of amber,--_succinum rubrum_, _fulvum_, &c. The learned professor of Copenhagen, Olaus Worm, alludes to the popular notions and superstitious use of amber-- "Foris in collo gestatum, contra fascinationes et nocturna terriculamenta pueros tueri volunt; capitis etiam destillationibus, et tonsillarum ac faucium vitiis resistere, oculorum fluxus et ophthalmias curare." By his account it would seem to have been received as a panacea, sovereign for asthma, dropsy, toothache, and a multitude of diseases. "In summa (he concludes) Balsami instar est, calorem nativum roborans et morborum insultibus resistens."--_Museum Wormianum_, p. 32. Bartholomaeus Glanvilla, in his work, _De Proprietatibus Rerum_, has not overlooked the properties of amber, which he seems to regard as a kind of jet (book xvi., c. xlix.). "Gette, hyght Gagates, and is a boystous stone, and never the les it is precious." He describes it as most abundant and of best quality in Britain of two kinds, yellow and black; it drives away adders,-- "Is contrary to fendes,--helpeth for fantasies and ayenste vexacions of fendis by night.--And so, if so boystus a stone dothe so great wonders, none shuld be dispisid for foule colour without, while the vertu that is within is unknowe." (Translation by Trevisa.) ALBERT WAY. * * * * * {101} ON CATALOGUES OF BOOKS. A series of notes on the _utility_ of printed catalogues of public libraries may seem to be a superfluity. It may be said, _Who ever denied it?_ Relying on a official document, I can assert that it _has_ been denied--in defiance of common sense, and the experience of two hundred and fifty years! At such a time, it behoves every lover of literature to declare himself, and to furnish his quota of facts or arguments corrective of this upstart paradox. It is under the influence of that sentiment that I submit, for consideration in the proper quarter, some short extracts from my bibliographic portfolios. BOLTON CORNEY. "The forwardness of your CATALOGUE [of the public library at Oxford] is very good tidings.... I would intreat you to meditate upon it, how it may be performed to both our credits and contents."--_Sir Thomas_ BODLEY to _Tho. James_, c. 1604. Habes, benigne lector, catalogum librorum, eo ordine dispositum, quo in celeberrima Oxoniensi bibliotheca collocantur; opus diu multumque desideratum, et jam tandem editum."--_Thomas_ JAMES, 1605. "Quamprimum benignis academicorum suffragiis in bibliothecarium electus essem, videremque justum bibliothecae publicae catalogum ab omnibus desiderari, ego ut gratiis litatum irem, me protinus accinxi ad conficiendum proprio marte novum catalogum."--_Thomas_ HYDE, 1674. "The general use of catalogues of [of books], and the esteem they are in at present, is so well known, that it were to waste paper to expatiate on it."--_Gerard_ LANGBAINE, 1688.