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[Cd. 6353.] . r o Intercepting Traps in Souse Drains. Report o*f Committee, with Plans. [Cd. 6359.] i8 ld Licensing Statistics, England and Wales for +iiQ ye:, r 1911. , JjOd. 6337.] , ' ™ fj Military t-^ ARTILLERY AT THE PlCARDY MANffiUVI,- Translated from the French. OESEMONUii. - 1912. Director, No.. 3. Instructions for us'i Dress Regulations, 1911. Amendments A*. Z'V 1912. ¦ " ¦ '.^13 Electricity. Notes on. 1911. \.--"l-, $J Engineer Training. 1912. m 1910. 2-6,7. od. IW.-' "=s, &afi s,-. •: 0d. ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS. APPENDICES TO THE FIRST REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS AND LOCAL RECORDS OF A PUBLIC NATURE OF ENGLAND AND WALES. VOLUME I. (Part II.) ]Pmrnte& to ftotf) fflowtft of parliament tip Command of f&t* fWajostjp. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. To be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from WYMAN and SONS, Ltd., Fetter Lane, E.C., and 32, Abingdon Street, S.W. ; or OLIVER and BOYD, Tweeddale Court, Edinburgh ; or E. PONSONBY, Ltd., 116, Grafton Street, Dublin ; or from the Agencies in the British Colonies and Dependencies, the United States of America, the Continent of Europe and Abroad of T. FISHKR UN WIN, London, W.C. [Cd. 6395.] printed by EYRE and SPOTTISWOODE, Ltd., East Harding Street, E.C., PRINTERS TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. 1912. Price Is. 5d. IV ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : Schedule I. — A. Dates to which Departmental Records were open to the Public or to Readers furnished with permits before the Regulations of 1903 - - 60 „ B. Dates to which Departmental Records are now (April 1908) open with or without a Permit - - - 61 Schedule II. — Subjects that have been explicitly or tacitly excluded from the scope of general departmental permits prior to 1903 - - - 61 1. Home Office - 61 2. Foreign Office - - 61 3. Colonial Office - 61 4. Admiralty - - 61 5. War Office - .... 61 6. Treasury - - 61 7. General Reservations - ¦ 61 Schedule III. — Synopsis of Departmental Correspondence relating to Prohibited Subjects, &c. (1890-1904) - - 61 Schedule IV. — Statistics relating to Permits - 62 6. Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1908 ... - - 62 Appendix I. — Regulations and Instructions issued by the Public Record Office - 64 (a) Regulations concerning the Inspection of Books and Documents belonging to various Departments of the Government, deposited in the Public Record Office 64 Home Office Records - 64 Foreign Office Records - 64 Colonial Office Records - - 64 Admiralty Records 64 War Office Records 64 Treasury Records 65 Audit Office Records 65 (b) Instructions concerning the Production of Books and Documents belonging to various Departments of the Government, deposited in the Public Record Office - 65 (Confidential. — For the information of the Officers in charge of the Search Department) : — Home Office Records - 65 Foreign Office Records - - - 65 Colonial Office Records - - 65 Admiralty Records - - 65 War Office Records - 65 Treasury Records - ..... g5 Audit Office Records ... gg Appendix II. — Regulations and Practice of Foreign Countries ... - 66 France - - gg Germany - g8 Austria-Hungary .... gg Italy .... 70 The United States - - - - 70 The Netherlands - 72 7. Note on the Library of the Public Record Office - - - 74 8. Official Return (January 1912) of the Printed or Manuscript " Keys " to References which have been altered in Official Calendars, Lists, or Indexes of the Public Records 74 (a) List of printed Calendars or Lists and Indexes in connection with which " keys " exist _ (in MS.) - ' - 74 (b) List of Keys now in Use, giving the present References to Documents described in old Lists or Calendars and since rearranged or distributed ... 74 APPENDIX VI.— THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE RECORD OFFICE - - 75 1. Statistics of the Record Office Publications (1856-1910) - . .75 2. Return of all the Record Publications relating to England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, published since the end of the year 1890, up to the end of the year 1910, under the direction of the Master of the Rolls . . . - 76 (a) England and Wales . . 7g (b) Scotland 88 (c) Ireland ... . 9^ 3. List of Governments or Institutions in Receipt of Record Office Publications from H.M. Stationery Office by Presentation or Exchange . . 90 4. List of Institutions or Journals to which the Public Record Office Publications were presented in 1911 by the Deputy Keeper . 93 5. Memorandum on the Publications of the Public Record Office - 93 (i) Previous Record Publications - - - - 93 (ii) Publications issued under the direction of the Master of the Rolls by the Public Record Office (from 1838 to 1856) - - - 93 (iii) Publications issued by the Public Record Office between 1856 and 1886 . 94 (a) The Calendars of State Papers . . 94 (b) Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland - 97 (c) Facsimiles ------- 98 (iv) Recent Publications of the Public Record Office (1887-1910) - . 98 6. Supplementary Memorandum on the Calendars of State Papers - . . 100 CONTENTS, V Page APPENDIX VII.— THE STAFF OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE - - 104 1. Memorandum on the Staff of the Public Record Office and on the Training of the Staff - - 104 (a) Heads of the Department - ... . . . 104 (b) The Formation and Development of the Record Office Staff - - - 105 (c) The First Generation of Record Officers - - 106 (d) The Second Generation of Record Officers - . - 108 (e) The Staff of the Office since the Appointment of the Royal Commission - - 108 (/) Training of the Staff - - - 108 2. Staff of the Public Record Office (31st December 1910) showing Length of Service of Assistant Keepers and Clerks and Rate of Promotion ... . m 3. Statement of the Position and Services of the Supplementary Clerks in the Public Record Office - 111 4. Statement regarding the Duties, Salary, and Promotion of Superintendent, Attendants, and Repairers in the Public Record Office ... . H2 5. Distribution of Duties in the Public Record Office (May 1912) .... H4 6. Note of Official and Private Work done by Mr. C. T. Martin, B.A., F.S.A., late an Assistant Record Keeper, between 1861 and 1903 - - - - - 114 APPENDIX VIII.— RELATIONS OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TRANSMITTING RECORDS - - - - 115 1. List of Departments of State Transferring or not Transferring Records to the Public Record Office - ... 115 (a) Departments of State which have made transmissions to the Public Record Office - 115 (6) Departments of State which have not made transmissions to the Public Record Office 115 (c) Departments of State which are Registries - 115 2. Specimens of " Warrants," " Administrative Orders,'' and Official " Letters " for the transfer or retransfer of Departmental Records (1841-1878) - 115 3. Correspondence between the Treasury and the Public Record Office regarding the " Custody " or •' Charge and Superintendence " of Departmental Records and the Payment of Fees for consulting the same - - - - - 117 4. Correspondence between the Foreign Office and Treasury as to the expediency of transferring the State Papers to the Public Record Office - - 118 5. Correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Public Record Office on the subject of re-binding Records and retransferring Board of Trade Maps . 120 6. Note on the practice with regard to Office Copies of Departmental Records under the Act of 1 & 2 Vict. c. 94. s. 14 ... . i2o 7. Transfers from Government Departments (1877-1910) --.... 121 8. List of Documents issued on Requisitions made by Government Departments and still outstanding on 1 August 1911 ... ....... 127 APPENDIX IX.— FOREIGN ARCHIVES - - - 128 I. Report of a Visit to the Belgian Archives by Members of the Commission (April 1911) 128 (a) History - 128 (b) Present Organisation - - 129 (c) Organisation of the Staff - • 129 (d) Training of the Staff - - - 129 (e) Publications - - 129 (t) Buildings - 130 (g) Provision for Students - - 130 (h) Local Archives - - 130 2. Official Return of the Establishment of the Belgian Archives . 131 3. Official Establishment of a Department of Sigillography in the Brussels Archives 131 4. Report of a Visit to the French Archives by Members of the Commission - 132 (a) The Archives Nationales, Paris - - 132 (b) The Bibliotheque Nationale - - 134 (c) Archives du Ministere des Affaires rjtrangeres 134 (d) Archives du Ministere de la Guerre 135 (e) Archives Departementales de Seine-et-Oise (Versailles) - - 135 (f) Ecole Nationale des Chartes - - - 13g 5. Report of a Visit to the Archives of the Netherlands by Members of the Commission (April 1912) 137 (1) The Hague .... - ....'. 138 (2) Amsterdam - - - .... 14C (3) Utrecht - ..... 140 (4) Rotterdam - - 140 (5) Middelburg - - - 141 (6) Haarlem - - 141 (7) Copy of Correspondence between H.B.M. Legation at The Hague and the Ministry of the Interior on the Subject of the Establishments of State Archives in the Netherlands - 142 E H829 VI ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : APPENDIX X.— THE WELSH AND PALATINATE RECORDS - - 143 1. Memorandum on Provincial Record Offices - - ... 143 2. Repositories of Welsh Records before 1854 - - - - 146 3. Report of an Inspection of the Repositories and Local Records at Ruthin and Chester, by Members of the Commission (April 1911) - - 146 4. Memorandum on the Welsh Records ... - 149 (a) The Early History and Custody of the Welsh Records (1284-1542) - - 149 (6) The History of the Welsh Records, from 1543 to 1830 - - 150 (c) The Survey and Transfer of the Welsh Records from Wales to London (1839-1855) 153 (d) The Treatment of the Welsh Records in the Public Record Office between 1855 and 1886 - 153 (e) The Treatment of the Welsh Records from 1886 to 1911 154 (/) Welsh Record Publications - 155 5. Note on the Records of Flintshire - 156 6. Official Return of the Records of Wales and Chester, incorporated with other Series since 1855 157 7. Memorandum on the Records of the Great Sessions of Wales transferred to the National Library of Wales • - 157 8. Specimens of Valueless Welsh Records transferred from the Public Record Office to the National Library of Wales - - - 158 (a) Presentments of Grand Juries - - - 158 (6) Affidavits - - - - - 158 (c) Petitions of Prisoners and others .... 159 (d) Inventory of the Goods and Chattels of a Prisoner in the County Gaol, Montgomery - 159 (/) Obligation 160 (h) Challenges to Sheriffs - - 160 9. Summary of the Prothonotary's Papers transferred to the National Library of Wales - 160 APPENDIX XL— THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE - 161 1. Foreign Committees for the publication of Historical Documents - 161 2. Memorandum on the History of the Mastership of the Rolls - - 163 APPENDIX XH.— BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS 164 APPENDICES. Appendix I. — The Public Record Office and its Legal Constitution. 1. The Origin of the Public Record Office Act of 1838. The modern history of the records begins in 1800. In October 1799, Mr. Charles Abbot, member for Helston, and an active legal and administrative reformer, took up the question of the state of the public records, and obtained the support of Speaker Aldington and Mr. Pitt to the proposal for a Com mittee to inquire into the subject. On October 9, 1799, Mr. Abbot gave notice of his intended motion.* On February 18, 1800, he made his motion for a Com mittee on the State of the Public Records, which was seconded by the Master of the Rolls, and the Committee was appointed. f His speech is reported in the Parlia mentary History of England. J The Committee consisted, besides the mover, of the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney- General, the Solicitor-General, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, Sir William Scott, Lord Hawkesbury, Mr. Douglas, Mr. Percival, Mr. Bragge, Mr. Hawkins Browne, Mr. Bankes, Mr. W. Vansittart, Mr. R. Ryder, and Mr. Charles Yorke. Mr. George Rose and Mr. Williams Wynne were subsequently added. Their visits to various repositories of records and other particulars are related by Mr. Abbot. § Their report was presented on July 4, 1800, and ordered to be printed. The first part (or first report as it is called) consists of a series of returns from all the repositories of records in England and Scot land, filling 507 folio pages, and including records in the custody of clerks of the peace, local courts, cathedrals, universities and public libraries. The second part (or second report) contains an analysis of the returns, in which the records are arranged first systematically under heads, and then alphabetically, in order to give a general view of their nature The two reports are bound in one, and illustrated by a number of facsimiles, and by a plan of the Scottish Register House, which was proposed as " a useful model for imitation," if it was thought desirable to establish " a general repository." (p. 13). The immediate result of the report was an address on July 11, 1800, from the House of Commons to the King, praying' him to " give directions for the better " preservation, arrangement and more convenient use " of the public records of the kingdom." || The first Record Commission was appointed on July 19 and consisted of 12 persons. At each successive renewal of the Commission the number of Commis sioners was increased. The second Commission, appointed 23 May 1806, consisted of 15 persons. The third Commission, appointed 25 June 1817, consisted of 16 persons. The fourth Commission appointed 18 June 1821, and the fifth Commission appointed 7 April 1825 each consisted of 24 persons. In the sixth and last Commission, appointed 12 March 1831, the number was raised to 25. The Commissioners were instructed to report every year, and abstracts of these annual reports are contained in two " General Reports " made by them, one dated June 2, 1812, for the years 1800-1812, the other, dated 1 July 1819, for the years 1813-1819. These two " General Reports" are printed in a folio volume issued in 1819, to which is annexed, as an appendix, a second volume consisting of facsimiles of records and other documents. The proceedings and reports of the Commissioners from 1819 to 1831 are not printed. The General Report of the sixth and last Commission is dated February 1837 and is contained in a folio volume printed in 1837. The chief work of these six Record Commissions, besides collecting information of various kinds, was printing and distributing copies of certain selected records. They had no power to control the keepers of the various repositories among which the records were scattered, or to rebuild the dangerous and inconvenient repositories in which the records were stored, or to establish a general repository for all the records. However, they were severely criticised for not doing these things, and also because some of the records they selected for publication were badly chosen and others badly edited. Moreover the financial administra tion of all the Commissions was extravagant, and besides wasting money they ran into debt. C. P. Cooper, the secretary of the sixth and last Commission, quarrelled with several of the editors employed by the Commission, was lacking both in temper and judgment. and contrived to rouse widespread hostility. On February 18, 1836, Charles Buller, member for Liskeard, moved for the appointment of a Select Committee " to inquire into the management and " affairs of the Record Commission and the present " state of the Records of the United Kingdom." He alleged that since 1800 about 400,0002. had been voted by Parliament for the expenses of the successive Commissions. The present Commission was neverthe less in debt to the extent of 20,000Z. Much of the money lavished in publication had been spent on useless or imperfect works. Only 1,500Z. had been spent on the arrangement of records which had been the first object of the Commission. One of the great objects of the Commission should have been to provide a proper repository for the records, but instead of doing that it had spent 28,000L on temporary buildings and removals. The Commission was defended by Mr. C. W. Wynne and Sir Robert Inglis, and the attack was seconded by Mr. Hume and others. Lord John Russell agreed to the appointment of the Committee.* The Committee consisted of 15 persons with Charles Buller for chairman. It produced an interim report on the debts of the Commission on 11 July, and its final report was presented on 15 August 1836.f The evidence given before the Committee consists largely of controversial matter about the management of the Commission, its publications, the conduct of the secre tary, and similar subjects, so this report does not contain as much useful information as that of the Committee of 1800. J On the other hand, the report itself is a very able summary of the condition of the records and the repositories in which they were kept, and its recommendations were the basis of the legislation which followed. The Committee rightly pointed out that the first thing to be done was to provide a proper repository for the records. " The most important business which falls within the province of those who are entrusted with the management of records is that of their proper custody. The first and most obvious defect in the present system is that the records are deposited in different and widely-scattered buildings, and en trusted to a multitude of imperfectly responsible keepers. The advantages of having all the records of a country placed under one custody, in one central building, are seen in the present state of the Scotch records. The witnesses whose opinion is entitled to the greatest respect acknowledge the feasibility and the importance of erecting a general Record Office, into which all the records of the country might be collected. Your Committee does not hesitate to- * Diary of Lord Colchester, pp. 188-191. t Ibid, I. 197. t Vol. 34, pp. 1158-1465. § Diary of Lord Colchester, I., pp. 197-206. || Parliamentary History of England, Vol. XXXV., p. 428. e (5)14829 . * Hansard, Vol. XXXI., pp. 551-562 ; Report of the Debate in the House of Commons on the Motion of Charles Buller, Esq., &c, 8vo, 1836 ; "Fifty Years of Public Work," by Sir H. Cole, 1884, vol. ii., p. 82. t Report from the Select Committee on Record Commis sion, together with the Minutes of Evidence, Appendix, and Index. Ordered by the House o£ Commons to be printed 15th August 1836. J Petitions against statements contained in the evidence were presented to Parliament in 1837 by Charles Gay,. W. H. Black, and Robert Thompson. Commons Journals' Vol. XCII., pp. 140, 316, 405. See also below, Appendix XIL (Bibliography). A ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : recommend the erection of such an edifice, as the first and perhaps most essential step for the improvement of the present system. The spot known as the Rolls estate appears to be generally considered as the most eligible site for such a building ; and the present Master of the Rolls has informed your Committee that he thinks that this property might with great propriety be applied to such a purpose, and that he himself, if enabled to do so by Parliament, would willingly transfer it for that destination. It appears from the evidence of Mr. Thomson that the expense of completing the great Registry Office at Edinburgh may be estimated at about 80,000Z. ; and there is no reason to suppose that a perfectly appropriate building might not be erected for a similar purpose in London at no greater cost. Such an expense is one that, if records be worth preserving, is worth incurring ; and when it is recollected, that the fitting-up most unfit repositories in Somerset House cost 16,000Z., and the different migrations of the Exchequer Records, until they were lodged in the Carlton Riding House, are said to have cost no less than 10,000Z., and that a portion of the records has, at this expense, been lodged in repositories, from which it is universally agreed that they ought forthwith to be removed, it may be concluded that the sum which would necessarily be expended in the erection of a general Record Office might in the end occasion a considerable saving."* The Record Commissioners, in the General Report before mentioned, which they presented in February 1837, agreed with Mr. Puller's Committee in recommending the erection of a general repository on the Rolls estate. They pointed out that as far back as 1833 they had caused plans, surveys and estimates to be made, and drawn up a Bill for the purpose. Lord Duncannon had given notice in the House of Commons that he should move for leave to bring in the Bill, and it was to have been introduced on 14 July 1834 ; but owing to a change in Lord Duncannon's official position this had not been done. This first Bill appears to have been drawn up by C. P. Cooper with the aid of Sir John Leach, then Master of the Rolls, and Mr. Bellenden Ker, one of the Commissioners. It was entitled " An Act for " empowering the Commissioners of His Majesty's " Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and " Buildings to erect a General Record Office, and to " empower the Society of Judges and Serjeants at " Law to build new Chambers for the Judges and for " other purposes. "f By this Bill the Lord Chancellor was to take 20,000Z. from the Suitors' Fund of the Court of Chancery, and to pay it to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to be expended by them in erecting a general Record Office on part of the Rolls estate. To this office the Public Record Commissioners were to be empowered to remove the Chancery Records and those of the King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer. The records in the Augmentation Office and the Chapter House were to be accounted records of the Court of Chancery and transferred also. J Neither a general custodian of the records nor a Record Department were suggested, but the Commissioners were given power to determine the fees to be received and the duties to be performed by the keepers and clerks of the various Public Record Offices in London. The Bill was both ill-conceived and badly drawn, and would not have effected the reorganisation of the National Archives which was necessary. The Bill introduced in 1837 to carry out the proposals of Buller's Committee was a much better Bill than that of the Record Commissioners. It was entitled "A Bill to provide for the safe custody, " better preservation, and more convenient use of the Public Records,"* and bore on its back the names of three members of the Committee, Charles Buller, Benjamin Hawes, and Sir Charles Lemon.f The first reading took place on February 24, the second on May 3. J A date was fixed for its consideration in committee, but it was deferred when the day came, and made no further progress. § The first and second sections ran as follows : — " Whereas many of the Public Records are lodged in various unsafe and unsuitable buildings, situated at inconvenient distances from each other in London and Westminster, and in various custodies : And whereas the free use of them is impeded by their being in sufficiently arranged, described, and ascertained, and by various inconvenient regulations, and especially by the taking of oppressive Fees : And whereas it is expedient to amend these evils, and to establish one suitable Repository, and a better custody, and to abolish all Fees, and render the said Records as fully as may be accessible to the public : Be it therefore enacted, by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parlia ment assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That the Lord High Treasurer or the Lords Com missioners of His Majesty's Treasury for the time being, or any three or more of them, shall and may provide, in some convenient place in London or Westminster, a suitable and commodious building for the reception of the Public Records hereinafter men tioned, to be called the ' General Record Office ' ; and such General Record Office shall, for all purposes, be the legal Repository of all Records, Rolls, Books, Papers and Documents at any time therein deposited. " And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for His Majesty, His heirs and successors, by warrant under the Sign Manual, to appoint a fit and proper person, who shall be and shall be called the ' Keeper General of the Public Records of England and Wales,' and also from time to time, at pleasure, to remove the said Keeper General, and upon any vacancy, either by removal or by death or otherwise, to appoint in like manner some other fit and proper person to the said Office." A brief analysis will suffice for the rest of the Bill. The third section empowered the Keeper General to appoint assistant keepers, clerks, and other officers, and the Treasury to fix and pay their salaries. The fourth prescribed an oath to be taken by the Keeper General and assistant keepers. The fifth enacted that the Keeper General should have the custody of all the records of certain courts and offices specified, but records of existing courts which were less than 20 years old were excepted. The judges retained the power of superintending the mode of keeping the records thus placed in the custody of the Keeper General. The courts and offices specified were practically identical with those named in section 1 of the Public Record Office Act of 1838. The sixth section gave power to remove these records into the general repository, with the limitation that if the judges of any of the courts objected the Treasury should decide the question. By the seventh section this removal was not to affect the value of the records as evidence. By the eighth section the Keeper General and the judges were empowered to make regulations as to the use of the records. By the ninth section records were to be stamped with the name of the court to which they belonged and of the General Record Office. * Report from the Select Committee on the Record Com mission. 1836, p. xxxix. f General Report of the Record Commissioners. 1837, pp xv, 513 ; C.P.Cooper, Papers and Documents, pp. 222,354. t "It is indeed," said Mr. Cooper, "the records of the " four Courts alone for which it has been in contemplation " to provide one general place of deposit." (Report of: the Committee of the House of Commons, &c, 1836, p. 739.) This view also inspires Mr. Buller's Bill, and the Public Record Act of 1838. The existence of the State Paper Office as a repository for papers of a different class explains the limitation of aim. * There is a printed draft of this Bill in the Record Office library which differs materially from the following version It is chiefly noticeable for the interesting " interpretation clause" (s. 26), which explicitly includes all Secretarial or Departmental Papers (including public Boards or Com missions) " addressed to . . . any member or officer thereof in his official capacity." Mereover, the title of the Crown to these is retrospective. In a schedule to the Bill several public Departments are enumerated. This draft wag probably used in preparing the Bill of 1838. f Parliamentary Papers (Public Bills), 1837, IV., p. 97 % Commons Journals, XCII., pp. 78, 85. § Commons Journals, XCII., p. 326. It was supposed that a Government Bill was in contemplation. APPENDICES. The tenth section provided that an annual report should be made to Parliament by the Keeper General. The eleventh gave the public power to inspect and copy records, subject to the regulations before men tioned, without payment of any fees. By the twelfth section any fees received (for office copies) were to go to the Consolidated Fund. The thirteenth section empowered the judges, upon application from the Keeper General, to direct the destruction of worthless records. The directions so issued, in writing, together with the Keeper General's certificate of execution, to be preserved as a record of the transaction. The fifteenth empowered the Keeper General to have authentic copies of records made which, when certified by two assistant keepers, and countersigned by him, were to be of the same value as the originals in evidence. The sixteenth clause gave power to purchase calendars and indexes in private possession. The seventeenth dealt with compensation for existing record keepers. King William IV. died on 20th June 1837i and the Record Commission appointed in 1831 consequently came to an end six months from that day. On 11th December 1837, Lord John Russell, then Secretary of State for the Home Department, requested Lord Langdale, the Master of the Rolls, " to take temporary "" charge of the business which was entrusted to the '• Commissioners, and of the books, manuscripts, and " public property lately under their care, adhering to " the estimates which have been approved of for the " Commission up to the 31st March next." Lord Langdale accepted this charge, " but finding after a " while that nothing was done to put an end to so " unsatisfactory a state of things," gave notice of his intention to resign it. In another letter he added : — " If a plan be under consideration, and if provision be " made for carrying on the service so long after the " 31st as may be required for due deliberation, and " the passing of the necessary Act of Parliament, I " shall be content to let things go on for that time as " they do at present." Thanks to his persistent pressure certain steps were taken. F. S. Thomas, a clerk in the State Paper Office, was appointed to assist Lord Langdale in looking after the records, and 5,0002. was granted to allow the necessary business to be carried on.* Finally, in June 1838, a Bill on the subject of the records was drawn by Mr. Drinkwater Bethune and submitted to Lord Langdale. In this Bill there were several clauses of which Lord Langdale disapproved ; he complaimed of this in a letter to the Solicitor-General, and succeeded in getting them modified to meet his views. Leave for the introduction of a Bill was given on 10th July 1838,^ ana it was read a second time on 12th July.§ The only debate which is recorded took place on the night of 18th-19th July, on the motion for going into committee, which was opposed by Colonel Sibthorpe.|| Various amendments were agreed to on 19th July, and the Bill was read a third time on 20th-21st July.f The amendments in question are not recorded in the Journals, but a comparison between the Bill as originally printed and the Act will show what they * On June 6, 1838, Lord John Russell wrote to Lord Langdale, saying that a Bill could now be introduced based on No. 7 of Lord Langdale's .suggestions. The correspondence was to be laid before the Solicitor-Genera), who was to confer with the Master of the Rolls and Mr. Bethune as to drawing a Bill. Lord John Russell was of opinion (1) that the transfer of the records to one place should be reserved ; (2) that there should be one officer to superintend all records, under the Master of the Rolls ; (.3) that no records should be removed without consent of the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. This letter is contained in the Rolls House correspondence, Vol. I., 1838. For the genesis of Lord Langdale's plan, see Home Office, Domestic Entry Book, 3rd March 1838. The Home Office Law Officers' Letter Book, 9th June 1 838, contains a letter to the Solicitor-General in the same terms, enclosing the cor respondence between Lord Langdale and Lord John Russell. t Hardy, Life of Lord Langdale, II., pp. 115-119. % Public Papers (Public Bills), 1837-8, V., p. 653. § Commons Journals, XCIII., pp. 690, 701. || Hansard, XLIV., p. 308. ^f Commons Journals, XCIII., pp. 720, 727, 732. were, since the amendments made by the Lords are clearly stated in the Journals of the Upper House. The Bill contained 22 sections, while the Act has 21 ; thus the numeration of the sections from four to the end is different. In the first section Ely was originally omitted, and in the third the Court of Admiralty ; both were added in the passage of the Bill through the Commons. The phrase " charge and superintendence " was inserted in three places. The first section originally provided that the records of the courts and offices enumerated " shall " from the passing of this Act be in the legal custody " of the Master of the Rolls." The second section enabled the Queen in Council to order that the records of any other courts or offices " shall be " thenceforth in the legal custody of the Master of " the Rolls." The fifth section (which is now the fourth) enabled the Master of the Rolls to make orders for cleaning, repairing, preserving, and arranging all the public records " in his custody." The original fourth section gave power to compel delivery of records in the possession of private persons, and was omitted altogether. It ran as follows : — [4. Power to compel delivery of records in the possession of private persons.] " And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Master of the Rolls, sitting in his Court of the Rolls, to make a summary order according to the usage of the said Court, requiring any person having possession of any record which, under the provisions of this Act, ought to be in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, to deliver the same to the Deputy Keeper of the Records, who shall cause the same to be placed in the proper custody ; and every person against whom any such order is made, and who shall neglect or refuse to deliver up such record upon being served with such order, shall be considered to act in contempt of the said Court ; and it shall be lawful for the Master of the Rolls to deal with such person as in other cases of a contempt of court." Another section which was very materially altered was the fifteenth clause of the original Bill. It provided that certified and printed copies of records might be given in evidence, and was amended by omitting the provision as to printed records. The section is now represented by the thirteenth section of the Public Record Act : originally it ran as follows : — [5. Certified, or printed copies of Records may be given in evidence.] " And be it enacted, That every copy of a record in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, certified as aforesaid, and purporting to be sealed and stamped with the seal of the Record Office, and also every record which shall be printed by Her Majesty's printer, under the direction of the Secretary of State as hereinbefore provided, or which before the passing of this Act shall have been printed by Her Majesty's printer under the direction of the Commissioners on the Public Records, shall be received as evidence in all Courts of Justice and before all legal tribunals, and before either House of Parliament, or any Com mittee of either House, without any further or other proof thereof, in every case in which the original record could have been received there as evidence ; and every calendar, catalogue and index of such records, printed by the same authority, shall be received as evidence of the existence of the records referred to therein, in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, at the time of the making of that calendar, catalogue or index." The Bill was brought up from the House of Commons, read a first time, and ordered to be printed on 23rd July* The second reading followed on July 31st. In Committee on August 3rd and 4th a number of amendments were inserted. f In the first section of the Act, line 16 (as printed in Scargill-Bird's Guide, p. 407), the following words were added : — " And the office of the Land Revenue and Enrol ments, or of the late Auditor of the Land Revenues of * Lords Journals, LXX., p. t Ibid, pp. 651, 663, 667. 600. ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : England and Wales, and the records lately deposited in the Office of the Pells of the Exchequer, and now in the custody of Her Majesty's Comptroller of the Exchequer." In the present section 3 the last five lines were added : — " Nor for removing any records or documents from the Office of Land Revenue Records and Inrolments >or from the Office of Her Majesty's Comptroller of the Exchequer, unless the same shall be first approved by the Lord High Treasurer, or any three or more of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury." In the present section 4, line 17, the words "" deposited and " were inserted before the word -'• kept." In the present section 20 (the interpretation clause) the definition of " Records " was enlarged by the insertion of the words " Proceedings, Decrees, Bills, Warrants, Accounts." But the greatest change was the insertion of sections 7 and 8 of the present Act in lieu of sections 8 and 9 of the original Bill. [8. Treasury to fix salaries.] " And be it enacted, That the Lord High Treasurer, or any three or more of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, shall fix the salary of the said Deputy Keeper of the Records, so that the same shall not exceed the yearly sum of [blank] and shall also fix the salaries or allowances of the Assistant Record Keepers and other officers and servants in fit proportion according to the report of the Master of the Rolls concerning the nature and extent of the duties they may have to perform ; and the salaries or allowances of the said Deputy Keeper of the Records, Assistant Record Keepers, officers, and servants, and all necessary expenses of executing this Act, except the expenses of providing a Public Record Office, and of printing any records, calendars, catalogues or indexes as hereinafter provided, shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland." [9. Public Record Office to be provided.] " And be it enacted, That the Lord High Treasurer, or any three or more of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, shall provide an additional building in London or Westminster for keeping the public records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, which shall be called the " Public Record Office," and such Record Office shall be the legal Repository of all records in the custody of the Master of the Roils, which the Master of the Rolls, by warrant under his hand, at any time may authorise to be therein deposited ; and the Deputy Keeper of the Records, Assistant Record Keepers, and every other person employed in the case of the records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, wheresoever the same may be at any time deposited, shall be taken to be employed in the Public Record Office ; and every such place of deposit shall be taken to be a branch of the Public Record Office." Thus amended the Bill was returned to the Commons on August 7. The amendments were agreed to on August 10, and the Bill received the Royal assent on August 14.* From this examination of the history of the Public Record Act of 1838 two conclusions seem to follow. First, that the Act of 1838, like the Bills which pre ceded it, was intended solely to deal with legal records, and that any doubts which have arisen as to its inter pretation are due to the attempt to include within its scope, by the operation of section 2, modern State Papers and Departmental Records. It would have been "better to have dealt with these by an amending Act when the difficulty arose. In the second place many of the changes made in the Act during its progress through the two Houses, and in particular the change of "custody" into " charge and superintendence " must have been due to the suggestion of Lord Langdale himself. A reasonable conjecture is that Lord Langdale objected to have documents placed in his custody until he was provided with a proper repository for their reception, and pre ferred the phrase " charge and superintendence " because it exactly expressed the sort of control that he could exercise over the records as they were situated at the time when the Act was passed. If we had the letter from Lord Langdale to Sir R. M. Rolfe, the Solicitor- General, explaining his reasons for dis approving certain clauses in the draft Bill, it would probably settle this point.* Attempts have been made, without success, to trace this and other cor respondence relating to these proceedings that may exist amongst the private papers of Lord Langdale and Mr. Drinkwater Bethune.f C. H. F. 2. The " Public Record Office Acts " and otheb Acts of Parliament relating to the Public Records (1838-1898). (a) The " Principal Act," for the Custody of the Public Records. An Act for keeping safely the Public Records. [14th August 1838.] 1 & 2 Victoria, c. 94. Whereas the public records are in the keeping of several persons, and many are kept in unfit buildings ; and it is expedient to establish one Record Office and a better custody, and to allow the free use of the said records, as far as stands with their safety and integrity, and with the public policy of the Realm : Be it there fore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the records belonging to Her Majesty which now are or ought to be deposited in the several record offices, courts, places, and custody hereinafter men tioned ; that is to say, in the Tower of London, Chapter House of Westminster, Rolls Chapel, Petty Bag Office, offices in the custody of the Queen's Remembrancer of the Exchequer or of any other officer of the Exchequer, Augmentation Office, First Fruits and Tenths Office, and the office of the Land Revenue and Enrolments, or of the late Auditor of the Land Revenues of England and Wales, and the records lately deposited in the Office of the Pells of the Exchequer and now in the custody of Her Majesty's Comptroller of the Exchequer, and the records belonging to the Courts of Chancery, Exchequer, and Admiralty, Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Mar- shalsea, in whatsoever office or place they may be deposited at the time of the passing of this Act, and also all the records of the lately abolished courts of the principality of Wales and palatinates of Chester and Durham and of the Isle of Ely, shall from the passing of this Act be under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls for the time being, in the name and on the behalf of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors ; and until the appointment of a Deputy Keeper and assistant keepers of the records, as herein after provided, the persons now having the care of any such records shall continue to have the charge of them, subject to such orders as the Master of the Rolls is herein empowered to give concerning the same. II. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for Her Majesty, with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order that records belonging to Her Majesty deposited in any office, court, place, or custody other than as hereinbefore mentioned shall be thenceforth under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls ; and thereupon the provisions of this Act shall extend to all such records, and to the persons then having the charge or custody of the same, as fully as if such office, court, place, or custody had been named and included in this Act. III. And be it enacted, that after the passing of this Act the records of the Chancery of England shall be deemed to be in the custody of the Master of the * Commons Journals, XCIII., pp. 848, 864, 873. * Hardy, Life of Lord Langdale, II., p. 119. f Since this was printed, the Secretary of the Commission has been enabled, through the kind information of the Deputv Keeper of the Public Records and Mr. W. H. Bird to inspect briefly the semi-official papers of Lord Langdale in the custody of Messrs. Martmeau and Reid, solicitors, Gray's Inn The results of this inspection are printed in Part III. (iv) No 19 APPENDICES. Rolls, under the authority of this Act, and subject to the regulations hereby authorised to be made, and the Master of the Rolls shall by warrant under his hand from time to time appoint a fit person or fit persons to attend the several courts, offices, and places afore said, and in his name to receive and take charge of all other records of which the charge and superintendence are hereby vested in him ; and the chief judge of the court or principal officer of the office to which the same shall belong, upon sight of the warrant of the person thereby appointed to take charge of the records then to be delivered from that court or office into the custody of the Master of the Rolls, shall give the necessary orders to the proper officer or officers of his court or office for the delivery thereof ; and as soon as the said records shall have been so delivered to the person so appointed to receive the same, in pursuance of such warrant, the same shall be deemed to be in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, and to be subject to the regulations hereby authorised to be made ; and the person receiving any records by virtue of any such warrant shall thereupon deliver a schedule thereof, and a receipt for the same, under his hand, to the judge or officer to whom the same shall be delivered : Provided always, First, that no such warrant be issued by the Master of the Rolls unless the same shall be first approved of, and countersigned by the Lord High Chancellor : Secondly, that every such warrant shall specify and describe the records intended to be delivered to the person thereby authorised to receive the same : Thirdly, that the Master of the Rolls shall not issue any such warrant for the removal of any records belonging to any of Her Majesty's Superior Courts of Common Law, or to the Court of Admiralty, unless or until the records described in such warrant shall be of the age of twenty years from the making thereof, or if the same be under that age, unless the removal thereof shall have been requested by the chief judge of the court to which the same shall belong : Fourthly, that if it shall appear to the chief judge of any such court that it will be conducive to the ends of justice, or to the due performance of the business of such court, that any record belonging thereto should not be delivered into the custody of the Master of the Rolls as afore said, at the end of twenty years from the making thereof, it shall be lawful for such chief judge to certify such his opinion to the Master of the Rolls, and that the Master of the Rolls, upon receiving such certificate under the hand of such chief judge, may and shall from year to year, but not for any time longer than a year without a new certificate, abstain from issuing any warrant for the removal of the records men tioned in such certificate into his custody : Fifthly, that the Master of the Rolls shall not issue any warrant for removing any bills, answers, decrees, or proceedings of the Court of Exchequer as a Court of Equity unless the same shall be first approved by the Lord Chief Baron of the same court, nor for removing any papers or documents from the Registry of the High Court of Admiralty unless the same be first approved by the judge of the said court, nor for removing any records or documents from the office of Land Revenue Records and Inrolments, or from the office of Her Majesty's Comptroller of the Exchequer, unless the same shall be first approved by the Lord High Treasurer, or any three or more of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. IV. And be it enacted, that the Master of the Rolls shall have full power to make such orders as he may think fit for cleaning, repairing, preserving, and arranging all the public records under his charge and superintendence, and for making calendars, catalogues, and indexes to the same, and for such purposes to cause any of the said records to be from time to time removed from their present place of custody, and deposited in such safe place or places as the Master of the Rolls may order, by warrant under his hand, 14829 directed to the person then having the same under his care ; and every such warrant shall be kept among the public records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, and shall be a sufficient warrant for the removal of such records as shall be specified therein to the place named in the warrant ; and such removal" of any record by authority of the Master of the Rolls shall not in any manner affect the legal authenticity of such record, but the place where any such record shall be deposited and kept from time to time under the authority of the Master of the Rolls shall be taken to be for the time its legal place of deposit, and every such record shall, after any removal under this Act, and in its new place of deposit, be of the same legal validity, and be received or rejected as evidence in all courts and proceedings, in the same manner as if such record had remained in the custody in which it is at the time of the passing of this Act. V. And be it enacted, that the Master of the Rolls, with the approval of Her Majesty, shall appoint a fit person duly qualified by his knowledge of records to be Deputy Keeper of the Records, and, subject to the like approval of Her Majesty, may remove the Deputy Keeper of the Records, and appoint another person in his room ; and the Deputy Keeper of the Records shall act as chief record keeper under the Master of the Rolls, and shall superintend all persons employed in keeping the records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, subject to such directions as he may from time to time receive from the Master of the Rolls. VI. And be it enacted, that the Lord High Treasurer, or any three or more of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, shall appoint a sufficient number of assistant record keepers, duly qualified as aforesaid, and all such other officers and servants as shall be necessary for the purposes of this Act ; and the persons so appointed shall assist in executing this Act under the superintendence of the Deputy Keeper of the Records, in such manner as the Master of the Rolls may direct ; and the said assistant record keepers shall be removeable at pleasure by the Master of the Rolls, and the other officers and servants shall be removeable at pleasure by the Master of the Rolls or by the Deputy Keeper of the Records, with the approval of the Master of the Rolls : Provided always, that when any such person shall have been removed from his office, the fact of his removal and a statement of the grounds thereof shall be reported to the Lord High Treasurer or the Commissioners of the Treasury. VII. And be it enacted, that the Lord High Treasurer, or any three or more of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, shall provide such suitable and proper or additional building or buildings as may be required for the reception and safe custody of all the public records which, under the provisions of this Act, shall be in the legal custody of the Master of the Rolls. VIII. And be it enacted, that, as soon as con veniently may be after the appointment of a Deputy Keeper of the Records under the provisions of thi« Act, a Public Record Office shall be established under the direction of the Master of the Rolls, and that the said Deputy Keeper of Records and the assistant record keepers, and every other person employed in the care of the records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, wheresoever the same may be at any time deposited, as well before as after the time when such building or buildings as aforesaid shall have been provided, shall be taken to be employed in the Public Record Office ; and that from and after the time when such Record Office shall be established every office or place where public records which by the authority of this Act are placed under the charge and superinten dence of the Master of the Rolls are or shall be deposited shall be, so long as such records shal remain therein, deemed and taken to be a branch or part of such Public Record Office. IX. And be it enacted, that the Master of the Rolls shall have power to make rules for the manage ment of the said Public Record Office, and the duties to be performed by the Deputy Keeper, assistant keepers, and other officers thereof, and in like manner for the management of the present Record Offices, and the duties to be performed therein, so long as A 3 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : they shall subsist, and also for the admission of such persons as ought to be admitted to the use of the records, calendars, catalogues, and indexes in his custody, and to suspend, alter, or rescind such rules, or any of them, and to fix the amount of fees (if any) which he shall think proper to be paid for the use thereof respectively, and for making copies of records, as hereinafter provided, and from time to time to vary the same as he shall think fit ; and also to make rules for dispensing with the payment of fees in such cases as he shall think fit ; and every such rule shall be laid by the Master of the Rolls before both Houses of Parliament within six weeks after it is made, or after the next meeting of Parlia ment : Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed or taken to affect the Act passed in the session of Parliament holden in the third and fourth years of the reign of his late Majesty King William the Fourth, intituled an Act for the Regula tion of the Proceedings and Practice of certain Offices of the High Court of Chancery in England, or the Orders made or to be made in pursuance thereof, so far as relates to such of the Records of the Court of Chancery as shall not be removed from their present places of custody under the power herein before contained, or to the fees payable for searches in and copies of such records. X. And be it enacted, that the Deputy Keeper of the Records shall keep or cause to be kept an account of all fees which shall be paid for the use of the records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, and shall pay the amount thereof monthly into the Bank of England to the credit of the Exchequer, and the amount thereof shall be carried to the account of the Consolidated Fund ; and the person by whom such account shall be kept shall be considered as a public accountant, and within all provisions concerning pubhc accountants in the Acts for examining and auditing the public accounts. XI. And be it enacted, that the Master of the Rolls shall cause to be made a seal of the said Record Office, and shall cause to be sealed or stamped therewith all certified copies made as hereinafter provided of any records in his custody. XII. And be it enacted, that the Master of the Rolls or Deputy Keeper of the Records may allow copies to be made of any records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, at the request and costs of any person desirous of procuring the same ; and any copy so made shall be examined and certified as a true and authentic copy by the Deputy Keeper of the Records, or one of the assistant record - keepers afore said, and shall be sealed or stamped with the seal of the Record Office, and delivered to the party for whose use it was made. XIII. And be it enacted, that every copy of a record in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, certified as aforesaid, and purporting to be sealed or stamped with the seal of the Record Office, shall be received as evidence in all courts of justice, and before all legal tribunals, and before either House of Parliament, or any Committee of either House, without any further or other proof thereof, in every case in which the original record could have been received there as evidence. XIV. And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for any one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State to cause to be printed, from time to time, such calendars, catalogues, and indexes of the records, and also such records, in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, as the Secretary of State may select, or as the Master of the Rolls shall recommend as fit to be printed : Provided always, that an estimate of the probable cost to be thereby occasioned shall be laid in every case before Parliament, and that no such expense shall be incurred until the sum estimated for making provision for the same shall have been voted by Parhament. XV. And be it enacted, that all records, calendars, catalogues, and indexes of the said records which shall be printed as aforesaid under the direction of the Secretary of State shall be published and sold for such reasonable sums which shall be approved by the Secretary of State ; and the proceeds of all such sales shall be paid into the Bank of England, to the credit of the Exchequer, and carried to the account of the Consolidated Fund : Provided nevertheless, that so many printed copies of any such records, calendars, catalogues, and indexes as the Secretary of State from time to time shall direct may be presented gratuitously to public offices, institutions, and libraries in this or any other realm or country. XVI. And be it enacted, that the Lord High Treasurer, or any three or more Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, shall have power to purchase, for the use of the Public Record Office, any private calendars, catalogues, and indexes to the public records which the Master of the Rolls shall recom mend as fit to be purchased ; and every calendar, catalogue, and index to any records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls which shall be compiled, continued, or copied, after the passing of this Act, by any person belonging to or employed in the Pubhc Record Office, excepting such printed copies which shall be sold or given away by the authority aforesaid, shall belong to Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, for the use of the Public Record Office. XVII. And be it enacted, that the Deputy Keeper of the Records, under the direction of the Master of the Rolls, shall once in every year report to Her Majesty the proceedings had in the execution of this Act ; and every such report shall be signed by the Deputy Keeper of the Records and Master of the Rolls, and shall be laid before both Houses of Parlia ment. XVIII. And be it enacted, that all keepers of records and persons deriving emolument from any office to which the custody of records is attached, or from fees for searching or copying records by virtue of any office holden by them or any of them before or at the passing of this Act, whose office, profits, or emolu ments shall in anywise be affected by the passing of this Act, may deliver to the Master of the Rolls a statement in writing of any losses they may thereby sustain, or of the manner in which they may be thereby affected, and the Master of the Rolls shall have power thereupon to examine the parties and such other persons as he may think fit, and shall report such statements, and the result of such examinations, with his opinion thereon, to the Lord High Treasurer or Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, who may award such compensation to the said record keepers and officers as the Lord High Treasurer or any three or more Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury may think fit ; and the payment of any such compensation shall be taken to be an expense incurred for the purposes of this Act : Provided always, that account shall be taken of such compensation in any salary or emolument to which any person to whom the same shall be awarded may become entitled in virtue of any appointment in the Public Record Office or elsewhere in Her Majesty's service : Provided also, that every person who shall receive any compensation under this Act shall, if appointed, take upon himself the office of assistant record keeper in the Public Record Office, without prejudice nevertheless to his right to compen sation under this Act, if afterwards removed from the said office for any cause other than for misbehaviour : Provided also, that the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury shall in the first instance appoint the assis tant record keepers and other officers and servants in the Public Record Office from among such of the persons entitled to compensation under this Act whom they shall judge to be in all respects competent and fit to be appointed to such office or service respectively. XIX. And be it enacted, that every person belonging to or employed in the said Public Record Office who shall certify any writing as a true and authentic copy of a record in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, knowing the same to be false in any material part, and every person who shall counter feit the signature of an assistant record keeper for the purpose of counterfeiting a certified copy of a record £ Shai1 r\°Ige °l «°\nterfeit the seal of the Public Record Office shall be guilty of felony, and being duly convicted thereof, shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be transported beyond the seas for life, or for any term not less than seven years, or to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding four years APPENDICES. XX. And be it enacted, that in this Act the word " Records " shall be taken to mean all rolls, records, writs, books, proceedings, decrees, bills, warrants, accounts, papers, and documents whatsoever of a public nature belonging to Her Majesty, or now deposited in any of the offices or places of custody before mentioned. XXI. And be it enacted, that this Act may be amended or repealed by any Act to be passed in this present session of Parliament. (b) Act for the Disposal of Valueless Documents of later date than the year 1714 and for the custody of the Chancery Masters' Documents. An Act to amend the Public Record Office Act, 1838. [14th August 1877.] 40 & 41 Victoria, c. 55. Whereas the Public Record Office was established in pursuance of the Public Record Office Act, 1838, and divers records and papers (in this Act referred to as documents) are deposited in or can be removed to that Office and are there under the charge of the Master of the Rolls in England for the time being : And whereas it is expedient to prevent the Public Record Office from being encumbered with documents of not sufficient public value to justify their preservation in the Public Record Office : Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. The Master of the Rolls, with the approval of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, and such further approval in the case of certain documents as is hereinafter mentioned, may, if he sees fit, from time to time make, and when made, revoke, add to, and vary rules respecting the disposal by destruction or other wise of documents which are deposited in or can be removed to the Public Record Office, and which are not of sufficient public value to justify their preservation in the Public Record Office. Such rules shall, — (1) So far as they relate to documents of any court mentioned in section three of the Public Record Office Act, 1838, be made with the further approval of the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain ; and (2) So far as they relate to documents removed or about to be removed to the Public Record Office from the office of one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State or other department of the Government (except the Treasury), be made with the further approval of such Secretary of State or head of such department. Before the power of disposal given by this section shall be exercised as to any documents, the Master of the Rolls shall cause a schedule to be prepared of the documents for the time being proposed to be disposed of, containing a list of the documents, and such par ticulars as to their character and contents as may be calculated to enable the Houses of Parliament to judge of the expediency of disposing of such documents in the proposed manner ; but where there shall be several documents of the same class or description, it shall be sufficient to classify them, as far as practicable, according to their nature and contents, instead of specifying each document separately, and the power of disposal given by this section shall not be exercised in respect of any documents until the schedule relating to such documents before required has been submitted to both Houses of Parliament for a period of not less than four weeks. No rule made in pursuance of this section shall provide for the disposal of any document of older date than the year one thousand seven hundred and fifteen. Every rule made in pursuance of this section shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament, and when the same has lain not less than sixty days before both Houses of Parliament it shall be lawful for Her Majesty, by Order in Council, to declare Her approbation of the rule or any part of the rale, from which rule or part Her Majesty has not been prayed by an address of either House of Parliament to withhold her approbation. Every such rule when approved by Order in Council shall be deemed to have been within the powers of this Act and duly made, and shall, while in force, have effect as if it were enacted by Parliament. 2. Whereas by the ninth section of the Act of the session of the twenty-third and twenty-fourth years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter one hundred and forty-nine, intituled " An Act to make better " provision for the relief of prisoners in contempt of " the High Court of Chancery, and pauper defendants, " and for the more efficient despatch of business in the " said Court," it is enacted that the deeds, books, documents, and papers belonging to the suitors in the Court of Chancery which had been theretofore under the custody of the Masters in Ordinary of the said Court (and which are hereinafter referred to as Chancery Masters' documents) should be transferred to the custody of the Clerks of Records and Writs of the said Court, and the Master of the Rolls is authorised to appoint a person to have the care of the said Chancery Masters' documents, at a salary not exceeding the sum therein mentioned ; and such documents have since remained at the offices in Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, where the same were deposited at the passing of the said Act : And whereas it is expedient to make further provision with respect to the Chancery Masters' documents : Be it therefore enacted, that — The Chancery Masters' documents shall, after the passing of this Act, be under the charge and superin tendence of the Master of the Rolls for the time being under the Public Record Office Act, 1838, in like manner as if they were records within the meaning of that Act and this Act, subject as follows : — (1) No person shall be entitled to inspect the same without the consent of the Master of the Rolls and the Treasury ; and (2) The Master of the Rolls, with the approval of the Treasury, may take such measures as may seem best for ascertaining the lawful owners of any of such documents, and may cause the same to be delivered to such lawful owners. Section nine of the Act above recited in this section shall be construed as if the words Master of the Rolls were substituted therein for the words Clerks of Records and Writs wherever used in the said section. 3. This Act shall be construed as one with the Act of the session of the first and second years of the reign of Her present Majesty, chapter ninety-four, intituled " An Act for keeping safely the Public Records," which Act is in this Act referred to and may be cited as the Public Record Office Act, 1838, and that Act and this Act may be cited together as the Public Record Offices Acts, 1838 and 1877, and this Act may be cited as the Public Record Office Act, 1877. (c) Act for the Disposal of Valueless Documents of later date than the year 1659. An Act to amend the Public Record Office Act, 1877. [1st July 1898.] 61 & 62 Victoria, c. 12. Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — 1. Section one of the Public Record Office Act, 1877 (which gives power to make rules as to the disposal of valueless documents), shall have effect as if for the words " one thousand seven hundred and fifteen" were substituted the words "one thousand six hundred and sixty," and as if for the words " sixty days " were substituted the words " nine weeks." 2. This Act may be cited as the Public Record Office Act, 1898, and the Public Record Office Acts, 1838 and 1877, and this Act may be cited collectively as the Public Record Office Acts, 1838 to 1898 A 4 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : (d) The Copyhold Act— Custody of Court Bolls after Enfranchisement. An Act to consolidate the Copyhold Acts. [25th August 1846.] 57 & 58 Victoria, c. 46. * # # # [Section] 64.— (1) When all the lands held of a manor have been enfranchised, the lord, or with the consent of the lord, any person having custody of the court rolls and records of the manor may hand over all or any of the court rolls and records to the Board of Agriculture or to the Master of the Rolls. (2) Where any court rolls or other records are in the custody of the Board of Agriculture, the Board may hand over all of any or them to the Master of the Rolls. (3) Any person interested in any enfranchised land may inspect and obtain copies of and extracts from any court rolls or records in the custody of the Board, or of the Master of the Rolls, relating to the manor of which that land was held or was parcel, on payment of such reasonable fees as are fixed from time to time by the Board or the Master of the Rolls respectively. (4) The Master of the Rolls may undertake the custody of court rolls and records handed over to him under this section, and may make rules respecting the manner in which, and the time at which inspection may be made and copies and extracts may be obtained of and from the court rolls and records in his custody, and as to the amount and mode of payment of the fees for the inspection, copies, and extracts respectively. (5) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be, before both Houses of Parliament. (e) References to the Public Becm-ds in other Acts of Parliament.* 5 Vict. C. 5. S. 17. (1841). Proceedings of Court of Exchequer as a Court of Equity to be delivered to such persons as the Master of the Rolls, by warrant, shall direct ; and deemed records of the Court of Chancery, subject to provisions of 1 & 2 Vict. c. 94. 5 & 6 Vict. c. 32 (1842). An Act for better re cording Fines and Recoveries in Wales and Chester (18 June, 1842). 5 & 6 Vict. c. 103 (1842). Abolishing certain offices in the Chancery and transferring their records to such persons as the Master of the Rolls shall appoint. 12 & 13 Vict. c. 101, s. 16 (1849). County Courts Act: abolishing the Marshalsea, Palace and Peveril courts, and transfering their records to the custody of the Master of the Rolls. 14 & 15 Vict. c. 99. ss. 14 and 15 (1851). Examined or certified copies of documents admissible in evidence. Certifyiug a false document a misdemeanour 23 & 24 Vict. c. 149. s. 9. (1860). Custody of deeds under the care of late Masters [in Chancery] 24 & 25 Vict. c. 96. s. 30 (1861). Stealing records or other legal documents. 24 & 25 Vict. c. 98. ss. 27-29. (1861). As to forging records, &c. 3. Order in Council placing certain Records in the Custody (sic) of the Master of the Rolls. f At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 5th day of March, 1852. Present : The Queen's most Excellent Majesty in Council. Whereas by an Act passed in the session of Parliament held in the first and second years of the reign of Her present Majesty, intituled " An Act for keeping safely " the public records,"! it is amongst other things * For the titles of the several Acts of Parliament referring to the Land Revenue Records, see the " Analytical Index to " the Acts of Parliament relating io the general administration of the Land Revenues of the Crown " (18S1). f Printed also in Report XIII. 33, " Order in Council " relating to Her Majesty's Public Documents." X Public Record Office Act, 1838 (1 A: 2 Vict., <.-. 