid black walnut complete the furniture of the room. Mr. Hallidie's collection is particularly complete in scientific and engineering works, with many works COLLECTED NOTES. 233 rarely seen in a private library. He has a full set of The Patent Repertory from 1794 to 1862; Theatrum Arithmetico Geometricum, by Jacob Leupold, eight folio volumes, published at Leipzig, in 1727; many sets of scientific publications, with dictionaries of science, civil engineering, etc. Cours de Mathematiques, printed at Paris, in 181 2, is an excellent work, and possesses an additional value from having been one of the volumes form- ing Napoleon's library 5t St. Helena. Among a number of rare old books is Toi Makariotatoi Dionysioy, from the Vatifcan press in 1608; Caliud Prohemium Totius Operis, a beauti- ful edition on vellum, with broad margins, clearest type and marginal notes, printed during the pontif- icate of Innocent VIII., about the year 1484; De Historia Sterpium Commentarii Insignes, Lugduni, 1 551; Aur. Theodosii Macropi Opera, edited by Arnold Wilfeld, Lugduni Batavorum ex officina Plantiniana, 1597; Levini Leninii Medici Zinzsei Occulta Naturae Miracula, Antwerp, 1567; Sulpici Severi Presbyteri Opera Omnia, with commenta- ries by George Horn, Lugduni, 1647; Thesaurus Historiarum, by Matthias Burgklehner, Rome, 1562; A Defence of the Innocence of the Three Ceremonies of the Church of England, the Surplice, Crosse after Baptisme, and Kneeling at the Receiv- ing of the Blessed Sacrament, second edition, Lon- don, 1 619; Perspective Practical, a text book of art, by a member of the Society of Jesus, a Pari- 2 34 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. sian, containing numerousfine copperplates; Anglia Libera, Jo. Toland, 1 701; and Whitby's New Tes- tament. In addition to the books already men- tioned, the collection comprises many Greek and Latin classics, originals, and translations, with some rare copies; a number of theological works of every denomination^ many old and rare; and a few choice law books. Among the latter is a fine edition of Blackstone, in four volumes, formerly the property of Lord Grenville, containing his autographical notes. Among miscellaneous works are full sets of Notes and Queries, the Penny Cyclopaedia and London Art Journal, The Come- dies of Calderon, Owen Jones' Grammar of Orna- ment, and Chapman and Hall's Edition of Dickens, with the original illustrations. It is a matter of regret that knowledge of Mr. Hallidie's library reached us too late for a more extended notice . Notable among collections made with system and forethought and designed for practical use, is the library of Dr. C. C. Keeney, of San Francisco, numbering about three thousand volumes. This collection cannot be said to have a specialty of any kind, but it is particularly complete in history, poetry, and Greek and Latin classics. The books are very systematically .arranged, and, being finely bound, present a handsome appearance upon the shelves. No attention has been paid to the collec- tion of rare or choice editions, but a few have crept in, by accident, as it were. Among these are an COLLECTED NOTES. 235 edition of Moliere, in ten small volumes, finely illustrated by Mignard, the original text and an English translation being given on opposite pages, The Scottish Gael, Musee de Naples, and a copy of the Talmud, in five folio volumes, published in Leipzig, in 1710. Reuben H. Lloyd, the well known and popular lawyer, has at his office, in Nevada Block, a valuable and rare collection of seven or eight hun- dred volumes, among which is a copy of the grand photographic work of the Queen's Residence in the Highlands of Scotland, at Balmoral, bound in the maple wood of that county; Bell's Pantheon, with the copper- plates ; the Athenian Letters, two volumes quarto, and many other rare classical works. Mr. Lloyd has in his library a museum arranged in a case which contains some rare coins and medals, and also some curious broadsides and manuscripts, and a letter of General Washington. Mr. John T. McGeoghegan's collection of one thousand or more volumes is largely composed of novels, probably comprising the most extensive and best selection to be found in any private li- brary in the State. The remainder of his books consist of works of reference and history, with several fine art works. J. P. Manrow's library, at his quaint Elizabethian cottage on the heights of Russian Hill — a house, built when many San Francisco millionaires of to- day were living 'in tents^s a cozy little room with 236 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. windows opening into a glass covered veranda, with hanging baskets and stands of flowers. The finish of the room and cases is in mahogany, the design corresponding to the architecture of the house. The books, numbering about six hundred volumes, consist largely of scientific and historical works, with some miscellaneous literature, and a number of sets of periodicals. The collection belonging to Mrs. C. L. Maynard, of about fifteen hundred volumes, is composed of well-selected general literature, history, biography, romance, poetry and the drama, with some excel- lent scientific and architectural works, all in hand- some bindings. Among books worthy of note are the Memoirs of John Howard, by James Baldwin Brown, original edition with uncut edges, an early copy of Pope's Odyssey, and the original edition of Dryden's Virgil. The books belonging to A. J. Messing, rabbi of the Congregation Beth-Israel, constitute a little more than one thousand volumes, principally works in the Hebrew language, theological, historical, poetical and works of reference, with some Greek and Latin classics, the so-called i German classics, and a few English works. Among the books are eight editions of the Bible, published in different countries, at different times, and in different lan- guages. Dr. Messing has a collection of works of the greatest authorities on Hebrew law, probably the best selection to be found on the coast, and a COLLECTED NOTES. 237 rare collection of Midrashin. Among other rare works is the Jewish codex, called Turin, in eight volumes, published in Berlin, 1764; the best edi- tion of the Talmud, twelve folio volumes,, printed at Vienna in 1844; an older edition of the same in twenty-four volumes, printed in 1754; two rare and desirable editions of the Mishna; and a little book of a curious nature, called Kabalah, meaning mystery, a treatise on the so-called mystic sciences, published in Wilna, Russia, in 1616. Judge R. S. Messick has a collection of about two thousand volumes, one of the most carefully selected on the coast. Among choice books may be enumerated : The Musee Fran^ais, four volumes folio, with fine impressions of the plates; a mag- nificent set of the one hundred-guinea edition of Hume & Smollett's History of England, ten vol- umes, folio, with the grand illustrations in copper- plate; a complete set of the London Art Journal; large paper editions of Pope, Milton, Dryden, Burke, Hume, etc.'; Knight's illustrated Shakespeare, eight volumes royal octavo; a late illustrated English edition of Moliere, six octavo volumes; Bell's Pompeiana, two royal octavo volumes, and rare editions of Junius, Wraxall, etc. John Mone, of San Francisco, has a small,' but fast increasing library, notv numbering about twelve hundred volumes, scarcely one of which does not possess intrinsic worth, the selection hav- ing evidently been made with care and forethought. 238 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. Among the choicest works may be noted an early- edition of the Dramatic Works of Samuel Foote; Merrie England in the Olden Time, illustrated by John Leech and Robert Cruikshank; Polymetis, by James Spence, printed in London in 1755, with large plates; and Scott's Lady of the Lake, with original photographs of scenes described in the poem. Bernard Moses, Professor of History in the University of California, possesses a library of about fifteen hundred volumes, collected while he was studying in Europe, during the years 1870-74. A feature of special interest is a collection of books on Scandinavian history and literature, which form a considerable portion of the whole; the remainder relate principally to history and political economy. The library of Mr. Moss, though not extensive, is particularly well selected. It contains many rare English and French historical and biographical works and diaries of the best editions, generally well bound and in good condition. His taste in collecting extends to works of art, and he posses- ses many elegant books of engravings and illu- minated works; such as Shaw's Dresses and Decorations of England in the Middle Ages, two vols., imp. 8vo.; Costumes Historique, from Fouque, 4to., morocco, plates colored by hand, London; France Illustrated, by Home, steel plate engravings; D'Agincourt's History of Art, folio, London; Racinet's Polychromatic Ornaments, COLLECTED NOTES. 239 folio, with illuminated plates in gold and colors; also some fine works on interior decorations, in colors; and some rare and valuable works on natural history. The library contains, in all, about one thousand volumes. *Mr. D. J. Murphy's collection, consisting of about one thousand volumes, is chiefly composed of the works of standard English authors. Dr. James Murphy has a collection of about fifteen hundred volumes; the most salient feature of which is its extent in ancient and modern voyages and travels. It contains, among others, a splendid set of the Admiralty editions of Capt. Cook's three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, with the large folio volume of copper plates and maps; Vancou- ver's Voyages, three volumes, quarto; Vennega's California, two volumes, octavo, very rare, London, 1759; and Lewis and Clarke's travels to the Pacific Ocean, in the year 1804-6, three octavo volumes. Charles Page, a rising young lawyer of San Francisco, has about six hundred volumes of standard English, French and Spanish works. Gilbert Palache has a small, well-bound collec- tion of books, specially designed for home use and reference. The collection is very general in its character, including most of the standard English authors in the various fields of history, romance and poetry. H. A. Palmer, of Oakland, in addition to a number of miscellaneous books, has a small, but 240 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. very complete collection of works relating to polit- ical economy and social science, making one of the best private collections on those subjects in the State. The collection of books belonging to George Frederick Parsons, of the Sacramento Record- Union^ numbering between two and three thousand volumes, is modestly esteemed by the owner as a simple working library. Unprejudiced judges, possessing some familiarity with its contents, pro- nounce it one of the choicest and most intelligent selections in the State. No particular department predominates, though it has something more than usual of Asiatic, literature. It contains some black letter specimens, a Juvenal and Persius printed at Florence, in 1474, several infrequent and rather out of the way books treating of the occult sciences and kindred topics; and a fair representation of ancient and modern history, travels, biography, memoirs, essays, poetry, belles-lettres, theology, with a number of works of what the orthodox would call free-thinking or infidel literature. Science is not neglected, and the drama is remembered. The collection displays plenty of good bindings and some handsome ones, but nothing has been sacrificed to outward effect. J. P.- Pierce, of Santa Clara, has a well-selected family library, of something more than one thou- sand volumes, miscellaneous in character and neatly bound. COLLECTED NOTES. 