Copyright transfers.

Leipzig, Insel Verlag, 1924, reproduction of one of the most famous manuscripts of the Middle Ages; photostatic copy of "Autobiography" of Benjamin Franklin made from the original in the Huntington library; photostatic copy of "Chorus Vatum Anglicanorum of Joseph Hunter volumes 4-6, through the courtesy of the New York Public Library-this material comprises unpublished information in the field of English literature and is completed with these volumes, making 3,324 pages in all; "Typographia, an ode on printing," by J. Markland, reissued in photographic facsimile from the Williamsburg edition of 1730, Roanoke, 1926; "Handschriftenproben zur Basler geistesgeschichte des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts, ausgewählt, transcribiert, übersetzt und erläutert von dr. Carl Roth und lic. theol. Ph. Schmidt,” Basel, 1926.

The list of photostatic reproductions of early American newspapers which follows, covers files which will probably never become available in the original form by purchase. They are given in more detail in the report of the periodical division (infra):

Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg, Va: Issues in 1739, 1740, 1745, 1746, 1751, 1752-1762.

Maryland Gazette, Annapolis, Md.: Issues in 1728, 1729, 1730, 1733, 1734.

Massachusetts Gazette and Boston News Letter: Issues in 1764,

1765.

The Times and Patowmack Packet, Georgetown, D. C.: Issues in 1789, 1790, 1791.

The subscription to the "Americana Series " (reproductions of early imprints) issued by the Massachusetts Historical Society has brought to us reproductions of 188 items, 24 of which were received during this year. The originals of these copies are of unusual rarity and it is probable that none of them will ever become available by purchase. These copies are invaluable in identifying editions and variations.

The number of volumes of surplus copyright deposits transferred this year, under the law, to other Government libraries in the District of Columbia was 7,507, chiefly current material. The volumes chosen by the beneficiary

libraries are not included in our statistical statements, because they had not been made a part of the permanent collections of the Library of Congress.

DIVISION OF MANUSCRIPTS

(From the report of the acting chief, Doctor MOORE)

pers.

In anticipation of the celebration by the Government Washington paof the bicentennial of the birth of George Washington in 1932, the division of manuscripts has been gathering papers relating to Washington and his family, with the view to assembling such material for the benefit of historians. About 97 per cent of Washington's own writings are in the Library of Congress, and the other 3 per cent represent the goal to be reached. Naturally, the Library would prefer originals; but where the actual manuscripts are not available, photographic or photostat copies are sought. Reproductions answer the purpose of students; but for interest nothing takes the place of an autographic copy which has passed under the hands of the writer.

From the family of the late Lawrence Washington have been received as a deposit a contemporary copy of the will of Lawrence Washington, of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County, Va., proved March 30, 1698; letters of Bushrod Washington and Corbin Washington; a very valuable letter from John A. Washington, dated Mount Vernon, October 8, 1859, in regard to Clark Mills's copy of the Houdon bust (the most accurate of all the portraits of Washington); and a survey of patent, dated August 30, 1697, granted to Tobias Butler for 720 acres, between Popes Creek and Gravelly Run, Westmoreland County, Va.

records.

The Library has reproduced two Virginia books of Virginia church importance. The first contains the records of Truro Parish, of which Augustine Washington and his son George were vestrymen. The interval between the father and son was not filled by Lawrence Washington, owing to a decided difference of opinion between him and the rector, Dr. Charles Green, a protégé of Augustine and a family doctor in George's household. George Mason,

pers.

William and George William Fairfax were members of the vestry. Much personal history appears in these pages, and they contain materials for the correction of many errors and inferences.

The second is the account and commonplace book of Rev. Alexander Balmain, rector of the Church of Winchester, Va., both before and after the Revolution. This minister officiated at the marriage of James Madison, jr., and Dolly Payne Todd, and his entry supplies the missing date (September 15, 1794). The fee was £5 4s. 10d., next to the largest for the year. The register of baptisms, funerals, and church subscribers covers the years. from 1787 to 1819. The Balmain book is owned by Mrs. Merritt, and the opportunity to photostat it came through Mr. E. G. Swem, librarian of William and Mary College, from whom many like favors have been received.

Mr. James C. McGuire has given a group of family letters that passed between William Madison and his brother, President James Madison; facsimiles of correspondence of Thomas Jefferson, the originals of which were in the possession of Mr. McGuire's grandfather; letters from D. Lormerie, of Paris, to Thomas Jefferson in May, 1790; and a map showing the plan of positions held by the British Army under General Burgoyne at Saratoga, 1777.

