UC-NRLF ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. REPORT OP THE PROCEEDINGS AT Till. THIRD IXTEBXATIOXAL (WE11KXCE CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. Jl liLI) I X LONDON .11 'NE \-2-l:',, 1HOO. ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON A CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. HELD IN LONDON, JUNE 12-13, 1900. THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON A CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. LONDON, JUNE, 1900. LIST OF DELEGATES APPOINTED TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. Austria* France. Germany. Greece. Hungary. Italy. Japan. Mexico. Norway. Prof. E. Weiss (Kaiserliche Akademie der Wisseoschaften, Vienna). Prof. Karl Toldt (Universitat, Vienna). Prof. G. Darboux (Membre de 1'Institut de France). Dr. J. Deniker (Bibliothecaire du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris). Prof. H. Poincare (Membre de 1'Institut dej France). Prof. Dr. F. Klein (Geheirner Regierungs-Rath, Universitiit, Gottingen). Prof. Dr. B. Schwalbe (Direktor, Real-Gym- nasium. Berlin). Dr. F. Milkau (Oberbibliothekar, Universitat, Berlin). Mons. D. Metaxas (Charge d'Affaires for Greece). Dr. August Heller (Bibliothekar, Ungarische Akademie, Buda-Pesth). Dr. Theodore Duka (Hon. Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences). Prof. Giacomo Ciarnician (R. Universita, Bologna). Prof. Raffaelo Nasini (R. Universita, Padua). Prof. Eiriosuke Yamaguchi (Imperial Univer- sity of Kioto). Senor Don Francisco del Paso y Troncoso. Dr. Jorgen Brunchorst (Secretary, Bergenske Museum). 549.S59 A2 rta,.!. Dr. Jean Henri Graf (President, Commission de la Bibliotheque Nationaie Suisse, Berne). Dr. Jean Bernoulli (Librarian, Bibliotheque Nationaie Suisse, Berne). United Kingdom. Representing the Government : The Right Hon. Sir John E. Gorst, Q.C., M.P., F.R.S. (Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education). Representing the Royal Society of London : Sir Michael Foster, K.C.B., Sec. R.S. Prof. Arthur W. Riicker, Sec. R.S. Prof. H. E. Armstrong, F.R.S. Sir J. Norman Lockyer, K.C.B., F.R.S, Dr. Ludwig Mond, F.R.S. Dr. T. E. Thorpe, For. Sec. R.S. Cape Colony. India. Natal. New Zealand. Queensland. Sir David Gill, K.C.B., F.R.S. Roland Trimen, Esq., F.R.S. Lieut-General Sir Richard Strachey, G.C.S.I., F.R.S. Dr. W. T. Blanford, F.R.S. Sir Walter Peace, K.C.M.G. (Agent-General for Natal). The Hon. W. P. Reeves (Agent-General for New Zealand). The Hon. Sir Horace Tozer, K.C.M.G. (Agent- General for Queensland). ACTA. OPENING MEETING, Tuesday, June 12, at the Rooms of the Society of Antiquaries, at 10 o'clock. 1. Prof. Darboux moved that Sir John E. Gorst be the President of the Conference. The motion having been carried unanimously 2. Sir John Gorst took the Chair and welcomed the delegates. 3. On the motion of Sir M. Foster, seconded by Prof. Darboux, it was resolved That Dr. F. Milkau be the Secretary for the German language. That Dr. Jean Bernoulli and Dr. J. Deniker be the Secretaries for the French language. That Prof. Giacomo Ciamician be the Secretary for the Italian language. That Prof. H. E. Armstrong be the Secretary for tke English language. 4. That the Secretaries, with the help of shorthand reporters, be responsible for the proces verbal of the proceedings of the Conference in their respective languages. 5. Sir Michael Foster read out the names of delegates appointed to attend the Conference. 6. On the motion of Sir Michael Foster it was Resolved (i.) That the meeting adjourn at 1 p.m., and meet again at 2.30 p.m. (ii.) That on Wednesday, the meeting commence at 1 1 a.m. 7. On the motion of Sir Michael Foster, seconded by Prof. Riicker, it was Resolved That English, French, German and Italian be the official languages of the Conference, but that it shall be open for any delegate to address the Conference in any other language, provided that he supplies for the proces verbal of the Conference, a written translation of his remarks into one or other of the official languages. 8. Sir Michael Foster presented the Report of the Provisional International Committee, and it was Resolved That the Report be received. 9. The following Resolutions were then agreed to (i.) That the publication of a Card Catalogue be postponed for the present. (ii.) That the Book Catalogue be at first issued only in the form of annual volumes. 10. Sir Michael Foster having moved (iii.) That the Catalogue include both an Authors' and a Subject Index, according to the scheme of the Provisional International Committee ; Prof. Rucker thereupon explained the financial position, and the delegates of the various countries stated to what extent they were authorized to promise contributions towards the expenses of the Catalogue. From these statements it appeared that subscriptions to 163 sets of volumes (or their equivalent) of the Catalogue, to the value of 2,771, would be guaranteed, viz., as follows : Germany . . . . . . 45 sets equivalent to 765 United Kingdom . . 45 765 France . . . . . . 35 ,, ., 595 Italy 27 ,,459 Switzerland .. .. 6 102 Norway 5 85 Other delegates estimated that the probable contributions from their countries would be : Austria . . . . . . 16 sets equivalent to 272 Hungary 4 ,,68 Japan 5 ,,85 Mexico 5 ,,85 It was further estimated that the British Colonies and Dependencies would subscribe for at least 25 sets, equivalent to 425. Taking into account the subscriptions to be expected from the United States, Russia, Holland, Sweden, and a number of other countries, as well as the probability of outside sales, the Conference was of opinion that the necessary subscriptions to cover the cost of 300 sets of the Catalogue would be obtained. At the close of the discussion the motion above set forth was unanimously agreed to. 11. In the course of the discussion, it was stated by delegates from several countries that all the sets subscribed for would be distributed among public institutions, and that they contemplated the private sale of the Catalogue in addition. SECOND MEETING, Wednesday, June 13. 12. The following motions, of which notice had been given on the previous day, were considered and adopted : (A.) The Conference is of opinion that the financial prospects of the enterprise are sufficiently satisfactory to warrant further steps being taken toward the publication of the Catalogue, in view of the fact that the representatives of the various countries have declared that the governments or corporations they represent are willing to subscribe for the number of complete sets of copies at the cost stated in paragraph 10. La Conference decide : que le cote financier de 1'entreprise est suffisammeut elucide pour justifier les arrangements ulterieurs necessaires pour la publication du Catalogue, les representants des differents pays ayant en effet declare que les gouvernements ou les corps savants qu'ils represented sont prets a souscrire au nombre de series completes du Catalogue, et aux prix indiques dans le 10. Angesichts der von den Vertretern der verschiedenen Lander abgegebenen Erklarung, dass die durch sie vertretenen Lander oder Korperschaften entschlossen sind, auf die in 10 angege- bene Zahl vollstiindiger Exemplare zu dem ebenda festgesetzten Preise zu subskribiren, gibt die Konferenz der Meinung Aus- druck, dass die finanziellen Aussichten des Unternehmens Ettfriedenfltellend genug sind, urn weitere Schritte zur Verofferit- lichung des Katalogs zu rechtfertigen. La Conferenza e d'avviso che avendo i rappresentanti dei diversi paesi dichiarato che i govern! o i corpi scientific! da loro rappresentati sono pronti a sottoscrivere nella misura indicata al 10, si puo ritenere 1'impresa abbastanza soddisfacente dal lato finanziario per autorizzare gli ulterior! passi che sono necessari per la pubblicazione del catalogo. (B.) That, pending the appointment of the International Council, a Provisional International Committee be appointed which shall be entrusted with the duty of approaching, through the Royal Society, such countries as may be necessary, with the view of obtaining their adhesion to the scheme for the publication of the Catalogue, or promises of financial support. Que jusqu'a la constitution definitive du Conseil International, un comite international provisoire soit nomme. Ce comite sera charge de se mettre en rapport, par 1'intermediaire de la Sodete Royale, avec les personnes autorisees des differents pays, suivant lesnecessites dela situation, afin d'obtenir de ces pays Padhesion ou 1'appui financier a I'osuvre du Catalogue. Dass bis zur Einsetzung des International Council ein Pro- visional International Committee ernannt wird, mit dem Auftrage, sich durch die Vermittelung der Royal Society mit den in Betracht kommenden Landern in Verbindung zu setzen, um sich ihrer Mitwirkung bei der Veroffentlichung des Katalogs zu versichern oder ihre Zusagen f iir finanzielle Unterstutzung zu erwirken. Che sia nominate un comitato internazionale provvisorio sino a che non sara costituito defimtivarnente il Consiglio Inter- nazionale. Questo comitato avra 1'incarico di mettersi in comunicazione mediante la Royal Society con i diversi paesi, secondo che sara necessario, per ottenere la loro adesione al progetto di pubblicazione del catalogo o la promessa del loro appoggio finanziario. (c.) The said Provisional Committee is further authorized to make other preparations for the publication of the Catalogue, but without incurring financial responsibility. Inasmuch as it will be necessary for some one corporation to make the necessary contracts and undertake the final financial responsibilities, the Provisional Committee is authorized to include among such preparations, negotiations either with the Royal Society, or with another corporation, or with a govern- ment, or with a publisher, but the confirmation of all such preparations, and the carrying out of any final agreement or contract, shall rest with the International Council. Ce comite sera autorise en plus a prendre d'autres mesures preliminaires en vue de la publication du Catalogue ; mais il n'aura aucune responsabilite financiere. Comme il sera necessaire, pour un corps constitue quelconque, de conclure des traites et d'encourir les responsabilites finan- cieres definitives, le comite provisoire est autorise a comprendre parmi les mesures preparatoires de ce genre, les negotiations soit avec la Societe Royale, soit avec un autre corps constitue, soit avec un gouvernement, soit avec un editeur. Toutefois la confirmation de toutes ces mesures preparatoires, ainsi que I'arrangement financier de'finitif ou conclusion d'un traite, doivent incomber au Conseil International. Das genannte Provisional Committee wird ferner beauftragt, andere Vorbereitungen zur Veroffentlichung des Katalogs zu treffen, ohne jedoch einefinanzielleVerantwortlichkeit einzugehen. Soweit es notwendig ist, dass eine Korporation die erfor- derlichen Vertrage abschliesst und die endgultige finanzielle Verantwortlichkeit ubermmmt, wird das Provisional Committee ermachtigt, derartige Vereinbarungen entweder mit der Ro} r al Society oder mit einer anderen Korporation oder mit einer Regierung oder mit einem Verleger einzuleiten, indem die Bestiitigung solcher Verhandlungen wie die Ausfiihrung der endgiiltigen Vereinbarungen dem International Council vorbehalten bleibt. Questo comitato sara inoltre autorizzato a prendere altre misure preliminari per la pubblicazione del catalogo, senza avere tuttavia nessuna responsabilita finanziaria. E poiche e necessario per un corpo costituito di concludere dei contratti e d'assumere le responsabilita finanziarie definitive, cosi il comitato provvisorio e autorizzato ad includere nei lavori preparatori le trattative o colla Royal Society o con altre corporazioni o con un governo o cor. un editore : ma la conferma di queste trattative e 1'approvazione finale del contratto sara riservata al Consiglio Internazionale. 13. The " Scheme for the Publication of an International Catalogue of Scientific Literature " was then considered, and it was Resolved That Article I. be approved Omitting the words in paragraph 5 on page 5, lines 9 and 10, " the limits of the several sciences to be determined hereafter," and also the words, page 5, lines 27-29. That Article II. be approved- Omitting the words "the same . . . regulations were " in paragraph 10, page 7 ; Adding Italian to the three languages mentioned in para- graphs 10 (a) and (b) ; Altering the word " delegate " to " contracting body (as here- inafter defined)" in paragraph 10 (d) ; Omitting at the top of page 8 the words within square brackets ; Omitting in paragraph 11, page 8, the words within square brackets : " The . . . Appendix II.," and substituting the fol- lowing : " Each contracting body shall have one vote in deciding all questions brought before the Council " ; And inserting in paragraph 13, before the words : " There shall also be . . . ' the words : " If the International Council so decide." That Article III. be approved without change. That Article IV. be approved, omitting the opening paragraph in square brackets. That Article V. be approved, inserting the words : " or as soon after that date as the International Council may decide," in paragraph 29, after "January 1, 1901." That Article VI. be approved, inserting at the beginning of paragraph 32, the words : " Unless the International Council decide otherwise " ; Substituting in paragraph 34, page 14, line 33, " instructed " for " authorised." That Article VII., excepting paragraph 37, be approved Omitting paragraph 35 and the next paragraph in square brackets, and substituting therefor : " any body which establishes a regional bureau shall be termed a contracting body." Omitting the words " which takes a complete share " in the first line of paragraph 40, and omitting the whole of the second sentence in this paragraph, and omitting the three appendices. 14. It was further resolved to substitute for paragraph 37, Section VII., page 15, the following: " That it be an instruction .to the Provisional Committee to negotiate with the several contracting bodies with reference to the sale in their respective regions of copies other than those subscribed for by the contracting bodies." Que les instructions soient donnees au comite provisoire pour negocier avec les differents corps contractants la question de la vente dans leurs pays respectifs des exemplaires souscrits par ces corps. Aufgabe der Provisional Committee wird es sein, den verschiedenen contrahierenden Korperschaften (contracting bodies) beziiglich des Verkaufs von Exemplaren in ihren Landern, ganz abgesehen von der gewahrleisteten Anzahl, bestimmt Festsetzungen vorzuschlagen. 10 15. It was Resolved That the Provisional Committee contem- plated in Resolution 12 (B) be constituted as follows : Prof. Armstrong 1 , Dr. Brunchorst, Dr. Graf, Dr. Milkau, Prof. Nasini, Prof. Poincare, Prof. Weiss, power being given to the Royal Society, while retaining only a single vote, to nominate further members, and power being given to the Committee to appoint substitutes if any of those named were unable to serve, and also to co-opt two new members. 16. On the motion of Sir Michael Foster and Prof. Riicker, it was Resolved That the Royal Society be requested to appoint the Secretary to the Provisional Committee, and to meet provision- ally such expenses as the Committee may incur. 17. It was Resolved That the proces verbal of the Con- ference be signed by the President and Secretaries. 18. The Royal Society was requested to undertake the editing, publication, and distribution of a verbatim report of the pro- ceedings of the Conference. 19. On the motion of Prof. Schwalbe, a vote of thanks to Sir John Gorst for presiding over the Conference was passed by acclamation. 20. On the motion of Sir Michael Foster, the thanks of thQ Conference were accorded to the Society of Antiquaries for the use of their rooms. (Signed) JOHN E. GORST. HENRY E. ARMSTRONG. Dr. JOH. BERNOULLI. G. CIAMICIAN. J. DENIKER. SCHEME FOR THE PUBLICATION OP AN INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. APPROVED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF 1900.* I. 1-5. Of the Object and Nature of the Catalogue. II. 6-9. Of the Control and Management of the Catalogue. 10. Of the International Conventions. 11.- Of the International Council. 12-13. Of the Central Bureau. 14. Of the International Committee of Referees. 15. Of the Regional Bureaux. III. 16-17. Of the Subject-Matter of the Catalogue, and its division into headings (Schedules). IV. 18-25. Of the Form and Publications of the Catalogue. V. 26-28. Of the list of Journals, communications to which are to be catalogued. VI. 29-34. Of the preparation of the Material of the Cata- logue. VII. 35-44. Of the Finances of the Catalogue. * The alterations made in the Scheme presented to the Conference, and which are referred to in the Acta, are embodied herein. 12 I. OBJECT AND NATURE OF THE CATALOGUE. The object and nature of the Catalogue were defined by means of the following 1 resolutions of the 1896 Conference, which were agreed to nemine contradicente. The resolutions are. re-numbered, but the original numbers are given in brackets : 1. [12] That it is desirable to compile and publish by means of some international organisation a complete Catalogue of Scientific Literature, arranged according both to subject-matter and to authors' names. Qu'il est desirable de compiler et de publier a 1'aide d'une organisation internationale un catalogue complet de litterature scientifique classe suivant les sujets et les noms des auteurs. Es 1st wtinschenswert vermittelst einer internationalen Organ- isation einen vollstandigen Katalog der wissenschaftlichen Litteratur zusaminenzustellen und zu verbffentlichen, geordnet sowohl nach dem Inhalt als auch nach den Narnen der Verf asser. 2. [13] That in preparing such a Catalogue regard shall, in the first instance, be had to the requirements of scientific investigators, to the end that these may, by means of the Catalogue, find out most easily what has been published con- cerning any particular subject of inquiry. Qu'en preparant le catalogue on aura avant tout egard aux besoins des travailleurs scientifiques aim que ceux-ci puissent a Paide de ce catalogue trouver facilement ce qui a ete public concernatit les recherches sur quelque sujet que ce soit. Bei der Vorbereitung eines solchen Katalogs soil in erster Linie Riicksicht genommen werden auf die Bediirfiiisse wissen- schaftlicher Forscher, so dass dieselben mit Hiilfe dieses Katalogs sich leicht in der Litteratur iiber irgend einen besondern Gegen- stand der Forschung orientiren konnen. 3. [17] That in indexing according to subject-matter regard shall be had, not only to the title (of a paper or book), but also to the nature of the contents. Que dans le classement du catalogue d'apres la nature des sujets, on aura egard non seulement aux titres d'un article ou d'un livre, mais aussi a la nature de son contenu. Bei der Aufzeichnung der Abhandlungeu und Biicher soil nicht nur der Titel derselben sondern auch der Inhalt berucksichtigt werden. 4. [18] That the Catalogue shall comprise all published original contributions to the branches of science hereinafter men- tioned, whether appearing in periodicals or in the publications of Societies, or as independent pamphlets, memoirs or books. Que le catalogue comprendra toutes les contributions originales aux diffe'rentes branches de la science telles qu'elles 13 sont mentionnees ei-apres, paraissant soit dans les revues, ou dans les publications des Societes, ou comme brochures inde- pendantes, memoires ou livres. Der Katalog soil alle original-Abhandlungen aus den welter unter angefiihrten Wissenszweigen umfassen, gleichviel ob diesselben in Zeitschriften oder in Verb'ffentlichungeu von Vereinen erschienen sind, oder in Form von Flugschriften, selbstiindigen Aufsatzen pder Biichern. 5. [25] That a contribution to science for the purposes of the Catalogue be considered to mean a contribution to the mathe- matical, physical, or natural sciences, such as, for example, mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, mineralogy, geology, botany, mathematical and physical geography, zoology, anatomy, physiology, general and experimental pathology, experimental psychology and anthropology, to the exclusion of what are sometimes called the applied sciences. Devront entrer dans le Catalogue toutes les contributions aux sciences mathematiques, physiques, et naturelles ; par exemple : Mathematique, astronomic, physique, chimie, mineralogie, geologic, geographic maihematique et physique, botanique, zoologie, anatomie, pathologie generate et experimentale, psychologic experimentale, physiologie et anthropologie, a 1'exclusion do ce qu'on nomme parfois sciences appliquees ; les limites des differentes sciences seront determinees ulte'rieurement. In den in Rede stehenden Katalog sollen alle Beitrage zur Mathematik uud zu den Natur-Wissenschaften aufgenommen werden, wie (z. B.) zur Mathematik, Astronomic, Physik, Chemie, Mineralogie, Geologic, zur Mathematischen und Physikalischen Geographic, zur Botanik, Zoologie, Anatomie, Physiologie, Allge- meinen und Experimental-Pathologie, Psychophysik und Anthro- pologie, unter Ausschluss der sog. angewandten Wissenschaften ; wobei die Abgrenzung der einzelnen Gebiete noch in der Folge festzulegen ist. Technical matters of scientific interest shall, however, be included in the Catalogue, but shall be referred to under the appropriate scientific headings. (Rep. Comm.. p. 5.) II. THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OP THE CATALOGUE. The control and management of the Catalogue has been provided for by the Conferences of 1896 and 1898 as follows : Definitions of The International Council, International Bureau, Regional Bureaux, and International Convention. [The supreme control over the Catalogue is vested in an International Convention, which shall meet at regular intervals. In the interval between two successive meetings of the Con- vention, the administration of the Catalogue is vested in an 14 International Council, the editing and publication being carried on by a Central International Bureau. The materials out of which the Catalogue is formed are to be furnished to the Central Bureau by Regional Bureaus.'] 6. That the administration of the Catalogue be entrusted to a representative body, hereinafter called the International Council, the members of which shall be chosen as hereinafter provided. Que 1' administration du catalogue soit confie a un corps representatif, sous le nom de Conseil International, dont les membres seront choisis d'apres les decisions prises ulterieure- ment. Die Administration des Katalogs soil einer reprasentativen Koiperschaft iibertragen werden (die weiterhin " the Inter- national Council" genannt wird), deren Mitglieder in einer spater zu bestimmenden Weise gewahlt werden sullen. ('96.14.) 7. That the final editing and the publication of the Catalogue be entrusted to an organisation, hereinafter called the Central International Bureau, under the direction of the International Council. Que 1'edition definitive et la publication du catalogue soient confiees a une organisation nommee plus tard le Bureau Central International sous la direction du Conseil International. Die Herausgabe und Veroffentlichung des Katalogs soil, unter der Leituug des International Council, einer Organisation anvertraut werden, die hier " Central International Bureau " genannt wird. ('96.15.) 8. That any country which shall declare its willingness to undertake the task shall be entrusted with the duty of collect- ing, provisionally classifying, and transmitting to the Central Bureau, in accordance with rules laid down by the International Council, all the entries belonging to the scientific literature of that country. Que Ton charge chaque pays, qui se declarera pret a entre- prendre cette tache, de collectionner, de classer provisoirement, et de transmettre au Bureau Central selon les regies formulees par le Conseil International, tous les materiaux necessaires pour la bibliographic de la litterature scientifique de ces pays. Jedes Land welches sich bereit erklart an der Arbeit theil- zunehmen, soil mit der Aufgabe betraut werden, in Ueberein- stimmung mit den von dem International Council vorgeschrie- benen Regeln, das Material tiber alle einschlagigen wissen- schaftlichen Veroffentlichungen des betreffenden Landes zu sammeln, provisorisch zu klassifiziren und dem Centralen Bureau zu iibermitteln. ('96.16.) 15 [The organisations created for the above purpose are called hereafter Regional Bureaus. Each region in which a Regional Bureau is established, charged with the duty of preparing and transmitting slips to the Central Bureau for the compilation of the Catalogue, is called a " constituent region." ('98.26.)] 