24 1 Professor Price, of San Francisco, the well- known assayer and scientist, has a scientific library, numbering about two thousand volumes. Willard B. Rising, Professor of Chemistry, in the University of California, has gathered together between seven and eight hundred books, comprising some standard works of reference and general literature, but mostly composed of works relating to his profession. Among these are several that are rarely seen, including Liebig's Annalen der Chernie und Pharmacie, one hundred and ninety- three volumes; Jahresbericht iiber die Fortschritt der Chemie, thirty volumes (1847—70); Berzielius Jahresbericht der Chemie, twenty-seven volumes (1822-48); Fresenius Zeitschrift fiir Analytische Chemie, seventeen volumes (1862-78); Berichte der Deutsche Chemische Gesellschaft zu Berlin, nineteen volumes (1868-78); and many standard text-books on chemistry. C. P. Robinson has a small but well-selected library, numbering about eight hundred volumes, consisting mainly of complete editions of standard English authors, all fastidiously bound in full tree or polished calf and Russia. The most notable works in the collection are a complete set of the original Abbotsford edition of Scott and the Aldine edition of the British Poets. John H. Saunders, formerly of San Francisco but now a resident of San Rafael, has a very rare and choice collection of a thousand volumes of the 242 PRIVATE LIBRARIES. best works of the best English authors, including the works of Dr. Samuel Johnson, University Press edition, twelve volumes octavo, a full set of the original edition of the elder D' Israeli, De Quincy's works, Moore's Sheridan, the illustrated and best editions of Scott, Dickens, etc. This col- lection has been made with great care, taste and judgment. Dr. Horatio Stebbins, Pastor of the Geary- street Unitarian church of San Francisco, has a library of about twenty-five hundred volumes, the most prominent feature of which is the number of foundation books of history and philosophy, with the productions of the ablest writers on the current discussions of the day. The remainder of the books are miscellaneous in character and include standard works of fiction and poetry. Dr. J. D. Whitney has a library of several thousand volumes, chiefl.y composed of scientific and philosophical works. THE Public Libraries. STATE LIBRARY OF CALIFORNIA. One of the most flourishing institutions in the State, and of which Californians. are justly proud, is the State Library at Sacramento, a collection numbering upwards of forty-eight thousand vol- umes, and receiving large accessions every year. Prior to 1850, there seem to have been but a few scattering books belonging to the State, but in that year an Act of Legislature directed that such books should be collected together and placed in the custody of the Secretary of State, who should also serve as State Librarian. This Act also placed the control of the library in the hands of a Board of Trustees, composed of five members, elected by the Legislature. Free use of the books was given to members of the Legislature and State officers, but a stringent clause, still in force, stipu- lates that all books taken by the former shall be returned at the close of the session; and that before the Controller draws a warrant for the last week's salary of any member he must be satisfied that all 244 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. books drawn from the library have been returned, or, if lost or injured, paid for to the amount of three times their value. About the year 1856, a collection known as The Law Library of San Francisco, composed of thirty- five hundred standard law books, including some rare statutes and reports, belonging to Wm. B. Olds, was acquired by purchase for about $17,000. Various changes in the appointment of the Board of Trustees took place, until an Act of Legislature, in 1866, which appears to have been the last, specifies that the Board shall be composed of the Attorney-general, and four members elected by Legislature, holding office for the term of four years. The library has been built up out of the funds derived from the fees paid to the Secretary of State, and from the system of exchanges adopted in pursuance of law. About thirty-two thousand of the books are in the general library, and sixteen thousand or more in the law library. Since the date of the last report, 1876-77, nu- merous additions have been made to the library in all its departments. The department of Reports in the law library is complete to date. It contains full sets of all the American and all the English, Scotch, Irish and Canadian Reports, together with the Digests, Statutes, etc. Many additions have been made to the collection of session laws of the several States. In addition to the very full collec- STATE LIBRARY OF CALIFORNIA. 245 tion of Statute Law and Reports, there is a large collection of Treatises, embracing all the standard authors and most recent editions. It comprises also full sets of all the leading law journals and periodicals of England and America; those still in publication being acquired up to date. There is also a considerable collection of works on Civil Law and on French and Spanish law, including Cor- pus yuris Civilis^ Pandects, etc., etc. In political science, political economy, and its kindred subjects of finance, banking, commerce and statistics, are represented nearly all the stan- dard authors, from Adam Smith to President Woolsey, including such writers as Ricardo, Bas- tiat, McCulloch, Tooke (with a complete set of Tooke's History of Prices, now very rare), Francis, Colwell, Price, McLeod, Walker, Wells, etc., and a large .collection of books, pamphlets, newspapers and periodicals illustrative of political history. The controlling purpose of the managers of the library has always been to make a collection of such books as would best assist the Legislature, State ofificers,.and Courts to an intelligent discharge of their duties; and to accomplish this purpose they have sought and obtained as near as possible every book which would be useful to the states- man, legislator, judge, or lawyer. They have made considerable advancement in the collection of a general library. Fine arts, poetry, belle-let- tres, history, ancient and modern, local and foreign, 246 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. are well represented. The sciences, too, have re- ceived attention, and the library contains many valuable works on architecture, while the subjects of sanitary engineering and house-building have been remembered; and Latham, Denton, Bayles and other authors are to be found on the shelves. The Medical Library has also been worked up to a high standard of excellency, and contains most of the standard authors on the theory and practice of medicine in general, as well as those of specialists, eminent in their chosen branches of the profession. The collection in this department in- cludes all the publications of the Sydenham Soci- ety and the principal medical, surgical and physio- logical journals of England and America, Guy's Hospital Reports, Transactions of Medical Socie- ties, etc., etc. The department of magazines is well supplied, and contains complete sets of such standard maga- zines as Dodsley's Annual Register, The Monthly Magazine, Cornhill Magazine, Gentlemen's Maga- zine, London Quarterly, Westminster Review, Edinburgh Review^ Fortnightly Review, Dublin University Review, Cotemporary Review, Nine- teenth Century, Athenaeum, North American Re- view, Hunt's Merchants' Magazine and Financial Chronicle, Galaxy, Harper's, Scribner's, Atlantic, Nation, and many others. Besides these there is a large collection of the journals and transactions of learned societies, such as the Royal Geograph- STATE LIBRARY OF CALIFORNIA. 247 ical Society, Royal Agricultural Societies of Eng- land and of India, of the Society of Arts, Philo- • logical Society,. Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Civil Engineers, Society for the Ad- vancement of Science, and the British and Amer- ican Societies for the Advancement of Social Science. Indeed this department has approached such a degree of exceHence as to require only the continuations of current publications to make it complete in the future. The dramatic department is very full with all the great editions of Shakespeare, viz.: Halliwell, six- teen volumes, folio; Malone's Variorum edition; Valpey's; Knight's; and Boydell's — the last in ele- phant folio, two volumes — also the Pickering edi- tion; a photo-lithographic fac-simile of the folio of of 1623, and a complete set of the Shakespeare Society's publications, together with a number of other works on Shakespeare, in all about two hun- dred volumes. In addition to this admirable col- lection of Shakespeare publications, most of the standard dramatic authors are represented, besides the following collections: Bell's British Theatre; Cumberland's British Theatre; Inchbald's British Theatre; modern standard drama; minor drama, and many others, some of them rare. In the department of biography and personal memoirs, etc., the library is rich, the number of volumes in this department being up in the thou- sands. 24S PUBLIC LIBRARIES. In lexicons, cyclopedias, etc., there is scarcely anything to be desired. The works of all the best lexicographers of America, England, France, Ger- many, and indeed of all the languages, including the Chinese, are to be found on the shelves, while among cyclopedias are to be found all the English and American, and also the French cyclopedias. Among the late valuable works added are Du Gauge's Glossarium Mediae et Infirmse Latinitatis, in eight volumes, an elegant set, and Larousse's Grand Dictionnaire Universel, fifteen volumes, Paris, 1875. In the department of bibliography, it is probably safe to say, that not one standard work of impor- tance is lacking, while there are several that are extremely, rare. In fine art works, engravings, etc., the library is unusually rich, containing many hundreds of choice and valuable works. Among these may be named Galeries Historiques de Versailles, sixteen volumes, folio; Musee Fran9ais, four volumes, folio; Musee Pio Clementino, eight volumes, folio, Rome, 1772, an elegant edition; Pitti Galerie, four vol- umes, folio; Daniel's Oriental Scenery, three vol- umes, folio; and Animated Nature, two volumes, folio; Robert's Sketches of the Holy Land; Egypt, Nubea, etc., three volumes, folio; Silvestre's Uni- versal Paleography, translated from the French and edited by Sir Frederic Madden; Ruskin's works, large edition; La Croix's works, complete, STATE LIBRARY OF CALIFORNIA. 249 best edition; Montfaucon's Antiquities; Kings- borough's Mexican Antiquities; Hogarth's works; Gillray's Caricatures; Turner Gallery; Chinese Gallery; Lawrence Gallery; Vernet's Gallery; Poussin's Gallery; The Yellowstone Park, by Hayden and Moran; all of Dore's great works, with many other works containing illustrations of scenery and costumes in various countries, engrav- ings of ancient sculpture and celebrated paintings in European galleries. It also comprises many histories, text-books and hand-books of art. The library contains only a few books which are prized on account of their age or rarity. Among these are a Bible printed in 1 501, an ele- gant specimen of early printing; Virgilii Maronis Opera, folio, Venice, 1544; Homeri Odyssea, printed in Latin and Greek, Cantabrigae, 1664; Ovid's Metamorphoses, Englished, mythologized and represented in figures, by George Sandys, 1640, a fine copy of George Sandys' translation made on the banks of the James, and said to be the first translation from the classics ever made in America; Sir Thomas More's Commonwealth of Utopia, i6mo, London, 1639; Coke's Institutes, revised and edited by the author, London, 1629, formerly the property of Gen. William R. Davie, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to France, under Washington's Administration, which was obtained from the library of the late W^illiam H. 250 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Rhodes (Caxton) ; and Sir William Standford's Les Plees del Coron, London, R. Lottel, 1583. As this is not intended for a circulating library, romance and fiction have not received rnuch atten- tion, but the works of the best authors in that line are to be found; the works of Fielding, Smollet, Dickens, Thackeray, Bulwer, Scott, Cooper, George Eliot, De Foe, Lever, Hawthorne, and countless others, all being upon the shelves. The number of volumes in the library at this time, the close of 1878, is forty-eight thousand, exclusive of duplicates, and many pamphlets un- numbered. The present officers of the library are as follows: John W. Armstrong, Frederic Cox, Jo Hamilton, F. W. Hatch, E. W. Maslin, Board of Trustees; Mr. Armstrong is the President of the Board; R. O. Cravens, Librarian ; Mrs. Laura Morton and James E. Robinson, Deputy Librarians. The trustees serve without compensation. The salary of the librarian is three thousand dollars per annum, and the salary of each deputy eighteen hundred dollars per annum. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. When the College of California, an institution whose history is wrapt in partial obscurity, be- came merged into the University of California, among other possessions which it handed over to its successor was a college library, consisting of one thousand and thirty- six volumes. About six hundred of these books were a gift from the Rev. Levi Hart of Plymouth, Mass.; a complete set of the American Journal of Science (1S18-67), were contributed by Mr. Sherman Day, son of President Jeremiah Day of Yale College; and the remainder of the collection consisted chiefly of donations made by members of the Faculty from their own private libraries. Prior to April, 1871, no day-book was kept in connection with the University ^Librarj^, but a con- siderable number of books were received in Oc- tober, 1870; and during the same year the library of Dr. Alexander S. Taylor, of Santa Barbara, a collection consisting principally of historical works, numbering about eight hundred volumes, was pur- chased for five hundred dollars. President A. S. HalHdie, in the name of the Mechanics' Institute of San Francisco, donated complete sets of The Civil Engineers' and Architects' Journal, and of the Quarterly Reports of the Geological Society of Great Britain. 