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thousand dollars a year spent at once on books will represent in two years the saving of quite double that sum, not to mention the fact that a library collected now will contain volumes which in a short time will be permanently out of the market, buried in Continental libraries. It is only after considerable hesitation that I recommend this course as I realize it may well delay the ostensible beginnings of our work, and thus be a handicap in our appeals to the public for funds and in interesting the "man in the street." In the case of several unique and necessary books which cannot be purchased, I recommend that the committee obtain permission to have them photographed, page by page, and that the photographs be bound and placed in the library. Concerning the character of the books which should engage our first attention, the gentleman whose name I propose as buyer will be the best judge. But I should suggest that illustrated catalogues of collections now dissipated, and illustrated lists of important bronzes, stones, paintings, and objects of artistic and archaeological interest should be secured promptly. Besides this special class of books I should ask him to make a point of finding early guide-books and accounts of various localities which often contain much valuable information. It is unnecessary here to attempt to make a list of the other subjects which it would be desirable to cover, or to point out that almost any book of great antiquity, treating of any subject, would be rich in material for us.