9. In 1905, in 1910, and every tenth year afterwards, an Inter- national Convention shall be held in London (in July) to reconsider and, if necessary, revise the regulations for carrying out the work of the Catalogue authorised by the International Convention of 1898. Such an International Convention shall consist of delegates appointed by the respective Governments to represent the constituent regions, but no region shall be represented by more than three delegates. The decisions of an International Convention shall remain in force until the next Convention meets. ('98.26.) Of the International Conventions. 10. The rules of procedure of each International Convention shall be as follows : (a.) That English, French, German, and Italian be the official languages of the Convention, but that it shall be open for any delegate to address the Convention in any other language, pro- vided that he supplies for the proces verbal of the Convention a written translation of his remarks into one or other of the official languages. L'Anglais, le Fran^ais, 1'Allemand, et 1'Italien seront les langues officielles de la Convention, mais chaque delegue pourra s'adresser a la Convention dans n'importe quelle autre langue, pourvu qu'il remette pour le proces verbal de la Convention tin traduction ecrite de ses observations dans 1'une des langues officielles. Die offiziellen Sprachen der Convention sollen Englisch, Fran- zosisch, Deutsch, und Italienisch sein, es soil aber jedem Dele- girten freistehen bei der Convention in einer andereu Sprache zu sprechen, vorausgesetzt, dass er f iir das Protocoll der Convention eine schriftliche Uebersetzung seiner Rede in eine der offiziellen Sprachen liefert. ('98.8.) (b.) That there shall be Secretaries for the English, French German, and Italian languages. ('98.3.) (c.) That the Secretaries, with the help of shorthand reporters, be responsible for the proces verbal of the proceedings of the Convention in their respective languages. ('98.4.) 16 (d.) That each Contracting Body (as hereinafter defined) shall have' a vote in deciding all questions brought before the Convention. Que chaque delegue aura un vote pour decider toutes les questions soumises a la Convention. Jeder Delegirte soil erne Stimme haben bei Entscheidung aller Fragen die vor die Convention gebracht werden. ('98.7.) Of the International Council. 11. Each Regional Bureau shall appoint one person to serve as a member of a body to be called the International Council. The International Council shall, within the regulations laid down by the International Convention, be the Governing Body of the Catalogue. The International Council shall appoint its own Chairman and Secretary. . It shall meet in London, once in three years at least, and at such other times as the Chairman, with the concurrence of five other members, may specially appoint. It shall, subject to the regulations laid down by the Convention, be the supreme authority for the consideration of and decision concerning all matters belonging to the Central Bureau. It shall make a report of its doings, and submit a balance sheet, copies of which shall be distributed to the several Regional Bureaux, and published in some recognised periodical or periodicals, in each of the constituent regions. ('98.27.) Each Contracting Body shall have one vote in deciding all questions brought before the Council. [Pending the constitution of the International Council a Pro- visional Committee was appointed.] Of the Central Bureau. 12. The Central Bureau shall be located in London. ('96.24.) 13. The Paid Staff shall consist of (i.) A General Director who, under the International Council, and in accordance with the regulations of the Convention, shall direct, supervise, and be responsible for all the operations of the Central Bureau. (ii.) Expert Assistants skilled in the literature of various branches of science, (iii.) Such ordinary Clerks as may be necessary. If the International Council so decide, there shall also be a Consultative Committee, appointed by the International Council, consisting of persons representing the several sciences, and 17 residing in or near London. The Director shall be the Chairman of this Committee. (Report of the Royal Society, p. 2.) Of International Committees of Referees. 14. The following recommendations relating to International Committees of Referees are referred for consideration to the International Council when constituted. ('98.22.) The International Council shall appoint for each science in- cluded in the Catalogue five persons skilled in that science, to form an International Committee of Referees, provided always that the Committees shall be as far as possible representative of the constituent regions. The members shall be appointed in such a way that one retires every year. Occasional vacancies shall be filled up by the Committee itself, subject to the approval of the Chairman of the International Council, and a member thus appointed shall hold office as long as the member whose place he fills would have held office. It shall be the duty of the Director of the Central Bureau to consult the appropriate Committee or Committees, by corre- spondence or otherwise, on all questions of classification not provided for by the Catalogue Regulations ; or, in cases of doubt, as to the meaning of those Regulations. In any action touching classification the Director shall be guided by the written decision of a majority of the appropriate Committee, or by a minute if the Committee meets. Provided always that when any addition to or change of the schedule of classification in any one branch may seem likely to affect the schedule of classification of some other branch or branches, the Committees concerned shall have been consulted ; and provided also that in all cases of want of agreement within or between the Committees, or of other difficulty, the matter shall have been referred for decision to the International Council. All business transacted by the Committees shall be reported by the Director to the International Council at their next ensuing meeting. Of the Regional Bureaus. 15. In all countries in which, or wherever, a Regional Bureau is established, as contemplated in Regulation 8 (above), the Regional Bureau shall be responsible for the preparation (in accordance with Regulations hereinafter laid down) of the slips requisite for indexing all the scientific literature of the region, whatever be the language in which that literature may appear. Each Regional Bureau shall transmit such slips to the Central Bureau as rapidly and as frequently as may be found convenient. In the case of countries in which no Regional Bureau is established, the Central Bureau, failing other arrangements, B 18 shall, upon special mandate, endeavour to undertake the work of a Regional Bureau. ('98.24.) III. OF THE SUBJECT-MATTER OF THE CATALOGUE. 16. The following branches of science shall be included within the scope of the Catalogue, and shall be indicated as follows by the letters of the alphabet in consecutive order as Registration Letters. A. Mathematics. B. Mechanics. C. Physics. D. Chemistry. E. Astronomy. F. Meteorology (including Terrestrial Magnetism). G. Mineralogy (including Petrology and Crystallo- graphy). H. Geology. J. Geography (Mathematical and Physical). K. Palaeontology. L. General Biology. M. Botany. N. Zoology. 0. Human Anatomy. P. Physical Anthropology. Q. Physiology (including experimental Psychology, Pharmacology and Experimental Pathology). R. Bacteriology. Technical matters of scientific interest shall be included in the Catalogue, but shall be referred to under the appropriate scieniific headings. . ('98.14 and Rep. Comm., p. 4.) 17. Schedules shall be approved by the International Council, in which the subject-matter of each of the above sciences is grouped under a convenient number of headings, each of which shall be indicated by an appropriate symbol. ('98. 11, 15 and 21.) In the first instance the schedules prepared by the Provisional International Committee shall be adopted, subject to such minor modifications of detail as may be found to be necessary in preparing the first volumes of the Catalogue. The symbols adopted to indicate the headings shall in the first instance be the numbers used for that purpose in those schedules. ('98.20, and Rep. Comm., p. 5.) After the publication of the first issue of the Book Catalogue, the Director of the Central Bureau shall consult the Committee of Referees as to the desirability of making changes in the classification, and shall report thereon to the International Council, who shall have power to authorize such changes to be made as they may think expedient. ('98.25.) 19 IV. OF THE FORM AND ISSUE OF THE CATALOGUE. 18. The International Council is instructed not to issue a Card Catalogue in the first instance, but if the finances permit, a Card Catalogue may be undertaken in future if approved by a special vote of an International Convention. A Book Catalogue shall be issued in the form of at least one annual volume for each science, but parts may be issued at shorter intervals as the International Council may determine. The International Council is instructed to proceed to the issue of bi-monthly or quarterly parts only if experience shows that such a course is desirable and financially practicable. (8ee Rep. Comm., p. 5, and '98.10.) [Subject to any modifications which the experience of the Central Bureau may show to be desirable, Regulations 19 and 20 are submitted as embodying a scheme of publication.] 19. Since it is desirable to distribute the work of the Central Bureau and the printing of the Catalogue evenly over the entire year, the volumes shall be published in four groups as soon as possible after the First of January, April, July and October respective ly. [As an illustration, the two following schemes have been drawn up for consideration. The first, on the assumption that there will be a smaller number of editors than subjects, distributes the work in cognate subjects over the year. The second is based on the assumption that there will be a larger staff of editors, so as to enable the volumes on cognate sciences to-be published simultaneously. Scheme 1. To be published as soon as possible after January 1. A. Mathematics. D. Chemistry. G. Mineralogy. L. General Biology. P. Physical Anthropology. April 1. B. Mechanics. H. Geology. M. Botany. Q. Physiology. July 1. C. Physics. J. Geography. N. Zoology. R. Bacteriology. October 1. E. Astronomy. F. Meteorology. K. Palaeontology. 0. Human Anatomy. Scheme 2. To be published as soon as possible after January 1. A. Mathematics. B. Mechanics. C. Physics. E. Astronomy. F. Meteorology. April 1. D. Chemistry. G. Mineralogy. H. Geology. J. Geography. July 1. K. Palaeontology. L. General Biology. M. Botany. N. Zoology. October 1. 0. Human Anatomy. P. Physical Anthropology. Q. Physiology. R. Bacteriology.] B2 20 20. The titles to be indexed in each volume shall be those (not having 1 been included in a previous volume) received at the Central Bureau from the Regional Bureaus not less than three calendar months, or such shorter period as the Central Bureau may fix, before the first day of the month in which the volume is to be published. The first group of volumes shall be issued in July, 1901. The second, third and fourth groups of volumes shall be issued in October, 1901, and in January and April, 1902. The first literature to be included in the Catalogue is that of January, 1901. 21. The annual volume for each science shall contain: (1) The schedule of that science with the authorised regis- tration symbols (see 17 above). (2) An alphabetical Index to the schedule, with the registration symbols attached. (Rep. Comm., p. 5.) (3) An Authors' Catalogue. (4) A Subject Catalogue (see 1 above). 22. The schedules and alphabetical Indices shall be printed either in English, French, German or Italian, under conditions laid down hereafter (see 40 below). (Rep. Comm., p. 5.) 23. The Authors' Catalogue shall be arranged according to the alphabetical order of the authors' names, the full titles of the memoirs or books of each author following his name in the order of the registration symbols by which they are indicated. These titles shall be given in the original language alone if that language be either English, French, German, Italian, or Latin. In the case of other languages, the title shall be translated into English, or such other of the above five languages as may be determined by the Regional Bureau concerned (see 8 and 15 above) ; but in such case the original title shall be added, either in the original script, or transliterated into Roman script. The title shall be followed by every necessary reference, including the year of publication, and such other symbols as may be determined. In the case of a separately published book, the place and year of publication, and the number of pages, &c., shall be given. ('98.18 and 25.) 24. The entries in the Subject Catalogue shall be primarily arranged in the order of the appropriate registration symbols in the schedules. The order of arrangement in the final sub-divisions shall, in general, be in the alphabetical order of the authors' names, unless the subject demand other treatment. (Rep. Comm., p. 3.) 25. Each entry in the Subject Catalogue shall consist (a) of the author's name ('98.18, i.); (/3) of the title of the paper, or 21 of a modified title describing" the contents of the paper [or that portion of the contents of the paper to which the entry specially refers] better than the title itself (Rep. Comm., p. 4) ; (7) of an adequate reference to the journal or other publication. ('98.18, i-) The titles or modified titles in the Subject Index shall be given only in English, French, German, Italian, or Latin. If the title of the paper is not in one of these languages, the name of the language in which it was published shall be added, but the title or transliterated title in the original language shall be given in the Authors' Catalogue only (see 23 above). V. OF THE LIST OF JOURNALS, COMMUNICATIONS TO WHICH ARE TO BE CATALOGUED. 26. Each Regional Bureau shall, before November 30, 1900j furnish to the Central Bureau a list of the Journals, the contents of which it proposes to catalogue. Such Journals to be arranged in a list according to the order of the 17 sciences (see 16 above), which form the subject-matter of the Catalogue. Journals dealing with science generally are to be placed under a special heading of " General Science." Journals dealing with a limited number of sciences are to be placed under a special heading of " Several Sciences," and the sciences with which they deal clearly indicated by the registra- tion letters of Section 16 above. 27. On receipt of the above lists the Central Bureau shall prepare for each of the 17 sciences a list of the Journals (whether special or general) dealing with that science, together with the abbreviated titles which it proposes to use. Copies of these lists shall be furnished to each of the Regional Bureaus before January 1, 1901, and the abbreviated titles therein given shall alone be used by the Regional Bureaus in the slips (see 15 above) communicated by them to the Central Bureau. 28. A general list of journals indexed in the Catalogue, with the abbreviations to be used as references, shall be issued with the first edition of the Catalogue. A supplement, giving the additions to this list, shall be issued annually with a new edition at the end of five years. (Rep. Comm., p. 5.) VI. OF THE PREPARATION OF THE MATERIAL FOR THE CATALOGUE. 29. On and after January 1,- 1901 , or as soon after that date as the International Council may decide, the Regional Bureaux shall transmit to the Central Bureau the material to be indexed in the Catalogue, arranged on slips. 22 Unless otherwise ordered by the International Council 30. The slips shall be of the character prescribed by the Central Bureau, and (except in the case of titles given in languages which do not employ Roman script) the entries thereon shall be either printed, type- written , or legibly written in Roman script. 31. At the head of each slip shall be given the letter and registration number indicating the science and sub-division of that science under which the material referred to on the slip is to be catalogued. 32. Unless the International Council decide otherwise, for each book or memoir to be catalogued, the Regional Bureau shall supply (1.) At least one copy of the entry for the Authors' Index, containing the material prescribed in Section 23 above. (2.) At least one copy of each entry for the Subject Index, containing the material prescribed in Section 25 above, and Section 34 below 7 . The Regional Bureau shall retain duplicates until the volume containing the entries is published. 33. A paper or book shall be entered in the Subject Catalogue in more places than one only when this is rendered desirable by its scientific contents. No exact limits to the numbers of entries to be allowed to single papers can at present be fixed. This must be determined by the Central Bureau, after adequate experience. Until such limits are determined, if the Central Bureau is of opinion that in the returns made by any Regional Bureau the numbers of entries to single papers do not correspond to the scientific contents, it shall be its duty to intervene ; such intervention, however, to be based, not on individual cases, but upon an average. (Rep. Comm,, p. 3.) 34. The International Council is instructed to direct the Central Bureau to aim at keeping the total number of entries in the Authors* and Subject Catalogues within 160,000, and not to exceed 200,000 entries without the permission of the Inter- national Convention. (See Appendix I.) [Lists of species (see 16 above) must be reckoned according to the space occupied, as may be arranged by the Central Bureau.] The Central Bureau is therefore instructed to reject less important entries, if this step is necessary to keep within the limits above laid down. VII. OF THE FINANCES OF THE CATALOGUE. 35. Any Body which establishes a Regional Bureau shall be termed a Contracting Body. 23 36. The number of copies of the Catalogue due to each Contracting Body shall be sent to that Body, or to the corre- sponding Regional Bureau as such Body may direct, and shall be disposed of by that Body, by gift or sale, at its own discretion. 37. The Provisional Committee referred to at the end of para- graph 11 is instructed to negotiate with the several Contracting Bodies with reference to the sale in their respective regions of copies other than those subscribed for by the Contracting Bodies. 38. The various Contracting Bodies shall distribute the copies of the Catalogue due to them in their own constituent regions. 39. Prices shall be fixed for the different volumes by the Central Bureau, and at the request of any Contracting Body, conveyed to the Central Bureau before a date to be fixed by the Central Bureau in any year, different numbers of the different volumes may be supplied to it during that year, provided always that the total value of such volumes does not exceed the value of the subscriptions received from that Contracting Body. Unless a request to the contrary is received by the Central Bureau before the date fixed as above provided, the copies of the Catalogue supplied in that year to any Contracting Body shall be a specified number of complete sets, i.e., shall contain an equal number of all the volumes allotted to the different sciences. If any Contracting Body requires a larger number of volumes than are covered by its subscriptions, such volumes may be supplied to it at specified prices to be fixed by the Central Bureau. 40. Any Contracting Body shall have the right to have the schedules and alphabetical indices prefixed to the volumes allotted to it in return for its subscription printed in English, French, German or Italian as it may prefer. If no request is made to the contrary, the language of the schedules and indices shall be English. ('96.29.) 41. The total number of copies of the Catalogue printed in each year shall be in excess of the number allotted to the different Contracting Bodies to an extent to be fixed by the International Council. The price at which the volumes are supplied to the Contracting Bodies shall be such as to cover the cost of production of such excess volumes, which, if wanted thereafter by any of the Contracting Bodies, shall be supplied to them at specified prices. 42. If the sale of the Catalogue or of the additional volumes result, in any year, in a profit, this profit shall be allowed to 24 accumulate, and may be used by the International Council to cover a deficit in any other year ; provided always that neither the scope of the Catalogue shall be increased, nor the total number of 200,000 entries exceeded, without the direct permission of the International Convention. If the Catalogue shows a profit after several years' working, the International Convention shall decide how the profit is to be applied, whether to increase the scope or the bulk of the Book Catalogue, or to the issue of a Card Catalogue. 43. The publication of the Catalogue shall not be undertaken unless the shares taken up cover the estimated cost of the Catalogue. 44. The publication, if undertaken, shall be an experiment for five years. All the Contracting Bodies shall agree to continue their subscriptions for five years, and the International Council shall not make contracts extending beyond that period. THIRD INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE CONFERENCE. REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. Opening Meeting, Tuesday r , June 12th, 1900, 10 a.m. PROF. G. DARBOUX. Mes chers collegues, je vous propose de nommer par acclamation comme President Sir John Gorst. 11 nous a deja preside dans differentes circonstances, vous vous rappelez avec quelle irnpartialite et quelle autorite. Je demande done qu'il soit appele encore a presider cette annee. (The motion was agreed to.) SIR JOHN GORST (on taking the chair). Gentlemen, I am very much obliged to you for the honour you have done me by again electing me to preside over the Conference, and I assure you that I will do my best to deserve the honour which you have done me. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I beg leave to propose that we elect four secretaries, namely, that the secretary for the German language be Dr. F. Milkau, for the French language, Dr. J. Bernoulli, for the Italian language, Prof. Ciamician, and for the English language, Prof. Armstrong. (The motion was agreed to.) SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I beg leave to move that the secretaries, with the help of the shorthand reporters, be respon- sible for the proces verbal or proceedings of the Conference in their respective languages. (The motion was agreed to.) SIR MICHAEL FOSTER read a list of the delegates attending the conference. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. It seems desirable that we should fix the hours at which we are to meet. To-day we are meeting at 10 o'clock, and it is proposed that we should adjourn at 1 o'clock, and meet again at half past two, as in former years. It is further proposed that we should meet to-morrow morning, not at 10 o'clock, as to-day, but at 11 o'clock, and that otherwise the hours should be the same as to-day. (This was agreed to.) 26 SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I beg leave to move, in reference to the languages of the Conference, that English, French, German, and Italian be the official languages of the Conference, but that it shall be open to any delegate to address the Conference in any other language, provided that he supplies for the proces verbal of the Conference a written translation of his remarks into one or other of the official languages. (This was agreed to.) SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I have now, Sir John, to present the report of the International Committee, which, I suggest, may be taken as read, because it has already been forwarded to those present, as well as to others. THE CHAIRMAN. Does any delegate wish to make any remark with regard to the Report of the International Committee ? The Report will be discussed in the course of this Conference in con- nection with various resolutions. Perhaps, however, it may now be taken as read, as Sir Michael Foster suggests. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I move that the Report be received. (It was unanimously agreed that the Report be received.) SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. Our discussion to-day will largely turn upon the financial questions connected with the publication of the Catalogue, but before we proceed to the discussion of these financial questions, and receive the reports or statements of the delegates who are present, 1 may mention that the International Committee have recommended, as stated in the Report, two changes in regard to the general administration of the Catalogue, not in accordance with resolutions accepted at the last Conference. Perhaps it would be as well that, in the first instance, we should consider and come to some conclusion with regard to the acceptance of those changes. The changes pro- posed are, first, that the publication of a Card Catalogue be postponed for the present ; secondly, that a Book Catalogue be at first issued only in the form of annual volumes. As a matter of form, I beg leave to move the first of these resolutions. It is well that we should get clear of these two matters before we proceed to the discussion of the financial side of the scheme. PROF, RUCKER. The matter was brought before the last Conference, and after considerable discussion it was decided to adhere for the present to the proposal to prepare Card Catalogues. We do not propose to rescind that resolution, but the financial questions must first be fully gone into. It appears that to attempt now to carry out the proposal of publishing a Card Catalogue would be to wreck the undertaking that this Conference is called to consider. It would add several thousand pounds to the cost of the scheme, and I think it must be considered altogether impracticable. If, in future, larger funds are at our disposal, we shall be able to reconsider the question, but for the present I strongly recommend and support 27 the recommendation of the International Committee that the Card Catalogue be abandoned. PROF. G. DARBOUX. En ce qui concerne le catalogue sur fiches, les delegues qui ont assiste aux precedentes conferences savent que tout le monde y attache une grande importance, parce que le grand avantage que le catalogue sur fiches a, c'est que les chercheurs isoles peuvent d'une annee a 1'autre, battre leurs fiches, les classer de maniere a avoir chez eux un ensemble de fiches qui soit tres utile pour leurs recherches personnelles. Je ne meconnais pas la valeur des raisons qui sont donnees pour la premiere resolution proposee : la ou il u'y a pas d' argent, il j a un proverbe qui dit que le roi perd ses droits . . . et la conference aussi. La premiere question, c'est la question finan- ciere. Mais, je me demande, si on ne pourrait pas examiner les questions de detail, si par exemple un catalogue par volumes, qui serait imprime d'un seul cote de la page, ne permettrait pas precisement a chaque personne qui le voudrait, de faire elle- meme un catalogue par fiches, en decoupant le volume par pages. Est-ce que peut-etre meme ce fait qu'on n'imprimerait les pages que d'un seul c6te ne serait pas tres commode pour les recherches et ne permettrait pas a chacun de faire des annota- tions qui seraient extremement precieuses ? Voila les observations que j'ai a presenter au sujet de cette proposition. J'y adhere quant au fond, mais je me demande si on ne pourrait pas examiner le moyeii de tirer du groupe des catalogues un catalogue par fiches. PROF. NASINI. Si associa a quanto ha detto il delegate Darboux. Sarebbe desiderio di molti in Italia, specialmente dei direttori di Biblioteche che si facesse del catalogo a libro anche un' edizione stampata da una sola parte per potere ritagliare le schede. Si cio non importesse uua spesa troppe forte faremmo formate proposta per tale edizione; altromenti raccomandiamo cio alia Conferenza per Pavveuire. DR. DENIKER. Evidemment la question de la publication d'un catalogue sous la forme d'un volume ordinaire, ou bien sous la forme do volume publie de fa^on a ce qu'il y ait une impression sur le recto et non sur le verso de la page, est uniquement une question d'argent : il s'agit de savoir a combien monterait 1'augmeiitdtion de prix si on entreprenait la publication avec la page imprimee d'uu seul cote. Or, nous avons sous ce rapport une indication tr5s nette et tres precise; le docteur Carus publie depuis longtemps en Allemagne le : ' Zoologischer Anzeiger." Cette publication parait sous deux formes sous forme d'un volume pulie au recto et au verso, et ensuite sous forme de feuilles imprimees d'un seul cote. Or, la premiere edition coute 20 marks et la seconde 25 marks ; Paugmentation est done de 5 marks sur 20, soit de 20 a 25 / ? environ. Par consequent, ce serait une augmentation d'un quart a peu pres, ou d'un cinquieme du prix du catalogue. 28 Voila, je crois, une donnee pratique qui pourrait servir de base pour la discussion, s'il y a lieu. PROF. H. E. ARMSTRONG. The original idea concerning the Card Catalogue was that we should issue the cards very rapidly. The question now raised is whether, when the Catalogue is issued in volume form, it may also be printed so that it can be used for the purpose of making Card Catalogues. But that is a question that the Conference need not discuss now, I think. It is a question of business, and one for the Central Bureau to consider. The question whether there shall be a Card Catalogue is a larger one. SIR JOHN GORST. It is merely proposed to postpone the printing of Card Catalogues, which would involve, as Prof. Riicker has shown, a very large expenditure. (The motion " That the publication of a Card Catalogue be postponed for the present " was agreed to.) SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. May I in the same way formally propose that the Book Catalogue be at first issued only in the form of annual volumes. The point of that resolution is this : It was discussed by the International Committee whether it would be possible to issue the Catalogue in parts, either monthly, or at some other shorter periods. The Committee with reluctance find that the circumstances will not admit of this, and that is why the resolution is now brought before the Conference, as carrying out the views of the International Committee. (The motion was carried.) SIR MICHAEL POSTER. I will now propose the third resolution : " That the Catalogue include both an authors' and a subject index, according to the scheme of the Provisional International Committee." That is a very important question, and before we discuss it, perhaps it would be desirable to ask Prof. Riicker to make a statement upon the subject. PROF. RUCKER. The question before the Conference being "That the Catalogue include both an authors' and a subject index, according to the scheme of the Provisional International Committee," I think, in the first place, that it will be well for me to say a few words about our financial position. The Con- ference will remember that, at our last meeting, the question as to what scheme should finally be adopted was referred to the Provisional International Committee. That Committee met in the summer, and there were some differences of opinion in regard to the matter, but I think that my colleagues will agree that on all sides there was the greatest possible desire to reduce those differences to a minimum. The scheme brought before you now is, in some sense, a compromise. It is not a scheme upon which, I think, we are all agreed, but it is a scheme upon which, I think, we have obtained the greatest amount of agreement possible. I may say that it is a scheme that enables us to try various 29 suggestions side by side, so that there may be here, as in other matters, the survival of the fittest. The scheme which I would propose now is that we have an authors' and a subject index, and the calculations that have been made in regard to the financial position have been made upon the hypothesis that such a scheme be agreed upon. There are several different questions that have to be considered, and the first is what the normal annual expenditure would be, and how that should be met. In the Report that has been placed before you, we have shown you that after going a second time to the printers and getting- full estimates, we come to the conclusion that the annual amount wanted would be 5,200, and that, of the 17 volumes, in round numbers 300 copies would have to be sold. So that the two important figures to bear in mind are the 5,200 and the sale to meet that of 800 complete sets. With regard to meeting this normal expenditure, it is thought that the Central Bureau and the International Committee would, in some way or other, guarantee 5,200 a year. The guarantee might be made in various different ways. It might be made by a subscription to the Central Bureau, but I think that the plan most generally favoured is that the different countries should agree to purchase so many sets each year. Then comes the important question as to what each country is prepared to give. A great deal, of course, depends upon whether all the countries will join or whether some will stand outside and decline to take part in the work. Up to the present, I am sorry to say, there are four countries who are not represented at this Conference. These are Russia, the United States, Holland, and Belgium. With regard to Russia, the United States, and Holland, we have had private letters from the gentlemen who acted as delegates here, and although those letters are not to be taken as official, I may mention that not one of the letters contains a desire to withdraw, and I think we may fairly hope that the countries in question will be prepared to take their fair share in the work in the future. The normal expenditure, then, must be met by the sale of so many volumes a year. The next important matter is what may be called the initial expenditure. In order to start the enterprise, there must be a Central Bureau in proper working order for some months in advance. It is thought that about 1,000 would be necessary to start the enterprise, although probably it might cost more, but that is what is estimated in round numbers. There is one other point which I should like to mention ; that is, as to the manner in which the contributions should be paid. There are thus three important questions in regard to the money part of the subject. The first question is, Who is to be the person or body who shall be legally responsible for the finances in connection with the matter ? At first we thought that the International Committee might take that responsibility, but there are obvious difficulties in the way of the responsibility being put upon the representatives of the different 30 countries. We have no absolute proposal to make as to this, and probably it will be considered desirable that the question should be discussed at this Conference. I beg to urge and I think it one of the most important matters connected with this Conference that the representatives of the various countries should give us some idea of what their governments will do in the matter. We have also to consider the question of annual expenditure and the question of initial expenditure, as well as the question of legal responsibility ; but first, before all, what total sum we are likely to have at our disposal. PROF. SCHWALBE (Germany). Bei der letzten August- Conferenz sind die verschiedenen Punkte, die hier angedeutet worden sind, eingehend besprochen worden, und ich bin zuniichst in der Lage namens der deutschen Regieruug zu erkliiren, dass wir an deni festhalten, was dainals im August besprochen worden ist und was heute in dieser Auseinandersetzung festgehalten wird. Ich setze voraus, dass in Beziehung auf das Sachregister die Gesichtspunkte, die damals von Deutschland augeregt worden sind, vollstandig unberiihrt bleiben in dem Sinne, der damals festgelegt wurde und dass die vorliegende Fassung nur eine allgemeine Bedeutung hat, dass also durch das Scheme of the Provisional International Committee in keiner Weise nach irgend einer Richtung bin das Sachregister oder die Sachregistrirung in andrer Weise vorgenommen wird als dort bestimmt ist. Das ist die Voraussetzung, die ich wohl als angenommen betrachten darf. Nach dieser wenn ich so sagen darf Declaration mochte ich liber die ubrigen Punkte noch einiges wenige mittheilen, soweit seitens der deutschen Regierung Bestimmungen dariiber getroffen sind. Es besteht seiteus der deutschen Regierung kein Bedenken, den Theil, wie er urspriinglich geplant war, niimlich 1/8 zu iibernehmen. Ich glaube auch, dass, falls der eine oder andere Theil ausf alien sollte, sie selbst auf 1/7 heraufgehen wiirde, wodurch seitens Deutschlands die ganze Sachlage noch giinstiger fur das ganze Unternehmen gestaltet wiirde, da Deutschland dadurch ein noch grosseres Entgegenkommen beweisen wiirde. Eine sehr schwierige Frage ist die Deckung der anfiinglichen Kosten. Man hatte verschiedene Wege ins Auge gefasst. Man hatte daran denken konnen, was ja auch angedeutet war, dass von vornherein eine bestimmte Summe seitens eines jeden participirenden Staates zur Verfiigung gestellt wiirde und zwar unabhiingig von den ubrigen Leistnngen fiir das ganze Unternehmen. Aber in den Drucksachen, die uns vorgelegt sind, ist dieser Weg nicht eingeschlagen. Es ist von einer solchen Massregel darin iiberhaupt nicht die Rede und so wiirde denn nur der Weg bleiben, dass sich die einzelnen Staaten in irgend einer Weise bereit erklaren die anfiinglichen Kosten dadurch zu decken, dass sie vielleicht diese Summe, die sie nachher gewissermassen durch Entnahme der Exemplare garaii- tiren, schon vorher zur Disposition stellen. Eine Zusage kann ja natiirlich in dem Sinne nicht gemacht werden, wohl aberliegt der 31 Fall in Deutschland so, dass, wenn ich den Ausdruck wahlen soil, erne vorschussartige Zahlung geleistet werden konnte in der Voraussicht, dass nachher eben die ganze Sache sanctionirt wiirde. Also eine bestimmte Zusicherung oder ein bestinimtes Versprechen konnte man in Deutschland da nicht geben, wohl aber wiirden die Delegirten bereit sein, in diesem Sinne der deutschen Regierurig die Sache vorzutragen. Damit glaube ich die drei in Frage stehenden Punkte beantwortet zu haben, dahingehend, dass Deutschland bereit ist einen Antheil zu iibernehrnen, 1/8, vielleicht auch 1/7, und ich glaube dass letzteres keine grossen Schwierigkeiten machen wiirde ; dass die Regie- rung die Contrahentin ist und auch die anfanglichen Kosten von ihr geleistet werden. Eine schwierige Frage wiirde noch sein, was geschieht, wenn bestimmte Lander definitiv ausscheiden? Wenn beispielsweise Russland nicht theilnimmt, wiirden sich die Kosten dadurch wesentlich erhoheu, da ja die Literatur dieses Landes vom Ceutralbureau oder von irgend einem Regional- Bureau bestritten werden miisste. Die Summe, die dadurch erforderlich ware, ist, wie gesagt, eine unbestimmte. Wenn noch Holland, Belgien, Spanien u.s.w., dazukommen, so wiirden sich die Kosten sehr bedeutend vermehren, und da sind wir nicht bevollmachtigt, irgend eine bestimmte Zusage zu machen. was auch wohl kein anderer unter uns thun kann, denn dieser Punkt ist ja eben noch nicht abgeschlossen. Wir wisseu noch nicht, ob Russland und die iibrigen Staaten nun definitiv ausfallen Es besteht gewiss der allseitige Wunsch, das darf ich wohl annehmen, dass dies Unternehmen, das geplant ist, in die richtigen Wege geleitet wird, dass es begonnen, angefangen wird, und es ist wohl sicher zu erwarten, dass, wenn der Anfang in irgend einer Weise, die Erfolg verspricht, gemacht wird, sich das ganze Unternehmen weiter entwickeln wird und sich vielleicht auch die viel weitergehenden Wiinsche und Hoffnungen, die von andrer Seite ausgesprochen worden sind, erfiillen werden. Dazu ist aber nothwendig, dass ztivor eine bestimmte Probezeit, wenn ich so sagen soil, eingefiihrt wird, und wir sirid ermachtigt zu erklaren dass diese Probezeit und ich glaube das wird keinen Widerspruch findeu 5 Jahre betragt, als die erste Periode. Fiir diese fiinf Jahre das Unternehmen zu sichern, dazu ist Deutsch- land seinerseits bereit. PROF. RUCKER. There seems to be some difficulty in regard to the use of the word " shares." Of course, we do not think it desirable that the various countries should enter into what might be called an unlimited liability. Everything will be done, it is intended, to keep the expenditure within the limits estimated. Perhaps it would be better for each delegate to say how many sets of volumes, at the price of 17 per set, the Contracting Body he represents will take. PROF. SCHWALBE (Germany). Auf Deutschland wiirden nach der zuerst aufgestellten Berechnung 45 Exemplare kommen. Doch legen wir Gewicht darauf , dass nicht durch den Riicktritt 32 des einen oder anderen Landes neue Verpflichtungen entsteheu oder gar von vornherein festgelegt werden. Im Namen meiner Mitdelegirten glaube ich ubrigens die Erklarung abgeben zu konnen, dass wir bereit sind, der Regierung zu unterbreiten, dass seitens Deutschland vielleicht 1/7 der anfiinglichen Kosten gedeckt wird, zu einer definitive!! Zusage sincl wir, wie schon bemerkt, nicht ermachtigt. Ich glaube indes nicht, dass unser Vorschlag auf Schwierigkeiten stossen wird. PROF. RUCKER. The gentleman who attends here as German delegate has now laid before us what his Government is prepared to do, and now, perhaps, the English delegates may do so too. I am bound to say that we have been a little influenced by the good example which has been set us, and I think that my colleagues will agree that we should go farther than was intended. What 1 have to say in regard to Great Britain and Ireland is that we propose to take 45 sets. Our Contracting Body will also pay its fair share of the initial expenses, estimated at 1,000. SIR DAVID GILL. That is for England, Scotland and Ireland ? PROF. RUCKER. Yes; but perhaps I have not made my meaning quite clear. I mean the Contracting Body to be under- stood as being the Royal Society, and not the Government. PROF. KLEIN (Germany). And what about the Govern- ment ? PROF. RUCKER. I have absolutely no authority with regard to that, but I think I may say that our Government will be prepared to do its fair share. PROF. DARBOUX. Je n'etais pas prepare a traiter aujourd'hui la question financiere, parce que M. Poincare n'est pas la, et j'aurais desire etre assiste de lui, de maniere a ce que la delegation fran9aise soit au complet. Cependant, il est tout naturel que nous avons examine a fond la question des voies et moyens, et nous avons echange nos impressions a ce sujet. Nous avons meme deja, dans des conferences precedentes, indique la forme que la France entend donner a son concours, et cette forme a ete trans- rnise par voie diplomatique, je crois, a la Societe Royale. Le defaut, momentane je 1'espere, du concours* de certaines nations nous oblige a envisager une double question : d'abord, comment suppleera-t-on aux bureaux regionaux qui nous font defaut? Eh bien, nous nous sommes preoccupes de cela: nous aurons d'abord notre bureau regional, et nous offrons dans la mesure du possible de nous charger de 1'analyse de quelques memoires appartenant a d'autres nations. Le bureau regional est organise, pret a fonctionner ; nous avons fait nos nominations ; sous ce rapport, je puis donner toutes les assurances possibles a la Conference. Reste maiutenant la question de notre participation a la publica- tion meme du Catalogue. Cette participation, a cause de nos lois 33 constitutionnelles, ne peut etre donnee que sous une certaine forme ; et cette forme est celle de la souscription. Nous pourrons done souscrire un certain nombre d'exemplaires ; que je vais indiquer, mais nous ne pourrons donner notre souscription qu'apres la livraison des exemplaires ; je 1'ai dit dans la precedente conference, M. Riicker doit s'en souvenir ; c'est la forme que legalement nous pouvous donner a notre souscriptiou. Cela dit, je crois que le Miuistere de 1'instruction publique je ne suis pas tout a fait autorise a aller jusqu'a ce chiffre-la, mais enfin, j'espere que je ne serai pas desavoue par mon gouvernement pourra aller dans sa souscription jusqu'a 35 exemplaires. Le gouvernement s'engagerait done ferme a garautir la souscription a 35 exemplaires dans la forme que je viens d'indiquer. Nous ne pouvons pas nous engager pour les depenses prelim- inaires ; je 1'ai tou jours dit ici ; on nous a meme repondu qu'ici on pourrait faire, en vue des souscriptions, un emprunt garanti par des banquiers. PROF. E. WEISS (Austria). Seitens unserer Regierung ist das sogenannte Regional- Bureau gesichert, das in Oesterreich eingesetzt werden soil. Zu einer weiteren Unterstiitzung des Unternehmens hat bisher aber von der Regierung kein bestimmtes Vcrsprechen gegeben werden konnen, und zwar vielleicht haupt- sachlich aus dem Grunde well, was auch Prof. Riicker eingangs erwiihnte, es noch unsicher ist, wieviel jahrlich zu leisten sein wird. Es wird daher seitens unserer Regierung kein Versprechen gegeben, das sie zu weiteren Unterstiitzungen des Catalogunternehmens verpflichten wiirde. Wohl aber sind in Oesterreich ausserhalb der Kreise der Regierung von verschiedenen Seiten Anstrengungen gemacht worden, um doch eine bestimmte Anzahl von Exemplare subscribiren zu kb'nnen. Und ich glaube, ohne dass die Regierung hierf lir eine Garantie iibernimmt, sagen zu konnen, dass in Oesterreich wohl etwa 20 Exemplare subscribirt werden diirften. Ich rechne dabei mit vier Exemplare, die auf Ungarn fallen wiirden, was College Heller noch naher darthun wird. DR. AUG. HELLER (Hungary). Ich spreche im Namen eines Landes, eiues selbstandigen Staates, der allerdings an der mathe- matisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Literatur uur eiuen beschei- denen Antheil nimmt, der aber bei jeder Gelegenheit, wo es sich um ein internationales wissenschaftliches Unternehmen handelt, sich immer betheiligt hat. Im gegenwartigen Falle hat Uugarn, so wohl die Regieruug als auch die Akademie der Wissenschaften, resren Antheil genommen an diesem niitzlichen Unternehmen und hat den Wunsch, dass es bald zu Stande komme. Unsere Unterstiitzung ist natiirlich unseren schwachen Kraften ange- messen, und so hat unsere Regierung inich beauftragt, als ihren Antheil an dem Unternehmen 100 anzugeben. Ausserdem hat die ungarische Akademie der Wissenschaften. bei der sammtliche Pflichtexemplare des Landes zusammenkornmen, das Regional- 34 bureau iibernommen und zwar auf eigene Kosten. Die Anzahl von 4 Exemplaren, von der schon College Weiss gesprochen, entspricht der Anzahl unserer Hochschulen. Es 1st aber wohl vorauszusetzen, dass alle die Lebrstiihle, welche eigene Biblio- theken haben, wenigstens die betreffenden Fachbande halten werden. So glaube ieh, dass mehr als vier vollstandige Exemplare in Ungarn unterzubringen wliren. Die Zahl kann ich natiirlich nicht bestimmt ansetzen. PROF. NASINI. Sua Eccellenza il Ministro Baculli, all'alta intelligenze del quale sta cosi a cuore questa grandiosa impresa del catalogo internazionale, ci ha autorizzato a dichiarari che egli ha preventivato nel bilancio la somma di 25,000 lire annue per le spese del catalogo e del 1'ufficio regionale. Per le condizioui speciali in cui si e trovata la Camera dei Deputati in Italia, il bilancio non e stato ancora approvato, rna e sperabile che lo sara tra breve e sulla approvazione della spesa in questione non sembra possa pervi dubbio. Cosi il governo d'ltalia si obbli- garebbe all'acquisto di 27 esemplari completi, o per meglio dire aH'acquisto del numero di volumi corrispondenti, cioe di 459 volumi, potendo essere diversa la richiesta per le diverse scienze. II resto della somma andrabbe spesa per 1'ufficio regionale. Quauto alle spese preliminari per 1'impianto degli uffici, etc., etc., non possiamo fare dichiarazioni formali, ma crediamo che si potrebbe supplire adesso colla somma preventi- vata ritardando di mi semestre la pubblicazione del catalogo. PROF. DARBOUX (au delegue italien). M. le delegue italien, il y avait un point qui j'avais oublie de mentionner, qui est compris par tout le monde, c'est que quand on parle d'exemplaires complets, on admettrait bien 1'equivalence, c'est-a-dire qu'on pren- drait plus de volumes d'une partie que de 1'autre. Cela est Son a mentionner, je crois. Tout le monde a fait sa souscription ; 1'essentiel, c'est que la somme totale equivaleute aux exemplaires complets soit atteinte dans les souscriptions qui auront ete faites par nous. DR. GRAF (Switzerland). Der sohweizerische Bundesrath hat seine Delegirten dahin instruirt, dass sie die wissenschaftliche Mithilfe zusagen konnen, unter Katificationsvorbehalt des Bun- desraths und des Nationalraths ; dass wir ferner an die Kasse des Centralbureaus 1,000 francs, resp. 40, jahrlich geben wollen und ausserdem bis auf drei Exemplare subscribiren, so dass wir im Ganzen uns auf 100 engagiren. Der Bundesrath hat geglaubt, augesichts des Umstandes dass in der Hauptstadt Bern schon eiue grosse Anzahl internationaler Bureaux eingerichtet sind, dass es nicht augehe, dass die Schweiz sich fernhalte von diesem Unter- nehmen, das hier in London eiugerichtet werden soil. Wenn indes vorgezogen wird Abonnements auzunehmen, so eind wir autorisirt auf sechs Exemplare zu geheu. Das ware dann aber auch die ganze Subvention die von der Schweiz erwartet werden kann ; wir konnten es hochstens auf 7 Exemplare bringen. Alles aber unter Ra-tificationsvorbehalt der Bundesversammlung. 