94). enacted, " that it shall be lawful for Her Majesty, with " the advice of Her Privy Council, to order that " records belonging to Her Majesty deposited in any " office, court, place, or custody, other than as herein- " before mentioned, shall be thenceforth under the " charge and superintendence of the Master of the " Rolls ; and thereupon the provisions of this Act " shall extend to all such records, and to the persons " then having the charge or custody of the same as " fully as if such office, court, place, or custody had " been named and included in this Act." And whereas it is expedient that all records belonging to Her Majesty in divers offices, courts, places, and custodies, other than those mentioned and specified in the said recited Act should be henceforth under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls, so that the provisions of the said Act may extend to such records. Now, therefore, Her Majesty having taken the same into consideration, doth thereupon, with the advice of Her Privy Council, order that all records belonging to Her Majesty deposited in any office, court, place, or custody other than those before mentioned in the said recited Act shall from henceforth be under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls, subject and according to the provisions of the said Act. Wm. L. Bathurst. 4. Official Correspondence (Precis) relating to the Order in Council of 5th March 1852* (a) Letter from the Master of the Bolls to Lord Bathurst, 17th February 1852. Official letter, calling the attention of the Privy Council to the necessity of issuing an Order in Council to sanction the following proceedings, viz., recent transfers of Admiralty and other departmental records from various public offices not named in the Act of 1838 but " susceptible of being brought within its purview." These desirable transmissions have been effected in an unauthorised manner, as the provision made by section 2 of the Act to bring in these records by means of an Order in Council has not yet been put in force. Apart from the informality of their transfer, their usefulness in the form of office- copies may be affected. A list of the records in question now placed in the custody of the Master of the Rolls is enclosed. Attention is called to the Treasury Minute and the official correspondence concerning the State Paper Office, a matter of still greater importance and for which an Order in Council is also required. The issue of an appropriate Order (or Orders) in Council is therefore requested. (b) Extract from Law Officers' Letter of 20th March 1852, to the Clerk of the Privy Council.f " But inasmuch as the words of the Act are that 'it ' shall be lawful for Her Majesty to order that records, ' &c, shall be thenceforth under the charge and super- ' intendence of the Master of the Rolls,' we have not felt ourselves at liberty to make the Order which we have drawn applicable to documents which have already been sent to the Record Department, and that as the Act contains no provision for requiring the sanction of any of the Departments, we have not inserted any proviso m the Order to prevent the transfer being effected without the previous knowledge and sanctioS of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's SS,' of S^tt" °f the Admil'alty °r °M °f ^ (c) Coinicil Office to Master of the Bolls, 23rd March 1852, forwarding Order in Council of 5th MaZh of i'sto1! t0 b6 °bTved that the wording of the Act CouS 'I06" n°Vll0W the ^"on of this Order in Wd Offic^ d°CUmentS alread^en over by C BooHYol0!?6^. °fflCe (**¦¦"**?* Department)-Letter t Privy Council Office Register. APPENDICES. (d) Observations by Sir Francis Palgrave on the above Order in Council, for the information of the Master of the Bolls {31st March 1852). The Council is in error in not seeing that the Act is prospective, allowing things to be done after the Record Office is set up. The Act permitted (a) records of courts to remain in statu till removed en masse in 1840, &c. ; (b) followed by periodical removals ; (c) no charge or superintendence has been exercised over them till received into actual bodily custody of the Master of the Rolls by his warrants according to the Act ; (d) neither has he exercised superintendence over the Palatinates of Durham, Ely, Land Revenue Records, or others not yet brought into his actual custody ; (e) but he has exercised such charge and superintendence to some extent over records of Welsh Courts ; (/) the Act in fact does not state how the records to be placed under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls are to be transmitted to him •* (g) therefore, in the absence of any such statement, it is competent for the Council to give the needful directions ; (h) these departmental records will henceforth be the most important section of the pubhc records, and to call general attention to this fact the new Record Office should be styled the " Treasury or General Repository " of the Public Records and Archives." (e) Draft by Sir F. Palgrave (same date) of a supple mentary Order in Council for the above purpose. Whereas by an Act of 1838 (as in Order of Council, 5th March 1852). And whereas by an Order in Council of 5th March 1852, &c. And whereas the above Act provides for the future erection of a Pubhc Record Office for records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls. And whereas the execution of this enactment was postponed until the year 1851, when the building of the Repository was begun. And whereas the Master of the Rolls has repre sented (as in letter of 17th February 1852). Now, therefore, &c. (Order in Council for all Public Documents as aforesaid within the purview of the Order in Council of 5th March 1852), to be received from time to time into the legal charge (sic) of the Master of the Rolls in the Repository, whenever the Master of the Rolls is ordered by the Treasury, and with approbation of the Lord Chancellor, Speaker, Lords of Admiralty or other heads of Departments concerned, to issue his warrant for that purpose. Provided that till such Order is made the Master of the Rolls is not to be required to make any further Order herein. The repository to be styled the " Treasury or " General Repository of His Majesty's Public Records " and Archives." (f) Official letter (19 April 1852) from the Master of the Bolls to Lord Bathurst. In the same terms ((nearly verbatim) as Palgrave's observations supra, asking that the Council Office may be required to consider and prepare a supplementary Order in Council accordingly, enclosing draft (as above) but omitting 4th paragraph (except the state ment of the fact that a new building will be com pleted next year), and omitting also last para graph^ (g) Letter from the Comicil Office to the Master of the Bolls, 20 May 1852. Pointing out that the Order in Council to be made under the Act is explicit and enjoins that all records preserved elsewhere than in places mentioned in the Act shall be henceforth in the charge and superintend ence of the Master of the Rolls, and that all the pro visions of the Act are extended to such records as soon as the Order in Council is issued. If any regula tions for transfer" were made, they could only coirespond with those already contained in the Act and would * But see s. i of the Act, which shows in what way care may be taken of them in situ,. f The draft of this letter is all in Sir John Romilly's hand. therefore be unnecessary, or they would be contrary to the same and therefore be unauthorised. 5. Titles of Orders in Council made under the Public Record Office Act, 1877* 25 July 1882 - Approving certain rules relating to the disposal of valueless documents. 30 Nov. 1882 Approving additional rules for the disposal of valueless documents in the Treasury. 22 May 1883 - Approving further additional rules for the disposal of valueless docu ments in certain offices. 26 June 1886 - Approving a further additional rule applying the rules approved by Order in Council of 22 May 1883 to certain departments. 30 June 1890 - Approving rules for the disposal of certain official documents. 26 Oct. 1896 - Approving a rule extending the rules for the disposal of valueless docu ments, approved by Order in Council of 30 June 1890, to docu ments of the Foreign Office, the Board of Agriculture, and the Registry of Friendly Societies. 19 May 1899 Directing that rules approved by Order in Council of 30 June 1890 shall apply to documents of not later date than 1660. 21 April 1904 - Approving an additional rule extend ing rules of 30 June 1890 and 19 May 1899 to the Board of Inland Revenue and the Office of Land Revenue Records and Enrolments. 4 June 1908 - Approving an addition to rules for the disposal of valueless documents, approved by Order in Council of 30 June 1890. 6. Treasury Minutes and Official Reports and Correspondence relating to the Public Record Office Act of 1838 and the Order in Council of 5 March 1852. (a) Treasury Minute, dated 22 May 1838. f My Lords have before them the letter of Mr. Phillipps, transmitting, by desire of Lord John Russell, a paper of suggestions and observations, which his Lordship has received from Lord Langdale, on the subject of the future management of the records of the kingdom, which appear to Lord John Russell to be judicious, and might properly be adopted, should this Board concur therein. These suggestions are to the following effect :— That the business of preserving the records and public documents for the public use, including, under present circumstances, the business of cleaning, arranging, calendaring, and binding, ought to consti tute a distinct branch of the public service, subordinate to the Home Department or to the Treasury. That it ought to be entirely separated from the business of printing, editing, and publishing records or public documents ; and the persons employed in the record business ought not to be employed in the publishing business, unless it should be thought expedient to allow the record officers (being under one head, who will take care that the record duty is fully performed) to employ their leisure time under another direction, or at their own expense and risk in the business of editing. That, in order to secure steady, consistent, and economical management, the whole of the record business of England and Wales ought to be placed * Communicated by Mr. J. C. Ledlie, Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council. No others were issued since 1852. f Extracted from "Return to an Order of the Honourable " House oF Commons, dated July 11, 1838, for ; — Copy of any " Treasury Minutes which relate to the altered system of " arranging and keeping the books and papers of the late " Record Commission," &c. (Sessional Papers, 1838, No. 639.) 10 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : under one authority, .and brought under one head of expense. That, so far as may be practicable, all the public records of the kingdom ought to be placed in one general repository, with some exceptions, which may be expedient, if not necessary ; as all the common law records of recent date, say twenty years, ought to be under the immediate care of the officers of the respec tive courts, near the places where the law officers are ; while the older common law records might, without inconvenience, and with much benefit, be placed in the general repository. Lord Langdale observes that there would, it is presumed, be no difficulty in placing the whole of the records under one management and authority, so far as relates to the Chancery Records, and all records and public documents in the care of keepers appointed by the Government, although there might be some diffi culty as to the records under the care of the courts of common law, but that a proper plan of management being proposed, it is probable that any difficulty of this sort would be removed ; and he suggests that, for the purpose of assisting to form an estimate of the esta blishment and annual expense required for managing all the records in their present situations, that accounts should be prepared of the salaries paid by the Treasury to the keepers of records or public documents and their clerks, and also of the sums which for some time past have been annually paid by the Treasury for the operations of cleaning, arranging, calendaring, binding, &c, in the offices under the control of this Board. His Lordship adds, that the inexpediency of placing all the records in one repository, or the delay which must take place in placing such of them as can properly be so deposited in one building, appears to afford no reason why all those which can be placed under one authority should not immediately be so placed, since it might be provided that the different buildings in which the records or public documents now are should form one general Record Office, and that the present keepers of records, &c, should become officers of the authority to be appointed ; while, if all the records were placed under one authority, and a power, subject to proper control, were given to remove them from one place of deposit to another, the business of the classification may be commenced immediately, and the most effectual preparation would be made for placing in one repository and in due order, all such records as can conveniently be so placed. With respect to the site for the general repository, Lord Langdale states that the Rolls estate, which is now at the disposal of the Government, affords the most convenient site, not only for the general re pository of records, but also for the common law offices, which are now wanted, and for the quasi records of the Court of Chancery ; but that, indepen dently of the place which may ultimately be fixed upon for the general repository, it is proper to observe that, in the Tower of London, there is, or might easily be found, convenient space not only to hold nearly all the records in the kingdom which might be kept together, but also for the operation of cleaning, repairing, and sorting the great mass of unarranged records now placed in different situations ; that the records of the abolished courts of Wales and Durham might be immediately placed there in proper custody ; that the older records of the superior courts of common law might be removed thither with very little, if any, inconvenience, and that thereupon the Rolls House might be applied in ease of the Rolls Chapel, now extremely overcrowded, and as a place of temporary deposit for ancient records already cleaned, arranged, and bound, or placed in boxes ; and some valuable buildings in Westminster thus become appli cable to other public uses, or capable of being profitably let. In the general principles upon which these sugges tions proceed my Lords entirely concur, and will be ready, so far as depends upon this Board, to take every step for the purpose of giving effect to them, by assenting to any such arrangement as shall seem to Lord John Russell the best calculated for the purpose of placing under one management and control all those public records and documents which are suscep tible of being properly so placed; my Lords being satisfied that by such an arrangement, not only will the service be better conducted, but also that it will be more economically managed. My Lords also entirely concur in the opinion expressed by Lord Langdale, that the business of selecting and preparing for the press such portions of the records and public documents of the kingdom as it may be thought advantageous to the public to publish, should be entirely separate and. detached from the business of superintending, cleaning, calen daring, &c, although they doubt how far it would be expedient to devolve upon the individual keepers of the records the power of making such selections, more especially as it seems to be not very probable that such works will be so generally called for by the public at large as to afford the prospect that the sale will defray the expense. But with respect to the site which should be selected for the general repository, my Lords are not prepared at the present moment to express any opinion whatever. Lord John Russell is aware of what has taken place in Parliament on the subject of the appropriation of the tower at the new Houses oi Parliament to that object, and until some definitive arrangement is made upon that point, my Lords will be very unwilling to sanction any arrangement which might appear, even incidentally, to determine that question. It is no doubt true that a general authority once established over all the records, and all the separate keepers placed in direct responsibility ip that autho rity, the whole business might be carried on on the same principles in every separate office, whereby a great advantage would be gained, and great facilities afforded for bringing the whole together at the proper moment ; and my Lords think, therefore, that that arrangement might very properly be carried into effect, leaving the other question to be determined hereafter, and when Lord John Russell and this Board shall have had further opportunities of taking it into considera tion . . . (b) Letter from the Master of the Bolls to the Secretary to the Treasury, transmitting printed Beport on old Treasury Records, and stating his view respecting the Management of Documents trans ferred from Government Offices.* Sir, Roehampton, 8th August 1845. In compliance with the request of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, communi cated to me by your letter dated 7th July, I have caused Mr. Black's Report on the Treasury Records and Papers to be printed ; and I herewith transmit to you 12 printed copies for the use of their Lordships. With a view to assist their Lordships in the con sideration of the question, whether any of those records and papers can properly be transferred to the General Record Office, I beg leave to state, for the information of their Lordships, my view that in the management of any documents and papers which may be transferred from the Treasury or any other Govern ment office, the General Record Office ought to be merely auxiliary or subservient to the respective offices to which the documents and papers respectively belong ; and for that purpose that it would be the duty of the General Record Office : — To take charge of such records and papers as each office might think proper to transfer, either because they were not required for the current business of the office, or because they could not be conveniently accommodated within the office : To keep the records and papers belonging to each office distinct from all other records and papers : To arrange them, and cause proper calendars and indexes of them to be made : To hold them for the special use of the offices to which they respectively belong : D.K. 8th Report, Appendix I., pp. 25, 26. We hear no more of the official contention (Proc. of Record Commn 1 Apr. 1833) that if Departmental Records were once deposited in a Record Office, they were thenceforth in the permanent custody of the keeper. APPENDICES. 11 To make searches and transcripts whenever required for the use of Government or Parliament : To transmit the originals to the office from which they came, if and whenever required for the use of the office : And to afford access and inspection to the public or to individuals, only in pursuance of orders given by the head of the office from which they came, or some person authorised by him : or in pursuance of general or special rules approved by him. I have the honour to be, &c, C. E. Trevelyan, Esq., (Signed) Langdale. &c., &c. (c) Letter from the Secretary to the Treasury to the Master of the Bolls, enclosing Beport of Treasury Officers on Old Treasury Becords, and consenting to the transfer of the Records. 12031—16/6. Treasury Chambers, My Lord, 18th June 1846. I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint your Lordship that on the receipt of your letter, dated 8th August 1845, transmitting 12 printed copies of Mr. Black's Report on the Treasury Records, and submitting your Lordship's views of the rules according to which any documents transferred from the Treasury, or any other Government office, to the General Record Office, should be managed, then- Lordships appointed Mr. Leake, the Superintendent, and Mr. Ricketts, the principal Clerk of the Registry Department of their Office, and Mr. Hankins, to communicate with the chief clerks and other officers of the Treasury, and to advise my Lords what portion of the records might with advantage be transferred to the custody of your Lordship as Master of the Rolls, with a view to their being arranged by the officers of the Record Department, and held at the disposal of this Board in the manner described in your Lordship's said letter of the 8th August 1845. # * # " # My Lords entirely approve of the principles and rules proposed by your Lordship for the management of documents transferred from Government offices to the Record Department, and they request that these rules may be applied to the present and every future case in which such transfers may take place. I have, &c., (Signed) C. E. Trevelyan. The Right Hon. the Master of the Rolls, &c., &c., &c. (d) Effect of the Order in Council placing all Ser Majesty's Public Documents in the charge of the Master of the Rolls.* # # * # The Order which Tour Majesty has been pleased to make by and with the advice of Tour most honourable * D.K., 13th Report, pp. 4, 5. Privy Council, 5th March 1852 (App. No. 1), to the effect that all records belonging to Tour Majesty (that is to say, all rolls, records, writs, books, pro ceedings, decrees, bills, warrants, accounts, papers, and documents whatsoever of a public nature) de posited in any office, court, place, or custody, otherwise than those mentioned in the Record Act, should from henceforth be under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls, will have to be called into effect (as to such documents not already transferred into the actual custody of the Master of the Rolls in the manner mentioned in this and my preceding reports) when and as Tour Majesty, or the Lords Commissioners of Tour Majesty's Treasury, Tour Majesty's Secretaries of State, or other high officers, or the Heads of Departments having the actual possession of Tour Majesty's public docu ments, may issue Tour or their commands or directions to the Master of the Rolls concerning the same, thus continuing the practice which has already begun of making transfers of public documents. When, therefore, any such future commands or directions concerning the records within the purview of Tour Majesty's Order in Council shall be given, the Master of the Rolls will accordingly receive the same into his custody and deposit the same in the new Repository. * * * * (e) Official View of the Custody of the Departmental Records in 1872* # # # # The Lords Commissioners of Tour Majesty's Treasury, 22 March 1871, informed the Master of the Rolls that the space for keeping the records at the Treasury was filled to excess, and that there was no additional room at command. Their Lordships, there fore, requested that early arrangements might be made for receiving into this Office the Treasury Papers to 1845, inclusive. Their Lordships also intimated that they proposed, in future, to send, at the commencement of each year, the earliest 12 months' papers remaining in the Treasury. The necessary arrangements were accordingly made, and the papers have been trans mitted ; future transfers are to be made as above mentioned. While on this subject, it may be remarked, as some misconception prevails that all the papers and documents deposited in the Public Record Office are public records and come under the Public Records Act, that many of the papers and documents belonging to the Treasury, as well as to the offices of the Secretaries of State, the Admiralty, and other Government Depart ments, are not open to the public ; because, although preserved in the Public Record Office, they do not come within the provisions of the Public Records Act. The Master of the Rolls acts as the custodian of the Government papers in question, but they belong to the several departments from which they have been transferred, subject to regulations approved by those departments. * * * * * D.K., 33rd Report, p. xi. Appendix IT. — The Contents of the Public Record Office. 1. List of Metropolitan Record Repositories at- the date of the public record office Act (14th August 1838).* Westminster : — f (i) Treasuries. % * This list is chiefly based on that given at p. 112 sq. of H. Hall's Studies in English Official Historical Documents, corrected to the date mentioned above. Only records men tioned in section 1 of the Principal Act (besides those of Lan caster and Cornwall) are included in this list. The position of the records of the other Courts of Justice, Registries, and Government Departments will be mentioned in a further Report. For the contents of these repositories and other information, see D.K. 1st Report, pp. 1-64, and below, Appendix III., No. 1. f In many cases (as in the King's Courts of Chancery and Common Law) the records were partly preserved in outlying repositories in the Temple and elsewhere ; not in " Treasuries " at Westminster. X Namely, the miscellaneous records left behind in the old Abbey Treasury and the various " treasuries " or other reposi tories of the records of the Courts of Law. Westminster — continued. (ii) General Repository (Chapter House).* (iii) Repositories of the Court of Exchequer : (a) Exchequer of Account : Queen's Remembrancer's Office (Temple).f * This had superseded the Abbey and Exchequer treasuries. t Including the records of the following departments, con nected chiefly with the Office of Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer, abolished by 3 & 4 William IV. c. Ill, and placed under the charge of the King's Remembrancer, Clerk, &c. of the Pipe, Clerk of the Estreats, Surveyor of the Greenwax, Foreign Apposer, Clerk of the Nichils. These were for the most part deposited in Somerset House, but the Pipe Office (Lincoln's Inn) and Lease Office (Gray's Inn) still survived in 1838. Some of the Miscellaneous records of the Queen's Remem brancer were preserved at Westminster and others were deposited at Carlton Ride. 12 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : Westminster — continued . (iii) Repositories of the Court of Exchequer — cont. (a) Exchequer of Account — cont. Office of Land Revenue, Records and Inrolments (Spring Gardens).* Commissioners for Auditing Public Accounts (Somerset Place). t Augmentation Office (Westminster) .% First Fruit and Tenths Office (Temple).§ (b) Exchequer of Receipt : || Auditors. Tellers.Pells.Tally-court. (c) Exchequer of Pleas :^[ Plea Office (Lincoln's Inn). (iv) Repositories of the Court of Queen's Bench : (a) Queen's Bench Treasury (Westminster).* * (b) Queen's Bench Office (Temple).ft (c) Crown Office (Temple).JJ (v) Repositories of the Court of Common Pleas. (a) Common Pleas Treasury (Westminster). (6) Common Pleas (Masters') Office (Temple).§§ * This office had been created in 1832 to concentrate the departments of Auditors of the Land Revenues (England, and also Wales, abolished by- the 2 William IV. c. 1) and Surveyor General of Crown-lands. Some of the Auditors' Records were in the temporary Repository in Carlton Ride. f This may be perhaps regarded as an Exchequer department. X This has been regarded as a department of the Exchequer since the 16th century. § This office was moved, in October 1838, to the Queen Anne's Bounty Office (Dean's Yard, Westminster), the office having been abolished by 1 Vict. u. 20. || Since 1834 these departments had been placed under the charge of the Comptroller-General of the Exchequer. ^f The office of the Clerk of the Errors was abolished by 1 Vict. c. 30, and the records distributed. ** There had been an " inner," " upper," and " outer " Treasury at Westminster, but the bulk of the records had been removed to the Rolls House in 1832, and were there till 1840, when they were taken over by Warrant. ff The following Departments of the Queen's Bench Office were abolished by the Act of 1 Vict. c. 30 (1837), and their records transferred to the Master's Office. For the distribution of the records, see D.K. 1st Report, App., pp. 35- 46 sq. In December 1838 the Rules Office was in Symond's Inn (ibid., p. 50) : — Secondary, or Master (Master's Office, Temple). Clerk of the Rules (Rules Office, Temple). Clerk of the Papers (Symond's Inn). Clerk of the Docquets and Judgments (Judgments Office, Temple). Signer of the Writs (Writ Office, Temple). Signer of the Bills of Middlesex (Temple). Clerk of the Declarations (Declaration Office, Temple). Clerk of the Common Bail or Appearances, Estreats and Posteas (Appearance Office, Temple). Custos Brevium, P- 6 ! D-K- 17th Report, p. 13 ; D K 18th Report, p. 14 -.oJ ,?K' 18th RePort. P- 3 ! D-K. 17th Report, p. 21 ; D K 18th Report, p. 21. c § .Tb-e history of the State Paper Office is briefly traced in bcargill-Bird s Guide, pp. 351-3, and more fully in F S lhomass History of the. State Paper Office, 1849 ' A 'Calendar of Documents relating to the History of the State Paper Office to the year 1800 " is printed in the Appendix' to the 30th Report of the Deputy Keeper. PPenciix to APPENDICES. 1K to other persons, except by order of the office or according to regulations approved by the office. "In all such matters, the Record Office would do precisely as the State Paper Office would do, on ought to do. '• Their Lordships have now suggested that the State Paper Office should, on the retirement of the present keeper, become a branch of the Record Depart ment under the superintendence of the Master of the Rolls ; and they have made this proposal on the understanding that the conditions above described by Lord Langdale will be applied to this, as they have been to the present less complete arrangement."* The Order of 5th March 1852 placed the State Paper Office under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls, and a second Treasury Minute dated 18th June 1852 confirmed that of 1848.f The then Keeper of the State Paper Office, Sir Henry Hobhouse, died on 13th April 1854, and after some further correspondence with the Treasury, the Master of the Rolls issued a warrant dated 10th August, 1S54, empowering the Deputy Keeper to take possession of the State Paper Office.^ The State Paper Office thus became a branch of the Public Record Office, and was henceforth described in the reports as " State Paper Branch Record Office." The amalgamation of the two offices brought into the care of the Master of the Rolls records and papers belonging to three Government Departments which had not hitherto placed any of their documents under his charge, viz., the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, and the Home Office. These Departments had acquired the habit of periodically transmitting their older papers to the State Paper Office instead of preserving them in their departmental buildings. They did not abandon it now that their depot had passed into the possession of the Master of the Rolls. In 1858 the Foreign Office transmitted 953 volumes of correspondence, in 1859 488 volumes, both to what was now called the State Paper Branch Office of the Record Office. § The Colonial Office in view of the approaching demolition of the State Paper Branch building began to transmit papers directly to the new repository erected for the Record Department. In 1860 it sent in 1,411 volumes of correspondence and papers, and in 1861, 2,496 volumes. || During 1861-2 all the older papers of the three Departments were removed from the State Paper Office to the new repository. Sir T. D. Hardy in his first Report as Deputy Keeper gives the following account of their transference : — " In consequence of the proposed destruction of the State Paper Office to make room for the erection of new Government Offices, it has been found necessary to remove the records from the State Paper Branch Office into the Public Record Repository. Tour Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, by his letters of 1st and 17th June and 15th November 1861, consented to the proposal of the Master of the Rolls, and has permitted the whole of the Home Office Papers to be removed to the Reposi tory. Tour Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonial Department stated, in a letter of 10th June 1861, that it would be a great convenience to the Colonial Office to unite its records with the other Colonial Documents already to be found in the Repository, which contained about 4,000 volumes of Colonial Papers ; and Tour Majesty's Principal Secre tary of State for Foreign Affairs, by his letter of 29th June 1861, sanctioned the removal to the Repository of the Foreign Papers to the end of the reign of George II. " Consequently, the whole of the Home, Foreign, and Colonial Papers, and all other records, printed books, maps, &o., have been removed to the Repository ; with the exception of the Foreign correspondence commencing with the reign of George III., and ratifi cations of treaties which are intended to be removed to two houses in Whitehall Tard, when the necessary * D.K. 10th Report, Appendix I., p. 2. t D.K. 14th Report, p. 28 ; F. S. Thomas, Handbook to the Public Record Office, p. 449. t D.K. 16th Report, pp. 3, 4. § D.K. 21st Report, pp. xvii-xix. || D.K. 22nd Report Appendix, p. 42 ; 23rd Report, p. 39. arrangements are completed. Part of the establish ment has already been transferred to the Repository, and the remainder will follow when the removals are finished."* " This removal having been completed during 1862, the building has been pulled down."f The Deputy Keeper summed up the result in the following words : — " This Department, in the first instance was intended chiefly as a Repository for the Records of the Courts of Law and Equity ; but soon after its establishment it was found beneficial to the public service to enlarge the scope of its usefulness, by making it the general depository for all public and Government documents, whether civil, legal, naval, or military, so that the custody and direction of the National Muniments from the reign of William the First to that of Tour Majesty, except those which are retained in each department for current business, are now placed an this branch of the public service. "J II. Development of the Archives from 1862 to 1910. The year 1862 marks the concentration of all classes of the national archives in one locality under the control of one keeper and one staff. There were still, however, certain outlying col lections of records which were transferred to the custody of the Department later than 1862, and it is also necessary to trace the progress of the transference of Departmental papers to the Record Office between 1862 and the present date. Further, it is necessary, in order to complete this account of the growth of the Record Office, to note certain miscellaneous additions made to them from various sources. (i). Collections of Records. In the Annual Report for 1863, Sir T. D. Hardy inserted a section headed " Records not yet received into the Public Record Office."§ He enumerated six sets of records all mentioned in the first clause of the Public Record Act of 1838, but not yet placed in the custody of the Master of the Rolls or only transmitted in part. (1) The records in the Petty Bag Office. The chief reason for the non-transference of these was the want of accommodation in the Record Office. Some had been transferred in 1859, others followed in 1865 and 1869.|| In 1889 the Office of Clerk of the Petty Bag was abolished, so that the records have pre sumably all been transferred.^ (2) The records belonging to certain Chancery Offices had also not been transferred, including those of the Masters in Chancery. The latter were finally placed under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls by the Act to amend the Public Record Act passed in 1877, and rules respecting their consultation were drawn up in the same year.** (3) Certain records belonging to the Court of Admiralty. Many of these were transferred during 1864 and 1865. ft (4) Records in the Office of the Land Revenue and Enrolments. A portion of these were transferred in 1866, 1872, and 1876. In December 1902 the Treasury appointed Sir H. C. Maxwell Lyte Keeper of the Land Revenue Records, with a view to the practical amalga mation of the Office with the Public Record Office. In 1903 the contents of the Office were removed to the Public Record Offiee.JJ (5) Records of the Palatinate of the Isle of Ely. On application in 1854 the Master of the Rolls was informed that there were believed to be no secular records, and no proceedings were taken. The reports on the MSS. of the Bishop, printed in part ix. of the t This list, however, is D.K. 23rd Report, pp. 6, 7. D.K. 24th Report, p. viii. t D.K. 24th Report, p. iii. § D.K. 25th Report, pp. xxi-xxv. incomplete. || D.K. 25th Report, p. xxii ; D.K. 27th Report, p. vi ; D.K. 30th Report, pp. xi-xii ; D.K. 31st Report, p. xiv. *f Scargill-Bird, Guide, p. 10 ; Thomas, Handbook, 67-9. p. iii ; D.K. 41st Report, p. vi. p. xix ; D.K. 27th Report, p. xxv. vii ; D.K. 64th Report, p. 13 ; see also Scargill-Bird, Guide, p. 154. PP ** D.K. 39th Report, ft D.K. 26th Report, XX 27th Report, p. D.K. 65th Report, p. 13 ; 16 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : 12th Report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, and more fully described in the calendar of these records published by Mr. A. Gibbons in 1891, show that there are secular records of the Palatinate. (6) The records of the Palatinate of Durham. These had been examined by Sir T. D. Hardy in 1854, and a report was made on their condition and history.* They were again examined by him in 1867, and in con sequence of his report they were removed by warrant to the Record Office at the close of 1868.f All these were records which the first clause of the Public Record Act of 1838 had meant to put in the custody of the Master of the Rolls, but between 1868 and 1877 three other collections of records not named in the Act were placed in his charge as gifts from the Crown to the nation. J Duchy of Lancaster Becords. — In 1863 a correspon dence took place between the Master of the Rolls and the Chancellor of .the Duchy of Lancaster, relative to the transfer of the ancient records preserved in the Office of the Duchy of Lancaster into the custody of the Master of the Rolls. § There was also a memorial presented by the Chetham Society praying that the Duchy Records might be rendered accessible to the public. 1 1 The result was that in 1868 the records of the Duchy of Lancaster were presented by the Crown to the nation and transferred to the Public Record Office. Mentioning this in his 30th Report, Sir T. D. Hardy says : " Tour Majesty is undoubtedly perfectly " well acquainted with the history of the Duchy and " Palatinate of Lancaster, yet, as I believe, the origin " of the two jurisdictions is not generally understood " by the public, I have deemed it right, for avoiding any '• misconception on the subject, to give a brief sketch " of the history of the Duchy of Lancaster, which in- " eludes the Palatinate as one of its members." The sketch follows (pp. iii.— viii.), supplemented in the Appendix by an inventory of documents transferred in November and December 1868 from the Duchy of Lancaster Office, Lancaster Place, Waterloo Bridge (pp. 1-43). This is completed by a calendar of the charters of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Appendix to the 31st Report, and one of the Rolls of the Chancery in the Appendices to the 32nd, 33rd, and 35th Reports. The records of the Palatinate of Lancaster were transferred in 1873, at the request of the Chancellor of the Duchy. An account of the Palatinate is given in the 35th Report pp. iv.-xi., followed by inventories of the records transferred and of those left behind (pp. 42-75, 196). The muniments of the Manor of Halton in the County Palatine of Chester — a portion of the posses-; sions of the Duchy of Lancaster — were also presented by the Crown and transferred to the Public Record Office in 1877.f The Deputy Keeper had suggested in 1864 that " the consolidation of the ancient records " would be " rendered more effectual " if the older records of the Duchy of Cornwall were transferred to the Record Repository, along with those of the Duchy of Lancaster, but the suggestion was not favourably received.** A brief account of these records is given in the First Report of the Deputy Keeper, p. 132, and a fuller one in the General Report of the Commissioners on the Public Records, 1837 (p. 105). The last collection of records to be taken into the Public Record Office were the Circuit Records in the charge of the clerks of the assize. These have been transferred to the Office since the appointment of this Commission. ff In addition to these various collections of records there are the accruing records of the Courts of Justice for nearly fifty years to be taken into account. Originally they were taken year by year as they became twenty years old. Now, as the Deputy Keeper * D K. 16th Report, Appendix 4. f D.K. 29th Report, p. 104 ; D.K. 30th Report, p. „. j In a further Report this Commission will discuss the "eneral question as to the status of these records. § D.K. 25th Report, pp. xxiv, xxv. || D.K. 28th Report, p. v. «f D.K. 39th Report, p. iv. ** D.K. 25th Report, p. xxv. ff Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 28, 956 ; cf. Report, p 8, and below, p. 24. has explained, they are allowed to accumulate and are taken periodically, about every five years.* The last large transfer appears to have taken place in 1908.f (ii.) Departmental papers. The extent to which the Public Record Office is at the present moment the receptacle of Departmental Papers is best shown by two tables : (1) The section of Mr. Scargill-Bird 's Guide to the Public Records which is headed " Records of Public Departments." It fills pp. 366-391. (2) The "List of Public Departments " whose Historical Records (including those of " abolished offices under their jurisdiction) have been " mainly transferred to the Public Record Office." This fills pp. 123-128 of Mr. Hall's Studies in English Official Historical Documents, and, with its notes, forms a valuable commentary on Mr. Scargill-Bird's list. The memoranda with regard to various Departments drawn up by the Secretary of this Commission are a further source of information as to the present situation. The subject is one with which the Commission will deal in a further Report since the general public is not aware of the extent to which the transmission of Depart mental documents has been carried on, or of the change it has made in the character of the Public Record Office. The Foreign Office. — At the commencement of the 24th Report of the Deputy Keeper there is a list which purports to show the documents in the Public Record Office, on 31st December 1862, belonging to various Government Departments and the period covered by them. % At that time the Foreign Office papers in his charge extended only to 1760. In 1910 the foreign correspondence up to the end of 1869 was deposited there. The Foreign Office transfers its papers to the Record Office at intervals. In 1888, 1889, 1890, 1892, and 1894 it transmitted nothing at all. In 1901 it transmitted diplomatic correspondence 1845-1856 in 5,384 volumes ; in 1908, diplomatic correspondence from 1857 to 1869 in 7,063 volumes. Of late years the transmissions from the Foreign Office have largely consisted of the archives of embassies and consulates. In 1905 it transmitted the archives of the embassy at Paris from 1862 to 1869, filling 426 volumes, together with 241 vols, of the same kind from Washington. In 1906 it transmitted the archives of the embassy at Vienna from 1841 to 1863, being 238 volumes and four boxes ; also the archives of the embassy at St. Petersburg from 1801 to 1850 consisting of 270 volumes.§ A list of State Papers Foreign, in the Record Office was published in 1904. It extends up to 1781. The Colonial Office. — The papers in the custody of the Master of the Rolls in 1862 are said to have extended up to 1829. || In 1910 they extended up to 1882. The transmissions from the Colonial Office are irregular. Nothing was sent in 1888, 1889, 1890 or in 1892, 1894 and 1895, and only 2S volumes in 1891. On the other hand, in 1893 about 2.900 volumes were transmitted, 2,300 of them being official correspondence from 1850 to 1863. In 1897 came official correspondence for 1864-1866, in 544 volumes, besides about 1,400 volumes of other papers. In 1906 came the corre spondence for 1866-1878 contained in 3,586 volumes, and in 1908 that for the years 1877 to 1882 in 697 volumes. Of late years, owing to the rapid development of the Crown colonies and the South African War, the amount of letters and papers received by the Colonial Office has very greatly increased and future trans missions to the Record Office will therefore increase proportionately in bulk. The Home Office. — The papers in the custody of the Master of the Rolls in 1862 are said to have extended to the year 1830. *\ They now extend up to the year * Ibid., Q. 350. t D.K. 70th Report, pp. 3-5. j pp. iii, iv. § The earlier archives of certain British embassies, such as those of Paris and Vienna, were transmitted before' 1883 since they are enumerated in the printed list published in that year. In other cases the archives, though transmitted 20 years ago, remained unpacked and unlisted down to a recent date. || D.K. 24th Report, p. 4. % D.K. 24th Report, p. 4. APPENDICES. 17 1870 (with certain exceptions" stated in the memo randum laid before the Commission by the Secretary. The office appears to transmit its papers at uncertain intervals, in varying amounts^ and without any kind of system. The Treasury. — This appears to be an office of regular habits. In 1871 the Lords of the Treasury asked the Master of the Rolls to , make arrangements for receiving into the office the Treasury Papers up to the end of 1845. They also intimated that they pro posed in future to send at the commencement of each year, the earliest 12 months' papers remaining in the Treasury.* This system is still maintained. In 1908, for instance, the Treasury sent in the registered papers for 1880, being 227 bundles, and, in 1909, those for 1881 being 223 bundles.. Thus the Treasury keeps in hand for the purposes of current business the regis tered papers for . the last 28, years, and it is possible for the Deputy Keeper to calculate with great exact ness the amount of space which the accessions from this sou i;ce will require every year, The War Office. — The reports of the Deputy Keepers show that the War Office have transmitted a great quantity of papers to .the- Record Office since 1862, but prove that the transmissions take place, at irregular intervals and without any definite system. A number of papers transferred to the Record Office have since been removed to other repositories, or re- transferred.f A list of War Office Records in the Public Record Office was published in 1908. The Admiralty. — This Department also has trans mitted a great quantity of papers to the Record Office at irregular intervals and without any apparent system. Over 200 volumes of Orders to the Navy Board were re-transferred from the Record Office to the Admiralty in 1902. J A list of Admiralty Records in the Public Record Office was published in 1904. Minor Departments. (1) The Lord Steward's office (Buckingham Palace) transmitted, in 1899, 1,411 volumes of accounts and other papers. § (2) The Lord' Chamberlain's Department trans mitted in 1858, 1866, and 1874 a number of records, including some formerly belonging to the Office of the Great Wardrobe, abolished in 1780. In 1909 it trans mitted 600 volumes of correspondence covering the period 1858 to 1890. || The department also transmitted between 1892 and 1908 a collection of manuscript plays, dating from 1824 to 1897 and filling 1,004 volumes. (3) The Privy Purse Office transmitted in 1901 and 1903 a great collection of addresses presented to Queen Victoria on the occasion of her Jubilees in 1887 and 1897. (iii.) Miscellaneous additions to the archives in the Public Record Office. Collections of Transcripts. — These are described on pp. 400-402 of Mr. Scargill-Bird 's Guide to the.Public Records. They consist principally of (a) a collection of transcripts formed by Sir Joseph Williamson, inherited by the Record Office from the State Paper Office, and formerly listed among the " State Papers Miscellaneous " ; (b) a; collection of transcripts formed by the old Record Commission, transferred to the Master of the Rolls in 1837 ; (c) transcripts of foreign and English State Papers made for the Record Office since 1858. Documents presented to the Public Record Office or deposited therein for the Public Use.^ These include the Chatham Papers, the Shaftesbury Papers and other important collections. The list does not include the valuable Royal Household books presented by Sir W. C. Trevelyan in 1859-60, or the ancient Rolls of Chancery purchased from Lord Ailesbury in 1898. These have been incorporated in their proper series, but the restoration of records belonging to the national ir e 14829 D.K. 33rd Report, pi xi. D.K. 70th Report, p. <>. D.K. «4th Report, p. 6. D.K. 01st Report, p. 6. D.K. 71st Report, p. 6. Scargill-Bird, Guide, pp. archives which had passed into private hands deserved special notice. The Conway Papers, presented by J. W. Croker in 1857-8,, are another instance. These, again, have been distributed amongst the Domestic State Papers, and not kept as a separate collection. Both the above classes, tend to increase. Tran scripts of documents, in the Roman archives are still coming in. With certain exceptions these documents are not included ,in, the Lists or Calendars, nor are detailed inventories of them available. C. H. F. 3. A List of Countersigned Warrants for the Transfer of Records into the Custody of the Master of the Rolls (1840-1910).* Date of Warrant., Records to be transferred. 1840, July 10 the the Court the age of the the i Court ge of the the of 20 of 20 1841, Nov. 1 1842, Mar. 14- 1842, Nov. 30 403-5 All the records preserved in Tower of London. All the records preserved in Rolls Chapel. All the records, preserved in Chapter House. All the records of . Queen's Bench of years and upwards. Ail the records of Common. Pleas of years and upwards. All the records of the Court of Exchequer of Pleas of the age of 20 years and upwards. All the records in. the custody of the Queen's Remembrancer of the Exchequer, including those of the King's Remembrancer, the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer, and the Clerks of the Pipe, and the records of the Augmentation Office. The Notes of Fines and other records in the custody of the Registrar's Cffice of the Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench to 1822. The accruing records of the Court of Common Pieas to 1822. The accruing records of the Court of the Exchequer of Pleas to 1822, and others to 1841. The records of the First Fruits and Tenth's Office, of the age of 20 years and upwards. The records • of , the Crown Office, Queen's Bench, of the age of 20 years and upwards. The accruing ' Records of the Court of Queen's Bench to Michaelmas Term, 1823. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Crown Office, to Michaelmas Term, 1823. ,The accruing records" of the Court of Common Pleas to Michaelmas Term, 1823. The accruing records of the Regis trar's Office of 'the Court of Common Pleas to Michaelmas Term, 1823. The accruing records of the Court of Exchequer of Pleas to Michaelmas Term, 1823, and, others not 20 years old. , The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench to Michaelmas Term, 1824,. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Crown Office. The accruing records pf the Court of Common Pleas. * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (of. Return to the House of Lords in 1877 (H. L. 153) and 1878 (II. L. 211) and the; Reports of the Deputy Keeper pussini'). B 1842, Dec. 29 1843, Feb. 17 1844, Mar. 4 )> )) J} )» 1845, Mar. 4 18 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : Date of Warrant. Records to be transferred. 1845, Mar. 4 1845, Apr. 28 - 1845, July 16 - 1845, July 26 - 1848, Jan. 7 1849, Jan. 11 1849, Feb. 19 1849, Feb. 33 • 1850, Apr. 25 - 1852, July 30 ¦ 1853, May 27 1854, July 18 ¦ The accruing records of the Regis trar's Office of the Court of Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Court of Exchequer of Pleas. The accruing records of the Court of the Exchequer, Queen's Remem brancer. The accruing records of the First Fruits and Tenth's Office, for the years 1823 and 1824. Certain records of the Court of Great Sessions for the counties of Glamorgan, Brecknock, and Radnor. Certain records of the late Chester Circuit. Certain records of the Marshal and Registrar of the Chester Circuit. The records of the late Chancery of the counties of Montgomery, Denbigh, and Flint. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench to Michaelmas, 1827. The accruing records of the Queen's Bench, Crown Office. The accruing records of the Court of Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Regis trar's Office, of the Court of Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Ex chequer, Queen's Remembrancer. The accruing records of the First Fruits and Tenths Office. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench to Michaelmas Term, 1828. The accruing records of the Queen's Bench, Crown Office. The accruing records of the Court of Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Regis trar's Office, Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Ex chequer Queen's Remembrancer. The accruing records of the First Fruits and Tenths Office. Certain Tellers' Bills in the possession of William Salt, Esq. (Not countersigned.) The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench to Michaelmas Term, 1829. The accruing records of the Queen's Bench, Crown Office. The accruing records of the Court of Common Pleas to Michaelmas Term, 1829. The accruing records of the Regis trar's Office, Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Ex chequer, Queen's Remembrancer. The records of the abolished Palace Court. Certain outstanding records of the Exchequer, Queen's Remembrancer. Certain records of the Exchequer of Pleas, not 20 years old. The records of the counties of Chester and Flint. The sessional records and also the records of the County Palatine. The records of the counties of Denbigh and Montgomery. (At Ruthin.) The records of the counties of Denbigh and Montgomery. (At Welshpool.) The records of the counties of Car narvon, Anglesey, and Merioneth. (At Carnarvon.) Date of Warrant. 1854, July 18 - 1858, Apr. 19 • 3) Jl 1859, May 26 - 1859, Dec. 1 1859. Dec. 19 ¦ 1860, Feb. 27 1861, Jan. 30 • 1863, July 3 Records to be transferred. The records of the counties of Merioneth, Carnarvon, and Angle sey. (At Dolgellau.) The records of the counties of Brecknock, Radnor, and Glamorgan. (At Brecknock, and at Bridgend, Glamorganshire, or elsewhere.) The records of the counties of Carmarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan. (At Carmarthen.) The records of the counties of Pem broke, Carmarthen, and Cardigan. (At Haverfordwest.) The records of the counties of Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Pem broke. (At Cardigan.) The records of the Court of the Honour of Peveril. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Plea Side, to Michaelmas Term, 1837. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Crown Side. The accruing records of the Court of Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Regis trar's Office, Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Court of Exchequer of Pleas, to Michaelmas Term 1837. The accruing records of the Ex chequer, Queen's Remembrancer. The accruing records of the First Fruits and Tenths Office. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Plea Side, to Michaelmas Term, 1838. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Crown Side. The accruing records of the Court of Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Registrar's Office, Common Pleas. The accruing records of the Court of Exchequer of Pleas. The accruing records of the Exchequer, Queen's Remembrancer. The accruing records of the First Fruits and Tenths Office, to April 1839. The Parliamentary Writs and Returns from the Petty Bag Office ; Eliza beth to Charles II. The late Cursitors' records, from the Petty Bag Office. The records of the Clerks of Records and Writs in Chancery down to the year 1S00. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Plea Side, to Michaelmas Term, 1839. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Crown Side, to Michaelmas Term, 1.839. The accruing records of the Court of Common Pleas, to Michaelmas Term, 1849. The accruing records of the Court of Exchequer of Pleas, to Michaelmas Term, 1839. The accruing records of the Exchequer, Queen's Remembrancer, to Michael mas Term, 1839. The accruing records of the First Fruits and Tenths Office, to April 1840. l Certain records of the Exchequer, Queen's Remembrancer less than 20 years old. The accruing records of the Queen's Bench Plea Side, to Michaelmas Term, 1842. APPENDICES. 19 Date of Warrant. 1863, July 3 1866, June 1 ¦ 1866, July 24 ¦ 1868, Mar. 23 - 1868. Nov. 17 1869, Apr. 13 - 1870, Feb. 8- 1870, Feb. 10 ¦ 1870, May 17 - 1871, Apr. 19- 1872, Oct. 30 - 1873, Sept. 17 - 1874, June 26 - 1876, Mar. 30 ¦ 1876, July 29 - 1876, Nov. 3 1878, Nov. 2 ¦ 1879, May 28 • 1879, Dec. 18 ¦ 1881, Feb. 4 1883, Jan. 11 1896, July 30 - 1896, July 30 - Records to be transferred. The accruing records of the Queen's Bench, Crown Side. The accruing records of the Exchequer of Pleas. The accruing records of the Exchequer, Queen's Remembrancer. The accruing records of the First Fruits and Tenths Office, to April 1843. Ancient Ministers' Accounts, &c. from the Land Revenue Record Office. Interrogatories, Depositions, &c. from the Examiner's Office, Chancery. Bills, Answers, &c. in Chancery down to the year 1842 from the Clerks of Records and Writs and the Regis trars' Books of Decrees and Orders and Masters' Reports, to the year 1750. The records of the county Palatine of Durham. The accruing records of the Queen's Bench, Plea Side, to 1848 inclusive. The accruing records of the Exchequer of Pleas prior to Hilary Term, 1850. The accruing records from the Office of the Clerks of Records and Writs : Registrar's Books of Decrees and Orders and Masters' Reports to 1799 and Affidavits to 1842. The accruing records of the Exchequer, Queen's Remembrancer, to 1850. The accruing records of the First Fruits and Tenths Office, to April 1851. Miscellaneous Documents from the Land Revenue Record Office. The records of the county Palatine of Lancaster. The accruing records of the Court of Common Pleas, to Michaelmas Term, 1859. The accruing records of the Court of Exchequer of Pleas, to Hilary Term, 1856. The accruing records of the Registrar's Office, Common Pleas, to Michael mas, 1855. Receiver-Generals' Accounts of Land and Assessed Taxes, &c. from the Land Revenue Record Office. The accruing records of the office of the Clerks of Records and Writs, from 1800 to 1825. The accruing records of the Court of Queen's Bench, Crown Side, to Easter, 1859. The accruing records of the office of the Clerk of Records and Writs, consisting of the Pleadings, &c. from 1842 to 1860. The accruing records consisting of the Pleadings from 1861 to 1869 and the Decrees and Orders and Masters' Reports from 1826 to 1869. The Bishops' Certificates of Institu tions and other records of the First Fruits and Tenths prior in date to April 1862 in the custody of the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty. The Certificates of Acknowledgment of Deeds by Married Women between the years 1856 and 1875 from the Registrar of the Acknow ledgment Office. The Instance Papers from 1803 to 1870, and other records of the High Court of Admiralty, Date of Warrant. Records to be transferred. 1896, Aug. 5 1899, Jan. 11 ¦ 1899, Feb. 13 • 1900, Mar. 30 1901, Feb. 5 1901, May 13 ¦ 1901, Nov. 13 ¦ 1901, Dec. 9 1902, Nov. 11 ¦ 1903, Jan. 14 1903, Mar. 6 • 1906, Mar. 31 ¦ 1906, Nov. 30 1907, Jan. 11 1908, Jan. 16 1908, April 6 1909, Feb. 12 1909, July 12 1910, Dec, 9 The records of the Courts of Chancery from 1870 to 1875 inclusive, and other records of the Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, deposited in the Cential Office of the Supreme Court of Judicature. The Instance Papers of the High Court of Admiralty from 1871 to 1875 inclusive. The accruing records of the King's Remembrancer's Department and of the Registries of Judgments and of Acknowledgments. Ministers' and Receivers' Accounts. Surveys, and other Records of the Land Revenue Record Office. The accruing records of the Acknow ledgment Office down to the year 1880. Certain affidavits filed in the Court of Exchequer between the years 1856 and 1880. The Bishops' Certificates of Institu tions from 1862 to 1892 inclusive from the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty. The Registers of Bills of Sale, Sec. from 1859 to 1880 inclusive, and of Warrants of Attorney from 1849 to 1875 inclusive. Instance Cause Papers of the High Court of Admiralty from 1876 to 1880 inclusive. The Certificates of Acknowledgment of Deeds by Married Women for the years 1881 and 1882 inclusive. The enrolment books of grants and other records of the office of Land Revenue Records and Enrolments. The records of the Exchequer Seal Office. The Proceedings on the Trials of the Pyx from the office of the King's Remembrancer. Records from the Crown Office Department of the Supreme Court of Justice down to the year 1886. Certain records of the King's Bench and Common Pleas from 1849 to 1878, and the records of the Chancery Division from 1881 to 1885 inclusive. The Judgment Books of the Common Pleas and Exchequer from 1876 to 1880 inclusive, and of the Queen's Bench from 1876 to 1886 inclusive. The Instance Cause Papers of the High Court of Admiralty from 1881 to 1885 inclusive. Certain Court Rolls from the Land Revenue Record Office. Documents which have accrued in, oi have been transferred from other offices to, the Central Office of the Supreme Court of Judicature since the operation of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, 1873. Accruing records from the King's Remembrancer's Department of the Supreme Court of Judicature. Certain Court Rolls and Surrenders relating to the Manor of Thornton in Easington, co. Tork, from the Office of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues. Assignation books and other records of the High Court of Admiralty prior to 1878. The records of the Clerks of Assize of the several Circuits. Ii 2 20 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : 4. List of Documents in the Public Record Office, 31st December 1862.* Court, Office, &c. From To Court, Office, &c. From | To Chancery •- - Queen's Bench, Crown Side Plea Side Common Pleas - ' , ,, Registrar „ Alienation Office' Exchequer, Plea or Common Law Side. „ Queen's Remembrancer, Crown Side. „ Queen's Remembrancer, Equity Side. ,, Lord Treasurer's Re membrancer's and Pipe Offices. . Court of General' Sur veyors. „ Court of Augmentations ,, (New) Court of Augmen tations. „ of Receipt, Pells „ „ Auditor ,, ., Treasury „ First Fruits Admiralty Court of Requests' - ,, Star Chamber „ Wards and Liveries' - Marshalsea and Palace^Oourts Peveril Court - - -' Placita Forestae - .'.'-, Welsh Records „ from Ruthin Government Offices,' &c. Admiralty - - .-,.,,..,.-. Audit Office - - . ,- Secretary of State, Home Depart ment. Fsreign Depart ment. ,, Colonial De partment. „ Colonial Board of Trade. ' „ War " Depart ment. „ India Depart ment (tem porary "> de posit)'. Treasury „ Solicitor Commissariat, England - „ Ireland (from Dublin) „ ,, (Famine Relief) ,, Colonial (Stations Abroad). Lord Chamberlain's Office Office of Works, &c. (Plans of the Duke of Wellington's Funeral)., Custom House Privy Signet Office -. National Debt Office Metropolitan Buildings, Registrar of Slave Registration Office Queen's Prison African Company - Irish Reproductive Loan Fund Commissions. &c. American Loyalist Claims Boundaries, Municipal • ,, Parliamentary 10661194 1860 1839 1179 I 1849 1838 i 1849 1571 | 1834 1219 i 1839 1216 '¦¦ 1839 1558 \ 1841 1130 1S34 1515 ! 1546 1536 ! 1546 1546 ! 1553 < 12131220 Domesda 1536 1524 148514951540 16311661 John 12591294 16421561 1274 10971574 1689 16831603 1634 1653 17981798 1840 1780 15 II 1852Jh'99 18611715 IS 14 1815 A bout 1720. 1662 1832 1784 1X351831 1834 1834 y 17271840181716431643 1660 18491849 1640 1830 1654 1860 1817183017601829 171718601688 18511861 1 844, 18221852 184-8 17 1817lsoo1S-16 1 855 1810 18621822 1854 181018361832 Census Education Forfeited Estates French Claims - ' - Danish Claims Spanish Claims Oxford University - Slave Compensation -. " <¦ Tyne River - - "- Papal Briefs and Bulls Conway and Throckmorton Papers Potato Crop Returns Sheepshank's Collections, Deed of Gift. 1841 18611725 1801 186017161814 ! 1855 1834 i 1841 1838 I 1841 1850 I 1858 1833 , 1842 ' 1855 1513 | 1527 1538 ! 1705 1848 ¦ 1857 5. Contents of the Public Record Office (September 1910-March 1912).* The following tables contain a summary of the contents of the Public Record Office in March 1912. It will be seen that they consist of the records of 63 courts or departments divided into 2,321 classes, and, further, into 511,466 " pieces " ; this expression meaning rolls, volumes, or packages. A small pro portion of the records are arranged alphabetically and some are under arrangement ; these have been esti mated in the calculation. The exact number of separate references could only be known by investigations, which would hardly repay the labour involved ; .many; of the " pieces " are boxes or packages containing numerous documents with separate numbers and references. For instance, the original accounts in the Exchequer are contained in 602 "packages or pieces ; the number of documents being about 18,000. 'After some research I have come to the conclusion that the total number of separate references is rather over than under three millions. ¦ In addition to the records* -in the summary there are in bulk (1) a number of original writs and bails of the King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer ; (2) Coast- bonds. These are earlier portions of classes, which have been scheduled for destruction. f The number of classes and pieces constantly changes owing to re-arrangements or the arrival of accruing records. As the calendars and indexes progress, the number of separate references tends to increase. (a) Records in the Custody 'of flic Master of the Bolls. Court, Chancery King's Bench King's Bench. Fleet. and Marshalsea Prisons. Co m mon Pleas Exchequer of Pleas - Exchequer, King's Remembrancer. Exchequer.Treasurers Rem em brancer. Exchequer, Augmen tation. Exchequer, Treasury Exchequer, Receipt - Exchequer, First Fruits. 10. 11. Period. Classes. Pieces. 1200-1911 1194-1904 1685-1862 184 74 11 109.904 12.399 709 1272-19071219-1880 1200-1902 ¦ >'¦*> 19 110 12,347 2,882 15,522 1130-1818 38 8,496 1350-1660 26 1,120 1086-17001200-1867 1535-1892 Ml ) 9718 2,6208.146 303 D.K. 24th Report, pp. iii.. iv, < onipiled, by the direction pf the Deputy Keeper for the information of the Commission, by Mr. H. Rodney' an Assistant Record Keeper. t The Exchequer "Port-Rooks " and Chancery Masters' exhibits have been dealt with since the 'appointment' of this Commission (rf. Report, pp. 8, 9, and below, pp. 45-51) APPENDICES. 21 Court. Period. 1515-1885 Classes. 31 Pieces. 12. Admiralty Court 7,831 13. Delegates 1538-1866 6 998 14. Privy Council Ap peals. 1833-1879 o 590 15. Palace Court 1644-1849 :i 590 16. Peveril Court 1682-1850 l 62 17. Requests 1540-1640 !) 1,077 18. Star Chamber - 1495-1620 1 1,176 19. Wards 1495-1650 10 1.370 20. Assizes* 1200-1892 56 3,946 21. Palatinate of Durham 1300-1877 20 1,678 22. Palatinate of Lan caster. 1351-1867 28 4,391 23. Palatinate of Chesterf 1260-1835 38 3,718 24. Wales 1333-1835 28 10,727 25. Duchy of Lancaster 1129-1835 36 6,507 26. Alienation Office 1571-1835 9 95 27. Land Revenue 1280-1832 13 1,909 28. Queen Anne's Bounty 1600-1800 1 40 29, Special collections 1200-1850 19 8,000 30. Gifts and deposits 1500-18S5 • H) 894 31. Transcripts — IS 1,059 1086-1911 1,017 231,106 Summary for March 1912. (b) Records in the Custody of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records as Keeper of the Land Revenue Records. Land Revenue Record ' 1660-1910 Office. (c) Records in the Charge and Superintendence of the Master of the Rolls. Department. Period. ' Classes. Pieces. 1. Admiralty 2. Audit Office 3. Board of Trade 4. Lord Chamberlain 5. Colonial Office - Commissions. 6. Charity 7. Ecclesiastical 8. Epping Forest 9. Local Government 10. West Indies 11. Forfeited Estates; 12. Lunacy 13. Customs 14. Estate Duty Office 15. Foreign Office 16. Home Office 17. India Office 18. National Debt Office. 19. Paymaster- General 20. Privy Council 21. Privy Purse 22. Privy Seal 23. Public Prosecutor 24. Registrar- General 25. Signet Office 26. Lord Steward 27. Treasury 28. Treasury Solicitor 29. War Office 30. Woods and Forests 31. Works ' 1617-1900 : 1530-1851 : 1784-1850 I 1483-1900 ! 1574-1903 1830-1894 | 1207-1739 i 1854-1882 | 1889 1857-1892 1716-17251850-19001675-18571812-1852 | 1547-1909 I i 1509-1892 : j 1790-1853 i i 1745-1843 17211509- 1887-1571 18911866- 16271626. 1547-1584-1570- 1832 1660 -1881-1911-1897-1884-1900-1910-1854-1858-1883-1902-1909-1903-1884 107 869 406 1 1 1 1 1 21 o 284 172 1 6 26 2 1 4 1 3 1 13 98 2555 o 94,390 4,737 731 3,026 26,818 1,671 350 108 20 25 172 382 1,961 8,330 37,710 11,424 44 515 1,404 27 1 75 101 667 534130 1,394 19,53714,79047,186 356 425 1207-1911 ! 1,270 279,140 Period. IClasses.i Pieces. Records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls. Records in the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls, Records in the custody of the Deputy-Keeper of the Public Records as Keeper of the Land Revenue Records. 1086-1911 1,017 231,106 1207-1911 1,270 279,140 1660-1910 34 1,220 1086-1911 ! 2,321 511,466 (d) Packing. The records are placed in 113 fitted rooms con taining 9,098 divisions or presses, each about 7 feet high and 3 feet long and containing on an average 5 shelves ; thus the total length of shelving is about 6 miles. As each room is packed, a list of its contents is made in duplicate, one copy being placed in the room, and the other, after being checked and signed by the floor foreman, remaining in my custody. The foreman is responsible for the contents of the room being as on the list and for not allowing any other records to be there without at once informing me. A summary of all the records, showing their classes and places of deposit, is made in triplicate ; one copy remaining with me, one with the floor foreman, and one for the use of the officers in charge of the Public Search Rooms. A fourth copy of the part relating to the records of the Government departments is kept for the officer superintending the Government Search Room. Great care has to be taken to keep all these lists and summaries accurate, and much work is necessary for that purpose. It is not possible to arrange for all the records of a court or department being in adjacent rooms, because (1) it is necessary to place records requiring deep shelves in rooms so fitted ; (2) it is desirable to place the records most produced in easily accessible positions. The summary at once shows where any class will be found. (e) Cleaning. In the year 1907 a systematic arrangement was made for emptying, whitewashing, and painting every room once in 10 years ; the records being cleaned by the vacuum machine. (f) Rooms Cleaned and Painted. Tear. Rooms. Divisions. 