252 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. In the year 1871, Mr. Edmond L. Goold, of San Francisco, made a valuable donation of encyclo- paedias and dictionaries, the preliminary to other generous gifts. Several hundred volumes were also purchased during the year. In the following year, the Hon. J. W. Dwinelle placed in the library of the University^ as a loan, a portion of his own collection, mostly composed of Latin classics, one hundred and sixty volumes in all, which still remain there. Mr. A. B. Forbes, of San Francisco, donated about sixty volumes of government publications; and forty volumes of a similar character were presented by George Tait, Esq., from the library of the late Rev. J. H. Bray- ton. The Rev. E. W. Oilman also donated about thirty volumes, a polyglot collection of bibles and testaments, in the name of the American Bible Society. Mr. William Oilman Thompson presented three hundred and three volumes literary, historical, and biographical in character, and in December of this year, President D. C. Oilman gave three hun- dred and twenty-five volumes, miscellaneous in character. Six hundred and sixty-eight volumes were also acquired by purchase. The year 1873 is memorable in the history of the University for the acquisition of the library of the late Dr. Francis Lieber of New York, consist- ing of over twenty-three hundred volumes, and two thousand pamphlets biographical, historical, political and miscellaneous, the gift of Michael UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 253 Reese of San Francisco. The Hon. S. F. Butter- worth, WilHam Sharon and James Anthony do- nated files of various California and Eastern news- papers, and J. Ross Browne and the Hon. S. J. Field contributed a number of political documents. From anonymous donors about fifty volumes and two hundred pamphlets were received, and one hundred and fifty volumes were acquired by pur- chase, During the same period Mr. Samuel L. Theller, of San Francisco, contributed ninety vol- umes, including some rare old books. Professor Martin Kellogg gave more than a score of philo- logical works, a gift which he has supplemented with later contributions; and Col. J. C. Woods, of San Francisco, gave ninety-four volumes, a com- plete set of Parliamentary history and debates. In the year 1874 was received the collection bequeathed to the University by the late F. L. A. Pioche, consisting chiefly of choice editions of works in modern French literature, elegantly bound and numbering upwards of fifteen hundred volumes. With this collection also came the Pioche gallery of paintings, old, rare and valuable. Professor William Ashburner gave a handsomely bound set of Annales des Mines, in seventy-nine volumes; and Mr. C. H. Hawks, of New York, gave a costly set of the Colonial Records of Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay Colonies. Mr. Alexander Agassiz, in the year 1875, sent such works of his father. Professor Louis Agassiz, 2 54 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. as were not in the library, comprising some rare and valuable books. Mrs. and Miss Fourgeaud donated the professional library of the late Dr. Victor T. Fourgeaud, consisting of about five hundred and thirty standard medical works, besides numerous pamphlets. The class of '75 gave twenty-five or more volumes to the circulating library, and donations of Government documents were received from the Hon. John S. Hager. Leading American publishers have contributed generously to the library; members of the Faculty have made constant donations, and the California Representatives in Congress have made frequent additions. For other valuable gifts, the University is indebted to the California Academy of Sciences, Professor Joseph Henry and the Smithsonian In- stitute, Prof. John Eaton, the Hon. Hamilton Fish, the Hon. Columbus Delano, Brig.-Gen. A. A. Humphreys, General Albert J. Meyer, Brig.-Gen. S. V. Benet, Rear-Admiral B. F- Sands, F. V. Hayden, and Geo. M. Wheeler, of the U. S. Sur- vey of the Territories, the Hon. Horace Capron and Peter Donahue. Mr. H. D. Bacon, of Oakland, with character- istic generosity, has recently presented to the University his private library, consisting of about two thousand volumes of choice editions of English standard literature, elegantly bound. In addition he has given his art gallery and twenty-five thou- sand dollars, to be used toward the erection of a UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 255 library building. Mr, Alexander Del Mar has also tendered his collection of works relating to the subject of political economy, numbering about two thousand volumes. The whole number of books now contained in the collection is sixteen thousand three hundred. The library of the University is a pleasant room at the north end of the brick building, well lighted and ventilated and pleasantly fitted up. The cases are of black walnut, of tasteful design, and set at right angles to the windows, so that a good light is thrown on the books. The latter have long ago absorbed all possible space, and the later and most valuable acquisitions still remain packed. At each end of the room are long tables on which are ar- ranged the leading periodicals of the day. The library is further adorned by bronze busts of Homer, Hippocrates, Socrates, Solon and Franklin, the work of M. Barbedienne, of Paris, presented by Charles Mayne, Esq., of San Francisco. To this collection a bust of the late President, Henry Durant, has been added by the Ladies' Relief Society of Oakland. Adjoining this room is a smaller one, designed for a work-room or office, in which shelf-room has been given to many books. The great need is for more commodious quarters, and for this purpose the Board of Regents has appropriated twenty-five thousand dollars, which, with Mr. Bacon's donation, ought to provide an elegant, spacious and commodious building. This 256 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. edifice will be erected in the college quadrangle on the University grounds. The collection of books is largely devoted to solid subjects, with a few choice works of art, poetry and general literature. The subjects of philology, science, social science, history, and agri- culture are well represented, and the collection of classical literature is very full. A large part of the library consists of periodical literature and of the transactions, etc., of learned societies. Exclusive of literary and critical reviews and illustrated magazines, it contains sets of the following publications: In philology: Chaucer; early English Text So- ciety and Shakespeare Society publications; Ar- ber's Reprints; Journal of Philology; American Philological Association Transactions; American Oriental Society's Journal. In general science : Academie Fran9aise — Memoires et Comptes Rendus les travaux de la Academie Francaise des Sciences morales et politiques ; Proceedings of American Asso- ciation for Advancement of Science; Transactions of Royal Societies of Edinburgh and London; Proceedings of the California Academy of Science; Smithsonian Institute Publications; American Jour- nal of Science; Nature; Philosophical Magazine. In geology and mineralogy: London Geological Society Journal; Revue de Geologic; Jahrbuch fiir Mineralogie, etc.; and such noble works as D'Archi- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 257 ac's Progres de G^ologie; Barrande's Systeme Sil- urien de Boheme; D'Orbigny's Paleontologie, Goldfuss' Petrafacta Germanica. In chemistry: Annales de Chimie; Poggendorff's Annalen, Kolbe's Journal; London Chemical So- ciety Journal and Memoirs, Chemical News, Bul- letin de la Societe Chemique de Paris; Liebig's Annalen ; Wagner's Technologische Chemie ; Staedel's Reine Chemie; Jahresbericht der Agri- cultur-Chemie; Gmelin's Hand-book; Bolley's Technologic; and Watt's and Muspratt's diction- aries. In mining and engineering: Annales des Mines (1832 to date); American Association of Mining Engineer's Transactions; Engineering and Mining Journal ; Zeitschrift der Deutscher Ingenieuren ; ■ Civil-Ingenieur; Civil Engineers' and Architects' Journal; Berg-und Hiitten-mannische Zeitung, Also, American Journal of Mathematics; Annals of Harvard Observatory; Observations, etc., United States Naval Observatory; Bulletin and Memoirs of Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology; United States Coast Survey charts and reports; United States Lake Survey charts and re- ports; United States Army Engineer Department; War and Topographical maps, complete; Pacific Railroad Surveys; and Journal of Science. Among other works of importance, or otherwise deserving mention, are Mantz's Chefs d'Oeuvre de la Peinture Italienne; Mangin's les Jardins; Lacroix' 258 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Moyen Age; Musee I mperiale du Louvre; Gailha- baud's Monuments, anciens et modernes; Mont- faucon's Antiquites; Firmin Didot's Galerie des Peintures, Nouveau Testament, and his exquisite 32mo. edition, of 1855, of Virgil, Horace and Anacreon (four tiny volumes, costing thirty dol- lars each); Balzac's Contes Drolatiques, illus- trated by Dore; Aine's Herculaneum et Pompeii ; Humboldt and Bonpland's Cordilleras; Kings- borough's Antiquities of Mexico; Photographs of the Yellowstone National Park; Acker man's His- tory of the University of Oxford, with numerous plates, water colored by hand; Works of Hogarth; Gillray; Humphrey's Art of Printing; Draining of Lake Fucino, by Prince Torlonia; Harisse: Biblio- theca Americana Vetusta (large papqr edition); the Teubner edition of Greek classics, and the Lemaire edition of the Latin, with early editions from the presses of Aldus, Elzevir, Andrea, Mavie, Stoer, Nicolinus, Mylius, Jansson, etc.; the Tas- soni-Muzio-Maratori edition of Le Rime di Pet- rarca, and Bosqui's Vines and Vineyards of Cali- fornia, a magnificent work. The collection also contains a few bibliographical curiosities, among which may be mentioned a ms. of laws relating to mines and mine owners in Peru, 1757-67, discovered secreted in an old shaft; Paracelsus' New Light of Alchymy and Chymical dictionary, 1674; one hundred and eighty-four war and topographical maps of France UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 259 and Belgium, published just before the outbreak of the French revolution of 1789, once owned and used by Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain; the set presented by Joseph Mailliard^ Esq., of San Rafael; Geistlicher Schild, edition of 1647; Rosarium of 1497; Grebner's Prediction sur Charles II.; Dela- chambre sur la lumiere et I'amour; L'Enfant's con- cile de Pise; and a Japanese work, containing one hundred specimens of Japan woods, cross and vertical sections, with exceeding delicacy shown in the preparation and mounting, and so arranged that they can be used under the microscope. The most notable features of this library have been detailed at some length, partly because it is in intfent and in spirit an institution for the benefit of the public, its stores of knowledge always cor- dially opened to any student or scholar, and also- because it is a most remarkable collection for a library of a few years' growth. Like most Cali- fornia institutions, it has seen hard times — times when its existenee was uncertain and precarious. This era it has now left behind. The yearly ap- propriation of two thousand dollars from the Board of Regents, together with the income arising from the bequest of the late Michael Reese, place it on a sound basis, and it can take no more steps back- ward. Californians do not do things by halves, and there is a growing disposition among men of means to make generous gifts for educational pur- 26o PUBLIC LIBRARIES. poses. Ten years from now this will undoubtedly be a magnificent collection. The librarian, Mr. J. C. Rowell, is a young man devoted to his work, courteous and obliging in demeanor. THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY. First among San Francisco libraries in age, ex- tent and importance, should be noticed the Mer- cantile Library. The first successful attempt to organize a mer- cantile library association in San Francisco was made at a meeting held on the evening of the twenty -second of December, 1852. Repeated attempts had previously been made, only to meet with repeated failures, but the young men interest- ed in the scheme were not to be discouraged. At this meeting considerable public enthusiasm was manifested. A month later the final organization was effected, a certificate of incorporation adopted, and officers elected. Mr. David S. Turner wis the first President, and served for two years. A collection of fifteen hundred volumes was pur- chased, and liberal donations increased the num- ber to about five thousand volumes during the fol- lowing year. In the year 1863 it was re-incorporated by an Act of Legistature. The management of the Association was vested in a Board of Trustees, consisting of President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and nine trustees, to be elected annually; no mem- ber to hold the office of President or Vice-Presi- dent for more than two successive years. 