Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/198

2 86 The Library. found, but there is strong reason to fear that many "useless books" were parted with by a former owner of the house. Fortunately for posterity the Verney letters (some thirty thousand in number) remain, and perhaps the most enjoyable hour of the day was that spent in look- ing over numbers of the actual documents, aided by the constant lucid explanations of Lady Verney, who having edited a large number of these family memorials has made their contents her own peculiar study. The party were then invited to take tea, and at the conclusion of the meal it was proposed by G. Potter : " That the best thanks of the Library Association be given to Sir Edmund, Lady Verney, and family, for the very kind manner in which they entertained the few members of the association, who, notwithstand- ing the rainy morning and early hours of starting, fortunately for them- selves decided to go to Claydon." This was seconded by Mr. Ed. Maynard, of Twickenham, and carried by acclamation. Thus concluded perhaps the most enjoyable trip of the kind in which it has been the good fortune of the writer to take part. G. POTTER. MR. FOSKETT AND THE "ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA." SIR, Not long since I became involved in a controversy respecting the ninth and last edition of the " Encyclopaedia Britannica," which aroused considerable interest. I purpose now to answer numerous enquiries by giving a precis of the facts which are not generally known. During a discursive talk on books and book-buying, as the victim of an interviewer, I casually remarked that some of the articles in the ninth edition of the Britannica were revised after the first few volumes had been published. This information appeared to astonish my interviewer ; but I understood his interest and incredulity when he pathetically explained that he had recently purchased a second- hand copy of the " ninth " edition. He reported me as having said : " These little trade secrets one ought to know before going book- buying," an opinion he regarded as an axiom after due reflection. The accuracy of the statement that there were sets of the " ninth " edition of varying literary value in the market was, I know, doubted by my confreres of the Library Association, who assumed that in an unguarded moment I had possibly fallen into an error or trap set for the unwary. This view was indignantly confirmed by the publishers (Messrs. A. and C. Black) who, in a letter to the South London Mail Y declared that there were "no little trade secrets" in the matter; that the statement referred to was "entirely inconsistent with the facts of the case" ; that "to have done such a thing would be unjust," and they asked to be excused " their proper feeling of resentment that such a statement should have been made." The foregoing protest may stand for what it is worth. It will be seen that I had no alternative but to withdraw or substantiate the statement. In the interest, therefore, of practical bibliography, I submit both state- ment and denial to the test judgment of fact. I have on my table two sets of the "ninth" edition, which are sup- posed to be identical. I open vol. i. of each, and I find that the date, preface, and title agree. I turn to the different parts of the volume, and the pagination and matter appear to be exactly the same. Without special knowledge that would be the verdict. I have before me an advertise- ment dated 1887, announcing the re-issue of the ninth edition, which was