1907 4 347 1908 18 1,102 1909 - 20 1,259 1910 22 1,649 1911 3 616 * The Circuit Records were brought in by countersigned warrant since the appointment of this Commission. f Included with Wales down to September 1910, 1 4Sg9 The work of removing and replacing the records requires to be carefully done in order to avoid any risk of their being mislaid, and to ensure their production, if required, when away from their normal place. It is carried out by a sub-foreman and porters under my supervision. The Opportunity is taken to improve the packing and arrangement. Much labour is often saved by emptying one room and then moving the records along from room to room as cleaned. Thus, supposing rooms 1 to 10 are to be cleaned, and that the records and shelves will suit, by first emptying 10 and then moving the contents of 9 into 10, 8 into 9, and so IS 3 22 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : forth, and eventually repacking the contents of 10 into 1, the contents of 9 rooms need only be moved once instead of twice. With care and thought very considerable economy of labour and cost can be effected in all operations of packing and arrangement. (g) Production and Re-placing of Records. The method of producing records to the public is as follows : — (1) The searcher writes the reference on a paper ticket, which remains in the search room, and is given back to him on his giving up the record. (2) This reference is entered in the Search Room register. (3) A duplicate on a card, differing in colour for each of the three Search Rooms, is written out and stamped. This card is sent to the floor foreman, who enters it in the floor register, and gives it to a floor attendant, who fetches the record and leaves the card in its place. The attendant makes out a paper slip with the reference, and sends this with the record down the lift. The paper slip is receipted and returned to the floor and the record is handed to the searcher. Records to be returned are entered by the Search Room attendant in a " Return B.ook " and sent up the lift in batches with the book. One of the floor attendants checks the records with the book and initials each entry if the record is duly returned. As the records are returned to the floor they are sorted into batches according to their places of deposit, and gradually replaced. The card tickets are withdrawn as the records are replaced and afterwards checked with the floor register and the lift slips and marked off, the lift slips being destroyed. The card tickets are then returned to the Search Rooms and marked off in the Search Room registers. (12) The card tickets are preserved for six months, the floor registers and Search Room registers permanently. The method of producing records for the use of officers and editors is somewhat different : — (1) Each officer or editor is supplied with -¦< ticket book having counterfoils. (4) 05) (6) (7) (8) (!») (10) (H) (2) Having written the reference on the ticket and counterfoil he tears out the ticket, which is taken by a messenger to the floor foreman. (3) It is entered in a special floor register and a card duplicate is made out. (4) The card duplicate is given to a floor attendant, who produces the record and gives it to the messenger, on his initialling the officer's ticket, which is then filed and kept by the floor foreman until the record is returned. (5) When the record is returned the officer's ticket is given to the messenger signed by the floor attendant, who receives the record. The record is replaced and the card duplicate destroyed, the register having been marked off. (6) The register is preserved permanently. These arrangements are very elaborate but very safe. I have studied the methods adopted at the British Museum and elsewhere, and consulted many of my colleagues as to whether they could not be simplified; but so far every suggestion involves some risk. Under the existing regulations the record is treated like a registered letter and some individual is always respon sible for it. A saving of labour has been effected by simplifying the references as much as possible. By using a number instead of a title much less writing is required and a more definite reference is given. Thus it is easier to write " C. O. 18/100," meaning Colonial Office, Class 18, Vol. 100, than " Colonial Office, West Australia Correspondence, Vol. 100." (h) Floor Staff. The floor staff proper consists of a foreman and ten attendants each working 2,000 hours a year. During the year 1911 they dealt with 69,690 tickets, on an average 3 ¦ 48 per man hour ; as each ticket requires two operations, viz. . getting out the record and replacing it, the operations per man-hour were 6 • 96, or one in every nine minutes. This, however, requires adjustment, because the amount of production varies considerably from day to day, and the attendants fill up their spare time with " stock work," viz. : — arranging sorting, ticketing, and similar tasks. A return is made to me from week to week showing the number of tickets dealt with and the number of men on duty each day. A fair day's work is from 30 to 35 tickets per man ; if the average falls below 30 the foreman is expected to show an equivalent of " stock work." The produc tion has on a few occasions risen to 50 per man, but anything over 40 is a severe strain, and almost unavoidably leads to rough handling of the records. The corrected average production per man-hour was 4 05 in the year 1909, 4-9 in 1910, and 47 in 1911. (i) Specimen of a Weekly Return. Production. Date. — - No. of Total Hours on Xclt Average per Search Rooms. 239 Officers. 65 Total. 301 Attendants. !» M in-hour.-. 63 Work. Man-hours. 63 Man-hour. March 25, 1912 4-82 ,. 26 ,, Vf: 16 289 10 70 4 66 4-37 „ 27 „ 334 40 374 8 56 56 6-67 . 28 ,, 283 14 297 10 70 4 66 4-5 .. 29 „ 261 56 317 10 \ 70 3 67 4-73 ,. 30 113 s 121 10 40 .> 38 3-18 Certain Chancery records on the basement are produced by a different staff (10,278 tickets were so dealt with in 1911), and some others are produced by the search room attendants from adjacent rooms as if on the shelves of the search rooms. Unfortunately we cannot help a certain amount of delay in production at times. It is obvious that if 40 tickets arrive on the floor in rapid succession time must elapse before the 40th can be dealt with. The greatest cause of delay is that the interval between closing the search rooms on one day and opening them on the next is not long enough to enable one day's work to be disposed of before the next day's work begins. After a heavy day's production it is sometimes later than 11 on the following morning before the returned records of the preceding day have been replaced. (j) Keys. The doors of the record rooms are provided with : — (1) Latch locks. (2) Big locks. APPENDICES. 23 There are separate latch keys for each floor A, B, C, D, which is a great inconvenience, and will, I hope, be altered when possible. The arrangement of the big locks is somewhat peculiar owing to the growth of the building. The original centre building had four floors, A, B, C, D, each with a different lock ; a new block was added at the east end and was called E. ^ The rooms were numbered vertically instead of horizontally, and a fifth key was required to open them; the next building was the west block facing Chancery Lane, which was called G., and also numbered vertically, and given a new key; the F block, con necting the original centre block with the G block was then built, and treated in the same manner. The result was that there were seven kinds of locks and keys, and that the centre had a horizontal and the sides a vertical arrangement. It is needless to say that this was most troublesome, as in the case of E, F, and G blocks there was nothing but experience to enable a person to know on which floor a room was situated. When latch locks were introduced the rooms were re-numbered, those on each level, A, B, C, D, having a similar lock and the arrangement being carried through the E, F and G blocks. The result is that the big locks of rooms : — A 1- 9 require an A key. A 10-13 ,. F „ A 14-19 ,. G „ A 20-22 „ F .. A 23-36 „ A .. A 37-44 „ E „ The numbers are painted on the doors A 1 (a), A 10 (6), A 37 (e), thus showing which of the seven big keys is required for the big lock. The big locks are now only used three times a year to see that they are in working order. They might be of some use in case of riot, but for ordinary pur poses the latch locks are quite sufficient. (k) Protection from Fire (in offi,ce hours). During the official day, viz. . 9.15 a.m. to 5.15 p.m., the arrangements for protecting the records from fire are carried out by the porters and messengers. Fire drill is by surprise alarms, the most important exercise being the rapid closing of the windows of the record r< 10ms. The most serious danger is that, if the adjacent buildings were on fire and our windows open, burning matter might be blown into the rooms. March 1912. Summary for September 1910. (i) Records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls. Court. 1. Chancery 2. King's Bench 3. King's Bench, Fleet and Marshalsea Prisons. 4. Common Pleas 5. Exchequer of Pleas 6. Exchequer, K.R. 7. Exchequer, L.T.R. - 8. Exchequer, Augmen tation. 9. Exchequer. Treasury 10. Exchequer of Receipt 11. Exchequer, First Fruits. 12. Admiralty Court 13. Delegates 14. Privy Council Appeals 15. Palace Court 16. Peveril Court 17. Requests 18. Star Chamber 19. Wards 20. Assizes 21. Durham 22. Lancaster 23. Wales - Period. 1200-1906 1194-1891 1685-1862 1272-19071219-18691200-1902 1130-18481350-1660 1086-17001200-1867 1536-1892 Classes. ] Pieces. 170 108,919 74 11.364 14 775 1515- 1538-1833-1644-1682- 1540- 1490- 1495- 1200-1320-1351-1260- -1885 1866 ¦1879 1849 1850 ' 1640 16201650 I 15001877 1867 j 1830 54 19 117 3724 2997 2025 6o9 1 6 1 10 ¦J 4662 14,446 3,527 13,477 8,520 1,121 2,621 8,134 303 8,432 998590 590 62 1,076 1.1761,135 2,039 1,963 4,534 14,434 Court. Period. 24. Duchy of Lancaster 05 28. 29.30. 1150-1835 Alienation 1571-1835 Land Revenue - 1280-1832 Queen Anne's Bounty , 1600-1800 Special collections ' ' 1200-1850 Gifts and deposits j 1550-1850 Transcripts Classes. Pieces. 37 7,246 9 153 13 1,909 1 40 20 7,898 20 508 19 1,059 (ii) In the custody of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records as Keeper of the Land Revenue Records. 31. L.R.R.O. Total 1660-1908 35 | 1,192 1086-1908! 1032 j 230,441 I (iii) In the Charge and Superintendence of the Master of the Rolls. Court or Department. Period. Classes, Num bered Pieces. V. 8.9. 10. 11. 12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21. 22.23. 24. 25.26.27.28.29. 30. 31. Admiralty Audit Office Board of Trade Chamberlain, Lord Colonial Office Commissions : Charity Ecclesiastical Epping Forest Local Government West Indies Forfeited Estates Lunacy Customs Estate Duty Office Foreign Oflice Home Office India Office National Debt Office Paymaster-GeneralPrivy Council Privy Purse Privy Seal Public Prosecutor Registrar-General Signet Office Steward, Lord - Treasury - Treasury Solicitor War Office Woods and Forests - Works Total 1617-1900 i 103 93,890 1530-1851 8 4,737 1784-1850 6 726 1483-1900 9 3,026 1574-1903 413 25.738 1830-1894 3 1,671 1207-1739 o 350 1870 i 1 61 1889 , 1 20 1857-1892 ¦ 1 25 1716-1725 i 1 172 1850-1900 ; 1 382 1675-1857 ': 21 1,885 1812-1852 2 8,330 1547-1900 236 35.431 1509-1871 166 11.235 1790-1853 1 44 1745-1843 6 515 1721-1881 26 1,404 1509-1600 1 23 1887-1897 1 175 1571-1884 4 101 1891-1900 1 667 1866-1905 3 480 1627-1854 1 85 1626-1856 13 1.394 1557-1882 104 18,970 1584-1902 25 14,644 1570-1895 53 42,238 1832-1903 ' 2 356 1660-1884 7 1 391 1207-1905 1,215 j 269,186 Grand Total j 1086-1905 2,247 ; 499,627 H. Rodney. 6. Uncalendared Law Proceedings (1559-1714.)* (a) Chancery. Those for the reigns of James I. and Charles I. (1603 to 1649) consist of about 2,000 bundles, each containing on an average 150 documents. To calendar these would occupy five clerks for about five years. Those from 1649 to 1714 inclusive occupy about 3,000 bundles and a calendar of them would occupy five clerks about seven years. (Two supplementary clerks have already been employed on such a calendar for more than a year.) * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. B 4 24 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : (b) Court of Star Chamber. The Proceedings for the reign of James I. are still uncalendared. They are contained in 72 large port folios, each containing about 500 documents. To calendar these would occupy one clerk about three years. (c) Court of Requests. The uncalendared proceedings extend from the reign of Elizabeth to that of Charles I. The first 136 bundles of Elizabeth have been calendared and the calendar is published. [Lists and Indexes, No. 21.] The remaining proceedings comprise about 700 bundles with an iverage of 60 documents or files of documents in each To calendar these would occupy one clerk about four years. 7. Memorandum on the State of the " Circuit Records " transferred to the Public Record Office in 1911 and the Proceedings thereon.* The records of the Oxford, South-Eastern, Western, and Midland circuits were formerly deposited in the offices of the several clerks of assize of these circuits in the Temple. Those of the Northern circuit were at Preston, those of the North-Eastern circuit at Tork, those of the Chester and North Wales circuit at Chester, and those of the South Wales circuit at the Royal Courts of Justice. They were all badly kept and very dirty, and could only have been consulted with very great difficulty. Rather more than half of them have been scheduled as valueless. The remainder consist chiefly of indictments, Crown books, minute books, and order books of the following dates and have all been arranged and catalogued : — Circuit. Date of Records. Cubic Feet received. 393 Cubic Feet preserved. Oxford 1654-1890 294 Western 1611-1902 167 85 Midland 1818-1890 157 48 South-Eastern 1559-1891 422 216 North -Eastern 1607-1890 557 336 Northern - 1877-1890 so 28 Chester and North 1694-1891 213 84 Wales. South Wales 1834-1892 80 2,075 1,126 S. Memorandum on the present State of the Chancery Masters' Documents in the Public Record Office.* So far, in the execution of the schedule applicable to these documents printed below, about 45( » boxes have been carefully examined, and the contents of about a quarter of the number set aside for destruction, either in whole or in part. As regards weight and bulk, how ever, the matter destroyed bears a somewhat greater proportion to that preserved, inasmuch as the matter destroyed consists in so large a degree of lag. heavy business books, such as ledgers and the like. These records formerly occupied three rooms, and almost a room's space has been gained already, a result partly due, however, to the better packing of the documents preserved. The documents destroyed will probably amount to at least 40 per cent., of the whole series. Many interesting books and papers have been found in the course of the examination, e.g., a fine series of chartularies of Llanthony Abbey ; some papers relating to proceedings in the Council of the Marches ; privateers' papers ; family and estate papers and accounts ; the earliest parish register of a London church and other parish books; papers of colonial interest, &c. [As required by the Public Record Office Act, 1877, section 1, this schedule has been submitted to both Houses of Parliament for a period of not less than four weeks, commencing 18th May 1911.] Approved, Herbert H. Cozens-Hardy, M.R. Public Records. Court of Chancery. Schedule containing a List and Particulars of Classes of Documents which were formerly in the custody of the Masters in Ordinary of the High Court of Chancery, and which are now in the Pubhc Record Office, but are not considered of sufficient public value to justify their preser vation therein. Prepared as required by the Public Record Office Act, 1877, section 1, and the Public Record Office Act, 1898, section 1, and in accordance with Rules made pursuant thereto, approved by Orders in Council dated respectively the 30th day of June 1890, and the 19th day of May 1899. Particulars of the Classes of Documents which it is proposed to Destroy. Chancery Masters' Documents. The Chancery Masters' documents which are included in this schedule are selections from the documents belonging to suitors in the Court of Chancery, which were originally in the custody of the Masters in Ordinary of the High Court of Chancery, an office that was abolished by the Act 15 & 16 Vict. c 80, certain of the duties, however, being reserved for execution by the Masters then in office pending their retirement or release in accordance with the provisions of the Act, among which duties was the custody of these documents. By the Act 23 & 24 Vict. c. 149, the surviving Masters were released, and the office finally ceased to exist, the documents being transferred to the custody of the Clerks of Records and Writs of the Court of Chancery. By the Public Record Office Act, 1877 (40 & 41 Vict. c. 55), the documents were brought under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls under the Public Record Office Act. 1838. in like manner as if they were records within the meaning of both Acts, subject to special rules as to inspection and delivery up to their lawful owners. The documents themselves were at the same time removed from the office of the Clerks of Records and Writs to the Public Record Office. The documents now proposed to be selected for destruction are as follows, none being earlier in date than 1660 or later than the date of the Act first mentioned, viz.. 1S52 : — 1. Agreements for Partnerships and the Oonductof Business. 2. Journals, Ledgers, Cash-books, Day-books, Bill- books, and other Books of Account of persons engaged in Commerce or Trade, or Professional Business, except such as furnish interesting information with regard to Foreign and Colonial Trade and the history of Arts and Crafts. 3. Correspondence relating or Routine Business. 4. Bills, Invoices, Cheques, Receipts and other Vouchers to Accounts, except such as furnish interesting information with regard to manners or customs or give important biographical to matters of Current *" Communicated by the Deputy Records. Keeper of I he Public 6. « . S. 9. 10. details. House Rent-books. Notices to Quit. Bills of Sale of Ships. Charter-parties ; Bills of Lading. London Newspapers : Printed Books. Miscellaneous Objects. APPENDICES. 25 Settled as above, H. C. Maxwell Lyte," S. R. Scargill-Bird, R. A. Roberts, R. F. Isaacson, Hubert Hall, May 11, 1911. Inspecting Officers of the Public Record Office. 9. Public Records and State Papers in the British Museum.* In the course of the evidence which has been laid before the Commission, reference has often been made to the existence in the British Museum of documents of the same character as those in the Public Record Office. It may, therefore, be convenient to give some account of the British Museum collections of this class, with regard both to the origin and nature of the collections themselves and to the use of them by students.f The collections in the Manuscript Department of the British Museum fall into two categories, viz. (1) the manuscripts which formed part of the Museum at its foundation, and (2) subsequent accessions. The Act of Incorporation (26 George II., c. 22) constituting the British Museum in 1753 provided for the preservation in a, single repository, under the care of Trustees appointed for the purpose, of three collections of manuscripts, either already the property of the nation, or acquired by purchases authorised by the Act : viz., (a) the manuscripts of Sir Hans Sloane, (b) the Cottonian Library, (c) the Harleian Collection. The subsequent accessions included certain large collections acquired en bloc and separately catalogued, viz. (a) the Royal MSS.. presented by George II. in 1757, (5) the Lansdowne MSS.. purchased in 1807, (c) the Hargrave MSS., purchased in 1813, (d) the Burney "MSS., pur chased in 1821, (e) the King's MSS., from the library of George ILL, purchased by the nation from George IV. in 1823, (/) the Arundel MSS., purchased in 1829, and (g) the Stowe MSS., purchased in 1883 ; and two con tinuously growing series, the Additional MSS., purchased year by year out of public funds or presented by various donors, and the Egerton MSS., acquired partly by the bequest of Francis Egerton, Earl of Bridgewater, in 1829, and partly from funds left for the purpose by him and by Charles Long, Lord Farnborough, in 1833. All these MSS. have been catalogued and indexed : the Royal MSS. in 1734 (a much more elaborate catalogue has been in preparation for some years, and is approaching completion), the Sloane MSS. in 1782, with an index in 1904, the Cotton MSS. in 1802, the Harley MSS. in 1808-12, the Hargrave MSS. in 1818, the Lansdowne MSS. in 1819, the Arundel MSS. in 1834, the Burney MSS. in 1840, and the Stowe MSS. in 1895. The Additional and Egerton MSS. are catalogued and indexed in a series of volnmes from 1836 onwards, which now appear qninquennially, while the descriptions of the accessions of each intermediate year are available for use by students in the students' room of the department early in the following year. The entries in these catalogues have been combined and redistributed into a great classified catalogue in 110 volumes, which is likewise kept in the students' room. The historical and official papers are to be found chiefly in the Cotton, Harley, Lansdowne, Stowe, Additional, and Egerton MSS. ; and to them may be added the separate series of Charters, many of which are of a public nature. The whole forms a mass of very wide and diverse character. The very large majority consists of papers which can in no way be regarded as public records in the technical sense. They are treatises, letters, transcripts, collections, and the like, which have at no time formed any part of the * Communicated by Sir. F. G. Kenyon, Director of the British Museum. t Reports on the contents of the British Museum were furnished to the Select Committee on Public Records in 1800 by J. Planta (Report of the Committee, pp. 389-392), and to the Commission on Public Records of 1837 by J. Forshall (Report of the Commission, pp. 413-425). A considerable part of the latter, however, has no relation to Public Records, but merely describes the general accessions to the Museum in the years 1800-1837. papers of a public office, but which are nevertheless of the highest value as materials for history. Others, however, are documents which, according to the usage of the present day, would be regarded as official papers, produced in a public department, and remaining there until their transference to the Public Record Office. The explanation of their presence in the British Museum lies partly in a difference of conception of public documents in all centuries before the nine teenth, and partly to a laxity of practice in the public departments of the same periods. The foundation of the collection, as indicated above, lies in the Cottonian MSS. Sir Robert Cotton (1570-1631) collected manuscripts of all sorts, literary, historical, liturgical, antiquarian. Many of his books came from the monastic libraries, scattered at the dissolution of the monasteries. Many also were original State papers, especially of the Tudor period. How he obtained these is not recorded ; but although, when his politics had brought him into disfavour with the Court, his library was temporarily placed under an embargo, in order to prevent the production of incon venient documents, and although the Keeper of the State Paper Office (Sir T. Wilson) showed some natural jealousy of, him, and , expressed his fear less Cotton should secure papers which belonged properly to the Office, no effective attempt was ever made to reclaim any of them as being the property of the State. This fact is sufficient to prove that it was not at that time considered irregular for a private person to come into possession of original documents of State. So far from being liable to the charge of having carried off docu ments which would otherwise have been preserved elsewhere, Sir Robert Cotton (like Lord Elgin) deserves the greatest credit for having preserved treasures which would otherwise have been lost. The result is that no history of the Tudor period can be written without combining the originals in the British Museum with those in the Record Office. , Cotton's collections of Elizabethan State Papers are supplemented materially by a section of the Lansdowne MSS., which contain the original corre spondence of Lord Burghley. These were collected by the first Earl of Lansdowne (better known as Lord Shelburne), and their history illustrates the fate of many State papers in the 18th and earlier centuries. They had remained in the hands of one of Burghley's secretaries, Michael Hickes, and were sold by a descendant of Hickes to a bookseller, and by the bookseller to Strype. Strype sold them to James West, and West's executors to Lansdowne, on whose death his entire collection of MSS. was bought by the nation. It included, in addition to the Burghley Papers, the collection of State papers and historical and official documents made by Sir Julius Caesar. The Stowe collection, formed at the beginning of the 19th century by George Temple, Marquis of Buckingham, includes the diplomatic papers of Sir T. Edmondes (1592-1633), the official papers of Arthur Capell, Eari of Essex, as Viceroy of Ireland (1672- 1677), and the Hanover Papers of J. Robethon (1692- 1719), with various other documents. Many of these were acquired by Buckingham from T. Astle. Astle was Keeper of the Records in the Tower, but his collec tions, a considerable part of which came to him from the antiquaries, Thomas Martin of Palgrave and John Anstis, include nothing which could have been impro perly derived from official sources. The Additional and Egerton MSS. contain an immense mass of historical papers, conspicuous among which are the Newcastle Papers, presented by the Earl of Chichester, and containing the political papers and, correspondence of the powerful Pelham family in the 18th century ; the Hardwicke Papers of the same period, purchased from the sixth bearer of the title ; the Nicholas Papers, especially valuable for the Com monwealth period ; the Hyde correspondence, 1675- 1709 ; the Nelson and Bridport Papers, for naval history ; the Wellesley Papers, for Ireland and India ; the Lauderdale Papers, for Scotland ; the Whitworth, Keith, and Stepney diplomatic correspondence ; the Windham Papers (which, like the Burghley Papers, mentioned above, passed into the hands of a private secretary, and so ultimately came into the market) ; with not a few other collections, and a great mass of 26 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: single documents, especially of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. It must be understood, however, that very few of these were ever State papers in the strict sense of the term. Many of them are drafts of official letters, retained by the writers ; others are transcripts or letter-books ; others are the private correspondence of statesmen, often more important than their official letters, but in no sense the property of the State. Others, however, are actual official docnments, which, in accordance with the lax practice of all periods until the last generation, remained in the possession of the politician by whom they were received, and were thenceforward never in public custody until they were acquired, by gift or purchase, for the British Museum. Among records of an earlier date may be mentioned a number of Royal Wardrobe or Household Books, from the time of Edward I. onwards, which have been purchased when they came into the market, notably at the successive sales of portions of the Phillipps Library in recent years. It will be seen from this recital that, from the very foundation of the British Museum, the Trustees have regarded it as one of their special duties to collect all such materials for English history as it has been possible for them to acquire by gift or purchase. Legal records, such as the Public Record Office was originally founded to contain, do not so often come within their reach, though occasionally a record which has escaped from public custody into private possession may come into the market ; as, for instance, a register of the proceeding's of the Court of the Marches, pur chased from a Shropshire antiquary in 1909. Other wise the legal MSS. in the British Museum are mainly of the nature of treatises, collections, precedents, year books, law reading's, and the like. Historical papers on the other hand, as indicated above, are much more plentiful ; but whereas the State Papers in the Public Record Office come direct from Departments of State to the Office, and have never been out of public custody,* those in the British Museum are the waifs and strays which have passed into private hands, and have thence been diligently collected either by anti quaries such as Cotton and Harley, or by the Trustees of the British Museum and their officers. The collections in the British Museum being of a more manageable bulk than those in the Public Record Office, it has been possible to catalogue and index them, and to make them readily accessible to the public. The catalogues no doubt differ in quality and fullness, the earlier ones being usually more summary, the later more detailed and more minutely indexed. It will be understood, however, that the catalogues are not confined to historical and legal documents, but include all the collections in the Manuscript Depart ment. The student who works in the department may indeed find much of his material isolated under appro priate heads in the Class Catalogue mentioned above ; but it has long been in contemplation to undertake, so soon as certain more urgent work has been completed, something in the nature of a calendar of historical papers which will be at the service, not only of those who work in the Museum, but also of students at a distance. In this way it is hoped to economise the time that now has to be spent in searching through a series of catalogues amounting to some 30 volumes. * Some exceptions to this rule appear to have occurred in recent Years. Appendix III. — The Custody and Repair of Documents. 1. The Buildings of the Public Record Office (1838-1902). By section 7 of the Public Record Office Act of 1838 the Treasury was empowered to provide " such suitable and proper additional building or buildings " as should be required for the reception of the Records placed in the custody of the Master of the Rolls. By section 8, " as soon as conveniently may be after the appointment of a Deputy Keeper of the Records," an office called a Public Record Office was to be estab lished, and all persons " employed in the care of the " Records in the custody of the Master of the " Rolls" were to be -'taken to be employed in the " Public Record Office," and after such an office was established " every place or office " in which the Public Records under the charge of the Master were deposited was to be deemed " a branch or part of such Public " Record Office." The Act received the Royal assent on 14 August 1838. Lord Langdale could do nothing to carry it out till the Treasury appropriated money for the Record service. On 14 December 1838 he was able to appoint a Deputy Keeper, having come to an arrangement with the Treasury as to his salary, but it was not till January 1840 that he received the sanction of the Treasury to a scheme proposed by him for the organisation of the staff of the new Record Office. The interval was employed by him hi procuring returns from the old Record Offices as to the persons employed therein and their remuneration, and in other prepara tions. When the scheme for the organisation of the department was approved he was able to act, and on July 10 he issued warrants for taking possession of records located in six different repositories, viz., the Tower, the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey, the Rolls Chapel, the Queen's Bench Records in the Rolls House, and the Records of the Common Pleas at Carlton Ride and 3, Whitehall Tard* Next year he took possession by warrants dated November 4th, 1841, * D.K. 2nd Report, p. 2 ; Appendix, pp. 1-14 ; and above, Appendix I., No. 2. In January 1839 the principal reposi tories of records are stated to be at the Tower, CI i an eery Lane, Lincoln's Inn, the Temple, Somerset House, Carlton Ride] Whitehall Yard, Spring Gardens, New Palace Yard, and the Chapter Bouse. of the remainder of the records in Carlton Ride, of the Augmentation Office in Old Palace Tard, of the Stone Tower annexed to Westminster Hall, and of certain vaults and rooms in Somerset House.* The Master of the Rolls had thus nine different repositories in his possession. He removed the records in three of these to Carlton Ride, and gave up the building's themselves. The house No. 3, Whitehall Tard was given up 24 January 1842. the Augmen tation Office in May 1843, and the premises in Somerset House in June 1843.f After these surrenders, the Public Record Office was organised on the following system. A head office, " The Public Record Office." was established in the Rolls House itself, and the Deputy Keeper, secretary, and certain clerks established therein. , There were five subordinate or branch offices, each in the charge of one or more assistant keepers with a small staff : — 1. The Tower in charge of T. D. Hardy and C. Roberts. 2. The Chapter House, Westminster, in charge of F. Devon. 3. Carlton Ride, and the Stone Tower annexed to Westminster Hall, in charge of Henry Cole and Joseph Hunter. 4. The Rolls Chapel, and part of the Rolls House containing the Queen's Bench Records, in charge of R. Palmer and H. G. Holden. 5. Part of the Rolls House containing Exchequer Records, Ltc. in charge of W. H. Black.J This organisation continued to exist until the com pletion of the new " General Repository " which formed the nucleus of the present Public Record Office building. All these branch offices were unsuitable for their purposes, being so constructed that they were exposed to more than ordinary risks from fire. The vaults " D.K. 3rd Report, p. 7 ; Appendix I., pp. 3-fi. T U.K. 3rd Report, p. 23 ; 5th Report, pp. '2, 3. J The Somerset House premises until given up were annexed to the Rolls Chapel Branch. The Augmentation Office and Mono lower formed at first a separate branch in charge of Hunter. When the Augmentation Office was given uiT the .stone Tower was annexed to Carlton Ride, and Hunter's i,„l L ole s branches were amalgamated. The oriain of Mr RiUvq branch is related in D.K.'s 3rd Report, p. 17" APPENDICES. 27 under the White Tower were used as a magazine, and all the efforts of the Master of the Rolls to obtain the removal of the powder stored there proved ineffectual. "No alteration short of taking down and " rebuilding them would make Carlton Ride or the " Rolls House safe " was the verdict of the Super intendent of the London Fire Brigade " Though " the Stone Tower might be made fairly fireproof, the Chapter House was delapidated and insecure." * Lord Langdale never ceased to represent to the Treasury the insecurity of the buildings in which the Records were deposited and the inconveniences of a system which separated the staff into five divisions and prevented the proper arrangement of the Records. In answer to his requests for the building of a General Repository on the Rolls Estate, the Treasury proposed alternative schemes for housing the Records in the Palace of Westminster, either in the Victoria Tower or in the roofs of the new Houses of Parliament. Not until 1850, a few weeks before Lord Langdale's retire ment, did the Treasury agree to the erection of a building on the Rolls Estate. This long controversy is recorded at length in Reports 1 to 19 of the Deputy-Keeper, and summarised in Hardy's " Life of Lord Langdale." f In the estimates for 1850-1 a vote for the commencement of the building was included, and a plan of the whole was annexed to the estimate for the first portion. " It was determined that the ¦¦ building should consist of five blocks ; the first ' portion is coloured red, and constitutes the Re- " pository; the second portion is coloured blue, the " third orange, the fourth and fifth portions yellow." J The first, that is the red block, was commenced in 1851 and practically completed in October 1856. The first stone was laid on 24 May 1851, and the Deputy Keeper's Report for 1858 says : " the present block is " complete except the clock turret. "§ The building was so far advanced that business could be commenced therein and records deposited in some parts of it early in 1855. Originally it was estimated that the block would contain all the Records then in charge of the Master of the Rolls, with the exception of the Admiralty Records in the White Tower, which it was proposed to retain for the present as a temporary depot in charge of a clerk. It was calculated also that the block would hold the accretions for a long period of years — for 20 years thought the Master of the Rolls, for 50 said the Board of Works. || These expectations did not hold good. In the first place, the accessions made to the stock of documents in the custody of the Master of the Rolls since 1850 of Government documents — or contemplated to be made — were so large that at the end of 1851 it seemed probable that they would nearly fill the first block of the Repository.^" Secondly, in February 1855 the Master of the Rolls was suddenly informed by the Ordnance Board that he must give up the premises in the White Tower for their use, while in the same month the War Office required him at once to transfer to the new Repository the whole of the documents contained in their depot, No. 6, Whitehall Tard.** It was impossible to comply with these demands for lack of space. The rooms in the new Repository were needed for the records which were to be transferred from Carlton Ride, from the Chapter House, and the Stone Tower, or for those already in his custody. The Carlton Ride Records alone would fill 33 rooms.ft In this extremity the Master of the Rolls, besides pressing for the addition of a wing to the Repository, applied to the Board of Works for the possession of a block of houses on the Rolls estate situated between * D.K. 7th Report, pp. 23-35 ; Appendix I., pp. 31-43. A plan of Carlton Ride is given, p. 32. t Volume II., pp. 126-189. X D.K. 20th Report, p. xxix ; of. D.K. 11th Report, p. 12 ; D.K. 12th Report, p. 22. This plan is given in Sessional Papers, House of ' Commons, 1850. The four floors of the Repository were (and are still) numbered A., B., C, D. § D.K. 20th Report, p. xxix. !| D.K. 11th Report, p. 13 ; D.K. 17th Report, p. 21; D.K. 20th Report, p. xxxi. f D.K. 13th Report, p. 5. ** D.K. 10th Report, pp. 5, 6. This was due to the exi gencies of the Crimean War. tf D.K, 17th Report p. 5. Chancery Lane and the Rolls Tard.* The Board of Works agreed, and he thus obtained possession of eight houses in Chancery Lane in November 1855 (Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20), of No. 12, Chancery Lane, in January 1857, of No. 6 in August 1860, and of No. 7 about the beginning of 1861.f The houses in Chancery Lane were not suitable for the reception of records. The Master of the Rolls described them thus in a letter of 6 December 1861 : " They are old, dark, " ill-ventilated, rickety, and unprotected from fire from " intervening dwelling-houses ; and as they are never " warmed, they are damp, and prejudicial both to the •' Records themselves, and to the health of the officers " who have occasion to search therein. They were built '' as private dwelling-houses about the beginning of " the last century, and have had to be strengthened " for their present uses by shorings, at great expense " to the Office of Works. The roofs continually let " in the wet and are perpetually under repair." In these houses papers transmitted from the Admiralty, the War tOffice and other departments were stored. % For the next 30 years they were used as part of the Record Office. § Meanwhile, during 1856 and 1857 the Records from the Tower and from Carlton Ride were transferred to the new Repository. The keys of the Wakefield Tower were given to the War Office on 20th February 1858, and those of the Norman Chapel in the White Tower surrendered -on 12th May 1858. || Carlton Ride was given up on 3rd December 1858. ^[ The removal of the Records in the Chapter House began in 1859,** and it was entirely cleared in August 1861.ft The Stone Tower, however, was not evacuated till 1886. JJ To sum up, in August 1861 the buildings of the Record Office consisted of the first block of the new Repository, the Rolls House, the Rolls Chapel, various houses in Chancery Lane and Rolls Tard, the Stone Tower annexed to Westminster Hall, and the State Paper Office at No. 12, Duke Street, Westminster.§§ The State Paper Office, on the death of its keeper in 1854, had been placed under the control of the Master of the Rolls, and had become a branch Record Office. Lord Romilly was now suddenly informed that its site was required for some new Government buildings, and that its contents must be removed. In spite of the acquisition of the 11 houses in Chancery Lane, he had no space at his disposal : all were full. " All these temporary expedients and makeshifts," he said, " have been overthrown by the intended demolition of the " State Paper Branch Record Office, and the consequent " removal to the Repository of all the documents " belonging to the Home and Colonial Offices, as well " as those of the Foreign Office to the year 1760. "|||| Once more he pressed urgently for the building of the second block of the Repository (6 December 1861). The Treasury after some delay agreed to provide money for a part of the second block, that marked blue in the plan. Operations were commenced on 18 June * D.K. 16th Report, Appendix, pp. 33-35. t D.K 17th Report, p. 21 ; D.K. 22nd Report, pp. xiv, xv • D.K. 23rd Report, p. 35. X D.K. 20th Report, pp. xxxi, Appendix, 189 ; D.K. 23rd Report, p. 35. § The history of these houses as given in the Reports is rather confusing. As stated above, they were originally known as Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17. 20, Chancery Laiie. Apparently they subsequently became a part of the Rolls Yard, when the entrances to Chancery Lane were blocked up, with the exception of two houses used by the Resident Officers. The back entrances, to the Rolls Yard, thus became the official entrances under the survey of the police patrols. The detailed account of the houses in which Government documents were stored, dated October 13, 1858 and drawn up by Mr. Lascelles, describes what the Master of the Rolls calls "the houses in Chancery Lane" as lying "on the south and west side of Rolls Yard," and numbers them 4 to 9, Rolls Yard (D.K. 20th Report, pp. xxxi, Appendix, 189). In the present Deputy Keeper's account of the houses demolished in 1891-2, he describes them as Nos. 3 to 20, Rolls Yard, and says that Nos. 6 to 20 had a frontage of 292 feet to Chancery Lane (D.K. 53rd Report, p. 17 ; D.K. 54th Report, p. 10). || D.K. 20th Report, pp. vi, xxx. if D.K. 20th Report, pp. ix, xiii. ** D.K. 21st Report, p. xiii. tt D.K. 23rd Report, p. 39. XX O.K. 20th Report, p. ix ; D.K. 48th Report, p. vii. §§ D.K. 22nd Report, p. xiv. |||| D.K. 23rd Report, p. 35. 28 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : 1863, and the buildings were completed and opened in the course of 1866.* This new block contained the literary and legal search rooms for which no provision had been made in the plan of 2 December 1850.f The centre tower of the south front was also commenced in 1865, J and finished in 1867. § These were only a portion of the east wing (i.e., of the part marked blue), and the Master of the Rolls pressed for its completion, as the space at his disposal was still insufficient, and the erection of the remainder was sanctioned. || It was begun in 1868,1 and ready for occupation in March 1871.** Space was still needed. Sir George Jessel, imme diately after becoming Master of the Rolls, applied to the Treasury for the erection of a new block, 8th October 1873.f f Nothing was done. J J The 37th Report contained " An account of the Construction of " the Public Record Office and of the Means adopted " for its security from fire," §§ no doubt printed in order to call attention to the unsuitability of the houses in Rolls Tard and Chancery Lane for the storage of Records. This supplies an account of the Office as it was in 1876. No change took place during the next 10 years. In 1887 and 1888, Sir Henry Maxwell Lyte urged the removal of Nos. 1 and 2, Rolls Tard as being a source of danger to the adjoining buildings. || j| Their removal was effected in the course Of 1889. He further called attention in 1889 to the unsatisfactory condition of the row of houses in Chancery Lane.ll The result was that the extension of the Office was agreed to in 1890,*** and the demolition of the houses began in December 1891. ftt Foundations for a new block facing Chancery Lane were laid in the latter part of 1892, and during the same year the houses in Rolls Yards were demolished. J J J This portion, the third instalment of the General Repository of Records, was completed in the autumn of 1895. The architect was Sir John Taylor, who found it necessary to depart considerably from the plans made by Sir James Pennithorne in 1850.§§§ This entailed the demolition of the old Rolls Chapel, of which a history is given in the appendix to the 57th Report, with plans.|||||j On the site of it was built the present Museum opened in 1902.H1 A fourth instalment of the General Repository was begun in February 1896. It was to connect the new block with the portion erected between 1850' and 1871. It was estimated to cost 50,000Z.**** In his report for the year 1899 the Deputy Keeper announced its practical completion : " Most of the new building " was taken into occupation in the spring of 1899 . . . " A large room occupying the site of the Rolls Chapel " had not been quite finished by the end of the year. " The inconvenient and ugly building erected as " 'Judges' Chambers' in 1838, and occupied since " 1881 by this Department, was pulled down in the " course of the autumn, and the whole establishment " is at last located under one roof."tfff C. H. F. * D.K. 23rd Report, p. 32 ; D.K. 24th Report, p. xviii ; D.K. 25th Report, p. xxi ; D.K. 2Kth Report, ,p. xiv This constituted a portion of the present " E, block." " f D,K. 25th Report, p. xxi. X D.K. 271 li Report, p. xxiv. .K. 59th Report, pp. 10, 11 ; DK. 60th Report, p 13. This constituted the present "F block." +t+t D.K, 61st Report, p, 12. 2. The Proposed Extension of the Buildings op the Public Recobd Office. (a) Extract from the Minutes of a Meeting of the Royal Commission on Public Records, held at Scotland House, S.W., on Friday, 2Uh March 1911* (1) Resolved : That the Commission, having heard the Deputy Keeper's evidence on the subject of the acquisi tion of Clifford's Inn Gardens and adjoining buildings for the extension of the Public Record Office, and having perused the memorandum and examined the plan put in by this witness, are of unanimous opinion that the Deputy Keeper's suggestion is deserving of careful consideration by the proper authority. (2) Resolved -. That, in view of the evidence brought before the Commission, that an extension of the Public Record Office will be required within a few years, the question, of providing additional space is urgent, and it is desirable to call the attention of the Lords Com missioners of His Majesty's Treasury to the Deputy Keeper's proposal. (b) Memorandum by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records on the Subject of the Extension of the Public Record Office. ,f The Public Record Office was built in some instal ments in the course of the reign of Queen Victoria upon the Rolls Estate, the freehold of which had been vested in the Crown by Act of Parliament in 1837. In the early part of the seventeenth century the Rolls Estate was bounded on the east by Fetter Lane, on the west by Chancery Lane, and on the south by land occupied by the Societies of Serjeants' Inn and Clifford's Inn. While Serjeants' Inn lay wholly to the south of the western part of it, the garden of Clifford's Inn inter vened between the south-western and the south-eastern extremities of the Rolls Estate. On the 29th of March 1618, Francis, Earl of Cumberland and Henry, Lord Clifford, sold to the Principal and Rules of Clifford's Inn the capital messuage bearing that name, with all its appurtenances, reserving only a piece of the garden, 22 feet broad and 134 feet long, adjoining the Rolls Estate and Serjeants' Inn, which strip was to be severed and enclosedfrom the garden. The deed of sale contained a covenant that neither the Principal, the Rules, nor any other person of the Society of Clifford's Inn should at any time thereafter make or erect any build ings in or upon the side of the garden adjoining the ground excepted from the conveyance. A week later, the Earl of Cumberland and Lord Clifford conveyed the strip of ground so reserved to the then members of the Society of Serjeants' Inn. It is believed that the houses on the eastern side of the present garden of Clifford's Inn were erected some time after 1618. A piece of the Rolls Estate, known as St. Dunstan's House, in Fetter Lane, bounded by them on the west and the south, was let by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests on a. lease expiring in 1966. By a deed of exchange dated the 31st December 1902 the Commissioners of His Majesty's Works and Public Building, acquired from the trustees of the will * See Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 376, 377. In consequence of this evidence, the above resolutions were passed, and were com municated unofficially to the Deputy Keeper. Subsequently, an official application was made (5th July 1911) to the Office of Works for further information on this subject; but the Commission was informed (13th July 1911) that " this question " has not yet arrived at the stage when the Board would be " able to lay their views before the Commission." In reply to a further letter from the Commission (20th May 1912) for permis sion to publish the above correspondence, it was suggested (25th May) by the Board of Works that the inclusion in the Report of the Commission of a, statement to the effect that powers arc being sought under the Public Offices' Sites Bill (1 912) for the purchase of a | .ortion of the property in question "would be of greater public utility than the publication of '¦ the somewhat inconclusive correspondence in question " The Commissioners expressed (11th June 1912) their agreement with this proposition without, however, having had the opportunity of considering whether the portion of the propertv scheduled m the Bill now before Parliament is adequate to meet the requirements of the Record Office in respect of accommodation for accruing records and suitable housing for a resident officer, as recommended in the Commissioners' Report (p. 14), or to protect the repository from the dangerous proximity ol other buildings. t See plan annexed. APPENDICES. 29 of Mr. Serjeant Cox, the purchaser of Serjeant's Inn, so much of the strip mentioned in the deeds of 1618 as lay between the Rolls Estate and the garden of Clifford's Inn. The whole of Clifford's Inn was £old in one lot by auction in May 1903, when Mr. William Willett, of Sloane Square, purchased it for 100,0002. He has since advertised his desire to sell the freehold or to let it on building leases for ninety-nine years. It is t believed that he has very recently sold the old: hall, \ with some premises adjoining, to the Society of Knights' Bachelors for 35,0002., and that he has furthermore sold some houses situate on the west of it to the Law Union and Rock Insurance Company. All these he on the south side of a paved court which has a private exit southward into Fleet Street and another eastward into Fetter Lane. With this southern part of Clifford's Inn the Public Record Office has no concern. I have, however, to submit that it is very desirable that the Crown should acquire the garden of Clifford's Inn and the five houses on the east of it, all, in fact, that lies on the north of the paved court mentioned above. Even if the present structure of the Pubhc Record Office were likely to suffice for a considerable time, the sale of the Garden of Clifford's Lin as a building site could not be' viewed without apprehen-,, sion, as it has always been deemed necessary to preserve an open space of reasonable width all round the Office. So long as the Garden of Clifford's Inn remained the property of the Principal and Rules, they were restrained by the covenant of 1618 from building on the western part of it, opposite to the south-western wing of the Office. Now it is doubtful what protection against the erection of buildings of excessive height along the northern and western boundaries of the garden may be got through a claim to ancient lights belonging to the Crown, which need not be explained here. A more important fact to be noticed is that, so far as can be foreseen, the Public Record Office will be full in 1916, and that something will have to be done ere long for its enlargement. According to plans already prepared, the first extension will consist of a long range extending eastwards from the present south-western wing towards Fetter Lane. If built entirely upon the Rolls Estate, as proposed, it must not be so high as to damage the existing repository of records in respect of light and air, and it would neces sarily have to be narrow. Even so, part of it would be within a couple of feet of the north-western angle of the Garden of Clifford's Inn, while another part would be veiy little further from the northern house (No. 17) now standing on that property. If the Garden of Clifford's Inn and the five houses to the east of it were acquired by the Crown and added to the Rolls Estate, the latter would have a fairly straight southern boundary, and there would be ample space on which to erect such buildings as might here after be necessary for the housing of the National Archives. There -could, for example, be a central wing- running north and south, and, looking still further ahead to the determination of the lease of St. Dunstan's House in 1966, an eastern wing facing Fetter Lane. Even at that remote date, the site of St. Dunstan's House would be of little use for an extension of the Public Record Office if there were, as at present, inflammable houses immediately adjoining on the west and south. Four of these houses are let as chambers and offices to some twenty different tenants ; the fifth, in Fetter Lane, is an ironmonger's shop. Until it should be found necessary to demolish any of them for an extension of the Public Record Office, the Crown would, under the scheme now submitted, receive the rents, which, it is believed, would yield a fair return on the amount that would have to be paid for the freehold. If the present opportunity of buying from awillin" seller be neglected, it may never recur, and the acquisition of the land necessary for the enlargement of the Public Record Office may prove difficult and very costly. H. C. Maxwell Lyte. 3. Retuen of Recoed Rooms in the Peemises of the Recoed Office in 1877.* Number of Booms filled with Becords. A Floor 22 rooms, averaging 15 ft. height, 17 ft. breadth, 24 ft, length. B Floor 21 rooms, averaging 15 ft. height, 17 ft. breadth, 24 ft. length. C Floor - 17 rooms, averaging 15 ft. height, 17 ft. breadth, 24 ft. length. D Floor 18 rooms, averaging 12 ft. height, 16 ft. breadth, 24 ft. length. E Block 20 rooms, averaging 18 ft. height, 18 ft. breadth, 25 ft. length. Repository 98 rooms (exclusive of tower). Houses in Bolls Yard filled with Becords. No. 4 3 rooms, averaging 10 ft. height, 11 ft. breadth, 18 ft. length. No. 5 2 rooms, averaging 7 ft. height, 17 ft. breadth, 36 ft. length. No. 7 4 floors, averaging 9 ft. height, 18 ft. breadth, 40 ft. length. No. 16 4 floors, averaging 9 ft. height, 16 ft. breadth, 27 ft. length. No. 1 7 4 floors, averaging 9 ft. height, 16 ft. breadth, 27 ft. length. No. 20 4 floors, averaging 9 ft. height, 15 ft. breadth, 27 ft. length. Houses 6 21 rooms and floors. Dimensions of (late) Copying Boom. Length 60 ft. 6 in. Breadth 25 ft. 4 in. Height 15 ft, 4. Return of Recoed Rooms available in 1900 and of those converted to OTHEE USES.f Strong Rooms, G and F blocks 35 rooms. Officers' rooms, G and F blocks - 4 rooms. Messengers and porters' rooms 2 rooms. Officers' Rooms converted into Strong Rooms. A floor, F block 3 rooms. B floor, F block 1 room. C floor, F block 1 room. D floor, F block (Store rooms) 2 rooms. Strong Booms converted into Officers' Rooms, de. C floor 4 rooms. C floor (departmental search rooms) 2 rooms. C floor (Ladies' room) 1 room. C floor (Public lavatory) 1 room. The number of Record Rooms prior to 1900 was about 78 . In that year two new blocks of the Repository were completed, adding 35 more rooms to be utilised as strong rooms. Seven rooms previously occupied by officers were converted into strong rooms, and eight strong rooms into new search rooms, &c. 5. Cost of the Public Recoed Office, England (1879-1910). The Commission, wishing to ascertain the total yearly cost of the Public Record Office since the Act of 1838, made application to the Treasury for this in formation, but it would appear that the official accounts from which such information would have been obtained were scheduled for destruction prior to 1888 under the Public Record Office Act of 1877. The Exchequer and Audit Office, however, has fortunately preserved a summary of the expenditure between 1879 and 1888, and this is printed in the first table below, by the courtesy of that department. In the second table will be found the detailed expenditure on the public records from 1888 to 1910, communicated by the courtesy of the Lords Commissioners of Your Majesty's Treasury. * Return to Select Committee of the House of Lords on the Public Record Office Bill of 1877. (Report, Appendix C.) t Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. as oooooooooocooooooo0000000000000000^3 ^10;Ol*.MtOHOCO I I I I I I I I I oooooooooooooooooo00~3O}Cn:)£-C0tOt-»© W Oq O S 5 ~ c r-h c ?r ^ yj t? o — r-H jj ¦¦¦ P fci ^J tr ~ o tOCOCOCOCOtf-COtOtO (Class I.) iaCO*.14ffitOI.OO "© h-» h-' M "tO .. COvI^OJSICOMOtH w (Class VI.) Superannuations. P3 ^ a o- Cl Hx fej ^ -* CD Su CO h- ' O M Cfc (Revenue) Postage and Telegrams. to to to to to to to to l—" © M J-J fco to tO O © CO 02 M CO "© Oi "(Or "cO "© 00 j-K OTC00000©O0T05©TO CO 03 M K) Ol H tO tO to to to to to to to to to ^ci oo -a oo oo «o oj >k i*- "©^"oo"© oo"hJ"to"oo'co W-, TOHUO5O>C0KIOT-JlJ0DCnWQ0Otvll3H*a Gross Total Cost. Add Expenditure, Gross, shown in j Appropriation Account. 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HHHC0dldiCM00C0aj>OldO01-^O^I>C>l ^6i-cor~D-co©cooooocoi'~GO©oo©©£~ocr-oo©, !-H IOCO 00 rgCOrH-#CO©© ©©©©©©©©©©©©©©© © •C1C1COCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO © * rH rH rH rH ©Cir~©rH-#lO©©©C0C0O0-*CM©Cir^©CO-* !>• ^ I- © © © rH © IO iO *-P © CM CO rH CO CM t» CO rH © I>. IO 00 a a H C O H H CO ^# o,co CO N IO, t~1 r-i 1. Purl. IV. 289 aud 318). Writs of " assistance " were issued for this purpose to all the local officers. Very few of the books here referred to appear to be preserved before the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when a new order was issued in the matter. This is still to be found enrolled in the Exchequer* and gives very elaborate instructions for a new procedure. The parch ment books were issued yearly to all customers, &c. in tin boxes under the Exchequer seal and were known as " the Queen's Books " because of the great importance in which they were held. In these books were to be entered, on the information of the merchants importing goods into London, the name of the ship and of its master, whence freighted, the bulk and number of parcels of merchandise, their nature, and other par ticulars. In the case of goods carried outwards, the merchant produced particulars of his cargo which was not only entered, but was also recited in a bond (known as the Port or Coast bond) stating the port of destina tion. If the exporter's cargo was duly landed at such a port and was found to correspond with the customer's " cocket," a paper certificate was duly issued to that effect, and when this was annexed to the bond the condition thereof was satisfied, otherwise a prosecution might follow. It was in connection with these legal proceedings that the Port Books and Coast Bonds were regularly returned into the King's Remembrancer's Office,! where revenue prosecutions were initiated, but it is also stated that the object of the returns was that the truth of the matter might " remain of record." In 1677 and 1679J there were further important Treasury orders to the same effect, specifying the exact form in which the entries in the Port Books are to be made — whilst the importance attached to their com pilation is indicated by other Acts of Parliament and Records. (§) Between 1784 and 1786 the system of the Port Books was unfavourably reported on by the Commission on Public Accounts. || The objections made were on the score of the expense entailed by the lavish issue of the parchment books. It was also alleged that returns were no longer made in all cases, but no conclusive evidence in support of this statement was adduced. The recommendation of this Commission was supported by that of the House of Commons Finance Committee in 1797 which recommended the discontinuance of the Port Books as being " of no practical possible utility to the public" and a "needless expense." They were finally discontinued by Treasury Order of 14 March 1799. The Coast Bonds, however, continued to be issued and returned down to the reign of Queen Victoria ; for although the Act 6 George IV. c. 107. s. 118 T., 7 Eliz. Rot. 319. 'Hargc of 'the Clerk of the * Exch. K.R. Memor. Roll, Mil. f They were heiv under the Coast or Port Bonds. X K.R. Memor. Roll, Hil. T., 32 and 33 Car. II. rot i-iv Cf. Act of 14 Car. IT. c. 11, s. 8. § E.g., 5 and 6 Wm. and Mar. c. 20. s. 2 ; 1 Anne c. 20. s. 3 ; and the Calendar of Treasury Papers passim. || Report of Committee on the Customs (1784), pp. 103, 563. 46 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : permitted all bonds on which no prosecution had taken place within three years to be " cancelled and destroyed," this Act and a re-enactment of the next reign* were repealed by subsequent Acts of Par- liament.f (b) The Value and Use of these Records. The historical value of the Port Books may be regarded as chiefly due to the fact of the non-survival of the original Customs Accounts, J as a class, since the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In fact these Exchequer records are very sparsely preserved from the close of the mediaeval period and they are no longer fully supplemented, as in the 14th and 15th centuries, by a great series of enrolled accounts. § The later enrol ments || are only useful for statistical purposes and give but scanty details as to the nature of com modities imported or exported, the history of the coasting trade, or the names and tonnage of the merchant shipping of the 16th and 17th centuries. At a considerably later date some valuable information is afforded by the Customs records which escaped destruction in 1814, but this series extends only from 1697 to 1780 with some later particulars for the 19th century.^[ In any case it does not supply the same information as the Port Books and Coast Bonds for the local history of the coasting trade or merchant shipping. Moreover, although the object of these records was to regulate the trade coastwise, they afford much valuable information as to English commerce, since the books from the outports appear to have recorded sailings of vessels from foreign to English ports and outwards. The information given in London Port Books for the trade in such com modities as sweet wines and currants in the early 17th century are of special value and the whole history of the cloth and corn trades would probably receive an exhaustive elucidation from this source. It is an established fact that for many years past English and American scholars have been in search of precisely this kind of information, and it may be fairly assumed that they would make immediate and very profitable use of these buried materials for our economic history, whilst it is by no means improbable that interesting discoveries might be made therein for the history of society and literature in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.** Finally it may be observed that the Coast Bonds should afford, in addition to an almost complete series of autographs of every English customer during more than 200 years, possibly the most important collection of seals of English officials and merchants during the 16th and 17th centuries. Whether these records have survived in a sufficiently connected series to be worth cataloguing at length is at present unknown, but their original extent was immense. (c) The Vicissitudes of these Records. Although there are good reasons for supposing that the condition of the Exchequer records preserved in the Palace of Westminster between the 16th and the 19th centuries was far from satisfactory, that of the Port Books and Coast Bonds would seem to have been even worse under the remedial regime of the old Record Commission.ft The passing of the Public Record Office Act in 1838 brought no amelioration of their condition, the early reports of the Deputy Keeper showing that they were allowed to lie neglected, whether in the * 3 & 4 Wm. IV. c. 52. s. 122, and 8 A: 9 Vict. c. 86. s. 130. f 3 & 4 Wm. IV. c. 50. 8. 2 ; 8 & 9 Vict. c. 84. s. 2 ; and 16 & 17 Vict. c. 107. s. 35X ; ,/. also s. 195. X Exchequer Accounts (K.R.) Customs. § L.T.R. Enrolled Accounts, Customs. Those for (he 16th century are less detailed. || Pipe and Audit Office Declared Accounts, Customs. It would seem that the Port Books or similar compilations were used for the purpose of verifying the totals of those accounts. If See below, p. 47, note *. ** It has not been ascertained if there is any truth in the statements of old Exchequer officials that other local records besides Port Books and Coast Bonds are included in this collection. tf 1800 Report (H.C.). pp. 141-2, 211 ; 1837 Report (R.C.), p. 161. Stone Tower or in Carlton Ride, between 1841 and 1858. It is not surprising that the officials of this age should have failed to recognise their historical value, for the foundations of the study of economic and social history were only laid in later times. It is, however, somewhat remarkable that such an enlightened and careful scholar as Sir Francis Palgrave should have not only accepted the pronouncements of the Exchequer and Record officers of his own time with regard to the historical value of these records, but that he should actually have mis-stated their opinions.* The fact is that since the findings of the Com mittees between 1784 and 1797 it had come to be regarded as a truism that these records were no longer of official value, whilst the view of their possible value for historical purposes had not been so much as entertained. In 1860, however, they were found to be of value in connection with the status of the Port of Liverpool, and for these reasons possibly they escaped the drastic operations of the Destruction Committee of that time.f It must be remembered that during the whole of this period these records were still rotting in heaps on the floor of any record room that was not wanted for a better purpose. With the passing of the Public Record Office Acts of 1877 and 1898 it is not surprising that a series of records with such an ill reputation should have been brought to trial. It is, however, to be regretted that the official indictment is scarcely a fair one. A schedule was prepared in 1896 which was printed and submitted to Parliament, and under this schedule all the Port Books and Coast Bonds of later date than 1715 were to have been destroyed. In 1899, subsequent to the passing of the Act enabling valueless records to be destroyed back to the year 1660, a second schedule was prepared of the same records, but it is believed that these schedules have not yet been executed, owing to the trouble involved by sorting out records of earlier date than 1660. As a compromise, therefore, the whole class of records was removed from the Record Room to the small turrets on the roof, where they have since remained in the condition in which they were found by the Commission. (d) Conclusions. The particulars given in the printed schedule of 1896 and 1899 have been described as an unfair indictment of these records. This statement is based upon the following circmn- stances : — (1) No adequate history of the records or descrip tion of their nature and extent has been attempted. Thus undue prominence has been given here, and equally in the evidence given before this Commission, \ to the later coal trade rather than to the trade in woollen cloth, whilst there is no perception of other possible requirements or uses for local and economic history. (2) Undue prominence is given to the opinions of old officials as to the uselessness of these records, without considering the historical competence of the writers or their reference to the practical utility of these records for the Customs service only, and ignoring several distinct appreciations of the value of the Port Books. § (3) As it is essential to prove duplication of the information supplied by any records before they are destroyed, this is alleged here to exist in the Customs D.K. 4th Report, p. 17 and Appx. i, 24. These entries show that Palgrave failed to notice that Cole's Report, on which he relied, expressly excepts the Port Books as being possibly valuable. In the margin of the Record Office copy of the Proceedings of the old Record Commission (1833) there is the following note (p. 401) in the hand of C. P. Cooper :— "At all events they (the Port Books) are useful as " duplicates. Remember the fate of the Custom House and " its contents." t D.K. 2Hth Report, p. ix, but cf. D.K. 58th Report, p. 13 I Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 939-41. § In this connection it is worth noting that in the 2nd Report of the Irish Deputy Keeper (Appx. p. 102) there is an account of the Port Books at Dublin, Cork, Ltc. without any suggestion that they are unworthy of permanent preservation. "APPENDICES. 47 House records which, however, are only valuable for one aspect of the subject and which are actually incomplete.* (4) The authority of the several Acts of Parliament and opinions of Departmental Committees which are mainly relied upon by the Committee of Inspecting Officers, in the last paragraph but two of the " Particulars,", contained in the schedules of 1896 and 1899, will he found to require considerable modifi cation ; but in any case it ought not to have dispensed with an independent inquiry. (5) It is difficult to understand how such an inquiry could be carried out without making a list of the records or sorting them out, which has apparently never been attempted, as is admitted in the lsst paragraph but one of the " Particulars." In any case it is a singular fact that several specimens of Port Booksf have been accidentally preserved amongst the Exchequer records and have been quite recently described in official lists without recognising then- identity. If these records are regarded and preserved as valuable, why have the others been neglected ? (e) Memorandum. That the present case, whatever its merits may prove to be, appears to invite further inquiry. (i) As to the practice of withdrawing large series of unsorted papers from official lists pending an opportunity for their destruction. (ii) As to the existing system of bringing documents before the statutory Committee for destruction. (iii) As to the representation of historians and antiquaries on the Committee or at least as to the necessity of publishing the schedules (which at present can only be procured by members of both Houses of Parhament) in accordance with the understanding given in the Deputy Keeper's Report for 1887, but not carried out since that date. Appendix A. Extract from the Third Day's Evidence. 