262 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. During the first fifteen years of its existence the library occupied contracted and inconvenient quarters at high rentals. In 1865 the project of procuring a lot and erecting a suitable building assumed a tangible form. By the united efforts of the trustees the sum of twenty thousand dollars was secured from life memberships and donations. With this sum^ increased by an additional appro- priation of two thousand dollars from the funds of the association, a lot was negotiated for on Bush street, between Montgomery and Sansome. The price to be paid was fifty thousand dollars; the entire sum available, twenty-two thousand dollars, was devoted to part payment of the cost of the lot, and a loan of one hundred thousand dollars was effected, a mortgage upon the lot and proposed building given as security. After- wards additional loans, to the amount of one hun- dred thousand dollars were effected, the whole bearing interest at one per cent, per month. The building was completed and formally dedicated on the eighteenth of June, 1868. In his following report, the President stated the indebtedness of the association to be two hundred and forty thou- sand dollars. Dark days had come upon the institution. Every effort was made to reduce the debt; bonds were issued but could not be negotiated; courses of lectures tried, efforts made to obtain subscriptions, fairs held, but the effect was to deplete the treas- THE MERCANTILE L'IBRARY. 263 ury instead of replenishing it. To quote from President Swain's report: Thus matters stood at the commencement of 1869. The prospects were most gloomy. No favoring response came from any quarter. The purpose for which the building had been erected appeared to be a failure. The institution was on the downward road. There was no money to be appropriated to the purchase of new books. It was impossible even to obtain a sup- ply of the cheap current literature of the day. Booksellers had already large unpaid bills, and could not afford to trust any longer. The expenses were increasing with the increase of the debt. No helping hand was extended to save the institution; appeals to the public pride, public duty, public necessity, were fruitless.. The French Loan Society, failing to receive their interest, had commenced a suit of foreclosure. The fate of the library appeared sealed. With any other Treasurer,* it would have died at once. The trustees, almost disheartened, discouraged and disgusted, met night after night for consul- tation; but they were like meetings of physicians over an expiring patient. It was evident the patient must die. If a decent burial could be vouchsafed, it was as much as the trustees would dare ask of an enlightened and liberal people. But at this crisis, just as the hearts of the trustees were most faint and weary, temporary relief came from an unexpected quarter. Camilla Urso, to whom the Association is under a multitude of obligations, proposed a grand musical festival, from which a handsome and very welcome sum was realized. This festival netted the association about twenty thousand dollars. It awakened a public interest which paved the way for the success of a scheme from which deliverance came at last. A bill was passed by the Legislature, which became a law in February, 1870, authorizing the association to hold *Wfilliam C. Ralston. 264 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. three gift concerts, the proceeds to be devoted to the h'quidation of the debts of the association. The net profit from this source was three hundred and ten thousand and one hundred and twenty dollars, from which the entire indebtedness was paid, and twenty thousand dollars turned into the treasury. The buildincT has a frontagre on Bush street of sixty-eight and three-quarters feet and a depth of one hundred and thirty-seven and one half feet. It is three stories in height, with basement and attic. The design of the front elevation is in the modern Italian style of architecture. The entrances are three in number, surmounted by arches, in- troducing the visitor into a grand central entrance, twenty-six by sixty feet, with a broad and elegant central staircase leading to the library and rooms above. There are two stores on the ground floor, while in the basement is the lecture-room, fifty- eight by seventy-four feet, and twenty-four feet high, with supper-room, ladies' and gentlemen's dressing-rooms and waiting-rooms connected. On the first floor are placed the library-room, ladies' reading - room and parlor, the reference - room, trustees' room, and what was formerly used for the chess-room. The second floor contains reading- rooms, chess-room and store-room. The attic rooms are designed for offices, artists, studios, etc. The library-room is fifty-two, by sixty-four feet, occupying the entire frontage of the building on the first floor, with two entrances, one on each THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY. 265 side of the hall. An air of comfort and elegance clings to the room, with its dark brussels carpet, black walnut tables and desks, leather upholstered chairs and sofas, bronze and marble busts and elaborately finished cases of black walnut. Per- haps this impression is heightened by the "dim aristocratic twilight" which pervades the room — the only feature to be regretted. The books are arranged in cases on the eastern, western and northern walls, and in smaller double-faced cases standing at right angles to the windows. The librarian's desk, placed in the center near the front, and the cases, are inctosed by a railing, the public being denied access to the books. This step was found necessary, as aside from the losses suffered through dishonest persons, it is believed that three- fourths of the wear and damage the books sus- tain in open libraries, arises from promiscuous handling. Directly over the library-room, and of similar dimensions, is the reading-room, where files of about four hundred newspapers and magazines are conveniently arranged. The terms of membership to the association are : Life members, one hundred dollars; subscribers' initiation fee, two dollars; quarterly dues, three dollars. The system of book delivery is that generally adopted in our libraries. An octagonal cylinder of wood, revolving vertically on its axis, has two 2 66 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. hundred and fifty pigeon-holes on each side. These being numbered from one to two thousand, supply the places of pages on the old register plan. A hole is allotted to each member, in which are placed small cards of uniform color, bearing the name, address and number. When a book is given out a similar card, of different color, is used, upon which are placed the letter, indicating the class to which the book belongs, the title and num- ber of hole. Upon the return, the card is taken from the hole, and dropped into a drawer, where it remains to furnish statistical data. The books are classified ifpon the shelves with regard to their character, an numerical arrange- m nt by accession being observed in each depart- ment. A catalogue has been issued within a com- paratively recent date, notable for the pains-taking care displayed in its preparation. The library contains a fine collection in all de- partments, with an unusual number of costly works on archaeology, architecture, painting, natural his- tory and works of reference. It would take up too much space to name, indi- vidually, the many treasures of literature it pos- sesses. Among important works of reference, however (a department containing about two thou- sand volumes), may be noted: Make — Brun's Universal Geography, Philadelphia, 1827-32, six vols., 8vo; Penny Cyclopaedia, London, 1833-43 twenty-seven vols., quarto; Calepinus' Dictionarivm THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY. 267 Linguse Latinae, Lugduni, 1565, folio; Alcedos Geo- graphical and Historical Dictionary of America and the West Indies, London, 181 2, five vols., quar- to; Pauly; Real-Encyclopsedie; six vols, in eight; Passow's Griechisches Handworter-biich, Leipzig, 1841-57, three vols., quarto; Suidae Lexicon, two vols.; Arnault's Biographie Nouvelle des Contemp- orains, Paris, 1820-25, twenty vols., 8vo; Moreri: Grand Dictionnaire Historique, Paris, 1759, ten vols., folio; Bescherelle: Dictionnaire National de Langue Fran^aise, Paris, 1858, two vols., quarto; Conversations-lexikon, Leipzig, 1864-8, sixteen vols., 8vo; Grimm Bro.'s Worter-buch, vols. 1-8; Dictionnarie de I'Academie Fran9aise, Paris, 1823, three vols., quarto; Littre: Dictionnaire de la Langue Fran9aise, Paris, 1863-72, four vols., quarto; Querard: France Litteraire, Paris, 1828, twelve vols., 8vo; Brunet: Manuel de Libraire, fourth edition, five vols., 8vo, and fifth edition, six vols., 8vo; Encyclopaedia Britannica, eighth edition, twenty-two vols., quarto; Tolhausen et Gardissal: Technologisches Worter-buch, Paris, 1854-5, three vols., i6mo; Allibone's Dictionary of Authors, three vols., quarto; Rose's Biographical Dictionary, London, 1 851, twelve vols., 8vo; Lieber's Encyclo- pedia Americana; Philadelphia, 1848; fourteen vols., 8vo; Nicholson: British Encyclopaedia, London, 1809, six vols., 8vo; Rees' Cyclopaedia, Philadelphia, 1820, forty-eight vols., quarto; Heck: Iconographic Encyclopaedia, six vols., quarto; 268 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Bayle's Dictionary, London, 1734, four vols., quarto ; and Knight's English Cyclopeedia, London, 1854-72, twenty-six vols., quarto. Among art works, in choice editions, are the Dresden Gallery; Konig Ludwig's Album; Munich Gallery; Boiseree Gallery; Turner Gallery; Musee Fran9ais; Musee Royal; Arundel Society Publica- tions; Thompson's China; Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus; Ferguson's Rock-cut Temples of India; Stuart and Revett's Antiquities of Athens; Boy- dell's Shakespeare; Robert's Holy Land, and Egypt and Nubia; Piranessi's Opere d' Archettitura; Etch- ing Club Publications; Audubon's Birds of America; Niccolini's Monumenti di Pompeii; Botta's Monu- ment de Ninive; Owen Jones' Grammar of Orna- ment, and Alhambra; Gould's Birds of Europe, Birds of Australia, and Humming Birds; Gillray's Works; Hogarth's Works; Kingsborough's An- tiquities of Mexico ; Wilkes' Exploring Expedition ; Russel's Naval Architecture, and many others. Alfred E. Whitaker is the Librarian; L. B. Wetherbee and Gustavus Schwarzmann, Jr., As- sistants. Like our other libraries, the Mercantile pays a heavy annual tax upon its property, in accordance with a peculiar California law, which has its counter- part in one requiring booksellers to take out licenses as if they were dangerous institutions, like hack- drivers, saloons and mad dogs. THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. Libraries, like members of the human race, have each an individuality, in some respects differ- ing from each other and exerting a positive influ- ence in a special manner. Of course, as among men, all have the same general characteristics, yet in detail, in the particular sphere and place filled by each in the earth's history, they stand alone and separate. The Mechanics' Institute Library of San Fran- cisco occupies a position peculiar to itself, and one that all the others combined would not fill. The early history of this institution, like that of our other libraries, is one of struggle and discour- agement. On December iith, 1854, in the City Tax-collector's office was held the first meeting in regard to the formation of the Mechanics' Insti- tute. The great need of a library and its acces- sories, by the mechanics of the city, was discussed, and those present pledged themselves to do all in their power to attain that object. Geo. K. Gluyas, B. F. Haywood, R. Matheson, J. S. Williams, E. T. Steen and Henry E. Carleton, were appointed a committee to draft a Constitution and By-Laws. Reports of the proceedings were published in the leading city papers, which have, from that time to this, aided and encouraged the Association in all its undertakings. During the month of January, 270 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. ten thousand dollars in stock, at twenty-five dol- lars per share, was subscribed, but it would appear that it was much easier to get signatures than money, for a month later only three hundred and forty-seven dollars and fifty cents had been col- ected. On March 6th, a constitution and by-laws were adopted. The object of the Association, as set