THE Young Men's Mercantile Library Association of Cincinnati was founded in April, 1835, by a noble band of young men, who held their first meeting in an Engine-house, on Fourth, between Main and Walnut streets. Their names deserve to be printed in letters of gold: L. Lardner, P. Outcalt, W. Parry, J. L. Brown, W. H. Harrison, Edward Dawson, Charles G. Springer, D. T. Piatt, J. H. Raymond, John W. Ellis, M. Murray, James Wiles, J. D. Thorpe, W. N. Green, J. R. Mavor, A. M. Bryson, G. W. Kimberly, J. C. Hill, I. D. Wheeler, J. A. Lewis, S. A. Spencer, John P. Tweed, A. M. Paxton, W. R. Smith, R. G. Mitchell, E. Lawrence, Palmer Holland, William Wells, Moses Ranney, G. M. Ayres, J. H. Merriwether, R. Brown, Wm. Watts, C. C. Sackett, D. G. Lockwood, Thomas Merriwether, John C. Macy, Alfred Wood, D. K. Este, Peter Brown, Henry Shaw, Geo, Hough, Leonard Avery, E. Parry, and E. Carter; in all, forty-five. Most of these men have passed away from earth, or have left the city. For the good work they performed on that day, they are entitled to the profound respect and gratitude of their successors.

Thirty-four years have elapsed since this Institution was ushered into existence. It is still green and flourishing, despite the many difficulties and discouragements that have presented themselves during periods of business panics, mercantile dullness, and internecine war.

True, its membership is not what it should be, nor what it could be, if the proper spirit were manifested by the young men of to-day, but its numbers are respectable, and its influence salutary.

It is not our purpose to enter into an extended or minute history of our Association. We consider it an Institution of the Present, and not of the Pasta perennial fountain of usefulness and value to those who are willing to drink of its ample stores of knowledge and intellectual delights. The present Directory, seeing the absolute necessity of a new Catalogue of the volumes now on the shelves of the Library, unanimously resolved to have such an one as would reflect credit on those who.should prepare it, and at the same time give satisfaction to the generous patrons of the

Institution. They trust this double task has been performed, and confidently present this Catalogue to their patrons as a competent and comprehensive guide to the treasures contained in the alcoves of the Library.

In preparing and publishing the Catalogue, a large expenditure of money has been incurred, depleting the treasury to that extent. It is confidently expected that the friends of the Association will step forward, and, to a degree, reimburse the outlay, by subscribing for one or more copies.

In addition to the Library proper, it will be recollected that we have a Reading Room well furnished with the leading newspapers and magazines from all parts of the world; thus keeping the members posted in the political, mercantile and literary news of the day. The Library is in possession of a large collection of rare old Pamphlets (not catalogued,) gathered by the different Boards of Directors in the past thirty years.

The Young Men's Mercantile Library has now reached a point in its history when it requires the hearty co-operation of the Young Merchants of the city. Its membership should be materially increased, and must be, if it is to retain its present solid, independent position.

The Library now contains over 30,000 volumes, many of them very valuable, out of print, and impossible to duplicate. This valuable collection should be placed in a solid, fire-proof building, in order that it may surely be handed down to those who must succeed us in its management and enjoyment.

This brief Preface cannot be closed without returning the thanks of the Board of Directors and officers of the Library to their chief Librarian, Major M. Hazen White, for the faithful and competent manner in which he has prepared the Catalogue. It has been the work of months, and has required the most careful and laborious supervision, in order that it should be made a true record of the Library.

With the belief that a needed duty has been fully performed, our Catalogue is placed before the patrons of the Library for their comfort and guidance.

How true it is that "we know not what a day or an hour may bring forth!" While congratulating ourselves on having accomplished a long and tedious duty, in completing and laying before our Patrons a comprehensive Catalogue of the Library, the dread clangor of the fire-alarmbells rang out the intelligence THAT THE LIBRARY BUILDING WAS ON FIRE! Our brave Fire Department at once gave their whole attention to its suppression, but hours elapsed before the fierce flames were wholly quenched. On an examination, it was found that much injury had been. done to the Library. Many of its books were badly damaged by water, but none of them wholly destroyed. The Library Rooms were so badly

damaged, as to render them untenable, making it a necessity for the Association to remove its books and property of all kinds to another building.

The Board of Directors, being determined to keep the Library alive in some shape, until their old quarters could be resumed, had the books stored in a safe place, and opened the Reading-Room branch at 137 and 139 Race street, between Third and Fourth streets.

This dire calamity happened on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 21st, 1869. W. R. LOOKER, JAS. M. CLARK,

C. B. MURRAY,

Catalogue Committee.

ROOMS YOUNG MEN'S MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,
Cincinnati, November 1, 1869.

EXPLANATIONS.

1.

2.

THE present Catalogue contains:

An Alphabetical Index of Authors, including Anonymous Works.

An Alphabetical Index of Subjects, with references to the Authors who treat upon those Subjects.

3. An Alphabetical List of Miscellaneous Works and Novels, more readily found by a large class of readers, under the title of the book, than by the name of the author.

4

Works in Foreign Languages, which have also been entered in their proper classification.

Books marked with ONE STAR, can be taken out only by permission of a member of the Board of Directors.

Books marked with TWO STARS, belong to the "McArthur Library," and are 'subject to the same rule.

ABBREVIATIONS.-CAM. SOC. PUB. denote (Camden Society Publications.)
SHAK. SOC. PUB, (Shakespeare Society Publications.)

SMITHS. CONT., (Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge.)

SMITHS. MISC. COLL., (Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections.)

SPARKS' AM, BIOG., (Sparks' American Biography.)

8°, 12°, etc, indicate the apparent size of the book, not always the exact fold of the sheet.