939. (Dr. Sidney Lee.) Mr. Scargill-Bird's book gives the public a general indication F — (Mr. H. Rodney.) Yes, that contains practically everything in the office. I believe there is an idea abroad that we have large collections of unarranged stuff stowed away; people talk about the vaults of the Record Office and that sort of thing. I had the pleasure of showing Mr. Tedder and Dr. Kenyon the vaults of the Record Office. They are not very vaulty. 940. Everything is classified in the way you say ? — Yes. The only things we have in bulk are original writs ; they are the process of getting persons into court, such as subpoenas, taxings, and restraints before an action begins. If the action is on the Plea Roll, the process of getting the person into court cannot be of any interest. Since 1660 they have all been destroyed. We have also got some things called Coast Bonds in bulk. 941. What are they ? — There was a duty on exported coal. The captain of a ship loaded some coal at Cardiff, and he entered into a bond to unload it at Bristol and nowhere else. The moment he unloaded it at Bristol the bond was void. It is difficult to see any value whatever in those bonds, whether they are of one date or another. We have them in bulk, and if we were to arrange them it would be wasting public money. If anybody would like to have a specimen he can have one ; but the fact that a particular captain entered into a particular bond for so many tons of coal does not seem to be of any interest. * It was not observed that these records were wanting for the years 1712, 1727-1728. and 1781-1791, and the books for these years are believed to have been destroved in the fire of 1814. f Augmentation Office, Miscellaneous Books, 467 and 485. Exchequer Accounts, Customs, 196/15, 196/20. Appendix B. (a) Letter from Mr. H. Atton, author of " The King's Customs." Customs Library, Dear Mr. Hall, 12th July 1911. I am inclined to think that the books we inspected to-day may not be what were of old known as " Port Books," which T believe contained accounts of cargoes. I rather fancy these are lists of arrivals and departures of vessels. I enclose Report of Committee of 1784 on the working of the Customs. Pp. 103 and 563 may throw light upon the ma.tter. You will observe the quotation, apparently from Elizabeth's original Order under the Great Seal, to the effect that it was desired that the entries should remain " of record." Perhaps the real " Port Books " were destroyed on the strength of this Report ? The Committee (budding reformers) were too utilitarian to observe the full meaning of the words " of record." They perceived that the books had ceased to be of official use. They could not know that the Custom House was to be burned in 1814, with nearly all its records. If the real " Port Books " existed at the present time they would contain much valuable information as to commerce and the relative importance of ancient ports. These " lists of arrivals, &c." may be found to contain here and there information more purely " historical " — therefore of higher value. The letter books now preserved at our outports rarely go back so far as the 17th century. They contain information similar to that contained in the series of " Coast Bonds " we looked at to-day, but your Coast Bonds are of earlier date, and could be searched with profit by local historians as a preliminary to the inspection of our letter books. The same may be said of the old "wine accounts," &c. Yours very truly, (Signed) H. Atton. (b) Letter from Dr. Gras, of Harvard University, U.S.A. 5 Henry Road, N., My dear Mr. Hall, 21st July 1911. I am applying to you again for help in time of need. As you know, I am making a study of English trade up to 1700, and especially the English grain trade. From Edward I. to Elizabeth, the K.R. Customs are of the greatest value, but from Elizabeth on comes a rude break, and I am informed by the officials in charge of the Round Room that, this gap is unbridgeable. As this would be a serious matter in my work, I hesitate to accept the view of non-existence of 17th century Customs documents, but I know not which way to turn for further information. Can you help me in any way ? I am, &c, N. S. B. Gras. 16. Memorandum on the ' Port Books " and " Coast Bonds " in the Public Record Office* («.) Nature of the Documents. The series of documents known as " Port Books " (K.R. Customs) begins properly in 1565, but contains a few earlier books of a similar nature, one of as early a date as 1432. There are also a few Port Books to be found included in the earlier series of K.R, Customs. It may be pointed out that these Port Books are no less and no more "the originals" than the older series, and therefore of equal value. Both Port Books and K.R. Customs were made up from the notes, or daily ledgers, of the local officials. They differ, however, in that the parchment books of the later series were sent blank from the Exchequer and not supplied by the local officials themselves. The head of the account containing an indication of the number of folios in the later series was also inscribed at the Exchequer and put on the cover ; whilst in the * Put in by Mr. N. S. B. Gras in the course of his evidence (Minutes of Evidence, Q. 4370). 48 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: early series, the head of the account, without any indication of the ntfmber of folios, was written down by the officials themselves, and on the first page following the cover. Besides, the K.R. Customs documents (customers' accounts) contained a foot of account, or general summary for the year, whilst in the Port Books this is entirely missing. These formal differences and likenesses are mentioned to show that the new series may be expected to be as valuable as the much prized older series, containing as it does the same kind of information. Following is a classification of these port ledgers ; — 1. Those dealing with foreign and colonial trade : (a) Customer's entries. (b) Comptroller's entries. (c) Searcher's entries. (d) Surveyor's entries - "I apparently for (e) Waiter's entries J London only. In these are found — 1. Date and year. 2. Name of ship, and at times its tonnage. 3. Name of master and shipper. 4. Destination in case of export, and place of shipment in case of import. 5. Amount and kind of goods. 6. In case of poundage, the value of the goods is sometimes given, but this is of no great importance, since from the early 16th century to the late 18th, the great bulk of commodities subject to ad valorem duties bore only the official valuations of the Book of Rates. 7. The customs and subsidies. II. Those dealing with coast trade (Customers' and Comptrollers' entries) : A. Certificate Books — for general mer chandise going coastwise. These contain entries of the following classes of shipments : — (a) " Let pass " shipments, which, from the nature of the goods or the well reputed character of the shipper or shortness of the journey, it was not considered necessary to put under bond. (b) " Transires," probably the earliest . form of cockets, were practically receipts for the payment of duties on goods of foreign import, and a guarantee that when sent coast wise to any English port, no further duty would be demanded. (c) "Bonds" — on goods of domestic production or manufacture, going coastwise, and on which there was no custom due. These Bonds were of two kinds : 1. Those exonerated by separate cer tificate, that is, those of which the bond was released by a receipt of unloading, as per agreement. 2. Those uncertificated, because, by stress of weather or change of plans of the owners, the goods had been unladen abroad. The bond was then released only on the payment of the export duty. B. " Certificate Books " for special articles of coast trade, such as wool, fells, calf-skins, and leather, entering and leaving London. The Coast Bonds, which are the second series of Customs documents in question, a limited number of which have been inspected, are the originals from which the Certificate Books were compiled. 1. The bonds entered into by two persons, whose names and residence are given, for a stated sum (12. per ton of coal in the 18th century) as guarantee for the unloading of a specified amount of goods of a certain merchant at a port named, in a ship of so many tons, of which so-and-so was the master. 2. Certificates, not bonds, but certifications by the officials of the port of unloading that the conditions of the bond had been fulfilled. These were returned to the port of lading, the approval endorsed, and the exoneration entered in the Certificate Book. 3. " Let pass " (Transire permittatis), a sealed order of a Customs official to allow A. B., acitizen of X, and denizen, to pass coastwise in such a ship with so-and-so master, with certain goods which have come from X and are to be unladen at Z, and not abroad ; A. B. having given satisfaction by surety (not bond) or being beyond suspicion by the prominence of his position, &c. This order was endorsed by the officials of the port of unlading, and returned to the port of lading. 4. " Transires," as described above (II. (b)). No transires were among the files of Coast Bonds examined, but doubtless are to be found in the series. It will be noted that Coast Bonds touch foreign trade at only two points, when ships engaged in coast trade, by accident or design, were diverted from their course, and their goods unladen abroad, and secondly, when goods imported from abroad were later disposed of through the coast trade. In form, the Coast Bonds are files of small slips of parchment sealed, or cocketed ; a, file to a port, and apparently one file to a year. As returned to the Exchequer, say about 1600, there were for all ports 4,000 or even many more for every year. As trade grew, their numbers must have become enormous. (b) Value of the Documents. There can be no question that the Port Books form the more valuable series, because they include foreign, as well as coast, trade. They are invaluable for the study of the following subjects : — 1. Mechanism of the later Customs system. 2. Growth of export and import trade. 3. Development of companies, public and private. 4. The history of ports, their relative and absolute decline and rise. 5. The history of local and national industries, general and special. 6. The history of colonial settlement and ex pansion. 7. The history of shipping and ship-building. 8. The gradual introduction of luxuries, and the development of a higher standard of living. 9. The course of market development and expan sion, domestic as well as foreign 10. The effect of national legislation such as the Navigation Acts and Corn Bounty Acts. 11. The genealogy of merchants and shipmasters. The Port Books also supplement the K.R. Customs Accounts which practically end in 1565, and the Enrolled Accounts which barely outlast the 16th century. The Coast Bonds are more limited in scope, dealing practically only with coast trade. And indeed most of the information they contain is to be found, in kind at least, in more readable form, in the certificate books ; but they will go a long way to supplement the certficate books, which, though numerous, have many serious gaps. And besides, they record a series of names, the bondsmen, not to be found in the certificate books or elsewhere. There can be no doubt as to the light these ¦' Bonds " will throw on the development of trade and iudustry. Though the bare facts recorded often seem of little use, they are nevertheless valuable to the student who knows their meaning, and is able to read the information they contain along with that found elsewhere. The possible duplication to be found in many of these documents, in both series, has in the past been considered almost as ground for their destruction. But if this principle were accepted, what Record Office series, even the most valued, would remain intact P Of exact or perfect duplication in those Port Books that have been read, but few instances have been found. And even then it sometimes happens that - APPENDICES. 49 one Port Book really supplements the other owing to the partial illegibility of both. There is much partial duplication between the collector's, comptroller's, searcher's, surveyor's, and "waytor's" entries of exports and imports, but this is largely confined to London. Of the duplication of certificate Port Books and Coast Bonds, enough has already been said to show that it is not serious, and that one set of documents supplements rather than duplicates the other. Of course, if all the Port Books and all the Coast Bonds that once existed (over 50,000 Port Books alone, according to a conservative estimate) were now the subject of inquiry, the problem of rooting out superfluous records would be a serious one, but an examination of what now remains (nearly 30,000 Port Books), especially after the partial cataloguing that has already been done, leads one to conclude that the destruction of any of the documents in question would be a dangerous experiment, and would hamper, rather than further, the searches of future investigators. London, 12th December 1911. 17. Note on the "Port Books'' in the Public Record Office,* Some years ago 1 compiled, from all the sources I knew of, a listt of the ships of the reign of James I., giving their names, ports, tonnage, and voyages ; since the Port Books have been thrown open to the public at the Record Office I have examined many of those for James' reign and am fairly well acquainted with the character of their contents during that period. If they had been available when I made my list, it would have been far more complete and useful. The ship that chiefly interested me was the Pilgrim Fathers' " May flower," and, if my attempt^ to identify her was successful, the Port Books contain at least a dozen references to her and her master, the " Mr. Jones " of Bradford's narrative, showing her career between 1610 and 1621, the voyages she made, the cargoes she carried, and who paid customs duties on them. To the historic voyage no reference has been found in the Port Books, possibly because of the decayed condition of some of them, but more probably because of the secrecy and hurry of the ship's sailing. One entry, however, relating to the sailing of a " Mayflower " to New England in 1624 will have to be explained by New England historians ; there is reason to think that the ship referred to is the Pilgrirns' ship of 1620 (which returned to England in 1621), but no " Mayflower " is known to have arrived in New England, or to have sailed for New England, in 1624, and the puzzle is complicated by another entry in another of the Port Books referring to the same ship but describing her as bound, not for New England, but for Ireland. Apart from the " Mayflower " the Port Books give a good deal of information as to the sailing of ships to and from America and the West Indies, which probably is not to be found elsewhere. In 1634, for example, full details of the cargoes of 19 ships, with their masters' names, are given, with the statement that the New England ships " per licentiam Regis " paid no customs duty ; so in 1625 particulars are given of 14 ships and cargoes bound for America and the West Indies. Similar information may be collected as to the Baltic, Mediter ranean, African, and East Indian trades. In most cases the destination, in outward voyages, and the port of sailing, in homeward voyages, is given ; and where it is not given the character of the cargo — Virginian tobacco, elephants' teeth, whale oil, or logwood — indicate where the ship has been. Opium sent to Barbary and else where ; unbound books imported, with the names of the importers who paid duty; elm planks and trees sent by the States General ambassador, free of duty to Holland (for shipbuilding P) ; stores sent to Portsmouth for the fitting out of the Earl of Cumberland's ships in 1598 are mentioned. The names of ships, and of ports, are often strangely distorted ; the Port Books enable one to identify a ship otherwise unrecognisable, e.g. Sea Orphan or Sealphin = Seraphim ; St. Taur = Centaur. Many of the trade ' Communicated by Mr. R. G. Maraden, M.A. t Transactions, Royal Historical Society, N.S. XIX., p. 309 i English Historical Review, XIX., p. 669. e 14829 names for merchandise — e.g., tottlyng, doke stones, ossmond.s — will occupy etymologists. The completeness, or otherwise, of the series will require examination. The London books, and these are by far the most important, seem to be the most complete and also the best kept. The absence of any during the early 17th century for Harwich surprises me, as there are books for Colchester, Ma'ldon, and other less important " creeks " of Ipswich. Some of the books, mostly for small or decaying ports, are entirely blank ; some are apparently duplicates of others ; hut the case of the " Mayflower " of 1624 shows that it would not be well to destroy apparent duplicates. From the number of ships of burden attributed to Lee (Leigh) in Elizabethan and Jacobean times it would seem that there must once have been a harbour and trade there, 18. Schedules relating to the Disposal of the " Port Books " and " Coast Bonds " in 1896 and 1899. Prints of Schedules laid before Parliament in 1896 and 1899 for the destruction of Exchequer Port Books and Coast Bonds. (a) Schedule of July 1896. Public Records (Court of Exchequer). Schedule containing a List and Particulars of Classes of Documents which formerly were or ought to have been in the office of the King's or Queen's Remembrancer of the Exchequer, or of the Clerk appointed to take charge of the port bonds or Coast Bonds, and which are now in, but are not considered of sufficient public value to justify their preservation in the Public Record Office.* (Approved : Esher, M.R.) List. (1) Coast Bonds or Port Bonds - 1715-1845 (2) Certificates of Landing, in discharge ],,, *_, o j - of the above-mentioned Bonds / (3) Port Books of the Port of London 1715-1799 Particulars. To enable the Houses of Parhament to judge of the expediency of disposing of the documents in the proposed manner, that is to say, by destruction. Nos. 1 and 2. — The Port Bonds, otherwise called Coast Bonds, were given by the masters or owners of coasting ships, or shippers, for the landing of coals and other " subsidy goods " to be carried from port to port of England and Wales, and in later times of the United Kingdom. The Certificates were made out when the goods were duly landed and discharged. The object of the system in accordance with which these documents came into existence was to prevent the exportation of goods to foreign countries, without payment of the proper duty, on pretence of conveying them coastwise. As soon, however, as the cargoes had been unladen at one of the home ports, and the Certificates had been compared with the books of that port, and found correct, both the Bonds and the Certificates ceased to be of any further use. All the Bonds and Certificates were sent into the Exchequer. There they remained in the custody of a clerk commonly called the Clerk of the Port Bonds or the Clerk of the Coast Bonds (an officer subordinate to the King's or Queen's Remembrancer), unless required for use in support of proceedings in the Court of Exchequer. Those only which remained in the charge of the Clerk of the Coast Bonds are included in the present schedule. It was provided by the Statute 6 George IV. c. 107, s. 118 (a.d. 1825), that " all Bonds relating to the " Customs required to be given in respect of goods or * Prepared as required by the Public Record Office Act, 1877 (40 tV 41 Vict. c. 55), section one, and in accordance with Rules made pursuant thereto, of which Rules Her Majesty has declared Her approbation by Order in Council, dated the thirtieth day of June 1890. D 50 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : " ships shall be taken by the Collector and Controller '" for the use of His Majesty, and after the expiration • of three years from the date thereof, or of the time, " if any, limited therein for the performance of the " conditions thereof, every such Bond upon which no '" prosecution or suit shall have been commenced shall " be void and may be cancelled and destroyed." This Act was repealed by the 3 & 4 William IV. c. 50, s. 2, but the same provisions were re-enacted by the 3 & 4 Wihiam IV. c. 52, s. 122. This again was repealed by the 8 & 9 Vict. c. 84, s. 2, but the same provisions were re-enacted (with certain exceptions not affecting Coast Bonds) by the 8 & 9 Vict. c. 86, s. 130. The last-mentioned section was repealed by the 16 & 17 Vict. c. 107, s. 358. The provisions enacted in its place (s. 195 of the last-mentioned Act) were that such Bonds, with certain exceptions as before, might be cancelled by or by the Order of the Commissioners of Customs, the words •' and destroyed " being omitted. A great number of Coast Bonds of dates both earlier and later than the passing of the Act 6 George IV. c. 107, have escaped destruction, and in 1833 it was reported from the Exchequer Office in the Temple that Coast Bonds were still brought in (as was presumed) " by mistake." All those Coast Bonds which were in the custody of Exchequer Officers appear to have been brought under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls by the first section of the Public Record Office Act, 1838. All those which are not later in date than the year 1821 appear to have been brought into the statutory custody of the Master of the Rolls by his warrant countersigned by the Lord Chancellor on the 1st of November 1841. It is therefore believed to be necessary to include the documents in a schedule submitted to the two Houses under the Public Record Office Act, 1877, before they can be destroyed, although their destruction seems to have been already sanctioned in principle by several Acts of Parliament. The Bonds are never consulted, and it is probably only by accident that they have continued to exist to the present time. No. 3. — The principal contents of the Port Books of the Port of London are found also, but hi a far more convenient form, in the Customs Ledgers of Exports and Imports which will be preserved. In these ledgers appear all the exports of all kinds of goods from London to foreign countries, India, and the Colonies, as well as the imports of all kinds of goods from foreign countries, India, and the Colonies into London, with the estimated value of each class of goods exported and imported in each year. The ledgers contain in addition indices, and abstracts, or statements of totals, which could be extracted from the Port Books only with the greatest difficulty, if at all. The series of Port Books, on the other hand, of which the destruction is now proposed, is very incomplete. Many of the volumes which exist are decayecl and illegible. The books were originally intended to serve as checks upon various Revenue Officers, for which purpose they have long ceased to be of any use. They do not contain the names of the crews of any ships or the names of any passengers. They were issued from the Court of Exchequer in blank, and were, or ought to have been, returned into the Exchequer at stated periods. Those which were so returned were kept by the clerk appointed to take charge of the Port Bonds or Coast Bonds. Towards the end of the I8th century it was recom mended by Commissioners on the Public Accounts of the Kingdom that the issuing of Port Books from the Exchequer should be discontinued. A Select Committee of the House of Commons on Finance also reported, in the year 1797, not only that the series was defective but that even those books which were then in existence, " according to the concurrent opinion of the Board of '• Customs and of the Exchequer, are of no practical '• possible utility to the public ; " and they " earnestly " recommended " the immediate discontinuance of this " needless expense." In consequence of this recommendation the further issue of Port Books was stayed by a Treasury Order of the 14th of March 1799, and no Port Books of later date are in existence. There is thus the opinion of an important Committee of the House of Commons, of the Board of Customs, of the Court of Exchequer, and of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that the Books are worthless; and the opinion appears to be fully justified by a recent examination of the London Port Books. Port Books of the outports (i.e., of Ports other than London) are not included in the present schedule, because their position in relation to the Customs Ledgers does not seem to be quite the same as that of the London Books, and because they have not as yet been sufficiently examined or considered. Settled as above, H. C. Maxwell Lyte. L. Owen Pike. R. F. Isaacson G. J. Morris. 13 July 1896. (b) Schedule of June 1899. Public Records (Court of Exchequer). Second Schedule containing a List and Par ticulars of Classes of Documents which formerly were or ought to have been in the Office of the King's or Queen's Remem brancer of the Exchequer, or of the Clerk appointed to take charge of the Port Bonds or Coast Bonds, and which are now in, but are not considered of sufficient public value to justify their preservation in the Public Record Office.* (Approved -. Nathl. Lindley, M.R., 6 June 1899.) List (1) Coast Bonds or Port Bonds (2) Certificates of Landing, in dis- "1 charge of the above-mentioned Bonds - / (3) Port Books of the Port of London Particulars To enable the Houses of Parliament to judge of the expediency of disposing of the documents in the proposed manner, that is to say, by destruction. Nos. 1 and 2. — The Port Bonds, otherwise called Coast Bonds, were given by the masters or owners oi coasting ships, or shippers, for the landing of coals and other " subsidy goods " to be carried from port to port of England and Wales, and in later times of the United Kingdom. The Certificates were made out when the goods were duly landed and discharged. The object of the system in accordance with.which these documents came into existence was to prevent the exportation of goods to foreign countries, without payment of the proper duty, on pretence of conveying them coastwise. As soon, however, as the cargoes had been unladen at one of the home ports and the Certifi cates had been compared with the hooks of that port. and found correct, both the Bonds and the Certificates ceased to be of any further use. All the Bonds and Certificates were sent into the Exchequer. There they remained in the custody of a clerk, commonly called the Clerk of the Port Bonds or the Clerk of the Coast Bonds (an officer subordi nate to the King's or Queen's Remembrancer), unless required for use in support of proceedings in the Court of Exchequer. Those only which remained in the charge of the Clerk of the Coast Bonds are included in the present schedule. It was provided by the Statute 6 George IV. c. 107. s. 118 (a.d.. 1825), that " all Bonds relating to tie " Customs required to be given in respect of goods oi " ships shall be taken by the Collector and Controller " for the use of His Majesty, and after the expiration " of three years from the date thereof, or of the time, * Prepare 1 as required by the Public Record Office Act 1877, section one, and the Public Record Office Act. 189s' section one, and in accordance with Rules made pursuant thereto, of which rules Her Majesty has declared Her appro bation by Orders in Council, dated respectively the thirtieth day of June 1890, and the nineteenth day of May 1899, APPENDICES. 51 " if any, limited therein for the performance of the " conditions thereof, every such Bond upon which no prosecution or suit shall have been commenced shall " be void and may be cancelled and destroyed." This Act was repealed by the 3 & 4 William IV. c. 50, s. 2, but the same provisions were re-enacted by the 3 & 4 William IV. c. 52, s. 122. This again was repealed by the 8 & 9 Vict. c. 84, s. 2, but the same provisions were re-enacted (with certain exceptions not affecting Coast Bonds) by the 8 & 9 Vict. c. 86, s. 130. The last-mentioned section was repealed by the 16 & 17 Vict. c. 107, s. 358. The provisions enacted in its place (s. 195 of the last-mentioned Act) were that such Bonds, with certain exceptions as before, might be cancelled by or by the Order of the Com missioners of Customs, the words " and destroyed " being omitted. A great number of Coast Bonds of dates both earlier and later than the passing of the Act 6 George IV. c. 107, escaped destruction, and all those Coast Bonds which were in the custody of Exchequer Officers appear to have been brought under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls by the first section of the Public Record Office Act, 1838. All those which are not later in date than the year 1821 appear- to have been brought into the statutory custody of the Master of the Rolls by his wan-ant countersigned by the Lord Chancellor on the 1st of November 1841. It is therefore believed to be necessary to include the documents in a schedule submitted to the two Houses under the Public Record Office Acts, 1877 and 1898, before they can be destroyed, although their destruction seems to have been already sanctioned in principle by several Acts of Parhament. The Bonds are never consulted, and it is probably only by accident that they have continued to exist to the present time. No. 3. — The principal contents of the Port Books of the Port of London are found also, but in a far more convenient form, in the Customs Ledgers of Exports and Imports which will be preserved. In these ledgers appear aU the exports of all kinds of goods from London to foreign countries, India, and the Colonies, as well as the imports of all kinds of goods from foreign countries, India, and the Colonies into London, with the estimated value of each class of goods exported and imported in each year. The ledgers contain in addition indices, and abstracts, or statments of totals which could be extracted from the Port Books only with the greatest difficulty, if at all. The series of Port Books, on the other hand, of which the destruction is now proposed, is very in complete. Many of the volumes which exist are decayed and illegible. The books were originally intended _tp serve as checks upon various Revenue Officers, for which purpose they have long ceased to be of any use. They do not contain the names of the crews of any ships or the names of any passengers. They were issued from the Court of Exchequer in blank, and were, or ought to have been, returned into the Exchequer at stated periods. Those which were so returned were kept by the clerk appointed to take charge of the Port Bonds or Coast Bonds. Towards the end of the 18th century, it was recom mended by Commissioners on the Public Accounts of the Kingdom that the issuing of Port Books from the Exchequer should be discontinued. A Select Committee of the House of Commons on Finance also reported, in the year 1797, not only that the series was defective but that even those books which were then in existence, "according to the concurrent opinion " of the Board of Customs and of the Exchequer. " are of no practical possible utility to the public ; " and they " earnestly " recommended. " the immediate 1 " discontinuance of this needless expense." In consequence of this recommendation the further issue of Port Books was stayed by a Treasury Order of the 14th of March 1799. There is thus the opinion of an important Committee of the House of Commons, of the Board of Customs, of the Court of Exchequer, and of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that the Books are worthless ; and the opinion appears to be • fully " justified by a recent examination of the London Port Books. Port Books of the outports (i.e., of Ports other than London) are not included in the present schedule, because their position in relation to the Customs Ledgers does not seem to be quite the same as that of the London Books, and because they have not as yet been sufficiently examined or considered. The Coast Bonds, and Certificates of Landing, of dates in and between the years 1715 and 1845, and the Port Books of the Port of London, of dates in and between the years 1715 and 1799, have already been destroyed* in accordance with a schedule which was submitted to the House of Commons on the 13th of July and to the House of Lords on the 14th of July 1896, and lay before both Houses for the required period of four weeks. Settled as above, H. C. Maxwell Lyte, L. Owen Pike. R. F. Isaacson, Geo. J- Morris. 5 June 1899. 19. Official Correspondence (selected) relating to the Sale of Public Records consigned to H.M. Stationery Office for Destruction ,(1902-1906).f War Office, London, S.W., Sir, 23 December 1902. 1 am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit herewith for the information of the Master of the Rolls a copy of a letter received from Mr. R. A. Douglas of New York, relative to certain Naval and Military records which he states are in the possession of a dealer in second-.hand books in that city. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant. (Signed) , G. Fleetwood Wilson. The Secretary, Public Record Office, Rolls House, Chancery Lane, W.C. (Inclosure.) Copy. 156, Fifth Avenue, New York, Sir. 5th December 1902. My excuse for troubling you with this communi cation is that it relates to a matter of public importance connected with the great Department of which you are the official head. As a loyal subject of His Majesty I regret to see or hear of anything that seems to warrant in the smallest degree the pretended opinion of Great Britain expressed with so much candour on all sides in this country. According to American ideas we are rapidly dropping behind in many ways, in wealth, in commercial supremacy, in all that makes for real greatness. We learn that " New York has already " become the monetary centre of the world, &c, &c." All this has a tendency to render British subjects living here rather sensitive to criticisms of their country on the part of their American friends. Happily, however, we are a very long way from believing that England has been reduced to a position where she has been obliged to sell her private documents in order to raise money enough to carry on the Government. This brings me to the point of my letter. Of course you cannot possibly be aware that many valuable documents belonging to the British Govern ment, bearing the signatures of an English Sovereign, and some of his ministers, documents having a distinctly historical interest, documents which I humbly think should never have been removed from the Departmental Archives under any circumstances, have recently been offered tit public sale in this city by * dealer in second-hand books. This incredible thing actually occurred, and these documents are now held subject to the outcome of this appeal to you, before being sold piecemeal to anyone who cares to buy a, document signed by an English King. The facts are as follows : I happened to be inspecting some rare books yesterday when the dealer offered me an original document bearing the signature of a King of England, relating to His Majesty's forces at * This is not the case : see iihure, p. 45. t Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. D 2 Z9. ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS Louisburg in North America. This was a good piece of Americana, and under other circumstances I should gladly have purchased it. Inquiry elicited the further' information that he had in his possession literally hundreds of such documents — almost a waggon load in fact. I found after a short examination that they consisted of War Department papers of various kinds bearing upon the distribution and payment of His Majesty's forces in different parts of the world, Naval documents showing the distribution of the ships from year to year, and hundreds of warship log books signed by the ships' officers covering many years from a time long anterior to the American Revolutionary War down to the War of 1812. I was amazed at what I saw, and so informed the dealer, who told me that he had purchased the whole en bloc from a reputable London dealer. Where he obtained them I do not know. They had certainly been removed from the English Government Depart ments, but by whom ? Either the documents had been stolen by some under-clerk who desired to augment his salary at his country's expense, or, they had been deemed of small value and ordered to be dumped out ty some responsible official. Their absence must in any case leave a hiatus of momentous importance to some future historian who would trace the Military and Naval movements of the times covered by these papers. No one can estimate the real value of such documents until the time comes to make use of them ; then their absence might make a tremendous difference. The Archivist of Canada, Mr. Douglas Brymner, has constructed from apparently barren documents reports of incalculable value to the history of his country. As soon as I realised the character of the documents I requested the dealer not to offer them for sale again until I had communicated with London. He promised that he would not, and here the matter rests until you have had an opportunity to look into the matter. Somehow I cannot believe that you have had any cognizance of what has taken place, and that is the reason I write directly to you rather than to " The Times." If you care to take any steps towards the clearing up of this business I shall take great pleasure in placing your agent in direct communication with the dealer above mentioned. I am, Sir, Very truly yours, . (Signed) Robert W. Douglas. The Right Hon. St. John Brodrick, M.P., London. (No. 4.) British Consulate General, My Lord, New York, Jan. 6th, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's telegram of the 1st instant on the subject of certain documents now in the hands of a New York dealer in second-hand books beheved to have been stolen from the Record Office in London. In accordance with your Lordship's instructions I communicated with Mr. Robert Douglas and obtained from him the name of the bookseller in question namely, Mr. Francis P. Harper of 14, West 22nd Street,' New York, and I yesterday saw Mr. Harper on the subject. He was unwilling to give me the name of the firm or individual from whom these documents had been purchased for his account by his brother, but he said he would write and ask them to give him the name of the "junkman" (dealer in old material) from whom they had obtained the papers in the first instance and that he thought it very likely that they would com municate with the Record Office directly on the subject Mr. Harper said that the papers had been purchased about two years ago, and it was understood that they had been removed from the Record Office as valueless and for the purpose of making room for other docu ments. There is a very large number of these papers but no list ; they appear chiefly to consist of pay rolls and of log books of British war vessels, of which latter there would seem to be upwards of 120 from an mcomplete list which was shown to me Of the pav rolls one is a list of half-pay officers 1723 ; this bears on the first sheet the Royal Sign Manual " George R " and is stamped " Pubhc Record Office Audit Office.' Another document is the establishment of the Corps of Foot, February 1788, this also bears the Royal Sign Manual and, in addition, the signatures of Lords Graham and Mornington. The Louisburg document appears to be merely a series of Exchequer Wan-ants connected with the payment of the forces in Cape Breton in 1760 and not as described " a document relating to the movements " of British Forces," but it bears the Royal Sign Manual in six places in the same manner as the documents above mentioned. Mr. Harper has promised to lend me this document as well as a specimen of the log books of the British war vessels which form a part of this collection ; these shall be forwarded by the first opportunity after their receipt. It was his inten tion to offer the whole collection of papers to the Congressional Library at Washington, the price asked being two thousand dollars, but they will now be retained pending further communications. Some of the log books are said to contain accounts of captures of vessels, and the documents are considered to be valuable as containing authentic autographs and as possibly furnishing the means of filling up gaps in history. I have, &c, (Signed) Percy Sanderson. The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G. &c., &c. Mr. Harper informs me that the purchase was made in May or June 1900 and that there are about fifteen (15) cubic feet of manuscripts. (No. 5.) British. Consulate General, My Lord, New York, 6th Jan. 1903. With reference to my despatch No. 4 of this day's date I have the honour to enclose the documents mentioned in a receipt to Mr. Harper of which a copy is enclosed. I have, &c, (Signed) Percy Sanderson. Received of Francis P. Harper : — One (1) original manuscript Log Proceedings of Ship Poictiers Captain Sir John Poer Beresford from August 14th, 1812, to November 12, 1812. and November 15th, 1812,' to February 15th, 1813. Eighty folio leaves in one volume. The charge of the Garrison, Louisburg, five folio sheets (one blank) with six signatures of the King. (Signed) Percy Sanderson. New York, &<.., &C- January 6th, 1903. Sir, H.M. Stationery Office, 29th January, 1903. With reference to communications which have passed with regard to the supposed theft of Record Office papers offered for sale in New York, and to arrangements made for obtaining specimens for inspec tion, I have the honour to forward for their Lordships' consideration a copy of a letter from Sir F. H. Villiers to the Home Secretary covering despatches on the subject from His Majesty's Consul-General at New York which have been handed to me by Chief Inspector Hare of the Criminal Investigation Department. The- specimens obtained from New York have been examined by Sir H. Maxwell Lyte and myself and identified as papers sent by proper authority from the Record Office to this department for destruction in pursuance of the Order in Council of 30th June 1890. The instructions . for tearing and sorting waste paper, a copy of which is enclosed, lay down that all paper containing written or printed matter other than newspapers, wrappers bearing addresses only, and such books as may be excepted by special directions, will be. so torn up as to be rendered illegible. No " special directions " for excepting from this rule the papers in question were given, but they were sold without having been sufficiently mutilated to be rendered illegible, and some of them have been evidently recollated ' and repaired, with a view probably to sale in America, as documents of historical or antiquarian interest. I very much regret this breach of orders ; but after very careful and full inquiry from all concerned including Mr, W, H. Harrison and Mr. H. Beaton who APPENDICES. 53 were, at the time the papers were dealt with, store keeper and warehouseman respectively, both of whom have since retired, — I am quite satisfied that the breach of orders was the result, not of any dishonesty or other unworthy motive, but of an error of judgment on the part of the warehouseman. Old hand-made paper, such as that oh which the documents in question were written, when offered for sale in pieces of appreciable size has for some purposes a special value, and realises prices much larger than when sold in scraps for reduction to pulp. The late warehouseman imagined that it was his duty, in giving orders for the preparation of the documents for sale, to consider rather the selling value than the necessity for rendering the papers illegible, and they were accordingly taken out of the covers and sold with nrrrow strips only cut off. I cannot, I am sorry to say, acquit from blame the clerk in charge of the waste-paper department, aud, with regard to his action or want of action in the matter, may perhaps have occasion later to communicate again with their Lordships. The question for immediate consideration is what should be done with regard to the papers in New York, which, as their Lordships will see from the Consul- General's report, are now being held back pending further communication. There is, I am informed, nothing in the papers of a confidential character, and they contain no historical information which is not contained in duplicates (and in some cases triplicates) preserved at the Pubhc Record Office. But their Lordships will probably agree that it is undesirable that public documents, some of which are stated to bear the Record Office stamp, and which have been recommended for destruction in schedules laid before Parhament, should remain for sale in private hands if they can be recovered at a reasonable price. The most important documents among them, from the point of view of their present owner, are probably the " Establishment books " which appear as No. 17 in the schedule of Audit Office papers enclosed. These are of some pecuniary value, as bearing the sign manual of the King, George HI., and of three of the Lords of the Treasury. Under the circumstances their Lordships may per haps think it right to request Lord Lansdowne to instruct the Consul-General to enter into negotiations with Mi-. Harper with a view to the purchase of the papers. In any dealings with Mr. Harper it would be as well that he should not lose sight of the fact that the log books, at least, are far from perfect, an inch or so having been cut out from the side of each page, the effect being that the narrative is considerably interrupted. Steps will, of course, be taken to see that orders given for dealing with waste paper are in future strictly carried out. I have, &c„ (Signed) T. D. Pigott, The Secretary to the Treasury. Controller. P.S. — I have shown this letter to Sir H. Maxwell Lyte, and have his authority to say that he concurs in what I have written. (Initld.) T. D. P. Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, W.C, Sir, 4th February 1903. In reply to Mr. Fleetwood Wilson's letter of the 23rd December last enclosing a copy of a letter on the subject of certain public documents on sale in New York, I am to inform you that it has now been discovered that none of the documents in question belong to any series connected with the War Office, but that they consist partly of duplicate logs of ships of the Royal Navy and partly of Audit Office documents which had been sent away from this Office to His Majesty's Stationery Office, by proper authority, to be destroyed in pursuance of schedules laid before Parliament. I remain, &c, (Signed) R. A. Roberts, The Under Secretary of State, War Office. S.W. Treasury Chambers, Sir, 7th February 1903. I have laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury your report of the 29th ultimo, proposing a repurchase of certain documents now in the hands of an American dealer which were thought to have been stolen from the Public Record Office, but which prove to be papers sent by the Record Office to your department for destruction in pursuance of the Order in Comicil of 30th June 1890. In reply I am directed to state that inasmuch as these papers appear to have been already certified by the responsible officers as not worth preserving for the purpose of public record, and as they are said to contain nothing confidential, my Lords see no sufficient reason for expending money for their recovery. Their Lordships note your assurance that steps will be taken to prevent any recurrence in the future of similar breaches of the regulations relative to the disposal of waste paper. The enclosures to your letter are returned herewith. I am, &c, (Signed) Francis Mowatt. The Controller, H.M. Stationery Office. Ref . Sheet. From Head of Record Office to Secretary, Public Record Office. Admiralty. Dated 15th September 1906. With reference to the enclosed correspondence relative to 900 log books covering the war of 1812, which are in the possession of Mr. Everitt, can it be stated, without the names of the ships to which the logs belong, whether there are many gaps in the series of log books for 1812 and adjacent years ? It seems possible that the logs in Mr. Everitt's possession are not original logs, but copies. Kindly return enclosures with your reply. (Signed) Arthur Chapman. Pubhc Record Office, Sir, 17th September 1906. In reply to your inquii-y of the 15th instant concerning certain log books which are in the possession of Mr. Charles P. Everitt, a bookseller in New York, I am to inform you that this matter was brought to the knowledge of this department in 1902, when it was found that the documents in question were duplicates of logs preserved in this Office which ought to have been destroyed by His Majesty's Stationery Office after having been duly scheduled under the provisions of the Public Record Office Act, 1877, and the rules of the Master of the Rolls made pursuant thereto, but which, through a misunderstanding, were only partially muti lated and afterwards passed into the hands of a second hand bookseller. It was at that time ultimately decided that under all the circumstances of the case there was no sufficient reason for repurchasing them or taking any further steps with regard to them. I remain, &c, (Signed) R. A. Roberts. The Head of the Record Office, Admiralty, S.W. 11829 D 3 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS Appendix V. — The Public Use of the Records. 1. Rules and Regulations made by the Master of the Rolls respecting the Public Use of the Records and Documents in his Custody (1895).* 1. In these rules and regulations, the word record shall include a set of records or- documents comprised in a single reference in the official calendars, catalogues, or indexes. 2. The Search Rooms shall be open to persons desirmg to inspect or search records or documents on every day, except Sunday, Christmas Day and the following day, Good Friday, Easter Eve, Easter Monday, Monday in Whitsun week, Her Majesty's Birthday, the first Monday in August, and days appointed for public fasts or thanksgivings. 3. The hours of admission and attendance shall be from 10 to 4.30, except on Saturdays, when they shall be from 10 to 2. 4. Every person proposing to inspect or search records or documents shall write his or her name and full address, daily, in the attendance book kept by the hall-porter. 5. No umbrellas, sticks, or bags, shall be taken into any Search Room, and no parcels shall be placed upon the tables. 6. A separate ticket shall be clearly written and signed by every person desiring to inspect or search any record or document for each record or document required, and such ticket shall be given by such person to the officer in charge of the room before any record or document can be produced to the applicant. 7. No person shall have more than three records or documents, inclusive, out at a time except by special permission of the officer in charge of the room. 8. Records and documents when done with, shall forthwith be returned by the person to whom they have been produced, to the officer in charge of the room, or to one of the attendants, in exchange for the tickets referring to them, and every such person shall be held responsible for the records or documents issued to him or her, so long as his or her ticket -shall remain with an officer of the Public Record Office. 9. A fresh ticket, clearly written and signed by the person to whom records or documents have been pro duced, and bearing the words "kept out," shall be required for every record and document kept out from one day to another for the convenience of such person. 10. No person shall lean upon any records, docu ments, or books belonging to the Public Record Office, or place upon them the paper on which he or she is writing. 11. No person other than an officer of the Record Office shall make any mark, in pencil or otherwise, upon any record, document, or book belonging to the Public Record Office. 12. Ink shall not be used in the public Search Rooms by any person admitted thereto for the purpose of inspecting or searching records or documents. 13. Tracings of records or documents shall not be made by any person without specific permission from the officer in charge of the room. 14. A list of all calendars, catalogues, and indexes intended for the use of the public shall be kept in each of the Search Rooms, and shall be revised from time to time. Calendars, catalogues, and indexes not mentioned therein, or withdrawn therefrom, shall not be produced in any Search Room without an order from the Deputy Keeper. 15. Records not mentioned in any such list, and records in course of arrangement, shall not be pro duced without an order from the Deputy Keeper. 16. Records and documents of exceptional value, and records and documents in fragile condition, shall be produced singly, or subject to such conditions as the officer in charge of the room shall, in the particular case, think requisite for their safety and integrity. 17. Documents deposited in the Public Record Office by other departments shall be produced only * For the history and sequence of the several Regulations issued between 1851 and 1909, see below, No. 4. on the order of their respective heads, or subject to such conditions as they, with the concurrence of the Master of the Rolls, shall from time to time impose. 18. Persons admitted to the Search Rooms shall replace the calendars, catalogues, and indexes used by them on the shelves as soon as they are done with. 19. Records, documents, books, or other articles belonging to the Public Record Office, shall not be removed from one room to, another without the specific permission of the officer in charge of the room nor by any other person than one of the officials. 20. Silence shall be maintained in the Search Rooms, as far as possible. 21. The officer in charge of any Search Room shall be empowered to exclude persons from the Public Record Office for any of the following reasons : — Wilful breach of any of the foregoing rules and regu lations, persistent disregard of the officer's authority, damage of any sort to any record or article belonging to the Public Record Office, conduct, language, habits, unseemly dress, or any other matter offensive, or likely to be reasonably offensive, to others using the Public Record Office. Provided always, that the exclusion of any person shall be forthwith notified in writing, with the cause thereof, to the Deputy Keeper, who shall inquire into the circumstances, and whose order, unless reversed by the Master of the Rolls, shall be final. 22. Inasmuch as a large number of records of the Courts of Law and Equity have been of late years transferred into the Public Record Office, and are there frequently consulted for other than literary and historical purposes, fees shall be paid according to the table hereunder set forth for the production of such records, unless the applicant satisfies the deputy keeper that such production is required solely for the purpose of literary or historical research. 23. The fees for inspecting records of any Court of Law or Equity of a later date than the year 1760 shall be remitted in the case of any barrister desiring to consult, such records for the purpose of obtaining instruction for himself, or to use as citations by way of authority to the Court, and not for the purpose of obtaining information as to facts to be used by or between other parties. The other fees specified in the said table shall be payable as therein mentioned. Table of Fees, payable in every case by Stomps. For inspecting a record of any Court t' s. f the several departments, of the restrictions which had long been enforced by the officers of the Record Office in accordance with official tradition, but which had not been clearly defined prior to 1903. The regulations set out as regards each department, the date down to which the records are open without a permit, and the rules to be observed by holders of permits giving access to records of later date, while the instructions specify in addition certain classes of reserved records to which permits ¦" Reprinted by permission of the Secreiitry of State. APPENDICES. m are not to be considered to apply unless specifically mentioned therein, and suggest the nature of the references which the officer in charge of the search room should scrutinise when examining copies, extracts, or notes made by holders of permits. The Committee's attention has been directed in the first place to the question of what, if any, relaxa tions can be permitted in the restrictions as regards date. The chief obstacle to such attempts as have hitherto been made to relax these restrictions has been the view taken by several Ministers of the Crown that records more recent than those comprised within the existing limits of date, and in particular the classes of records withheld from holders of permits unless specifically mentioned therein, contained matter the publication of which would be contrary to public policy or obnoxious to private individuals. The Com mittee has carefully considered the grounds on which this view is based, and has weighed the questions of public policy and individual interests involved. The eight classes of reserved Home Office records, viz. : — Alien Correspondence. Bouillon Correspondence (1789-1809), Criminal Papers. Disturbances, Ireland (Secret and Confidential), 1798, Internal Defence, Law Officers' Reports, Prisons, have all been reviewed, and we have had before us a summary of the results of the inspection of 396 volumes and bundles of these records bearing date from 1779 to 1815, conducted in 1903 by members of the Home Office. There are two kinds of documents which have always been regarded as of an exceptional character, and to which we accordingly have given special con sideration. These are opinions of the Law Officers of the Crown and departmental minutes and memoranda. It has been the custom to decline to publish the precise terms of opinions given by the Law Officers, though the gist and tenour of such opinions are frequently announced, and indeed often constitute the basis and justification of executive action. The reasons for this policy are obvious, but we feel satisfied that these reasons, however cogent they are in relation to pending or recent affairs, cease to have validity when the opinions expressed and the circumstances in which these opinions were sought have alike ceased to be of any practical moment, and have become merely a part of history. We have also considered, in the case of the Foreign and Colonial Offices, the question of opening the correspondence relating to the frontiers of Holland, and to Newfoundland, and the British Guiana corre spondence ; and in the case of the other departments represented on the Committee, the records similarly reserved. As a result we have satisfied ourselves that there is no reason why the present limits of date should be adhered to. The Irish Government, in the letter which led to the appointment of the Committee, expressed the opinion that the year 1847 might properly be substituted for the year 1790 as the limit of access to the Irish records in Dubhn. The year 1847 was selected as having a special significance in Irish history, as marking the end of a period, and sufficiently remote to ensure that no living person would be prejudiced. Applying the same considerations to the records in England, the year 1837, now 70 years distant and the commence ment of the reign of Queen Victoria, commended itself to us as one that might be accepted by all English departments. The Irish Government will, we have ascertained from its representative on the Com mittee, be satisfied with this date, and we are unani mously of opinion that no possible harm to the public service or the interests of private individuals will arise if the records of all Government departments are thrown open down to the end of the year 1837. We therefore recommend that departmental records anterior to that date should be produced to applicants in the literary search room at the Pubhc Record Office, without any restrictions other than those attaching to the grant of a reader's ticket giving use of the room, such as it is proposed in future to issue to approved persons, in lieu of the present system of allowing admission to anyone signing his or her name in a book kept for the purpose. This recommendation is subject to the proviso that departments shall, as at present be at liberty to withhold for any time any records, including more especially Law Officers' opinions, which by reason, e.g., oi pending negotiations with another country or other matter at issue, cannot be made public without possible prejudice to the interests of the public service. We are of opinion that such exception should be made by the Master of the Rolls on the representation of the department concerned, and that, as it is undesirable to draw attention to excepted papers by specifying them to the public, it will be sufficient if the knowledge of the actual matters of which the records are withheld is confined to the officers of the Record Office, and the public are merely informed that the opening of the records down to 1837 may be subject to certain temporary exceptions. In the case of the Irish records in Dubhn these recommendations must of course be read with reference to the provisions of the Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867. We further desire to recommend that the date now to be fixed should every 10 years be advanced a decade, but, as we feel that it is not practicable to bind departments to open 10 years hence records with regard to which unforeseen questions may arise in the interval, we are of opinion that the most convenient procedure in the matter will be for the Master of the Rolls in 10 years' time to approach the various depart ments and ascertain whether they have any objection to a further advancement of" the- date. This will afford the' departments the opportunity which we consider necessary, of reviewing the • proposal in the light of their experience of the facilities which we now recommend, of giving due consideration to the records comprised in the decade to be thrown open, and of withholding such as they may think fit: It is to be observed that some of the records of the Admiralty and the War Office are already open to a later date than 1837, and it wonld be> manifestly inexpedient to curtail facilities at present enjoyed by the public. Subject to this exception, we are very strongly impressed with the desirability of estab lishing a uniform date r for all departments. We would, in this connection, express 'our earnest hope that the departments not represented on the Com mittee will agree to accept our recommendations and come into line with the Home; Foreign, Colonial, War, and Irish Offices, and the Admiralty. The question which has occupied the second place in our deliberations has been that of the conditions of access to records later than the date fixed for public inspection, viz., as we recommend, 1837. We are aware of no reason why access to these records should not, as at present, be granted by the departments in proper cases to persons duly accredited — if foreigners, upon recommendation from their respective embassies or legations. We have considered ¦ whether any rule could be adopted which would obviate the invidious- ness, more present to some departments than to others, of granting permission in one case and refusing it in another, but we feel that each department must in this matter have the courage of its own convic tions, and decide for itself who are to be entrusted with permits and who are to be refused. We think, speaking generally, that permits should be granted to all prima facie competent and responsible persons engaged in historical or biographical research, and that they should not be confined to writers of esta blished reputation or to individuals personally known to Ministers. Records in respect of which a permit is granted should, we think, continue to be consulted in the Government search room, subject to general rules for all holders of permits. The rules now in force with regard to the records of the Home, Foreign, and Colonial Offices (see the regulations issued to the public : Appendix) have worked successfully, and . should, we think, be maintained and should further be adopted generally, subject to amendment on the following points : — Rule (2). The requirement that copies, extracts, or notes made by virtue of a permit shall be examined and approved both by the officer in charge of the 64 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: Government search room and by the department con cerned might, we think, with advantage be relaxed. This double inspection is not only a cause of delay and inconvenience to students, but is also a burden on the departments. The sense of the Committee is against complete abandonment of the necessity for reference to the department concerned, but it is con sidered that in many cases such censorship as is called for can be adequately exercised by the officer in charge of the Government search room. The work of censorship would be greatly facilitated if the several departments were to agree upon and communicate to the Record Office a general list indicating the subject matters or the classes of documents publication of which they consider altogether objectionable or which are such as to call for the censor's special attention. In some cases, it is difficult for anyone outside the department concerned to decide what should be dis allowed. We therefore recommend that in every case where the officer in charge of the Government search room has any doubt as to the propriety of allowing, as regards a particular paper or set of papers, a copy, extract, or note to be made, the point with regard to which doubt has arisen should be referred to the department concerned, and further, that when issuing a permit, the department should state whether or not it desires, apart from any doubt arising on a particular point, to examine the copies, extracts, or notes to be made in pursuance of the permit. Rules 8 and 9. We have, as already stated, given special consideration to the question of reports by Law Officers of the Crown, and departmental minutes and memoranda. Our conclusion as regards papers of later date than that fixed for public inspection is that these rules, which provide that reports by law officers, departmental minutes, and memoranda, shall not be copied, are in principle right, but that to forbid absolutely all copying of law officers' opinions and departmental minutes and memoranda not open to public inspection is too strict an application of the principle. We therefore suggest that the rule should be that departmental minutes or memoranda, docu ments manifestly of a confidential nature, and reports by law officer of the Crown shall not be copied without express permission. We are indebted to the Foreign Office for the infor mation printed in the appendix as to regulations and practice of foreign countries in the matter of access to records corresponding to those within the terms of the Committee's reference in this country. We desire to acknowledge the great help we have received from our secretary, Mr. Moylan. Herbert H. Cozens-Hardy, M.R. H. C. Maxwell Lyte. C. P. Lucas. J. B. Dougherty. W. Graham Greene. W. P. Byrne. R. H. Brade. Eyre A. Crowe. J. F. Moylan, Secretary. November 30th, 1908. APPENDIX I. Regulations and Instructions issued by the Public Record Office. (a) Begulations concerning the Inspection of Books and Documents belonging to various Departments of the Government, deposited in the Public Becord Office. Home Office Beccrrds. These are open to public inspection to the end of the year 1779. After that date, a written permit from the Home Office is required. Foreign Office Records. These, with a few exceptions, are open to public inspection to the end of the year 1780. After that date, a written permit from the Foreign Office is required. Colonial Office Becords. These are open to public inspection as follows : — Newfoundland Correspondence, to the end of the year 1759. British Guiana Correspondence, to the end of the year 1795. Other Correspondence, with a few exceptions, to the end of the year 1802. For the inspection of correspondence of later dates than those specified, a written permit from the Colonial Office is required. The following rules are to be observed by the holders of permits for the inspection of records of the Home Office, Foreign Office, and Colonial Office respectively : — (1) No copies, extracts, or notes may be taken from any books or documents not authorised by the terms of the permit. (2) No copies, extracts, or notes made by virtue of any permit may be taken away from the departmental search room until they shall have been examined and approved. For this purpose they must be handed to the officer in charge of the room, so that they may be forwarded to the department con cerned. (3) After examination, such copies, extracts or notes as shall have been approved will be returned to the holder of the permit, or forwarded by post. Any foreign postage must, however, be prepaid, and the depart ment will not hold itself responsible for the delivery of any papers. (4) All copies, extracts, and notes must be made in a legible manner. (5) No notes or precis may be made in any language other than English or French. The depart ments concerned reserve the right of obtaining, at the cost of the holder of the permit, translations of the text of documents in other languages. (6) In the case of original documents written in cypher, the accompanying decypher may alone be copied. (7) The names of secret service agents employed by any Government must not be copied. (8) No "departmental" minutes or memoranda, and no document manifestly of a'confidential nature, may be copied or quoted. (9) Reports by the Law Officers of the Crown may not be copied. Admiralty Becords. These are open to public inspection as follows : — Correspondence, minutes, registers, &c, with a few exceptions, to the end of the year 1830. Log books and journals to the end of the year 1840. Muster books and pay books to the end of the year 1860. For the inspection of documents of later dates than those specified, a written permit from the Admiralty is required. War Office Becords. These are open to public inspection as follows : — Correspondence, Registers, &c, with a few exceptions, to the end of the year 1850. Inspection Returns and Confidential Reports on Regiments to the end of the year 1857. (See Note.) Monthly Returns to the end of the year 1870. Commander-in-Chief's Memoranda Papers to the end of the year 1870. (See Note.) Pay Lists and Muster Rolls to March 1888. For the inspection of Correspondence, Ac, of a later date than 1850 a written permit from the War Office is required. Note. — Inspection Returns and Confidential Reports and Memoranda Papers which are found to contain infoi-mation of a private character will not be produced for inspection without being previously submitted to the War Office. • APPENDICES. 