forth, was: "The establishment of a library, reading-room, the collection of a cabinet, scientific apparatus, works of art, and other literary and scientific purposes." On March 29th, the first election was held, B. F- Heywood being elected President. From that time to the present, there have been thirteen Presi- dents, whose names, terms of office and order are as follows: B. F. Heywood, one year; Roderick Matheson, one year; John Sims, two years; George Cofran, one year; Thomas Tennant, one year; John P. Buckley, one year; Benj. H. Freeman, one year; Joseph Britton, two years; Charles M. Plum, one year; H. J. Booth, one year; George K. Glu3'as, one year; A. S. Hallidie, ten years; Irving M. Scott, present incumbent. The room of the Institute at this time was in the fourth story of the building on the corner of Mont- gomery and California streets, which soon proved inadequate, and one more suitable was obtained on California street near Sansome. A second move was soon found necessary, and the second story of a building on Montgomery street, near Pine, was THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE. 271 fitted up and occupied June 12th, 1858, which, for a time, answered every purpose. The first books were received from S. C. Bug- bee, April 5, 1855, and consisted of a copy of the Bible, the Constitution of the United States, Ency- clopaedia of Architecture, and Curtis on Convey- ancing. Subsequently, the first two were stolen, a circumstance which would seem to indicate that the desire for religion and constitutional law was much greater at that day than it is at this. Miss Sarah P. Warren has the honor of presenting the first book received from a lady. Most of the books received at the commencement consisted of public documents donated by our representatives at Washington, which, as a general thing, are not very interesting reading. Every effort was made to increase the member- ship, and from a circular issued at that day, we quote the following: To those who have experienced the value of such institutions, it can scarcely be deemed necessaiy to argue its general useful- ness. But to mechanics of San Francisco, who are here from every State of the Union and from most of the European States, widely separated from influences of home, with but few places of innocent amusement open to them, such an association is almost a necessity. Like many other enterprises of a similar nature its advancement and final success has been gained only by continued and persistent efforts of its officers and friends. At the beginning of the year 272 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 1863, its prospects were gloomy indeed. The total income was but two hundred and seventy- five dollars per month, and expenses were at least three hundred dollars. An advantageous offer of a lot and building on California street, where the Alta California is now published (afterwards sold by the Institute), caused an extra effort to raise funds to be made, and three thousand dollars, the amount of the first payment was secured. That seemed to be the turning point of the tide, and from that day to this its prosperity has steadily increased. The present premises on Post street were pur- chased in 1866. The Institute building has a front- age of seventy-five feet by a depth of one hundred feet. On the ground floor are two well-lighted stores, with dry, well-lighted basement-rooms of the same size beneath. The first floor contains the general library, reference and patent-rooms, and ladies' reading-room, and on the second floor is located the reading-room and chess-room. The library hours are from 9 a. m. to 10 p. m. The library is also open on Sunday for reading and reference. The terms are : Life membership, fifty dollars; terms of subscription : entrance fee, one dollar; quarterly dues, one dollar and fifty cents. Aside from its influence and benefit as a library, there are but few associations in the Eastern States, and none on this coast, that have done so THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE. 273 much to develop and foster progress in the indus- trial arts. We refer to the thirteen industrial ex- hibitions that have been given under its auspices, and whose success has been due to the energy and wisdom of the directors of the Institute. The estimated value of the lot and building on Post street is one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars; of the books and fixtures, forty-eight thou- sand dollars; of the Mechanics' Pavilion, twenty- five thousand dollars, making a total of two hun- dred and eight thousand dollars, with a liability of only seventeen thousand dollars. The member- ship numbers about seventeen hundred. The rooms are well lighted, neatly and comfort- ably fitted up, the books in the circulating library all being accessible to members, and a homelike air pervades the whole. The library is especially complete in works of reference of a scientific character. Among these are the Scientific American, 1856 to date; the Artisan; the Engineer, 1856 to date; the Iron Age, full set; the Mining and Scientific Press, full set; Railroad Journal; Journal of Gas Lighting; The Builder, 1846 to date; Civil Engineer and Ar- chitects' Journal; North of England Institution of Mining Engineers; Practical Mechanics' Journal, 1846 to date; Revue des Beaux Mondes, twenty- nine volumes; Institution of Civil Engineers, 1837 to date; Telegraphic Journal; Transactions of the Institution of Naval Architects, ten volumes; Bom- 2 74 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. bay Magnetical Observations, eleven volumes ; Deutsche Rundschau, thirteen volumes; Micro- scopical Journal; Journal of the Franklin Institute, complete; Dingler's Polytechniches Journal, 1824 to date; Annalen der Physik, 1824 to date; Jour- nal of the British Association, fifty volumes; Jour- nal of the Chemical Society, London; Magazine of Botany, sixteen volumes; Transactions of the Lin- naean Society, thirty volumes; Transactions of the London I'aleontographical Society, thirty- two vol- umes; Van Nostrand's Magazine, complete; An- nales de Chimie, 1798 to date, two hundred vol- umes; Annales des Fonts et Chausee, one hundred and twenty-seven volumes; Philosophical Trans- actions of the Royal Society of London, 1665 to date, one hundred and seventy-eight volumes (quite rare) ; a Series of Abstracts of the most noted papers of the latter society, twenty-five volumes, and an index in six volumes of the scientific papers published by the same; Popular Science Monthly, to date; Chemical News, i860 to date; Transac- tions of the Zoological Society of London; Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 1839 to date; Botanical Magazine, with colored plates, fifty volumes, very rare; Hand-book of the South Kensington Museum; Mechanics' Magazine, 1823 to date; Repertory of Arts and Patent Inventions, 1823 to 1863, one hundred and thirty-four vol- umes; Annual of Scientific Discovery; Year-book of Facts, 1847 to date; Annual Record of Science THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE. 275 and Industry; American Almanack, 1830 to date; Wiesbach's Mechanics ; Descriptive Sociology, Herbert Spencer; and two hundred and fifty-three volumes in the Russian language on agriculture, arts and sciences. The library also contains a splendid collection of patent reports, the finest on the coast, comprising: A complete set of the American Patent Reports, with indexes; a complete set of the British Patent Reports from 161 7 to date, in uniform morocco binding, the drawings on cloth, enlarged size, in separate volumes ; also, abridged specifications and indexes of the same, the whole amounting to three thousand and fifty volumes, presented by the British Government. There are also fine collections of medical works, works of general reference, dictionaries and ency- clopaedias of arts and sciences, maps and atlases, with an especially fine selection of illustrated architectural and engineering works. It also in- cludes complete sets of many leading newspapers and magazines, nicely bound. Among fine illustrated works may be enumer- ated: Winckleman's History of Ancient Art and Costumes of the Ancients; The Harvard Book, two volumes; Gazette Archselogique; Art Journal to date; Britton's Architectural Antiquities; Ga- zette des Beaux Arts; Industrial Arts of the Nine- teenth Century, by Digby Wyatt; Monographie du Palais de Fontainebleau; Edifices of Rome; 276 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Audubon's Quadrupeds of North America; Audu- bon's Birds of America, folio edition; Boydell's Sliakespeare (first edition) ; the Works of Hogarth (original); The Arabian Antiquities of Spain, by J. Cavanaugh Murphy; Vienna Exhibition; Palais et Chateaux de France; Terra Cotta Architecture; etc., etc. The reference room also contains a copy of the Domesday Book, Playfair's Chronicles, and many books interesting to the bibliophile, with a com- plete set of the English Poets, The Spectator, Notes and Queries, etc. The books so far enumerated form only a small portion of the reference library. The remainder includes well-selected and valuable works in every department of science, especially naval architecture, mining and metallurgy, natural history, applied mechanics and hydraulics. The total number of books in this department is about 10,000. The circulating portion of the library contains about 18,000 volumes; divided as follows: Prose, fiction and juvenile, 8500; travels, 1200; belles- lettres, 1200; biography, 1600; science, 2000; history, 900; religion, 400; poetry and drama, 1 100; French and German, 1100. The reading-room is commodious, well-lighted, and supplied with all the principal newspapers and periodicals of the day. The present Librarian is Horace Wilson. As- sistant Librarians: A. M. Jellison and J. S. Harville. ODD-FELLOWS' LIBRARY. The Odd-Fellows' library, of San Francisco, is the result of the wisdom and foresight of a few in- telligent men, whose privilege it was to lay the corner-stone of Odd-Fellowship on the then dis- tant shores of the Pacific slope. Their Eastern culture, combined with their practical sagacity, led them to recognize as one of the cardinal principles of their beloved Order, the care of the minds of those intrusted to their guardianship; and the marked prosperity of the Order which they served, and of the literary institution which they founded, have abundantly justified their judgment. The library was organized December 30, 1854. At the beginning it consisted of such voluntary contributions of books as its friends had brought with them in their hegira to this coast, and it was, of course, very heterogeneous, and imperfect in character. Moreover, its funds were excessively limited; but such was the enthusiasm of its orig- inators; so great the vitality they infused into the movement; so intelligent their purchases, that, aided by the invaluable donations of an occasional scholarly contributor, the small seed dropped into the ground has, by degrees, developed into a large, sound, shapely and fruitful tree — an honor to the Order which has created it, a blessing to the families who enjoy its privileges, an ornament to the community in which it thrives. 278 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. The general classification of the books is made in the following order, which very well answers the purposes of shelf-arrangement : Atlases; belles- lettres; biography, letters and speeches; classics; congressional, state, municipal and law reports; games and sports; geography and history; novels; Odd Fellowship; periodicals and newspapers, bound; poetry and drama; — reference: dictionaries, cyclopedias, catalogues, directories, etc.; science, art, philosophy; patent-office reports; social and political science; theology; voyages and travels. The standard works of all these departments, from the standpoint of an American library, are pretty fully represented. Deficiencies are con- stantly supplied, and current issues steadily main- tained. The library has seldom sought for rare editions for their own sake; for its means have never per- mitted it to lose sight of the interest ol its mem- bers, and ''editiones rarse et curiosae" seldom con- tribute to this end. Bibliomania, pure and unde- filed, has luckily never invaded our domain. And yet in the course of years it has happened that in one way or another, the current of litera- ture that has flowed uninterruptedly into this in- stitution has borne upon its bosom, partly from chance, partly from the generosity of friends, partly from the very needs of the library, and the exist- ence of original editions only, many old, curious, and perhaps rare volumes. ODD-FELLOWS LIBRARY. 