380
NOTES AND QUERIES. [io s. x. NOV. 7,
Mr. Albert Sutton's Manchester Catalogue 164
contains works relating to America, Angling,
Architecture, and Wales. A set of ' Bibliographica,'
3 vols., is 31. 10s.; Chetham Society's Publications,
1840-1906, 168 vols., 24Z.; Coleridge's Works, Moxon
and Pickering editions, 20 vols., 1839-73 ; 4. 15s. ;
and a set of Hazlitt, mostly Templeman's editions,
25 vols., 1816-68, 11.
[Notices of several other Catalogues are held over from lack of space.]
So many of our contributors and inquirers are interested in family history that we think it worth while to call special attention to ' The Inter- national Genealogical Directory,' which is due to the energy of Mr. Charles A. Bernau, of Pendeen, Walton-on-Thames. A revised edition of this will be published early in 1909, in which special pains will be taken to include the names only of trust- worthy workers and searchers. The first edition was published in June of last year, and noticed by us at 10 S. viii. 220. It represented the co-operation of 1,387 genealogical students, amateur and pro- fessional, and we pointed out that it was likely to prevent a good deal of overlapping by two in- dependent workers who are attacking one pedigree. The editor was further, we think, fully justified in Claiming for his work a hearty welcome and support in many countries. He has since publication re- ceived over 900 letters from contributors who state their satisfaction with his new system of co- operation, and this chorus of applause is enough to satisfy the most careful and cautious of inquirers. Unfortunately, one or two cases which have come within our ken justify such caution, and it is for this reason that we mention above the editor's care to secure genuine workers on his list. Part I. contains a list of such workers, mainly resident in the United Kingdom, but representing also virtually every other civilized country. Part II. contains an alphabetical list of the surnames of the chief families (about 4,500) in whose history those mentioned in Part I. are interested, and a simple system of numbers facilitates reference between the two sections. Part III. is a collection of queries which workers in Part I. want answered. The system is, .as we have said before, so practical and businesslike that it ought to be generally regarded with favour. A great deal of labour is, of course, involved, and it is probable that several thousands of new surnames will be included in the second edition. Mr. Bernau seems in a fair way to say with ^Eneas :
Quae regio in terris nostri rion plena laboris, and his circulation will, so far as we can see, be better justified than that of many " best sellers." In our own columns we have done and do a good deal for genealogists, but we feel that many researches which are only of private interest would be better conducted by a special publication devoted to them.
THE SIMPLIFIED SPELLING SOCIETY has recently sent out its prospectus. Prof. Skeat is its Presi- dent, and the Vice-Presidents and Committee form a goodly show of the leading philologists. The Secretary is Mr. William Archer, and the offices of the Society are at 44, Great Russell Street, W.C. The Society has been founded "in order to promote a better understanding of the history of English Spelling ; to advocate the
gradual introduction of such reforms as shall
remove the difficulties placed by our present
chaotic spelling in the way of children and
foreigners ; and to provide teachers and others
who are acutely conscious of these difficulties with
an organization for furthering their views." It is
added that "though entirely distinct from the
Simplified Spelling Board of the United States, the
Society will cordially co-operate with that body."
Prof. Skeat's Presidential Address, forwarded together with the circular, explains lucidly the objects of the Society. The minimum annual sub- scription has been placed at a shilling, and member- ship is open to all who, without committing them- selves to particular proposals, think generally that " English Spelling ought to be brought more into harmony with reason and convenience."
At the time when President Roosevelt introduced his new spelling, the whole subject was thoroughly ventilated, and we do not consequently ask our contributors to give us their varying views as to the advisability of reform, and the best means to carry it out, if it is desirable.
MR. WILLIAM ANDREWS, who died at Hull on
the2ndinst., aged 60, was an occasional contributor
to these columns. He was a Nottinghamshire man,
and in early life was a clerk in Hull, which became
his home. For some years he conducted a printing
and publishing business, but since 1900 he had been
the Librarian of the Hull Subscription Library,
and was intimately connected with all the literary
societies of the town. He was the compiler of
many popular volumes on the "Byegone" history
of Yorkshire and other counties, and on Church
customs and similar matters. His articles in the
Ninth Series of ' N. & Q.' occupy about half a
column in the last General Index.
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