65 Treasury Becords. _ The books and papers of the Treasury are open to inspection to the end of the year 1759, after which date a written permit is required and fees are charged at the rate of Is. for each book or document produced, or 3s. 6<£. per diem for a general search. The books and papers of the following abolished offices and expired Commissions of Enquiry are under the control of the Treasury, and for the inspection of each or any of these classes a special permit from the Treasury is required. For the inspection of docu ments of a later date than 1759 fees will be charged as above unless they are remitted by the Treasury. Royal African Company, 1673-1821. Registrar of Metropolitan Buildings, 1844-1855. Commissions on — American Loyalist Claims, 1783-1803. Boundaries (Municipal and Parliamentary), 1831-1836. Caledonian Canal, 1807-1825. Civil List, 1832-1837. Courts of Law and Justice, 1815-1842. Customs, Excise and Public Revenue, 1765-1844. Education, 1819-1860. Fees of Pubhc Offices, 1723-1837. French Refugees, 1787-1828. Foreign Claims (Danish, French, and Spanish), 1787-1837. Highland Roads and Bridges, 1803-1822. Holyhead Harbour, 1810-1823. Irish Reproductive Loan Fund, 1832-1854. Oxford University, 1854-1860. Port of London, 1805-1824. Pubhc Accounts, 1784-1837. Royal Gardens, 1838. Royal Military Canal, 1808-1835. Scottish Harbours, 1807-1824. Slave Compensation (including Registration), 1770-1834. Surinam Absentee Estates, 1813-1822. West Indies, 1802-1809. Audit Office Becords. The Audit Office Records are open to public inspection to the end of the year 1820. The Declared Accounts specified in the printed list (Lists and Indexes, No. H., 1893) are all open to inspection. The books and papers belonging to the following offices and departments are not open to public inspec tion without a written permit from the office or department concerned : — Lord Chamberlain's Department. Lord Steward's Department. Treasury Solicitor's Department. Customs Department. National Debt Office. Paymaster General's Office. Charity Commission. Ecclesiastical Commission. Epping Forest Commission. (By permission of H.M. Office of Works.) Local Government Act Commission. (By per mission of the Home Office or the Local Government Board.) West India Incumbered Estate Commission. (By permission of the Colonial Office.) <(b) Instructions concerning the Production of Books and Documents belonging to various Departments of the Government, deposited in the Public Record Office. (Confidential.— For the information of the Officers in charge of the Search Department.) Home Office Becords. These are open to public inspection to the end of the year 1779. After that date, a written permit from the Home Office is required. The permit will not be considered to apply to any of the following classes unless they are specifically mentioned therein ; — Alien Correspondence. Bouillon Correspondence (1789-1809). Criminal Papers. Disturbances. E 14829 Ireland (Secret and Confidential), 1798. Internal Defence. Law Officers' Reports. Prisons. Foreign Office Becords. These are open to public inspection to the end of the year 1780. After that date, a written permit from the Foreign Office is required. The permit will not be considered to apply to the following classes unless they are specifically mentioned therein : — Correspondence relating to the Frontiers of Holland. Correspondence relating to Newfoundland. Colonial Office Records. These are open to inspection as follows : — Newfoundland Correspondence, to the end of the year 1759. British Guiana Correspondence, to the end of the year 1795. Other Correspondence, to the end of the year 1802. For the inspection of correspondence of later dates than those specified a written permit from the Colonial Office is required. A special permit is also required for the inspection of the Miscellaneous Correspondence, Series I. and Series II. Admiralty Records. These are open to public inspection as follows : — Correspondence, Minutes, Registers, &c. (except Solicitor's Letters and Law Officers' Opinions), to the end of the year 1830. Log Books and Journals, to the end of the year 1840. Muster Books and Pay Books to the end of the vear 1860. For the inspection of documents of later dates than those specified a written permit from the Admiralty is required. Documents of any date belonging to the following classes cannot be inspected without a permit for that specific purpose : — Solicitors' Letters. Law Officers' Opinions. Royal Naval College Records. Greenwich Hospital (Estates) Records. War Office Recm-ds. These are open to public inspection as follows : — Correspondence, Registers, &c, to the end of the year 1850. Inspection Returns and Confidential Reports on Regiments, to the end of the year 1857. (See Note.) Monthly Returns, to the end of the year 1870. Commander-in-Chief's Memoranda Papers, to the end of the year 1870. (See Note.) Pay Lists and Muster Rolls, to March 1888. For the inspection of correspondence, &c, of a later date than 1850 a written permit from the War Office is required, and also for the inspection of records of the Royal Military Academy and the Royal Military College respectively. Note. — Inspection Returns and Confidential Reports and Memoranda Papers which contain information of a private character are not to be produced for inspection without being previously submitted to the War Office. Treasury Records. The books and papers of the Treasury are open to inspection to the end of the year 1759, after which date a written permit is required and fees are charged at the rate of Is. for each book or document produced or 3s. 6d. per diem for a general search. The books and papers of the following abolished offices and expired commissions of enquiry are under the control of the Treasury, and for the inspection -of each or any of these classes a special permit from the Treasury is required. For the inspection of documents of a later date than 1760 fees will be charged as above unless they are remitted by the Treasury. Royal African Company, 1673-1821. Registrar of Metropolitan Buildings, 1844-1855. E 66 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : Commissions on : — American Loyalist Claims, 1783-1803. Boundaries (Municipal and Parliamentary), 1831- 1836. Caledonian Canal, 1807-1825. Civil List, 1832-1837. Courts of Law and Justice, 1815-1842. Customs, Excise, and Public Revenue, 1765-1844. Education, 1819-1860. Fees of Public Offices, 1723-1837. French Refugees, 1787-1828. Foreign Claims (Danish, French, and Spanish), 1787-1837. Highland Roads and Bridges, 1803-1822. Holyhead Harbour, 1810-1823. Irish Reproductive Loan Fund, 1832-1854 Oxford University, 1854-1860. Port of London, 1805-1824. Public Accounts, 1784-1837. Royal Gardens, 1838. Royal Military Canal, 1808-1835. Scottish Harbours, 1807-1824. Slave Compensation and Registration, 1770-1834. Surinam Absentee Estates, 1813-1822. West Indies, 1802-1909. Audit Office Records. The Audit Office Records are open to pubhc inspection to the end of the year 1820. The Declared Accounts specified in the printed list (Lists and Indexes, No. II., 1893) are all open to inspection. The books and papers belonging to the following offices and departments are not open to pubhc inspec tion without a written permit from the office or depart ment concerned : — Lord Chamberlain's Department. Lord Steward's Department. Treasury Solicitor's Department. Customs Department. National Debt Office. Paymaster General's Office. Charity Commission. Ecclesiastical Commission. Epping Forest Commission. (By permission of H.M. Office of Works.) Local Government Act Commission. By per mission of the Home Office or Local Govern ment Board.) West India Incumbered Estates Commission. (By permission of the Colonial Office.) In examining copies, extracts or notes, attention is to be drawn to the following : — References to the names of Secret Service Agents or to the payment of Secret Service money. References to scalping or other atrocities in war. References which might show the connection of living persons with convict ancestors. References to the domestic life of persons, the publication of which might be painful to their descendants now living. Passages likely to give offence abroad, or to prejudice this country in any pending negotiations. APPENDIX II. Regulations and Practice op Foreign Countries. The Secretary of the Committee to the Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Home Office, Sie, 15th May 1908. I am directed by the Master of the Rolls to say, for the information of Sir Edward Grey, that in connection with the deliberations of the Committee appointed under his chairmanship to consider and report what, if any, relaxations can now be permitted in the restrictions hitherto maintained on public access to departmental records, he would be glad to obtain information as to the regulations and practice of foreign countries in the matter of access to records corre sponding to those within the terms of the Committee's reference in this country. The Master of the Rolls thinks that this information might usefully be obtained with regard to France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and the United States of America, and he would be much obliged if he could receive it within a month's time, and if, in the inquiries to be made, attention could be directed in particular to the following points : — 1. The limits fixed as regards date; 2. The regulations governing — (a) the inspection of records within the date or dates down to which they are open, (&) the publication of the results of such inspection ; 3. Whether certain classes of books or papers are subject to special restrictions or withheld altogether ; 4. Whether any distinction as regards access is made — (a) between specially accredited individuals, e.g. scholars, historians, &c, and members of the general public, (6) between foreigners and subjects or citizens of the country. I am, &c, The Under Secretary of State, J. F. Moylan. Foreign Office. Sir Edward Grey to the Hon. Reginald Lister, Sir Frank Lascelles, Sir Edward Goschen, Sir Edward Egerton, and the Bight Hon. James Bryce. Foreign Office, Sir, 18th May 1908. I transmit to you, herewith, a copy of a letter which has been received from the Home Office requesting that it may be supplied, for the use of the Committee appointed to consider the restrictions, imposed on public access to departmental records, with certain information as to the regulations, &c, on the subject in force in As the Committee desire to receive the information within a month from the present time I should be glad if you would obtain and forward to this office, as soon as possible, the particulars asked for by the Home Office, I am, &c, Edward Grey. France. The Hon. Beginald Lister to Sir Edward Grey. SiR, Paris, 12th July 1908. On the receipt of your despatch marked " Library " of May 18th last, I addressed a Note to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs requesting him to be good enough to furnish me with the information respecting the French archives desired by the Com mittee appointed to consider the question of access to departmental records. Not having received this information, Sir Francis Bertie reminded Monsieur Pichon of the matter on June 25th. I have now received ,i Note from Monsieur Pichon in which he informs me that the National Archives, which comprise the papers of the former regime, of the assemblies and the modern central administrations with the exception of those appertaining to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, of War, and of the Colonies, are accessible to the public without special formalities. Except in particular cases, as to which a reserve is made, these documents can be communi cated to any French citizen after 50 years have elapsed. Monsieur Pichon at the same time forwards me copies of the regulations respecting the communi cation of papers belonging to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs^ and which I enclose herein. The archives at the Ministries of War and of the Colonies are the subject of similar regulations. I have addressed a further note to Monsieur Pichon asking his Excellency to be good enough to furnish me with some complementary details which will be transmitted to you when received. I have the honour to be, ecc. Reginald Lister. APPENDICES. 67 Extrait du Reglement General des Archives du Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres. Article premier. Les personnes qui desireront etre admises a con- suiter les correspondances ou documents conserves dans les Archives des Affaires etrangeres devront adresser leur demande au ministre, en indiquant aussi exactement que possible l'objet de leurs recherches. * * # # * Art. 3. Les autorisations seront strictement personnelles. Toutefois, les recherches pourront etre faites, au nom de la personne autorisee, par un tiers prealablement agree par le Directeur des Archives. Quiconque s'etant presente en son propre nom serait ulterieurement reconnu pour etre l'agent ou le prete- nom d'une personne non autorisee, et aurait de la sorte dissimule sa veritable qualite, sera prive de l'autorisa- tion qui lui avait ete donnee. Art. 4. Les Archives des Affaires etrangeres seront ouvertes aux recherches pour les deux periodes suivantes : La premiere, comprise entre la date des plus anciens documents conserves dans le depot jusqu'au 14 septembre 1791 ; La seconde, allant de cette derniere date a celle du 31 juillet 1830* Toute autorisation se referant a des documents appartenant a la premiere epoque impliquera la faculte de prendre des extraits ou des copies, et d'en faire usage sans avoir a, les soumettre au controle de la Direction des Archives. Les extraits ou copies de documents appartenant a la seconde epoque seront remis, a la fin de chaque seance, a l'employe du Depot charge de cette partie du service pour etre com muniques au Directeur, a, l'examen duquel ils devront etre soumis. # # # * # Art. 6. L 'autorisation de faire des recherches n'implique pas la faculte de copier integralement, en vue d'une publication ulterieure, soit un manuscrit formant un tout, tel qu'un recueil de lettres, soit une serie de documents ou de depeches telegraphiques. Celui qui vondra proceder a un travail de cette nature devra en demander l'autorisation, en faisant connaitre exactement les documents ou correspondances qu'il a l'intention de publier. Toute publication faite sans autorisation prealable entrainera, pour son auteur, l'exclusion des Archives pour l'avenir, sans prejudice de Taction judiciaire qui pourrait etre exercee contre lui. Reglement interieur de la Salle des Communications. Article premier. La salle des communications est ouverte aux per sonnes autorisees par le ministre, de midi a cinqheures en ete, et de 2 a 6 heures en hiver. Toutefois, pendant le mois de decembre, la cloture de la salle peut se faire exceptionnellement a trois heures et demie, quand le jour est insuffisant. Art. 2. La salle des communications est fermee : — 1" Les dimanches et fetes ; 2" La semaine comprise entre le dimanche de Paques et celui de la Quasimodo ; 3° De ler aout au ler septembre. Art. 3. Toute personne autorisee a travailler au Depot des Affaires etrangeres devra s'entendre avec le chef de bureau charge des communications de documents, sur l'epoque a laquelle elle compte venir regulierement. * Arrete ministei'iel du 8 decembre 1891, Art. 4. Toute personne qui aura, sans prevenir l'Admini- stration, interrompu ses recherches pendant un mois, perdra ses droits a, la place qui lui aura ete assignee dans la salle de travail. Art. 5. Les personnes admises dans la salle des com- munications ne devront ni se promener, ni causer a, haute voix, ni fumer, ni rien faire qui puisse gener les travailleurs. Art. 6. II est interdit de prendre soi-meme dans les armoires, dans les casiers ou sur les tables des employes, les volumes et les objets dont on desire se servir. Art. 7. Les dernieres communications doivent etre de- mandees avant trois heures en hiver, et avant quatre heures en ete. II ne sera pas communique plus de cinq volumes a la fois. Art. 8. Aucun carton rempli de pieces detachees ni aucun document non relie ne peuvent etre communiques sans une autorisation speciale et par ecrit du Directeur. Art. 9. Aucun document ne peut etre reproduit par caique ou fac-simile sans une autorisation speciale et par ecrit du Directeur. Dans ce cas, on ne pourra employer que le crayon a, la mine de plomb et le papier vegetal a, la gelatine. Art. 10. Les travailleurs sont responsables de la bonne conservation des documents tout le temps qu'ils leur sont communiques. Art. 11. L'etat des documents restitues par les travailleurs sera verifie par les employes de l'administration presents dans la salle de travail. Art. 12. Personne ne pourra sortir de la salle de travail avec un livre, un cahier ou un portefeuille sans un laissez-passer signe du chef de bureau charge de la sur veillance de la salle, qui s'assurera que lesdits objets ne contiennent aucun papier appartenant au Depot des Archives. A cet effet, les cahiers et portefeuilles devront etre presentes ouverts au depart. Art. 13 et dernier. Toute infraction au present reglement entraine la suspension ou le retrait de l'autorisation accordee de travailler au Depot des Affaires etrangeres. Paris, le 6 avril 1880. Le president du conseil, ministre des affaires etrangeres, C. de Freycinet. Aux Rcglements precedents, il convient, de plus, d'ajouter que, par arrete ministeriel en date du 4 fevrier 1885, toute personne autorisee a consulter les Archives du ministere des affaires etrangeres, devra remettre, pour le service interieur du Depot, deux exemplaires de chaque onvrage publie a, l'aide des documents qui lui auront ete communiques. Ces exemplaires devront etre adresses directement a la Division des Archives, qui en accusera reception. Les demandes d'admission etant soumises a, la commission des Archives diplomatiques qui ne siege pas pendant les vncances parlementaires, les personnes qui desirent travailler de septembre a novembre, feront bien d'envoyer leurs demandes avant le ler juillet. Toute demande adressee par un etranger, doit etre presentee on recommandee par Tambassade ou la legation dont il releve, E 2 68 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : Toute demande doit, s'il est necessaire, etre munie de references. Sir, Sir Francis Bertie to Sir Edward Grey. Paris, August 19th, 1908. With reference to my despatch of this series of the 12th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs enclosing (i) a pamphlet containing the regulations relative to the organisation of the National Archives, and (ii) the regulations concerning the com munication to the public of the Archives of the Ministry for War. French citizens and foreigners are allowed to consult the National Archives unconditionally. Monsieur Pichon adds that he will communicate the required information respecting the Archives of the Ministry for the Colonies as soon as it has been supplied to him by the Minister for that Department. I have the honour to be, &c, Francis Bertie. The Right Honourable, Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P. Monsieur Pichon to Sir Francis Bertie. Paris, le 10 aout 1908. Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, J'ai l'honneur d'adresser ci-joint a Votre ExceUence en reponse a sa lettre du 11 juillet : — 1°. Une brochure renfermant les reglements relatifs a l'organisation des Archives nationales ; 2°. Le reglement concernant la communication des archives du ministere de la Guerre. La Commission chargee d'etudier les conditions d'ouverture des archives britanniques trouvera dans ces documents les reponses a la plupart des questions qui l'interessent. En ce qui concerne les Archives Nationales, Fran^ais et etrangers sont admis a y travailler sans conditions, et la grande liberalite avec laquelle les documents y sont communiques, aussi bien que l'installation pratique du service, rendent inutiles les facilites speciales qui pourraient etre sollicitees par telle ou telle categorie de travailleurs. Votre Excellence trouvera dans l'Annuaire dip lomatique et consulaire les reglements concernant l'organisation des Archives des Affaires Etrangeres dont je lui avais precedemment envoye un extrait. Je ne manquerai pas d'autre part de lui communiquer les renseignements relatifs aux Archives des Colonies des que mon Collegue, auquel je m'etais addresse, me les aura fait parvenir' Agreez, etc. (Signe) Pour le Ministre, Geoffray. Reglement poue la Communication des Archives Historiques du Ministere de la Guerre (26 Janvier 1899 and 8 Novembre 1906). I. Toute personne qui desire consulter les docu ments conserves aux archives du Ministere de la Guerre (Archives historiques, archives des cartes, bibliotheque) doit adresser une demande au Ministre en indiquant, aussi exactement que possible, l'objet de ses recherches. Les demandes de personnes de nationalite etran- gere doivent etre presentees par l'intermediaire du Ministre des affaires etrangeres. II. Les demandes formees par des officiers en activite de service sont transmises au chef d'Etat- Major general de l'Armee, qui accorde ou refuse l'autorisation. in. Les demandes faites par les autres personnes sont examinees par le Ministre qui statue apres avoir pris l'avis de la Commission des archives, s'il le juge utile. IV. Les autorisations ne sont valables que pour les documents dont la communication a ete demandee. Elles doivent etre renouvelees au commencement de chaque semestre. V. Les autorisations sont strictement personnelles, Toutefois les recherches pourront etre faites, au nom de la personne autorisee, par un tiers prealablement agree. Quiconque, s'etant presente en son propre nom, serait ulterieurement reconnu pour etre I'agent ou le prete-nom d'une personne non autorisee, et aurait de la sorte dissimule sa veritable qualite, sera prive de l'autorisation qui lui aura ete donnee. VI. Les archives du Ministere de la Guerre sont ouvertes aux recherches pour la periode comprise entre les plus anciens documents et l'annee 1848 exclue. Toutefois la communication de certains documents posterieurs a 1830 pourra etre refusee en raison des questions militaires, politiques ou personnelles que pourrait soulever leur divulgation. VII. Les documents posterieurs a l'annee 1847 ne peuvent etre communiques, qu'exceptionnellement et en vertu d'une autorisation speciale du Ministre. VHI. Les historiques reglementaires actuels des regiments peuvent etre communiques, si recentes que soient les campagnes qui y sont racontees. Toutefois, il ne sera pris qne des notes dans les historiques manuscrits, dont la publication, meme partielle, demeure reservee. IX. Les documents de toute nature sont consultes sur place, dans les locaux reserves a. cet effet, oil les personnes munies d'autorisation pourront venir tra vailler. Us doivent etre, autant que possible, demandes la veille. X. Les services des archives et de la bibliotheque exercent un droit de controle sur les copies, dont ils peuvent toujours exiger le depot. XI. Les travailleurs sont responsables des ouvrages et des documents pendant tout le temps qu'ils leur sont confies. Personne ne pourra sortir de la salle de travail avec un livre, un cahier ou un portefeuille, sans l'autorisation de la personne chargee de la surveillance, qui peut s'assurer que les dits objets ne contiennent aucun livre ou papier appartenant aux archives ou a la bibliotheque. XII. Toute personne autorisee a consulter les archives du Ministere de la Guerre devra remettre, pour le service de ces archives, deux exemplaires de chaque ouvrage publie a, l'aide des documents qui lui auront ete communiques. Ces exemplaires seront adresses directement a l'etat-major de l'armee (Section Historique) qui en accusera reception. Le Ministre de la Guerre, (Signe) de Freycinet. Sir, Germany. Count de Salis to Sir Edward Grey. Berlin, June 18, 1908. With reference to your despatch of this series, 16761/08 of the 18th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a note from the German Government enclosing the Working Regulations of the Royal Prussian Archive Administration, together with a translation of 27, 28, 29 and 30 of the rules drawn up for the guidance of the officials of the State Archives in Berlin and the Provinces of January 21st, 1904. These paragraphs would appear to contain all the available information with regard to the special points raised by the Secretary to the Committee appointed to report on the question of relaxing the restrictions hitherto maintained on public access to Departmental records, in the letter which formed the enclosure to your above-mentioned despatch. I have the honour to be, &c, The Right Hon. J. de Salis. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c, &c. APPENDICES. 69 Translation of Paragraphs 27, 28, 29 and 30 of the Begulations of the Boyal Prussian Archives. 27. The head of the archives is empowered to give information based on the documents and acts, in answer to questions of natives or foreign scholars as to whether the archives in question contain records concerning a definite subject indicated in detail, as long as there is no question of any references to the royal house or the state or church and religious matters, which seem to him to require that a previous demand should be made to the royal " Oberpriisident." The head of the archives is also empowered to give information regard ing arms and seals, about the position, relationships and possessions of individual families, the life histories of families and persons, and about definite historical questions, in so far as there is no fear that by so doing public interests are jeopardized. 28. The head of the archives may on his own authority grant permission to subjects of the German Empire to use the archives for personal and scientific purposes in the matter of inspection of records so long as they are records of a time antecedent and up to the year 1700. (Decree of 27th January and enactment of 3rd February 1898.) It rests with the royal " Ober- prasident " or the Director-General of the State Archives to deal with the requests referring to a later time. In any case the use of archives must be preceded by a request in writing in which the length of time required for consulting them must be given as exactly as possible. 29. The decision of the head of the Archive Adminis tration is to be taken in the case of requests from foreigners and from the authorities of foreign States. In urgent cases the head of the archives is empowered to allow the person making the request to begin his research before the decision arrives. (Decree of 24th August 1900.) 30. The records in question may only be placed at the disposition of persons who have been granted permis sion to use the archive to the extent to which such permission has been granted. They may only be consulted in the rooms destined for the purpose and under the superintendence of an archive official. Austria-Hungary. Sie, Sir W. G. Goschen to Sir Edward Grey. Vienna, June 24th, 1908. On receipt of your Library despatch, 16761/08 of May 18th last, I at once addressed a note to the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Office requesting that I might be supplied with information relative to the restrictions in force in this country upon public access to departmental records, and I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a note which I have to-day received from Baron d'Aehrenthal answering the specific points indicated in the letter from the Home Office of May 14th. The note adds that further particulars with regard to public access to other classes of archives will be furnished to this Embassy, and I shall not fail to transmit to you this supplementary information as soon as it is received. I have the honour to be, &c., The Right Honourable W. G. Goschen. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. &c. Translation. In partial reply to the note of His Majesty's Embassy, dated the 21st ultimo, requesting informa tion relative to the restrictions imposed on public access to departmental records in Austria-Hungary, the 14829 Imperial and Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs has the honour to transmit the following particulars : — 1. The limit of date up to which access is granted to the Household, Court, and State archives is fixed at 1847, inclusive. 2. Permission to inspect such archives is issued by the Director of Archives. In case of refusal to grant permission on the part of the Director of Archives, recourse may be had to the Imperial and Royal Foreign Office. 3. No restrictions are placed on the publication of the results of the inspection of archives. 4. Before access is allowed to archives, especially such as date from a period subsequent to the middle of the 18th century, they are submitted to a thorough examination by the officials in charge. As a result of this exami nation all such portions are withheld, the secrecy of which it is considered of special interest to preserve. 5. With regard to right of access to Household, Court, and State archives no distinction is in general drawn between specially accredited individuals and members of the general public or between Austrian and Hungarian citizens on the one hand and subjects of foreign States on the other. Permission is, however, as a matter of course, withheld from applicants of whose good faith or capacity for archival research the Director of Archives has any reason to doubt. Vienna, June 21st, 1908. The Hon. L. D. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey. Vienna, Sie, August 6th, 1908. In continuation of my despatch No. 5 (Library) of June 24th last, I have the honour to forward here with translation of a Note from the Austro-Hungarian Government supplying further information as to the restrictions in force in this country upon pubhc access to departmental records. I have the honour to be, &c., The Right Honourable L. D. Carnegie. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. &c. Translation. In continuation of their Note of the 21st ultimo, respecting the restrictions imposed upon public access to various departmental records in Austria and Hungary, the Imperial and Royal Ministry for Foreign A flairs has the honour to transmit the accompanying particulars with regard to the Court archives. As regards the regulations respecting access to military archives, the answers to the questions raised by His Britannic Majesty's Embassy are as follows : — 1. The rule is that foreign students who are not members of the Austro-Hungarian army shall have access to documents only up to the year 1840 inclusive. In special the Director of the Military Archives may decide how far the scientific object of the research is sufficient to justify a relaxation of the rule. 2. Documents are distributed to students in the Archive Departments in return for a receipt, and in exceptional cases are sent to directors of other archives. The publication of the results of a research is not subjected to any kind of control, documents being given only to persons who are trustworthy and well recommended. 3. The Director of the Military Archives has a number of secret military and political documents in his possession which are never shown. According to the regulations no sort of communication is allowed to be made to strangers as to the existence of these " secret documents." E 3 70 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : 4. Any bond fide scholar who is prepared to make an official statement to this effect may have access to the archives. No distinction is made between Austro-Hungarian subjects and foreigners. Those provisions hold good equally for maps and books in the military archives ; but maps which are irreplaceable if lost and valuable printed matter are not allowed out of the Department. With regard to the regulations governing other archives, with respect to which His Majesty's Embassy have asked for information, the Imperial and Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs will make a further communication. July 20th, 1908. Study of Documents in return for Beceipts. (a) For Official use. 1. Ministries and central authorities have the right of taking out documents required for official use. This, however, can only be done in return for a care fully-made-out receipt in which the documents in question are properly noted, and subject, number, and time accurately filled in. These receipts must be signed by the person issuing the documents, and countersigned by the head of the department concerned, and must contain the official number of the subject in connection with which the document is taken out. Begistration of Documents taken out. 2. A careful register must be kept of all docu ments taken out. They are then stamped with the archive stamp, as well as all the annexes of the documents, and a note made in the inside cover as well as in a note book. Catalogues of Documents. 3. When a large number of documents are taken out, a catalogue must be drawn up in duplicate, one copy being retained in the archives and a note made to this effect in the receipt. Manner of keeping the Begisters. 4. The Archive Registers which contain the list of documents officially examined since the end of the 17th century must be kept carefully up to date, together with the alphabetical index of the titles of these documents. They must have subject, number, date, docket, and the number of the subject for which these documents were taken out and the name of whoever takes them out. Beturn of Documents. 5. Documents must be returned immediately after use. Documents not returned at the end of three months must be asked for. Beplacing Documents. 6. A careful examination is made to see that the documents returned are complete in accordance with the receipt, after which they are immediately replaced and the note made on the inside cover and in the note book is rubbed out. (b) For Private use. 1. The permission of the Imperial Ministry of Finance must be obtained for unofficial examination of the records. 2. The examination of the records may be made only in the Record Departments. 3. Everyone intending to make use of the records must apply to the Imperial Ministry of Finance, stating the object of research and the length of time during which the documents are likely to be in use. The Director of the Archives must also send a report to the Ministry of Finance before the necessary direction can be given. 4. In case of urgency, the application to the Ministry of Finance may be dispensed with, and the Director of Archives may obtain permission directly from the Private Secretaries' Department at the Ministry of Finance. 5. Documents taken out must be examined before being handed to the person desiring to use them, and the latter is then assigned a place in the writing room of the Record Department. 6. Further material may be supplied at the discre tion of the director. 7. Documents must be examined immediately after use to see that they are complete and undamaged, and if in proper condition must be replaced at once. 8. Whoever takes out documents is at liberty to have copies made, but they must be certified as such. The staff of the Record Department is not available for copying. 9. An official attestation of copies by the depart ment can only be made with the permission oi the Imperial Ministry of Finance, and must be obtained direct. 10. Admission to the Record Department is granted only on notice being given to the director, and an official of the department must always be present. Italy. Begulations respecting access to Becords in Italy under the Headings specified in the Letter from the Committee of May 14-th. 1. Limits fixed as regards date. Documents which have a purely literary or historic character, sentences and decrees of magistrates, deci sions and decrees of Government administrative authorities are public. Documents concerning foreign policy and the general administration of the States of which the Kingdom of Italy was composed are public down to 1815. The records of criminal trials are public 70 years after their conclusion. Administrative documents are public 30 years after the conclusion of the case to which they refer. The same limit of time is laid down for papers which from their nature or origin are of a private character. Information can be given with regard to papers which are not public with the authorisation of the Ministry of the Interior after consultation with the Ministry concerned and, in the more important cases, with the Council of the Archives. 2. — (a) Anyone may ask to inspect, read or copy papers which are public by applying to the Diiector of Archives in proper form and specifying the papers required, on payment of one franc in the case of each document, or two francs an hour should he require to examine several documents not specified. The inspection of documents must always be made in the presence of the employe in whose custody they are and during the hours specified by the director. (b) The results of researches in the archives may be published freely and without obstacle. 3. Confidential and secret reports containing in formation and opinions expressed by public officials on the lives of specified persons are not public. 4. — («) Students are allowed to make researches and copies free of charge for literary and scientific objects, but in applying for permission to do so they have to state clearly the scope of their studies. (6) No distinction is made between Italians and foreigners. Rome, July 9th, 1908. The United States. Sir, The Right Hon. James Bryce to Sir Edward Grey. Washington, June 9th, 1908. In accordance with the instructions contained in your dispatch in this series of 18th May last (16761/09), I have the honour to transmit to you here with a memorandum which has been drawn up by Mr. Toung, Second Secretary to this Embassy, with regard to the rules which have been drawn up by the various departments to govern the admission of the public to have aacess to departmental records, together APPENDICES. 71 with certain information as to the regulations, &c, in force in the United States. I have the honour to be, &c, The Right Honourable James Bryce. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. &c. Beport. Public Access to Departmental Becords. The United States have as yet no general record office ; many MS. archives without administrative value and of historical interest have been transferred to the Congressional Library, the national library. The remaining archives are distributed through the 40 or more departments, and are mostly of purely adminis trative value. Applications to consult them are very liberally met, but no uniform practice exists with regard to admission to consult departmental records ; and no rules on the subject have been formulated, except in the case of the Department of State and War Department. Copies of these rules extracted from Van Tyne and Leland's " Guide to the Archives," pages 2-3 and 110-111, are annexed. With regard to other departments, I cannot learn there are any definite principles followed as to the points mentioned by the Committee. George Toung. British Embassy, Washington, 3rd June 1908. Access to the Archives of the Department of State. The general rule relating to the use of the archives of the department is as follows : — The privilege of access to the manuscript archives of the Department of State may be secured, so far as the facilities at command and the convenience of the office admit, upon application by letter to the Secretary of State. Applicants should describe as concisely and definitely as may be possible the papers they desire to consult, the scope of the examination contemplated, and the period of time during which they purpose to avail themselvesof the permission, if accorded. (1) Persons to whom the privilege of consulting the manuscript archives of the Department of State is granted can exercise the permission only subject to the convenience of the department and the uninter rupted transaction of its business. (2) No manuscript shall at any time be taken out of the department except by order in writing of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. (3) No manuscript shall be taken out of the Bureau of Rolls and Library into any room of the department until a receipt in form and descriptive of the paper or volume be signed by the official taking the same and delivered to the chief of the Bureau, or, in his absence, to the person in charge. (4) No manuscript shall be detained from its place on the shelves of the Bureau of Rolls and Library after 4.30 p.m. of the day it shall have been taken ; and no manuscript shall be taken from its place on the shelves by any others than the clerks in charge, except by special arrangement in exceptional circumstances. (5) The use of the indexes in the room in which the manuscripts are deposited is not permitted except through the clerks in charge. (6) The privilege of consulting the manuscript archives does not include the use of the library. The latter privilege must be independently asked for of the chief of the Bureau of Rolls and Library. Bureau of Indexes and Archives. The description here presented applies to the archives and to the system under which correspondence was recorded and filed previous to August 15th, 1906. On that date a new method was instituted, under which all important correspondence is filed numerically in the "major file," a number being assigned to each subject and a sub-number to each paper relating to that subject. A chronological synopsis of the corres pondence under each number is kept in a separate file of record-cards. The unimportant routine correspondence of the department is kept in the " minor file " in a strict alphabetical order, diplomatic despatches and instruc tions appearing under the name of the country, diplomatic notes under the name of the Embassy or Legation, consular despatches and instructions under the city, and miscellaneous communications under the names of the correspondents. A complete card-index is maintained covering the entire correspondence, and the use of books, both for indexing and for recording, has been discontinued. In the Bureau of Indexes and Archives is preserved all the correspondence of the State Department except that relating to appointments, passports, publications accounts, &c. It is arranged in three classes — diplomatic, consular, and miscellaneous. While the diplomatic and consular correspondence is conducted by the Diplomatic and Consular Bureaus respectively, it is finally deposited in the Bureau of Indexes and Archives ; hence the Diplomatic and Consular Bureaus have.no archives of their own. In general it may be said that these archives are accessible to the student, either through a personal examination or through written request for information. In the former case the student is ordinarily allowed to examine the material, and to take such notes as he wishes, but his notes are inspected by the chief of the Bureau, who may withhold such of them as he judges should not be taken away. In making a personal examination, the student receives all the aid which the clerical force of the Bureau can afford without interference with its regular work. In case a written request for information is made, the request should be as specific as possible. The limited number of the clerical force and the great amount of departmental work do not permit of extended researches, but as much attention as possible is given to requests for information. -4ccess to the Archives of the War Department. Access to the records is restricted to persons under the authority of the War Department ; the following rules govern the use of this material for all purposes not purely official. A more detailed statement on the subject of access to the records, giving the reasons for its being so restricted, is to be found in the report of the chief of the Record and Pension Office for 1897 : — War Department, Washington, D.C., February 23rd, 1897. Orders. The muster rolls and other records of individual officers, enlisted men and organisations, which are on file in the Record and Pension Office of this depart ment, and which pertain to the War of the Rebellion, the Mexican War, the various Indian wars, the War of 1812, and the War of the Revolution, have become so dilapidated through years of constant handling, or other causes, that it has been found necessary to adopt stringent measures for their preservation, and to restrict reference to them to cases in which such reference is absolutely necessary. Many of the most important of these records have been reproduced by the index-record card system, but the handling of these cards, as well as the original records which they represent, by persons not thoroughly instructed in their use and not under the control of this department, involves great danger of the loss, through misfiling or otherwise, of cards or other records which cannot be replaced. For these reasons, as well as for others equally cogent, the department is compelled to restrict access both to the original records and the index- record cards exclusively to persons who are in the employ of the department and are lawfully subject to its control. The department will furnish at any time such information relative to any individual officer or enlisted man as its records afford, and as may be actually necessary to enable the proper officials of any State, or any relief association, patriotic society, or other kindred organisation, to pass upon any applica tion that may have been made in good faith for aid, relief, or membership, and that may properly come within the jurisdiction of such officials or organisation. But requests for information relative to individual E 4 72 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS officers or enlisted men, or for the compilation _ of statistical or other data relative to particular organisa tions, to be used for historical or memorial purposes or for publication, cannot be entertained, because the limited clerical force allowed by law is insufficient to enable the department to comply with such requests without serious interference with more important current work. The records of general historical value pertaining to the late war have either been published, or soon will be published, in the " Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," so as to render them accessible to all who may be interested in them. Should Congress provide in future for a similar publication of the records relating especially to individual officers, enlisted men. and organisations of that war and prior wars, the historical data which those records contain will also become available for general use, but until such publication shall have been authorised, or other legis lation enacted, it will be impracticable for the department to furnish compilations or statements from those records for historical, memorial, or statis tical purposes, or for publication. For the reasons set forth above, the following rules have been adopted relative to the subject of furnishing statements or extracts from the records of the personnel of the volunteer armies and other similar records on file in the Record and Pension Office of the depart ment, and are hereby announced for the information and guidance of all concerned : — 1. All requests, made by persons other than officials of the United States for information from the official records must, to receive favourable consideration, set forth the specific purpose for which they are made, and must be sufficiently in detail to enable this depart ment to determine for itself how much, if any, of the information asked for is necessary for the purpose indicated and can be properly furnished. 2. Any such request that may be made with a view to determining the merits of an application for State or other aid or relief must be made, over his own signature, by the State or other official who may be authorised by law to decide whether such aid or relief shall be furnished ; or, in case the decision rests with a board, commission, or association, the request must be made, over his or her signature, by the chief officer of the board or other organisation which is empowered to decide the case. original applicant. The decrees make no distinction in regard to nationality. I have the honour to be, &c, Henry Howard. The Netheelands. Sir Henry Howard to Sir Edward Grey. The Hague, Sir, September 19th, 1908. In reply to your despatch of this series (30793/08) of the 4th instant, I have the honour to transmit, here with, translation of two Royal decrees of October 30th, 1903, and January 16th, 1904, which have been com municated to me by the Netherland Government, regu lating the use of and access to the State Archives of the Netherlands. It will be seen that under the earlier decree permission is obtainable by " all trustworthy persons " to use State papers of a not more recent date than December, 1813, within the Archives building. No document may be borrowed by applicants without the authority of the Minister of the Interior. No docu ments may be borrowed by applicants without the authority of the Minister of the Interior. Docu ments may be published by unofficial persons, but on their own responsibility, the Government reserving the right of republication. Permission to consult archives more recent than 1813 must be obtained from the depositing authority. By the second decree all departmental records bearing dates ranging from November, 1813, to December, 1830, are transferred to the State Archives. They are available for use by official persons for pur poses of research undertaken in the public interest, also by unofficial students subject to the authorisation of the head of the department to which they originally belonged. _ Third parties are also permitted to peruse them, subject to the same conditions unless the authorisation has been specifically restricted to the Royal Decree of October 30th, 1903, No. 29, regulating the use of and access to the State Archives. We Wilhelmina, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, &c, &c. On the proposal of our Minister of the Interior of October 23rd, 1903, No. 2743, Department of Arts and Sciences ; Have approved and understood . To withdraw the Royal decree of June 26th, 1856, No. 79, and to provide as follows : — Article 1. The State Archivists shall be bound, while observing the provisions to be mentioned hereafter, to grant permission to use the collection of archives under their administration to all trustworthy persons known to them who apply for that purpose. For the consultation of State Archives which are of a more recent date than December 1813, the per mission shall be required of the authority who deposited them in the depot. Article 2. If anyone applies for the above-mentioned pur pose to the State Archivists, and they deem that they cannot with sufficient certainty grant such permission to him, they shall refer him to our Minister of the Interior, and shall also report their refusal to that Minister without delay, stating their reasons. The persons to whom access is granted shall be bound to make use of the documents in the buildings of the archives, which documents shall be stamped previously. The visitors shall not be admitted to the place where the collection itself is stored, but the officials shall bring the documents desired for use into a room set apart for the purpose, unless circumstances render it impossible to follow this rule. The officials shall also be bound to lay before the visitors : the tables, indexes, repertories, inventories, and lists of chronologically arranged extracts, and to further assist them in their investigations. They shall be careful that the used documents are returned in a good condition each time, and that they are immediately again laid in the places destined for the same. Article 4. No document may be taken outside the building without authority. If any one desires such authority, the State Archivists shall refer him to that end to Our Minister of the Interior. They shall at the same time send a report to that Minister containing information on the subject and their advice. Such authority shall not be required for the trans mission of archive-documents to the public establish ments designated or still to be designated by Our Minister of the Interior. Article 5. No document shall be issued for use outside the building otherwise than after having been stamped with the stamp of the depot and against receipt to be signed by the person to whom the document is entrusted ; each receipt shall be noted in a register destined for that purpose. After the document has been returned, examined and found to be in a good condition, the receipt of the person concerned shall be returned, and mention thereof shall be made in the register. Article 6. Those who make use of archive-documents shall be permitted to have them printed and published, APPENDICES. 73 provided they submit to the general and tacit conditions : (a) that they hold themselves responsible for that which they publish ; (6) that they are bound to present to the depot where the archive-document is deposited one of the copies printed at their order ; (c) that the Government shall retain the right to cause the same documents to be again printed and published. 2°. The part of the archives, dated prior to 1831, of Departments of General Administration existing in that year. If such a department was abolished in that - year or some time later, or was reorganised in that year or some time earlier or later, the head of the department in whose custody the archives are may determine that they shall be handed over up to the date on which such abolition or regulation took effect. Article 7. In order to ensure the observance of the provisions of Article 6, a register shall be kept in each depot and shall contain a copy of this decree together with a declaration that the undersigned submit to the same, namely, to Article 6. No one shall be permitted to make use of archive-documents before having signed that declaration. A similar declaration must be made by the person who requests the loan of documents from the archives. Article 8. If documents are asked for, the perusal of which the State Archivists do not consider advisable, they may refuse to allow such perusal, but not otherwise than with reference of the applicant to our Minister of the Interior to whom they shall immediately give notice of the refusal, stating the reasons for the same. Article 9. In the deed by which archives are given in loan for use, the provisions of this decree may be deviated from. The notices and authority mentioned in Articles 2, 4, and 8 shall, for those archives, be made to and asked of the person who has lent those archives for use. Article 10. Under the term archives this decree also includes the manuscripts kept in an archive-depot, which form no part of any of the archives kept in the depot. The provision of Article 4, 1st paragraph, shall not be applicable to duplicates. Our Minister of the Interior shall be charged with the carrying out of this decree. WILHELMINA. Raben-Steinfeld, October 30, 1903. The Minister of the Interior, Kuyper. Royal Decree of January 16th, 1904. We Wilhelmina, by the Grace of God, Queen op the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, etc., etc., etc., On the proposal of our Minister of the Interior of January 14th, 1904, No. 159, Department of Arts and Sciences ; Considering that it is desirable, in the interest of a good regulation of archive affairs, to add the State archives bearing a date later than November 1813, but not later than the end of the year 1830, to those of older date ; That the access to and the use of those later archives ought to be somewhat further described ; Having seen the Sovereign Decree of March 8th, 1814, No. 9, the Royal Decree of September 4th, 1823, No. 7, and our Decree of October 30th, 1903, No. 29 ; Have approved and understood : To provide as follows with the amendment of the provisions of Article 18 of the Royal Decree of September 4th, 1823, No. 7 :— Article 1. There shall be transferred to the State Archives at the Hague and there placed in the custody and under the administration of the General State Archivist — 1°. The archives of the Departments of General Administration abolished prior to 1831. Article 2. The date on which such transfer shall take place shall be fixed by the head of the department in whose custody the documents and archives are, after delibera tion with Our Minister of the Interior. Article 3. The officials or officers designated by the head of the department shall be allowed to peruse all documents and archives emanating from the department, which they desire to consult in their official capacity. At their request the documents required for an investigation shall be issued to them against a receipt. The head of the department shall regulate the supervision which shall be held on such temporarily issued documents. Article 4. Officials or officers who wish to make an investi gation in the interest of the public service, and who are not provided with such a general authority, shall be allowed to peruse the documents and archives emanating from a department, after they shall have communicated to the head of the department the object of their investigation and have obtained his written permission to consult the requisite documents. Article 5. In the case of investigations not instituted officially, parties interested shall be permitted to make use of the documents and archives emanating from a depart ment if they have addressed a written application to the General State Archivist in which the object of the investigation is stated, and if the General State Archivist shall have been authorised by the head of the department to communicate the documents relating to the subject, to the parties interested, with the observance of the conditions to be thereby imposed. Article 6. The documents given to a person for perusal in virtue of the preceding article, may, for the future, also be consulted by other persons with the observance of the conditions thereby imposed, unless the head of the department, when granting authority, shall have stipulated that they shall be communicated to the first-mentioned person exclusively. Article 7. The head of the department may designate certain documents which may be given for perusal without the permission and authority mentioned in Articles 4 and 5. Article 8. Visitors other than the officials or officers men tioned in Article 3 may be allowed to peruse the whole or a part of the annual indexes and agenda of the archives of a department, after the General State Archivist has satisfied himself that the entire con tents of those registers or of the said parts thereof are not of such a nature as to render it desirable to apply for the authority of the head of the department concerned before communicating the same. 74 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: Article 9. The provisions of Our Decree of October 30th, 1903, No. 29, shall be applicable to the documents and archives transferred in pursuance of this decree, so far as those provisions are not deviated from by the prescriptions of this decree. Our Minister of the Interior shall be charged with the carrying out of this decree. WILHELMINA. The Hague, January 16th, 1904. The Minister of the Interior, Kuyper. 7. Note on the Library op the Public Record Office.* The nucleus of the Library of the Public Record Office was the collection of books formed by the Com mission on the Public Records which expired in December 1837, with which wei'e incorporated in 1854 the books formerly in the State Paper Office. The library is augmented by purchase, by exchange with archaeological and other societies and with foreign Governments and by gifts. It now consists of some 26,000 volumes relating to history, topography, heraldry, genealogy, and so on. The library being intended for official use only, and not being accessible to the public, books are bought with regard to the official work in hand rather than for the purpose of forming a model historical library. All new books are purchased through the Stationery Office, such purchases amounting generally to about 70Z. a year. An annual allowance of 20Z. is made to the librarian for the purchase of second-hand books. * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. 8. Official Return (January 1912) of the Peinted ob Manusceipt "Keys" to Refer ences which have been altered in Official Calendars, Lists, or Indexes of the Public Records* (a) List of printed Calendars or Lists and Indexes in connection with which " keys " exist (in MS.) : — - (1) Calendar of Inquisitions post mortem, Hen. III. to Ric. III. 4 vols, folio. (2) Calendar of Inquisitions ad quod damnum, Hen. III. to Ric. III. 1 vol. folio. (3) Calendar of Letters and Papers, Hen. VLLT. 21 vols. * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of Public Records. Mite. — In connection with the foUowing official return it would appear that no official keys are included for the following Calendars in which some part of the references no longer holds good. Many volumes of Calendars are thus affected, the printed references being in many cases now useless, and the actual references being only obtainable on personal inquiry in the Search Room of the Public Record Office : — Calendar of State Papers, Domestic. Calendar of State Papers, Colonial. Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers. Calendar of Home Office Papers. Calendar of Documents, Ireland. Calendar of Documents, Scotland. In addition to the above, the entries in the Venetian, Spanish and Papal Calendars do not give exact references to the series of transcripts in the Public Record Office. Such references are, however, given in the case of the Calendar of Documents, France! This return does not include certain pubbshed volumes of " Lists and Indexes" (e.g., No. III. State Papers Domestic, and No. IV. Plea Rolls) in which the references have been changed in new editions of the Lists. Moreover, no printed or manuscript lists of Departmental Records, in which most of the old references have been changed in recent years, have been included in this return. It would also appear that other manuscript lists of records, besides those included in the present return, are now affected by the alteration of references, and that no keys exist for some of these lists. Apart from the legal records or Slate Papers which have been calendared, many volumes, rolls, or bundles have been used and cited in various works, and the references to these documents are now, in many cases, obsolete. (6) List' of Keys now in Use, giving the present References to Documents described in old Lists or Calendars, and since re-arranged or distributed. Description of Document. Old List or Calendar. Inquisitions post mortem (Chancery), Hen. in. to Ric. III. Inquisitions ad quod dam num (Chancery), Edw. II. to Hen. VI. Royal Letters (Chancery) Parliamentary Petitions (Chancery). Ancient Forest Proceed ings (Chancery). Miscellaneous Rolls (Chan cery). Special Commissions (Ex chequer, King's Re membrancer). Cartie Antiqux and Cartes Selects; (Exchecprer, Aug mentation Office). Ministers' and Receivers' Accounts (Exchequer, Augmentation Office), Hen. VH. to Chas. I. Miscellanea (Exchequer, Treasury of Receipt). Miscellaneous Books (Ex chequer Treasury of Receipt). Printed catalogue (Rec. Comm.). Ditto MS. calendars partly printed in D.K. Reports IV. to VII. Printed index in D.K. Re port XXXIV Printed^ List in D.K. Re port \r. Printed catalogue in Mr. Scargill-Bird's Guide io the Public Records (2nd edit.) Printed catalogue in D.K Report XXXVIII. MS. indexes MS. inventories MS. descriptive slips - Printed catalogue in Thomas's Handbook to the Public Records. Present Calendar or Arrangement. New calendar in progress Nature of Key. List printed in Lists and Indexes XVII. and XXII. Distributed amongst Ancient Correspondence and other classes. Distributed chiefly amongst Ancient Petitions. Distributed chiefly amongst Miscellanea (Chancery) Ditto New list being printed in Lists and Indexes. Distributed chiefly amongst Ancient Deeds, Series B. New list partly printed in Lists and Indexes XXXIV. Distributed New list printed in Mr. Scargill-Bird's Guide. MS. (in course of being printed in new calen dar). MS. MS. Printed in Lists Indexes I. MS. and MS. MS. MS. New references posted up in old lists. MS. MS. APPENDICES. 75 Description of Document. Old List or Calendar. Coram Rege Rolls (King's Bench). Assize Rolls (King's Bench). Quo Warranto Rolls (King's Bench). Miscellanea, Class 25 (Duchy of Lancaster). Ancient Deeds (Duchy of Lancaster). Royalist Composition Papers (State Paper Office). Colonial Office Records MS. list MS. list MS. list MS. calendar Catalogue partly printed in D.K. Reports XXXV. and XXXVI.,and partly in MS. MS. indexes Printed lists Present Calendar Arrangement. New list printed in Lists and Indexes IV. Ditto Ditto Distributed Distributed chiefly amongst deeds. Described in " Calendar of the Committee for com pounding, &c." Re-arranged and cata logued in Lists and In dexes XXXVI. Nature of Key. MS.MS. MS. New references posted up in old calendar. New references posted up in Search Room copies of reports and in old MS. cata logue. Printed in Lists and Indexes III. MS. Appendix VI. — The Publications of the Record Office. 1. Statistics of the Record Office Publications (1856-1910).* Year. Chronicles and Memorials. 1856 1857 — 1858 14 1859 6 1860 8 1861 7 1862 4 1863 10 1864 10 1865 9 1866 10 1867 9 1868 7 1869 7 1870 4 1871 7 1872 8 1873 8 1874 6 1875 4 1876 7 1877 3 1878 4 1879 7 1880 6 1881 2 1882 6 Calendars. General. 116 o4 3 4 3 5 5 3 7 365 53 3 5 3424 36 3 4 Calendars. Spanish, Venetian, Papal Registers. Year. Lists and Indexes. Chronicles and Memorials. 188318841885188618871888 1889 1890 1891 18921893 1894 1895189618971898189919001901 19021903 19041905 19061907 1908 19091910 Total * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. 4 9 9 5S 5 5114 11 4 252 Calendars. General. 4 3o5 36O 6 6 7744 11 6 1113 8 11 1210 i)s 12 8 10 296 Calendars. Spanish, Venetian, Papal Registers. 46 Lists and Indexes. 1 1 32 1 11 13 1 13 31 62 3 34 2. Return of all the Record Publications relating to England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, published since the end of the Year 1890, up to the end op the Year 1910, under the direction of the Master op the Rolls .* (a) England and Wales. Date of Publication. 1892 1893 1897 189218921893 1894 18941895 1895 1897 18991901 1902 1904 1907 1909 18961898 190119041906 1908 Title of the Work. Size. Form, and Number of Pages. Cost of Printing, including Paper and Binding. Cost of each Copy for Paper, Printing, and Binding alone. Calendars of State Papers, &c. Domestic Series. Charles I. Edited by W. D. Hamilton (Vols. XXI. to XX1LL) and Mrs. S. C. Lomas (Vol. XXIIL). Vol. XXL— 1645-1647 Vol. XXII.— 1648-1649 Vol. XXTTL— Addenda, March 1625— Jan. 1649 - Domestic Series. Committee for Compounding , &c. Edited by Mary Anne Everett Green. Part ILL— Cases, 1647— June 1650 Part IV.— Cases, July 1650— Dec. 1653 Part V.— Cases, Jan. 1654— Dec. 1659. With Introduction, Addenda, and Index. Domestic Series. Charles II. Edited by Mary Anne Everett Green (Vols. 8-10) and F. H. B. Daniell, M.A. (Vols. 11-18). Vol. VILL— Nov. 1667— Sept. 1668 - Vol. IX.— Oct. 1668— Dec. 1669 Vol. X.— 1670. With Addenda, 1660-1670 - Vol. XL— Jan.— Nov. 1671 .... Vol. Xn.— Dec. 1671—17 May 1672 - Vol. XHL— 18 May— 30 Sept. 1672 - Vol. XIV.— Oct. 1672— Feb. 1673 Vol. XV.— March— Oct. 1673 .... Vol. XVI.— Nov. 1673— Feb. 1675 - Vol. XVII. —March 1675— Feb. 1676 - Vol. XVLLL— March 1676— Feb. 1677 - Domestic Series. William III. Edited by W. J. Hardy. Vol. I.— 13 Feb. 1689— April 1690 - Vol. H.— May 1690— Oct. 1691 - Vol. ILL— 1691— 1692 - - - - Vol. IV.— 1693 Vol. V.— 1694-1695 ... - Vol. VI.— July— Dec. 1695, and Addenda, 1689-1695 Imperial octavo, cloth. Pages 744 532 946 760788 694 782780 868 776793 874 861 794 848800 819 740706711 580661 466 201150203 216212190 182185201 174191225 166175232190185 169 164181132 157 109 s. d. 10 0 7 6 10 2 10 10 10 7 9 11 9 1 9 3 10 0 8 9 9 7 11 3 8 4 8 9 11 7 9 6 9 3 8 5 8 2 9 1 6 7 7 10 5 6 Selling Price to the Public. Number of Copies printed. Number sold to the end of 1910. s. d. 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 16 0 15 0 15 0 400400400 400400400 400 400400400400 400 400 400400 400400 400400400400400400 115118106 105106 106 103 102 96 99 110104 103 98 9586 76 100 100 97 90 80 79 Copies issued for Official Use and for Presentation. 254 204 119 262 264 222 221 218230 230 116117114 114115 110 104 118117113115 114109 Nuinber reiuaining in Store at the end of 11110. 31 78 175 33 30 72 7680 7471 174 179 183 188 190 204220 182183 190195206212 -3 - > r1o z o o Si Tta of to M O cw a 1899 1893189519001903 1905 1900190119041903 19051907 1908 189218941896189819001901 1903 1904 190519081910 Home Office Papers. George III. Roberts (Vol. 4). Vol. LV.— 1773-1775 - Edited by R. A. Ireland. Henry VIII., Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth. State Papers. Edited by E. G. Atkinson (Vols. 6-10). Vol. VI.— July 1596— Dec. 1597 Vol. VH.— Jan. 1598— March 1599 - Vol. VHL— April 1599— Feb. 1600 Vol. IX.— March— Oct. 1600 - Vol. X.— Nov. 1600— July 1601 Ireland. Charles I. and Commonwealth. State Papers. Edited by R. P. Mahaffy, B.A. Vol. I.— 1625-1632 - Vol. LL— 1633-1647 Vol. HI.— 1647-1660, and Addenda, 1625-1660 - Vol. IV.— Adventurers for Land, 1642-1659 Ireland. Charles II. Edited by R. P. Mahaffy, B.A. Vol. I.— 1660-1662 Vol. H.— 1663-1665 Vol. HI.— 1666-1669 Colonial Series. Edited by W. N. Sainsbury (Vols. 8-10), the Hon. J. W. Fortescue (Vols. 10-16), and C. Headlam, M.A. (Vols. 17 and 18). Vol. VIH.— East Indies and Persia, 1630-1634 - Vol. IX.— America and West Indies, 1675-1676, with Addenda, 1574-1674. Vol. X.— America and West Indies, 1677-1680 Vol. XL „ „ 1681-1685 Vol. XH. „ „ 1685-1688 Vol. Xni. „ „ 1689-1692 Vol. XIV. „ „ 1693-1696 Vol. XV. , „ May 1696— Oct. 1697. Vol. XVI. „ „ Oct. 1697— Dec. 1698. Vol. XVII. „ „ 1699, with Ad denda, 1621-1698 Vol.XVIH. „ „ 1700 692 662 758720728639 803 926 1013 824 824 939 770 657 756 884 751 843 771743 664 765 919 230 158170142 164144 202 89 209112 173175 211 168146165103139 176 163157 140 159 190 11 6 7 11 8 6 7 1 8 3 7 o 10 1 4 5 10 6 5 7 10 7 8 5 7 4 8 3 5 2 7 0 8 9 8 2 7 10 7 0 7 11 9 6 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 400 400 400400400400 400 400 400400 400400400 400400400400400400400 400400400400 92 104103 95 90 80 9991 98 103 828380 161157150 135 135 135112 116109 95 120 208219110112 110 116113111 108 116113108 208185 ' 112113 111113114114111108 74 188 78 195198 210 185 196 191 189 202204212 3158 138 152 154 152 174164 173 183 231 >Ma Q * This compilation was intended to complete the valuable Returns of all Record Publications from 1800 to 1877, made for the House of Commons in 1867 (H.C. 20) and 1877 (H.C. 130), but it was found that all the materials for such a Return for the period, 1878-1891, preserved amongst the records of the Stationery Office, have unfortunately been destroyed under the Public Records Office Act of 1877. By the courtesy of the Controller of that Department the following Return has been prepared for the period 1*92 to 1910. The information given in the 1867 and 1877 Returns, with regard to cost of editing and other such expenses, whether edited from MSS. deposited in the Pubhc Record Office or from what other depository ; and whether printed previously, when and how often, and under what editorship, is not available for the period included in the present compilation, which also omits the place "where stored"— this being in every case the Stationery Office. ^i 78 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: ¦6 Jd •5 <" c' ^NHOlCDO)HC000H(MH0 *0 "^ Cfj 3 q-t -^ ^ O ^ r- &4 B r-j •¦-+i. ¦S° a. h o CO Bio*0 >Ph I-H C8 CO H CO CO. IO O. Ol CO IO i-O O O *0 O. 01 01 rH rH ONHCOOOCOOINCOQOHCCCIOH CO CM i— i O CO CO CO t^ CO N C.XriOO r-l Ol CO r-l Oi CO COCOCO-flCO-^ICO-HOiCOCOO'OiCO-^CO HJOCOCOOHCOHIHICDINOlKiOOOl 01 H CI H CI Ol Ol 01 H H H Ol H Ol Ol Ol OC0C0 01'JC0C01-HOC0C0l~>0CSI> I^COOCDINCOCOCOHHIO-flHCM CO > w 1-5 <3 Ph cqEh EH CO pHO < >CwH- r^fisSQ^ CO'* oi p io fic 101O '. |l-5t0 d g5 d g3 d £.r- a a H- s-=cll-s-*!i-a-rjl— 5tV2 co" co" -*" -^ io" >o* ^o" <£ i.O IO IO JO io io "O *o 'H"H' ^PH^fi^rHrH^^p^^p^^^ - o c k o r- ,0 O 0 o r~>>> Z X > CM CM CO r— I Oi Oi I> CD 00 CD CO 00 i— I CO tH I> (M -^ ^ CI l>- 00 00 l> o CO CM CO o O CO i-H CD xO CO CO Ol t^ IO C- CD HH 1^ "^ XJO CO Ol Oi I>- CD O r— I t-H i— 1 r— 1 i— I CI CO CI H CM CM CM W • • , , , CC < • ¦ • . Q ' ' 1-5 <1 +- -M < ' 1 ¦ ¦ ¦ ^ • ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ rH ¦ . >: >~. & — , . . -v1 . — , , , , , S T3 X r3 CC "tH , , T— 'S <1 w Q.C0 SSa 'O L^ rO r^ rH I'rH ^H 00 00 ~t< -+ -^ CO CO 1 J. 1 I> L^ IN IN rrj CO CO Brt1H fc) IN CO IN IN ^d^> ^ -—1 1 t'T r-l 1 rH | IO 10 S^S J Oi i-H xc — CI rH rH "- 00 00 CO ^i .