279 Premising that tliis collection is about the same in character as that of any American library of like proportions, we will proceed to mention some of the most noteworthy books in several of its depart- ments. In voyages and travels: The collection of the celebrated voyagers and discoverers of the seven- teenth and eighteenth centuries is very full. There is a fine Hakluyt, London, 1598-1600, three vols., in two-folio — with the Voyage to Cadiz — A. Churchill, London^ 1704-32, six volumes, folio; Dalrymple, London, 1770, two vols., quarto; Burney, London, 1803, four volumes, quarto; Hawkesworth, London, 1785, four vols., quarto; Harris, London, 1705, two vols., folio; another copy, 1744-48; Pinkerton, London, 1808-14 seventeen vols., quarto; Navarette, Madrid, five vols. 8vo., 1858. Then come the single voy- ages or travels of many others, who, in all parts of the world, exhibited a genuine heroism, and whose spirit, fortified by the arms and equip- ment of modern science, survives in such men as Cameron and Stanley, our latest additions. The mention of a copy of Woodes Rogers, London, 1 712, 8vo, and of La Hontan, Amsterdam, 1705, two vols., i2mo, completes our brief survey of this department. In history we find: Zarate's (Carate) Hist del Peru, An vers, 1555, i8mo; Garcilasso de la Vega Hist del Peru, Cordova, 161 7, quarto; Royal Com- 2 8o PUBLIC LIBRARIES. mentary of Peru, by same author, London, 1688; Res Brasiliee per C. Barleum, Clivis, i65o, i8mo; De Solis, Mexico, Barcelona, 1691, quarto; Bernal Diaz, Nueva Espana, Madrid, 1632, folio; Ogilby's America, London, 1671, folio; Raleigh's Historie, London, 1652, folio, with Ross' Continuation; Herrera, Madrid, 1726-30, five vols., folio; Munoz, Madrid, 1793; Clavigero, London, 1797; Ixtlilx- ochitl, Paris, 1840. Of later periods: Picart's Ceremonies and Customs, London, 1731-36; Council of Trent, Italian by Polano, English by Brent, London, 1676, folio; Baker's Chron. Lon- don, 1665, folio; Dugdale's Monasticon Angli- canum, London, 1655-1723, six vols., folio; Bur- net's Own Times, London, 1724-34, two vols., folio. In American History, and of the United States of the Union, we will only mention Doug- lass' North America, Boston, 1749; Colden's Can- ada, London, 1747, 8vo; Backus' New England, Boston, 1777; Hutchinson's Massachusetts, Salem, 1795, two vols., 8vo; Neal's New England, Lon- don, 1720, two vols., 8vo; Trumbull's Connecticut, Hartford, 1797, 8vo. In biography: Howell's Lewis XIII (and Riche- lieu) ; Sanderson's Life and Raigne of King Charles, London, 1658, folio, containing a fine portrait, of which Mr. T. Herbert says in a letter to Sir W. Dugdale: "It is, in my judgment, the best portrait I have seen cut in copper of our late King." Darcie's Empresse Elizabeth, Invincible odd-fellows' library. 281 Queene of England, translated out of the French, London, 1625, quarto; La Vida y Fray Junipero Serra por F. Palou, Mexico, 1787, quarto, a volume which is becoming exceedingly rare, it taking sev- eral years to fill the order for this copy in London, which is quoted by Quaritch at an enhanced price. This is a very important historic work in connec- tion with early Spanish missions on this coast. The library contains many dictionaries, a num- ber of which are obsolete. There is a copy of Stephen's Thesaurus, 1572, folio, five vols.; and another of 1734; of Blount's Glossographia, Lon- don, 1681, 8vo, of Bayle, London, 1734, ten vols., folio; of Moreri, Paris, 1699, folio; of Hoffman, Lugduni Batavorum, 1 698, four vols., foHo. There is a Scapula, 1604, folio; an English-Dutch and Dutch- English Dictionary, by W. Sewel, Amster- dam, 1707, quarto; a Johnson, London, 1755, two vols., folio, the original edition, a fine copy. Among the limited catalogue of ancient classics are a set of Valpy's Delphin Classics, London, one hundred and sixty-one volumes, 8vo; Teubner's Greek classics, Leipzig, one hundred and thirteen volumes, i2mo; an Aulus Gellius, Brixia, 1485, folio; Poetae Graeci Veteres; Coloniae Allobro- gum, 1 614, foHo; Lucan's Pharsalia; Hugonis Grotii Notae, et Thorns Farnabii, Amsterodam, 1665, 24mo, a beautiful edition in parchment bind- ing, not mentioned in any accessible bibliography; 282 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. the same work Englished, by Thos. May, Esq., London, 1631, i2mo. The library has always paid particular attention to works pertaining to California and the northern Pacific coast, and a large part of the works on this subject are in its possession. No bibliography re- lating thereto would be complete which did not include many volumes already mentioned, such as Herrera, De Solis, etc. Besides these may be noticed Gomara^ 1826; Torquemada, Madrid, 1723, three volumes, folio; Venegas, Madrid, 1757 (Spanish); London, 1759 (English); Cortez, Nueva Espana por Antonio Lorenzana, Mexico, 1770- This is the Lorenzana who says; 'Tt is doubtful if the country of New Spain does not border on Tartary and Greenland, by the way of California on the former, and by New Mexico on the latter." Also, D' Auteroche's Voyage to California, Lon- don, 1778, 8vo; Begert's Nachrichten von Cali- fornien, Mannheim, 1773, i6mo; Relacion del Viage Hecho por las Goletas Sutil y Mexicana, en 1792, with an historical preface by Nava- rette, Madrid, 1802, 8vo, ''which," says Taylor,* " is one of the most valuable works on the Alta California of the Spaniards of 1800." Woodes Rogers (already mentioned), this author remarks: "It is not yet certainly known whether it be an island or join the Continent. The Dutch say they formerly took a Spanish vessel in those seas, which had sailed round California, and found * Alex. S. Taylor, the accomplished bibliographer of Santa Barbara. odd-fellows' library. 283 it to be an island. But this account cannot be de- pended on, and I choose to believe it joins to the Continent." In addition to these and many others of the earlier works, the library contains the long list of the journals, etc., of those modern travelers, whom curiosity or greed, or the search for health, have brought to this coast during the last forty years, from the realism of the "Two Years before the Mast," past the gushing Todd, and the credulous Mrs. Leslie, to the poetic prose of Taylor's "Be- tween the Gates." The library secures all the literature of Odd- Fellowship, and binds into permanent form the proceedings of all the Grand Lodges of the Order; its collection on this subject being almost unique. This notice will be concluded with the mention of a few miscellaneous works. But two editions of the scriptures require atten- tion: The Bible, imprinted at London, by Robert Barker, 1606, 4to. This edition is known as the " Breeches Bible," from the translation of Genesis iii: 7, and the New Testament of Jesus Christ, Rhemes, 1582, 8vo. There is a curious old vol- ume entitled, "Sermones Socci de Tempore Aes- tivali, imprinted in Daventria, per R. Pafford, folio, 1480." This work is valuable as a speci- men of early printing, "being one of the first printed by the greatest early printer of the low countries, who only began to work in 1477." 284 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Theatrum Terrs Sanctas et Biblicarum Historia- rum, auctore Christiano Adrichomio, Delpho Col- onise Agrippinae, 1593, folio; Calvin's Institutes, Genoa, 1590, folio; an Aristotle. Grsece et Latine, Isaac Casaubon, Lugduni, 1590, folio; Selden's Mare Clausum, London, 1636; Hesperides, Rome, 1646, folio, by John Baptiste Ferrari; Sidney's Pembroke's Arcadia, London, 1637, folio. ""Ninth time published;" Cornelius Wytfliet's Descriptionis Plotemaicae Augmentum, Lovanii, 1597, folio, bound in embossed skin, fine condition. This is a noteworthy work in connection with California history, it being the oldest book published that relates to that subject. It contains twenty maps, of which two are of California, the line of its coast running due east and west. Intro, in Chyromantiam, etc., Autore Joanne Indagine, Steynheim, 1522, i6mo, very rare and curious, with many interesting wood-cuts; Anato- my of Human Bodies, with one hundred and thirty-nine figures curiously cut in copper, Latin, London, folio, 1694; Catrou and Rouille's Roman History, done into English, 1728-37, six vols., folio; Kenelm Digby's Two Treatises on the Na- ture of Bodies and of Man's Soule, London, 1665, quarto; Aeneas Sylvius Epistolre, folio, probably printed in 1477; Parallela Geographia Veteris et Novae, Auctore Philippo Brietio, Parisiis, 1648, two vols., quarto; Pope's Iliad, London, 1715-20, six vols., quarto, original edition; Claudii Ptole- odd-fellows' library. 285 maei Geographicse, Enarrationis; Libri Octo Bilibaldo Pirckeymhero Interprete; Argentoragi, Johannes Grieningerus, folio, 1525, fifty wood-cut maps — Quaritch says (cat. 1877): ''The Bodleian Library possesses only an imperfect copy of this edition, and there is none at all in the Grenville Library. The maps are the same as those in the edition of 1522. The last sheet is the famous map signed by L. F. (Laurentius Frisius), dated 1522, and entitled 'Or bis Typus Universalis^ which bears the name America. This map is not a new one, but simply a reproduction of one in the Ptolemy of 1513, with the name America added." In bringing this account to a close it is but just to say that it was impossible, with the limited space at our disposal, to mention all the works de- serving notice. But this is our consolation : by the student it is not needed; and to those who require it, the treasures of the library are alway open. Connected with the library is a reading-room, supplied with the leading periodicals of the day, free of access to subscribers and members of the Order. The number of volumes now in the entire col- lection is nearly thirty-five thousand; last^annual circulation, one hundred and four thousand and ten. George A. Games is Librarian; A. H. Grayson, Assistant Librarian. THE LAW LIBRARY. So Leolin went ; and as we task ourselves To learn a language known but smatteringly. In phrases here and there at random, toil'd Mastering the lawless science of our law, That codeless myriad of precedent, That wilderness of single instances. Thro' which a few, by wit or fortune led. May beat a pathway out to wealth and fame. The Law Library of San Francisco was first organized in the year 1865, but was a feeble and unprogressive institution until 1870, when an Act of Legislature put it on a solid footing. This Act places the control of the library in the hands of a board of trustees, composed of the mayor of San Francisco, the judges of the several district courts in that city and county, and seven other trustees to be elected by the shareholders from time to time. The price of shares is fixed at one hundred dollars, and any person not a shareholder is en- titled to enjoy the privileges of the library by pay- ing a fee of two dollars and fifty cents a month, due annually or semi-annually, in advance. Each litigant plaintiff, in filing a complaint in any of the district courts of San Francisco, pays a docket-tax of one dollar towards the support of the library, which is, of course, supplied by the State with all California statutes and public documents. The present location is a spacious room in Mont- THE LAW LIBRARY. . 287 gomery block, formerly a fashionable billiard saloon, with a row of windows on the north and south sides. On the east and west walls hang several large portraits of famous legal lights. The floor is covered with a Brussels carpet of suitable pattern, and desks, tables, and chairs, are conveni- ently ranged about. The book-cases are of black walnut, double-faced, and placed at right angles to the windows. The general appearance of the books is characterized by the underdone pie- crust look peculiar to the bindings of American law books (though some volumes appear as if they had staid too long in the oven). The rent and attend- ants are paid by the city and county. The library contains about eighteen thousand volumes, and is steadily increasing, though now surpassed in extent by but one other law library in the United States (aside from the government library at Washington). The selection has been most painstaking and intelligent, and the collection is very perfect in all the various departments em- braced, the aim being to secure complete sets of every series of law publications, as well as the latest and most perfect editions. It contains com- plete sets of all the law Reports of all the Amer- ican, English, Irish, Scotch, Canadian, New Zea- land, and some of the other Colonies, courts, with all the ordinary text-books and standard legal au- thors in various languages, and includes about as good a collection of Criminal Trials as will any- 288 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. where be found. There are complete sets of the original Session Laws of many of the older States, and among the statutes are a number of early date, of which few other copies exist, some of which are not to be found in the libraries of the State from which they emanated. Among these may be noted The Acts and Laws of His Majesty's Colony of Connecticut, 17 15 and 1750; Laws of North Carolina, 171 5; Laws of Maryland, 1799; and Acts of the First Session of the Legislative Coun- cil of the Territory of Orleans, 1805. There are also the Acts of the Confederate Con- gress and State Legislatures, passed during the rebellion; Hawaiian Statutes and Reports, a good collection of Congressional Reports, French and Spanish Laws, the latter being in frequent demand. As necessary accessories to the law department, we find a very full collection of English Parlia- mentary and American Congressional History, and a number of current legal publications. The trustees, realizing that a lawyer must be versed in other things besides law, have provided a good supply of miscellaneous books, and works of general reference. Among the latter are full sets of leading encyclopaedias, dictionaries and ency- clopzedias of art, science and literature, and diction- aries in about thirty different languages. In addi- tion to these, the library contains historical and biographical works, speeches of leading American and British statesmen, essays on political economy, THE LAW l.lliKAkV. 