During the month of May there were received at the Library, by purchase, 813 volumes and 405 pamphlets; by gift, 1,309 volumes and 5,121 pamphlets; and by exchange, 135 volumes and 914 pamphlets, making a total of 2,257 volumes and 6,440 pamphlets.

There were catalogued 4,094 volumes and 3,734 pamphlets, for which were written 10,093 cards, in addition to which 4,887 slips were written for, and 17,328 cards received from, the copying machine.

The following table shows the number of readers, and the number of volumes consulted, in both the Astor and Lenox Branches of the Library, also the number of visitors to the Print Exhibition at the Lenox, during the month:

The most popular books of the month were (in non-fiction): Palmer's "With Kuroki in Manchuria," Landon's "The Opening of Tibet," and Hughes's "Contemporary American Composers"; (adult fiction): Ward's "The Marriage of William Ashe," Sinclair's "The Divine Fire," and Thurston's "The Masquerader "; (juvenile fiction): "Drysdale's "The Young Reporter," Barbour's "Quarterback," and Tomlinson's "Ward Hill at Weston."

The most important gifts of the month were: from the American Exchange National Bank, "The New York Clearing House Association, 1854-1905," by W. J. Gilpin and H. E. Wallace, New York, 1904; from Rev. James Bassett, "Shareh Ahade," a treatise on Arabic grammar with a Persian commentary, printed at Teheran in 1852, and a Persian almanac; from the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 7 volumes and 6 pamphlets, catalogues of the Gallery; from the Deichmanske Bibliothek, Kristiania, 1 volume and 7 pamphlets, reports and catalogues of historical literature, etc.; from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries of Great Britain, of their publications, I volume and 26 pamphlets; from Rev. Kenneth S. Guthrie, 4 volumes and 5 pamphlets of his philosophical publications; from R. T. H. Halsey, a copy of "The Boston Port Bill as pictured. by a contemporary London cartoonist," New York, Grolier' Club, 1904; from Ken Hoshino, a copy of "The Mission of Japan and the Russo-Japanese War," by Rev. Kota Hoshino, Yokohama, 1904; from Miss Jessie F. Hume, 8 volumes. of New York newspapers of middle 19th century; from Mrs. Eleanor V. Hutton, a copy of the catalogue of the books of association in the library of Laurence and Eleanor Hutton, compiled by Miss M. E. Wood, and privately printed at New York, 1905; from A. S. Isaacs, 41 volumes of the Jewish Messenger; from the John Carter Brown Library, "The dedication of the library building;" from Prince Korab, four of his works; from Cyrus J. Lawrence, 8 volumes and 4 pamphlets, relating to archæology; from Dr. Henry M. Leipziger, 98 volumes and 6 pamphlets, works relating to the Jewish church service; from Hon. W. P. Letchworth, "Private charitable institutions in the City of New York," issued by the Charitable Institutions Division of the Department of Finance of the City, 1904; from J. J. Little & Co., Robert A. Chesebrough's "Christmas guests and other poems," New York, 1905; from Alexander Maitland, 185 volumes and 427 pamphlets, charitable reports, etc.; from the Methodist Library, 360 miscellaneous volumes and 2572 pamphlets; from Wilhelm Pettersen, "En ny slaegt, dramatisk digt," Minneapolis, 1895; from Hon. T. C. Platt, the Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865, vols. 1-2; from Mrs. Julia A. Pratt, a biography of Hon. Daniel Pratt, edited by Mrs. S. F. H. Tarrant, Richmond, 1904; from Ralph Curtis Ringwalt, a copy of his "Briefs on public questions," New York, 1905; from Hon. George L. Rives, "Diario de las operaciones de la expedicion contra la Plaza de Panzacola concluida por las Armas de S. M. Católica baxo las órdenes del Mariscal de Campo D. Bernardo de Galvez," printed in Spain in 1781, with manuscript notes by Mr. Rives relative to the authorities to be consulted on the expedition; from Mrs. George R. W. Scott, a memorial of Rev. George Robert White Scott, Boston, 1905; from R. M. Smythe, a copy of his compilation "Obsolete American Securities and Corporations," New York, 1904; from George Peabody Wetmore, a copy of De B. Randolph Keim's "Sherman, a memorial in art, oratory and literature by the Society of the Army of the Tennessee with the aid of the Congress of the United States, prepared under the direction of Col. Thomas W. Symons;" from Clinton R. Woodruff, 6 volumes, 28 pamphlets and 13 periodicals, all relating to civic reform; and from Francis E. Woodruff, Part III. of "A branch of the Woodruff stock," Morristown, 1905.

At the LENOX branch the exhibition of British Mezzotints loaned by Mr. J. Pier

pont Morgan was continued. A collection of Schiller portraits, views, manuscripts, etc., was placed on exhibition on May 3d.

At ASTOR a collection of Japanese colored lithographic prints relating to the present war was exhibited.