-/. 1 X 1^ t- ¦"-' 1 rii r7r^ rr 1— f f« rH 1— < < l-HM RHlJr MMMM 1 1 1 BB 1 1 § 1 1 »HrHrH ,00000 f>f>t>i>r- Shi O "0 "O "3 "3 » "0 "o k ^i =H HCICO-tCOt-'XOH Ol C^ 10 CO r-, r/^ .— OS O0 Oi Ol 05 Ol Ol O O O O ¦""' S O .— Z. go a) >X' co 00 co cr. 01 01 01 oSao.-" H CO -f N CC cci o oi 05 ot CO OS O H CO OS Ol O O o CO CO Oi O. Oi 1908 1908 1909 189518991904 1892 1894 1896 1899 1S951898 190019041905 1907 19081909 1S94190019021906 19011903 1906 19081910 Vol. III.— 1669-1672. Part. I. - Part II. - Vol. IV.— 1672-1675 England and Spain. Letters, Despatches, and State Papers relating- to the Negotiations between. Preserved in the Archives'" of Simancas and elsewhere. Edited by Don Pascual de G-ayangos (Vols. 6 and 7) and M. A. S. Hume (Vols. 7 and S). Vol. VI.— Part 2. Henry VIII., 1542-154:: Vol. VIL— Henry VHL, 1544 - Vol. VIH.— Henry VIH.. 1545-1546 - English Affairs. Letters and State Papers relating to. Preserved principally in the Archives of Simancas. Edited by M. A. S. Hume. Vol. I.— Elizabeth, 1558-1567 .... Vol. II.— Elizabeth, 156S-1579 .... Vol. III.— Elizabeth, 1580-1586 .... Vol. IV.— Elizabeth, 1587-1603 - Venice. State Papers and Manuscripts relating to English Affairs. Preserved in the Archives and Collections of Venice and in other Libraries of Northern Italy. Edited by H. P. Brown (Vols. 8-12) and A. B. Hinds, M.A. (Vols. 13-15). Vol. VIH.— 1581-1591 Vol. IX.— 1592-1603 Vol. X.— 1603-1607 Vol. XL— 1607-1610 Vol. XII.— 1610-1613 Vol. XIII.— 1613-1615 Vol. XIV.— 1615-1617 Vol. XV.— 1617-1619 Ancient Deeds. Vol. II. Vol. III. Vol. IV Vol. V. Patent Rolls : — Henry III. Vol. I.— 1216-1225. Vol. IL— 1225-1232. Vol. III.— 1232-1247 Vol. IV.— 1247-1258 Vol. V.— 1258-1266 Descriptive Catalogue. In Latin In Latin 820 822 1110 792 565 691 794 776850 659 608 846 862 212 239331 176 134146 157 160159198 666 149 708 159 697 78 748 174 730 165 699 153 748 162 740 151 750 193 772 215 762 190 774705 196 176 165168209199 10 7 11 11 16 6 8 10 6 8 7 4 7 10 8 0 8 0 9 11 7 6 7 11 3 11 8 7 8 3 7 8 8 1 7 7 9 8 10 9 9 6 9 9 8 10 8 3 8 5 10 5 10 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 400400 400 400 400 400 400 400400400 7372 69 106 102 94 135 126 119 109 110110104 218 112111 244 208 106 113 217 218227 76 186 195 21 66 175178 400 116 208 76 400 111 114 175 400 101 j 115 184 400 95 j 110 195 400 89 ! 114 197 400 84 108 208 400 83 105 212 400 70 99 231 400 117 207 76 400 112 110 178 400 101 112 187 400 99 109 192 > !-CfrjSIai — i c H CO 400 113 113 174 400 103 113 184 400 95 115 190 400 94 109 197 400 77 76 247 ^1 CO 80 royal commission on public records. 3 jlC4J as as*™ CO IN CO IN IN IN IN O rH IN IN 05 05 05 COiOOdcDJC-COCOOlCOCML-INC000C00005O1O T— I rH i-H rH I— I 01 CI -^1 05 CO 05 IO CO CD IN 00 CO OO rH rH rH rH rH CM CO CO 'O CD 05 OO O rH rH rH Cd Cd OIO01 '1&S a ^ 5 '& ;y^- o ^ CO 00 05 CO rH O Ol i— I HC1C1H CO CO ^ IN IO IO H t- ¦* CD H IO -J CI I- lOHHHHHHHHl^ OI Ol Ol rH rH rH rH rH rH oono-*-* Cl i— I rH i— I r-l O Od rH i— I rH rH rH IO 05 Cd CM i-H I-H r-i O CO rH O CO O Cl rH rH O O Oi CO -* rH i-H CO 05 05 I- f CO -# CO Cl I- CO CO O rHrHrHO Oi O O. O5C01N IN r-l "* r-l r-l CO O I-H O O OS GO Cl 00 CO Cd 05 CO 00 CO o o o o o o o o "¦^1 -^1 -^1 -^1 o o o o o o o o o o "*Jl ""3* "H^ -rl -^i oooooooooo oooooooooo HH ~-^i "'cjl -^^ "^1 "^1 "^1 ^cjl ^tp "^1 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o> o o o o o o -rfl -^1 -^1 —^1 -^1 rfl -^1 "^1 -"^1 -^1 -* o o o o iO IO iO IO o o o o o IO IO UC IO IO oooooooooo iOiOiOIOIOiOiOIOIOIO o o o o o o lOIOiOIOIOlO o o o o lOlO lOlO o o .- CO rH CO O i— I Oi Cj r* G~J -? O O O 05 r-l 00 CO Ol Oi CO HCOOONOr IOCOO. -* r— I rH 005050510050 0 0.I-H ooaNOio rH rH -rf 05 CO O Cd rH -tf Or-l 05 05 00 IN ; a? : cC£ 'W -# Cl IO CO 05 GO Cd 05 rH rH Cl i— I CO IN 05 rH CD CO IN CO 00 CO I— I Cl Ol I— I rH CO i— I CO i— I rH 05 05 05 . CM i— I rH iH - 05 rH CO iO r~ - 05 O O CC Ol rH Cl Ol rH 01 rH O IO Cl 00 CO Od Cl Ol 05 IO O Cd Cd i— I Cl Cd -* Cl CO CO CO CO CO >o 5-2 ° a & ! r o a) S - OB 01 -* 00 CO r? rH CM CO O CO -H B c3 CO rH C5 IN NC0HIO1H X -?5 i^ CO IN CO IN CO O C5 CO IO I* i-H £ £ - i— i -» c CO CD O 00 r- lOiOOiO-?': COlONCOOOHaCOCjD': " IN L^ I> N CO I> CO L^ i O Oi Oi Oi O r— I CO I>- CD iO -HH >0 CO CO 1> I> O CO CO Oi CD ^f* • r- CD CD CO *3 CO CO CC CO CO r— ( i— If— It— I r-Hi— Ii— IpHr—i I I I I I I I I I Oil— IClr- 1 L-- CO T- r- I-H I'COC'O OHHCICI . C 1 CM CM CO f-j CO CO CO CO " H r— 11— < rH r— I h^ rH t— I r- 1 r— IH - H- 1 r— | |— I K. - r-\ h- 1 I— i kJ kj & MBB | MBB^ ^o o"co ^ 3 'o "o "o "o O -* CO O CO W 00 O -* CO CO CO CO -tfl -Hi -r -p iO iO IO CO CO CO CO CO 00 CO CO CO CO rH,-HrHi— IrH^rHrHi-Hr-l I I I I I I I I I I- O H CO O CC io 00 O -J 01 CO CO CO -H -H -r. -* iO IO ,• CO 00 CO CO CO OO CO CO CO CO rHrH—ir-Hi-H-Hi-H^,— IrH,— I I r- 1 K, I IHI*f BMW fa3 ^4 ^ ,-; ,_; _h* _; _; ^ ^; ^ ^OOOOOOOOOO \>>\>>^>>>\>r* r-l IO CO CM CO Ol CO CO CO OS 03 Oi CO CO CO CO CO CO HrlHHHH IN rH io 00 i— I CO . IN 00 00 00 05 05 *H CO CO CO CO CO CO c§ — ¦ -; -; --; r-; — ; "¦< o o o o o " t>(>!>l>f>r- i— 1 *G> 00 CO O O O i— 1 ¦^ ^ Tp HJI i— 1 r— 1 i-H i— 1 CO rH rH 1 COrH en rH io CO Oi O O O . . CO ^ -HH Hfl ^ rH rH rH H ""III 'Hi'!/ i in. IV. a i—i H Vol. Vol. Vol. Vol. ^¦3 > i-\ CO iO CO o o. o. ~. O^ CO CO OO -P CO CO HH HH Oi Oi O O O CO GO Oi Ol Oi i "^ - en o o o o en en Oi Oi H 19011907 19071908 1910 1897 19001901 1908 1902 1905 1909 1900 1902 1904 19061908 1892 189318951898 1896 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1904190519061908 19101910 Henry VI. Vol. I.— 1422-1429 Vol. n.— 1429-1436 Vol. III.— 1436-1441 Vol. IV.— 1441-1446 Vol. V.— 1446-1452 Edward IV. 1461-1467 Edward IV., Henry VI. 1467-1477 - Edward IV., Edward V, Richard III. 1476-1485 Guide to the Vabiotjs Classes of Documents presebted in the public record office. By S. R. Scargill-Bird, F.S.A. Third Edition. Close Rolls: Henry III. In Latin. Vol. I.— 1227-1231 Vol. IL— 1231-1234 Vol. LEI.— 1234-1237 - - Edward I. Vol. I.— 1272-1279 Vol. LL— 1279-1288 Vol. ILL— 1288-1296 Vol. LV.— 1296-1302 Vol. V.— 1302-1307 Edward II. Vol. I.— 1307-1313 Vol. II.— 1313-1318 Vol. HI.— 1318-1323 Vol. LV.— 1323-1327 Edward Vol. I. Vol. n. Vol. m. Vol. IV. Vol.Vol. V VI Vol. vn. Vol. vni. Vol. ix. Vol. x. Vol. XI. Vol. XII. III. —1327-1330 —1330-1333—1333-1337 1337-1339 —1339-1341 —1341-1343 —1343-1346 —1346-1349 1349-1354 —1354-1360 1360-1364 1364-1368 795 974853 728 971 738 819 171 249 217188231 180226 736 184 Royal octavo, cloth. Pages 497 121 Imperial octavo, cloth. Pages 724 203 715 174 750 189 765 213 718 186 680 153 784 205 705 179 730 183 772 192 888 217 826 207 732 181 782 192 890 238 794 169 818 200 840 202 844 210 804 197 798 193 842 208 788 187 682 174 8 7 12 6 10 10 9 5 11 7 9 0 11 4 9 3 4 7 10 2 8 9 9 5 10 8 9 4 7 8 10 3 9 0 10 10 10 4 9 0 9 7 11 11 8 5 10 0 10 1 10 6 9 10 9 8 10 5 9 4 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 7 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 400400400 400 400400400400 525 400400400 400400 400 400400 400400400400 400 400 400 400 400 400400400400 400400400 99 84 90 84 77 105 100 281 104 89 78 98 98 938385 115108 97 101 98979496979393 100 85 84 74 67 112 107107108 77 115113 110 140 110115105 119 112112114 103 254210224110 114 114114 115110108114114114110 7764 189209203208246 180 189190 104 186196 217 183190195 203212 3182 79 189 188 189192 189 193199 193186 201206249 269 -jS3 o H co OO Date of Publication. 1894 1895 18971902 1904 1904 1906 1909 1897 1899 1904 19061908 1909 1898 1899 1901 19041906 1909 1903 1906 1908 Title of the Work. Size, Form, I Cost of Printing, and Number I including Paper i V,0?? Ior raPe of Pases. I anrl Binding ' ?rln.tlnS. and Host of each Copy for Paper, of Pages Binding alone. Calendars of State Papers, &c. — continued. Papal Registers. Entries in the — relating to Great Britain and Ireland. Edited by "W. H. Bliss (Vols. 1 and 2) ; W. H. Bliss and C. Johnson, M.A. (Vol. 3) ; W. H. Bliss and J. A. Twemlow, B.A. (Vols. 4 and 5) ; and J. A. Twemlow, B.A. (Vols. 6-8). Papal Letters. Vol. I.— 1198-1304 .... Vol. IL— 1305-1342 .... Vol. IH.— 1343-1362 Vol. TV.— 1362-1404 Vol. V.— 1396-1404 Vol. VI.— 1404-1415 Vol. VH.— 1417-1431 Vol. Vni.— 1427-1447 Petitions to the Pope. Imperial octavo, cloth. Pages Vol. I.— 1342-1419 - Documents preserved in Prance illustrative of the History of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. I. — 918-1216. Edited by J. H. Round, M.A. Mortem, and other analogous Inquisitions, Post Documents. Vol. I.— Henry IH. - - Vol. II.— Edward I., Tears 1-19 Vol. V.— Edward II. , Tears 1-9 - Vol. VH.— Edward EX, Tears 1-9 Second Series. Vol. I. — Henry VH. - Feudal Aids. Inquisitions and Assessments relating to, with other analogous Documents, 1284-1431. Vol. I. — Bedford to Devon Vol. H. — Dorset to Huntingdon - Vol. EX— Kent to Norfolk Vol. IV. — Northampton to Somerset Vol. V. — Stafford to "Worcester .... Charter Bolls. Vol. I.— Henry IH., 1226-1257 - Vol. n.— Henry ni.-Edward I., 1257-1300 Vol. III.— Edward I.-Edward IL, 1300-1326 724 680 776 696 828 674 758 910776736 488 756 628 738 836 682 636 830616 475 665 751 774 117161 176 178183 167182 204177187 123183155 198 185 158 123185147 116 173192 199 d. 5 10 8 0 8 9 8 11 9 2 8 5 9 1 10 2 8 10 9 4 6 o 9 2 7 9 9 11 9 3 7 11 Ii 2 9 3 7 4 5 10 8 8 9 7 9 11 Selling Price to the Public. s. d. 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 Number of Copies printed 400 400 400400 400400400 400400400 400400 400 400400 400 400 400400400 400400 400 Number sold to the end of 1910. 181167151124 121117 103 101137 163 106 92 8688 123 120109 97 81 74 93 75 Copies issued for Official Use and for Presentation. 177 189123 112 117 117 114 104 113 120 114113 106 104 111 117 116118112 102 111 111 104 Number remaining in Store at the end of 1910. COINS 4244 126164162166183 195 150 117 180195 208 208 166 163 175 185207224 191196 221 wo 3- o o at-1 H Q Oa 1909 *lto 18921893 1894 1910 1894189618961897 1898 1899 190019011901 1901 1902 1903 1904 190419041906 19061906 Manuscripts and other Objects in the Museum of the Public Record Office, Catalogue of. With brief descriptive and historical Notes by Sir H. C. Maxwell Lyte, Deputy Keeper of the Records. Sixth Edition. Lists and Indexes of Documents preserved in the Public Record Office. No. I. — Ancient Petitions of the Chancery and of the Exchequer. No. II. — Declared Accounts from the Pipe Office and the Audit Office. No. IE. — State Papers (Great Britain and Ireland). Part I. 1547-1760. No. IV. — Plea Rolls of various Courts. New and revised Edition. No. V. — Ministers' Accounts. Part I. - No. VI.— Court Rolls. Part I. - No. VII. — Chancery Proceedings. (Series H). Vol. I. 1558-1579. No. VIH. — Ministers' Accounts. Appendix, Corrigenda, and Index to Part I. No. IX. — Sheriffs for England and "Wales from the earliest times to A.D. 1831. No. X. — Charitable Uses. Proceedings of Com missioners appointed pursuant to the Statutes 39 Eliz., cap. 6, and 43 Eliz., cap. 4. No. XI. — Foreign Accounts enrolled on the Great Rolls of the Exchequer. No. Xn. — Early Chancery Proceedings. Vol. I. No. XIE. — Star Chamber. Court of Proceedings. Vol. I. 1485-1558. No. XIV. — Duchy of Lancaster. Records of No. XV. — Ancient Correspondence of the Chancery and the Exchequer. No. XVI. — Early Chancery Proceedings. Vol. II. No. XVII. — Inquisitions ad quod damnum. Part I. No. XVIII. — Admiralty Records. Vol. I. No. XIX.— State Papers. Foreign. 1577-1781 - No. XX. — Early Chancery Proceedings. Vol. IE. No. XXI. — Requests. Court of Proceedings. Vol. I. No. XXII. — Inquisitions ad quod damnum. Part II. Foolscap quarto paper wrapper. Pages 105 23 Foolscap, stiff paper wrapper. Pages 134342 76 214522 468460 86 288150 338400344 150 406 574 466 260130 524 506 510 47 160 2889 320303340 39 159 48 141 127109 34 183 163 9883 27 168162105 0 7 6 3 21 5 3 8 11 10 42 7 40 5 27 3 5 2 21 3 6 5 18 10 17 0 14 6 4 6 24 4 21 9 13 1 11 2 3 7 22 3 21 7 14 0 0 6 9 6 15 0 6 6 7 0 161514 0 0 0 3 0 9 0 5 0 10 0 12 0 10 0 5 0 12 0 17 0 13 0 8 0 4 0 15 0 15 0 14 0 750 150150150 150 150150250 150150 150 150150150150 150 150150 150 150 150 150 150 404 28 69 56 67 59626872 52 74 474464516348 54 47 53 555237 41 318 59 22 72 22 77 6 43 48 77 11 81 1 88 90 87 11 75 1 94 9 83 23 83 3 82 17 85 2 84 18 84 12 83 20 89 8 88 7 79 19 85 28 83 26 >hiHC) aI — I a OOCO Date of Publication. 1907 1908 19081908 1908 1908 19081909 1909 19101910 1909 1910 Title of the Woik. Lists and Indexes of Documents preserved in the Public Record Office — continued. No. XXHL— Inquisitions. Vol. I. Henry VIII. to Philip and Mary. No. XXIV. — Chancery Proceedings (Series IL). Vol. II. 1579-1621. No. XXV. — Rentals and Surveys and other anala- gous documents. No. XXVI.— Inquisitions. Vol. E. Elizabeth - No. XXVE.— Chancery Rolls .... No. XXVIII.— War Office Records. Vol. I. - No. XXIX.— Early Chancery Proceedings. Vol. IV. No. XXX. — Chancery Proceedings (Series E.). Vol. EL 1621-1660. No. XXXI. — Inquisitions. Vol. IE. James I. No. XXXII.— Placita de Banco. 1327-1328 :-— Part I.— Bedford to Norfolk - - - Part E. — Northampton to York, Divers Counties and Miscellaneous. No. XXXIIL— Inquisitions. Vol. IV. Charles I. and later. With Appendices. No. XXXIV.— Ministers' Accounts. Part II. 1891 Vol. 1S92 Vol. 1892 Vol. 1893 Vol. 1893 Vol. 1894 Vol. 1894 Vol. 1895 Vol. 1895 Vol. 1896 Vol. 1896 Vol. 1897 Vol. Privy Council of England, Acts of the. Series. Edited by J. R. Dasent, M.A. EL— 1550-1552 - IV.— 1552-1554 - V.— 1554-1556 - VI.— 1556-1558 - VII.— 1558-1570 - VIE.— 1571-1575 - IX.— 1575-1577 - X.— 1577-1578 - XL— 1578-1580 - XII.— 1580-1581 - XIII.— 1581-1582 - XIV.— 1586-1587 - New Size, Foi in. and Number of Pages. Cost of Printing including Paper and Binding. Foolscap, stiff paper wrapper. Pages 364 £ 117 332 108 450 144 404 322 264464 400 110 96 78 148 119 408 130 476 368 145 112 454 133 364 1 60 Cost of each Copy for Paper, Printing, and Binding alone. Royal octavo. Pages 604528462 534524502 486534552 450 546 486 133 112 99 111109 121103114123 95 108 105 s. d, 15 7 14 5 19 3 14 7 12 10 10 6 19 9 15 9 17 5 19 4 15 0 17 9 21 5 3 6 3 0 o 8 3 0 o 11 3 3 o 9 3 0 3 3 o 6 .) 11 2 9 Selling Price to the Public. Number of Copies printed Number sold to the end of 1910. s. d. 10 0 10 0 14 0 12 0 10 0 8 6 15 0 12 0 12 0 1511 06 14 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 150150 150150 150150150150150150 150150150 750750750750750750750750750750 750 750 434336 40 36 59 46 50 404348 37 107 102 88 919891928889 919190 Copies issued for Official Use aud for Presentation. 78787778 8180 75747473 7574 367 36S 370 372 366 373372373373 111 112110 Number remaining in Store at the end of 1910. cx 2129 363336 10 24 25 3634 27 39 276 280 292 287 286286286289288548 547 550 c c oi5 t-1 w MCOOHa C/CJ 1897189718981899 1899 1900 190019011901 1901 19021902 1903 19041905 1905 1906 1907 1909 1910 1910 CC 1891 1891 18971900 190119031904 1905 1906 1908 Vol. XV.— Vol. xvi.—: Vol. xvii.—: Vol. XVEL— " Vol. XIX.— Vol. xx.—: Vol. XXL— Vol. XXIL— Vol. XXIIL— Vol. XXIV.— Vol. XXV.— Vol. XXVL— Vol. XXVH.— Vol. XXVEX— Vol. XXIX. " —1587-1588 Vol. XXX.- Vol. XXXI.- Vol. XXXE.- 1587 1588 1588- 15891590 1590 1591 1591 1592 159215951596 1597 15971598 1599 1600 1601- 1589 -1590-1591-1592-1593-1596-1597-1598-1599 -1600 1601 -1604 Pritt Council of England, Acts of the. Colonial Series. Edited by W. L. Grant, M.A., and J. Munro, M.A. Vol. I.— 1613-1680 Vol. E.— 1680-1720 Vol. IE.— 1720-1745 Rerum Brittanicarum Medii iEvi Scriptores : or Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages. Giraldi Cambrensis Opera. Edited by G. F. "Warner, M.A. (Vol. 8). Vol. 8. — De Principis Instructione Liber. "With Index to Vols. I.-LV. and VIE. Year Books of the reign of Edward III. Edited by L. O. Pike, M.A. Year 15 - Tear 16, First part ------ Tear 16, Second part Tear 17 Tear 17-18 Tear 18 Tear 18-19 Tear 19 Tear 20, First part 524 522540528566446556686 482 580 618 654452 752 848930582614 970958918 480 574438688 712736 578672614 678 113 108106 103126 107126 148 108 128134141106 161175 193129135 228211205 133 130 96 152151158126 139119151 3 0 2 11 2 10 2 9 3 4 0 10 ,1 4 3 11 2 11 3 5 3 7 3 9 2 10 4 4 4 8 5 2 3 5 3 7 6 1 5 8 5 6 3 6 4 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 750 750 750 750 750750750750 750 750 750750750 750750750 750750 750 750750 750 750750750750750750750750750 91 92 91 90 90 90 87 88 91 899195 94 88 898483 80 120 71 55 184 252 242204188 182175 152145 140 109109 109 109 110 108 108 108108 109 109107 108 107 106 106 106 99 120120119 443 418112 113 111112112 112 100103 550549 550551550 552 555554551 552550 548 548555 555 560 561 571 510559576 123 80 396433451456 463 486 505 507 a' — 1 Q - CO COOl Date of Publication. 1891 1891 18941894 1894 1894 1895 1892 1896 Title of the Work. Recueil des Croniques et Anehiennes Istories de la Grant Bretaigne, a present nomme Engleterre. Par Jehan de Waurin, Seigneur du Forestel. Edited by Sir W. Hardy and E. L. C. P. Hardy. Vol. 5.— 1447-1471. Chronicles and Ancient Histories of Great Britain, now called England. A collection of, by John de Waurin, Lord of Forestel. Edited and trans lated by Sir W. Hardy and E. L. C. P. Hardy. Vol. 3.— 1422-1431. (Translation of the preceding Vol. 5.) The Church of York and its Archbishops, The Historians of. Edited by J. Raine, M.A. Vol. 3. Rameseia, Cartularium Monasterii de. Edited by "W. H. Hart and Rev. P. A. Lyons. Vol. 3. Icelandic Sagas and other Historical Documents relating to the Settlements and Descents of the Northmen on the British Isles. Vols. 3 and 4 are transla tions by Sir G. W. Dasent, D.C.L., of Vols. 1 and 2 Vol. 3. — The Orkneyinga Saga. &c. Translation. With Appendices, Vol. 4. — The Saga of Hacon and a fragment of the Saga of Magnus. With Appendices. Translation Henrici Knighton vel Cnitthon Monachi Leycestrensis Chronicon. Edited by Rev. J. R. Lumby, D.D. Vol. 2. St. Edmund's Abbey. Memorials of. Edited by T. Arnold, M.A. Vol. II. Vol. in. Size, Form, and Number of Pages. Royal octavo. Pages .740 316 466612 534 530 457 450 494 Cost of Printing, including Paper and Binding. Cost of each Copy for Paper, Printing, and Binding alone. £ 163 93 106 175 264 129 108 101 111 s. d 4 4 2 6 2 10 4 8 7 1 3 5 2 10 2 8 2 1] Selling Price Number of to the Public. Copies printed. s. d. 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 Number sold to the end of 1910. Copies issued for Official Use and for Presentation. Number remaining in Store at the end of 1910. CoOS 750 750 750 750 750750 750 155 150 171 164 399 447 405 337 196 153" 750 750 225 209 160 173163 441438 343 174 249 103247 386 94 191 493 wo o c os$ o HcJa at-1 H o owa CO I I 1891 1893 1897 1897 1897 Salisbwy. Charters and Documents illustrating the history of the Cathedral, City, and Diocese of, in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Selected from the Capitular and Diocesan Registers by Rev. "W. Rich Jones, M.A., and edited by Rev. "W. D. Macray, M.A. Parliament holden at Westminster on the twenty- eighth day of February, in the thirty-third year of the reign of Edward the First (a.d. 1305), " Memoranda de Parliamento.' Edited by F. "W. Maitland, M.A. 463 496 Exchequer. F.S.A. Part I. Part E. Part EX The Bed Book of the. Edited by H. Hall. 604494 661 188 115 131108146 5 0 3 1 3 6 2 11 3 11 10 0 750 172 378 200 10 0 750 183 397 170 10 0 10 0 10 0 750 750750 197194197 116 116 116 437440 437 >T3 HOMaO5 co CO (b) Scotland. Return of all the Record Publications relating to Scotland Published since the end of the Tear 1890, under whatever care so published, up to the end of the Year 1910 the expense of which has been defrayed by Grants of Money made by Parliament, so far as known to the proper Officer of the Public Record Office of Scotland, and exclusive of such as have been published by Authority of the Master of the Rolls in England* (See footnote.) Date of Publication. 19o01901 1902 19041906 1907 1909 18911894 1895 18961898 Title of the Work. Size, Form and Number of Pages. 1900 Vol. 1900 Vol. 1901 Vol. 1904 Vol. 1904 Vol. 1905 Vol. 1907 Vol. 1908 Vol. Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. Accounts. Edited by Sir J. B. Paul :— Vol. II.— 1500-1504 - Vol. III.— 1506-1507 - Vol. IV.— 1507-1513 - Vol. V.— 1515-1531 - Vol. VI.— 1531-1538 - Vol. VII.— 1538-1541 - Vol. VIII.— 1541-1546 - Privy Council of Scotland. Register. Edited bv D. Masson, LL.D. :— Vol X.— 1613-1616 - Vol. XL— 1616-1619 - Vol. XII.— 1619-1622 - Vol. XIII.— 1622-1625 - Vol. XIV— Addenda. 1545-1625 Privy Council of Scotland. Register. Second Se-ies. Edited by D. Masson, LL.D. (Vol. I.), and P. H. Brown, M.A., LL.D. (Vols. 2-8) :— I.— 1625-1627 - II.— 1627-1628 - III.— 1629-1630 - IV.— 1630-1632 - V.— 1633-1635 - VI.— 1635-1637 - VII.— 1638-1643 - VIII— 1544-1660 - Royal octavo, half -bound. Pages 728638784676 6966S2 714 Imperial octavo, cloth. 1128 10021088 1154 1124 1075 830856900 902 928856620 Cost of Editing and other such Expenses. £ s. d 262 10 0 250 8 6 262 10 0 262 10 0 262 10 0 262 10 0 262 10 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 525 0 0 409 10 0 Cost of Printing including Paper and Binding. 148132155141145 138 146 298265 289 3119 298 249201 203211219238 224 160 Cost of each Copy for Paper, Printing, and Binding alone. Selling Price to the Public 5 4 4 10 5 7 5 2 5 2 5 0 5 4 10 10 9 8 10 6 II 3 10 10 9 3 7 4 7 5 7 8 7 11 8 8 8 2 5 10 *. d. 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 Number of Copies printed. Number sold to the end of 1910. 550 550 550550 550 550550 550550550550550 550 550 550 550550550550550 78 63 6259526256 878681 78 81 69 75 7070615556 Copies issued for Official use and for Presentation. Number remaining in Store at the end of 1910. Where Stored. Whether Edited from MSS. deposited in the Public Record Office, Scotland, or from what other Depository. 86 S5 8586 8682 77 309310311 SS 89 90868085 858485 82 386402 403 405412 406417 143153153381383 379395 395395395405410412 General Register House, Edinburgh, and Stationery Office, London. Do. Do. Edited from the MSS. Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland in H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh. Edited from MSS. Register of Privy Council of Scotr land in H.M. General Register House Edinburgh. Whether printed previously, and when and how often, and under what Editorship. Do. Not printed previously. Do. Do. 19091910 1892 189418971904 1892 18941895 1891 Vol. 1894 Vol. 1S95 Vol. 1897 Vol. 1897 Vol. 1898 Vol. 1S99 Vol. 1900 Vol. 1901 Vol. 1904 Vol. 1908 Vol. Privy Council of Scotland. Register. Third Series. Edited and abridged by P. H. Brown, M.A., LL.D. :— Vol. I.— 1661-1664 Vol. IL— 1665-1669 Kotuli Scaccarti Regit m SCOTORUM. The Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. Edi'ed bv C. Burnett and M. J. G. Mackav. LL.D (Vols. 13 & 11"), and u. McNeil A L LL.B. (Vol;.. 15-23). XI U.— 1508-1513 XIV.— 1513-1522 XV.— 1523-1529 XVI.— 1529-1536 XV1L— 1537 1542 XVIII.— 1543-1556 XIX. — 1557-1567 XX.— 1563-1579 XXI. — 15S0-15SS XXII.— 1589-1594 XXIII.— 1595-1600 Great Seal of Scotland. Regis ter. Registrum May iii Siyilli Rei/um Scotorum. Edited by J. M. Thomson (Vols.7-9); J. H. Stevenson, M.A., and W. K. Dickson, M.A. (Vol. 10) :— Vol. VII.— 1609-1620 - Vol. VIII.— 1620-1633 - Vol. IX.— 1634-1651 - Vol. X.— 1652-1659 - The Hamilton Papers. Letters and Papers illustrating the Political Relations of England and Scotland in the XVIth century. Formerly in the possession of the Dukes of Hamilton, now in the British Museum. Edited bv J. Bain : — Vol. II.— 1543-1590 - Borders of England and Scot land. Letters and Papers relating to the affairs of the. Calendar. Edited by J. Bain :— Vol. I.— 1560-1594 Vol. IL— 1595-1603 946882 Rival octavo, half-bound. Pages 990 1031 910 790 1003 853 752752818728 660 Imperial octavo, cloth, Pages 1152 1096 1210 430 904 808 9S8 525 0 0 525 0 1) 262 10 I) 262 10 0 262 10 0 262 10 0 262 10 0 262 10 (1 262 10 0 262 10 0 262 10 0 262 10 0 160 0 0 420 0 0 420 0 0 420 0 0 222 12 0 420 0 0 420 0 0 420 0 0 216226 205 222197 176 217 19S 150 159172 155 145 340 330 358 135 251 243 277 7 5 8 1 7 2 6 5 7 11 7 2 5 5 5 9 6 3 12 4 12 0 13 0 4 11 12 7 12 2 13 10 8 11 15 0 3 15 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 550 550 550 103 550 90 550 69 550 66 550 67 550 60 550 61 550 67 550 68 550 61 550 52 550550550550 400 400400 56-11 121119 8871 73 113102 7775 301301 307 8785 8585 8584 85SO 291292 9093 284 202 212 417 434 Do. 146 159174 397 398 405 404398 398 404 418 138139 372386 * Of these the Exchequer Accounts and Rolls are included in the "Series of Chronicles and Memorials published by authority of the Lord of Scotland." The rest are publications of the Register House, Edinburgh. 43 86 Do. Do. Do. Do. Edited from MSS. Register of Privy Council of Scot land in H.M. General Register House. Edinburgh. Edited, from MSS. Exchequer Rolls of Scot land in H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh. Do. Edited from MSS. Register of Great Seal of Scotland in H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh. Edited from the MSS. Hamilton Papers in the British Museum. Edited from MSS. Letters and Papers relating to the affairs of the Borders of England and Scotland, in the Public Record Office, London. Do. Do. Do. Do. > H21 O Q H 03 i of His Majesty's Treasury under the Direction of the Lord Clerk-Register CO o Date of Publication. Title of the Work. Size. Form and Number of Pages. Cost of Editing and other such Expenses. Cost of Printing including Paper and Binding. Cost of each Copy for Paper, Printing, and Binding alone. Selling Price to the Public. 189S1 900 1903 1905 19071910 1905 1908 State Papers relating to Scot land and Mary, Queen of Scots, 1547-1603, preserved in the Public Record Office, the British Museum, and elsewhere in England. Calendar. Edited by J. Bain (Vols. 1 and 2) : and "W. K. Boyd Vols. 3-61 :— Vol. I.— 1547-1563 - Vol. II.— 1563-1569 - Vol. III.— 1569-1571 - Vol. IV.— 1571-1574 - Vol. V- -1574-1 581 - Vol. VI.— 15S1-1583 - Imperial octavo, cloth, Pages Guide to the Public Records of Scotland. By M. Livingstone. 850882 866SS8860878 Royal octavo. Pages 262 4'2n 420 420 420 0 420 0 420 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 Privy Seal of Scotland. Regis-; TER. Edited by M. Livingstone : — Vol. I.— 1488-1529 Imperial octavo. Pages 840 420 0 0 204 188184189180 203 64 10 9 9 9 9 10 2 4 d. 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 15 0 3 6 15 0 Number of Copies printed. 400 400400400400400 550 550 Number sold to the end of 1910. 7571 72 59 76 54 189 56 Copies issued for Official use and for Presentation. Number remaining in Store at the end of 1910. 9089 7779 105 80 General Register House, Edinburgh, and Stationery Office, London. 235 240240253247 267 256 414 Whete Stored. Do. Du. Whether Edited from MSS. deposited in the Public Record Office, Scotland, or from what other Depository. Edited from State Papers relating to Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots, preserved in the Public Record Office, the British Museum, and elsewhere in England. Edited from MSS. Register of Privy Seal of Scotland in H.M. General Register House, I Edinburgh. Whether printed previously, and when and how often, and under what Editorship. Not printed previously. Do. Oo o $t-1QC S g o o a a toQ a CO (c) Ireland. Return of all the Record Publications relating to Ireland published since the end of the Tear 1890, under whatever care so published, up to the end of the I EAR 191U THE EXPENSE OF WHICH HAS BEEN DEFRAYED BY GRANTS OF MONEY MADE BY PARLIAMENT, SO FAR AS KNOWN TO THE PROPER OFFICER OF THE PUBLIC RECORD UFFIOE OF IRELAND, AND EXCLUSIVE OF SUCH AS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS IN ENGLAND. Date of Publication. Title of the Work. Size, Form and Number of Pages. Cost of Eilititigand other such Expenses. Cost of Printing, including Paper and Binding. Cost of each Copy for Paper, Printing, and Binding Selling Price to the Public. Number of Copies printed. Number sold to the end of 1910. Copies issued for Official use and for Presentation. Number remainingin Store at the end of 1910. Where Stored Whether Edited from MSS. deposited in the Public Record Office, Ireland, or from what other Depository. Whether printed previously, and when and how often, and under what alone. Editorship. 19011901 Ancient Laws and Institutes of IRELAND. Edited by Robert Atkinson, LL.D. : — Vol. V.— Brehon Law Tracts Vol. VI.— Glossary to Vols. I.-V. - Royal octavo. ' Payments Pages to Editor. & s. d.\ & 612 321 6 0 | 192 794 | 416 17 0 231 s. d. 5 1 6 2 s. d. 10 0 10 0 750*750* 113126 55 55 533 520 Stationery Office, London and Dublin. Edited from MSS. in Trinity College, Dublin, and elsewhere. Not printed previously. Ulster. Annals of ; otherwise Royal octavo, Do. Do. Annals of Senat ; a Chronicle of half Morocco. i Irish Affairs, 431-1131 ; 1155-1541. Pages ' With a translation aud notes. 1 Edited bv the Rev. B. MacCarthy, 1 D.D. (Vols. 2-4) : — 1894 Vol. IL— 1057-1131 ; 1155-1378 572 Cannot 172 4 7 10 0 750 145 283 320 Stationery trace. Office, London. 1895 Vol. III.— 1379-1541 - 644 Po. 188 5 0 10 0 750 145 273 331 Do. 1901 Vol. IV. — Introduction and Index 628 Di. 201 5 4 10 0 750 133 26 589 Stationery Office, London and Dublin. 1906 Justiciary Rolls, or Proceedings in the Court of the Justiciar of Ireland. 23 to 31 Edward I., 1295-1303. Edited by J. Mills. Imperial octavo. Pages 620 None apart ' 196 7 10 15 0 500 42 47 411 Do. Edited from MSS. in Public Record Office, Ireland. Do. 1907 Statutes and Ordinances, and Royal octavo. , Pages f from ordi 223 8 11 10 0 500 57 60 383 Do. Do. Printed by Sir Richard Bolton, Acts of the Parliament of nary official Ireland. (Early Statutes of 670 salaries. 1621, and by others. Ireland.) King John to Henry V. Edited by H. F. Berry, M.A. 1910 Statute Rolls of the Parlia 862 241 9 8 10 0 500 43 33 424 Do. Do. Printed by Sir Henry Sydney, 1572, and by others. ment of Ireland. Henry VI. (being Vol. IT of the series of Early Statutes of Ireland). "J H a o * Note. — The.discrepancy between the numbers printed and the total of the issues and stock remaining in these two cases cannot be explained, but is probably due to issues from Dublin stock, which cannot now be verified. 92 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: „„.„. ™ Pppetpt of Record Office Publications from 3. List of *>™™^«0SSS« «?SSrSx<» or Exchange* Name. Books supplied. United Kingdom : Five privileged Libraries : — British Museum Bodleian Library, Oxford Cambridge University Advocates' Library, Edinburgh Trinity College, Dublin London, University of ,, Bar Library London, Lincoln's Inn Library National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth National Library of Ireland, Dublin National Museum of Wales Leeds University Jersey, Public Library India : Madras. The Government Central Museum Calendars and Chronicles, Lists and Indexes Series, Acts of Privy Council of England. Calendars and Chronicles, Acts of Privy Council. _ Calendars and Chronicles, Lists and Indexes Series, Acts of Privy Council of England. Do. Do. Do. As selected. Do. Calendars and Chronicles. Do. Canada ; Archives, Office of the Dominion of Queensland : Brisbane, Parliamentary Library Belgium : Belgian Government Prance : Paris : Les Archives Nationales La Bibliotheque de l'lnstitut de Prance La Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris Germany : The German Government Library of the Presidency of the German Reichstag Hesse Darmstadt: The Grand Ducal Library Italy : Rome, The Vatican Library Florence, La Direction des Archives de Milan, Brera National Library Venice : Library of St. Mark Archivio di Stato or Prari Library Netherlands : The Hague, The Royal Library at Utrecht, University of Roumania : Bucharest, Library of the Academy Servia : Belgrade, National Library Switzerland : The Government of Geneva, Public Library of St. Gall, Library "of the Convent of United States : Baltimore, Peabody Institute Philadelphia, Library Company of Washington, Library of State Department Smithsonian Institution, Washington! Colonial Governments! • New South Wales, Cape of Good Hope, Transvaal, Natal, Orange Free State, Union of South Africa, New Zealand, South Australia, Canada, Tasmania. Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Australian Commonwealth, Newfoundland. Do. Do. Do. Do. Calendars only. Calendars and Chronicles, Lists and Indexes Acts of Privy Council of England. Calendars and Chronicles. Do. Do. Series Do. Do. Calendars and Chronicles, England. Calendars and Chronicles. Do. Do. Chronicles only. Calendars and Chronicles. Do. Calendars only. Calendars and Chronicles. Do. DoDo.Do. Acts of Privy Council of Calendars and Chronicles, Lists and Indexes Series, Acts of Privy Council of England. Publications, as selected. * Communicated by the Controller. j By exchange. Some further particulars supplied by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. APPENDICES. 4. List of Institutions or Journals to which the Public Record Office Publications were presented in 1911 by the Deputy Keeper* Copies. 21 1 11 1 1111 1 o 2 111 111 1 1 1 1 British Museum Royal Irish Academy, Dublin Chetham's Library, Manchester Society of Antiquaries of Scotland The " Times " " Notes and Queries " The " Athenseum " The " Guardian " The " English Historical Review " St. Patrick's College, Maynooth Wm. Salt Reference Library, J. C. Wedgwood Esq., M.P. The Spanish Ambassador (Spanish Calendars) - The National Library, Madrid (Spanish Calen dars) The " Irish Catholic," Dublin (Irish Calendars The " Dublin Evening Mail " ( The " Irish Times " " ( „ The " Freeman's Journal " ( The " Dublin Daily Express " ( „ Queen's College, Cork ( „ The " Nation " (Letters and Papers, Hen. VTTT.) Royal Colonial Institute (Colonial Calendars) University of Toronto ( ,, ,, ) Surrey Arch. Society (Patent Roll Calendars) Revue d'Histoire Diplomatique, Paris (Foreign Spanish, and Venetian Calendars) 5. Memorandum on the Publications of the Public Record Office. (i.) Previous Record Publications. Before the passing of the Public Record Act of 1838 two sets of historical publications were issued by different bodies of Commissioners appointed by the Government, one by the six successive Record Com missions, the other by the Commissioners for printing and publishing State Papers. This does not include the publications issued by the Irish or Scottish Record Commissions. (a) The publication of the Record Commissions comprised many works of permanent value, but some were not well selected, some were not well edited, and most of them were exorbitantly expensive. For instance, the unfinished edition of Rymer's Foedera, consisting of six folio volumes, cost about 35,000Z., and the 13 volumes of the Statutes of the Realm cost over 60,000i. For these reasons the old Record Commis sion was severely attacked in 1830 by Sir Harris Nicolas in his " Observations on the State of Historical " Literature,"! and was condemned in the report of the Committee appointed by the House of Commons in 1836.1 The sixth and last of the Record Commissions expired in 1837 and was not renewed. What remained of the stock of works published by these various Com missions was finally transferred to the Record Office, which undertook the business of selling them.§ Many of them still appear in the official catalogue of Record publications issued in 1910. || The precise cost, so far as it could be ascertained, of each particular work, both for editing and printing, is set forth in a return made to Parliament in 1867-1" Tne total oost of the publications of these six Commissions, so far as * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. ! Pp. 71-162. X Report from the Select Committee on the Record Commission, 1836, pp. xxix-xxxvi. § D.K. 16th Report, p. 30. || P. 20. A list is also to be found in Gross's Sources and Literature of English History, under number 538. H Return of all Record Publications relating to England and Wales published by the late Record and State Papers Commissioners, or under the direction of the late Master of ths Rolls, up to the end of the year 1866, &c. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, 2 December 1867. See also Nicolas, " Refutation of Mr. Palgrave's Remarks," 1831, pp. 167-195, and above, No. 2. it can be gathered from the figures given in this return appears to have been not less than 260,000L* (b) The State Papers Commission's Publications. Two commissions for publishing State Papers were issued in connection with the State Paper Office. The first was issued on 10 June 1825, the second on 14 September 1830. Under their authority 11 volumes of " State Papers during the reign of Henry Vin." were printed and published between 1831 and 1852. These volumes must be distinguished from the later calendars of " Letters and Papers of the reign of Henry VIII." They consisted of a selection of documents printed in extenso, and arranged in four divisions according to their subjects. The Domestic papers filled one volume, the Irish two, the Scottish two, the Foreign six. The cost of printing these 11 volumes was 5,914Z. 18s. The cost of editing them cannot be exactly given, but the expenses of the State Paper Commission, from its commencement to the end of 1852, amounted to 10,751£. 16s. 10d., exclusive of the sum spent on printing stated above.! (ii.) Publications issued under the direction of the Master of the Rolls by the Public Record Office (from 1838 to 1856). The Public Record Act of 1838 contained provisions authorising the issue of publications under the direc tion of the Master of the Rolls. By section 4 he was authorised to have made " calendars, catalogues, and indexes " of the Public Records under his charge and superintendence. J By section 14 any one of the principal Secretaries of State was empowered to cause to be printed "such calendars, catalogues, and " indexes of the records, and also such records in the " custody of the Master of the Rolls as the Secretary " of State may select, or as the Master of the Rolls " shall recommend," provided that an estimate of the cost had been laid before Parliament and the necessary sums voted by it. By section 15 it was provided that these pub lications should be " sold for such reasonable sums " which shall be approved by the Secretary of State," that the proceeds of the sale should be carried to the account of the Consolidated Fund, and that such number of copies as the Secretary of State should direct might be presented to public institutions. Section 16 empowered the Treasury to purchase private calendars and indexes for the use of the Public Record Office, and section 17 required the Deputy Keeper of the Records to present an annual report to Parliament on " the proceedings had in the execution " of this Act." At first no use was made of this authority to publish. No grant was made by the Government to the Record Office for the purpose, and all the energies of its staff were for many years employed in the task of arranging, repairing, and cataloguing the records placed in the custody of the Master of the Rolls by the Act. Up to 1856, therefore, the only publications issued by the Public Record Office consisted of the annual reports which the Deputy Keeper drew up and presented to Parliament in accordance with section 17. In pursuance of this authority seventy-three reports made by various Deputy Keepers have been printed and published. Reports 1 to 22 were drawn up by Sir Francis Palgrave ; Reports 23 to 39 were the work of Sir T. H. Hardy ; 40 to 47 were by Sir William Hardy, and 48 to 73 by the present Deputy Keeper, Sir H. Maxwell Lyte. The 22 Reports of Sir F. Palgrave are printed in folio form, those of his three successors in octave The first ten Reports contained large appendices, consisting of official correspondence, reports from the Assistant Keepers, &c. Calendars and inventories of * It is impossible to give the exact figures since in a few cases the cost of printing is not exactly stated. Of this total of 260,000£., about 20,000i. represents the cost of works undertaken by the authority of the Record Commission, but not published till it had ceased to exist, though commenced and partly paid for by it For instance Petrie's Monummenta Britannica, begun in 1823, was not published till 1848. f Return of all the Record Publications, &c, 1867, p. 12. X In the bill as originally introduced the word '• custody " was used here instead of " charge and superintendence." 94 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS records of very considerable length were also appended. In 1848 the Comptroller of the Stationery Office and the Home Secretary complained of the bulk of these appendices and of the expense of printing them. Sir George Grey, the Home Secretary, wrote on August 19, 1848, " The matter of which the appendix is chiefly " composed, although of an interesting nature and " valuable to persons engaged in antiquarian research, " does not appear to be available for the purposes of " Parliamentary or other public business, or such as " would engage the attention of general readers." He therefore proposed that the appendices to future Reports should be " strictly confined to such documents " as may be required to elucidate the Report or will " furnish useful information to Parliament."* This order was rigidly carried out for the next twelve years. Sir T. D. Hardy, who succeeded Sir Francis Palgrave on 8th July 1861, reverted to the old practice. To the second of his reports, that for the year 1862, which is the 24th in the general series, he appended a " List of Calendars and Indexes in the " Public Record Office! " filling 87 pages. Subsequent reports issued by him and his successor contained appendices of Lists, Calendars, Indexes, and Reports, some of much length, and the 32nd and 37th Reports had each to be issued in two volumes. The appendix to the 32nd comprised 1,441 pages. A change of policy took place in 1890. Sir H. Maxwell Lyte, who succeeded Sir William Hardy on January 28, 1886, had issued large appendices with his three earliest reports, the 48th, 49th, and 50th, but in the 51st Report he announced his intention of abandon ing this practice. He said that though his reports had thus been made the medium for the issue of Calendars of permanent value, it did not seem to him to be desirable to continue the practice for the following reasons : — " In the first place, the octavo form in which the annual Reports of the Deputy Keeper have been published ever since 1862 is not suitable to certain tabulated lists, and the type generally used for the appendices is inconveniently small. " Secondly, it is wasteful to present members of the two Houses of Parliament with printed copies of lists which are intended for the use of Departments of State and of lawyers and students of history. " Thirdly, many of the lists already issued as Appendices to the Reports of the Deputy Keeper have become obsolete. "Fourthly, few people know where to find a particular among the fifty successive Reports already issued. " Fifthly, the first twenty-two Reports are out of print. " Under these circumstances, I propose, with the assent of the Controller of your Majesty's Stationery Office, to issue a series of separate Lists and Indexes of the different classes of documents preserved among the national archives. They will be printed in foolscap folio and numbered consecutively. The completion of every such List or Index will be notified in the annual Report of the Deputy Keeper, and in the ordinary Catalogue of Record Publications. The price of each will depend upon its thickness. This series, combined with the series of Calendars issued in royal octavo, will eventually constitute a general catalogue of the contents of the Public Record Office. While the Calendars, published in imperial 8vo, will continue to give abstracts, so full as in most cases to supersede the necessity of consulting the original manuscripts, the Lists and Indexes will serve as guides to those who desire to work in the Public Search Room. "J This policy Sir H. M. Lyte steadily carried out. In his later reports a section is invariably devoted to the progress of this series of " Lists and Indexes." The catalogue of the publications of the Record Office issued in February 1910 enumerates 33 volumes as actually published, five as "in the press " and one as " in progress." * D.K 10th Report, Appendix 1, pp. 2-3. ! D.K. 41st Report contains a " List of Calendars and " Indexes in the Public Record Office on 31 December 1879 " which supersedes and supplements the earlier list. It fills 59 pages and is the work of Mr. Scargill-Bird. X D.K. 51st Report, p. 10. Since 1890, when this change was announced, the annual reports of the Deputy Keeper have become small pamphlets of from 10 to 20 octavo pages, pub lished at two pence or a penny apiece.* As a rule they contain simply statements as to the progress of the various publications issued by the office, the attendance of readers in the search rooms, and the number of docu ments transferred from various Government Depart ments, with notes on alterations in the fabric of the office and changes in the regulations or staff. They are rather too brief and too formal at present, and do not supply as much information as historical students desire and would find useful. (iii.) Publications issued by the Public Record Office between 1856 and 1886. The second period in the history of the publications of the Record Office commences about 1856 and ends with the retirement of Sir William Hardy in 1886. During these 30 years the publishing activity of the office reached its height ; the Calendars of State papers, the Rolls series, the missions to foreign archives and the photozincographic facsimiles were all set on foot, and the Historical Manuscripts Commission was established. (a) The Calendars of State Papers. The Calendars of State Papers, domestic and foreign, may be regarded as a continuation of the publishing work of the State Paper Office. The Parliamentary Committee of 1836 had quoted the example of the French Government in support of the proposition that modern State papers were as worthy of publication as mediaeval records, and should not be omitted. " With reference to the publication of records, your Committee begs most particularly to call the attention of the House to some very able reports, which Monsieur Guizot, as the Minister of Public Instruction, has addressed to the King of the French ; and they refer more confidently to his opinions, inasmuch as that he is known to have united with the experience of his official situation, the most distin guished success as a writer of philosophical history. It will there be found that the scheme of publication established by Monsieur Guizot was not limited to ancient records, but that all the correspondence preserved in the various offices of the French Govern ment of an earlier date than the close of the [Spanish] Succession War, has been declared public; and that a large collection of despatches referring to the origin and progress of that war, copiously illustrated by Monsieur Mignet, is in course of publication, and is stated by Monsieur Guizot to throw an entirely new light on many points of history." Hitherto modern State Papers had been treated as departmental business papers rather than as his torical materials, and had been placed in the charge of the keeper of the State Paper Office and under the authority of the Secretaries of State. The Committee went on to recommend that they should be placed in the same charge and under the same authority as the mediaeval records. "It appears to your Committee from the evi dence it has received, and from the best consideration it could give to the subject, that our Government should not remain behind in this course of liberality. It is aware, indeed, that on special application, access is at present given to our State Paper Office, and that some of its earlier contents have been published ; but it is of opinion that with a view to increased facility of access, and to unity of proceeding in publication, the permission of His Majesty should be requested that all State Papers, not later than the conclusion of the Peace of Utrecht, and probably as late as the Accession of George the Third, should be placed in the custody of the Record Commission, whereby a primary saving would _ be effected for the general objects of the Commission."! * There are two exceptions to the rule. The 53rd Report contains eight pages of documents relating to conspiracies against Henry V. and Henry VII., and the 57th contains a history of the Rolls Chapel. t Report from the Select Committee on the Record Com mission, -1836, p. xiii. APPENDICES. 95 This recommendation bore fruit twelve years later A. Treasury Minute, dated August 8th, 1848, after proposing the future amalgamation of the State Paper Office with the Record Office, added : "The operations of the Commission for printing and publishing State Papers will properly cease after the publication of the Papers of the time of Henry VIII. ; and when the State Paper Office and the Record Department shall have been consolidated, the printing of calendars, catalogues, and indexes, as well as of such records as may be approved by Her Majesty's Secretaries of State and the Lords of the Treasury, will be conducted under the superintendence of the Master of the Rolls, as directed by the 14th and 15th sections of the Record Act 1 and 2 Vict c. 94."* The amalgamation of the two offices took place in 1854, though the removal of the contents of the State Paper Office to the Record Office was not affected till 1862. The Commission for the publication of the State Papers was revoked 14th August 1854 (20th Report, p. 198). The question of rendering the materials contained in the State Papers available for the use of historians was at once taken up by Lord Romilly. He proposed, however, a change in the method of publication adopted. The plan of selecting for integral publication what seemed to be the most important documents was abandoned, and it was resolved to print calendars instead. This, or some similar course, had been strongly urged by several of the witnesses before the Committee of 1836, notably by Patrick Fraser Tytler and Sir Harris Nicolas.! It had also been recommended by the Committee in its report. J In pursuance of these suggestions the preparation of such calendars had been begun under the direction of the State Paper Commission. In the 17th Report of the Deputy Keeper, i.e., that dealing with the proceedings of the year 1855, Sir Francis Palgrave set forth at length the desirability of providing printed calendars, and announced the pub lication of a series dealing with modern documents. Lord Romilly made arrangements with the Treasury for the purpose, which involved the engagement of supernumeraries to assist the officers of the State Paper Department in the preparation of their modern Calendars. They were defined as " competent persons " to be introduced into the office, " not as regulated " officers at a fixed salary, but as temporary assistants " receiving their remuneration according to the quantity " of work performed." The three first selected were Mrs. M. A. E. Green, Mr. John Bruce, and Mr. M. J. Thorpe. The first was commissioned to calendar the Domestic State Papers of the reign of James I., the second to deal with those of Charles I., the third to undertake the Scottish and Border Papers. § Of these Thorpe subsequently edited two volumes of calendars, and John Bruce 12, while Mrs. Green produced 42 (she completed the Elizabethan Calendars of Domestic State Papers, did all those relating to the Common wealth and the Interregnum, and those dealing with the first 10 years of the reign of Charles II.). The Calendars, however, were not entirely the work of these outside assistants. Before the abrogation of the Commission for printing and publishing State Papers the work of calendaring had been commenced, under their authority, by Robert Lemon and others. " The principal employment of Mr. Lemon, either as " clerk in the State Paper Office, or as secretary to " the Commissioners for printing and publishing State " Papers, was the formation and superintendence of " calendars of the various series of State Papers." The first volume of the Calendar of the Domestic State Papers of Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth, which appeared in 1856 and covers the period 1547- 1580, had been printed down to the end of 1571 when the amalgamation of two departments took place. || Lemon brought with him into the Record Office four clerks. They had been " appointed in the first instance " as temporary clerks, by the Secretary of State, at the * D.K. 10th Report, Appendix 1, p. 2. ! Report, pp. 357, 715 ; of. Burgon, Life of P. F. Tytler, 1859, p. 243. But see below, No. 6. X Ibid., p. xix. § D.K. 17th Report, pp. 23-27. || D.K. 16th Report, p. 26. " recommendation of the Commissioners for printing " and publishing State Papers, principally for carrying " out one of the powers of the Commission in the " formation of Calendars to the State Papers, on " which work they have all been uniformly employed."* Of these four clerks two subsequently edited calendars issued by the Record Office, viz., Mr. H. C. Hamilton five volumes of Irish State Papers of the reign of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, and Mr. W. D. Hamilton nine volumes of the Domestic Papers of the reign of Charles I. Subsequent reports mention the commencement of other Calendars. A reference in the Eighteenth Report (p. 20) states that Mr. Brewer was already at work on the documents of the reign of Henry VIII. in 1856, though the first volume of his Calendar did not appear till 1862.! In 1859 Mr. W. B. Turnbull was entrusted with the preparation of a Calendar of the Foreign State Papers from 1547 to 1688. He published in 1861 two volumes dealing with the reigns of Edward VI. and Mary, and the work was then taken up by Joseph Stevenson. J The 21st Report also announced the commence ment during 1859 of a Calendar of Colonial State Papers by Mr. W. N. Sainsbury, a clerk in the office, who lived to publish nine volumes of that series. § At the beginning of the 23rd Report, Sir T. D. Hardy, who in 1861 succeeded Palgrave as Deputy Keeper, inserted a long statement on the origin of the Calendars, and printed the Instructions to editors issued by the Master of the Rolls. He also discussed at some length, in the 24th and 25th Reports, the principles upon which Calendars should be compiled. || Indirectly the publication of the Calendars of State Papers led to an important change in the position of the Deputy Keeper. Up to this time he and his officers had confined themselves to cataloguing, calendaring, and printing documents actually in the Record Office. But now that the Master of the Rolls and the Deputy Keeper had a staff of skilled assistants from outside the office at their disposal they began to catalogue, calendar and publish documents drawn from archives not under their control, in order to complete or supplement the documents in their keeping. Mr. Brewer's Calendar of the Letters and Papers of Henry VIH. included documents from the British Museum, Lambeth, the Bodleian Library and other collections in the British Isles, and also papers from the French archives. In 1863 Mr. W. Hardy and Mr. Brewer were charged to examine the Carte Papers in the Bodleian Library and the Carew Papers in the Lambeth Library, and their report was published in 1864. Thereupon Messrs. C. W. Russell and J. P. Prendergast were commissioned to select official papers contained in Carte's collection for tran scription, and many were transcribed and deposited in the Record Office. These two scholars were also employed to edit a Calendar of Irish papers of the reign of James I., which included all papers relating to the period both in England and Ireland, and those in the public libraries of the two countries as well as those in the Record Offices. This was completed in five volumes published between 1872 and 1880. A separate Calendar of the Carew Papers at Lambeth, edited by Messrs. J. S. Brewer and W. Bulien, was published between 1867 and 1873.f Finally the establishment of the Historical Manu scripts Commission on 2 April 1869 brought external collections of documents in private hands throughout the three kingdoms within the sphere of the Deputy Keeper's operation. Technically the Commission is entirely independent of the Record Office. In practice it has been closely associated with the Record Office throughout. In announcing the establishment of the Commission Sir T. D. Hardy observed : — " It is intended " to deposit in the Public Record Office the manuscripts " entrusted to the Commissioners, the original calendars * Ibid. ! See also D.K. 20th Report, p. vii ; D.K. 21st Report, p. viii ; D.K. 23rd Report, p. 23. X D.K. 21st Report, p. ix. § D K. 21st Report, p. xxi. || D.K. 24th Report, p. xi ; 25th Report, p. xii. S See D.K., 29th Report p. vii., and the Appendices to the 30th and 32nd Reports. 96 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : to such manuscripts, and copies of any reports made on them. It has been further arranged, with the " sanction of the Lords Commissioners of the " Treasury, that the officers of this department were " to render assistance to the Commission, and con- " sequently during the last year several of them have " been engaged in calendaring, reporting on, and " arranging some of the documents entrusted to the " Commissioners."* At present the work of inspecting and reporting, and most of the calendaring, is done by external assistants engaged for the purpose, but for many years some of the clerks of the Public Record Office have been employed in calendaring, out of office hours, the Cecil MSS., temporarily removed from Hatfield, and others in compiling indexes to the calendars and reports issued by the Commission. A room in the Public Record Office has for some time past been set aside for the work of the Commission,! besides two or more strong-rooms for the reception of deposited MSS. and printed stock. From the date of its institution the Master of the Rolls has been always the chairman of the Commission and the Deputy Keeper has been the director of its operations. The latter describes himself at present as "The Acting Commissioner." Since 1887 the secre tary of the Commission has always been a member of the staff of the Public Record Office. J On the other hand, the publications of the Com mission are printed in a different form from those of the Record Office and are issued as Parliamentary papers. Their cost is defrayed by the Treasury from a separate grant, and does not appear in the budget of the Record Office. This grant was originally 1,200?. per annum but now amounts to 1,750Z. While the direction of researches in British archives outside the Record Office thus became part of the Deputy Keeper's work, he also undertook the task of organising researches in those Foreign archives which contained materials for the history of Great Britain. § These researches commenced in 1861. About 1860 Mr. Gustave Bergenroth had undertaken some investi gations in the Spanish archives at Simancas, on his own account, and the letters which he contributed to the Athenssum on the subject of his discoveries there at once attracted the attention of English historians. Sir John Romilly entered into communication with Mr. Bergenroth, and sent Mr. Brewer to Simancas to visit him and to examine the contents of the archives. The result was that Mr. Bergenroth was engaged, at a salary of about 400Z. » year, to prepare a calendar of Spanish State Papers relating to England. The first volume appeared in 1862 and was followed by two others. Between them they covered the period from 1485 to 1525.|| Mr. Bergenroth died on 13th February 1869, and his friend Don Pascual de Gayangos was appointed to succeed him. The latter published nine volumes or parts of the Calendar, extending from 1525 to 1543. He died in October 1897, and the completion of the work was then entrusted to Major Martin Hume, who published two more volumes bringing the papers down to 1546. * D.K. 31 st Report, pp. xi.-xii. ! DK. 72nd Report, p. 9. X See also the answers to Qs. 708-736, and 864-869. § These foreign researches may be regarded as a continua tion of the work of the old Record Commissions. Agents employed by them had made a great collection of materials intended to supplement and continue Rymer's Foedera. Reports were drawn up on the materials for the elucidation of English History which Foreign libraries and archives contained, and a large collection of transcripts were made. This collection passed into the possession of the Record Office with other materials accumulated by the Commissions. Some account of it is given in F. S. Thomas's" Notes of Materials for the History of Public Departments" (pp. 195-205), and also in the appendix to the Syllabus of Rymer's Foedera. The reports and more detailed lists of papers are contained in the appendices to Rymer's Fo"de.ra A to E of which a, few copies were printed and privately circulated. || On the opening ot the Simancas Archives see an article by G. Constant in the Rente Historique, vol. xc-vi. W. C. Cartwright's "Gustave Bergenroth, a memorial sketch," published in 1870, contains a number of Bergenroth's letters which give a most interesting account of his researches and the difficulties he met with in them. Ou the Spanish calendars and their history, see the 23rcl, 30th, 31st, 54th, and 59th Reports of the Deputy Keeper. Major Hume had already, in 1891, been charged with the preparation of a calendar of the Spanish papers of Queen Elizabeth's reign. He completed the task in four volumes published between 1892 and 1899. At the time of his death, which took place in 1910, Major Hume was engaged upon the Spanish papers of Edward the Sixth's reign, and Mr. Royall Tyler has recently been appointed to continue this calendar, and presumably to carry it down to the end of Queen Mary's reign* The calendar of Venetian Papers was initiated about the same time as the Spanish calendar. Mr. Rawdon Brown, its editor, had been for many years working in Venice, and had published in 1854 a translation of Giustiniani's despatches from England between 1519 and 1524, under the title of " Four Tears at the Court of King Henry VIII." The Deputy Keeper's Report for 1862 announced that he had been commissioned to prepare a Calendar of State Papers relating to England preserved in the archives of Venice. His first volume appeared in 1864, and in 1866 there was also published a report on the Venetian archives and libraries drawn up by the Deputy Keeper. Mr. Rawdon Brown died on 25th August 1883, after completing seven parts or volumes of his Calendar, and left an eighth in type, with the exception of the index. Those volumes covered the period from 1202 to 1558. He had also sent to the Record Office at various times 129 volumes of transcripts, and bequeathed to it 20 portfolios and 156 volumes of Venetian MSS. collected by himself.! The next volume of the Venetian Calendar, which covered the period from 1558 to 1580, was edited by Mr. Cavendish Bentinck, partly from materials left by Mr. Rawdon Brown, and appeared in 1890. The Calendar was then entrusted to Mr. Horatio Brown, who published five more volumes covering the period from 1581 to 1613. On the resignation of Mr. Horatio Brown in 1905, Mr. A. B. Hinds, the present editor, took up the work, and he has since published five volumes which bring the calendar from 1613 to 1623, besides preparing a calendar of Milanese documents (chiefly mediaeval), which is now in the press. During the same period investigations were com menced in the French, Roman, and Scandinavian archives. From February 1870 up to 1885 M. Armand Baschet was employed in Paris to search for documents relating to English affairs, and forwarded to the Record Office, during those years, a very large collection of the despatches of French ambassadors in England. They extend from the beginning of the sixteenth century to the beginning of the eighteenth century. His reports are contained in the appendices to Reports 36, 37, 39, 42-7 of the Deputy Keeper, but there is only a brief manuscript list of the transcripts made by him. The 37th Report, however, contains a very useful catalogue of French ambassadors in England from 1509 to 1714, and a list of their despatches with references to the collections in which they are to be found is contained in the 39th Report. After M. Baschet's death, which took place in 1886, some additional transcripts were made by M. Alfred Spout in order to fill gaps in the series of documents copied under his directions. But no attempt was made to continue these investigations beyond 1714 or to obtain-transcripts of the eighteenth century despatches of French Ambassadors. The researches in the Roman archives began about the same time as those in France. Mr. Joseph Stevenson was employed at Rome from July 1872 to the end of 1876. J His accounts of his investigations are summarised in Reports 35 to 38 inclusive. On his resignation at the end of 1876 he was succeeded by Mr. W. H. Bliss, who continued to be employed in researches in the Roman archives until his death in March 1909.§ In 1881 Sir William Hardy extended the search for documents illustrating British history to the archives * D.K. 72nd Report, p. 9. ! Lists of these MSS. transmitted or bequeathed are con tained in the appendices to the D.K. 45th and 46th Reports, and a revised list (MS.) is placed in the Search Room of the Public Record Office. X D.K. 34th Report, pp. vi., Appendix, 318. § D.K. Reports 34 to 39 inclusive. See also D.K. 52nd Report, p. 22 ; 53rd, p. 26, and Minutes of Evidence, Q. 738. APPENDICES. 97 and libraries of Sweden and Denmark. During the years 1881-3 Mr. W. H. Bliss examined and reported on the btate archives at Stockholm, and forwarded a number of transcripts to the Record Office.* During the same period Mr. W. D. Macray examined the Libraries ot Sweden and the collections of Swedish State papers m private hands. In 1883 Mr. Macray commenced work on the Royal archives of Denmark upon which he made long and valuable reports in three successive years.! The cost of these various historical enterprises can not be precisely stated from the materials at present available. Many of the Calendars were partially pre pared m the Record Office by officers employed to assist the responsible editors, and in some cases an editor is described as paid by salary for other duties. The Calendars of Venetian and Spanish papers were naturally more expensive than the Calendars of English State Papers. It was necessary to transcribe in extenso the originals of the foreign papers, which were then translated and abridged by the editors. In the case of English papers actually in the Office, editors could work with the originals before them and the cost of the transcripts was saved. The salary paid to editors of Calendars who were not members of the Record Department ran from 300?. to 400?. a year. Mr. Brewer, for instance, was paid 375?. a year for editing the Letters and Papers of Henry VIII., while Mrs. Green received 367?. 10s. per annum for her Calendars of Domestic State Papers. The cost of printing a Calendar was much less than the cost of preparing it for the press. For instance, the six volumes of the Calendar of the Carew Papers, which average about 670 pages apiece, cost 2,533?. 5s. to edit, and 1,384?. 10s. 9d. to publish. Total 3,917?. for 4.042 pages, an average of about 650?. per volume. J (b) Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland. Almost at the same time as the Calendars of State Papers began to appear, and a little before the commencement of the researches in foreign archives, the functions of the Deputy Keeper were still further extended. In 1857 he undertook the direction and the publication of the series of mediaeval chronicles and historical documents commonly known as " The Rolls Series." The Public Record Act of 1838 did not contemplate this extension of the functions of the Deputy Keeper. It authorised the principal Secretaries of State to cause to be printed " such Records in the custody of " the Master of the Rolls, as the Secretary of State ' may select, or the Master of the Rolls shall recom- " mend." But the originals of very few of the works included in the " Chronicles and Memorials " were to be found in the Record Office ; in most cases the manuscripts of the documents published were preserved in the British Museum or other public libraries. In this as in several other cases the Public Record Office undertook work which the old Record Commissions had commenced but left unfinished. On 25 July 1822 the House of Commons had presented an address to the King, requesting him to direct the publication of a complete series of the ancient historians of the realm, on the ground that the existing editions of their writings were incorrect and defective, that many still remained in manuscript, and that in some cases only a single manuscript of a work was in existence. They assured His Majesty, " that " whatever expense may be necessary for this purpose '• will be made good by this House. "§ Accordingly the then Record Commissioners entrusted Mr. Henry Petrie, Keeper of the Records in the Tower, with the task of editing a collection of the chronicles and * 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th, 48th and 50th D.K. Reports. t 43rd, 45th, 46th, and 47th D.K. Reports. X See the two Returns of the Cost of the Record publica tions printed in 1867 and 1877, and a Return to an order dated 29 July 1872 "of the names of persons employed in editing calendars and historical documents." Eight guineas per sheet of 16 pages is now the scale of payment for editing Calendars. Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 518 and 747. § The House voted 2,000?. per annum for the purpose. See Commons Journals July 25, 1822. See also Hansard. E 14829 materials for English History down to the end of the reign of Henry VII. It was to be comprised in 25 folio volumes, and to resemble in arrangement and method the " Recueil des Historiens de Gaule et de la France " commenced by Dom Bouquet in the eighteenth century.* The Parliamentary Committee of 1836, which judged so severely many of the the proceedings of the Record Commission, warmly commended this project, quoting the plan of Guizot, who as Minister of Public Instruction, had established in 1834, a Committee for the publication of inedited materials for the history of France.! " The plan of Monsieur Guizot, " said the Report, " was by no means limited by the public origin of " ancient documents, but comprised all the Ancient " Chronicles and other writings which throw light on " the civil, intellectual, and social history of France. " A similar undertaking was recommended by an " Address of the House of Commons, and referred to " the Record Commission in the year 1822. The " execution of a work entitled the ' Materials of the " History of Great Britain ' was entrusted to Mr " Petrie, whose zeal and acquirements undoubtedly " fitted him for the task, but your Committee regrets " to find that the state of his health, and the natural " difficulties of the subject, have prevented him from " as yet publishing even the first volume of the work. " Tour Committee, looking to the unanimous evidence " which they have received as to the present defective " state of our National History, particularly in the " earlier periods, and coupling therewith the declara- " tions of the most competent witnesses, that if there " exist at this time a person qualified by talent and " character to supply so great a national deficiency, " as the absence of an authentic history of our country, " the inaccessibility of the sources of that history " would render it hopeless for him to undertake a " work of so much public importance, recommends " most strongly and confidently to the House, that the " execution of this national undertaking should be " resumed at once with renewed vigour, and with such " increased number of editors and literary assistants " as may be necessary, and that a Special Grant " should be yearly voted by Parliament, of such " amount as may suffice to ensure its completion at " the earliest period, consistent with the correctness " and completeness of its execution."! In spite of this recommendation nothing was done for many years. Mr. Petrie's first volume, completed after his death by Sir T. D. Hardy, was published in 1848, under the title of Monumenta Historica Britannica, volume l.§ In the same year Hardy, Brewer, and Stevenson pressed the Government to continue the work on Petrie's plan, but without success. Stevenson made a second application to the Treasury in November 1856, and his letter was referred to Lord Romilly. Romilly in a letter dated 26th January 1857, urged the continuation of the work, but suggested a different method of publication, which received the approval of the Treasury in a minute dated 9th February 1857. || In this new scheme Petrie's plan was abandoned. Instead of Bouquet's " Recueil," the Monumenta Germanise Historica of Pertz was chosen as a model. Each chronicle or collection of documents was to be treated as an independent work and confided to a separate editor, while octavo was chosen as the form instead of the cumbrous folio. In the 23rd Report of the Deputy Keeper (the first published by Sir T. D. Hardy in that capacity) the early history of the scheme is fully traced, and the " general * C. P. Cooper in his Account of the most important Public Records, vol. ii., pp. 173, 177, reprints the debate in the House of Commons and the letter of the Home Secretary 19 November 1822 sanctioning the project. t Langlois, Manuel de Bibliographic Historique, p. 357. X Report of the Committee of the House of Commons on the Record Commission (1836), p. xliii. § For the history of Petrie's work up to 1843 see Thomas, " Materials for the History of Public Departments," 1846, pp. 182-185. || Copies of correspondence between the Master of the Rolls and the Treasury respecting the Publication of Materials for the History of Great Britain previously to the Reign of Henry VIII. Ordered to be printed 9 March 1857. G 98 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: directions for the guidance of editors" are printed. These directions and the general conception of the series are no doubt due to Hardy, although published under the name of the Master of the Rolls. It was to have been accompanied by the publication of a " Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts relating " to the History of Great Britain and Ireland " which Hardy was preparing. Such a work the Master of the Rolls thought necessary for the purpose of selecting the materials which ought first to be published, and the Treasury concurred in holding that it would be " a " contribution of great value towards the history of " the country."* Of this catalogue three volumes, covering the period down to 1327, were published by Hardy, the last of which appeared in 1871. After his death, Mr. C. T. Martin, of the Record Office, was asked to continue it ; but, after a good deal of material had been collected, the work was abandoned.! By the time of Sir T. D. Hardy's death (15th June 1878) about 150 volumes of the Rolls series had been published, while over 33,000 volumes of it had been sold. By the beginning of 1886, when Sir William Hardy resigned, the number published had risen to 192, and the number sold to over 43,000. In Sir H. Maxwell Lyte's first Report, which deals with the work of the year 1886, it is stated that " the material " reduction in the amount allowed for Calendars and " Historical Documents has prevented the undertaking " of any fresh work during the past year."J Similar statements are made in later reports, and though at the end of 1891 there were seven volumes of the series in the press and four others in preparation, all but one had been undertaken before the present Deputy Keeper's appointment. At present, the Tear Books of the Reign of Edward III., edited by Mr. L. O. Pike, sanctioned in 1879 and still in progress, is the last survival of this enterprise. As to the cost of the series, the provision made for the publication of " documents connected with the History of England " was from 1857 to 1867 3,000?. per annum. Since 1867 it has been gradually reduced to 280?. The cost of individual work may be gathered from the two returns made to Parliament in 1867 and 1877. For instance, for the two volumes of Benedict of Peterborough, edited by Dr. Stubbs, he received 515?. lis. 0d., while they cost 433?. Is. 3d. to print. For the four volumes of Hoveden the same editor received 1,204?., while they cost 855?. to print. The total cost of a volume in the series may be taken as, on the average, about 500?., and since 254 volumes have now been published the series must have involved the expenditure of about 127,000?. Against this must be set the sum derived from sales. By the end of the year 1901 the number of volumes sold amounted to 59,046?., and the total must now be considerably higher. The number of copies of each volume usually printed is 750, and the price of each 10s. (c) Facsimiles. Another series of publications was commenced soon after the Chronicles and Memorials, viz., the publication of photozincographic facsimiles of a series of documents illustrating the national history. § The series began with the publication of facsimiles of Domesday Book pro duced in 1861 — 1863. || It was then iproposed that a series of " National Manuscripts," that is, Records and State papers, should be produced by the same process. Four volumes of facsimiles of " The National Manuscripts of England " were issued between 1865 and 1869.^1" Then followed a similar collection of the " National " Manuscripts of Scotland," in three volumes, issued between 1867 and 1873** and of the " National Manu- * Copies of Correspondence, &c, pp. 6-7. f See below, Appendix VII., No. 6. i D.K. 48th Report, p. xvii. § Catalogue of Record Publications, p. 22. || D.K. 23rd Report, p. 7 ; D.K. 24th Report, p. ix. ; D.K. 25th Report, p. ix. f D.K. 26th Report, p. x. ; D.K. 27th Report, p. x. ; D.K. 28th Report ; p. vi. ; D.K. 29th Report, p. iv. ; D.K. 30th Report, pp. xv., 294 ; D.K. 31st Report, pp. iv.-viii. ** D.K. 29th Report, p. iv. ; D.K. 3i'th Report, p. xv. ; D.K. 31st Report, v. 372 ; D.K. 32nd Report, p. iv. ; D.K, 33rd Report, p. iv. ; D.K. 34th Report, p. 285. " scripts of Ireland," in four volumes, between 1874 and 1884* Last came a series of Anglo-Saxon Charters in three volumes issued between 1878 and 1885.! These three collections of National Documents and the charters were all reproduced at the Office of the Ordnance Survey at Southampton under the supervision of an Assistant-Keeper from the Record Office, Mr. W. B. Sanders, and were selected partly by the Master of the Rolls, partly by the Keepers of the Irish and Scottish Record Offices, and partly by Mr. Sanders himself. Some, it is stated, were chosen for the historical, others for their paleographical interest, and many of the National Manuscripts of England and most of the Anglo-Saxon Charters were derived from sources other than the Record Office. But the most curious result of the direction of Sir T. D. Hardy's attention to external documents was the reproduction in the appendix to the 33rd Report of a copy of the Athanasian Creed discovered by Mr. Rawdon Brown at Venice, which led to the reproduction, separately, of another copy of the Creed from the famous Psalter now in the possession of the University of Utrecht, and the publication of two reports upon it by Sir T. D. Hardy.J (iv) Becent Publications of the Public Becord Office (1887-1910). During the last 25 years, that is, since the appointment of the present Deputy Keeper in January 1886, a change has taken place in the character of the publications issued by the Record Office. The policy of Sir Henry Maxwell Lyte was not clearly set forth at the outset and must be deduced from incidental indications in his reports, from his evidence before this Commission, and from his acts. To some extent he was obviously bound to follow the policy initiated by bis predecessors. He therefore continued the Calendars of State Papers, both Foreign and Domestic. " The only " calendar that has been stopped in my time," he informed this Commission, " was the calendar of " extracts relating to Ireland. "§ He suspended, how ever, probably for want of money, the historical investi gations in foreign archives. The investigations in Sweden were nearly completed when he became Deputy Keeper; || and, although many documents still needed copying to fill up the gaps in Baschet's transcripts, further researches in France were stopped. ^[ On the other hand, the researches at Rome were continued and steps were taken to publish the results of them.** There were archives in many other European countries which would have repaid investigation, but no attempt was made to explore them. Apparently the cessation of the Rolls Series had already been decreed by the Treasury before Sir H. Maxwell Lyte became Deputy Keeper ; at all events the reduction of the funds available for publishing purposes made it impossible for him to continue the' series, even if he had wished to do so. " Since I have been Deputy Keeper," he said, " only " one book has been undertaken for that series, and " that was the book I asked Professor Maitland to do " for us. That is the only one for which I am respon- " sible."!! The Treasury grant for the publication of calendars and historical documents, which had been 4,120?. in 1883-4, sank to 3,280?. in 1886-7, and to 3,000?. in 1891-2 ; later it rose again, and for the period 1900-4 was 3,200?. per annum, and for 1904-8 3,750Z.JJ * D.K. 33rd Report, p. v. ; D.K. 31th Report, p. 265 ; D.K. 35th Report, pp. 157, 181 ; D.K. 36th Report, pp. 206, 222 ; D.K. 38th Report, p. 788. Vi t D.R. 38th Report, p. 792 ; D.K. 39th Report, p. 563 • D.K. 40th Report, p 546 ; D.K. 41st Report, p. 811 : D.K 42nd Bei?orrt' V;l30.; ?'K- 43rd ReP°rt- l3' 595 : D-K- **tU Report, p. 639 ; D.K. tilth Report, p. 381 ; D.K. 46th Report, p 127 ¦ D.K. 47th Report, p. iii. t »e D.K. 34th Report, p. vii ; D.K. 35th Report, p. xiv § D.K. 33rd Report, p. 275. Minutes of Evidence, Q 497 V or the reason, see answers to Qs. 264 and 329 II See D K. 48th Report, p. xviii. % See Minutes of Evidence. Q. 740. '* See Minutes of Evidence, Q. 737. ft Minutes of Evidence, Q. 545. co +* l\eie flgures are from a statement drawn up bv the Record Office about 1909, apparently for the Treasury The figures for the period 1908-11 and the period before 1884 we have not been able to procure. APPENDICES. 99 When Sir H. Maxwell Lyte was appointed, the work, of arranging the contents of the Office had been allowed to fall behindhand. He found in it a number of volumes, bundles, packages, and boxes whose contents had not been ascertained. In one corridor there were " over a hundred sacks, the size of coal sacks, containing unsorted Chancery Records* Ine aim of the new Deputy Keeper was to have all these masses of records sorted and classified, and then *2, .ha.ve them m some way catalogued and described. Ibis indicated the preparation and publication of the Lists of mediaeval records.! There were also in the Office a mass of papers ot more modern date of which no printed lists or catalogues existed, though a small portion of them had been included in various Calendars of State Papers. These were the papers deposited in the Record Office by various Government Departments. Sir H. Maxwell Lyte had the existing manuscript lists revised with a view to publication. "I think," he said in his Evidence, " that all the Departmental Papers will be listed either in print or in manuscript by the end of next year " (1912). J With regard to other publications, it was neces sary to take into consideration the needs of students of all periods of English history. The Calendars of State Papers in progress dealt almost exclusively with 16th and 17th century documents. Little had been done towards the systematic production of analogous calendars for the mediaeval period, and though the issue of the Rolls Series had been some compensation for this neglect, its discontinuance would make the inequality of treatment just cause for complaint. Lord Romilly indeed had seen the necessity of equal treatment. When the calendars of the modern papers were commenced he had directed that preparations should be made for publishing the calendars of the Diplo matic Documents in the Tower and other mediaeval records. The plan adopted was that whilst experts from outside should be employed to compile calendars of modern papers, records anterior to the reign of Henry VIH. should be calendared by the officers of the Department " whenever they could be spared from the " performance of the current business of the Office. "§ This proviso explains why the progress of the mediaeval calendars was slower than that of the modern. The calendars which these officials completed had been appended to the reports of the Deputy Keeper, not published independently. Moreover, they were as a rule confined to local collection of records, such as those of Durham, Chester, or the Duchy of Lancaster. Sir H. Maxwell Lyte undertook to publish calendars of mediaeval records uniform in style and character with the Calendars of State Papers. In the selection of records to be calendared the principle he adopted was to take " those classes " which deal with the whole country rather than those " which deal with one locality," and it was boldly and systematically carried out. Eighty-six volumes of these mediaeval calendars were issued between 1890 and 1911, viz., Catalogue of Ancient Deeds, 5 volumes ; Calendar of Patent Rolls, 44 volumes ; Calendar of Close Rolls, 24 volumes ; Calendar of Charter Rolls, 3 volumes ; Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, 5 volumes ; Inquisitions and Assessments relating to Feudal Aids, 5 volumes. In addition to these there was published in 1899 a Calendar of Documents in France illustrative of the History of Great Britain and Ireland, covering the period from 918 to 1206, and edited by Mr. J. H. Round. Moreover, in 1890, with a view to making Mr. Bliss's researches at Rome more accessible to students, it was arranged that he should prepare a calendar of those entries in the Regesta of the mediaeval popes which illustrated the history of Great Britain and Ireland. Of this series eight volumes have been issued covering the period from 1198 to 1447, and one volume of a Calendar of * See Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 334, 472,483 ; also D.K. 48th Report, p. xi. ! Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 469-671. X Minutes of Evidence, Q. 461. At the present date, how ever, there are 85 manuscript lists of Departmental Records in use and only three printed lists. § D.K. 17th Report, p. 27 ; D.K. 23rd Report, p. 11. Petitions to the Popes covering the period from 1342 to 1419* One more publication of this period requires special mention. The "Handbook to the Public Records," published in 1853 by F. S. Thomas, then secretary of the Public Record Office, was defective in arrangement, and, owing to the growth of the records in the Office, had become obsolete. In 1891 Mr. Scargill-Bird, the recent secretary, published his " Guide to the Public Records," which reached a second edition in 1896 and a third in 1908.! Besides this, during the 25 years in which he has held office, Sir H. Maxwell Lyte has been responsible for the publication of nearly a hundred volumes issued by the Historical MSS. Commission, and has systema- tised the operations of that body and effected several improvements in its reports. This survey of the publications of the Record Office during the administration of the present Deputy Keeper shows that he consistently carried out the policy which he had adopted when first appointed, and it cannot be doubted that in thus concentrating his efforts on the work to be done inside the Office he exercised a wise discretion. The things he set out to do were those which at the moment most needed doing. On the other hand, while the conception of these publications was just, their execution leaves something to be desired. All witnesses agreed that the lists and calendars of mediaeval records were useful, and most that they were well executed. Mr. Page thought the calendars " practically all one would wish " ; the lists and indices he regarded as only preliminaries to calendars. J Professor Tout took the same line with regard to the lists, and thought that the Calendars of Close and Patent Rolls were " exceedingly well done, " so far as summarising the rolls goes," but that they might be fuller with advantage, and that not enough care was taken to identify place names and personal names. § On the other hand, Mr. Wylie complained that the recently published lists were not so service able as some of the older ones contained in the Deputy Keeper's reports. || Mr. Pike severely criticised the List of Plea Rolls, the Index of Placita de Banco, and the Calendar of Close Rolls of the reign of Edward II., pointing out in a separate memorandum, mistrans lations, inaccuracies, and failures to understand technical terms. " Lack of technical knowledge" and insufficient " understanding of the nature of the docu ments described " are his chief complaints.^]" It would not be fair to conclude that these criticisms would apply to the whole series of lists and calendars. There are differences in their execution. The Close Rolls of Edward II. were the first of the series to be published. The criticisms which appeared in the English Historical Beview during the last 20 years as various volumes of lists and calendars were issued are more favourable. Even they, however, point out defects. Dr. Gardiner, for instance, complains that the Calendar of the Patent Rolls of Edward IV. does not afford historians all the help such a calendar ought to do. " There is no preface — at least there is a preface so- " called of exactly nine lines, which appeared literatim " et verbatim in the previous volume. The compilers " have worked under precise rules which allowed no " scope for originality. There is an admirable index, " but no other aid whatever to the student."** Simi larly a reviewer of the Calendar of the Patent Rolls of Edward I. points out that it contains no mention of the fact that some of the rolls had already been calendared in the reports of the Deputy Keeper, that * See D.K. 52nd Report, p. 22 ; 53rd, p. 26 ; 71st, p. 12. In the production of the calendars, Mr. Bliss was assisted by Mr. C. Johnson and Mr. J. A. Twemlow, and some volumes were edited by Mr. Twemlow alone. On the death of Mr. Bliss in 1909 he was succeeded by Mr. J M. Rigg. ! See the introduction to the second edition of Mr. Scargill-Bird's Guide, p. xxxix. The work was commenced in Sir William Hardy's time. X Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 2299-302 ; cf. 3488. § Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 2795-809. || Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 3371, 3491. «[ Minutes of Evidence, Q. 2057 and Part III. (iv.), No. 1. ** English Historical Reciew, xvi., 102. G- 2 100 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: there were no references either to the extracts from the rolls already printed in the Irish Calendar, or to the letters patent which had been printed in full in Prynne's Records.* In conclusion, taking these lists and calendars as a whole, it is clear that their publication has been a great service to mediaeval historians, and is recog nised as such by them. But the work has been too mechanically done, and often shows defects due to insufficient technical training.! With regard to the lists of modern departmental papers published by the Record Office, there is a remarkable consensus of opinion amongst the witnesses that something more than " a bare list " of volumes is needed ;% that there ought to be more indication of the nature of the contents of each particular series of volumes, that the general prefaces to the lists do not afford any help to historians who wish to use the documents ; and that each heading of the catalogue should have a short note explaining what is to be found under it. § " The whole thing," says Mr. Corbett of the List of Admiralty Records, " has been prepared " without a sufficient knowledge of the difficulties of " a man who is approaching these records for an " historical purpose. "|| The statement is true of the Lists of War Office, Foreign Office, and Home Office Records also. The general view is that these lists should be regarded merely as the necessary preliminary to the production of fuller catalogues, or perhaps calendars. As to the Calendars of State Papers, it is agreed that some of those which were first compiled — for example, those of the later 16th century papers and the early volumes of the Colonial Calendar, are not sufficiently full for the requirements of students ; and on the other hand, that some of the calendars recently published go to the other extreme and do not suffi ciently abridge the documents.^" It was pointed out that there is also great inconsistency with regard to the inclusion of documents outside the Office, or the inclusion of certain classes of papers contained in the Office. The sources from which papers are derived are often not indicated as exactly and clearly as they should be.** This lack of system is due to the lack of supervision. Editors of calendars are left too much to themselves ; though there are instructions issued for their guidance, some of them are not duly observed. While the Deputy Keeper acts " as editor-in-chief of the mediaeval calendars " no one exercises any similar control over the modern calendars. Several witnesses complained that papers in which they were interested were uncalendared, and several that the calendars proceeded too slowly. Both com plaints are justified. Of the calendars published, about 130 volumes deal with 16th century papers, 114 with 17th century papers, and 13 only with 18th century papers, so that students of 18th and 19th century history get hardly any help from the publications of the Office. The work of calendaring does proceed very slowly. The Calendar of Foreign State Papers, i.e., the correspondence of the English Government with Foreign States and the letters of English agents abroad since 1547, has at present only reached the year 1582, though it was commenced in 1863. If it has taken about 40 years' work and 16 volumes to calendar the papers of 35 years, how long will it be before the more voluminous Foreign State Papers of the 17th and 18th centuries are calendared? The Deputy Keeper answers the complaint as to the slow progress of the calendars by saying that it is a ques tion of money ; with a larger permanent staff and more external assistance quicker progress could be made. This is true, but it is only part of the truth. The delay is partly due to faulty methods of calendaring. The Calendar of the Domestic State Papers of the * English Historical Rerieic. xvi., fill. The neglect to indicate whether a document has been previously printed in full or not is common 1o most Record Office publications. ! See below, p. 111. i Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 2335, 2389, 2449, 2509, 3426. § Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 2451, 2509. || Minutes of Evidence, Q. 2514. «f Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 508, 514. ** Minutes of Evidence, Q. 2623. reign of Charles II. for the period from November 1667 to February 1678, that is for about 10* years, occupies llf volumes and has taken 17 years to produce. Some of the papers calendared are valuable, others trivial, some worthless. If there had been more attempt to discriminate between what was important and what was unimportant, and some attempt at conciseness in language, the papers could have been adequately calendared in a smaller number of volumes and at a less cost.* In conclusion, it is necessary that there should be some general supervision exercised over the editing of the later calendars in order to ensure scholarly work and economy of space and money. The instructions should be revised and in that revision historians should be consulted as well as officials. But further calendar ing is a process too elaborate, too slow, and too costly to be applied to modern staie papers or departmental papers in general. At the same time a bare list of volumes of papers without any indication of their particular contents is not sufficient to meet the needs of historians. Something between the calendar and the list, some form of descriptive catalogue or inventory is necessary. Here again the form of publication to be selected should not be decided upon without consulting those for whose use the catalogues are intended. 6. Supplementary Memorandum on the Calendars of State Papers. (I.) No consistent rule has been adopted with regard to the inclusion in the Calendars of papers in other repositories than the Record Office. When the calendars were originally started the inclusion in them of papers outside the Office was not contemplated.! It was, however, speedily discovered that only a part of the State Papers of the reign of Henry VIII. were to be found in the Record Office. Not only portions of the same correspondence, but portions of the same letters were often in different places. Hence Mr. Brewer was empowered to make his Calendar of the Letters and Papers of Henry VHI. comprehend all the documents of the period. " It differs," said the Deputy Keeper when he mentioned the appearance of the first volume, " in some important " respects from all the other calendars which have " appeared under the direction of the Master of the " Rolls ; inasmuch as those previously given to the " public relate to documents belonging to single " departments of the State, while this refers to all " letters and miscellaneous papers, both Foreign and " Domestic of the reign of Henry VHI. preserved in " Tour Majesty's Record Office, the British Museum, " the University and College Libraries of Oxford and " Cambridge as well as the collections in Lambeth " Palace. "J This comprehensiveness distinguishes all the 33 volumes of the Henry VIII. Calendar.§ The Calendar of the Foreign State Papers of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth was intended to be equally comprehensive. Of its first volume the Deputy Keeper said, that the documents it included " are not " confined to the series of papers preserved in the " Public Record Office, but extend to all those " Mr. Stevenson could obtain access to, which at one " time belonged to the Public Collection, but had been " removed thence, for some cause not known." At the same time, however, he announced that " the growing " extent of the Foreign Series has rendered it expedient " to limit the work within its strictest bounds, namely. " the papers extant in the Public Record Office. In " future, therefore, Mr. Stevenson will confine his " Calendar to these papers only, but directing the " reader's attention in footnotes to any document " which exists elsewhere, if such at any time has formed " a portion of the National Series." || In the second volume of his Calendar, that dealing with the years * See for detailed criticism below, No. 6. t D.K., 17th Report, pp. 23-7. X D.K. 23rd Report, p. 19. § Besides Papers, a considerable number of parchment documents and enrolments of the Chancery and other courts of law were included. On the other hand, these form a mere selection, and many letters and other Papers were omitted. || 25th Report, i.e., that for 1863, pp. xiv., xviii. APPENDICES. 101 1559-60 (which appeared in 1865), Mr. Stevenson says in a note to p. cxi of his preface : " It should be " mentioned that all documents described which are '• subsequent in date to 1 January 1560 (see the " present volume, p. 260), are preserved in the Public " Record Office ; it having been considered necessary " to confine the Calendar strictly to those documents, " instead of extending to the papers whichare to be found " the British Museum and elsewhere. Little practical " inconvenience will arise from this limitation, since " the existence of such documents in other collections " as illustrate the series remaining in this Office will " be mentioned in a footnote, if considered expedient." In later volumes of this Calendar the existence of such documents is not noticed, and great " practical incon venience " arises from the non-fulfilment of this promise. The reasons for ceasing to make calendars include papers outside the Office were the greater expense of comprehensive calendars, the difficulty of compiling them, and the length of time they demanded. Hence the adoption of the rule that papers not in the Office should be excluded. But it is often impossible to make a good calendar without suspending this rule. For instance, the first three volumes of the Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers of the reign of Charles H., which cover the years 1660 to 1672, are compiled entirely from papers in the Record Office. For the period from 1672 to 1678 they include papers outside it. The editor discovered that the most important papers in the series he was calendaring, namely, the minutes of the Treasury Board itself, were not in the Record Office, but either in the possession of the Duke of Leeds,* or the British Museum, and accordingly obtained leave to incorporate them. Now, since this gap in the series of Treasury minute books in the Record Office extends to 1696, the Calendar for the period 1678 to 1696 will be defective unless the missing volumes, which are probably in private hands, can be discovered and incorporated. This example serves to show the undesirability of laying down the rule that papers outside the Record Office shall not be included in the calendars. (LI.) A similar lack of consistency is observable in the treatment of papers existing in the Record Office itself. Large classes of papers are at one time included in a particular calendar and at another time excluded. For instance, papers relating to Scotland during the reion of Queen Elizabeth were from 1558 to 1577 included in the Calendar of State Papers, Foreign Series, edited by Mr. Joseph Stevenson and Mr. A. J. Crosby, and published between 1863 and 1880. In 1890 this Calendar, after 10 years' intermission, was resumedunder the editorship of the late Mr. A. J. Butler, but the papers relating to Scotland were henceforth omitted from it. Their omission is not mentioned either in the intro duction to Mr. Butler's first volume (1577-8) or in his notes, nor is it explained in the Deputy Keeper's remarks on the resumption of the Calendar.! How ever, in 1898, there appeared the first volume of a "Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland and " Mary Queen of Scots, 1547-1603, preserved in the " Public Record Office, the British Museum, and else- " where," edited by Mr. Joseph Bain. Mr. Bain ex plained in the preface to his first volume that "by " arrangement made with the authorities at the Public " Record Office," the Calendar of State Papers, Foreign Series, would not henceforth include Scottish papers. No doubt the change of system was judicious, but it ought not to have been made without notice.J The treatment of the papers relating to Ireland is another example of inconsistency. In 1860 the publi cation of a series of Calendars of State Papers relating to Ireland from the accession of Henry VHI. to the death of Elizabeth was commenced. It-was edited first by Mr. H. C. Hamilton (vols. 1-5), then by Mr. E. G. Atkinson (vols. 6-10). Apparently it was limited to papers preserved in the Public Record Office, and it was speedily discovered that important paper's existed outside it. Accordingly the Carte Papers in the Bodleian and the Carew Papers in the Lambeth Library were examined in 1863, and a report upon them addressed by Mr. W. Hardy and Mr. J. S. Brewer to the Master of the Rolls was published in 1864. The result of this was that a Calendar of the Carew Papers by Mr. Brewer and Mr. W. Bulien, consisting of six volumes, was published between 1867 and 1873. The Carte Papers were not calendared, but a lengthy report upon them by Mr. C. W. Russell and Mr. J. P. Prendergast was printed in the Appendix to the 32nd Report of the Deputy Keeper (pp. 1-236), and a series of transcripts of the most important official pipers was made in duplicate and deposited in the English or Irish Record Offices.* The Irish State Papers of the reign of James I. were next taken in hand, and Mr. C. W. Russell and J. P. Prendergast were appointed joint editors. " This " Calendar," says the 34th Report of the Deputy Keeper, '¦ is not to be confined to the Irish State Papers " deposited in the Public Record Office, but is to " include all Irish State Papers of the reign of James I. " in Public Offices, University Libraries, wheresoever " they are deposited in the United Kingdom. By " this arrangement the Calendar will contain all " accessible material for the History of Ireland, which " may be regarded as belonging to the Public Records " (p. iv). This Calendar was continued till the end of the reign of James I., and was published in five volumes between 1872 and 1880. For 20 years the calendaring of the Irish Papers of the 17th century was intermitted. In 1900 it was taken up again, and four volumes more were published, covering the period from 1625 to 1660, and edited by Mr. R. P. Mahaffy, followed by three others, covering the period from 1660 to 1669. It was to end in 1670. " The Calendar," said the Deputy Keeper, " will deal " with Irish Papers in the Public Record Office " during the reign of Charles I. and the Common- " wealth and during the early part of the reign of " Charles H. Those of subsequent date fall within " the scope of the Calendar of State Papers Domestic " and the Calendar of Home Office Papers."! This Calendar thus involves two important changes of system. It is not, like the Calendars of Irish Papers of James I.'s -time, a collection of all accessible materials for the period with which it deals. On the contrary it omits the Wentworth Papers in the posses sion of Lord Fitzwilliam, which are the chief authority for the history of Strafford's administration ; it omits the papers in the Dublin Record Office, which are the chief authority for the re-conquest of Ireland and the Cromwellian settlement ; and it omits the Ormond Papers in the Bodleian and at Kilkenny, which are the chief authority for the period from 1641 to 1649 and one of the chief authorities for the Restoration settlement. As to the inclusion of the Irish Papers in the English Domestic Series, it is announced at the begin ning of the preface to the volume for 1671, but there is no change in the title. " The contents of the present volume differ slightly from those of the preceding volumes of the Calendar. The Levant Papers are no longer included, but, on the other hand, the documents calendared are largely increased by the addition of the Irish State Papers preserved in the Record Office and of the Signet Books, the contents of which, with very few exceptions, consist of copies of letters to different officials in Ireland — practically they are the Irish Letter Books. " As the entries relating to Ireland in the Entry Books are now calendared, it has been considered desirable to add the few which relate to Foreign and Colonial affairs. The Calendar therefore now includes all the contents of the Entry Books, whereas hitherto those which did not relate to purely Domestic affairs were omitted. "J Another change of system took place in the Calendar of the Domestic State Papers for the reign of * The descendant of Lord Dauby, then Lord High Xr gr s urcr . +' D.K. 58th Report, p. ix. ; D.K. 63rd Report, p. 9. t a' large number of the Scottish papers have been calendared twice over. 14829 * D.K. 25th Report, p. xx. ; D.K. 27th Report, p. xvii. D.K. 31st Report, p. x. ; D.K. 32nd Report, p. xiv., &c. ! D.K. 58th Report, p. 9. X Cal. S.P. Dom. 1071, p. v, G 3 102 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS Charles II. a few years later. The 15th volume of the series, edited by Mr. Blackburne Daniell, was pub lished in 1902. " It deals with the period from March " to October 1673, but it does not comprise abstracts " of the papers of the Commissioners of the Navy after " the 15th of June of that year."* The explanation given in the preface to the volume runs as follows : " When the Calendar of the State " Papers, Domestic, of Charles IL, was begun in 1860, " some of the so-called Admiralty Papers, which are " really the papers of the Commissioners of the Navy, " were included in it. In the early part of the reign " these were few in number compared with the Domestic " State Papers, that is to say, the records of the offices " of the Secretaries of State, and they were bound up " with them. In subsequent years they increased in " number, and were bound up separately. In 1673 " and the remaining years of the reign, they increase " very considerably and outnumber the Domestic " Series properly so-called. They are very largely " composed of documents of trivial importance re- " lating to the routine business of the Navy Board, " such as demands from dockyards for stores, surveys " of ships, and the like. It has therefore been deter - ¦' mined to omit them from the future volumes of this " Calendar. The resignation by the Duke of York of " the office of Lord High Admiral on 15 June 1673 " has been chosen as the most convenient date for the " change of system. It is contemplated at some future " time to bring out a calendar of the more important " papers relating to naval affairs."! With regard to this statement, it should be pointed out that the inclusion of the papers of the Navy Com missioners in the Calendar of Domestic State Papers did not commence with the reign of Charles II. Throughout the Commonwealth and Protectorate they are included in that Calendar. Mrs. Green met the difficulty caused by the bulk and the nature of their contents by the simple expedient of reducing them to tabular form and printing them in small print in an appendix This expedient should have been tried again. The date chosen for their exclusion is a very bad date, since it- is the middle of the third Dutch war. Before a change of this kind was made some naval historian should have been consulted. J (III.) The sudden and insufficiently considered changes in the scheme of the calendars show the necessity of some general supervision, and such super vision could only be efficiently exercised by a committee of historians. No one man can possess the requisite knowledge of the printed and unprinted materials for English history, nor can he be aware of the needs of different classes of historians, or of the value of particular kinds of evidence to them. The editors chosen by the Deputy Keeper to calendar the papers of particular periods cannot safely be left without skilled advice and direction. Some of them are imperfectly acquainted with the materials with which they have to deal. Mr. A. J. Butler was set to calendar the Foreign State Papers of Queen Elizabeth's reign from 1577. Up to 1577 the Foreign State Papers in the Record Office are arranged chronologically — that is the corre spondence of . all the different countries is mixed together in one consecutive series. Prom 1577 onwards the papers are divided locally — there is a separate series of papers for each country. Up to 1577, therefore, the Foreign Calendar had included the correspondence of Elizabeth's government with all European countries. Mr. Butler, however, in the calendars for 1577-82 omitted some of these local sections altogether from his Calenda r, so that it only included parts of the Foreign State Papers of the period instead of the whole. Consequently the first thing the next editor has to do is to calendar these omitted papers for a volume of addenda. Other editors are imperfectly acquainted with the printed materials for the history of the period whose papers they are set to calendar. Major Martin Hume in the four volumes of his Calendar of Letters and State Papers relating to English affairs preserved principally * D.K. 64th Report, p. 7. j Cal. S.P. Dom. 1673, p. i. Prior to this announcement a number of original Admiralty papers for the period had been scheduled for destruction under the Act of 1898. X See Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 2155. '2156. and 2527, 2528. in the archives of Simancas was supposed to include despatches of Spanish agents in Vienna, Brussels, and Paris, where they dealt with English politics, and to calendar documents already in print as well as those in MS. In a footnote to p. 472 of volume ii. of his Calendar, published in 1894, he declared that the papers relating to England during the years 1573 and 1574 were mostly missing from Simancas. However, a number of the papers which he declared to be non existent had been published in 1888 in volumes vi. and vii. of Kervyn de Lettenhove's Relations Politiques des Pays Bas et de V Angleterre. The 10 volumes of Lettenhove's collection which cover the period from 1555 to 1578 contain some hundreds of Spanish documents concerning English history which are omitted in Hume's Calendars. In many cases Hume gives Froude's transcripts of documents (British Museum, Add. MS. 26056), which are usually only extracts of a part of them, where the letters are printed in full in Lettenhove and all the matter they contain relates to English affairs. An error of less magnitude but of some importance is ignorance of the fact that the documents calendared are printed in extenso elsewhere. The tenth of the twelve rules for the guidance of editors issued by the Master of the Rolls is that " where documents have " been printed a reference should be given to the " publication." This necessary rule is often neglected not only in the case of single documents, which might easily escape notice, but in the case of a series of documents. For instance, in the early volumes of the Calendar of the State Papers of William III., the editor was not aware that a very important series of letters addressed to William III., which he included in his volumes, had been printed at length more than a century earlier in Sir John Dalrymple's " Memoirs of Great Britain and Ireland." Similarly, in the last volume of the Calendar of the State Papers of Charles II. , the editor did not know that the important letters from Danby to the Prince of Orange which he printed have been already printed in full in Van Prinsterer's " Archives de la Maison d'Orange-Nassau." Examples of similar omissions might be multiplied. In a calendar where documents are abridged, it is always desirable to give reference to any publications in which the documents are printed in extenso ; amongst other reasons because such documents can then be summarised more briefly. (IV.) As pointed out in the preceding memorandum, the great defect of some recent calendars is their excessive lengthiness, due to the inclusion of a number of trivial documents verbosely calendared or described. It is necessary to show this by instances. Take in the last volume of the Calendar of the Domestic State Papers of the reign of Charles II., the papers covering March 1 to March 12, 1677, which fill 21£ pages of the Calendar. Amongst these papers are notes of the proceedings of the Houses of Lords and Commons for March 1, 2. 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 ; 20 papers in all. Of these 20 papers four contain small items of intelligence not given in the printed journals ; the other 16 contain nothing not to be found there. Three lines are spent on calendaring each of these 16 worthless documents, which ought to have been either omitted or lumped together in one entry. There are also a number of formal reports to Secretary Williamson from officials in various ports, containing trivial information about weather and shipping. There are 18 of these written between March 1 and March 12 in the first 20 pages of the calendar. A couple of entries will serve as examples — " March 12. Truro. Hugh Acland to Wil liamson. Wind N.W. very fair, but cold weather. [Ibid., No. 6.]" " March 12. Pendennis Castle. Frances Bellott to Williamson. The wind Wednesday and Thursday last at N.W., the fleet I gave you an account of in my last sailed ; and Friday and Saturday, wind S. and S.E., a great part of them came in again. This morning, wind N.W., they sailed again (about the dismasted ship mentioned in the next letter). [Ibid., No. 7.]" APPENDICES. 103 These meteorological reports ought not to be included in a calendar of State Papers, or if included in the calendar ought to be enumerated in one general list with a description of the nature of the information they contain at the head, but without any attempt to summarise the contents of each individual letter. Take a third instance from these same pages. A certain Joseph Browne, attorney, clerk to the Coopers' Company, suspected of possessing seditions pamphlets, was arrested, put in the Tower, and brought before the Council to be examined. There were five warrants issued for this purpose, all in ordinary form. It takes the editor 28 lines to calendar these five documents (pp. 4, 5, 6, 8, 13), which might have been adequately done in 10 lines at most. As some compensation references to three out of the five documents are omitted in the index. Taking this volume of the calendar as a whole (and there are eight previous volumes to which the same criticisms apply), I do not hesitate to say that'if the calendaring had been intelligently done, the volume would have been reduced by one-third in bulk, which would have effected a saving of over 100?. per volume. But the fault is partly in the directions to editors, which encourage them (not in the rules but by the explanation prefixed) to abstract the documents sub mitted to them at too great length ; partly in the system of including in calendars documents not worth abstracting at all. There are defects of a somewhat similar nature in the Venetian Calendars, which are in other respects well done. They include a number of documents which do not really relate to English affairs. I will take instances at random from the last volume, 1621-3 ; Document numbered 264. " To the Ambassador at the Imperial Court. Ambassadors from the thirteen Swiss cantons have gone to Milan, and preferred their requests. They have received no reply, and expect no success. The Grisons have been denied the restitution of the Valtelline. Leopold demanded the establishment of the Catholic religion in the Valley. Leopold has asked the Governor of Milan for help against Mansf elt, who is attacking Alsace. " The like for information to the following : — " France, England, Savoy, the Hague, Naples, Florence. " Ayes, 147 ; Noes, 1 ; Neutral, 2. " (Italian.)" This document, extracted from the secret delibera tions of the Venetian Senate, is simply the record of a formal news - letter sent to seven Venetian ambassadors by the Senate. It contains nothing relating to English affairs ; the only reason for including it is that it was sent to the ambassador in England amongst the rest. Here the objection is not that too much space is spent on calendaring this paper, but that the paper itself, and about a dozen others of the same kind contained in the first hundred pages of the Calendar, ought never to have been included in it. There are other defects in the Calendar ; formal papers are given at far too great length ; the index of this volume is too long, occupying 130 pages where 100 would have sufficed to do the work adequately. In another volume of the Calendar, viz., 1607-10, the index fills about 170 pages, owing to the insertion of unnecessary details and sometimes quotations from the papers. The Venetian Calendar is on the whole an excellent calendar, but even the best editors employed by the Record Office need some supervision and control to prevent excessive length. (V.) Even if the calendars were adequately super vised, and the work proceeded in consequence more quickly, it must be remembered that it is impossible to calendar more than a small part of the papers in the Record Office. Take one class. The List of State Papers, Foreign, preserved in the Public Record Office, published in 1904, goes down to the year 1782 and enumerates over 4,000 volumes. The Calendar of State Papers, Foreign, 1547 to 1582, represents in its 18 volumes of print the substance of not more than about 220 or 230 of these volumes of MSS. To calendar the pa.pers down to 1782 would mean the publication' of about 300 more volumes of printed matter costing about 600?. apiece. It is obvious that some cheaper, more expeditious, and less cumbrous method of dealing with modern State Papers should be adopted. The Calendars of modern State Papers are usually represented as being an enterprise undertaken in response to the demands of historians. The evidence of Patrick Fraser Tytler before the Committee of 1836 is quoted to support this proposition. Brewer quotes it for that purpose in his article on the publications of the Record Office in' the " Quarterly Review " for April 1871.* But Tytler was not dreaming of anything like the calendars now issued. He was complaining of the policy of the Record Commissions in printing a few selected documents in full instead of making an adequate general catalogue of records and State Papers. What he said was this, and it applies to the policy of calendaring at length as well as to the policy of printing in full. " To print all the records and muniments . . would require an enormous sum ; so it comes to a choice or balance between having a correct knowledge of the contents of all the records and letters illustrating English history, and having a small corner of our history, perhaps extending to 20 or 30 years, illustrated by the records themselves. No historians familiar with the use of original materials would hesitate, I think, to choose the catalogues. By them he would be enabled to collect all the scattered lights which might illustrate the general history of England from a large mass of original documents. In the other way he would acquire a minute knowledge of a very curtailed portion ; but the lights thrown upon important points of history within this portion would be pro- portionably scanty. Besides this, it is evident that were the whole, or even the greater portion of the records to be printed, it would only be the substitution of an unfathomable sea of print for an unfathomable sea of manuscript. In the end, to render such a mass available to the historian, catalogues and indexes, with a brief analysis of the documents, would be found necessary. # * # Thus, at last, you must have the catalogues raisonnes. Would it not be easier and far less expensive to have them at first ? Again, when any serious difficulty or obscure point occurs, a historian, in his anxiety for truth, must inspect the original. Hence he may in many instances dispense with printing the record or letter itself, but without the catalogue he remains ignorant of its existence. The advantages of first making catalogues are also great when viewed in connection with the plan of afterwards printing a selection of' the records themselves. Being once acquainted with the whole mass of records, letters, State Papers, &c, in short, all the materials illustrating the civil, ecclesiastical, or constitutional history of the country, this selection will be made under the most favourable circumstances. The most valuable for the purpose of history will be chosen, and there will be the greatest chance of all being printed from originals. Lastly, the benefits resulting from this plan of forming catalogues will be most important in checking the progress of historical error."! What Tytler meant by a catalogue raisonne is shown by his answer to other questions. He defined it as a catalogue " containing a brief analysis of the con- " tents of the documents " it embraced, and in another answer he gave an instance of the sort of descriptive entry he meant. J He referred to the catalogue known as Appendix E. to Rymer's Fcedera, a list drawn up by Joseph Stevenson of documents transcribed for the new edition of Rymer then in progress. § The particular document was a letter dated 26 February 1 561 from the Earl of Bedford and Sir N. Throgmorton to the Privy Council describing a mission to the French Court. The description or analysis occupies 18 lines, including the reference. In a modern calendar it would fill a number of pages. Tytler died in 1849 before any of the calendars were published, but the early calendars were the kind * See Brewer's English Studies. 1881. t Report of Select Committee, p. 715, Question 8185. | Ibid. Questions 4251 and 4259. § Appendix E, part ii., p. 39. G 4 104 ROYAl- COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS of thing he meant. For instance, Robert Lemon's Calendar of the Domestic State Papers of the 16th century, of which the first volume covers the period 1547-80 and the second 1581-90. These indicated the sort of information a paper contained without attempting to do much more than direct the historian's attention to it. " He considered," said Sir T. D. Hardy, '¦ that it was impossible to compress in a calendar all " the information that might be required by the " reader, that it was sufficient to point out where the " information might be found, rather than to supply " the information itself, and that, for the purposes of ' study, recourse must be had to the original docu- " ments."* Hardy terms this kind of calendar a " compendious " as opposed to a " full " calendar. A demand speedily arose for " full " calendars, and at the same time the editors of those volumes, interested In the contents of their documents, tended more and more to analyse them at length. In his reports Hardy advocated the use of " full " calendars. He attempted to define the class of readers for whom calendars were meant. " Some misapprehension seems " to exist that those now in progress are compiled for " the benefit of a very limited class of students. I " mean for the historian only." On the contrary they were meant for the legal antiquary, the topographer, the genealogist and the economist, too.! He invented a sort of ideal person for whose use the calendars were destined (a creation something like " the economic man "), namely, " an inquirer living at a distance," in whose interest it was necessary that the calendar should detail in as few words as possible the infor mation contained in the document, and at the same time show what information the document did not contain. £ In one report he announced that " it is not " the object of these calendars to supersede the " necessity of consulting the originals " ; in another he explained at some length that a correct and suffi cient calendar by superseding the perpetual necessity of consulting the original documents would save the time of the inquirer and preserve the existence of the documents. § These inconsistencies are reflected in the instructions to the editors of calendars printed at the beginning of each volume. The preface encourages them to calendar documents at length ; the 12 rules direct them to calendar concisely. || Under these circumstances the calendars grew fuller; each succeeding volume included the papers of a more limited period than the last ; their contents began to be measured by months instead of years. The verbal quotations from documents grew in length, and the number of documents given almost in extenso steadily increased. The students of the particular period with which the calendar dealt rejoiced, and praised its editor, because what they really wanted was to get all important documents of that time printed with as little abridgement as possible, although it could only be done at the expense of students of other periods whose documents were not calendared even in the briefest and most compendious manner. That has happened which Tytler foresaw and depre cated. The " sea of print " is swelling ; we have * D.K. 23rd lfcport, p. 12, t D.K. 24th Jicpot't. |i. xiii. X D.K. 23rd Report, p. 12 ; D.K. 24 1 h lioport, p. xiv. § D.K. 23rd ltcporl. p. 24 ; D.K. 24th lleport, p. xii. || The instructions were first printed in the D.K. 23rd Report, pp. 24-26. They are discussed in the D.K. 23rd 24th, and 25th Reports. They seem to have been first prefixed to the calendars about 1876. Originally they were eleven in number. The twelfth rule limiting introductions to 50 pages was added when they weie thus reissued. about 250 volumes of Calendars of State Papers. We have the "small corner of our history . . . illustrated " by the records themselves " (or by so minute and careful an abridgement of them that it is almost the same thing), namely, the reign of Henry VIH. We have another period partially illuminated in the same way, namely, the period from 1547 to 1678, where the Domestic State Papers have been calendared, half of them in the " compendious " way, half of them in the " full " way, and the Foreign State Papers have been calendared for about 35 years only. But we have no catalogue raisonne of the State Papers as a whole, or even of the uncalendared portion of them, and even the " bare lists " of the volumes of State Papers are not yet completed. The policy which might be adopted by the Record Office with regard to the modern State Papers and Departmental Records seems to be this. First of all, the present lists (such as the List of State Papers, Foreign) might be completed and brought up to date, and other lists of the Departmental Records now in the Office compiled and printed. The completion of these lists is the necessary preliminary to a more detailed catalogue. In the second place there might be compiled a series of catalogues, showing not merely the number of volumes of a particular series, but indicating the contents of the volumes, and even pointing out parti cular papers of importance, though not attempting to analyse them. This is the method adopted in the " Inventaires Sommaires." The " Inventaire de la Correspondance Politique " published by the Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres will serve as an example. The first volume is an octavo consisting of 10 pages of preface and 568 pages of text. It contains the corres pondence with four countries (Allemagne, Angleterre, Argentine, and Autriche), and gives in those 568 pages an adequate description of the contents of 2,048 volumes. Sometimes a volume can be dismissed in a couple of lines specifying that it contains the letters of an ambassador at a certain court for certain months. At other times it occupies half a page, because it is neces sary to specify the names of half a dozen persons whose letters it contains, and perhaps a treaty, powers, or instructions which have to be noted with their dates, or a memoir or report which requires mention. A catalogue of this kind furnishes in a limited space the information which an historian needs to guide his researches, and can be compiled within a limited time at a moderate cost. For the cost of half a dozen volumes of the present calendar we could have a serviceable guide to the whole of the foreign State Papers in the Record Office.* In the third place, with regard to the existing Calendars of State Papers. No new calendars would be undertaken till catalogues of the kind suggested have been completed. Calendars actually in progress would be continued, but documents might be calen dared more briefly and with more discrimination, and the instructions to editors might be revised with those objects in view. Finally, a committee of his torians might be appointed to supervise the execution of the calendars, to fix the date at which a calendar should begin or end, to determine what classes of papers it should include, and to direct in concert with the Deputy Keeper this branch of the publishing work of the Record Office. C. H. F. * Other models arc furnished by the excellent reports of the foreign -'Missions" for the inspection of English archives. Appendix VII. 1 Memorandum on the Staff of the Public Record Office and on the Training of the Staff. (a) Heads of the Department. It is possible to put together from the reports some account of changes in the personal composition of the Record Office staff. Sir H. Maxwell Lyte's reports give full particulars as to promotions and new appointments, but the reports of Sir Thomas and Sir The Staff of the Public Record Office. cry little information on this William Hardy supply- point. Masters of the Bolls : Lord Langdale was appointed Jan. 16, 1836, and resigned Mar. 28, 1851. Sir John Romilly (Lord Romilly) was appointed Mar. 28, 1851, and resigned Aug. 1873. APPENDICES, 10c Sir G. Jessel was appointed Aug. 30, 1873 ; died March 21, 1883. Sir W. B. Brett (Lord Esher) was appointed April 3, 1883. Sir N. Lindley (Lord Lindley) was appointed Oct. 25, 1897. Sir R. Webster (Lord Alverstone) was appointed May 10, 1900. Sir A. L. Smith was appointed Oct. 23, 1900. Sir R. Henn Collins (Lord Collins) was appointed Oct. IS. 1901. Sir H. H. Cozens Hardy was appointed Mar. 3, In the later reports of the Deputy Keeper the appointment or retirement of successive Masters of the Rolls is not usually mentioned, as it always is in the earlier ones. Deputy Keepers : Sir Francis Palgrave appointed Dec. 14, 1838, died July 6, 1861. Sir T. D. Hardy appointed July 15, 1861, died June 15, 1878. Sir W. Hardy appointed July 4, 1878, resigned Jan. 27, 1886. Sir H. C. Maxwell Lyte appointed 28 Jan. 1886. Secretaries .- F. S. Thomas, appointed 1838, died Aug 27 1857. Charles Roberts retired Oct. 24, 1866. John Edwards resigned Mar. 31, 1887. J. J. Cartwright died Jan. 8, 1903. S. R. Scargill-Bird appointed in 1903. (b) The Formation and Development of the Bccord Office Staff. Sir Francis Palgrave was appointed Deputy Keeper on Dec. 14, 1838. A Treasury Minute dated April 8 asked what staff would be required. Palgrave answered June 10, 1839, asking for a staff of 30 exclusive of the Deputy Keeper and the secretary. This was assented to Jan. 17, 1840, and a scale of salaries was fixed by the Treasury. The limit of numbers was fixed as 30 (not counting housekeepers and messengers). They were to be divided into three classes. 1st class, 400?.-500?. per annum, 6 persons. 2nd class, 250?.-350?. per annum, 6 persons. 3rd class, 200?.-80?. per annum, 18 persons. At the same time the Treasury asked the Master of the Rolls whether it would not suffice to appoint fewer persons at present. The Master of the Rolls agreed to this suggestion, and there were accordingly appointed 18 persons only, viz. : — 4 first-class assistant keepers at 400?. 3 second-class assistant keepers at 300?. 11 clerks (viz., 1 at 200?., 3 at 100?., 7 at 80?.). Of these six held situations in existing Public Record Offices, and the rest had been either employed by the Record Commission or had occasional employ ment in the record service.* This number of officers was not sufficient, and one more assistant keeper of the second class and seven additional clerks were appointed, thus raising the number to eight assistant keepers and 18 clerks. The Treasury also promised that on the understanding that the number of assistant keepers should lie confined to eight (instead of being raised to 12 as originally contemplated) they would be prepared to sanction the appointment of four additional clerks when the exig encies of the Service should render their employment necessary.! The Appendix to the 2nd Report contains two tables showing the personnel of the Public Record Department on 1 July 1840 and on 31 March 1841.J It consisted on the latter date of the following persons : — Sir F. Palgrave, Deputy Keeper. F. S. Thomas, Secretary. Assistant Keepers, First Class : Thomas Palmer. Henry Cole. Thomas Duffus Hardy. The Rev. Joseph Hunter * D.K. 1st Report, pp. 7, Appendix 73-5. ! D.K. 2nd Report, pp. 5, 6. | Ibid., Appendix, p. 17. Assistant Keepers, Second Class : Charles Roberts. Henry George Holden. William Henry Black. J. T. Kentish. C. A. Cole. J. J. Bond. W. B. Sanders. Manners Fenwick. Frederick Devon. Clerks : Henry James Sharpe. Walter Nelson. J. T. Jowett. J. Burtt. William Lascelles. Henry Charles Hertslet. Henry Roberts. J. P. Redington. Percy S. L. Hunt. T. M. Green. W. G. Cooper. John Edwards. Peter Turner. John Bradley, housekeeper. John Browne, messenger, porter, Qs. 2086, 2090. t D K. 4th Report, p. 9. § Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 824-33. II Ibid., Q. liJl. t U'id., Q. 833. ** Ibid., Qs. 697, 757. 110 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : of the subject matter as well as the forms. He must be able, if required, to make searches upon legal and historical points as to which evidence is required by Government departments. He may also be called upon to assist historical or literary investigators who wish to know what documents there are in the Office containing information relative to their researches. For these various purposes he needs no small amount of historical, legal, and linguistic knowledge, in addition to a knowledge of the different classes of records the Office contains. In the Record services of foreign countries, where somewhat similar duties are required of the officials, it is usual to require candidates for employment, either to have gone through a special training or to prove the possession of special knowledge before they are given a post. In France the method preferred is to require can didates to have received three years' special training in an institution established for the purpose, viz., the Ecole des Chartes. The subjects taught in the three years' course are set forth ir; the memorandum on the School submitted to us. Besides a more scientific training in Palaeography than is deemed essential by our Record Office, it includes Diplomatic in general, the history of the political, administrative and judicial institutions of France, Mediaeval archaeology, Old French, civil and canon law, and the sources of French History. Bibliography and the administration of libraries and archives are also part of the course. In Belgium candidates for posts in the archives are left to acquire the special knowledge they need in the universities, and their possession of it is tested by the examination for admission into the service. The examination which was established in 1895 is partly theoretical, partly practical. The theoretical part includes the following subjects : the political history of the Middle Ages and of modern times, the domestic history of Belgium, and mediaeval and modern institutions. The practical part includes (1) Palaeography and Diplomatic (with the knowledge of chronology, sigillography, and heraldry required in connection with those two subjects) ; (2) Old French and Old Flemish ; (3) Modern Flemish ; (4) one of four modern languages chosen by the candidate, viz., German, English, Spanish and Italian.