_Arrangement of Books_ (Vol. v., p. 49.).--Your correspondent L.'s
letter is very valuable. May I add a few contributions?
There is a mode of printing used in Cuvier's _Règne Animal_, which is
exceedingly useful for books of classification, that is, to print those
sentences which relate to the primary divisions in a larger type, and
full up to the side; the subdivisions to be printed short, as sums are
entered in an account book, and in a smaller type. I believe I had the
fortune to introduce a slight improvement in indexes. For instance, in
your index the subordinate items are arranged according to time, but
that gives a great deal of trouble. Under MR. BREEN'S name there are
fifteen items; they should be arranged alphabetically, like the
principal items, as is done in the same index in the case of notices of
books, unavoidably. But such subordinate items had better, in general,
have the word on which the alphabetical arrangement turns printed in
Italics to catch the eye, rather than invert the order of the words, as
_must_ be done in the principal items.
In what books the old spelling should be retained is a matter of
individual question, upon which no rules can be laid down. Walpole
complained that the _Paston Letters_ were printed with the old spelling,
and that, though a version is on the opposite page; but few persons will
agree with him in that. In such books we have a right to see the old
spelling in order to judge whether the version is right, as well as for
general information.