35 DR. BRUNCHORST (Norway). I have to say that we will be prepared to take five complete sets for Norway, and that we are going to establish a Regional Bureau. The money for the Regional Bureau has already been voted by the Storthing. As for the sum necessary to cover the cost of the five sets, it will probably be secured partly in the form of subscriptions from libraries and similar institutions, partly as a contribution from the Government. The Government is going to propose that such a contribution be made, but it has to be voted by our parliament, and accordingly everything I can promise is subject to approbation by that assembly ; an approbation which, however, will no doubt be given. PROP. EINOSUKE YAMAGUCHI (Japan). I am sorry to say that I received the authority to represent Japan at this Conference only three days ago, and I can only state what is my own opinion. I may say that I believe my country is prepared to establish a Bureau, and that our Government will give 3,000 yen. Our country has been very much interested in the matter, and I think that we shall be willing to take the Catalogue, but I do not know how many sets. I might mention that our Parliament in 1897 and 1898 passed a Bill allowing our Government to make a contract with the .Royal Society for the annual expendi- ture of 300 after 1905. That is what our Government will do. PROF. ARMSTRONG. How many complete sets do you estimate that you will take ? PROF. YAMAGUCHI. I think only three, but perhaps our Government might take more. PROF. ARMSTRONG. Do you think five? PROF. YAMAGUCHI. Yes, I think so. PROF. ARMSTRONG. I think it desirable that we should be quite clear. I understand you to say that your Government voted 300 for your own Bureau ? PROF. YAMAGUCHI. Yes. DR. LUDWIG MOND. I understand you to say that 3,000 yen would be voted by your -Government for the Bureau. Do I understand you correctly to say that your Government voted such a definite sum for a Regional Bureau ? PROF. YAMAGUCHI. Yes, 3,000 yen for the Regional Bureau. DR. MOND. And you further said that in 1898 your Govern- ment authorised the expenditure of 300 after 1905. Is that independent of the Regional Bureau ? PROF. YAMAGUCHI. Yes. DR. MOND. I really think that there must be some mistake as to this estimate. I think that the sum mentioned must be intended to be given during the years up to 1905. I think it c 2 36 would be very useful to clear up this point. Is it not the intention of the Government to expend the amount named up to 1905 ? SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. Could not Prof. Yamaguchi telegraph and find out something more definite ? M. METAXAS (Greece). I am very sorry that I received instructions only last week from my Government to represent them at. this Conference. I have therefore not had time to communicate with my Government and ask for further instruc- tions as to the financial questions. I have written to them about the matter, and when I receive their reply I will have the honour to report further to you. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. Can you form any idea as to how man}' copies they would require ? M. METAXAS. I am unable to say at present. M. DEL PASO r TRONCOSO (Mexico). Je ne suis pas autorise a fixer des sommes au prealable, comme je 1'ai indique deja, parce que la forme coustitutionnelle de notre gouvernement ne nous autorise pas a fixer ces sommes, si le gouvernement n'est pas lui- meme autorise par les Chambres ; mais, je pense que notre pays pourra souscrire 4, 5 ou 6 exemplaires ; c'est une opinion particuliere que j'emets, bien entendu, mais je pense qu'on pourra arriver a 5 exemplaires, c'est-a-dire 85 volumes, chaque exemplaire etant constitue par 17 volumes. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER, You will be able to establish a Regional Bureau ? M. DEL PASO Y TRONCOSO. Nous sommes en train de le former. II a ete decrete la formation d'un Institut biblio- graphique. Naturellement, cet iiistitut tierit a avoir toute notre litterature scientifique, mais ce sont des choses a former. Vous comprenez que dans des pays qui s'organisent, on ne peut pas faire tout cela comme ceux qui sont organises depuis longtemps, oil il y a uue grande civilisation, de sorte que nous faisons ce que nous pouvons. Nous sommes en train de le faire; c'est decrete, et reglemente, mais 1'organisation n'en est pas encore completee. ROLAND TRIMEN, ESQ. (Cape Colony"). I think that the general principles of the scheme will meet with our support, and I think that support will probably be given by our subscribing for a certain number of sets. I recommended the project very strongly after attending the last Conference, and I indicated what insti- tutions I thought might be expected to take part. I am SUIT} , however, to say that these do not appear to take much interest in the matter, and I have not received any reply. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. Can you estimate the number of sets that are likely to be required ? ROLAND TRIMEN, ESQ. I should think five sets. I should think that would be a fair estimate. I shall certainly do all in 37 my power to promote the work. The literature might perhaps be collected at Capetown. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I do not think there are any other representatives of English Colonies present, but T have had some conversation with Sir Walter Peace, who represents Natal, and although he is unable to give any definite promise, he said he thought that three sets might be taken by Natal. There are two other colonies that were not represented at our previous Conferences, namely, South Australia and Western Australia, but again, nothing definite has been said with respect to these. I think that Western Australia might take two sets, and South Australia three sets. I think also that New Zealand would not be behind the other colonies, and would probably take five sets at least; and Queensland, I think, would be equal to South Australia, and take three sets. Then I cannot think that New South Wales, which was represented at our previous Conference, would take less than five sets, and Victoria might take four sets. As to Canada, we have no definite information at present, but I think that they are sure to take a certain distinct number of sets, although nothing can be said definitely as to this. PROF. KLEIN. Do you think five ? SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. Yes, I think five. PROF. KLEIN. Or ten ? SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I do not think we should say more than five. PROF. KLEIN. Then there is India. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. No representatives of India are here, and so we are not able to say anything definitely as to India, but I think that we might, perhaps, expect India to take two or three. PROF. ARMSTRONG. Say twenty-five for Colonies. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I think it would be quite safe to say twenty-five ; indeed, the number might possibly reach thirty. But we must distinguish between definite promises and simple estimates. DR. MOND. As far as we have gone, we have considered the number that are likely to be taken by public institutions. I will not attempt to make an estimate, because I think it would be impossible to ascertain the exact number; but no doubt a certain number would be taken by private individuals. I am very sanguine on this point, but I shall be very glad if those who are so much better versed than I am in the matter would give their views with regard to the question. I think that if we get a guarantee for a number sufficient to pay the cost of publication, that we may be perfectly sure of selling an additional number to private individuals, which will take away every risk in the event of our not selling quite the number we might have anticipated to 38 the public libraries and universities. The whole matter up to the present has been dealt with only with regard to the number to be guaranteed. Sm MICHAEL FOSTER. Before we discuss that, would it not be as well to know for how many sets we have definite promises, and how many we may consider as probably required. PROF. RiicKER. The numbers are as follows : Germany . . 45 sets . . . . . . 765 England .. 45 765 France .. . . 35 595 Italy .. .. 27 .. .. .. 459 Switzerland .. 6 102 Norway . . . . 5 . . . . . . 85 PROF. DARBOUX. Maintenant, c'est un point que nous avons a toucher, il f audra sans doute garantir ces souscriptions des Etats en faisant payer un prix beaucoup plus eleve, au moins pro- visoirement, pour les exemplaires qui seront livres a des particuliers, parce que sans cela cette. souscription, qui est garantie, echapperait completement au gouvernement ; chez nous, elle nous echapporait s'il y avait nioyen, par exemple, pour les bibliotheques de se procurer le meme ouvrage a un prix inferieur. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. The contribution of Hungary, I understand, is 100 towards the central expenses. DR. DUKA. As far as I understand, Austria-Hungary will take 20 sets. I think that the Hungarian Government would be prepared to take four and Austria sixteen. PROF. WEISS. Ich wiederhole dass, wie ich und mem College Heller bereits ausfiihrten, Oesterreich-Ungarn fur 20 Exemplare (16 und 4) aufkommen diirfte. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. That is a total of 163 complete sets, representing a money value of 2,771. SIR JOHN GORST. Now perhaps Prof. Rucker will read out the list of those which are probable. PROF. RUCKER. We put down Austria for sixteen and Hungary four, making together 340. Then there is Japan, probably five; Mexico, probably five; the English Colonies, probably twenty-five. That will make 163 guaranteed, and thirty-five stated as very probable, being a total of 198, and may I call it in round numbers, 200, leaving the other 100 to be obtained. Then we can fall back upon and I think we can do so safely the United States, Russia, and Holland, and probably a number of other countries. I do not think I have much more to say, except that I think that this morning's discussion shows that it will be possible, in one form or another, to carry out the scheme, and it may be that some means will be found of reducing the cost of the Catalogue. DR. MOND. I should like the delegate for Hungary to make clear what his position is, because I do not understand it. I thought he said that his Government authorised the expenditure of 100, and that in addition to that they would require four complete sets. If I am mistaken I shall be very glad for my mistake to be put right. I should like to know what the Hungarian delegate is authorised to offer, DR. DUKA. The authorisation which I have says this: I understand the representative of the Government to grant 100 as a contribution, once for all, towards the expenses to be incurred in connection with the bibliographical work. DR. MOND. And as far as a yearly contribution is concerned, you have nothing definite to promise, but you hope that Hungary will take four sets. DR. DUKA. Yes, that is so. DR. HELLER. Das ungarische Ministerium fur Cultus und Unterricht liess sich bei seiner Bestimmung von den Forderungen der Conferenzen von 1896 und 1898 leiten, dass namlich die Staaten einen Garantiefond zusammen bringen, mit dem das Institut ins Werk gesetzt werden konnte. Von diesem Stand - punkt sie jetzt abzubringen, wenn auch noch jetzt neue Dinge vorliegen, ware nicht richtig, und darum ist es auch dabei geblieben, dass die Regierung ein fur allemal 100 zu diesem Unternehmen beisteuert, ganz abgesehen von der Zahl der Exemplare, die fur die wissenschaf tlichen Institutionen des Landes unterschrieben werden und die wir nach der Anzahl der Hochschulen uiid der Akademie auf vier festgesetzt haben. Diese beiden Dinge bitte ich ganz auseinander zu halten und die 100 ein fur allemal als einen Beitrag zum Beginn des Unternehrnens zu betrachten. DR. MOND. This seems to me extremely satisfactory, for it seems that with regard to what Prof. Riicker said about the money required for initial expenditure, there will not be much difficulty. The German delegates have told us that they are ready to recommend to their Government the contribution of 1/8 towards the initial cost of the Catalogue, but, as far as the other countries are concerned, this matter has not been fully dealt with, and I myself do not think it worth while to deal with it in detail to-day. I think that the discussion of this matter might be allowed to stand over for the present, or left for the International Council to deal with. But I do not think that the Conference can accept the promises from one, two or three, if the others do not make similar promises. I think, however, that it is very satisfactory to know that the Hungarian Government is willing to take its share of the initial expenditure, whatever that may be, and that the German delegates are willing to recommend to their Government the same course, and, as I understand, some of the other Governments are likely to be in a position to .support the fund, I think, also ? that the Royal 40 Society will be prepared, on behalf of the United Kingdom, to take its share. PROF. WEISS. Als vor einigen Jahren diese Prage zur Sprache kam, hatte auch unsere Akademie in Wien erne nicht unbedeutende Summe fur diesen Zweck votirt. Diese Summe ist ullerdings nach den Statuten unserer Akademie jetzt verf alien. Ich glaube aber nicht, dass ihre Wiederbewilligung Schwierig- keiten machen wird. Ein diesfillliges Versprechen kann ich aber nattirlich nicht geben. PROF. KLEIN. Auf Seite 6 des Berichts des Provisional Inter- national Committee ist noch von einer responsibility die Rede, die sehr bedeutend ist und sich auf 10,000 belauft. Diese Frageist heute noch gar nicht beriihrt worden und es wiirde mir richtig scheinen, wenn dariiber irgend etwas gesagt wurde, auch wenn sich hinterher zeigen wiirde, dass diese responsibility in Folge unserer neuen arrangements in Wegfall kouimt, weil sie sich von selbst erledigt. PROF. RUCKER. Now we come to the question as to who shall be the Contracting Body for each country whether the Govern- ment or an Academy and as to what form of pledge shall be given to the International Committee for payment of the sum promised. SIR JOHNGORST. I think I may put the resolution to the vote, and the question as to the form of pledge may be treated as a lion in the path to be dealt with when we meet him. (The motion was carried unanimously.) SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. We have settled No. 5, and now I think we might proceed to No. 6, unless it be thought desirable to have an answer to the question of Dr. Mond as to whether the delegates present could make any statement as to what would probably be subscribed by private individuals in their respective countries for Catalogues or parts of Catalogues. PROF. RUCKER. May I say with regard to this that we shall have to consider the question very carefully. I understand that the various Governments undertake to subscribe for so many copies, but it does not follow that they will give them all away ; they may put some in the hands of booksellers. It was a question whether the private sale should be taken into account. AVe, in England, are of opinion that the private sale will not affect our guarantee. PROF. SCHWALBE. Was Deutschland anlangt. so glaube ich, soweit ich die Verhiiltnisse kenne, ist auf privaten Absatz kaum zu rechnen. Es ist nioglich dass einzelne Gelehrte einzelne Theile des Catalogs nehmen. Das kann man ja nicht beurtheilen, aber wie ich die Sachlage iibersehe, glaube ich kaum, dass irgend eine bestimmte Zusage gemacht werden kann, Was die buchhandlerische Seite anbetrifft, so liegt die Sache so, dass die Regierung und auch wir als Delegirte damit ja gar riicht befasst sind und befasst werden 41 konneu. Das vviirde sich nachher herausstellen, wenn sich irgend eine der grossen Firmen, ganz abgesehen von dem was hier beschlossen ist, sich an die Royal Society wendet. Dies ist aber eine Sache, mit der wir direkt nichts zu thun haben. Ob die Akademieen in Deutschland oder die gelehrten Gesellschaften ausserdem sich Exemplare nehmen, das kann ich nicht beur- theilen. Es wiirde Sache der Akademieen sein, sich dariiber zu aussern. Die offentlichen Bibliotheken werden wohl aus den 45 Exemplaren versorgt werdeu konnen und auch vielleicht ein Theil von anderen Instituten wie die Marine-Akademie und dergleichen mehr. DR. MOND. Do I understand that the 45 complete sets which the German Government are willing to take would all be used officially ? PROF. SCHWALBE. Yes. DR. MOND. It seems to me that a certain number of copies would be taken by the Academies, and no doubt there will be a large number of scientific men in Germany who would take copies. No doubt there would be more demand for single volumes beyond the 45 which the Government intend placing in their official libraries and so forth. PROF. SCHWALBE. Ich spreche nur von den offiziellen Exemplaren, tiber die Akademieen kann ich nichts sagen. PROF. KLEIN. Diese 45 Exemplare sollen alle staatlichen Instituten zugewiesen werden, die kommen also nicht in den Buchhandel. Die Akademieen werden in Deutschland nichts kaufen, denn sie haben keine Bibliotheken. Die etwaige Kauf- kraft des Publikums ist ausserordentlich schwer abzuschatzen. Im allgemeinen werden die deutschen Gelehrten nicht sehr geneigt sein Exemplare zu kaufen. Sie verlassen sich darauf, dass die staatlichen Institute Exemplare anschaffen; das ist das System. Aber da ist beispielsweise unsere grosse chemische Industrie und unsere elektrische Industrie, die werden natiirlich die f Ur sie in Betracht kommenden Bande kaufen. Wie hoch sich das aber belauft, das auch nur mit einiger Wahrscheinlichkeit zu beurtheilen, dazu bin ich gar nicht im Stande. DR. MOND. It is impossible to arrive at any definite estimate, but it is of great importance that we should consider the scheme in its financial aspect from all sides. Considering, for example, that we are going to publish Catalogues of Anatomy and Physiology dealing with matters of interest to thousands of medical men and others, there must be a certain outside sale which would make it safe for us to enter upon this enterprise. PROF. DARBOUX. Monsieur le President, j'ai touche ce point lorsque j'ai parle de la cooperation de la France. Voila evidemment ce qui est tres difficile a evaluer, parce qu'il y a deja des entreprises bibliographiques particulieres qui jouissent d'une grande reputation. II est a prevoir, je crois, qu'au bout de tres 42 peu de temps ie catalogue de la Societe Royale fera le vide autour de lui, que ces entreprises qui out toutes les peines du moDtle a vivre succomberont tres vite. II y a une periode transitoire pour laquelle il esfc tres difficile d'emettre une opinion. Maintenant, quand cette periode transitoire sera ecoulee, il est certain qu'il y a beaucoup de particuliers ou de laboratoires, par exemple, qui s'adresseront evideinment au catalogue de la Societe Royale. PROF. KLEIN. Herr Darboux hat die Mb'glichkeit bertihrt, dass die Jahresberichte geschadigt werden kcmnten durch das Erscheinen des internationalen Catalogs. Wir sind in Deutschland nicht dieser Meinung. Wir glauben vielmehr auf Grund genauer Ueberlegungen, dass die Jahresberichte sehr wohl ihre Bedeutung daneben behalten werden. Teh bringe das hier zu Sprache, weil auch in Deutschland in dieser Hinsicht ursprunglich ungtinstige Ansichten geliussert waren, und ich nicht mochte, dass dieselben wiederaufleben und sich festsetzen. PROF. ARMSTRONG. I should like to say a word with regard to the matter to which Prof. Klein refers. It is a very important question, and I am afraid there has been great misunderstanding upon it. I think that it ought to be clearly understood that this enterprise cannot in any way interfere with the Jahresberichte or any other such enterprises which exist at the present day. On the contrary, 1 think that it will enormously help other enterprises, and I believe that in course of time it may be the means of saving a great deal of money to the various Societies in different parts of the world, and give them material to work upon, and also make it unnecessary for them to prepare subject-indexes of their own. DR. DENIKER. II y a, je crois, ici une confusion en ce qui concerne les publications bibliographiques. II y a deux genres de publications: d'abord les catalogues, ou les bibliographies, qui se contenteut uniquement de donner le titre de Pouvrage, avec les indications bibliographiques necessaires bien entendu. A cote de cela, il y a de Jahresberichte, comme on dit en Allemand, ou des "Annuaires" ou "Annees," comme on dit en franQais, annuaires qui donnerit alors 1'analyse de 1'ouvrage. Ce sont deux publications tout a fait differentes. Notre Catalogue, si jamais il etait public, ne sera qu'un catalogue bibliographique ; il n'y aura pas d'analysss ; il ne pourra done en aucune fa^on faire concurrence aux Jahresberichte existants, mais uniquement aux publications de bibliographic. C'est done une question d'espece. Laquelle des deux disparaitra ? On ne pent rien pre'dire, mais nous voyons actuellement par exemple en zoologie trois genres de publications bibliographiques differentes qui coexistent. A notre point de vue, il n'y a que ceci a considerer, c'est que nous remplacerons un certain nombre de bibliographies ; mais d'autre part, comme 1'a dit le Dr. Mond, nous pouvons dire que pour une 43 douzaine au moins des sciences desquellcs nous voulons nous occuper, il n'existe pas de bibliographies ; nous n'en avons pas qui paraisse regulierement par exemple pour la Chimie, nous n'en avons pas pour 1'Astronomie ; je crois qu'il y a pour un grand nombre de sciences une absence complete de bibliographies ; nous n'aurons clone aucune concurrence devant nous. A 1'heure qu'il est on ne peut parler que de la concurrence de quelques publications purement bibliographiques, comme pour la zoologie, la botanique et deux on trois autres sciences ; voila tout. En definitive les Jahresberichte resteront ce qu'ils ont etc jusqu'a present; ils constituent un genre de publication tout a fait different du catalogue que nous voulons faire. C'est tout ce que je voulais vous dire. DR. HELLER. Ich mochte, indem ich mich den Ausfiihrungen des Herrn Dr. Klein vollstandig anschliesse, nur noch den grossen Unterschied hervorheben, der zwischen dem Catalog und den Jahresberichten besteht. Ein Catalog soil ein Inventarium sein fiir die gesammten erschienenen Arbeiten, wahrend ein Jahresbericht uur die jahrlichen Portschritte der Wissenschaften dazustellen hat, wobei kleinere, unbedeutendere Sachen ausser Acht gelassen werden konnen. Die ganze Art der Fassung beider ist also eine durchaus verschiedene. Ich kann mir daher auch gar nicht vorstellen, dass der Catalog irgend einen schadlichen Einfluss auf das Erscheinen der Jahresberichte ausuben konnte. PROF. NASINI. Gi e difficile di fare delli previsioni sul numero di esemplari che possono essere acquistati in Italia, altre a 459 di cui potra disporre il governo. Noi crediamo che tale numero sara sufficiente per tutte le biblioteche, comprese quelle universi- tarie, instituti scientifici, etc., etc. Sull' acquisto per parte di privati e poco da contarrei e non crediamo, nella ipotesi piu favorevole che si possa pervedere un acquisto inaggiore che 68 copie di singoli volumi ; piu probabile riteniamo che il numero di volumi acquistato del governo sara sufficiente. SIR JOHN GORST. I think now that we have had ample information from the various delegates of the different countries as to the number of copies required by each country, and as to the probable extent of the private demand, but I think that we might have a little more information as to the Contracting Bodies of each country, and as to the form of pledge for taking the number of copies mentioned. PROF. RUCKER. This is a very important matter, although it may be only formal. It is very important that we should get this definitely settled, because when we come to the question as to who is to take the financial responsibility, something will depend upon the guarantees or promises which are given to-day. I need hardly say that there is no doubt that the various Governments will carry out what has been promised. I expect that each Government and, in the case of England, the Ro3 7 al 44 Society will be the Contracting Body, and I think that each might write a formal letter, putting- on paper what the delegates have said here to-day, and giving a formal guarantee. SIR JOHN GORST. In England, the work will be undertaken by the Royal Society. PROF. SCHWALBE. Ich mochte dabei hervorheben, dass die deutsche Regierung naturlich gebunden ist an das Paiiament und dass sie einen solchen schriftlichen Garautieschein, wenn ich so sagen soil, nicht ohne die Zustimmung des Parlaments ertheilen kann. In England wird es ahulich sein. Ich glaube indes nicht, dass die Zustimmung des Parlaments Schwierigkeiten machen wird. Bereits in diesem Jahre stehen 15,OOOM. irn Etat. sodass die Vorarbeit in Deutschland sofort angefangen werden kann. NatUrlich ist damit auch das Regionalbureau vollstaudig gewahrleistet. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I understand that in Germany, as in pjngland, any undertaking by the Government would have to be confirmed each year by Parliament? PROF. SCHWALBE, Es ist das em sogenannter " durchlaufender Posten " der, wenn er einmal genehmigt ist, auch in den folgenden Jahren genehmigt wird. Er erscheint jedes Jahr im Etat wieder. PROF. KLEIN. Voraussetzung fur die Zustimmung der deutschen Regierung ist naturlich, dass die anderen Staaten die Sache auch machen, und das muss hier irgendwie zuin Ausdruck kommen. Wir sind bereit die Sache zu machen, wollen aber die ganzu Verantwortlichkeit nicht allein haben. Es muss dem vorgebeugt werden, dass etwa andere Staaten sich zuriickziehen und wir allein ubrig bleiben. PROF. ARMSTRONG. I understand that Prof. Klein's point is that we ought to have a statement to the effect that the various bodies represented here agree, otherwise Germany cannot support the scheme. PROF. KLEIN. Ich finde eine hierauf bezugliche Bestimrnung ganz selbstverstandlich. Es kann nicht so gemeint seiu, dass wir zum Beispiel die 45 Exemplare nehmen und andere gar nichts. PROF. ROCKER. I think that we in England may go a step farther, and say we have made our offer contingent upon the total sum promised being adequate. PROF. KLEIN. Auch ich mochte befurworten dass, diese Sachen dem International Committee ubergeben werden. Es werden sich bei der Registrirung ja mancherlei Schwierigkeiten ergeben und manche Ausstellungen durften gemacht werden. Wir waren uns von jeher wohl bewusst dass wir uur zu einer Aniiaheruug kommen konnten, und von diesem Gesichtspunkt aus 45 mochte ich meinen, sollten alle Wiinsche, die noch vorlianden sind, direkt an das International Committee gerichtet werden. Dieses wird sie gewiss beriicksichtigen. Ich rnochte aber dann noch sprechen iiber die sogenannten modified titles. Sie werden ja gesehen haben, welche Stellung Deutschland bei dieser Sache eingenoinrnen hat und dass Deutschland nicht daraus irgendwie einen Grund herleiten wollte, um von vornherein zuriickzutreten. Es ist aber wiinschenswert, dass man die Anschauungen der librigen Herren Delegirten in dieser Weise hort. Es ist ja schon deshalb wichtig*, weil wir ja in irgend einer Form doch auch diese Bemerkungen, die da gemacht sind, spater auch uuserer Regieruug- berichten miissen. Eine allgemeine Aussprache iiber diesen Funkt dtirfte doch erforderlich sein. PROF. DARBOUX. En ce qui nous concerne, nous avons indique des le debut la plus grosse difficulte que nous soulevions ; par consequent, je suis convaincu que 1'affaire s'arrangera tres bien. Meme, je ne serais pas etonne qu'il y ait d'autres souscriptions quand les premiers volumes auront paru ; sous ce rapport-la il n'y a pas de difficulte : une bibliotheque a toujours le droit de souscrire a un ouvrage etranger. PROF. NASLNI. I delegati italiani dichiarano, associandosi al Prof. Klein, che il contributo dell' Italia dependera naturalmente da quello degli altri stati. DR. GRAF. Ich habe bereits bei meiner ersten Erklarung gesagt, dass unsere Regierung sich mit der ganzen Sache befassen wird, uud wir werden dann auch die Form finden, in welcher die Sache zu machen ist. Wir konnen entweder den Betrag in das Jahres-Budget des Landes einsetzen oder einen Bundesbeschluss provociren, der von den Kammern angenommen wird und der die betreffende Summe ein fiir allemal festsetzt. Es ist sehr wahrscheinlich, dass der Bundesrath diesen Weg wahlen wird, doch ist dies nicht vollkommen sicher. DR. BRUNCHORST. I must repeat that our Government cannot give money without the consent of Parliament ; and Parliament formally votes money only for one year at a time. If it gives it for the first year, however, it can be regarded as certain that it will be given for the next four years also, during which the enterprise is going to be tried. PROF. KLEIN. Ich bitte doch noch den Puukt zu erledigen, den ich bereits beriihrte, die auf page 6 angef iihrte u responsibility" Wenn es der Genauigkeit halber noting ist, auf diese Moglich- keit eirizugehen, so wiirde ich sagen : diese Verantwortlichkeit soil proportional mit der Anzahl der Exemplare, die fest iiber- nommen werden, von den " Contracting Bodies " getheilt werdeii. Es bestehen zwei Moglichkeiten. Entweder Sie lassen die ganze Sache fallen, weil sie praktisch keine Bedeutung mehr hat, oder Sie verpflichten die " Contracting Bodies" gleichzeitig zu der Erklarung fur den Fall, dass die Sache missrath, die proportionale Verautwortlichkeit auf sich zu nehnj^n. 46 SIR JOHN GORST. I think we had better not enter upon that question now. It is a question that will have to be considered this afternoon. I also think that this will be a most convenient time to adjourn. (The Conference adjourned.) Tuesday Afternoon. SIR RICHARD STRACHEY (India). The only authority that I have received in coming here is that I am to commit the Government of India to no expenditure of any sort. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. Could you make any statement as to the number of complete sets which might be expected to be subscribed for in India ? SIR RICHARD STRACHEY. I should say that that would virtually depend upon what the cost is to be. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. The cost is put down at 1 per volume, and 17 for the whole set. SIR RICHARD STRACHEY. I gather from what I have heard that if India took six sets that would be considered reasonable. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. We said five this morning. SIR RICHARD STRACHET. 1 am not in a position to say positively, but I think you might put down 100. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. You think we might put India down for six complete sets ? SIR RICHARD STRACHEY. Yes, or the equivalent of that. There are not many places in India that would be likely to take complete sets, but many of the Offices would probably take parts of the Catalogue. Calcutta, no doubt, would take a complete set, and the Government Museum would probably take all appertaining to Zoology and Geology, and the Botanical Gardens, no doubt, would take what related to Botany, and so on. I think I am not going too far when I say that a money equivalent of about six sets would be a fair estimate. At least, Dr. Blanford and I will be prepared to recommend that. I am sorry that Dr. Blanford is laid up, and so unable to attend this Conference. PROF. RUCKER. It will probably now be necessary to frame a series of resolutions which should, on the one hand, state the decisions at which we arrived this morning, and, on the other hand, state what we propose to do in the immediate future. I have here rough drafts which have been prepared, and perhaps it will be well if I read them through, so that the Conference may have before it the whole of the questions, and then I think 47 we might discuss the exact wording-. The first is simply that the representatives of the various countries have declared that those whom they represent are willing to subscribe for so many complete sets of copies at the cost stated. (The draft resolution read.) The others have reference to the appointment of a Committee, which will complete the work of this Conference. (Draft resolutions read.) SIR JOHN GORST. Will someone formally move the first of these resolutions ? I must ask whether anyone would like the resolutions translated into any other language, although it appears to me that everyone here understands the English language. The resolutions will, of course, be translated for official use by-and-bye. PROF. KLEIN. Ich glaube, dass der Punkt, den ich heute friih beriihrte, durch die Eirisetzung des " Provisional Committee " erledigt ist, und ich mochte jetzt meinerseits befiirworten, den Punkt fallen zu lassen und als erledigt anzusehen, namlich durch die zweite Resolution, die Prof. Riicker soeben verlesen hat. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. Your proposition, I understand, is that paragraph 2 on page 6 be dropped out altogether. PROF. KLEIN. Yes, now that the matter is arranged in a new manner. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. And you propose that ? PROF. KLEIN. Yes, I propose it. SIR JOHN GORST. Will you, Prof. Klein, submit a definite resolution. PROF. KLEIN. Indem die Conferenz im allgemeinen das Scheme des friiheren " Provisional Committee " annimmt, bef iir- wortet sie iusbesonclere den paragraph 2 auf page 6 des Schemas einfach zu streichen. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. The proposal is that paragraph 2 on page 6 be omitted altogether in accepting the general scheme of the Provisional Committee. I beg to second the proposal. SIR JOHN GORST. It is proposed by Prof. Klein and seconded by Sir Michael Foster that, in accepting the general scheme of the International Provisional Committee, paragraph 2 on page 6 of the scheme does not require to be acted upon. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. It seems to me that there is hardly need for discussion of this matter, because this is only statement of fact. DR. MOND. I understand that Prof. Klein's resolution is that the present Conference is neither to accept nor discuss the particulars of paragraph 2, but is to leave the subjects mentioned therein to the International Committee which Prof. Riicker proposes that this Conference should nominate. But so far the 48 Conference is not agreed upon the nomination of the International Committee. That question should be settled first. DR. GRAF. Ich mochte fragen, ob wir morgen diese Reso- lutionen englisch, deutsch, franzosisch und italienisch haben konuen. (Yes.) SIR JOHN GORST. Has any delegate anything more to say upon the proposal of Dr. Klein ? (No reply.) Then I will ask Prof. Rucker to read the first of his resolutions. PROF. RUCKER. The Conference, taking note of the fact that the representatives of the various countries named hereafter declare that the governments or corporations they represent are willing to subscribe for the number of complete sets of copies . . . .* DR. DENIKER. Je propose de modifier ainsi la redaction : la Conference apres avoir entendu les representants sus-rnention- nes .... La seconde proposition est celle-ci : 1. La Conference decide de proceder a la nomination d'un nouveau Comite international provisoire. 2. Le Comite provisoire est autorise a se mettre en rapport avec les pays non representes a la Conference, en vue d'obtenir leur adhesion et leur appui financier a 1'ceuvre de la publication du catalogue." A propos du premier paragraphe, il y a une observation a faire pour savoir quelles seraient ces premieres demarches en vue de la publication du catalogue. SIR JOHN GORST. Does any delegate desire to say anything more, generally, about that ? (No answer.) Then we will have No. 2 read. PROF. RUCKER : This will require modification as regards the wording " The Conference is willing to proceed to the appoint- ment of the new International Committee." SIR JOHN GORST. Has any delegate anything to say in regard to that? (No answer.) Well, we will proceed to No. 3. PROF. RUCKER (reading). " The Provisional Committee is authorised to approach those countries " (etc.). SIR JOHN GORST. Does any delegate wish to make any observations upon this matter ? DR. DENIKER. D'apres ce qui vient d'etre dit, tout le monde comprend aiusi ce Comite provisoire: ce ne serait pour ainsi dire que 1'emanation de notre Conference, une reunion de nos elus, 4, 5, ou 6 elus tout au plus, qui pourraient s'entendre beaucoup plus facilement que les 20 ou 30 personnes ici pre'sentes, avec la Societe Royale ; ce seraient done nos delegues a nous, * The three resolutions read by Prof. Rucker were subsequently amended and presented on Wednesday morning in the form in which they appear in the Acta, paragraph 12 (A), (B) and (c). (V. p. 6.) 49 charges de preparer les voies et moyens pour le futur Comite international definitif. Voila, je crois, comment on pourrait definir ce nouveau Comite international provisoire : les representants de la Conference charges de s'entendre avec la Societe Royale en vue des premieres demarches a faire pour la realisation du catalogue. Com me ce Comite international provisoire n'a aucune person- nalite civile, il n'est rien, pour ainsi dire, au point de vue diplomatique ; il ne peut etre en relations avec les representants d'aucune puissance, puisqu'il n'appartient a aucune nation et je crois que toutes les responsabilites devront etre prises par la Societe Royale de Londres qui a une personnalite civile, qui peut entrer par 1' intermedia ire de son gouvernement en relations avec les autres gouvernemerits. Je crois que c'est bien ainsi que la chose doit etre comprise. PROF. DARBOUX. Si je comprends bien la proposition, ce Comite international provisoire qui serait nomme, aurait a se substituer a la Societe Royale, pour faire des demarches d'un caractere diplomatique. Eh bien, j'avoue que pour ma part, je ne me represente pas tres bien ce nouvel orgaue ayant a se substituer en definitive a un corps qui est reconnu, qui a une autorite acquise dans le monde entier. Je crois que le plus simple, en ce moment, ce serait que la Societe Royale se rendit bien compte de la situation, qu'elle prit acte des propositions faites et qu'elle-meme conttnuat ses demarches aupres de grands etats comme la Russie, FAmerique, que nous avons le legitime espoir d'amener a nous. Mais je ne vois pas vraiment ce Comite international ayant une autorite qui lui permette de faire ces demarches. J'avoue que j'ai des scrupules tres grands a ce sujet. Nous sommes venus ici comptant que nous pourrions chacun apporter notre contribution at arriver a faire marcher le catalogue, con- forme'merit au projet qui nous avait ete soumis, mais je ne suis pas prepare du tout a voter la constitution d'un comite inter- national qui aurait une existence, qui aurait meme une certaine action diplomatique. Si c'est la le sens qu'on donne a cette proposition, je ne la comprends pas. II serait plus simple que la Societe Royale prenant acte des promeses qui out ete faites, dont quelques-unes offrent un caractere ferine et dont les autres ne sont que probables, prit 1'initiative de ces demarches, et si la constitution de ce Comite a pour effet de lui passer la responsabilite financiere, je declare pour ma part que je ne suis pas autorise a lui attribuer une telle responsabilite. DR. MOND. I can see Prof. Darboux's objection to this Conference creating the Committee, and if the Conference could act collectively in approaching the Governments, I think it would be desirable, but that being impossible, it seems to me that a D 50 practical way out of the difficulty would be that the Conference should nominate a Committee to do the work which cannot be finished here by this Conference. PROF. KLEIN. Wenn wir die Bedenken so weit treiben wie Herr Darboux, so kommen wir zu nichts und fallen auf den f ruheren Standpunkt zuriick. Die Sache ist wohl so zu verstehen, dass an sich in Aussicht genommen war, dass an die gegenwartige Conferenz sich ohne weiteres die Action der International Council anschliessen sollte, und es war im Bericht des fruheren Provisional Committee ausdriicklich der Wunsch ausgesprochen worden, es mbchten seitens der ver- schiedenen Staaten zu der diesmaligen Conferenz Mitglieder delegiert werden, welch e die Vollmacht hatten in den Inter- national Council einzutreten. Es ist aber kaum Jemand hier, der von seiner Regierung oder den Contracting Bodies als Mitglied des International Council bezeichnet ware. Deshalb ist es nicht gangbar, dass unmittelbar und im Auftrag und irn Anschluss an die gegenwartige Conferenz der International Council zusammentrate. Deshalb concedirt die Conferenz ihre Vollmachten zunachst einem neuen Provisional Committee, damit die Sache iiberhaupt weitergeht, und es wird dabei erwartet, dass aus den Verhandlungen dieses Committee's mit den betreffenden Instanzen der Boden erwachst, auf dem endgultig' der International Council erstehen kann. Wenn Sie die Sache unter diesem Gesichtspunkt fassen, da miisste man doch sehr lingstlich sein, falls man nicht glauben sollte, diesen Weg geheu zu konnen. Natiirlich wird ja das neue Committee keine finanziellen Verpflichtungen ubernehnien, ohne von den eiuzelnen Contracting Bodies ganz fornielle Zusagen zu haben. Insofern besteht keine Befiirchtung, dass wir irgend welche Verantwortungen ubernehmen, die uns spater gefiihrlich werden konnten. Ich bin also daf iir, dass wir den von den Vertretern der Royal Society befurworteten Weg betreten. DR. MOND. Would it not remove the objection if the Committee were not authorised to incur any expenditure ? I do not see that it is necessary for them to do so ; I do not see that the International Committee need necessarily take any pre- liminary steps involving anybody in expenditure. Its function is, I understand, to carry on the work which this Conference cannot finish. I hope that, as it is only a question of a few months, this Committee will be able to pave the way for the International Council. PROF. DARBOUX. Les observations qui ont ete presentees ne changent pas grand-chose a mon opinion; cependant, je pense qu'il y aurait un terrain d'entente. II serait bon, je crois, de s'arreter a une donnee comme celle-ci ; il est evident que la Conference au point de vue scientifique, a termine, a elabore son travail. Nous devons esperer qu'avec cette Conference, nous aurons resolu toutes les questions scientifiques qui interessaient 51 la confection du catalogue ; ceci ne me parait pas douteux ; j'espere que nous arriverons dernain a cette conviction. Eh bien, maintenant, il est bien evident que la suite exige des negociations qui sont assez dedicates, car en definitive, si vous regardez aujourd'hui ce que nous avons fait ce matin, il n'y a au fond que deux ou trois etats qui s'engagent d'une maniere ferme a line souscription d'un nombre determine d'exemplaires. II y aura done lieu a des negociations, qui seront longues. Eh bien, on oomprend tres bien qu'ou. decide que ce sera a un Comite inter- national provisoire a prendre avec 1'assentiment des gouverne- meuts les dernieres resolutions ; mais ce Comite veritablement je ne comprends pas qu'il puisse etre substitue au corps qui a pris 1'initiative, qu'il puisse avoir une qualite, tine valeur diplo- matique quelconque. II faut que se soit tou jours la Societe Royale qui soit son organe. De sorte que de toutes fa$ons je ne le vois que comme conseiller intervenant aupres de la Societe Royale ; ce role, il sera toujours pret a le remplir. Nous pouvons nommer uu Comite international provisoire, mais je ne crois pas que nous puissions le nommer avec les pouvoirs etendus et avec le role qui a ete indique tout a 1'heure, surtout si cette resolution n'implique pas la responsabilite financiere pour les etats dont il y aurait des delegues dans le Comite international provisoire. Et alors, ce Comite, avec quels etats serait-il compose ? II faudrait prendre necessairement 1'Angleterre et 1'Allemagne, car enfin la France, je 1'ai dit ce matin, a fait une souscription a un nombre d'exemplaires, mais ne peut pas donner de garanties. Je ne vois pas que les objections essentielles, fondarnentales soient detruites ; tandis que si au contraire vous prenez ce Comite, si vous le placez a cote de la Societe Royale, si vous decidez qu'il aura pour but d'eclairer celle-ci et au besoin lui transmettr'e les decisions des gouvernements, son role me parait defini, tout a fait clair et precis. DR. GRAF. Wir haben einerseits hier Delegirte von Regie- rungen, anderseits solche von Instituten, u.s.w. Dieser Zwiespalt macht sich etwas geltend. Mir scheint der Gedanke wohl realisirbar, den Herr Darboux geaussert hat, dass man ein Pro- visional Committee einsetzt aus Mitgliedern der Royal Society uiid aus Delegirten der verschiedenen Lander. Diese letztern sind hier anwesend, also im Mittelpunkte der Organisation und bilden quasi das comite directoire das dann die nothwendigen Schritte ausfiihrt, die das International Committee beschlossen hat. Auf diesem Wege scheiuen mir die Ansichten der Herren Darboux und Klein vereinbar. Man wiirde also ein Committee schaffen, in dessen Mitte ein comite directoire aus Mitgliedern der Royal Society bestehen wiirde. DR. MOND. I wish to point out that the last clause of the resolution has a very important bearing upon the question* Prof. Darboux has raised. This refers to the possibility of the International Committee nominated by this Conference, entering into negotiations with the Royal Society respecting the under- 52 taking by the Royal Society of the final responsibility, in some form or other, of the Catalogue. This is a matter, in my opinion, which is very important with regard to overcoming the great difficulty of finding a responsible judicial body that can and will undertake such a responsibility, and this makes it necessary that this Conference should nominate some body which can, on behalf of the Conference, enter into negotiations with the Royal Society for taking the responsibility. It was hoped at first that this Conference might be able to nominate an International Council which should represent officially all the nations which are ready to co-operate in the scheme. But it is our disappointment to fiud that it is impossible to nominate such an International Council. It is, however, proposed to nominate a Provisional Committee which is practically to carry on the work which the International Council would have taken iipon them- selves if we had been in a position to nominate such a Council. PROF. DARBOUX. Je n'ai qu'un mot a dire ; il me sembie que du moment que la Societe Royale consent a continuer Tentre- prise, elle a le droit le plus absolu a ce que les personnes qui sent venues ici avec 1'intention de prendre part a la Conference, lui donnent tous les conseils, tous les appuis necessaires. Par consequent, s'il s'agit d'un Comite dont le but sera d'aider la Societe Royale, de ]ui communiquer les decisions des gouverne- ments, de communiquer aux gouvernements les chances qu'il y a de reussir, il me sembie que la chose devient tout a fait utile et necessaire. Pour notre part, nous avions prevu cela, nous avions decide quel serait notre delegue nu Comite international definitif, M. Poincare ; la mission du nouveau Comite provisoire etant bien determinee comme il a etc dit, nous sornmes tons disposes a nommer un delegue on a accepter la nomination que fera la Conference d'un delegue franqais, si elle juge a propos d'en envoyer un, a ce Comite dont a parle M. le docteur Mond. PROF. KLEIN. Mir scheint, dass damit eigentlich die Wider - sprUche behoben sind. Es ist so, wie Herr Dr. Graf eben sagte, dies Provisional Committee handelt nothwendig in Fiihlung mit der Royal Society, und die eigentliche Geschaftsftihrung geht von den Mitgliedern aus, die hier im London sind. Ich meine auf dieser Basis koimten wir zum Abschluss kommen und einen dem entsprechenden Beschluss fassen. DR. MOND. It seems to me that we must adhere to this point. I think we must have a Committee to actually negotiate with the Royal Society, and undertake certain parts of the work which have to be done with respect to the Catalogue. This Committee must be more than a consultative body, in my opinion ; it must have authority from this Conference to come to a satisfactory understanding as to the undertaking of the publication of the Catalogue, and practically to act in lieu of the International Council. The Committee might have to do everything with the sanction of the. International Council, but they must be able to negotiate with 53 regard to certain matters, because the International Council would not be called together until the Committee succeeded in elaborating a scheme which would involve the International Council in financial responsibilities. The International Council cannot take any financial responsibility, and it will be necessary for a scheme to be worked out by the Committee, in conjunction with the Royal Society, which will enable us to proceed without involving the International Council in financial responsibility. Such a scheme would have to be subject to the sanction of the International Council, but I do 'not see how the International Council could be called together unless we have such a scheme. PROF. NASINI. Noi non eravamo preparati a norninare un nuovo comitato provvisario ; ma dal momento che manca 1'adesidare necessaria perche Fimpresa possa compiersi, ci sembra che 1'istituzione di questo comitato si imponga. Esso non dovrebbe avere nessuna responsabilita finanziaria, dovrebbe solo rivolgerri agli stati, che non hanno aderito, per ottenere la loro adesione, dando tutte quelle informazioni, che si riferisiono principalmente alle decisione dell' attuale conferenza. In questo senso siamo stati favorevoli all' istituzione di questo comitato. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I think the proposal is that this Committee should be a provisional Committee only, to make the necessary inquiries, to have consultations with the Royal Society or publishers, and to prepare the way for the International Council, but that the International Council itself, and that Council alone, should give the seal to and conclude the matter. There is no responsibility resting with the Provisional Committee save that of labouring to make everything ready, so that when the International Council is called, it may at once proceed to act. PROF. KLEIN. Ich befiirworte, den Vorschlag anzunehmen. Die Erorterungen der Herren Dr. Mond und Prof. Foster iiberzeugen mich vollstandig. Wenn wir die Aufgabe des Committee in dieser Weise begrenzen, dann ist das Committee eigentlich nur ein Organ dieser Conferenz. DR. DENIKER. Si j'ai bien compris ce qui a ete dit par les deux precedents orateurs, le Comite international provisoire sera coranie un conseil, charge ainsi d'appuier de la Societe Royale de Londres, organe officiel ; ce Comite pourra iutervenir officieuse- ment seulement ; rien n'empeche en effet aucun membre de ce Comite d'entrer en communications avec les delegues des autres pays, mais officiellement il ne peut rien faire ; ce soin incombe a la Conference. PROF. RUCKER. Some slight change may be required in the wording of the resolution, but I think I may say that the Royal Society accepts it, and if this is passed it will show that this is not merely the result of the Conference, but that the Conference went so far as to appoint representatives of other Governments, and that we speak not only in the name of the Royal 54 Society, but also in the name of other Governments. I think that in this way we shall have more influence than we should have if we were only acting on behalf of one society. SIR DAVID GILL (Cape Colony). It seems to me that the whole matter lies in a nutshell. I think that we should first approach Governments which have not definitely subscribed, and for the other work it is essential to have a small Committee to make the necessary arrangements. PROF. RUCKER. Now that we have discussed these matters, I think that we have pretty well in mind what we want, and after the meeting to-day we can have a meeting of the Com- mittee to draw up resolutions to be brought before the Con- ference to-morrow morning. SIR JOHN GORST. I think the Secretaries should do that. PROF. ARMSTRONG. The Secretaries with Prof. Rticker and Dr. Mond might draw up the resolutions. PROF. DARBOUX. Est-ce qu'on a 1'intention de le constituer tout de suite et de le faire fonctionner avant la fin de la Conference ? .... Parce que j'ai pense qu'il y aurait un moyen ties efficace d'ici a peu de temps d'agir aupres des delegues scientifiques ; c'est precisement 1'occasion qui sera donnee cette annee par la reunion de 1'Association Internationale des Academies a Paris; c'est la Societe Royale qui a pris i'initiative de la creation de cette reunion ; je me souvieus bien que dans la lettre qu'elle nous a adresse, elle disait: la preuve que 1'association Internationale des Academies est utile, c'est que la Societe Royale de Londres vient d'entreprendre une ceuvre pour laquelle la co-operation de tous les corps savants est uecessaire. Par consequent, elle a une occasion qui se presentera a bref delai d'agir aupres des delegues russes, americains, de faire le possible pour reprendre les pourparlers. Dans ces conditions la nomination du Comite sera en quelque sorte la constatation de ce fait que la Conference n'abandonne pas son ceuvre et qu'elle croit qu'elle peut reussir, et le Comite ce sera la representation de toutes les opinions sages et viables qui ont etc enoncees dans les trois Conferences. PROF. RUCKER. 1 quite agree with Prof. Darboux. This is a very important matter, and if we are to begin next year no time must be lost. But it is quite evident that if there will be so many scientific men in Paris, that occasion would be a good opportunity for the meeting, and I suggest that the final meeting of the Committee be held in Paris. I do not think, however, that we can pledge ourselves to that to-day. DR. MOND. It is my opinion that the Conference has gone sufficiently far. It is asking the Governments how much money they will give, and that question has also to be asked in formal fashion by the Committee authorised by this Conference, and it 55 will be necessary to wait for a formal reply. B^ no amount of discussion can we get further than that, and the other question the Committee will have to deal with. But I do not think it would be useful for us to meet in Paris for the discussion of the questions of finance. Those questions are entirely for the Committee. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. The next matter is whether we shall remain to-day to discuss as to the constitution of the Inter- national Council whether we shall do that this afternoon or leave it until to-morrow. The question, in the main, is whether the representation on the International Council should be one member for each of the countries, or whether the representation should be in proportion, as suggested in the resolutions, to the amount of the subscriptions. Then, supposing that there be only one vote for each country taking part, we have to consider whether it is necessary that that one vote should mean the presence of only one person on the Council, or whether this or that country should be represented by more than one person, but only having one vote. The question is whether we should discuss that now or to-morrow. PROF. KLEIN. Ich mochte vorschlageu, dass wir in der Dis- cussion noch fortfakren. Es iat uoch sehr fru'h am Tage und wenn wir heut nicht ein gutes Stuck vor warts arbeiten. so bleibt fur morgen zu viel iibrig. PROF. DARBOUX. Dans les conversations preparatoires que nous avons eues, nous avons pense qu'il fallait reconnaitre a la Societe Royale le droit d'avoir plusieurs delegues, et admettre que la Societe Royale aurait autant de delegues qu'elle le jugerait convenable, parce que ceci me parait absolument indispensable : du moment qu'elle a la principale responsabilite, la principale action, il faut qu'elle ait la preponderance dans le Comite. Par consequent, il y a la deux questions : il faut savoir si chaqne pays pourrait envoyer plusieurs delegue's et ensuite si chaque delegue aura une voix. Pour moi je crois que le nombre des delegues pourrait n'etre pas limite, chaque pays ayant une voix. PROF. KLEIN. Ich hatte schon gestern Gelegenheit, mit Herra Darboux iiber die Sache zu sprechen und habe natiirlich auch mit den andern deutschen Delegirten Bezug genommen. Wir sind der Meinung, jeder Staat oder jeder Contracting Body kann soviel Mitglieder ernennen, wie er es nach Lage der Sache fiir zweckmiissig halt, urn bei alien wichtigen Puukten seine Auffassung zur Geltung zu bringen. Bei der Abstiminung aber soil jeder Staat nur eine Stimme haben. Es muss also eines dieser Mitglieder das votirende Mitglied fiir den Staat oder den Contracting Body sein. Man konnte ja denken, dass es billiger ware, die Stimmeu im International Council zu vertheilen je nach der Betheiligung der einzelnen Staaten. Aber ich glaube, auch die englischeu Delegirten werden gerne darauf 56 verzichten, wie wir deutsche und die franzosischen es thun. Das Schwergewicht, welches man formell construieren mochte, 1st thatsachlich doch vorhanden, well die grossere Summe der Interessen von den Delegirten der grossen Lander vertreten wird. Dies Schwergewicht noch formell hervorzubeben, scheint an sich liberfliissig und darum unzweckmassig, weil es eine grpsse Reihe von casuislischen Momenten herbeifiihren wiirde. Man operirt viel einfacher, wenn man sagt, jeder Contracting Body hat eine Stimme. Sollten einmal Schwierigkeiten komrnen, so kann man immer noch in spateren Jahren an eine Revision diese Bestiinmung gehen. DR. DENIKER. On pourrait nommer un delegue par pays ; mais chaque pays auvait le droit de joindre a son delegue quelques conseillers techniques. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. The delegates would be the persons who should not only give their votes at the Council, but with whom all the correspondence with the Government should take place. PROF. RUCKER. That is important, for there would be a good deal of work to be carried on by the Council. PROF. KLEIN. The correspondence would be with the one person ? PROF. RUCKER. Yes, and we agree that the simplest way w T ould be to have one vote for each country. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. With regard to what Prof. Deniker has said, it is suggested that the United Kingdom, through the Royal Society, should have only one vote. SIR DAVID GILL. Might I suggest that the Colonies should have one also. DR. MOND. Each Colony, if it is a Contracting Body, would have a vote. SIR DAVID GILL. 1 raise this question for safety sake. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. We have considered each Colony as a Contracting Body, and so that would carry a vote. SIR JOHN GORST. Then, gentlemen, we have arrived at a very general understanding as to the resolutions that will be formally proposed to-morrow, and I think that we had now better adjourn, and leave the Secretaries to draw up resolutions to be submitted to-morrow. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. There is the question as to whether any delegate has any question to raise as to the Schedules which have been settled by the International Committee whether these Schedules should be accepted by the Conference as they stand. SIR JOHN GORST. I suppose to-morrow that a resolution will be proposed accepting the conclusions of the International 57 Committee with respect to the questions to which attention was called by Prof. Klein. PROF. DARBOUX. Si j'ai bieu compris la question, il s'agit des classifications qui ont ete faites par le Comite. Eh bien, le Comite les a faites ; s'il veut les modifier un peu, il les modifiera ; mais puisque la Conference lui a donne une premiere preuve de confiance, elle doit la renouveler ; c'est une question qui n'a plus a reparaitre ici. Est-ce que ce n'est pas votre avis, en ce qui concerns, la classification, sauf les quelques legeres retouches que 1'experience aura montrees ? PROF. RUCKER. There is one other point to which no definite resolution refers. There are paragraphs which have not been passed, and we have marked them with three asterisks. It might be worth while to ask whether anyone takes exception to them, or whether we should leave them to the International Council. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. The first star is on page 8. PROF. RUCKER. For instance, on page 8, No. 13, there is a paragraph about a paid staff being appointed, consisting of a general director, who, under the International Council, and in accordance with the regulations of the Convention, shall direct, supervise, and be responsible for all the operations of the Central Bureau. Secondly, that there should be expert assistants, skilled in the literature of various branches of science ; and thirdly, that such ordinary clerks should be appointed as might be necessary. Then it goes on, " There shall also be a consultative committee . . . ." (reads). That is included in the original scheme, but it has never been formally approved by the Con- ference. It almost goes without saying, I suppose, that there must be a paid director, but perhaps some of the delegates would like to say something about this matter. (No reply.) The next paragraph is on page 11, No. 18. SIR JOHN GORST. That we settled this morning, PROF. RUCKER. Then we come to number 19 ; that is as to how the International Committee should issue the volumes from year to year. There are two schemes. The first is on the supposition that there will be a smaller staff of editors than subjects, and distributes the work in cognate subjects over the year ; and the other is on the supposition that there will be a large staff of editors so as to enable the volumes on cognate science to be issued simultaneously. But that is a matter, I take it, for the International Council. Then there is section 20 on page 12, but I do not think that there will be any difficulty about that. Then, on page 13, the third paragraph, it reads, " If the title of the paper is not in one of these languages ..." (reads). That is to say, that in case of papers not published in one of the five languages English, French, German, Italian, or 58 Latin, the title shall be given in the Authors' catalogue only. Then there is number 26, which provides that the Regional Bureau shall furnish to the Central Bureau a list of journals so that they may have details of those journals for the Catalogue. Number 27 refers to the same matter. Then we come to number 31, " At the head of each slip ..." (reads), but that, I suppose, goes without saying. Then the next is that for each book or memoir to be catalogued, the Regional Bureau shall supply, first, at least one copy for the entry for the Authors' Index, and, secondly, at least one copy of each entry for the Subject Index, retaining a duplicate in case of loss in the post. Section 34 is very important. It reads, " That the International Council is instructed ..." (reads). It is a matter of great importance whether we intend to keep within the limit of 200,000 entries. DR. MILKAU. Im Anfang des Planes, 1896 und 1898, ging man immer von der Voraussetzung aus, dass jeder Titel im sachlichen Catalog' dreimal verzeichnet werden solle. Damals hatte man 40,000 Titel angenommen und war also auf die Zahl 120,000 gekommen. Jetzt haben Sie angenommen, Sie hatten 80/ zu niedrig taxirt, und sind auf 160,000 gekommen. Nun liegt es sehr in unserer Absicht und in der Auffassung des Unternehmens, die Zahl der Titel soweit herunter zu bringen, dass dadurch die Kosten des Catalogs geringer werden und das ganze Unternehmen an Lebensfiihigkeit gewinnt. Daher wiirde ich vorschlagen, jeden Titel im ganzen nur dreimal durchschnittlich vorzubringen, einmal im Autoren-Catalog und zweimal im Subject Catalogue, und daher den Zusatz " to not, etc." zu streichen, damit die Zahl der Titel nicht iiber 160,000 hinausgeht. DR. DENIKER. Dans les instructions que nous avons du Comite regional fra^ais, ce cas etait prevu. On a limite precisement le nombre non seulement des fiches pour chaque article, inais encore le nombre total. On a dit que par exemple le nombre total des fiches ne doit pas depasser un chiffre donne, qu'on etablira un maximum, et on proposera ensuite aux comites regionaux de dresser 2, 3, 4 fiches s'il le faut, par article, et de les classer par ordre d'importance ; de sorte que par exemple, s'il y a 4 fiches pour un article, on les nurnerotera par ordre d'importance, et le Comite central aura le droit de supprimer la 4 e , la 3 e , ou meme la 2 e , suivant le cas, s'il voit que le nombre total des fiches est depasse. Mais il faut que chaque Comite regional ait le droit d'indiquer quelles seraient les fiches les plus indispensables a retenir. S'il y a moyen de donner les 4, cela ne vaut que mieux, mais si le nombre total est atteint, on supprime la quatrieme, la trois iemo ou la seconde, une fois qu'elles auront ete classees par importance. Yoila une proposition a laquelle pourraient se rallier les autres comites regionaux. De cette fa^on, on donnerait au Comite central le moyen de ne supprimer que les fiches les moins importantes. Ces limites seront determinees par les ressources fmancieres. 59 PROF. ARMSTRONG. I beg to urge the g'reat importance of not unduly restricting the power of the International Council. A statement was made this morning as to the probability of there being a considerable sale of the Catalogue to the outside scientific world. That sale will very largely depend upon the amount of detail that is given in the Catalogue, and I feel that while we ought to place a limit which will enable us to keep well within the bounds which are imposed upon us by financial necessity, the limit should not be such as to prevent success. PROF. RtJCKER. I should like to say that this matter is referred to in Appendix I, on page 17. It is therein recom- mended that the International Council attempt to keep the total number of entries below 160,000, and for the present that the number of entries be not allowed to exceed 200,000, and that for safety the financial calculations be based upon the latter number. DR. MOND. No doubt the number of entries will increase year by year, and it seems to me an impossibility to limit the Council to 160,000. PROF. RUCKER. Passing on to the question of the finances of the Catalogue, I think that these paragraphs will have to be considerably re-cast. The word "shares" does not appear to have been a happy choice, and I think these paragraphs will have to be re-cast so as to be in accord with the discussions of to-day. PROF. WEISS. Ich mochte einige Worte beziiglich der Schemata sagen. Ich bin der Ansicht, dass die Schemata, wie sie jetzt gemacht sind, im grossen und ganzen von der Conferenz gutgeheissen werden sollen und die noch vorzunehmenden kleinen Aenderungen dem International Committee uberlassen werden konnen. So z.B. waren die Beschllisse des Provisional International Committee in bezug auf die alien Wissenschaften vorauzustellende " introductory section " doch so zu verstehen, dass fur alle Wissenschaften die gleichen Registrirsynibote einge- fiihrt werden sollten. Das ist aber in den Schemata nicht durchgefuhrt. [Der Redner weist das an einzelnen Beispielen nach.] Manche der Nomenclaturen sind auch ziemlich ungltick- lich gewahlt. So findet sich z.B. unter Bacteriologie unter 0035 "observatories" aufgeflihrt. Das heisst doch Stern warte, und ist in Bacteriologie auch so iibersetzt, und dass eine Stern- warte mit der Bacteriologie viel zu thun haben sollte, ist fur inich nicht sehr wahrscheinlich. Auch weichen gerade in der Bacteriologie der englische und der deutsche Text auf der ersten Seite vollstandig von einander ab und haben gar keine Aehniichkeit init einander. Ich mochte also den Antrag stellen, dass dem International Committee der Auftrag gegeben wird, die Schemata in diesern Sinne zu revidi- ren, dass der generale Theil in der Art ausgefuhrt wird, wie es vom Provisional Committee angegeben wurde, und dass iiber- haupt solche kleine Inconsequenzen wie die angegebenen aus- gemerzt werden. 60 DR. BERNOULLI. Ich mochte im Anschluss an die Ausfiili- rungen des Herrn Prof. Weiss auch auf Inconsequeuzen in den Abtheilungen Zoologie und Palaeontologie aufmerksam machen. In den Vorbemerkungen zur Palaeontologie heisst es : die Zahlen fur die Unterabtheilungen sind identisch mil denen die in zoological Scheme gebraucht sind. Das ist aber nicht richtig. Es ist da iibersehen worden, dass die zoologiscbe Eintheilung Abanderungen erfuhr und andere Ziffern bekam. Im neuen Schema sind die aiten Ziffern der Zoologie und nicht die neuen eingesetzt. Es ist ferner eine Abtheilung General Biology gemacht worden und sie hat auch ihre ganz bestimmte Gruppen- eintheilung erhalten. Die entsprechenden Gruppen waren des- halb bei den einzelnen Wissenschaften unter Verweis auszu- scheiden ; dass ist bei gewissen Wissenschafteu geschehen, bei andern aber nicht. Auch derartige Inconsequenzen bitte ich bei der definitiven Auf stel lung der Schemata zu vermeiden. DR. MOND. It seems to me that it would be impossible for the Conference to enter into the consideration of classification, and I suggest that any member of the Conference who wishes to bring forward suggestions on the subject would be good enough to put them down in writing, so that the Conference may pass the resolutions and hand them over to the International Council for their consideration. That, I understand, is Prof. Weiss's wish. PROF. SCHWALBE. Solche Bemerkungen sollen direct dem International Council gemacht werden. PROF. TOLDT. Einzelne Schemata weisen Daten auf, die nicht hingehoren wahrend sie an richtiger Stelle fehlen. So steht die Radiographie unter der allgemeinen Biologic, ich glaube aber nicht dass diese sich mit den " Rontgenstrahlen " befassen wird, sie gehort hiugegen in die Anatomie. Das Wagen ist beispiels- weise nicht in der Anthropologie enthalten, dagegen in der allgemeinen Biologie. Vor allem aber ist wiinscheuswerth, dass ein Gegenstand der in zwei oder mehreren Schemata verkommt, dieselbe Bezeichnung erhiilt, was vielfach nicht der Fall ist. Das sind allerdings relative Kleinigkeiten, die aber rectificirt werden miissen, wenn der Catalog gut sein soil. Was die Arbeiten der Regionalbureaux anlangt, so mochte ich bitten, dass eine Art Instruction fur sie ausgearbeitet wird, wenn sie auch nicht obligatorisch sein soil. Man wird sich aber im allgemeineu daran halten konnen. Jedes wird ja in Details anders arbeiten, doch wird es immerhin gut sein, das Committee zu beauftragen, einen Grundplan auszuarbeiten, nach dem die Regionalbureaux vorgehen konnen. PROF. ARMSTRONG. With reference to the remarks of the last speaker, no doubt what he suggests as being desirable will have to be done. It will, of course, be necessary to draw up a set of regulations for the use of all the Regional Bureau, and these must contain a good set of sample entries, and I take it that in 61 preparing these the necessary modifications to secure uniformity will be introduced. So long as the work is carried on as it has been hitherto by persons at a distance it will be impossible to secure uniformity. SIR JOHN GORST. If none of the delegates desire to make any observations, I think that we had now better adjourn the meeting, arid when we meet at 11 o'clock to-morrow we shall, I hope, have the formal resolutions dealing with the questions which have come before us this afternoon. We will now adjourn, to meet again at 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. (The proceedings were adjourned until 1 1 o'clock on Wednesday morning.) SECOND MEETING-. Wednesday Morning, June 13^/z, 1900. (SiR JOHN GORST IN THE CHAIR.) PROF. RUCKER. Gentlemen, we think that perhaps the best thing to do this morning to begin with, is to discuss the scheme which has been put into your hands, and to state what we adhere to, and the changes which we propose. This scheme was drawn up with a number of explanatory notes, which have now to be struck out. The introduction on pages 2 and 3 may be struck out. Then, on page 5, No. 5, we may strike out " the limits of several sciences to be determined hereafter." That has already been done. At the bottom of that section the words " the provisional Committee recommend " and so on to the end, may also be struck out (reads the paragraph). With those alterations, I beg to move that Article I The object and Nature of the Catalogue -be approved as part of the scheme. (The motion was carried unanimously.) PROF. RUCKER. Then we come to Article II. I think that it might be desirable to leave in the note as to the nature of the Council and Bureau, &c. ; that will do no harm. The next important change is on page 7, and refers to the International Conventions. Instead of saying that the rules shall be the same as those of 1898, the paragraph shall run as follows : " The rules of procedure of each International Convention shall be as follows : ." Then further on in 10 (a) it is desirable to add the word Italian, so that English, French, German, and Italian be the official languages of the Conference ; and in 10 (>), that there shall be secretaries for the English, French, German, and Italian languages. Then in 10 (d), instead of sayiug " that each delegate shall have a vote," we have decided that each 62 Contracting- Body shall have a vote. The term Contracting Body has not been hitherto defined here, and I think it will be sufficient to say " that each Contracting 1 Body shall have a vote," and refer on to the definition, putting " see so and so," or " as defined hereafter." On page 8 we strike out the note between the brackets " if the different Constituent Regions " and so on. That has been settled. In Section 11, last paragraph, we also strike out the note as to the distribution of the voting powers, but add that each Contracting Body shall have one vote, in deciding questions brought before the Council. That puts the Council and the Convention on the same footing as regards voting. The next suggestion that I have to make is with regard to the paragraph at the end of Section 13, relating to the Consultative Committee. On thinking the matter over, I hardly think it necessary to keep that, inasmuch that we think it suffi- cient to say " if the International Council so decide." PROF. KLEIN. That is much better ; it is much more simple. PROF. RUCKER. We have no more suggestions to make on Article II, and I beg to move that Article II on the Control and Management of the Catalogue, with the changes suggested, be approved. (The motion was carried unanimously.) PROF. RUCKER. With regard to Article III Of the Subject- Matter of the Catalogue, the first change which we propose is in the middle of page 10, " Technical matters of scientific interest shall be included in the Catalogue, but shall be referred to under the appropriate headings." That may be deleted here. (After a pause) : Perhaps it would be well to withdraw that proposal, and I move that Article III be accepted without change. (The motion was agreed to.) PROF. RUCKER. We next come to Article IV, and the note at the bottom of page 10 may be struck out. And now we come to a number of the asterisk paragraphs which are put down, but without formal authorisation. I have no change to propose with regard to these, and so I move that Article IV be accepted. PROF. ARMSTRONG. It was suggested yesterday that some observations might be made on these matters. PROF. SCHWALBE. Die modificirten Titel bilden nach Ansicht der deutschen Regierung eine Schwierigkeit, die nur bei sehr sorgfaltiger Durcharbeitung beseitigt werden kann. Es ist die Meinung der deutschen Gelehrten, dass diese Titel vielfach irre fiihren konnen, und auch in den englischen Entwtirfen sind, wenn ich nicht irre, fur zwei Wissenschaften, fur Physiologie und Mathematik, diese modified titles nicht beliebt worden. Es ist nun wiinschenswert, dass die ubrigen Delegirten sich doch auch aussern iiber den Werth, den sie diesen modified titles beilegen, ob dieselben eben direkt beibehalten werden sollen, oder ob sie, wie es doch in dem Vorschlag der Royal Society liegt, jedem 63 einzelnen Lande anheim gestellt werden. Die dcutsche Regierung wiirde ja das Regionalbureau so instruiren, dass zunachst moglichst vollstandig die deutsche Literatur gegebeu wird. Aber auf modified titles wiirde sich die deutsche Regierung nicht einlassen kb'nnen. PROF. KLEIN. Ich will den Ausfiilirungen des Ilerrn Schwalbe sachlich nichts weiter hinzufiigen, sondern nur der Form wegeii zur Kenntniss bringen, dass He IT Dr. Milkau um Entschuldigung bittet, wenn er heute nicht gegenwartig ist. Er hat eine Trauernachricht bekommen, die inn sehr nahe betrifft, und ist nicht im Stande gewesen hierher zu komraen. PROF. POINCARE. Je crois qne le Gouvernement fran^ais est aussi oppose a ces titres modifies et que le bureau regional fran^ais u'en fera pas usage. Nous rencontrens, en effet, a ce point de vue une grande difficult^ ; cela augmenterait beaucoup le travail, considerablement la depense d'impression, et il n'y a pas seulemeiit cet inconvenient : il est evident qu'un savant qui fait des recherches dans un catalogue a besoin d'avoir le titre exact, doit faire une citation exacte ; si le titre est modifie, il pent se tromper, croire avoir affaire au titre exact et etre oblige d'aller le rechercher dans une autre partie du catalogue. Les avantages des titres modifies paraissent etre au point de vue de 1'usage meme du catalogue amplement compenses par ces inconverrients. Pour toutes ces raisons, il sera preferable de renoncer a ces titres modifies, ce sera beaucoup plus simple pour les Bureaux regionaux, moins dispendieux, pour le Bureau Central en ce qui concerne 1'impression, et en somme, ce sera aussi commode pour ceux qui se serviront du catalogue. DR. BERNOULLI. Die schweizerischen Delegirten haben schon gestern erklart dass sie nicht erruachtigt sind, ihr Bureau so einzurichten, dass es auch die Subject entries selbst bearbeitet. An deren Stelle sind die modified titles getreten. Ich glaube deshalb sagen zu miissen. dass bei uns auch die modified titles nicht bearbeitet werden wilrden, uud dass wir uns vollstandig den Ausfuhrungen der deutschen und franzosischen Vorredner anschliessen. DR. MOND, In England we expect that the great bulk of the work in indexing will be done by the authors themselves sending in to the Regional Bureau different titles to express the different subjects dealt with in any one paper. In fact, I always under- stood that we expected in time to get the whole of this work done by the authors themselves. I do not know whether in Germany they would authorise it to be made known that if an author sent in different headings under which he wished his paper to be classified, notice would be taken of them. If that were done the responsibility would then fall upon the author and he could not complain if his paper did not receive the attention of the authorities of the Catalogue that he might wish, and if the paper were only put under one heading. 