and his letter may be read in Sparks's Washington's Writings (viii, 261), or in Fitzgerald's "Life and Times of William IV." In it, Washington stipulated that the Prince and the Admiral, if captured, be treated as prisoners of war of high rank, and that no indignity nor insult be offered them.

It is improbable that the Prince ever heard of this letter, but something seems to have affected him favorably toward this country and its first President. He had, throughout life, an extraordinary weakness for making speeches, some of which were not remarkable for their tact, as when he lectured the House of Lords at great length upon certain grave sins of mankind. He chose for this moral discourse a time when his brother, afterwards George IV, was present, and laid especial emphasis upon denunciation of conduct to which that Prince was particularly inclined. A happier example of his oratory was afforded when he was King, and happened to be entertaining a group of gentlemen which included the American Minister. He was "seized with his fatal habit of making a speech," and said that it had always been with him a matter of serious regret that he had not been born a free, independent American, he respected that nation so much. He added that he considered Washington the greatest man that ever lived.

Coming as this did from the King of England, compliment could go no farther, not even in after-dinner speech-making of the most enthusiastic variety. It justifies the belief that the simple and good-hearted old gentleman would not be displeased to know that a number of shelves full of his books had, after long separation, come together again in the American city whose mild gayeties amused him when he was a junior officer in the Navy, and the star of Nelson was rising.

E. L. P.

THE

MIELATZ MEMORIAL EXHIBITION

HE artistic activity of the late C. F. W. Mielatz was inextricably bound up with New York City. Here he worked and issued that series of etchings which constitutes a veritable hymn in praise of the Metropolis. He graphically describes New York with an unerring eye for the picturesque viewpoint and with a mind ever alive to the interest of historical association and social surroundings. Reasons enough are these for the memorial exhibition which is to be on view in the Stuart Gallery of The New York Public Library, February 1 to April 15.

Some of his Notably the

For some years before his death he was the dean of American etchers, but his position was based not alone on length of service. finest plates were done in the days of his rich maturity. "St. Thomas's Church," and that delightful "Bride's Door" of the same edifice. During that late period he produced also his scenes at Lakewood, of a richness in marked contrast to what Huneker called the "lean, ascetic line" of his city scenes.

A handful of roses, a

He was not a man of rigid specialization. tarpon struggling against an angler, the reproduction of "Woman and Macaws" by George B. Luks (a fascinating piece of color work), scenes on shore and in field and woods, to all such things he turned with active interest. His work for the Society of Iconophiles included etchings, lithographs and monotypes reproduced in photogravure. Drypoint, softground etching (the crayon-like strokes of which served him for colorwork), aquatint, and various aids of the etcher, all served him at the right time.

To go through the New York section of this exhibition is to make a journey, like Dr. Syntax of old, "in search of the picturesque." This devotion to a native subject, expressed as it was with knowledge and ability, is enough to insure this artist a lasting place in the records of American etching.

NEWS OF THE MONTH

GIFTS

URING the month of December, 1919, the Library received as gifts a total of 7,858 volumes, 11,072 pamphlets, 134 maps, and 641 prints. Some of the more important and interesting of these gifts were the following:

Mr. Victor Hugo Paltsits presented to the Library the GansevoortLansing Collection, which was bequeathed under the terms of the will of Catherine Gansevoort Lansing, granddaughter of General Peter Gansevoort, jr., and widow of the Honorable Abraham Lansing, of Albany. It consists of a library of general works and of Americana, numbering 5,500 volumes and 4,500 pamphlets, together with 200 broadsides, 100 newspapers, 1,000 photographs, and also about 25,000 manuscripts, including the military and other papers of General Peter Gansevoort, jr., papers of his son, the Hon. Peter Gansevoort, and of the latter's son, Brigadier-General Henry Sanford Gansevoort. There are also numerous papers of the Lansing, Douw, Van Schaick, and Melville families, and several hundred papers of Abraham Yates, jr. Taken together, these manuscripts embrace a period of nearly 250 years, from the last quarter of the seventeenth century.

Mrs. Charles F. W. Mielatz, of New York, gave the Library 42 etched views of New York and vicinity by the late Charles F. W. Mielatz (these prints formed the remainder of the collection from which the Library in December purchased 34).

From Miss Grace Bigelow, of Highland Falls, N. Y., came 195 volumes, 508 pamphlets, and other material, including the "New York Times" from 1857 to 1865, and volumes of "La France," "La Patrie," "Le Constitutionnel," "Journal des Debats," etc.; from Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, of New York, came a miscellaneous collection of 106 volumes, including "The Historians' History of the World," in 25 volumes.

The Famous Players-Lasky Corporation gave the Library a specially bound set of their press books from January, 1918, to December, 1919, also a list of Paramount Artcraft stars and productions of the same. period. From The New York Times Review of Books came review copies numbering 364 volumes and 64 pamphlets.

Mr. H. C. Levis, of London, sent "The British King who tried to fly; extracts from old chronicles and histories relating to Bladud, the 9th

[8]

King of Britain...compiled by Howard C. Levis," London, 1919 (one of 100 copies privately printed). Mr. John B. Cauldwell, of New York City, gave the Library 1,089 photographs, mainly views.

D

ADDITIONS AND USE OF THE LIBRARY IN DECEMBER, 1919

URING the month of December, 1919, there were received at the Library 21,482 volumes and 12,592 pamphlets. (These include the additions to both Reference and Circulation Departments.) The total number of readers recorded in the Central Building was 80,551. They consulted 206,216 volumes. Visitors to the building numbered 248,209.

NEW PERIODICALS