289 finance, etc., documents relating to the early and colonial history of the United States, including California and the Pacific coast. Collected by chance, as it were, a number of old and rare books have found their way into the library. Some contain curious inscriptions^ difficult to decipher; others, autographs of famous men, long since dead and gone. A copy of Justinian's Institutes, printed at Venice, in 1478, retains its old parchment cover, with heavy ornaments of brass; several of the pages are slightly mutilated, and a Latin inscription states that it is from the library of the St. Augustine Monks, Freiburg, Germany, 1623, and was despoiled in the time of the Heretics. A Register of Forms, printed in 1538, and Jus Maritimus, 1667, are both books rarely seen and excellently preserved. The library also embraces a full set of Le Moni- teur Universal, 1 790-1 837; files of leading Cali- fornia newspapers, and full sets of leading maga- zines and periodicals. THE ART ASSOCIATION. No especial attention has, we believe, been paid by the Association to the gathering of books. The novelty of the field to be occupied by artistic enterprise, and the many calls for expenditure in other and perhaps more pressing needs, in view of the infancy of the study in this State, have made the hoarding of art-literature a secondary interest. But still the friends of the establishment have not been altogether idle even in the matter of books, as the collection, of say from twenty-five hundred to three thousand volumes, attests. These are in the main of a very expensive character — huge folios, collections of prints, elaborately illustrated works — each one of which seems to have something about it to make it prized as a work of one kind of art, independent of its object in literature. The Association has, for convenience of refer- ence, attached a catalogue of its books to its latest publication. From among the names put down, we gather: Vasari, Spooner, Owen Jones, Taine, Lacroix, Bryan, Burty, Liibke, Crowe, Caval- caselle, Allan Cunningham, Eastlake, Paderni Pompeo, Gavarni, Kugler, Waagen, Winckelmann, Wornum, Chevreul, Hogarth, Visconte, Knight, King, Flaxman, Lodge, Niessen, Penley, Reynolds, Scott, Westmacott, Viardot, Wey, Wrench, Bas- THE ART ASSOCIATION. 29 1 soli, Otis, Fuseli, Kellerhaven, and others treating directly or incidentally of art, their works strength- ened by a wealth of illustration, making each book a gem of bibliography. It would be difficult to select a number limited enough for this article of the titles in the catalogue. Architecture, series of executed examples of ecclesiastical and domestic structures, from designs of modern architects, folio, London, Atchley & Co., 1858; Byzantine, examples of edifices in the East during earliest Christianity, folio, Charles Texier, London, 1864; Appiani, Andrea: Pastes de Napoleon L, folio, Paris; Art in the Middle Ages, Paul Lacroix, New York, 1870; Bible Cuts, Hans Holbein; Flemish Painters — Painting in Italy — Crowe and Cavalcaselle, octavo, London, John Murray, 1864; Ercolano, Depinti Musaici ed altri Monumenti, rinvenute negli Scari, Paderno Pompeo; Galerie des Peintres les plus celebres, Firmin Didot Freres, foHo, Paris, 1844-5; Works of Hogarth, in folio; Kugler's Handbooks of Painting; Liibke's History of Art; Vasari's Lives of Painters; Knight's Vases and Ornaments; Visconti's Iconographie Grecque and Romaine; Winckelmann's History of Ancient Art; Wrench's Recollections of Naples. But, we do not know where to stop in enumera- tion. It is to be hoped that the pupils pay proper respect to the books which have so great intrinsic 292 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. value. Over the cases, the Association should put a Procul, procul este profani (and for that matter profance as well) ; and that no hand should reach out for a volume unless clear of all reminiscences of the palette. Dirty handling is a communistic vice of all society collections; and it is a peculiar grief in the case of illustrated works. The Association should congratulate itself upon its decided beginning in book-collecting. LA LIGUE NATIONALE FRANCAIS. This library was first started by the "Ligue Nationale Fran^ais " during the year 1874, with books donated. On the fifth of October, 1874, the date of the first published report, the dona- tions amounted to two thousand one hundred and thirty-six volumes. The library was formally opened on the twenty-sixth of January, 1876, in the premises still occupied, consisting of two large communicating rooms on the first floor of the Johnson Building on Sutter street. On the thirtieth of April, 1S77, the collection consisted of ten thousand seven hundred and sixty- three volumes, acquired as follows : Donated by the United States Government, or Public Olficers 445 volumes Donated by the general public 7,759 " Bought by the Directors 2,559 Total 10,763 " Number, after deducting books of no value, 9,669. The library having no funds at its disposal, had to depend to a certain extent on voluntary sub- scriptions or donations. Strenuous efforts were made to raise funds by balls, picnics, amateur theatricals, etc., in addition to the amount accruing from subscriptions, but the deficit on April 30, 1877, was six hundred and 294 PUBLIC LIBRARIES, sixty-two dollars. During the twelve months ending with this date, the books taken from the library by subscribers amounted to eight thousand and fifty-five volumes, of which eighty-one and eighty-nine per cent, consisted of works of fiction. On April 30, 1878, the number of volumes had increased to eleven thousand and thirty - nine. The deficit for the year was three hundred and ninety-four dollars and thirty cents, or a gain of two hundred and sixty-seven dollars and seventy cents for the year. The number of books with- drawn was sixteen thousand three hundred and seventy-four, over double the circulation of the previous year, eighty-six per cent, consisting of works of fiction. The library contains many fine sets of works by the most famous French authors. In history may be noted the works of Mezeray, Rollin, Gervinus, Cantu, Mommsen, Grote, Guizot, Buckle, as well as those of Thiers, L. Blanc, Bancroft, Irving, Michelet, Henry Martin, Capefigue, Vaulabelle, Lanfrey, a reprint of the Moniteur Universel, con- sisting of thirty-nine illustrated volumes; also a large number of memoirs. In classical works the productions of Malherbes, Corneille, Racine, Boileau, Moliere, Mme. de Sevigne, Bossuet, Voltaire, Rousseau, Buffon. Among later authors are noticeable the works of Chateaubriant, Mme. de Stael, Lamartine, V. Hugo, A. de Musset, Sainte-Beuve, Taine, Jules Simon, and many others. LA LIGUE NATIONALE FKANCAIS. 295 Among periodicals and illustrated publications are la Revue des Deux Mondes, complete; le rUnivers illustre; le Monde illustre; le Musee Uni- versel; le Petit Journal pourRire; la Revue Politique et Litteraire; la Revue Scientifique; I'Echo du Pa- cifique; le Courrier de San Francisco, etc. The library also includes the splendid collection of la Gazette des Beaux-Arts, in thirty-five vol- umes; Grand Dictionnaire Universel, by Larousse; Bayle's Dictionary, French edition of 1597; Dic- tionnaire Technologique. twenty - one volumes; and a large number of works of reference, among others an almost unique collection of Laws, Edicts and Treaties of Peace^ collected from 1399. The works in the English language number about one thousand five hundred and sixty-nine volumes, comprising a number of classical works and novels by the best English and American writers, with some literary and scientific periodicals, works of reference, and United States Government publications. The terms of subscription are as follows : En- trance fee, one dollar; monthly fee, fifty cents. Subscribers may take out two volumes, to be kept not longer than fifteen days. The library is open every day (Sundays and legal holidays excepted), from 12 to 6 p. m., and from 7 to 10 P.M. SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA PIONEERS. This collection, consisting of about three thou- sand volumes, is at the Pioneers' Building, on Montgomery street, in San Francisco. It consists chiefly of encyclopaedias, architectural and scien- tific works, biographies and histories, the early history of California and early explorations of the Pacific Coast being made a specialty. The collection contains a large number of bound sets of such periodicals as the Atlantic, Overland, London Society, Frazer's, Scribner's, Knicker- bocker, Temple Bar, etc., with many newspapers files of California. Among Spanish books and editions of some rarity are Torque Monarchia Indiana, published in Madrid, in 1723, in three volumes; Historia Gen- eral De Los Hechos De Los Castellanos, by Leon, Decada Segunda al Rey Nuestro Seuor, four vellum covered volumes, published in Madrid, in 1726; and De Simboli Transportati al Morale D'al P'Adre Daniello Bartoli, a tiny vellum-covered book, published in Bologna, in 1686. Other books not often seen are Furtenbach's Architectura Universalis, 1635; The Knights of St. John and Management of its Army, published in 1685; Nicholas Machiavel's works, London, 16 10; Rees' Cyclopedia, four folio volumes, Lon- don, 1 716; Cramer's French Dictionary, three SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA PIONEERS, 297 vellum-covered volumes, Paris, 171 2; The Fable of the Bees, 1730; Voyage to Arabia the Blest, 1732; and The English Spy, illustrated by Cruik- shank. The room devoted to library purposes is a large and well-lighted hall on the first floor of the Pioneers' Building, very simply but attractively furnished. Long oak tables, covered with papers and magazines, extend along the sides of the room, and cane arm-chairs are distributed about the room. The cases are of oak, massive, but plainly finished; the carpet a Brussels, of tiny moss figure, the colors corresponding with the oaken finish of the room. At either end of the room is a fire-place with marble mantel, above the south mantel a full sized portrait of James Lick, the gen- erous beneficiary of this and other California in- stitutions, representing him seated in a large easy chair, his right arm resting on a marble-topped stand, upon which is a crystal vase filled with flowers. In one corner stands a bust of the lamented Starr King, and above the cases two busts of pioneers. The whole room is well in keeping with the simple habits and plain tastes of many of the mem- bers, and at the same time a pleasant place for pioneers to meet together, read, smoke or gossip about early experience of '49. THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. This library is of a peculiarly special character, consisting of a little over four hundred volumes relating principally to microscopy and optics, and those branches of natural history illustrated by these sciences. It is believed to be the most com- plete, of its kind, in the United States; numbering among its volumes every work of any value that has been published on the subject of the micro- scope for the past one hundred and fifty years, as well as the rarest and most valuable works on sub- jects connected with the science of microscopy. These are in different languages, English, French, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Latin; and are, in most instances, profusely and beautifully illus- trated in the highest style of the engraver's and colorist's art. Among them may be mentioned: Ehrenberg's Microgeologie, in two vols., folio; Tulasne's Great Work on the Fungi, in three vols., folio; Grenville's Scottish Cryptogamic Flora, in six vols.; Dictionnaire Universal d'Historie Natur- elle, thirteen vols, text, three vols, plates; Ste- phen's Entomology, twelve vols. ; Agassiz' Natural History of the United States, four vols., folio; besides complete sets of the microscopic journals and other scientific periodicals. The Society was formed about eight years since, and numbers some forty members. Its rooms are in Thurlow Block, on Kearny street. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. This library is at the Pythias Castle, on Market street, near Fifth. It contains about fifteen hun- dred volumes, mostly adapted to general circula- tion among the members of the Order, and was founded four years ago, when Mr. R. B. Wood- ward, of Woodard's Gardens, contributed two hundred and fifty volumes. It is supported by the twelve lodges of this Order in the city. Y. M. C. A. The library of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation consists of over five thousand volumes, and is located in their building, on Sutter street. The financial reverses of the Society have not contrib- uted to the prosperity of the library, but it is to be hoped that the dark days will soon pass over. The collection is very general in character; terms the same as those of the Mechanics' Institute. SAN JOSE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. This is a private subscription library, of four thousand two hundred and fifteen volumes, opened September 19th, 1872. It occupies two rooms in Knox Block, one, sixteen by sixty-four feet, and the other sixteen by twenty feet. The Librarian is Geo. W. Fentress. x Note. — It is a matter of much regret that we are unable to present any account of the splendid scien- tific library of the Academy of Science, consisting of more than sixteen thousand volumes; many of them rare and even unique. An elaborately pre- pared description, kindly made by the Librarian, Mr. Troyer, was lost in the mail, when too late to procure another. TABLE Giving the Number oF' Volumes in the various Private Law Libraries of San Francisco. G. R. Williams 600 Lloyd & Newlands 3220 M. G. Cobb 1570 Stewart, Van Clief & Herrin 1820 H. H. Haight 1420 J. T. Boyd 826 H. P. Bowie 659 Pratt & Metcalf 525 Jarboe & Harrison 1750 H, I. Thornton 706 McAllisters & Bergin 5150 Winans & Belknap 2000 Tilden & Wilson 980 Wm. Hayes 930 Cowles & Drawn , 675 J. r. Finn 560 W. H. Patterson 3690 J. B. Harmon 1165 C. N. Fox 925 Gray & Haven 1000 Cowdery & Preston 950 O. P. Evans 500 Stetson & Houghton 1036 Milton Andros ^ 1402 Van Dyke & Wells 1050 Delos Lake 1450 Robinson, OIney & Byrne 984 S. M. Wilson 3450 302 TABLE. Napthaly, Freidenreich & Ackerman 1627 D. J. Murphy 800 C. B. Darwin 900 Coghlan & McClure 550 Wheaton & Scrivner 800 L. Quint 1 200 E. J. & J. H. Moore 860 T. R. Wise 650 Estee & Boalt 1000 Robert Harrison 1000 S. W. Holladay 500 J. C. Gary 500 Wm. Blanding 550 S. V. Smith 750 John Garber 1550 Columbus Bartlett 700 R. P. & J. Clement 1 500 INDEX. Note. — In explanation it may be well to say that it was found impracticable to make a complete -index, but deemed expedient to substitute what might be called a general guide to the contents, indicating works as far as possible by their character, naming by title only a few choice or notable books that could not be readily classified. Aldus, 76-7. Aldine publications, 76, 130, 185, 222, 258. Americana, 13-60, 74, gg-104, 151, 208-13, 208. Anacreorr, 183-5. Archaeology, 12, 216, 266. Architectural works, 167, 246, 266, 275, 296. Art works, 9, 64, 69, 74, 95, 106, 113, 117, 121, 131, 150, 154, 156, 172, 17s, 178, 190, 194, 204, 206, 217, 220, 223, 229, 23^* 235* Z373 238, 248, 257-58, 268, 275, 290-92,- Autographical collection, 137. Bible, 73, 222, 228. Binding, early, 19, 20, 79-80, 114, 128, 129. Boccacio's Decameron, 96, 128, 140, 182. British Parliamentary Debates, 150. British Parliamentary History, 150. Byron, design for monument in London, by W.W. Story, 195. works, original edition, 121. Caldinie's Anatomy, 119, California, — geolog. survey, 114, 203. history, 46-7, 101-02, 151-52. miscellaneous works relating to, 212- 13, 282. MSS. IC2. travels and voyages, 37-g, 151. Classics, notable copies ancl editions, 73, 281. Curios, HI, 125-29, 185, 222-24, 233. 240, 249, 258-59* 276, 283-85, 289. Dante's Inferno, 164. De Foe, original editions, 128, 129. Don Quixote, 104, 185, 217. Dramatic literature, 11, 113, 247. Elzevirs, 78. publications, 79, 80, 130, 258. England's Helicon, 126. Euclid, 155. Extra illustrated works, 95-7, 112-13, 133- Fac-similes, 74, 183-84. Free thought, 67, 246. French Revolution, collection on, 131-33. Geological works, 156. Hebrew works, 62, 63, 236-37. Herpetology of North America, Holbrook's 120. History, general, 279-80. Homeric collection, 181-82. Interiors, library, descriptions of, 10, 71, 92, 98, 106, 108, lis, 116, 123, 134, 135, 141, 14s, 147, 170, 179, 190, 193, 201, 206, 219, 221, 232, 235, 255, 264-5. Lexicons and cyclopaedias, 248, 266-67. Mabinogion, 186. Maps, collection of, 105. Memoirs, 64, 247. Mexican history, 40-6, gg-104, ^i°) 213. Microscopical works, 2gb. Milton, John, suppressed works, 72-3. Mining and metnliurgy, 61, 64, 99-100. Moliere, 126. Murmerer, The, 125. Natural history, 225-26. Newspapers and Journalism, 176-77. Nuremburg Chronicle, 111-12. Ornithology, 119. Pacific coast, works relating to, 13-60. aboriginal history, 50-2. aborigmal writings, 54-60. botanical works, 49. California history, 46-7. California newspaper files, 176-7. California, early printing, 53-4. literature, early periodic, 52-3. literature, early religious, 48-9, literature, rare and early, 33 7. manuscripts, 16-33, 102. medical treatises, early, 49. 304 INDEX. Pacific coast, works relating to — -Continued. Mexican history, 40-6. travels, personal, 39. voyages, early, 37-9. voyages, personal, 37. Patent Reports, 375. Philology, 81-9, 256. Pindar, early, 175. Political economy, works on, 232, 240, 245, 255- Polyglot collections, 8i-g. Religious, fundamental works, 88, 218. Ruskin, choice editions, 173, 204. Scandinavian history, 238. Scientific works and publications, 233, 241, 256-7, 273-5. Scotland, works relatmg to, 109. Shakespeare, 107. Boydell, before letter proof, 107. Spanish-American colonization, 98-104. Spanish bibliography and literature, 159 -67. Spanish colonization, early, 74. Stephanus, 77-^. St. Isadora, works, 165. Sydenham Society, older, publications, 120. Tennyson, collection, 182-3. Lotus Eaters, 143. Titian, original, 168, Typography, collection on, 112. de Utinus, Leonardus, — Quadragesimale Aureum, 125. Voltaire, La Pucelle d'Orleans, 127. Voyages and Travels, 37-9, 151, 228,239, 279. Wolfgang publications, 80, THIE LIBRA.Itir. WHAT BOOKS TO READ AND WHERE TO OBTAIN THEM CAN UE LEARNED AT Billings, Harbourne & Go's "Who have always on hand a full assortment of EMBRACING FICTION, TRAVEL, HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, ART, POETRY, BELLE LETTRES, AND Popular and Technical Sdentific Books, etc. In the latest and best styles of CLOTH, HALF CALF, HALF MOROCCO, FULL MOROCCO, FULL AND TREE CALF BINDINGS. Their prices are the " Eastern " Publishers' Catalogue Rates, with liberal discounts to large purchasers. Special attention given to the Importation of Foreign Publications. " Books are the windows of the soul ; A home without books is like a room without windows." BILLINGS, HARBOURNE & CO. Booksellers and Stationers, Nos. S and S Montgomery Street, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. A. ROMAN & CO. PUBLISHERS, IBoolsLsellers SiXxcSi Stationers, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, 'No. 11 Montgomery Street, Lick House Block, San Francisco. H. KELLER & CO. Fublisliers, Booksellers, AND SUBSCRIPTION AGENTS, 1 16 Post Street San Francisco, Have on hand a good assortment of Fine Art Books, Classical Literature, and Choice English Editions, Importations from London a specialty. Enquiries about rare and out of the way books answered with promptness. ( Orders and Correspondence solicited. West Coast Furniture Co. Have for sale at their Warerooms, the Largest Assortment of Fashionable Furniture I Upholstery In this City. Also manufacture to order Book Cases, Library Fittings, Doors, Wainscoating, Mantels, Bank and Office Fittings, Etc. From the beautiful woods of the Coast, after our own designs. CALL AND INVESTIGATE AT West Coast Furniture Co. CHAs. J. McAllister, sup't. Corner Fourth and Bryant Streets, San Francisco. °W,e refer to the "Palace" and "Baldwin" Hotels, and San Fran- cisco Stock Exchange, all of which we have furnished entire. Bancroft, Knight & Co. 733 Market Street, San Francisco, DEALERS IN SHEET MUSIC, AND- MUSICAL MERCHANDISE. A Fine Stock of BOOKS RELATING TO MUSICAL LITERATURE, Comprising Biographies of the Great Composers, Critical Essays, Technical Works, Etc. Latest Songs and Sheet Music constantly on hand. PHOTOGRAPHIC PARLORS OF I. W. TABER & CO. 8 Montgomery St., S. F. The best appointed Photograph Gallery in the United States. Crayons, Water Colors, India Ink, Sun Pearls, Cabinets, Cards and Boudoirs executed in the best manner known to the Art, at reasonable rates. Copying Old Pictures a Specialty. l^'Authors of thejustly celebrated "PROMENADE," and Spherical Photographs ..dr Residents of the City and strangers are respectfully invited to call. I. W. Taber & Co., 8 Montgomery Street, ASCEND IN THE ELEVATOR. Mr. GEO. B. RIEMAN, for many years Manager of Bradley & Rulofson's Establish- ment is now connected with this House. A. L. BANCROFT & CO. Publishers, Booksellers, Stationers, PRINTERS, LITHOGRAPHERS AND BINDERS, 721 Market St., San Francisco. In calling attention to the various departments of our busi- ness, we would say that each branch is under competent manage- ment, and our endeavor is to excel in every branch. PUHLflSHKRS, In this department some very important works have already been issued from our press. More particularly worthy of notice are " Ban- croft's Native R&c^S of the Pacific Coast." The early volumes of that important work, invaluahle to lawyers, "American Decisions," which will form some 75 volumes; a variety of maps, guides, etc., relating to the Pacific Coast, and a -large quantity of books by California authors. With our past experience, therefore, we are in a position to print and publish works from authors' manuscript in the best Possible style. BOOKSSLL.KR.S. Our stock of standard and miscellaneous bpoks is very com- plete, and comprise the works of the most celebrated Historians, Novelists, Poets, Theologians and other writers, in plain and elegant bindings. Our connection with the Eastern and London Houses enable us to procure at the shortest possible notice any book not in stock. STATIONERS. We make a decided specialty in thisbranchof our business. Man- ufacturinga fine lineof custom made Blank-Books in half bindings, full bind- ings and extra russia, on the premises, we can rule and bind special books at the shortest notice. Our stock of staple stationery, including writing papers and all office requisiies, is very extensive. In fancy stationery, com- prising fine writing papers, papeteries, wedding stationery, engraving, stamp- ing, etc., we are in advance of our competitors. PRINTERS AND LITHOGRAPHERS. We pay special attention to designing, engraving and lithographing all kinds of certificates, diplomas, show bills, plans, views, maps, etc., and can execute such work in extra fine style. Our printing office is the largest and best appointed on the Coast, we are, therefore, in a position to print anything from a circular or bill head to a large volume, with taste and despatch. BINDERS. By employing only first-class workmen, and using only the best of material, combined with the latest improved machinery, we can guarantee our work, and bind books in plain cloth, or elegant russia or morocco, at most reasonable prices. A. L. BANCROFT & COMPANY, 721 Mafket Streei', San Fhancisco. WHERE TO BUY BOOKS. A. L. Bancroft & Company offer advice on this subject; by calling the attention of bookbuyers to their immense stock of Standard and Miscellaneous Books which they carry on hand all the time, comprising almost everything that is asked for in History, Biography, Travels, Poetry, Fiction, Science, Law, Medicine, Theology and Education. Choice Editions. In all of the above branches of literature we can offer special advantages to those who are forming libraries, by submitting to their approbation a greater variety of editions and bindings than can elsewhere be found on the Pacific Coast. Fine Bindings. Our facilities for furnishing complete li- braries in elegant bindings are unsurpassed. Having in our employ first-class London and Eastern workmen, we can supply anything from a single set to a library of 5000 volumes, bound in uniform style. New Books. It is our constant aim to give our customers all the newest and best books as soon as issued by the Eastern and London press; and we are, therefore, receiving new books eveiy day. Rare Books. Having in our employ experienced men, who have made English and American literature, in all its branches, a study for many years, we are in a position to give advice, and are able to obtain old and rare books which are unobtainable through an ordinary bookstore. A. L. BANCROFT & CO. 721 Market St., San Francisco.