64 PROF. SCHWALBE, Ich babe in friiheren Conferenzen ausf uhr- lich dargelegt, wie die Sachen in Deutschland liegen. In Deutschland ist es nicht moglich, irgeridwie durch Autoren eine sichere Registririmg 1 oder auch eine sichere Art der Inhaltsangabe zu erlangen. Alle Versuche, die wir gemacht haben, in Deutsch- land eine Zusammenstelluug der Literatur und des Inhaltes der Literatur dadurch herbeizuf iihren, dass die betreffenden Autoren die Berichte in kurzer, deutlicher Weisj gegeben hatten, sind gescheitert. Aus diesem Grunde hat eben auch die deutsche Regierung geglaubt, diesen \Veg nicht gehen zu diirfen. Es ist die Einrichtung des deutschen Bureaus der deutschen Regierung eben vorbehalten, imd dass alles geschehen wird um die Literatur vollsttindig, iibersichtlich, klar geordnet vorzuf iihren, so dass die Gegenstande sachlich Jeicht zu finden sind, dies anzubahnen, das glaube ich versprechen zu konuen. A ber ob seitens des Regional- bureaus eine Anweisung oder eine Aufforderung an die Autoren geschehen soil, die betreffenden modified titles einzusenden, das glaube ich nicht dass die deutsche Regierung darauf eingehen wird, und so meine ich, es ist am besten einem jeden Lande die Freiheit zu lassen, anzufangen und zu versuchen, wie es in den ersten Jahren lauft. Es ist doch, meine Herren, die Hauptsache, dass angefangeu wird, und deshalb meine ich, soil man nicht das eine Regionalbureau binden oder irgendwie iustruiren wollen, jedes macht es eben so gut, als es moglich ist (Zustimmung), dann wird die Sache gelingen. PROF. ARMSTRONG. I venture to think, after what Prof. Schwalbe has said of the way in which we should proceed, that if we proceed in such a way we shall meet with success, but if we commence this enterprise by tying the hands of those that have to control it, then undoubtedly we shall be doomed to failure. In many sciences, if we merely produce a catalogue formed of titles only, we shall not be giving what is required and so we shall fail financially ; but if we adopt the course Prof. Schwalbe suggests, and give each Regional Bureau freedom, I think we shall do well; and if each does its best there will not be much difficulty, I think, in the end. Of course, the work is of the nature of an experiment, and in an experiment there must be a considerable amount of freedom. PROF. POINCARE. Je voudrais faire remarquer I'mconvenient qu'il pouvait y avoir a demander a vos auteurs de donner eux- memes leur titre modifie ; chaque auteur aura pour son travail des entrailles de pere, et il est a crainure que les auteurs ne nous donneut pour chaque travail cinq, six entrees differentes. D'un autre cote, le rnoins qu'on puisse faire, c'est d'accorder a chaque pays une liberte entiere. Cependant, il y aurait aussi des li mites a cette liberte ; elles proviendraient des difficultes finaucieres ; il est evident que les titres modifies couteront beaucoup plus d'impression que les titres non modifies. II y aurait lieu, je crois, de faire limiter par le Comite Inter- national le nombre des titres modifies qui serout introduits, 65 limite qui serait fixee par 1'experience de chaque annee et les ressources financieres sur lesquelles on croirait pourvoir compter. DR. GRAF. Wir haben diese Frage auch vor unsere Regie- rung gebracht, wie bereits Herr Bernoulli ausfiihrte. Der betreffende Beschluss geht dahin, dass wir inbezug auf diese "modified titles" von der Schweiz keiuerlei Verpflichtung Ubernehmen konnen, dieselben zu liefern. Wenn es aber von uns verlaugt wird, so werden wir versuchen es zu thun. Wir sind uns aber der Schwierigkeiten, die von Herrn Schwalbe skizzirt worden, sehr wohl bewusst. Man kann diese Titles auf zwei Wegen herstellen, entweder man bekommt sie von den Autoren, was ausserordentlich schwierig ist, oder man stellt einen grossen Stab von Gelehrten an im Regional-Bureau, was zu kostspielig ist und die Regierung natiirlich auch nicht will. Ich glaube, das Unternehmen wird um so grosseren Erfolg haben, je einfacher es ist. Je mehr wir niodificiren, desto schwieriger und ungleichmassiger wird die Publication. Ich unterstiitze also die Ausfilhrungen der Herren Schwalbe und Poincare, dass yon den " modified titles " abgesehen werden soil. PROF. NASINI. Noi non troveremmo gravi difficolta al 1'adozione de titoli modificati, purche fassero in numero assai piccolo per ogni lavoro. Per questo crediamo che si detta aspettare molto dagli autore stessi e desideriamo che la Con- ferenze colla sua autorita facesse invito o preghiera alia presi- denza delle Accademie e alle dirizioni dei giornali scientific!, perche alia loro volta pregassero gli autori a dare i titoii modi- ficati se sono necessari e nel numero piu limiteto possibile. Del rimenente se si dettono impiegare i numeri classificatori, e questo crediamo andrettero impiegati in tutta largherra,ci sembra che qui sia il lavoro, piu gravoso degli uffici regionali, respetto al quale il dare uiio a due titoli modificati e cosa che non piu costare malta fatira. Noi faremmo formale preghiera che la conferenza esprirnesse il desiderio a cui affiamo accumato. PROF. WEISS. Wir sind in Oesterreich der Ansicht, dass es das Zweckmiissigste ist, wenn der Catalog so gleichrmissig als moglich durchgefiihrt wird. Wenn aber von einem Regional- Bureau " modified titles " angegeben werden, von dem anderen aber nicht, so kommt eine Ungleichmiissigkeit hinein,die unserer Ansicht nach viel bedenklicher ist, als wenn die " modified titles " uberhaupt ausbleiben, Das oesterreichische Regional- Bureau wird sich deshalb bescheiden von den " modified titles" abzugehen. PROF. HELLER. Ich mochte es nicht als unbedingte Thatsache aussprechen, dass es unmoglich wiire, dass die *' modified titles " von dem einen oder anderen Regional-Bureau gemacht werden. Nach dem bisher gehorten scheinen sich aber die meisten. Regional -Bureaus nicht dafiir entscheiden zu wollen. Auch wir sind der Meinung, dass der Catalog moglichst einheitlich sein miisse. Andererseits wird durch Einf uhrung der " modified 60 titles" der Catalog natiirlich auch theurer werden, da seine HerstelluDgakosten wachsen. Ich will nicht ausschliessen dass es Falle giebt, in denen ein Hinweis unumganglich nothwendig ist. Aber von einer allgemeinen Regel der Hinweise in Art der " modified titles,'" glaube ich, kann abgesehen werden. DR. DENIKER. Je crois qu'en commencant la publication de notre catalogue, nous ne devons pas trop heurter les habitudes prises. Or, les savants comme les bibliographes, sont accoutumes a voir des indications bibliographiques precises, reproduisant servilement le titre de 1'ouvrage. Si le titre de Fouvrage est modifie dans 1'indication bibliographique, c'est une faute : nous ne pouvons 1'admettre. Je regrette d'avoir a le dire, mais il n'est pas admis en bibliographic en general qu'on puisse modifier le titre d'un raenioire. Tout ce qu'on pent faire, c'est de 1'expliquer et de I'expliquer par le niot-souche ou par un symbole quelconque, par un chiffre, par des lettres, comme vous voudrez, mais ceci est une partie de 1'indication bibliographique, different^ de la partie meme qui donne le titre de 1'ouvrage. Vous avez un ouvrage qui traite de deux sujets, je suppose : vous donnez le titre exact de cet ouvrage en le copiant servilement, tel qu'il esc donne par 1'auteur lui-meme, et vous mettez en tete 1'indication du sujet dont il est question dans ce memoire. Yous pouvez alors donner 2, 3, 4, ou 5 indications, suivant votre desir et la nature du sujet, et alors, c'est ces mots-souches, les headings, comme on dit en Anglais, qu'il faudra donner differents, si vous voulez. Mais quant a modifier le titre meme de 1'ouvrage, nous ne pouvons pas le faire, parce que tous ceux qui sont habitues a voir un recueil bibliographique vons diront que ce n'est pas possible, que c'est une heresie bibliographique. PROF. RUCKER. Might I explain ? In the Authors' Catalogue, at all events, we propose to give particulars as the author gives them, and there will be place for full bibliographical details as required. There is a further suggestion that it would only be necessary to give such details in one place, and that the Subject Catalogue should refer back by number only to the page without the title being given there at all. That proposal' I do not at all support. The proposal which is now made means that we should be able to refer back to the titles in the Authors' Catalogue in a small number of instances without repeating titles, but give an indication of the titles when classifying, and then give a short explanation of the matter referred to. We hope, therefore, that the Catalogue will be absolutely perfect from a bibliographical point of view, and most useful by giving the scientific reading, or allowing the Regional Bureau to give, instead of the title merely, something much longer and fuller. PROF. ARMSTRONG. You mean, as Prof. Schwalbe proposes, to allow the various Bureaux to do as they think best with regard to this ? 67 PROF. DENIKER. Then there would be no uniformity. (Article IV was adopted.) PROF. RUCKER. We next come to Article V. Of the list of journals, communications to which are to be catalogued. That is a comparatively unimportant matter, and I beg to move that Article V be accepted without change. PROF. RUCKER. I now move the adoption of Article VI But do you think that we might put " As soon as possible " before the words " On and after Jan. 1st, 1901." (Article V was adopted.) PROF. KLEIN. Ich kann keine Vorschliige rnachen, bitte aber zu erwiigen, ob wir nicht doch eine Bestimmung aufnehmen miissen. Ich wiirde vielleicht vorschlagen, dass die redactionelle Fassung eiuer solchen Bestinimung vorbehalten bleibt. PROF. ARMSTRONG. I think we might put " Oil and after Jan. 1st, 1901, or as soon after as the International Council may decide." M. POINCARE. A propos de cet article 6, je voudrais attirer 1'attention sur 1'article 32, au debut de la page 14. II y a ici une obligation qui est imposee aux bureaux regionaux ; chaque bureau regional devrait envoyer au moins une copie de 1'entree pour les index par nom d'auteur, et puis, au moins une copie pour chaque entree pour les sujets indices ; en plus, le bureau regional devrait garder un duplicata. De cette derniere partie, je n'ai rien a dire, le duplicate est indispensable. Maintenant, en ce qui concerne la premiere partie, il me semble qu'on impose a nos collaborateurs des bureaux regionaux un surcroit de travail de copie tout a fait inutile. II me semble qu'il serait beaucoup plus simple d'envoyer line seule copie toutes les fois qu'on ne fera pas usage des modifies dont en France on ne fera pas usage. Eh bien, chacunde nos collaborateurs ferait uneseule copie qui serait imprimee ensuite, et je ne vois pas la necessite de forcer chacun de nos collaborateurs a recopier cela deux ou trois fois, ce qui augmenterait naturellement les frais incombant aux bureaux regionaux ; cela me parait inutile, parce qu'il serait tres simple de Timprimer une premiere fois en placard, et on renverrait 1'epreuve aux bureaux regiocaux. Je trouve qu'il faudrait donner I'indication sur la fiche elle- meme ; je trouve que du moment qu'on ne fait pas usage des modifies, la fiche doit etre reproduite sans aucune modification, c'est-a-dire donnant le nom d'auteur et toutes le reconnaissances numeriques a la suite . . ., c'est-a-dire le numero d'ordre, si on adopte le projet dont vous parliez tout a Fheure, ensuite le titre exact, et apres le titre exact, les indications bibliographiques, et chaque fois qu'un ouvrage paraitrait, on trouverait toutes ces indications numeriques qui permettraient d'un seul coup d'oeil de se reiidre compte de la nature du memoire. Cela eviterait absolument toutes ces copies, tout ce travail de E 2 paperasses qui serait sans cela impose aux bureaux regionaux, eu facilitant le travail du bureau central qui n'aurait qu'a classer sous les differentes rubriques qui seraient iadiquees par ordre d'importance, les titres de chaque memoire. PROF. RUCKER. I should like to point out that probably there are more difficulties in this suggestion than might perhaps appear at first sight. Obviously the whole question is throwing the whole work from one Bureau on to another, and in so far as you relieve the Regional Bureau will you throw a certain amount of work upon the Central Bureau. Now, the way in which, I suppose, the work would be done is this. As soon as two cards come in they would be put into a proper place- one for the Subject Catalogue, and one for the Authors' Catalogue, and during the whole year the material would accumulate ready for the Catalogue. I understand Prof. Poincare to propose that instead of the two cards being put into a drawer say, they should go to the printers to be printed, and that these printed slips be put into the drawer. But that means keeping up the whole of the type for the whole year, and in the case of an undertaking of such magnitude it would be practically impossible to keep the whole Catalogue in type so long. M. POINCARE. On peut clicher ; le clichage n'entraine pas de frais serieux, je veux parler d'un simple clichage par la galvano- plastie. PROF. RUCKER. In answer to that I may say that from inquiries which we have made we are led to believe that re- arranging in that way would mean as much as setting up. DR. MOND. Every Regional Bureau, I expect, would have a typewriter which affords such facilities in such cases, and they might send six copies instead of one, and I really think it would be in the interest of the work if we were to ask the Regional Bureaux to send us that number of copies. I should certainly like to ask those connected with the Regional Bureau as to what extent they could comply with this proposal. M. DARBOUX. J'avoue que cette question la est une question interessante et qui est un peu une question de detail : je ne vois pas qu'clle ait un grand interet financier. On prend un memoire, on 1'envoie ici, et on peut tres bien, si on ne compose qu'une fiche, en mettant par ordre 1'indication des differentes rubriques qu'il y a a viser, avoir des ouvriera qui de toutes facons pourront composer les titres autant de fois qu'on voudra, une fois la pre- miere rubrique, une fois la seconde, une fois la troisieme, et pour ma part, au point de vue typographique, je crois qu'on pourra transporter ces quelques lignes une fois imprimees dans les autres parties du catalogue. Au point de vue de 1'economie, je ne vois que de tres grands avantages a la combinaison de M. Poincare, I UNIVI 69 Mais c'est une question de detail, d' application, d'entente avec les editeurs et les imprimeurs, il me semble que la Conference n'a pas besoin de trancher cette question, qu'elle peut la rerivoyer au Comite international provisoire qui sera nomme et qui aura precisement a decider ce point-la. 11 n'y a pas d'interet a ce que la Conference donne une indication formelle et precise a ce sujet, car veritablement ce catalogue ne peut pas etre fait par des mano3uvres, il ne peut etre fait que par des hommes de science. Eh bien, les bureaux regionaux comprennent des hommes de science, qui aurorit a faire un travail scientifique. Or, je ne vois pas la necessite de leur imposer de travail de copie double, triple on quadruple, et je suis convaincu que le Comite trouvera un moyen d'eviter cela. II y a celui que je suggere ici : si on a vise 4 ou 5 rubriques, on n'aura qu'a avoir un ouvrier typographe tres intelligent qui les composera autant de fois que ce sera necessaire. Aujourd'hui, on fait des empreintes pour des prix tout a fait derisoires, et on trouvera toujours des precedes tres economiques pour rep rodu ire les fiches dans toutes les parties ou ce sera necessaire. Quoi qu'il en soit, je ne demande pas que la Conference tranche cette question ; je demaude qu'elle soit simplement renvoyee au Comite international provisoire, avec toutes les questions de la meme nature. PROF. RUCKER. Then I move that the words " unless the International Council decide otherwise " be added. PROF. POINCARE. Je voudrais faire une simple rectification en ce qui concerne le No. 34 : au lieu de mettre : " le bureau est autorise a reduire ....," je demanderais qu'on mette : " est invite a reduire " (Article VI as so modified was accepted.) PROF. RUCKER. We come now to Article VII Of the Finances of the Catalogue. A number of changes are proposed here, and paragraph 35, at the bottom of page 14 may be struck out altogether. We do not adopt the word " share." I have written out and hope to have had printed a paragraph in substitution for that which is merely a definition of the term " Contracting Body." The paragraph which I suggest is : " That any body which subscribes to the expenses of the undertaking and takes a certain number of copies per annum shall be called a " Contract- ing Body." PROF. KLEIN. Might not the words " or any Regional Bureau "be added? PROF. RUCKER. Yes, I will add that. PROP. DENIKER. Pour preciser ce qu'on entend par " Con- tracting Body" il faudrait introduire la mention de la constitution du bureau regional ; c'est le " corps constitue participant " qui prend a sa charge la constitution d'un Bureau Regional. 70 PROF. RUCKEK. Then I will alter it to " Any body that establishes a Regional Bureau shall be called a ' Contracting Body.' " Then we come to No. 37 "The Central Bureau shall not sell copies of the Catalogue to persons or institutions in any constituent region except by arrangement with the Contracting Body controlling the distribution of the Catalogue in that region." But now, as it is thought possible that a publisher might be engaged to take the whole thing over, I suppose that would mean that he would have full liberty to sell where he liked, and I propose that we drop No. 37. PROF. KLEIN. If you introduce a paragraph to the effect that the publisher should deliver copies at reduced prices to the Regional Bureaux as the Contracting Bodies, then it might be regulated. But if such a paragraph were not introduced then possibly the Regional Bureau might take a certain number of copies, but meanwhile the publisher might come and sell the copies at reduced prices to other people. PROF. POINCARE. II faudrait que la difference de prix soit assez notable en ce qui concerne les exemplaires souscrit par les contracting bodies .... PROF. KLEIN. Ich meine, was Prof. R ticker jetzt gesagt hat, kommt darauf hinaus, dass Paragraph 37 stehen gelassen werden kann. Es soil ja nicht von der Centralstelle aus festgesetzt werden, wie die Sache gemacht wird, sondern es soil jedem einzelnen Land liberlasseii bleiben, sich mit einem etwaigen Editor auseinanderzusetzen. Wenn wir den Paragraph 37 beibehalten, so ist das keine Hemmung fur die Entwickelung der Sache im Sinne von Dr. Mond. Andrerseits wiirde eine Uman- derung grosse Schwierigkeiten bei den Verhandlungen mit den garantirenden Regierungen ergeberi. Ich befiirworte also, den Paragraph 37 unverilndert beizubehalten. DR. BRUNCHORST. I think we ought to keep paragraph 37 in its original form. If Germany and other large countries, which take a large number of copies, are going to distribute these to public institutions only and not to sell to private persons, then there will be no difficulty about making arrangements with a publisher as suggested, and in giving him the opportunity to sell to private persons in those countries. In other countries, how- ever, the Regional Bureaux may want to have the opportunity of selling some of the copies they subscribe for, directly or through booksellers, and this sale ought not to be interfered with without the consent of the bureau in question, the guarantee having been given under the supposition of paragraph 37 existing in the proposed form. DR. MOND. With reference to this matter, I wish to point out, as Prof. Darboux pointed out yesterday, that so far only three countries have undertaken to take a definite number of copies. Those three countries, I understand, will distribute these copies, but do not intend to enter the market with them. 71 Consequently it is important that we get from other Contracting Bodies an equally definite undertaking to take a certain number of copies in the same way. I understand that the representa- tives whose Governments are not in a position to take a large number of copies wish to leave in the paragraph, which, in my opinion, it is impossible to carry out. I wish to point out in connection with this matter that the form in which we have this undertaking from different countries should be in the form of so much money, for it is not impossible, and I hope that it is pro- bable, that the Catalogue may be published at a much cheaper price than 1 a volume. Of course, that depends upon the number of copies taken, and in the endeavour to make it a success, I believe that it will have to be sold cheaper in the future. The International Council are put into a very curious position. It is certainly perfectly justifiable for the countries that subscribe for a certain number of copies to ask that these should not be put into open market, and sold cheaper to the public than they receive them. But on the other hand, if we ask 25s. instead of 20s. per volume from the general public, I am afraid we shall have much less chance of selling a number of copies. SIR DAVID GILL. I understand that you wish the responsi- bility of the Governments to be expressed in pounds, shillings and pence, instead of in the number of copies, and that if the price is reduced you would give them more copies ? DR. MOND. Yes, and when the price was reduced we might charge more to individuals, and if the Government did not choose to sell the Catalogue themselves, as no doubt few Governments would wish to do, then it might be left to the publishers to sell as many copies as they liked. PROF. SCHWALBE. Ich mochte doch bitten, von dem bisher eingeschlagenen Weg nicht abzugehen. Wir sind nicht ermiich- tigt, irgend welche bestimmte Zusage hierbei zu machen. Wir haben uns bereit erklart, eine bestimmte Anzahl von der ganzen Reihe zu nehinen. Ich glaube, die Fassung, die hier von der Royal Society vorgelegt ist, wiirde kerne Schwierigkeiteii fur Deutschland bereiten. VYenn aber in der Weise vorgegangen wird, dass die Regierung eine bestimmte Summe geben soil, und das ganze Unternehmen gewissermassen nachher mehr buch- handlerisch als staatlich wird, so ist das doch das Ende der Sache. Ich glaube nicht, dass dann das Uuternehmen moglich ist. Nur wenn von einer grossen Gemeinschaf t, wie es die Royal Society ist, die in Deutschland ein so hohes Ansehen besitzt, die Sache getragen wird, dann werden sich die Staaten als solche bereit finden dazu beizutragen. Ich kann es ja nicht wissen, ich glaube aber meinem Gefiihl nach wird das Deutsche Reich fiir ein direct buchhiindlerisches Unternehmen nicht eine solche Summe garantiren. Deshalb mochte ich bitten, die ursprungliche Fassung der Royal Society beizubehalten. 