The committee begs to report, with considerable confidence, that this is
positively its last appearance in connection with the list of French
government serials, which has been long in course of compilation and
publication. This work is now in its final stage, and as it will soon be
in the hands of the reviewer, to say much in regard to it at present
seems hardly necessary. Two points, however, require a word:
1. Recognizing the difficulties in the way of attaining anything like
completeness in an enumeration of this nature, the committee
deliberately decided to omit certain documents in favor of others. Thus
it happens that no reference is made to the legislative proceedings of
the several Revolutionary Assemblies, nor to other publications of equal
importance.
2. In addition to enumerating documents, this list indicates particular
libraries where they may be consulted. It was, of course, unnecessary,
even had it been possible, to mention all the libraries in the country
which possess sets more or less complete. But it is hoped that the
libraries chosen are so widely distributed as to save a would-be reader
from undertaking a long journey when a shorter one would serve.
Such other features as call for notice will be referred to in the
preface.
It would, however, be unbecoming if the committee failed now to
recognize and thank Miss Adelaide R. Hasse for the pains and labor she
has bestowed upon the list. She has co-operated with the committee from
the first, and to her and to Mr. Andrews the committee is under special
obligations.
The committee would further report that it now has on hand a
considerable amount of raw material for a German list similar to the
French; and it is hoped that progress may be made in arranging this
during the present summer.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. GOULD, _Chairman_.