At TOMPKINS SQUARE plates from Audsley's "Ornamental Arts of Japan" were continued on exhibition, as were Racinet's costume plates (to the XVI. century) at 125TH STREET, plates from the Wilkie Gallery at CHATHAM SQUARE, Hollyer's etched views of New York at 67TH STREET, Racinet's costume plates (after the XVI. century) at YORKVILLE, photographic views of the Island of Luzon at RIVERSIDE, and Masterpieces of Art at the Paris Exposition at MOTT HAVEN. Picture bulletins and temporary collections of books on special shelves at the Circulation branches were as follows: CHATHAM SQUARE, Joseph Jefferson, “Mayday"; EAST BROADWAY, Famous men and women born in May, Emerson, Albion W. Tourgee, Stories of children for "Grown Ups," Good books for summer reading, One hundred of the best novels, Good stories for boys and girls; RIVINGTON STREET, Famous men and women born in May, John Brown, Spring, Wild flowers; BOND STREET, Music, New books, General Fitzhugh Lee; OTTENDORFER, Flowers, Sports, Raleigh, The Ocean Yacht Race; TOMPKINS SQUARE, American Indian, American flag, Technology, Indian tales and folk stories; JACKSON SQUARE, New books; BRUCE, New books, Dog stories, Stories of foreign children; 59TH STREET, Famous men and women born in May, Wild flowers; 67TH STREET, New books, Animals; WEBSTER, Music, Birds, Indians; YORKVILLE, Out doors; AMSTERDAM AVENUE, Emerson, Spring, Children of foreign lands, Dante, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee; ST. AGNES, New books; BLOOMINGDALE, School work, Wild animals; AGUILAR, Louisa M. Alcott, Famous men and women born in May, Bronx park, Trees, Flowers; HARLEM LIBRARY, New books, Birds, Tibet, Soldiers; WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, Books on thirty-seven different subjects for public schools, Clay, Webster, Audubon and birds; TOTTENVILLE, America the land of contrasts, Stories first published in magazines.

In addition there were bulletins on Decoration Day at fifteen branches, on Schiller at seven, on John Paul Jones at four, and on Arbor Day at four.

The opening exercises of the Kingsbridge Branch, 2933 Kingsbridge Avenue, Borough of the Bronx, were held on Friday, May 19th, at 4.30 P.M. Hon. Thomas Darlington, M. D., Commissioner of Health, presided as the representative of the Mayor, and music was furnished by the pupils of Public School No. 7, Kingsbridge. Addresses were made by Cleveland H. Dodge, Esq., on behalf of the Trustees, by Dr. Thomas Darlington on behalf of the City, by the Director, Dr. John S. Billings, and by the Chief of the Circulation Department, Mr. Arthur E. Bostwick.

This branch is the 31st branch of the Circulation Department and occupies the 10th of the Carnegie buildings. It has on its shelves 3,500 volumes, including 1,000 from the Kingsbridge Free Library, which now becomes merged in this branch. The ground on which the building stands is the gift of Dr. James Douglas of Spuyten Duyvil.

JOHN CAMPBELL ON HUME'S VIEWS OF QUEENS ELIZABETH

AND MARY, 1761.

Printed from the original manuscript in the Lenox Collection in the
New York Public Library.

LONDON, MAY 15. 1761.

DEAR SR

I at length perform my promise and obey your Commands, in sending back to you Mr Humes letter. I am ashamed it was not done sooner. I ought to have lost no time in asking pardon of M! Hume, for my stupid, & blameable negligence. I ought to have look in his Book before I mentiond anything as his opinion

I cannot help envying your happiness in conversing with such men as Dr. Robertson, and Mr. Hume. If I lived within reach of the latter I believe we should have many controversys, but flatter myself they would all be very amicable. However I will not deny that he has reason to be pleased-there's such a difference between us. Learning & Philosophy seem to me to make good progress in Scotland, and the Scots Clergy are surely very much improved, both in their writings, and preaching.

Neither to be persecuted or have the power of Persecution, is the happiest State any Church can be in; though few Church men, of any denomination have thought so. It is an honor to this Age and kingdom that there are now clergymen both in England & Scotland, who embrace and dare avow the Principles both of religious and civil Liberty. May their number increase, to the advantage of true Religion, in opposition to Superstition, Enthusiasm and all nonsense that is the Pride of Priests, & delight of Bigots. I congratulate you on the hopes of Peace, and presume you will not be displeased if a Scots Secretary is instrumental in procuring, what is so much wanted and most desirable. I am with my best wishes to yr. Self and fair Secretary Dear Sr

Y very obliged & obedient

Humble Servt

J. CAMPBELL.

I most heartily ask pardon of Mr Hume for my Polander as to his opinion of the alleged conspiracy of Darnley against Moray. I can find no escape for myself. Mr. Hume has been very kind in endeavoring to find one for me, I am much obliged to him for so candid & gentle a Remark, when I indeed deserved rebuke.

I cannot lay quite so much Stress as M Hume does on the letters being produced with other Letters of Q. Marie's to the English Councill. He justly observes that Q. Elizabeth then pretended to be neutral, a Pretence very easily seen through. Mr. Hume thinks that any Counsellor who said the handwriting was not the same would have run no risque, except perhaps of a frown, I agree that perhaps at this