Fillmore pa. The index to the 44 volumes of letters to President Fillmore in the Buffalo Historical Society, covering the years 1849-1853, has now been completed by Miss Helen F. Moffat under the direction of Mr. F. H. Severance, secretary of that society. For many years these letters were supposed to have been destroyed. The discovery and recovery of them forms one of the romances of manuscript collecting.

Lincoln papers.

Mrs. Robert Todd Lincoln has added to the Lincoln collection of papers given to the Library by her late husband three letters of condolence written to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, an intimate letter from Queen Victoria, dated Osborne, April 29, 1865; a more formal but sympathetic letter from the Empress Eugenie, written from the Tuileries, April 28, 1865, in French; a letter, referring to personal associations with President Lincoln, from Louis Philippe d'Orleans (Comte de Paris).

Mr. Emanuel Hertz contributes photographs of an important group of Lincoln letters to Secretaries Stanton and Welles, Senator Washburn, Gen. Robert Anderson, William Lloyd Garrison, and others. In one the President declines to frame a toast to Robert Burns, because he fears he would not do justice to the poet. The group includes Anderson's letters to Beauregard, March 26, 1861, and to Stanton, two days later, as to retiring from Fort Sumter.

diary.

Miss Helen Nicolay has deposited in the manuscript Edward Bates division of the Library of Congress the diary of Edward Bates from April 20, 1859, through July, 1866. The period begins about the time Judge Bates was being considered as a candidate for the Presidency in order to unite the opposition to Seward. He was among the candidates at the Chicago convention of 1860, and was one of the rivals whom President Lincoln included in his Cabinet. The diary covers the entire period of Judge Bates's incumbency of the office of Attorney General in President Lincoln's Cabinet, from 1861 until his resignation in 1864. The deposit is not, as yet, open to investigators.

Mr. Forest H. Sweet has given a portion of the diaryGideon Welles of Gideon Welles, covering the dates January 7–March 4, 1856, an autograph manuscript of 18 folio pages.

Mr. Clarence M. Burton, founder of the Burton historical collection, a section of the Detroit Public Library, has sent photostats of letters of Theodosia (Burr) Alston to her half-brother A. J. F. Prevost. One letter dated Dumfries, Va., October 18, 1801, describes the plague at New York, the quarantine against yellow fever at Philadelphia and, in detail, a visit to the Capitol and White House in Washington. Another letter, written from Richmond immediately after the conclusion of the trial of her father, shows her and his feelings as to the outcome.

Theodosia Burr letters.

Senator Foraker papers.

Mrs. Joseph B. Foraker has given the letters of Theo- Senator dore Roosevelt and William H. Taft to Senator Foraker, together with letters written by Senator Foraker giving characterizations of the Presidents whom he had known

personally. This group, numbering about 200 pieces, is the most valuable portion of the Foraker papers. These letters are to be added to the Foraker collection previously received from Mrs. Foraker.

Mrs. Roosevelt has sent the correspondence of President Roosevelt and Dr. William Sturgis Bigelow, of Boston, relating to the Russo-Japanese War.

Mrs. John R. Procter has given the correspondence of her late husband while civil service commissioner. The correspondence is valuable in that it shows the workings of the reform in the civil service during the time when that movement was on trial in the executive departments, in Congress, and with the public generally. The correspondence includes letters from Senators, Congressmen, and heads of departments. The close friendship that existed between Theodore Roosevelt and Colonel Procter led to correspondence on Colonel Roosevelt's part while he was police commissioner in New York City, civil service commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of the State of New York, Vice President, and President of the United States. The Roosevelt collection in the Library is weak for the periods before the Presidency, and these letters are especially welcome on that account. The correspondence with President Cleveland (most of it in the shape of autograph letters signed) is extensive. Colonel Procter was a writer for magazines and there are numerous letters from Walter H. Page, Richard Watson Gilder, and from many writers of the day. The letters range from 1890 to 1900.

Hon. Thomas Ewing has added to the Ewing papers three volumes of letters of Secretary of the Treasury Thomas Ewing (1849-50) and three volumes of letters to Secretary Ewing (1850-1855).

From the James O. Harrison family, through Mr. J. O. H. Simrall, interesting material covering the years 1803-1888 has been received, including nine letters by Henry Clay and 22 others directly relating to him; letters from James Brown Clay, John M. Clay, Thomas E. Clay, Rosa V. Clay, Lucretia Clay, and Susan M. Clay; many letters from Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt; letters from William Taylor Barry, John Jordan Crittenden, James Burnie Beck, Lewis Davis Campbell, Thomas