72 DR. MOND. I cannot understand how an enterprise of this sort can be anything- else but an editorial enterprise. I cannot understand how it can become anything else. It is to be an enterprise which shall be useful to the scientific men of the world, and put into their possession a good scientific catalogue. It is necessary that it shall be as cheap as possible. If we find the price at which it is sold produces a profit there is nothing to do but to reduce the price. Y"ou may accumulate a certain sum and make the Catalogue as complete as possible, but if there is still a profit you must reduce the price. PROF. RUCKER. With regard to that I should like to say that if a considerable profit were being made, it is possible although not probable for the sum voted by the countries to be reduced, and it is conceivable, but not probable, I think, that eventually the guarantee might be withdrawn altogether. Of course, in view of a great success, the price would be modified. In answer to Prof. Schwalbe I might say that it appears to me that in different countries there might be different arrangements. In England we shall depend very much upon sales, while probably in Germany and France the Catalogue will be given to institu- tions. This proposal is that the matter be carried out by the Contracting Body, and I move this formally. PROF. KLEIN. Ich habe darauf Folgendes zu antworten. Der Paragraph 37 sagt nicht, falls eine Privatfirma eintreten sollte, so soil es ihr beispielsweise verboten sein, Exemplare in Deutsch- land oder in irgend einem anderen Lande zu verbreiten. Es soil das nur so geschehen, dass sich die Firma mit dem " Contracting Body " in Verbindung sat/t, dass ein " arrangement " getroffen wird, und der " Contracting Body " (also die deutsche Regierung) wird das doch in verniinftiger und wohlwollender Weise thun. Sie will nur nicht umgangen sein. Sie will nicht, dass Exemplare verkauft werden, vielleicht ehe die 45 Exemplare, die sie selbst iibernommen hat, vertheilt siud, Also das, was Sie fiir nothwendig halten, Herr Dr. Mond, ist durch Paragraph 37 gar nicht ausgeschlossen. Nur versttindigt man sich dariiber vorweg, ich mochte sagen, freundschaftlich in jedem Lande. PROF. SCHWALBE. Ich mochte diese Ausfuhrungen voll und ganz unterstiitzen. Ich glaube die Verhaltnisse in Deutschland zu kennen, und wenn die Sache in dem Shine, wie Dr. Mond es wlinscht, gemacht wird, so halte ich es fiir ausserordentlich schwierig, unseren Verhaltnissen genuiss, dass Deutschland das. aufrecht erhalt, was er versprochen hat. Wir haben jetzt schon Vorarbeiten getroffen. Es sind 15,000 Mark vorhanden, so dass, wenn wir zuriickkommen, die Arbeit beginuen konnte, alles aber ist darauf basirt, dass es ein Unternehinen der Royal Society bleibt, und dass es nicht hinubergeht in irgend ein Privatun- ternehmen, das ja in einem oder dem andern Lande wohl bestehen konnte, in Deutschland aber sicher nicht. Nur deshalb, nieine ich, ist die Fassung dea Paragraph 37 vollstandig ausreichend, 73 wahrend eine andere Fassung uns Schwierigkeiten bereiten wiirde, die wir niclit iiberwinden konnen. DR. MOND. I think that this matter should not be misunder- stood, and I rise again to say a few words in reply to Prof. Klein and Prof. Schwalbe. Whether the enterprise is left in the hands of the Royal Society or not they could not undertake the delivery of volumes to subscribers and the collection of money, but they would have to put it into the hands of some publishers. They could not attend to the details of such a business. I have the gravest doubt whether, from a financial point of view, this thing could be carried through without the assistance of a publishing firm. If such a publishing firm were precluded from selling the Catalogue, I think it would be difficult for anyone to undertake the work, for it is not probable that a firm would come forward to finance the enterprise. I am sorry to have taken up so much time, but this seems to me a matter of the gravest importance, and upon which the possibility of carrying through the scheme depends. PROF. KLEIN. Es ist ganz gewiss eine bose Lage, ILerr Dr. Mond, dass nur die Hiilfte der Summe garantirt ist. Wenn wir aber einen Beschluss fassen, infolgedessen die versprochenen Garantieen zurUckgezogen werden, dann operiren wir auch nicht zweckmassig. Vielleicht ist es richti^er, wenn wir diese Sache erst in einem Subcomite besprechen und dann das Ergebniss vor die Conferenz bringen. Ich fiirchte, wir verlieren viel Zeit, ohne zu einem Schluss zu kommen. In eiiiem Sub- comite konnte man sich auch mehr vertraulich iiussern. Ich stelle also den Antrag auf Einsetzung eines Subcomites. DR. GRAF. Es komnit darauf an dass das Unternehmen unter offiziellen Formen geht. Das schliesst aber nicht aus, dass die Sache auch geschiiftlich betrieben werden kann. Es liegt doch auch im Interesse des Unter nehmens, die Subvention und den Preis herunterzudriicken, damit das ganze Unternehmen besser marschiren kann. Mit der Annahme der No. 37 wird, meine ich, aller Wiinschen Rechnnng getragen. PROF. HELLER. Ich bin der Auffassung, dass das Ueberlassen des Vertriebs eines solchen Unternehmens durchaus nicht gleichbedeutend ist mit der Verlagubernahme eines solchen Unternehmens. Wenn gute Firmen sich zur Vertreibung des Catalogs verbinden, so wiirde das dasselbe Verhaltniss sein, wio wenn die Berliner Akademie Weidmann, oder die Koniglich Sachsische Teubner ihre Exemplare zum Vertriebe der Publica- tionen Ubergiebt. Ich glaube, das wurde dem Charakter des Unternehmens durchaus keinen Abbruch thun. SIR DAVID GILL. Is it too late to make a suggestion ? It seems to me that all the difficulties would vanish if we could put down the amount of the subscription of each country in exchange for the number of copies. The question would not then arise as to the price at which the Catalogue has to be sold. If those 74 present object to this I will not press it, but I thought it might be a solution of the difficulty. DR. MOND. I wish the Conference to understand that in my opinion if this paragraph stands as it now is, and that the Central Bureaus shall not sell single copies of the Catalogue unless by arrangement with the Contracting Bodies, it will be extremely difficult, and probably impossible to carry this out. I think it would be better if we tried to find some form which would not make it so absolute as it stands here. It must not be forgotten that out of the necessary expenditure of 5,200 we have so far only arranged for 2,700, and the balance has to be provided for in some way, and one way I think may be by arranging with a firm of publishers. PROF. WEISS. Auch ich glaube, dass die Einsetzung eines Sub-Comites zweckmiissig ware, und ich wiirde in einem solchen meine Ansichten mittheilen. PROF. KLEIN. Might not this discussion be left over until this afternoon ? I propose that. SIR JOHN GORST. It is proposed by Dr. Klein that this dis- cussion be adjourned until this afternoon. Those in favour please hold up their hands. Against? That is carried unani- mously. Now we come to the appointment of the Sub -Committee, (The following delegates were then appointed on the Sub- Committee: Prof. Klein, Dr. Mond, Dr. Graf, Prof. Poincare, Dr. Brunchorst, Prof. Weiss, Prof. Ciamician, Dr. Toldt, Prof. Rticker, and Sir Michael Foster.) PROF. RUCKER. The remaining alterations are very small indeed. The first is the fifth paragraph on page 15. It is a mere verbal correction the word " sets " should appear instead of " editions." In No. 40, I will strike out the words, " which takes a complete share." There is no reason why France, Germany and Italy, if they wish, should not have the schedules in their own language, and I will strike out the last paragraph. The next change is a verbal one. It is on page 1 6, No. 42 in the old copies, and No. 41 in the revised. It should read " whether to increase the scope or the bulk of the Book Catalogue or the issue of the Card Catalogue." Then the appendices which we merely added to make some points clear, may be struck out altogether. SIR JOHN GORST. The question now is whether, without pre- judice to No. 37, Article VII is approved. (Article VII was then approved.) SIR JOHN GORST. It is now proposed that the Conference adjourn that the Sub-Committee meet at 2 o'clock, and that the Conference re-assemble at 3 o'clock. (The proceedings were then adjourned until the afternoon.) 75 Wednesday Afternoon, June 13M, 1900. SIR JOHN GORST. We have now to consider the resolution which has been brought up by the Committee appointed this morning. I am told that the members of the sub-committee agreed to it unanimously. It is as follows : " That it be an instruction to the Provisional Committee to negotiate with the various Contracting- Bodies with reference to the sale iti their respective regions of copies other than those subscribed for by the Contracting Bodies." PROF. KLEIN. Es ist nicht ausdrucklich erwiihnt von dem Vorsitzenden, dass Nummer 37 nach dem Vorschlag des Sub- Comites wegf alien soil, wenn diese Resolution angenommen ist. Es scheint mir wichtig das hervorzuheben. SIR JOHN GORST. This resolution takes the place of number 37. (The motion was unanimously agreed to.) SIR JOHN GORST. Now that settles the whole question of the scheme, but there are certain resolutions which were discussed yesterday, and which we agreed should be reduced to proper form. These resolutions, I understand, are now ready. PROF. RUCKER. They are given in the Acta of yesterday's meeting, which have been circulated among the delegates. The first resolution I beg to move is as follows : " The Conference is of opinion that the financial prospects of the enterprise are sufficiently satisfactory to warrant further steps being taken toward the publication of the Catalogue, in view of the fact that the representatives of the various countries have declared that the governments or corporations they represent are willing to subscribe for the number of complete sets of copies at the cost stated in paragraph 10 of the Acta." (The resolution was carried unanimously.) PROF. RUCKER. The next resolution is as follows : That, pending the appointment of the International Council, a Provisional International Committee be appointed which shall be entrusted with the duty of approaching, through the Royal Society, such countries as may be necessary, with the viow of obtaining their adhesion to the scheme for the publication of the Catalogue, or promises of financial support. I beg to move this resolution. PROF. KLEIN. The translation in the Acta does not seem to be quite accurate ; the English is much more restrained than the French or German. While the English translation says, " Such countries as shall be necessary," in the German that is left out. 76 PROF. ARMSTRONG. I think that as Prof. Klein has called attention to this matter, I might mention that, at the previous Conferences, it was agreed to take the English version as the reference resolution. Probably it is desirable on this occasion, as at the two previous Conferences, that the wording of the English resolution should be the governing resolution. SIR JOHN GORST. Yes, at the previous Conferences the resolutions were read in the language of the movers. It was understood that these resolutions were binding, and that the translations were only for the purpose of making the meaning of the resolutions clear. This resolution has been moved by Prof. Riicker in English and the English version of the resolution will be valid. (The resolution was carried unanimously.) PROF. RiicKER. The next resolution I have to move is : " The said provisional Committee is further authorised to make other preparations for the publication of the Catalogue, but without incurring financial responsibility." (The resolution was carried unanimously.) SIR JOHN GORST. The only thing now, I think, is the appoint- ment of the Provisional Council. PROF. SCHWALBE. Wir schlagen Herrn Dr. Milkau vor. Ich bemerke aber ausdriicklich, dass die definitive Ernennung der Personlichkeit der Regierung vorbehalten bleibt. Ich kann nur sagen, das Herr Dr. Milkau, den wir ja jetzt nicht fragen konnen, wohl bereit sein wird, einzutreten, dass er aber durch andere Regierungsgeschafte sehr in Anspruch genommen ist, sodass ich nicht weiss, ob die Regierung nicht jemand anders wiihlen wird. Vorlaufig aber wiirde ich Herrn Dr. Milkau als Mitglied des "Provisional Committee" vorschlagen. PROF. TOLDT. I beg to nominate Dr. Weiss. PROF. RUCKER. Perhaps before we proceed further we should take the definite opinion of the Conference as to whether a limited number of members should be appointed. PROF. KLEIN. I certainly think that it would not be well to have a great number. I think that we might fix the number of members, and only introduce restrictions afterwards. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. We can give them power to add to their number. DR. GRAF. Es diirfte im Interesse der Geschafte liegen, wenn die Zahl beschriinkt wird. Das " Provisional Committee " wird ja nur etwa ein halbes Jahr amtiren, und dann wird das ; ' Inter- national Council " eintreten. In diesem wird jeder " Contracting Body" seinen Vertreter haben miissen. Jetzt scheiuen mir 7 Mitglieder genugend. 77 DR. MOND. I should like to point out that members of the Committee who could not attend would be accepting a position which they could not properly fill. DR. BRUNCHORST. I agree with that. I think that there should be only a small Committee. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. If the number is to be limited I should like to know whether the .Royal Society would be represented by one or more. PROF. ROCKER. I think that there could be no harm in several of us attending the meetings if we wanted to do so, but I think that we should only have one vote. DR. BRONCHORST. I should suggest that we select three members for England, but that there should be only one vote. DR. GRAF. Ich mochte auch fiir diesmal vorschlagen drei Mitglieder aus der Royal Society zu wiihlen. PROF. KLEIN. Der Heir, den die Royal Society in Aussicht genommen hat als Director des Centralbureaus, miisste jedenfalls Mitglied dieses neuen " Provisional Committee " sein, denn er muss die ganzen Verhandlungen als eigentliche verantwortliche Personlichkeit in die Hand nehmen. Dieser Herr, der uns officiell noch nicht bekannt gegeben worden ist, muss jedenfalls gewahlt werden. DR. GRAF. Ich glaube, diesem Gedanken kann dadurch Rechnung getragen werden, dass der betreffende Herr mit berathender Stimme zu den Sitzungen eingeladen wird. PROF. KLEIN. Man kann selbstverstiindlich auch mit dieser Form einverstanden sein. Ich wollte nur, dass dieses wichtigste Mitglied nicht vergessen wird bei der Wahl. Er wiirde dann in das " Provisional Committee " als achtes Mitglied eintreten. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I was going to propose after this that the Royal Society be requested to appoint secretaries to the Provisional Committee who would do the business of the Committee, but not have a vote. PROF. RUCKER. Somebody must make a proposition. I think that all the six countries that have made definite promises should have a representative upon the Committee, and as Austria estimates that a large number of copies would be taken by them, I think that Austria also should be represented. That will be seven in all I think, however, that the Royal Society should be allowed to have several members attending, but only have one vote. PROF. NASINI. In vista della importanza che viena ad assumere sotto ogni riguardo il comitato provisario internazionale, crediamo che la nomina del membro italiano non si possa fare senza prima consultare il nostro governo. Non di meno, sotto questa riserva, d'accordo col mio collega, accetto di far parte di 78 questo comitato per assistere in tanto alle riunioni che siterranno ora a Londra. Decidera poi il nostro governo sulla nomina definitiva. PROF. HELLER. Ich bin mit der Fiihrung des Regional Bureaus in Ungarn betraut, die Arbeiten liegen in meiner Hand. The following were then appointed members of the Provisional Committee: Prof. Armstrong, Dr. Brunchorst, Dr. Graf, Dr. Milkau, Prof. Nasini, Prof. Poincare, Prof. Weiss. SIR JOHN GORST. And it is understood that more members of the Royal Society may attend the meetings, but only have one vote. (The nominations were then unanimously agreed to.) DR. MOND. I wish to move that this Committee have power to add to their number. PROF. ARMSORONG. Previously we had power to co-opt two members, and power was given to appoint substitutes for those members who were unable to serve on the Committee. If we now had similar powers I think it would be well. I think that, for the purpose which we have in view, the Committee is large enough. It was then resolved that power be given to the Royal Society , while retaining only a single vote, to nominate further members and that power be given to the Committee to appoint substitutes if any of those named were unable to serve, and also to co-opt two new members. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. I now propose, Sir John, that the Royal Society be requested to appoint the Secretary to the Provisional Committee, and to meet provisionally such expenses as the Committee may incur ; and in doing so, may I say that the Royal Society, in view of the Central Bureau being established and the post of director having to be filled, have been on the look out for a gentleman whose qualifications would fit him for the office. We think that Dr. Forster Morley, who has attended here unofficially, would be the gentleman, when the time comes for appointing a director. I think that my colleagues will agree that, from the experience which we have had of Dr. Forster Morley, especially during the past few weeks in connection with making preparations for this Conference, we should be quite justified in choosing- this gentleman. On the motion of Sir Michael Foster and Prof. Rucker, it was then resolved that the Royal Society be requested to appoint the Secretary to the Provisional Committee, and to meet pro- visionally such expenses as the Committee may incur. SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. And now, I think, Sir John, that is all the actual business we have to attend to. SIR JOHN GORST. Well, that concludes the labours of the Conference. 79 PROF. ARMSTRONG. Might I formally move that the Royal Society be asked to undertake the editing 1 , publishing 1 , and distri- bution of the verbatim report of the proceedings of the Confer- ence. That was agreed to on the two previous occasions. I also propose that, as on the two previous occasions, the proces verbal be signed by yourself, Sir John, and the Secretaries. (The proposition was agreed to.) SIR JOHN GORST. And now, gentlemen, I must congratulate you on having brought the Conference to such a successful termination. PROF. SCHWALBE. Meine Herren ! Als im Jahre 1896 Herr Forel in begeisterter Rede das Unternehmen der Royal Society feierte mid nicht bloss den Ausbiick in die Zukunft eroffnete, dass es eine Bibliographie der Erde sein werde, sondern auch den Blick in die Vergangenheit lenkte, und die Vertreter der ver- schiedenen Lander aufforderte, dafiir zu sorgen, dass diese Weltbibliographie sich nicht nur in die Zukunft, sondern auch in die Vergangenheit erstrecke, ermass man nicht die Schwierig- keiten, die ein solches Unteruehmen mit sich bringt. Es waren hier und dort ja Stimmen laut geworden, die darauf hiuwiesen, wie solch ein umfassendes Werk, selbst unter Mithilfe der be- deutendsten Gesellschaften und unter Beihilfe der Regierungen, nur sohwer zur Durchfuhrung kommen konnte. Es hat sich gezeigt, dass diese Schwierigkeiten nicht unbedeutend waren, Es hat sich aber auch gezeigt, meine Herren, dass, wenn der Wille da ist, wohl auch ein Weg gefunden wird, und wenn wir manche Hoffnung, die wir ziierst hatten, nicht verwirklicht sehen, wenn die Hoffnung der Royal Society vielleicht von vorn- herein das grossartige Werk in voller Ausdehnung erstehen zu sehen, nicht hat erfiillt werden konnen, so ist doch der Anfang, die Grundlegung gemacht, und wir alle hegen auch noch die Hoffnung, dass sich dies Werk ausdehrien wird zu einer wissenschaftlichen Weltbibliographie, die ein Band zwischen alien gebildeten Nationen sein wird. Darin wenigstens haben wir in Deutschland die Grosse dieses Werkes gesehen. Wir steheu am Ende unserer diesmaligen Verhandlungen, aus denen hoffentlich, ich habe die bestimmte Zuversicht, nuii das Werk ersteheii wird in Anfiingen, die sich nachher weiter ausgestalten werden. Aber wenn wir auf eine solche Reihe von Verhand- lungen zuriickblicken und wenn wir die Schwierigkeiten ermessen, die sich aus diesen Verhandlungen ergeben haben, so denken wir alle derjenigen Personlichkeit, die bei alien Sitzungen unsere verschiedeneii Berathungen leitete. Meine Herren, es ist nicht leicht, ein so vielfach und mannigfach zusammengesetztes Comite zu leiten. Wer sehr oft in Versammlungeu gewesen ist, weiss, dass eben die Leitung des Vorsitzenden eine ganz besondere sein muss, wenn die verschiedenen Meinungen in gegenseitiger Achtung ausgeglichen werden sollen. Ich glaube in Ihrem Sinne zu sprechen, wenn ich sage, das uuser Herr Vorsit- 80 zender, Sir John Gorst, die Leitung der Conferenz in einer Weise gof Uhrt hat, dass dadurch wesentlich dieser befriedigende Aus- gang herbeigefiihrt wurde. Und so glaube ich denu in Ihrem Namen zu sprechen, wenn ich dem Herrn Vorsitzenden den Dank der verschiedenen Vertreter der verschiedensten Nationen ausdriicke fiir seine so umsichtsvolle und seine wirklich so rucksichts voile Leitung, die es moglich gemacht hat ein Werk zu Stande zu bringen, das, so hoffen wir, zum Segen und zur Forderung der Wissenschaft in alien Laudern gereichen wird. Gestatten Sie, Herr President, dass ich diesen Dank Ihuen hier direct sage. SIR JOHN GORST. Gentlemen, I am extremely obliged to you for closing these proceedings by thanking me for presiding over them. I assure you that it has been a great pleasure and a great satisfaction to me to take the humble part which I have been able to take in this great work, which, I believe, will have great and important consequences in the future for the scientific world. So far from being a difficult task, I think I have had an extremely easy one in presiding over this Conference, because you, gentlemen, were all met together with one common object, and for one common purpose, and were all anxious that that purpose should be carried through, and this has made the duties of presiding over the Conference very ligiit indeed. 1 have seen many meetings I have been present at many meetings and I huvo presided over many meetings, but I do not think I shall ever preside over any body of gentlemen whom it is as easy to get on with as those attending this Conference. Gentlemen, I thank you very heartily for the kind recognition of which you have given my services. (Cheers.) SIR MICHAEL FOSTER. There is just one more matter. We are met together to-day not in the Rooms of the Royal Society, but in the building of the Society of Antiquaries, and I beg to move that our thanks be given to the Society of Antiquaries for their kindness in letting us have the use of their room on this occasion. SIR JOHN GORST. The Provisional Committee will meet at 11 o'clock to-morrow morning in the rooms of the Royal Society. (The proceedings of the Conference then closed.) Harrison % Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St. Martin's Lane. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY, BERKELEY THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW Books not returned on time are subject to a fine of 50c per volume after the third day overdue, increasing to $1.00 per volume after the sixth day. Books not in demand may be renewed if application is made before expiration of loan period. . i U 1925 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY