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5. It is obvious that immediate perfection cannot be expected in such a work, and that many deficiencies, errors, and imperfections must constantly be met with. It is therefore proposed, by means of occasional supplements, to rectify them and to add notices of any books not brought to light at the time of issue, as well as of such further publications as continue to appear.

6. By reference to the proposed Catalogue, any reader in the Art Library of the Museum * would thus find a clue, not only to the works he was looking for in the actual collections of the Library, but to other works bearing on his course of studies which had not as yet been obtained, but which had been ascertained to form part of other libraries, whether public or not, either in our own or in any foreign country. All rare books would have a reference given to the libraries in which they are to be found. By this means also the deficiencies of the Art Library would be demonstrated, and provision made for its ultimate completion.

7. Such a Catalogue, it is thought, would prove a valuable acquisition to Art literature throughout the world, and would have such an international interest as to justify Her Majesty's Government in inviting the co-operation of other Governments towards its accomplishment.

8. The nature, however, of such an undertaking entails difficulties partly inherent, as having reference to the proper limits of the special subject-matter of the Catalogue itself, and partly from the scattered position of libraries and collections, many of them unfurnished with any trustworthy and attainable account, either printed or manuscript, of their own contents, from which the Catalogue, so far as it refers to books not in the South Kensington Library, must of necessity be compiled.

Minute passed at Board Meeting held at the South Kensington Museum on the 19th of January 1866.

THE Lords of the Committee of Council on Education having decided to produce a Universal Catalogue of all Printed Books relating to or aiding the study of the Fine Arts, have requested the following to advise their Lordships what works should be included in it:

* NOTE.-The Library is open to the public every day of the week (except Sunday), and on three evenings (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays), till 10 P.M. Facilities are afforded for referring to its contents and furnishing students with the readiest means of pursuing their researches. There are alphabetical as well as classed Catalogues, in which all new books of the Library are entered as soon as possible. Besides this, constant attendance is given by officers competent to afford verbal information to readers regarding the contents of the Library, and the books in which special information may be found.

Very Rev. Dr. LIDDELL, Dean of The Rev. Dr. SCOTT, Master of

Earl SOMERS

Mr. STIRLING, M.P.

MR. STREET

Mr. TITE, M.P.

The Rev. Dr. TODD

Mr. WATTS

Mr. W. H. J. WEALE
Professor WESTWOOD

Sir J. GARDNER WILKINSON
Mr. C. H. WILSON

Mr. WOODWARD

Mr. WORNUM

Mr. DIGBY WYATT

Mr. J. H. POLLEN to act as Secretary to the Committee.

Minute passed at a Board Meeting held at the South Kensington Museum

MY LORDS inspect the proofs of the Art Catalogue. They desire that the announcement should be translated into French, German, and Italian.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS

RECEIVED

FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OF ADVICE, AND OTHER LITERARY MEN.

Sir WILLIAM STIRLING MAXWELL, Bart., M.P.-4 December 1865.

"I beg to enclose replies to some of your printed questions. I fear they will be found to do little more than recapitulate difficulties which you must have already perceived.

"A good general bibliography of books on the Fine Arts is much wanted.

"I think it would be a pity to attempt any criticism in the first edition of this Catalogue. Let us have a good catalogue, of which there is a great want; first, an indication of the more important works in each class might be made in the preliminary notice prefixed to the book."

Mr. TITE, M.P.-24 February 1866.

"I shall be very happy to give any assistance in my power to the above object. I should submit that, at least in the first instance, a conference is desirable."

Professor MAX MULLER, Oxford-25 February 1866.

"I shall most gladly give such help as it is in my power to give towards the compilation of a Catalogue of Printed Books relating to the Fine Arts. The undertaking, as sketched out in Mr. Pollen's memorandum, even if it should not reach the perfection and completeness which are very properly aimed at, will confer a real and lasting benefit on students of Arts in every country.

"It is a work that could hardly be undertaken without national support, and which, if successful, will, I hope, serve as an example in other branches of literature."

Dr. ACKLAND, Oxford-25 February 1866.

"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter informing me of the intention of the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education to compile an International Art Catalogue, and offering me the honour of co-operating. It will give me much pleasure to do so to the best of my ability."

Mr. RUSKIN-26 February 1866.

"I have received your official letter touching the new Art Catalogue, and I shall be very glad to be of any use I can in the business."

Rev. Dr. SCOTT, Master of Balliol-26 February 1866.

"I regret to think that I shall be able to give but little assistance in such an undertaking; but I shall be happy to do anything which is in my power."

Mr. REGINALD STUART POOLE, British Museum-26 February 1866.

"I hasten to express my willingness to render all the aid in my power, both by offering remarks on the questions put in Paper No. 541, and by giving a list of works bearing upon the branches of Art -Ancient Egyptian Art and the Art of Greek Coins-with which I have specially made myself acquainted."

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M. GEORGES DUPLESSIS, Paris-26 Février 1866.

"Ayant reçu ce matin la lettre par laquelle vous me faites l'honneur de me demander mon concours pour l'important ouvrage que vous entreprenez,

"Je m'empresse de vous répondre que je me mets complètement à votre disposition, et que je serais heureux s'il m'etait possible de vous être de quelque utilité en cette occasion."

Mr. J. WINTER JONES, British Museum-27 February 1866.

"I shall have much pleasure in giving any assistance in my power towards the compilation of the Fine Arts Catalogue, the preparation of which has been decided on by the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education."

Sir HENRY C. RAWLINSON, K.C.B., M.P.-27 February 1866.

"I shall be happy to co-operate, to the best of my ability and knowledge, with the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education in the compilation of a Catalogue of Printed Books relating to the Fine Arts Department of Science and Art at South Kensington; but if you should wish me to make out a list of those I think most necessary, I will gladly do so on hearing from you."

Sir J. GARDNER WILKINSON-27 February 1866.

"I regret to say that my health has obliged me to leave London, and prevents my applying myself at present to any subject with the attention that I could wish to bestow upon it, but it will give me much satisfaction to offer my co-operation in the proposed scheme, and if I can, by correspondence, give any assistance in furthering the objects of the Council, I shall be happy to do so. I do not know what works are in the possession of the department."

Mr. JAMES FERGUSSON-27 February 1866.

"The subject being one in which I feel very great interest, and to which I have given a good deal of attention, I shall consequently be most happy to give such assistance as I may be able to afford in any manner in which it can be rendered."

Mr. OLDFIELD, 61, Pall Mall-27 February 1866.

"Such a scheme appears to me very useful and desirable, and though I doubt whether any assistance I could render would be of much service in the compilation, yet I shall be happy to attend any meeting you may convene on the subject."

Le Comte CLÉMENT DE RIS, Paris-27 Février 1866.

"J'ai reçu les différents papiers relatifs au Catalogue des Ouvrages d'Art du Musée de South Kensington que vous m'avez adressés, et je suis très-heureux de l'occasion que s'offre à moi de renouveler des relations amicales qui s'étaient établies entre nous lors de l'Exposition Universelle de 1855, et de témoigner une fois de plus le bon souvenir que je garde de l'accueil si sympathique que j'ai trouvé auprès des directants et administrateurs du British Museum, de la National Gallery, du Musée de Kensington, lors de mon séjour en Angleterre en 1862.

"Je suis donc très-heureux de voir mon nom figurer au nombre des membres du Comité d'Avis, et vous pouvez être certain que je ferais tout mon possible pour me rendre digne de cet honneur."

M. ANATOLE GRUYER, Paris-28 Février 1866.

"Je prends un vif intérêt à l'enterprise que vous poursuivez, et je me mets entièrement à votre disposition pour vous transmettre les indications qu'il sera en mon pouvoir de vous envoyer."