* Candidates possessing the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and Letters are dispensed from the theoretical part of the examination provided that they have taken that degree in an historical subject. In Italy candidates for posts in the Record Service are appointed on a more general and less technical examination, but the appointment is not made perma nent until the candidate has satisfactorily passed a stiff special examination and gone through a technical training. In Prussia after taking their degree and passing, their JStaatsexamen, candidates have to study for a year at the University of Marburg, where they attend a special course in Archiv-Wissenschaft, and have finally to pass the Archiv-Examen. It is desirable to consider which of these different systems would be best adapted to English conditions, and what modifications in the system would be necessary here. Many people have suggested the establishment in London of a school of archivists and librarians con nected with the University of London, as the Ecole des Chartes is with the University of Paris. The Ecole des Chartes costs about 3,000?. per annum, and turns out every year about 20 men equipped for service in archives and libraries. They do not all take service in these institutions because so many are not needed ; a certain number of them become historical teachers and writers. Thus, the school fulfills a double purpose; intentionally, it provides a technical training for officers in certain branches of the public service • incidentally, it is part of the general system of higher education in France. But there is one great difference between the conditions which exist in England and those which exist in France. In France, besides the National Archives and the archives of various branches of the administration concentrated in Paris, there are 85 Departmental archives, and in addition to the great libraries in Paris, there are some very con siderable libraries outside it. A comparatively large number of trained men are therefore needed every year to recruit these various services. In England, on the other hand, the Record service is so small that the production of one trained man per annum would suffice to meet the present needs of the Record Office. Sup posing that a certain number of provincial Record Offices were to be established, and that places could be found for a certain number of trained men as archivists of Government Departments, and for some others in public libraries of various kinds ; even then an output of five or six men per annum would probably meet the demand. Hence, the direct utility of an institution like the Ecole des Chartes to the public service in England would be much less than it is in France, and it would be difficult to induce the Government to provide money for its establishment. On the other hand, the kind of training given in the Ecole des Chartes is such an essential part of higher historical education that something of the sort ought to be provided in every university and is already pro vided in several. It is reasonable to propose that Government should avail itself of this teaching where it exists already, and encourage its provision by some subsidy where it needs further development or is not yet in existence. In that way the Government could obtain for its officers, without great cost, the special training which they ought to have before they are given permanent employment in the Record service. It would be possible to secure this without any great change in the existing system of selecting candidates for the Record service. At present, the candidates successful in the open competition are appointed on probation. The Deputy Keeper says, " If a person sent to us by the Civil Service Commis- " sioners proves incompetent any time during the " first two years, I can get rid of him "* Practically, it appears that this power is either never exercised or very rarely exercised. But the provision ought to be made a reality, and a probationer who fails to acquire in two years the special knowledge required for the duties of the Record Office should be regarded as incompetent for that particular branch of the public service. The two years of probation are the period during which the candidate should receive his special training, and part of that training should be acquired outside the Office. The system pursued in the case of candidates for the Indian Civil Service furnishes a precedent. They receive a certain part of their training in some university approved by the Government, are paid a fixed sum to maintain them while they go through it, and their proficiency is tested by a special examination at the end of their course. It does not appear that the application of this system to successful candidates for the Record Office would meet with opposition from the Deputy Keeper. It is true that he thinks three months' teaching would be sufficient, and a year more than would be necessary.! On the other hand, he is of opinion that his young men " might get their training outside " the office after they had been appointed," and that " it would be a very good thing for them if there were " a place where they could be taught.". X Their services can be of no great value to the Record Office during the first year, and it would save the time of his senior officers if they got their preliminary training elsewhere. § The Deputy Keeper does not wish to make the Record Office the nucleus of a school for the training of archivists,|| and, seeing how small the staff of the Office is, he is clearly justified. On the other hand, the limited number of the staff is an additional reason for developing their individual efficiency to the highest point, and that can only be secured by giving them a thorough and efficient training. The subjects which the training of the officials of our Record Office should include are, mutatis mutandis, See also below, p. 129. Minutes of Evidence Q. 673. t Ibid., Qs. 690, 692, 693. X Ibid., Qs. 694, 696. § Ibid., Q. 697. || Ibid., Q. 757. APPENDICES. Ill much the same as those required from French or Belgian archivists. To wit, Palaeography, Diplomatic, Medaeval Latin, Old French, Old English, the history of mediaeval institutions, the history of the modern ad ministrative system of Great Britain, some knowledge of English Law, and some knowledge of the sources of English History and of its bibliography. While a knowledge of French is essential, knowledge of any other modern language should be encouraged and rewarded, These subjects are obviously more than could be included in a one-year course, but not too many to be studied in a period of probation lasting for two years. Some could be begun in the first year and completed in the second. The elements of Palaeography, for instance, could be learnt outside the Office, the practical training given within it. Old French, Old English and Mediaeval Latin could probably best be studied in the Universities. As to the sources of English History, records and their bibliography would be best studied in the Office during the second year, the biblio graphy of chronicles and other printed sources could be studied just as well anywhere else. While much could be learnt from lectures in the Universities much would remain to be done by private reading and informal instruction in the Office. The examination should take place at the close of the two probationary years. The best examining body would be one composed like the committee which tests the qualifications of candidates for the Belgian archives, viz., a committee composed partly of represen tatives of the Record Office, partly of experts from outside. The function of examining could scarcely be left to the authorities of the Record Office alone, because they undervalue the importance of scientific training. In proposing this scheme I have not thought it necessary to discuss at length the views of those who hold that no scientific training is necessary for Record officers, or that the elementary and haphazard training given at present in the Office is adequate. Foreign experience shows the advantages of a thorough and scientific education for archivists, and there is now a general consensus of opinion in favour of it amongst historical scholars in England. The supposition that the present system of training is adequate seems to be disproved by its results. Mr. Pike has pointed out that some of the mediaeval lists and calendars are not creditable to English scholarship, and show " want of proper qualification for the tasks undertaken. " Other witnesses have pointed out defects in the lists and catalogues of modern State papers caused partly by insufficient acquaintance with their subject matter, partly by insufficient knowledge of the needs of historians. The inadequacy of the present system of training is aggravated by the system of promotion which prevails in the Office. A clerk enters the Office without possesing any special knowledge or any special qualifi cations for the work he has to do. The acquisition of special knowledge and special qualifications after he enters the Office does not affect his promotion or his salary* He has thus no material incentive to acquire the training which he originally lacked. The incentive to clerks to make themselves efficient is further reduced by the method of publishing the lists, calendars, and catalogues prepared in the Office. Such things were once entrusted to one particular official whose name appeared at the end of the calendar or list or on the title-page. Now the system is to issue such things as office calendars, &c, " prepared under the superintendence of the Deputy Keeper " merely mentioning the names of the compilers in a prefatory note. Clerks do not get the credit for good work done, which is one of the natural incentives to do good work, individuality is too much repressed, and the responsibility of the individual clerk unduly diminished. I think that the standard of the work done by officials is lowered by this policy, and that it co-operates with the absence of training to reduce the efficiency of the staff of the Office. C. H. F. 2. Staff of the Public Record Office (31st December 1910) showing Length of Service of Assistant Keepers and Clerks and Rate of Promotion. , Service Salary A.K. At . in in in present Years. £ Years. Salary. Years. Scargill-Bird, S.R. 44 800 25 7 Sharp, J. E. E. S. - 42 700 25 8 Handcock, G. F. - 42 700 32 1 Roberts, R. A. 38 660 31 i Isaacson, R. F. 37 640 31 Morris, G. J. 37 620 32 Rodney, H. 31 580 28 Atkinson, E. G. 36 500 6 Salisbury, E. 32 500 8 Brodie, R. H. 31 500 8 Hall, H. 31 500 8 Black, J. G, 30 500 1 5 Crump, C. G. 22 500 (previous service m Post Office). Maskelyne, A. S. - 20 460 (transferred from the Diplomatic Service). Fowler. R. C. 19 440 Lyle, J. V. 19 440 Giuseppi, M. S. 19 440 Johnson, C. - 17 420 Stamp, A. E. 17 423 Headlam, H. E. 17 440 (previous service in Inland Revenue.) Chapman, J. B. W. 12 420 (j irevious service in Customs). Flower, C. T. 7 255 1 Ratcliff, S. C. 7 380 (previous service in P.R.O Dublin). Bland, A. E. ¦ 6 240 Dawes, M. C. B. - 5 225 Jenkinson, C. H. 5 225 O'Reilly, J. J. 3 195 * Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 830-2. 3. Statement of the Position and Services of the Supplementary Clerks in the Public Record Office.* On 13 August 1862 the Lords of H.M. Treasury sanctioned the appointment of six transcribers, to be nominated by the Deputy Keeper from the " workmen " then employed in the Public Record Office, and fixed the scale of pay at 24s. per week for the first three years' service, 28s. for the next two years, and a maximum of 32s. per week. On 24 June 1867 further sanction was given to appoint two other transcribers from the same source. In July 1875 the Lords of H.M. Treasury sanctioned an alteration of maximum pay to 2?. In 1882 the whole staff of the Office was dealt with by the Treasury, and at that date, the scale of pay for transcribers was again revised : — from 80?. to 200?. per annum by 5?. increments. In January 1886 the present Deputy Keeper was appointed, and on 16 November 1886 sanction was given by the Lords of the Treasury for the appointment of two other transcribers. These were appointed after a keen competitive examination held in the Office on 2 April 1887 on purely official subjects. Since 1887, two appointments to fill vacancies were made on the Deputy Keeper's nomination from the workmen, in 1904 an assistant clerk transferred from the Land Revenue Department, and four from boy clerks previously engaged in the Office. From 1862 until January 1886 (the date of the appointment of the present Deputy Keeper) the duties of the transcribers consisted in making Office copies of modern period, and fair copying editors' calendars for press, but after the latter date a steady and progressive * Communicated through the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. 112 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : change was made in their duties. " Men writers " and, later, " boy clerks " were introduced to make Office copies and most of the modern copying, and the duties of the transcribers were directed towards the sorting, arranging and classifying Early Chancery Proceedings, Chancery Proceedings Series II. , Star Chamber Proceed ings, Proceedings of the Court of Wards and Liveries, and other records of a similar character. Later on they were called upon to make lists of these records, and eventually three of them were deputed to make a calendar of Chancery Proceedings Series IL, and the calendar of the same now in print was entirely the work of a transcriber who is now a Supplementary Clerk. The 1st volume was revised by an Assistant Keeper, but the two others were revised and completed by the compiler. The transcribers later were also given other work to do, which had hitherto been done by either junior or senior clerks, such as reading to the Examiner, English documents from which Office copies had been made irrespective of period, making indexes, checking calen dars with documents, weeding documents scheduled for destruction by the Committee, &c. In 1903 the then transcribers petitioned the Treasury to consider their position on the grounds that the title of transcriber was no longer applicable, and asking for an improved scale of pay and increment. and in June 1904 the Lords of H.M. Treasury approved the alteration of name to that of Supplementary Clerk and revised the scale of pay — 70?. per annum by 5?. in crements to 100?., and 100?. to 250?. by 7?. 10s. increments. When the representative from the Treasury visited the Office to inquire into the nature of work done, he expressed himself as being greatly surprised, being under the impression we were a " better paid class of writer," and stated that " no Second Division Clerk " would be expected to do such responsible work. Since the above revision the progression in the work required to be done by the Supplementary Clerks has been very marked, responded to and carried out with efficiency. The present Supplementary Clerks respectfully submit that the work done by them is of such a character as to entitle them to be regarded as on a footing, if not superior to, at least on a level of, Higher Grade Second Division Clerks in respect of pay and promotion. » Names of Supplementary Clerks with record of service and present work on which each is engaged. Edward Jennings entered Service 25 April 1870, appointed Transcriber 29 April 1880. He is responsible for all money received for Office copy fees and stamps issued in connection therewith. George Pilbeam entered Service 9 June 1870, appointed Transcriber (after examination) 23 April 1887. He is Clerk of Stationery, making requisi tions or alterations and repairs of Building, supply of Stores and demands for stationery, &c. Arrang ing Official Correspondence, entering same in Official Index and generally assisting in the Secretary's Department. Albert James Gregory entered Service 21 June 1884, appointed Transcriber (after examination) 23 April 1887. Engaged in making Calendar of Chancery Proceeding's before 1714 (Bridges), and is one of the Draughtsmen. Theodore Craib entered Service 30 April 1887, iippointed Transcriber 11 March 1893. He is practically in sole charge of the Library, consisting of over 25,000 vols. Made catalogue of same in 1902. Benjamin Poulter entered Service 28 April 1880, appointed Transcriber 6 May 1893. Engaged in weeding General Affidavits, High Court of Justice K.B.P.S. under Schedule, and making Calendar of Close Rolls, Eliz. Patrick Joseph Mc Kenna entered Service at Dublin as Boy Clerk May 1891; Appointed Assistant Clerk, Dublin, 16 Nov. 1896 ; transferred to Land Revenue Department 1 May 1899 ; and appointed Supplementary Clerk 3 August 1904. Engaged on the current work of the Land Revenue Record Office since its incorporation with the Public Record Office in April 1903, and making calendar of Chancery Proceedings before 1714 (Hamilton), and is one of the Draughtsmen. Frank William Sidgwick entered the Service as boy clerk 11 March 1901 ; appointed supple mentary clerk 23 February 1905. Engaged in arranging and classifying records under Mr. Rodney's supervision. John Reginald Nelson entered Service as Boy clerk 21 November 1904 ; appointed supplementary clerk 6 May 1907. Engaged in reading English documents of any period to the Assistant Keeper, Examiner of Office Copies, and checking Index of Inquisitions P.M. (Court of Wards and Liveries) Eliz. Jas., and Chas. with the documents, correcting errors and making list of " Errata." Walter Stanley Wright entered Service as boy clerk 31 March 1904 ; appointed supplementary clerk 9 April 1908. Engaged in making calendar of Articles of Clerkship (Common Pleas). Edward Charles O'Shee entered Service as boy clerk 29 March 1906 ; appointed supplementary clerk 17 June 1911. Engaged in arranging and classifying records under Mr. Rodney's supervision. 29th February 1912. 4. Statement regarding the Duties, Salary, and Promotion of Superintendent, Attendants, and Repairers in the Public Record Office.* Duties. — The Superintendent having charge of the whole subordinate (established and unestablished) staff, numbering 72, the ordering and issuing of general stores, &c, will in itself show his great responsibilities. The title of attendants and repairers does not adequately describe the importance and responsibility of the duties performed by the staff, which are of a technical character (vide Treasury Minute, 17th Feb ruary 1894, Annexed No. 1) and therefore superior (on account of the intrinsic value of the documents passing through their hands) to the duties performed by the subordinate establishments of the following offices: — Sorters, Registered Letter Branch, General Post Office, Stampers and Warehousemen, Somerset House, Press Keepers, War Office, and the attendants at other offices. Salary and Promotion. — There have only been three appointments to the post of superintendent in the past 41 years and which is the only position receiving the maximum salary (viz., 55s. per week) as shown in the estimates. There have only been 16 appointments to the 1st Class in the past 24 years, notwithstanding its augmentation by two. There are men who have been on the maximum of the 1st Class (viz., 45s. per week) from 1 to 16 years. There arc. 10 men on the maximum of the 2nd Class with services of 17 to 22 years, three of whom have been on the maximum 8 years. There are men in the 2nd Class who can never reach the maximum of the 1st Class under the present conditions. The rate of pay is considerably lower than that of other subordinate establishments where the duties are not so important as those performed at this office. ' Communicated through the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records (February 1911). APPENDICES. 113 First Clas s Attenda 45s. anc nts and Repairers (including Superintendent) (16). Years' Service. Years on Maximum of Class. Age. 10s. as Superiirt J. R. Pratt endent 37 14 55 A. W. Byerley 45s. „ J 6s, as foreman \ Is. for keeping stores } 31 7 53 H. W. Weatherley - 45s. „ 6s. as foreman 44 15 62 P. H. Bradley 45s. „ 6s. „ „ ... 37 13 53 W. Pellatt - 45s. „ 2s. ,, sub-foreman - 37 11 57 A. E. L. Husband 45s. „ 2«. „ „ 29 3 51 F. M. C. Bradley 45s. 37 15 54 W. G. Sell 45s. . 38 14 55 R. Robins 45s. - - 36 11 57 A. Sawyer 45s. - 35 11 61 W. H. Powell 45s. - 25 3 46 G. A. Scoins 45». - 29 3 49 J. H. Jennings 45s. - 29 0 48 H. Pellatt 45s. » 27 1 45 C. Gatfield 41s. - . 25 44 F. A. Talbot 41s. - 22 — 45 Second Class (26). Years of • Years' Service. Years on Maximum of Class. Service before reaching First Class. Age. R. H. Martin 37s. 22 8 25 45 A. R. Fewster 37s. 21 8 25 41 C. F. Bush . 37s. 21 8 29 42 A. E. Sloeman 37s. 19 6 27 42 A. E. Sander . 37s. 18 6 28 42 S. A. Parkinson 37s. 18 6 28 43 B. J. Pilbean 37s. 18 6 29 38 P. H. Browning 37s. 18 4 30 40 A. W. Bowers 37s. 17 3 30 37 P. C. Thompson 37s. and 2s. as sub-foreman. 20 3 34 42 R. W. Woodcock - 35s. 6c?. 9 — 25 29 G. D. Godfrey - 34s. 6c?. 8 — 24 35 H. S. Pearce - 32s. 6c?. 8 — 25 28 P. W. Hicks - 32s. 6c?. 7 — 26 29 A. Swain 29s. 6c?. 6 — 26 36 E. Balls - 28s. 5 — — 28 F. W. Jarvis 28s. 4 — — . 38 H. W. Gould 26s. 6c?. 4 — — 35 C. Routledge 26s. 6c?. 4 — — 42 D. Swain 25s. 3 — — 37 J. Gilkes - 23s. 6c?. 1 — — 25 R. C. M. Baines - 23s. 6c?. 1 — — 23 A. Gardiner - 22s. under 1 year. — — 22 G. A. Ponsford 22s. ,, t, — — 29 R. White - 0.1 ., -¦-*¦ | J! )> — — 25 S. E. Walker 22s- 25 Comparison of Salary of Attendants and Repairers with the subordinate Establishments of other Public Departments, Post Office. Sorters, 60?. to 160/. per annum. Class system abolished. Somerset House. Warehousemen and Stampers, 60?. to 145?. per annum. C?ass system abolished,. Extra allowance to 20 men of 5?. per annum. War Office. Principal Press Keeper, 150?. to 175?. per annum. *Assistant Principal Press Keeper, 105?. to 135?. per annum. Press Keepers, 50?. to 135?. per annum. Class system abolished. *With extra allowance of 15?. per annum. British Museum. Chief attendants, 125?. to 150?. per annum ; attendants 60?. to 120?. per annum. Class system abolished. E 11829 Public Record Office. ..,,,, . f Is? Class. Attendants and repairers, I 10R im ^ including Superintend 2nd Class. dent' L57Z. 4e. to 96?. 4s. per annum. Additional allowances : Superintendent, 10s. per week. Foreman (1), 7s. „ Foremen (2), 6s. „ Sub-foremen (3), 2s. „ II 114 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : 5. Distribution of Duties in the Public Record Office (May 1912).* Deputy Keeper. — Has general superintendence of the office, is literary director and accounting officer and also literary director of the Historical Manuscripts Commission. Secretary. — Has charge of the general business of the office, correspondence and discipline, and finds a certain amount of time for editorial work. Is secretary to the Committee of Inspecting Officers for the disposal of valueless documents. Has a staff of two supplementary clerks. A clerk acts as sub-accountant, is responsible for the correctness of all pay-lists, drafts the estimates and keeps the accounts, acts as assistant to the Deputy Keeper in dealing with the editors and printers, and to the Secretary in dealing with correspondence and other matters. The Library is in charge" of a supplementary clerk under the general supervision of the Secretary. The Repository. — Transfers. — An assistant keeper is in general charge of the repository, is responsible for the transfer of records from other departments, their reception, packing and listing. Cleaning. — He has two supplementary clerks as assistants, and a staff of 10 porters under a sub- foreman, who do the manual labour of carrying and packing accruing records and turning out and cleaning the various record rooms. Production and replacing. — He is also the responsible head of the staff of the attendants constantly engaged in getting out and replacing records required for use in the Search Rooms by the staff. Repairing and Binding. — An assistant keeper has charge of this work, carried on by a staff comprising a foreman, a sub-foreman and 16 others. The Public Search Rooms. — A clerk (normally an assistant keeper) has general charge of the Public Search Rooms, the Land Revenue Record Office and of the manuscript lists of records. He has a supple mentary clerk as general assistant and the following staff : — Legal Search Room. — Two clerks, a supplementary clerk and three attendants. Literary Search Room. — Two clerks, two attendants. Land Revenue Record Office. — Two supplementary clerks. The Government Search Room. — A clerk, with a second clerk as assistant, and a foreman and two attendants, deals with three classes of business : — (1) The inspection of modern State Papers by strangers to whom permits are granted by various Government Departments. (2) The requisition and return of documents deposited by Departments for safe custody and taken back temporarily for use from time to time. (3) Searches for the information of Government Departments or of individual inquirers referred to the Public Record Office by the Departments. Certified Copies. — An assistant keeper is respon sible for the making and certifying of all office copies. Copies in Latin are made as a rule by the more junior clerks, but any member of the staff is liable to be called upon to make a copy in time of stress of business. English copies are generally made by the supplementary clerks or by boy clerks, according to their difficulty. All copies are examined by the assistant keeper, with or without the assistance of a clerk or a. supple mentary clerk. Making of Lists. — The assistant keeper in charge of the Repository is required to see that all records received are accompanied by a proper detailed list. Four clerks are engaged in re-arranging various classes of records and making new lists to be printed in the series of lists and indexes. Calendars. — Inquisitions Post Mortem, &c. — An assistant keeper and two clerks are at work on the Calendar of Mediaeval Inquisitions. Another clerk is doing the Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry VH. Early Chancery Proceedings. — An assistant keeper is in charge of the Calendar of Early Chancery Proceedings. The abstracts for it have been made by various clerks. Patent Rolls. — An assistant keeper and two clerks (This work is nearing completion.) Letter and Papers, Henry VIII. — An assistant keeper. Charter Bolls. — A clerk with some assistance in proof reading. A number of clerks make copies and abstracts for various other volumes, such as Feudal Aids, Close Rolls (in Latin), Rolls of the Curia Regis, Ancient Corre spondence, Privy Seals, Memoranda Rolls, and Ancient Deeds, when not otherwise engaged. They also under take other duties in times of absence of their colleagues on vacation or on account of illness. The Calendars of Close Bolls. — Welsh Rolls, Liberate Rolls and State Papers are being made by various editors not on the permanent staff of the Office. The Superintendent is head of the staff of attendants, repairers, messengers, and porters. He is directly in charge of all removals of records from other offices ; he goes beforehand to make arrangements, estimates the space required, hires vans and super intends the work of removal. He is also responsible, under the Secretary, for the discipline of the subordinate staff, makes out their pay-sheets (subject to the revision of the sub-accountant), pays the wages, and is general store-keeper. The cleaning of the Office (apart from the interior of the record rooms) is in his charge, and all urgent repairs in the building are arranged for by him. 6. Note of Official and Private Work done by Mr. C. T. Martin, B.A., F.S.A., late an Assistant Record Keeper, between 1861 and 1903 * (1) Official work : — Appointed 27 November 1861. Working for Sir T. D. Hardy and on the Henry VHI. Calendar, for Dr. Brewer and Mr. Gairdner (January 1862). Began to do work at the British Museum (March 1862). Senior Clerk 28 March 1873. November 1878. Went to Berkeley to inspect documents offered to the Office. May 1886. Translation of passages from the Year Books of Henry VI. for the Master of the Rolls. 1887. Examining Chancery Portfolios with a view to a Calendar of Ancient Correspondence. 1887 to 1901. Calendar of Ancient Corre spondence^ 2nd April 1888. Assistant Keeper. 1889. Reading proofs of Calendars of Patent Rolls of Edward I. and III. 1890. Calendar of the Register of Pope Clement V. 1891-March 1892. Certifying office copies and " Ancient Correspondence." 1892. Calendar of Papal Registers. May- December at British Museum. 1892. Itinerary of Henry III. 1893 to 1896. Rearranging Feet of Fines. 1897-1901. Supervising Calendar of Close Rolls of Henry III. (printed in full). 1899. Supervising Calendar of Patent Rolls of Henry in. (printed in full). 1901 to 1906. Early Chancery Proceedings. 1903 November. Supervising list of Exchequer Diplomatic Documents. (2) Work done out of office hours : — 1861-1873. Coaching. 1870. Assisting in compiling a Gazetteer of 12 volumes. Writing weekly account of Communicated by Mr. Martin in the course, of his i^uiuiiLuiiicaiet. * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Pubhc evidence (Q. 2101), Records. -j- Only a brief list of these records was published. appendices. 115 meetings of the Society of Antiquaries and reviews of books. Writing an article for a quarterly review on new books on history and archaeology. 1873. Copying the Register of Kellawe Bishop of Durham, edited by Sir T. D. Hardy, in the Rolls Series, 4 vols. 1873. Syllabus (Calendar) of Rymer's " Foedera," edited by Sir T. D. Hardy, 3 vols. 1875. Working at the Records of the Merchant Taylors' Co. 1875. Catalogue of Archives of All Souls' College. 1878. Supplying materials for the " Memorials of the Savoy," written by the Rev W. J. Lot' tie. 1879. New edition of "Wright's Court Hand Restored," adding fresh plates. " Record Interpreter." 1880. Supplying materials for Leaders " Mary Queen of Scots in Captivity." Supplying materials for Hedge's "History of Wallingford." 1880. Completing the Register of Malmesbury Abbey in the Rolls Series (begun by the Rev. J. S. Brewer). 1882. Editing the Register of Archbishop Peck- ham, in the same series, 3 vols. 1888. Editing Geoffrey Gaimar's " L'estorie des Engleis " in the Rolls Series (begun by Sir T. D. Hardy,) 2 vols. Began to complete Sir T. D. Hardy's " Descrip tive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great Britain " (Rolls Series), but was unable to continue and gave up what I had collected with the understanding that I might complete it at a future time if possible. 1890 (circa). Working at the Middle Temple Records when Mr. Charles Hopwood was Master, Appendix VHI. — Relations of the Public Record Office with the Departments transmitting Records. 1. List of Depajbtments of State Transferring or not Transferring Records to the Public Record Office.* (a) Departments of State which have made transmis sions to the Public Becord Office : — Treasury. Home Office. Foreign Office. Colonial Office. War Office. Admiralty.Exchequer and Audit Office. Custom House. Board of Trade. National Debt Office. Paymaster-General's Office. H.M. Office of Works. Duchy of Lancaster. Lord Chamberlain's Office. Lord Steward's Office. Ecclesiastical Commission (a few ancient Records). Charity Commission. Treasury Solicitor and Director of Public Prosecutions. Lunacy Commission. (b) Departments of State which have not made trans missions to the Public Becord Office : — House of Lords. House of Commons. Privy Council Office (except a few ancient registers). Inland Revenue Office (except some abstracts of wills). Civil Service Commission. Board of Agriculture. Board of Education. Local Government Board. Mint. Post Office. Stationery Office. Office of Woods and Forests. (c) Departments of State which are Begistries : — Court of Probate. Registrar- General's Office. Land Registry. Registry of Friendly Societies. Registry of Merchant Shipping. Patent Office. * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. (Minutes of Evidence, Q. 583.) 2. Specimens of "Warrants," "Administrative Orders " and official " Letters " for the Transfer or Re-transer of Departmental Records (1841-1878).* Sir, Rolls House, 27 July 1841. In reply to yours of the 22nd instant, I have the honour to inform their Lordships that I have examined the books and records of the late Charity Commission, as deposited in the House, No. 13, Great George Street, and it appears to me that they are of a class fit and proper to be received into the custody of the Master of the Rolls, and, having reported such my opinion to his Lordship, he is willing to receive them into his custody accordingly. A proper authority is therefore needed from their Lordships directed to the Custos or possessor of the said books and records, and requiring them to give them up to the Deputy Keeper (on behalf of Lord Langdale) or to such person as the Deputy Keeper may appoint to receive the same. The books and records will be deposited in the Office of the Rolls Chapel, where (under such regula tions as his Lordship may impose) they will be conveniently accessible to the public, but their Lord ships will perhaps allow me to remark how much the utility of such deposits is diminished, and the ultimate expense of the service increased, by the want of the General Repository. I have, &c, (Signed) Francis Palgrave. C. E. Trevelyan, Esq. &c. &c. &c. 15739. 30/7. Treasury Chambers, Sir, 3rd August 1841. It appearing from your letter of the 2 7th ultimo that the Master of the Rolls has consented to receive the books and records of the late Charity Commission into his custody, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, that their Lordships have requested the Secretary of State to cause the same to be delivered up to you, or to such person as you may appoint to receive them. I am, &c., (Signed) C. E. Trevelyan. Sir Francis Palgrave. Sir, Roehampton, 20th August 1841. I hereby authorise and direct you to receive from the Officers of the Admiralty and to place in the Tower, the several books and documents which are mentioned in your letter to me, dated the 6th day of May last ; viz., the Log Books, the Muster Books, and the Navy Board Order Books, and the other books * From Return to an ¦9 April 1878 (211). Order of the Hi of Lords dated H 2 116 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : which in the same letter you have recommended to be removed to the Tower. Yours faithfully, (Signed) Langdale. Thomas Duffus Hardy, Esq. &c. &c. &c. Sir, 20th March 1846. I request you to receive and take charge of the Slave Compensation Records and Papers mentioned in Mr. Trevelyan's letter of the 18th instant, and to place them for the present in the upper rooms of the Rolls House as you propose. Yours, &c, Sir Francis Palgrave. (Signed) Langdale. To William Lascelles, Esquire, one of the Assistant Keepers of the Public Records. Public Record Office, &c, 30th November 1858. In the name and on the behalf of the Right Honour able the Master of the Rolls, I do hereby authorise and empower you to attend Sir Richard Madox Bromley, Accountant- General of the Navy, at the Admiralty Office, Somerset House, to receive from him 5,000 volumes of Pay Books, 1783-1832, and to remove the same into the House, No. 4, Rolls Yard (used as a depository for papers in the custody of the Master of the Rolls), and to retain the said books in your charge until his Honour (or the Deputy Keeper on his behalf) shall otherwise direct. (Signed) Francis Palgrave. Public Record Office, &c, Sir, 18th March 1859. On behalf of the Right Honourable the Master of the Rolls, I hereby authorise you to attend at the Audit Office, and to remove from the said Office the several documents which have been examined by you, for the purpose of being removed into His Honour's custody, and which are noticed in the Deputy Keeper's letter to the Audit Office of the 4th ultimo (a copy of which is annexed), and to deposit the same in the Repository, or the Houses in Rolls Yard, reporting to me from time to time thereon. I remain, &c, (Signed) Francis Palgrave. W. Lascelles, Esq. Wednesday, the sixteenth day of March, in the twenty- second year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine. Order of Court. Whereas by an Order made by the Right Honour able Hemy Baron Langdale, Master of the Rolls, bearing date the eighteenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, it was ordered that such of the Six Clerks and Sworn Clerks or Waiting Clerks of this Court who then had in their custody the inrol ment or inrolments, docquet or docquets, of any Decree or Decrees, Order or Orders of this Court in the several Causes wherein they were respectively concerned, or that had in their custody or power the inrolment or inrolments, docquet or docquets, of any Decree or Decrees, Order or Orders, in Causes in this Court which came to them respectively upon the death or surrender of any Six Clerk, or Swom or Waiting Clerk, into whose division or divisions, or seat or seats, they had been respectively admitted, should, on or before the first day of Trinity Term then next ensuing, bring all and every the said inrolment or inrolments,' docquet or docquets, to the Chapel of the Rolls, to be safely kept there according to the usual course of this Court. And the Clerks of the said Chapel, and every of them, were thereby required to receive the same, and to place them with the other inrolments and docquets then in the said Chapel, in such proper method as they ought to be. And whereas I have been informed by the Clerks of Records and Writs that they have recently discovered that notwithstanding the said Order many of the inrolments and docquets referred to in the said Order were not carried into the Rolls Chapel as they ought to have been, and that the inrolments and docquets mentioned in the first schedule hereunder written now remain in the Office of the Clerks of Records and Writs, and that the several inrolments mentioned in the second schedule hereto duly engrossed on parchment are also now in the said Office, but that the docquets thereof respectively cannot be found, although the same must have been duly signed by the Lord Chancellor, his name appearing at the foot of such inrolments respectively. And further that the several docquets of Decrees and Orders mentioned in the third schedule hereto, although regularly certified by the Six Clerks and duly signed by the Lord Chan cellor, have not been engrossed on parchment and carried into the Rolls Chapel as they onght to have been. And forasmuch as great prejudice may ensue to the Suitors of this Court, and other persons who may be entitled to the benefit of the said Decrees and Orders, I do hereby order that the several inrolments and docquets of Decrees and Orders mentioned in the first schedule hereto, and also the several inrolments mentioned in the second schedule hereto, and also any other inrolment or inrolments, docquet or docquets, which may at any time hereafter be discovered by them to be in the said Office, be brought by the Clerks of Records and Writs into the Public Record Office, to be safely kept there, according to the usual course of this Court. And I do further order that the said Clerks of Records and Writs do, as soon as conveniently may be, procure the several Decrees and Orders men tioned in the third schedule hereto, and any others the docquets whereof may at any time hereafter be discovered to be in the said Record and Writ Clerks' Office, to be engrossed on parchment in the usual form, and that they do from time to time bring the same, with the said docquets, into the said Public Record Office, to be also safely kept there, according to the course of this Court. And the Deputy Keeper and Assistant Keepers of the Public Records, and every of them, are hereby required to receive the said inrolments and docquets, and to place them with the other inrol ments and docquets now in the said Pubhc Record Office, in such proper method as they ought to be. And I do order that this Order be entered with the Registrar of this Court. (Signed) John Romilly, M.R. Memorandum. Public Record Office. 4th, May 1870. The Right Honourable the Earl Cawdor has this day placed under the care of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, an heraldic and genealogical collection relating to Wales and the settlers therein, known as " The Golden Grove Book," in three volumes, with a fourth containing the Indices to the same ; and the Commissioners have deposited them in the Public Record Office under the conditions hereafter mentioned : — That the public may have access to the same ; that the volumes are to be properly preserved and taken care of ; and that his Lordship or his heirs may at any Dime hereafter remove the volumes from the Record Office upon giving a receipt for the same. (Signed) Romilly, M.R. Penrose, Helston, Cornwall, (at 9, Chester St., S.W., until Nov.) Sir, 15th October 1873. When I recently brought to the Public Record Office some ancient Deeds of mine from the country, for the purpose of obtaining transcripts of them by Mr. Vincent; who was engaged there, I had occasion to show two of them to Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy, and finding that they were of public interest, and not to be found amongst the public records of the kingdom, I offeredto present them as additions to your valuable series, in case they could be accepted. The documents have been examined and reported on by Mr. Burtt, at Sir Thomas' desire, and are— 1. A small Charter of Privileges by King Henry II. to the Monks of St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall, with imperfect Great Seal of that Monarch. 2. A Subsidy Roll of February 1628 for the entire Hundred of Kerrier, in W. Cornwall (one of five, of which you possess two only). APPENDICES. 117 All I ask in exchange for the originals is, that the Department will provide me with a photograph of the Charter of Hen. II. (a few copies of it would be valued) and also with a transcript, verbatim, of the Subsidy Roll. I would not otherwise like to part with them. I am, &c, (Signed) John J. Rogers. John Edwards, Esq. Public Record Office, SlE> 15th October 1873. In reply to your letter of this day, I am directed to inform you that this Department will be glad to receive the two documents mentioned in your letter, and to forward to you, in exchange, six copies of the photograph of the Charters, and a transcript of the Subsidy Roll, as you request. I remain, &c, (Signed) John Edwards. John Jope Rogers, Esq. Lord Chamberlain's Office, St. James's Palace, S.W., Si»> 19th January 1874. I am desired by the Lord Chamberlain to inform you that the Queen has authorised the transfer to the custody of the Record Office of the official Records of this Department, including those of the Master of the Great Wardrobe and the Master of the Jewels, beginning with the reign of Henry VIII. and ending with that of William IV. I am consequently to request that you will concert with me as to the removal of the books and papers from St. James's Palace, and also for their custody at the Record Office, so that they may be at all times available for reference by the officers of this Depart ment. It is to be understood that they are still the private property of Her Majesty, but it may be matter for future consideration whether a great portion of them may not be open for pubhc inspection. I am, &c., (Signed) Spencer Ponsonby. P.S. — The Lord Chamberlain would wish each book to be stamped as belonging to his Office. Public Record Office, Sir, 20th January 1874. It is with considerable satisfaction I hear from you that Her Majesty has authorised the transfer to this Office of the official Records of the Lord Cham berlain's Department, from the reign of Henry VIII. to that of William IV. ; and I beg you to assure the Lord Chamberlain that every care will be taken of these valuable documents. You will see, by the printed paper which I enclose, under what regulations the documents are received. The paragraphs printed within brackets are especially applicable to them. I have requested Mr. Kingston of this Depart ment, whom you have already seen, to wait upon you to-morrow, and to receive the papers should you have no objection. Perhaps you will inform me at your earliest convenience down to what date your papers may be open to the public. I enclose a list showing the dates to which certain Government Departments allow their documents to be open. The Papers will be stamped as belonging to the Lord Chamberlain's Office as desired. I have, &<;., (Signed) T. Duffus Hardy. The Honourable Spencer Ponsonby, C.B. Inclosure. Public Record Office. Regulations respecting Documents transferred from Government Departments. With reference to documents transferred from Government Departments, the Public Record Office is auxiliary to the Department from which the records 14829 have been removed ; and it is therefore the duty of the Public Record Office, — To take charge of such records and papers as each Office may think proper to transfer, either because they are not required for the current business of the Office, or because they cannot be conveniently accommodated within the Office .- [To keep the records and papers belonging to each Office distinct from all other records and papers :] To arrange them, and cause proper calendars and indexes of them to be made : [To hold them for the special use of the Office from which they have been removed :] To make searches and transcripts whenever re quired, for the use of Government or Parliament : [To transmit the originals to the Office from which they came, if and whenever required for the use of the Office :] And to afford access and inspection to the public or to individuals, only in pursuance of orders given by the Head of the Office from which they came, or some person authorised by him, or in pursuance of general or special rules approved by him. Dates to which Government documents in the Public Record Office are open to the public, by permission of the Departments from which they have been transferred : — Treasury. — To the reign of George III., 1820. Home Office. — To the end of the reign of George II., 1760. Foreign Office. — To 1760 inclusive, and, on appli cants having previously obtained the sanction of the Secretary of State, to the Peace of Amiens in 1802. Colonial Office. — To the end of the reign of George IL, 1760. War Office. — To the end of the reign of George TIL, 1820. India Office.— To 1853. Admiralty (Whitehall). — Letter Books, &c., to the end of 1800. Admiralty (Accountant- General of the Navy). — A portion to 1760. Audit Office.— To the end of the reign of George IL, 1760. Board of Trade. — To the end of the reign of George III., 1820 3. Correspondence between the Treasury and the Public Record Office regarding the " Cus tody " or " Charge and Superintendence " of Departmental Records and the Payment of Fees for consulting the same. 3049/92. Treasury Chambers, My Lord, 10th March 1892. I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Maxwell Lyte's letter of the 19th ultimo, with respect to the question of charging fees for the inspec tion, &c, of Treasury papers deposited in the Public Record Office. My Lords have referred to the Act 1 & 2 Vict., c. 94, sections 3 and 9 ; to the Order in Council of the 11th June 1852 ; and to the 44th Report, 1888, of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. They will be much obliged if your Lordship will •cause them to be informed whether, so far as you are aware, any question has hitherto arisen as to the effect of the said Order in Council upon the construction of the Act (1 & 2 Vict., c. 94). If there has been any correspondence on the subject, my Lords will be glad to be referred to it. My Lords would also be glad to be informed whether at any time the Master of the Rolls has been asked to fix, or claimed to fix, or even has fixed, a scale of fees for the inspection of Treasury Records " under his charge and superintendence." And further, whether it is the fact that wan-ants countersigned by the Lord Chancellor have never been required or given before the transfer of Treasury Records to the Record Office. I am, &c, Frank Mowatt. The Right Hon. The Master of the Rolls. H 3 118 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : Public Record Office, Sir, 14th April, 1892. In reply to Mr. Mowatt's letter of the 10th March 1892 (3049/92), I beg to state that it is not altogether easy to give a perfectly consistent and satisfactory explanation of the Public Record Office Acts. Until fifty-four years ago, the Master of the Rolls had, as such, no jurisdiction whatever over any of the national Archives except certain records of the Court of Chancery, and the documents now collected in this Office were distributed among about sixty different repositories. Shortly before the death of William IV. a Bill was brought into Parliament vesting the entire custody of the records in a person to be nominated by the Treasury, but, at the beginning of the present reign, the Government having special confidence in Lord Langdale, who had been one of the Record Com missioners, resolved to entrust the principal legal records of the realm to him and his successors in the Office of the Master of the Rolls. The third section of the Act 1 & 2 Vict. c. 94 gives, or confirms, to the Master of the Rolls the " custody " of the Records of the Chancery. The first section gives to him the " charge and superintendence " of the records of certain specified courts and offices. The second section enacts that the records of other Offices may be placed under his " charge and superin tendence " by Order in Council as effectually as if they had been specified in the first section. The third section furthermore enacts that documents under his " charge and superintendence " may be brought into his "custody" by the issue of a warrant countersigned by the Lord Chancellor. Records of the various courts and offices specified in the first section of the Act have from time to time been brought into the " custody " of the Master of the Rolls by means of countersigned warrants issued in pursuance of the third section. The Order in Council of 5th March 1852. made under the second section of the Act, placed under the " charge and superintendence " of the Master of the Rolls "all records belonging to Her Majesty " other than those of the courts and offices specified in the first section. The only correspondence known to exist with regard to the effect of this Order in Council took place in that year and the next, when the State Paper Com missioners objected to it as inconsistent with certain earlier Treasury Minutes. Their objections were, however, overruled. A copy of the correspondence was forwarded to the Treasury by the Master of the Rolls on the 11th January 1854. That the Order in Council was interpreted to give power to the Master of the Rolls to obtain the " custody " of the records of courts and offices not specified in the first section of the Act is evident from the fact that, on the 17th September 1873, Sir George Jessel gave to Sir T. D. Hardy a warrant countersigned by Lord Selborne, authorising him pursuant to the third section of the Act 1 & 2 Vict. c. 94, and the Order in Council of 5th March 1852, both of which are mentioned in the warrant, to receive and take charge of the records of the County Palatine of Lancaster. It might perhaps be argued that the twentieth section of the Act defining the word " Records " to mean all documents, &c. " of a public nature belonging to Her Majesty " limits the jurisdiction of the Master of the Rolls to the records which should be open to public inspection. Such an argument, however, would give to the word " public " a different meaning to that which it bears in other statutes, and it appears more probable that the Master of the. Rolls has the " charge and superintendence " of all documents, » >» Paymaster-General's Letter, 26 March 1877. Accruing records. >> n Treasury Letter of 6 June 1877. Accruing records. Treasury Letter, 24 July 1877. Accruing records. Duchy of Lancaster Office, Letters of 7th and 16th March 1877. Accruing records. Foreign Office Letter, 2 Dec. 1878. Foreign Office Letter, 31 Dec. 1878. Accruing records Accruing records and Foreign Office Letter, 18 Aug. 1879. Accruing records. Registrar-General's Letter, 16 March 1881. * Deputy Keeper's 39th Report, p. x. t ., , -list Report, p. viii. f Deputy Keeper § Deputy Keeper's 43rd Report, p. ix. s 40th Report, p. ix. 42nd Report, p. viii. 122 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS Date of Transfer. 1881. June 9 July 27 Sept. 29 Oct. 31 Oct. 22 1882. Jan. 26 Feb. 8 Feb. 10 Mar. 6 April 5 May 1 May 17 Oct. 10 Dec. 9-12 1883. Jan. 9 April 13 May 9 June 16 July 5-7 July 11- Aug. 1 Aug. 29 Oct. 2 Oct. 23 Oct. 29 Nov. 1 Nov. 21 Nov. 29 Dec. 5-6 1884. Jan. 4 Feb. 6 and 26 April 1 April 4 April 18 April 23 April 25 April 29 May 14 May 16-17 Aug. 12 Sept. 18 Dec. 20 1885. Jan. 2 Jan. 19 Jan. 30 July 6 July 17 July 27 Sept. 16 Nov. 4 Nov. 30 Dec. 9. Dec. 18 to Department. Nature of Records. Authority. Foreign Office* War Office Home Office* - Treasury Solicitor* War Office War Officef Colonial Officef War Office Foreign Office War Office* Admiralty J Foreign OfficeJ War Office - War Office - Paymaster - General's Office.J War Office - Paymaster-General's Office War Office Embassy Papers, Madrid Discharges, Jan.-June 1881 Criminal Registers, 1838-54. Police Returns, 1858-69. Prisons and Reformatories Returns, 1860-67. Treasury Solicitor's Papers Pay Lists. Registers of Foreign Prisoners. Pay Lists, 1875-6 Discharges, July-Sept. 1881 Quebec Government Gazettes, 1825-46 Ordnance Correspondence, 1854 - Discharges, Oct. 1881 Nov. 1881 Dec. 1881 Jan-March 1882 Correspondence, 1836-42 Discharges, April-June 1882 July-Sept. 1882 Oct.-Dec. 1882 Jan.-March 1883 Ships' Logs. 1848-79 Paris Embassy Correspondence, 1831- 43. Registers of same. Discharges, April 1883 May 1883 Discharges, June 1883 Old Letter Books Various records - Discharges, July 1883 Books in continuation Discharges, Aug. 1883 Letter Books Foreign Office Letter, 4 June 1881. Accruing records. Home Office Letter, 30 Aug. 1881. Accruing records. War Office§ General Register Office (Somerset House). § War Office - Admiralty§ - Treasury^ Admiralty (Medical De partment of the Navy). 8 War Office Foreign Office§ Treasury 1 1 War Office 1 1 Treasury Solicitor || Foreign Office 1 1 War Office Patent Office || Charity Commission || Admiralty, Navy Medical Department. 1 1 Admiralty, Accountant General of the Navy. || Treasury Discharges, Sept. 1883 Oct.-Dec. 1883 - Confidential Reports of inspection of Cavalry serving in Ireland, 1794. Discharges, Jan. 1884 - Feb. 1884- Mar. 1884 Indexes to Births, Deaths, and Mar riages, 1880-82. Reference Books, 1692-1858 Seamen and Marines' Wills, 1786-1882 Board Papers, 1852-57; Treasury Letter Books and Registers (various). Various records, 1832-43 - Out Pension Pay Lists, 1879-82 Correspondence, &c. ; American Claims Commission, 1871-72; Spanish Claims, 1823. Registered Papers, 1858 ; Minute Books, 1849-58. Pay Lists, 1872-3—1875-6 - Papers (719 cases) Embassy Archives, Paris, 1844-52 R.A. Correspondence, 1828-56 Specifications, 1852-65; Docquet Books 1617-1850. Commissions, Accounts, &c. relating to Charities. Journals, Letter Books, &c, 1830-45 Muster Books and Victualling Books, 1850-72. Registered Papers, 1859, Skeleton Registers, 1858-59, Registers, Minute Books. Patent Office Letter 16 July 1885. Accruing records. * Deputy Keeper's 43rd Report, p. ix. j D t K ,g mh R ~ f „ „ 44th Report p. xm | ^/ 46th Report p! j| Deputy Keeper's 47th Report, pp. viii.. ix. APPENDICES. 123 Date of Transfer. Department. Nature of Records. Authority. 1886. Mar. 17 & 19 Admiralty* - Logs, 1875 - Accruing records. April 15 Patent Office* Specifications, 1866-71 May 14 Admiralty, Accountant D. D. Papers " " General of the Navy.* 11 ,7 July 26 Foreign Office* Embassy Achives, Paris, 1853-55 11 11 1887. Jan. 17 Admiralty, Medical De Letters, 1845-6 partment of the Navy.f »i i» May 11 Patent Officef Specifications, 1872 ; Attorney Gene ral's Certificates, 1851. >T *. July 19-22 Custom Housef Ledgers, &c. General Register Office, Indexes to Registers of Births, Deaths " 1888. Somerset House.f and Marriages, 1883-85. May 29 Patent OfficeJ Specifications, 1873 it )t 1889. May 12 Patent Office§ Specifications, 1874 »J « 1890. April 21 - Patent Office || Specifications, 1876 H it 1891. Jan. 22 J Patent Office^ Specifications, 1876 Oct. 9 ,. 1877 - >!• it 1892. ; May 11 Patent Office** Specifications, 1877 Aug. 3 Charity Commission** Old Accounts Sept. 2 ,, ,, >> ,i - Sept. 27 ,, ,, >» ,, Sept. 28 Office of Works** Epping Forest Commission - Nov. 16 Home Office** Confidential Papers, Minute Books it it 1893. Jan. 10 Admiraltyf f - Report of Mr. Hardwick and 6 Orders in Council relating to the Burial Ground at Greenwich Hospital, 1854-57. Jan. 13 General Register, Somer Indexes to Births, Marriages and Deaths, set House.f f 1886-90. Feb. 16 Treasuryff Treasury Papers, 1866 ; Registers, 1866; Minute Books, 1866. " tt March 15 Home Officef f Local Government Act Commission - Home Office Letters, 15 and 22 Feb. 1893. May 19 Colonial Officeff Correspondence - Accruing records. June - it it 1850-63 June 29 Patent Officeff Specifications, 1878-79 Sept. 27 Foreign Officeff Archives at Turin, Florence, &c. - » 1894. Jan. 12 Treasury^ Treasury Papers, 1867 ; Registers and Minute Books, 1867. u i, Feb. 13 Patent Office J J - Specifications, 1879 •> March 28 Duchy of Lancaster Office. J J Court Rolls it it June 27 Home Office. IJ Labour Commission Minute Books H.O. Letter, 5 June 1894. July 23 Registrar-General's Office, Indexes to Births, Deaths and Accruing records. Somerset House. %% 'Marriages, 1891-92. Oct. 8 i British MuseumJJ Chapter House Writs Letter to British Museum 31 May 1894. Oct. 17 AdmiraltyJJ Various records Accruing records. Oct. 17 Home Office >> >> .. 1895. Feb. 16 Foreign Office§§ Treaties Foreign Office Letter, 15 Feb. 1895. March 28 - Treasury §§ Papers and Registers Accruing records. April 22 Patent Office§§ - Specifications, 1880 ., 1896. Jan. 31 Admiralty, Greenwich Various records Admiralty Letter, 23 Jan. Hospital. ||| 1896. March 2 Patent Office III Specifications, 1881 Accruing records. * Deputy Keeper's 48th Report, p. vi. f ., „ 49th Report, p. xiv. X i, n 50th Report, p. vi. § ., „ 5l3t Report, pp. 5, fi. I| „ „ 5?nd Report, p. 5. Deputy Keeper's 58th Report, pp. 5. ( % Deputy Keeper's 53rd Report, p. 7. 1 " ,, „ 54th Report, pp. 5, 6. 1't ., ,, 55th Report, pp. 5, 6. XX -i ii °6th Report pp. 5. 6. §§ „ „ 57th Report, p. 5. 124 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: Date of Transfer. Department. ' Nature of Records. Authority. 1896. March 14 Admiralty, Medical De Various records Accruing records. March 19 May - partment* Treasury* Registrar- General of Shipping and Seamen. Papers, 1869 ; Registers, 1868 Various records Letter from Registrar- General of Shipping, &c, 4 May 1896. Sept 17 Foreign Office* Lisbon Archives, 1800-59 - Foreign Office Letter. 4 Sept. 1896. Nov. 2 War Office* - Ordnance Registers Accruing records. Nov. 3 Home Office* Various records 11 33 Nov. 10 Lord Chamberlain's Office* MS. Plays, &c, 1834-53 i. 33 Dec. 31 Treasury Various records 33 33 1897. March 14 Foreign Officef Embassy Archives, Paris, 1859-61 11 33 April 5 Patent Officef Specifications, 1882 11 11 April 30 and Treasury Solicitorf Papers 33 11 May 3. May 4 and 5 July 7 Admiraltyf Foreign Office Various records Papers of the late Lord Stafford de Redcliffe. 11 33 Foreign Office Letter, 4 June 1897 Aug. 6 Treasuryf Lowndes Papers - Treasury Letter, 5 Aug. 1897, Oct. 18 War Officef Various records - Accruing records. Oct. 22 Foreign Office Papers, Constantinople a »> Colonial Officef Various records it a 1898. Feb. 16 Patent Office! Specifications, 1883 ,. April 20 Admiralty^ Captains' Journals a it May 10 Paymaster General's Office.^ Various records ?j a May 19 Charity Commission! Old Accounts a )» May 24 Treasury Solicitor! Papers a it May 31 Paymaster-General's Office Letters a it June 2 Foreign Office! Papers, Constantinople a a June 9 War Office! Commission Books a 11 June 23 n >> a a Aug. 9 Lord Chamberlain's Office.! MS. Plays, &c, 1854-76 >* •» Aug. 29 War Office Correspondence, Ireland, 1689-90 ; it a Army Pay, Ireland, 1679-88. Sept. 27 Oct. 13 . Various records a Original Warrants a u Oct. 13, 15, Admiralty (Deptford Captains' Log Books a a and 18. Dockyard). Nov. 21 War Office Various records - a a Nov. 23 Board of Trade (Stan ,, n Board of Trade Letters, dards Department).! 14 and 22 Nov. 1898. Dec. 21 War Office S3 11 Accruing records. 1899. Jan. 25 Home Office§ Papers » " Feb. 7 Admiralty (Greenwich Hospital). § Minutes it a Feb. 21 Home Office Various records tt a April 5 Patent Office§ Specifications, 1884 a April 20 Charity Commission§ Law papers a April 22 Foreign Office § Original Treaties Foreign Office Letters, 15 and 21 April 1899. May 2 War Office§ Various records 1 Accruing records. Dec. 7 Foreign Office Havanna Archives „ 1900. 1 Feb. 6 Admiralty || Registers a July Charity Commission|| Old Accounts >) 51 Nov. 22 WarOffice|| - Pay Lists ., Dec. 17 Official Solicitor || Papers •» M Dec. 18 Board of Trade || Various records 33 H 1901. Jan. 31 Patent Officef Specifications, 1886 ,, ,, April 2 Admiralty f Entry Books ti 31 April 9 ,, Greenwich Hospital Records a it May 6 ,3 " n ii a a June 20 Home Officef Books and Papers )! )' June 22 Foreign Officef Various records >) 'i * Deputy Keeper's 58th Report, pp. 5, 6. -j- ,, ., 59th Report, p. 5. + ,. „ fiOth Report, pp. 5, 6. X Deputy Keeper's 61st Report, pp. 5, 6. § „ „ 62nd Report, pp. 5, li. „ „ 63rd Report, pp. 5, 6. - APPENDICES. 125 Date of Transfer. Department. Nature of Records. Authority. 1901. Aug. 2 Aug. 3 Aug. 16 AdmiraltyNational Debt Office* Ledgers, 1856-7 .... „ 1857-60 Various records .... Accruing records. Nov. 27 Admiralty i ii ,, - - n n 1902. Jan. 7 War Officef Monthly Returns, 1848-61 March 5 Patent Officef Specifications, 1887 March 13 Foreign Officef Levant Company Archives - Foreign Office Letter, 6 Feb. 1902. War Office Letter, 12 March March 13 War Office Duke of Wellington's Report to the King of the Netherlands on the 1902. Battle of Waterloo, 19 June 1815. March 14 - Foreign Office Correspondence Foreign Office Letter, 11 March 1902. May 2 War Office Ordnance Records Accruing records. June 12 Charity Commissionf Accounts, Oct. 17 Foreign Office St. Petersburg Archives, 1801-50 Foreign Office Letter, 2 Sept. 1905. 1906. Jan. 23 Treasuryf Papers and Registers, 1877 Accruing records. : Deputy Keeper's 63rd Report, pp. 5, Ii. „ „ 64th Report, p. 5. „ ., 65th Report, pp. 5, 6. § 1 icputy Keeper's 6(ith Report, pp. 5, 6. || „ ,, 67th Report, pp. o, 6. f „ „ 68th Report, pp 7 8. 126 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : Date of Transfer. Department. 1906. Feb. 7 Paymaster General's Office* March 5 Foreign Office* March 19 April 10 D Mar. & April Colonial Office* April 25 War Office* May 5 Foreign Office June 8 Admiralty* June 18 Foreign Office Aug. 16 Sept. 6 Admiralty (Medical De partment of the Navy).* Nov. 28 Treasury Nov. 30 Lord Chamberlain's Office* Dec. 11 War Office 1907. Feb. 13 Home Officef - Feb. 22 War Office (Royal Engi neers, Chatham).f Feb. 26 War Office (Royal Artil lery, Woolwich). f March 20 Foreign Officef March 21 Registrar General Office, Somerset House.f March 21 Exchequer and Audit Officef. April War Office (Woolwich Dockyard). April Foreign Office May 28 Charity Commissionf May 28 Treasuryf May 28 War Office (Royal Artil lery, Woolwich). June 18 Foreign Office July 10 Office of Worksf July 17 Admiraltyf July 18 War Office (R.A., Wool wich). Sept. 26 War Office (R.H. and R.F.A., Woolwich). Oct. 30 Colonial Officef Nov. 9 Home Office Dec. 10 Colonial Office 1908. Jan. 16 Treasury! Jan. 30 Land Revenue Record Office.! Jan. 30 Admiralty (Accountant General of the Navy).! March 3 Colonial Office! April 6 Exchequer and Audit Office April 23 Colonial Office! July 15 Ecclesiastical Commis sion.! Dec. 2 Lord Chamberlain's Office! Dec. 16 Foreign Office! 1909. Jan. 7 Home Office§ Feb. Foreign Office§ Feb. 4 11 3, Feb. 12 Office of Woods, &c.§ March 23 Treasury§ Treasury Solicitor § Oct. 7 Office of Works§ Nature of Records. Authority. Establishment Books of the Army and Navy, 1873-81. Bogota Archives, 1823-84 Washington Archives Foreign General, 1831. Diplomatic Privileges, Vol. 13. Correspondence - Reports on Inland Navigation, 1809-10 Embassy Archives, Paris List of their Majesties and the Dutch Fleet, 1692. Embassy Archives, St. Petersburg Brussels Archives, 1831-57 Various records Accounts and Papers Various records Various records Stockholm Archives, 1812-60 Indexes to Births, Deaths and Marriages, 1893-95. Vouchers and Rentals, 1904-5 Various records Paris Embassy Archives Accounts of Charities, 1896-1900 Various records Pension Minutes Madrid Embassy Archives Various records, 1688-1884 Various records, 1846-62 Disbursements, &c. Various records - Books and Papers of the Land Emigra tion Commissioners. Correspondence, &c, 1812-41 Various records Papers and Registers - Various records - Papers and Registers - Various records Accounts and Vouchers, 1905-6 Correspondence, 1877-82 Court Rolls of the Bishopric of London, Edw. I. to 1683. Plays, 1894-97 Correspondence, 1857-69 Accruing records. Foreign Office Letter 21 Dec. 1905. Accruing records. Foreign Office Letter, 29 May 1906. Accruing records. Various records Records of the 1634-1825. Various records Court Rolls, &c. of the Thomton-in-Easington, York, 1706-1830. Various records - Administration Papers Conveyances, &c. relating to the site of the Royal Courts of Justice. Levant Company, Manor of county of Colonial Office Letter, 21 Oct. 1907. Accruing records. Ecclesiastical Commission Letter, 7 July 1908. Accruing records. Foreign Office Letter, 14 Jan. 1909. Accruing records. Office of Woods Letter, 27 Jan. 1909. Accruing records. n ii Office of Works Letter, 6 Oct. 1909. Deputy Keeper's 68th Report, pp. 7, S*. „ „ 69th Report, pp. 5, 6. X Deputy Keeper's 70th Report, pp. 5, 6. S 11 „ 71st Report, pp. 5, 7. APPENDICES. 127 Date of Transfer. 1909. Nov. 2 Dec. 16 1910 Jan. 4 Jan. 20 Jan. 29 March 7 March 21 March 31 April 15 July 7 Oct. 28 Dec. 12 Department. Lord Chamberlain's Office* Admiralty* Foreign Officef Admiraltyf Foreign Office Treasuryf Colonial Officef Exchequer and Audit Office Foreign Office Office of Workst Nature of Records. Authority. Correspondence, 1858-90 Pension Registers, 1830-85 Coburg Archives, 1879-93 Rio de Janeiro Archives, 1821-63 Logs and Journals of the " Resolution " and other ships employed in voyages of discovery, 1768-79. " Woodbine Parish Papers ' Buenos Ayres, 1823-55. Papers and Registers, 1882 Correspondence, 1782-1873 Vouchers and Rentals of missioners of H.M. Woods and Land Revenues, 1907-8. Brussels Archives, 1858-70 Diplomatic and Consular Archives Title Deeds, &c. relating to metropolis improvements and to Battersea and Victoria Parks. ' relating to the Coin- Forests Accruing records. Admiralty Letter, 7 Dec. 1909. Accruing records. ii n Admiralty Letter, 18 Jan. 1910. Foreign Office Letter, 1 March 1910. Accruing records. Office of Works Letter, 7 Dec. 1910. Deputy Keeper's 71st Report, pp. 5, t Deputy Keeper's 72nd Report, p. 4, 23 July 1906 27 July 1906 30 Nov. 1906 S. List of Documents issued on Requisitions made by Government Departments and still out standing on 1 August 1911.* Admiralty. Documents requisitioned by the Admiralty during the years 1903-09 which had not been returned to the Public Becord Office on 1 August 1911. Date of Requisition. 9 Jan. 1903 Adm. Accountant- General, D.D. 15 Dec. 1906 Case, V. 578. 19 Feb. 1903 D.D. Case, C. 7462. 22 Aug. 1906 - Muster Book, Series HI. 6323. 3 Dec. 1906 D.D. Case, R. 4386. 27 July 1908 Adm. Sec. Miscellanea, 582, 583, 585-587. 10 May 1909 Adm. (G.H.) Miscell. Surveys, &c, 1, 12, 13, 14 and 20. 13 May 1909 - Adm. (G.H.) Miscell., Various, 90. Old Accounts, Dundry, co. Somerset, Bundles 462, 901 and 1131 (5 files). Old Papers, Dundry, co. Somerset, Bundle. 157 (1 file). Old Accounts, Irthlingboro, co. Northants, Bundle 398; Kenwyn, co. Cornwall, Bundle 70 ; Truro, Bundles 73, 815, and 1013; Old Papers, St. Clement, Cornwall, Bundle 25 ; Kenwyn, Bundle 24 , and Truro, Bundle 25. Old Accounts, West Horsley, Surrey, Bundle 1151 (7 files). Foreign Office. Document issued to the Foreign Office on the 12th September 1908 which had not been returned to the Public Becord Office on the above date. F.O. America, 508 (now F.O. Supplement 24). Charity Commission. Documents issued to the Charity Commission and not returned on the above date. 3 Feb. 1905 7 April 1905 - 13 May 1905 3 July 1905 13 Sept. 1905 - 26 Oct. 1905 - 30 Oct. 1905 1 March 1906 10 May 1906 Old Accounts, Hartshill, co. Warwick, Bundle 1160 (5 files). Old Accounts, Bristol St. James, Somerset, Bundle 1043 (5 files). Old Accounts, Ludlow, co. Salop, Bundle 1127 (2 files). Old Accounts, Berkeswell, co. War wick, Bundles 552, 869 and 1157 (23 files). Old Accounts, Keyingham, co. Torks, Bundle 1179 (1 file). Old Accounts, Bristol St. Silas, co. Gloucester, Bundle 1043 (2 files). Old Papers, Sail, co. Norfolk, Bundles 132, 382, 867 and 1109 (26 files). Old Accounts, Farway, co. Devon, Bundle 1026 (1 file). Old Accounts, Tenby, co. Pembroke, Bundle 231 (1 file). Home Office. Documents requisitioned by the Home Office which had not been returned to the Public Becord Office on the above date. 18 Feb. 1901 H.O., Scotland, Vol. 102. 25 Aug. 1905 - H.O. Warrant Books, 65. 19 April 1910 - H.O. Various, Inventions, Vols. 1-13. Duchy of Lancaster. Documents requisitioned by the Duchy of Lancaster Office during the year 1908 which had not been returned to the Public Becord Office on the above date. 4 Dec. 1908 * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the. Public Records. D. of Lane. Court Rolls, 122/1855- 1858a, and 125/1867. Official Solicitor. Documents requisitioned by the Official Solicitor's Depart ment during the year 1908 which had not been returned to the Public Becord Office on the above date. Date of Requisition. 22 Jan. 1908 Official Solicitor's Papers, Bundle 483. 24 Oct. 1908 - Official Solicitor's Papers, Bundles 638, 639, 640 and 641. 128 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : Treasury. Documents requisitioned by the Treasury at various dates which had not been returned to the Public Becord Office on the above date. 6 June 1901 Minutes, 565. 7 April 1902 - Law General, 9. 4 Feb. 1905 Treasury Board Papers, 18306/1872. 2 March 1905 „ „ 8186/1868. 4 April 1905- „ „ 26481/1843. 4 April 1905 - ., „ 9403/1844. 6 April 1905- „ „ 22876/1845. 13 April 1905 - „ „ 23406/1853. 5 Sept. 1905 - „ „ 4013/1858. 29 Nov. 1905 „ „ 16224/1859. 29 Nov. 1905 „ „ 9509/1859 11 Dec. 1905 „ „ 19289/1865. 12 April 1906 - „ „ 16735/1875. 10 Oct. 1906 „ „ 17387/1874. 6 June 1908 - Minute Book, 389. Treasury Solicitor's Papers — continued. 26 April 1900 - Gen. Series, Bundle 8277 (West- brook v. McKie). 30 Oct. 1900 - Gen. Series, Bundle 9114 (Tilly v. Fox). 25 March 1901 Series E. Nos. 41, 44, 45 and 51. 30 Oct. 1901 Gen. Series, 11289a. 2 Dec. 1901 Series E. 885. 9 April 1902 - Gen. Series 6368. 10 Nov. 1902 - „ 8163. 21 March 1902 Series E. 900a. 7 July 1903 Gen. Series, 7364. 2 April 1903 - „ 11251. 10 Jan. 1905 - „ 10844. 11 March 1905 „ 8504. 17 Nov. 1905 „ 10990. L7 Jan. 1906 - „ 11201. 23 Sept. 1908 - „ 11364. 17 Nov. 1908 - Series A. 93. Treasury Solicitor. Documents requisitioned during the years 1899-1908 by the Treasury Solicitor's Department which had not been returned to the Public Becord Office on the above date. Treasury Solicitor's Papers : — 22 July 1899 Series CC. Bundles 44 and 44a. 2 Feb, 1900 - Gen. Series, Bundle 11189 (Mitchell v. Bain). War Office. Documents requisitioned by the War Office in 1904 and not returned to the Public Becord Office on the above date. 3 March 1904 Pay Lists of 17 Co. Royal Engineers April 1859-March 1855 and April- Dec. 1855. (W. 011/141-146.) Appendix IX.— Foreign Archives. 1. Report of a Visit to the Belgian Archives by Members of the Commission (April 1911). (a) History. The history of the Belgian Archives is admirably traced by M. Gaillard, the present Archiviste General, in an article on Les Archives de VEtat contributed to " Le Mouvement Scientifique en Belgique." As the territory now included in the Belgian kingdom originally consisted of a number of separate and independent provinces, the sovereigns of the component parts had each a separate treasury con taining the charters and other records relating to the ruling family and the district under its juris diction. Philip the Good, though he united the greater part of these provinces under his rule, left these repositories as they were. Under Charles V., the State papers and those of the councils to which the government of the Low Countries was entrusted were kept at Brussels, but during his rule, and under the Spanish rulers in general, the records in the repositories of the various provinces were not removed. More solicitude for the custody of the archives was shown under the Austrian regime. Maria Theresa established an archive department in 1773, but the want of a suitable repository prevented the Arrange ment of the records intended to be contained in the Archives de l'etat. Joseph II. suppressed the new department in 1787, and the revolution of 1790, followed four years later by the French conquest of the Netherlands, disorganised the archives and led to the dispersion and destruction of many of the records. When the Austrians evacuated the Netherlands in 1794, they carried off with them to Vienna four hundred cases of the most important records. In consequence of the conquests of Napoleon a large portion of these were subsequently transferred to Paris. Austria restored, in 1803, in accordance with the treaties of Campo Formio and Luneville, 125 cases of docu ments, and France, in 1815. 220 cases. These and other records which had not been removed were collected in the repository established at Brussels in 1814 when Holland and Belgium were united to form the kingdom of the Netherlands. That repository became in 1830, after the separation of Holland and Belgium, the national record office, or " Archives du royaume. The provincial record offices in Belgium (" Archives de l'etat dans les provinces ") practically date from the period of the French conquest. One of the results of the overthrow of the ancien regime was to throw into the possession of the State masses of records derived from the administrative bodies, civil corporations, and religious communities which were suppressed. The French Government in 1796 ordered that these records should be collected in the capital of each of the departments, into which it had divided the Low Countries, in order that those documents which concerned the Government and the property of the State might be selected for preservation and the rest destroyed. Fortunately the work of weeding-out and destroying documents which seemed useless to the administrators of that period, was imperfectly carried out, and the mass of documents then brought together formed the nucleus of the collections con tained in the provincial depots which exist at present. These minor depots, which at first were under the direction of the provincial administrations, were by a reorganisation of the archives, which took place in 1851, placed under the superintendence and control of the Archiviste General. The development of the central record office of the kingdom at Brussels, and the gradual growth of the collection contained in it, are minutely set forth in un extremely interesting report drawn up by M. Gachard, the first Archiviste General, in 1866.* Gachard, who was appointed in April 1831, and lived till 1S85. arranged the records which the office con tained, and added to them very greatly by the recovery of missing documents by purchase, by ex change of duplicates, and by obtaining donations from private persons who had inherited or acquired public documents. In 1865, according to his report, the repository at Brussels contained 322,762 volumes or bundles of documents, 33,911 charters, 287 cartularies, 3,199 rolls, and 3,071 maps and plans. It had become under his administration one of the greatest and best organised collections of records in Europe. * Rapport a M. Alph. Vaudenpeereboom, Ministre de I'lntericur, sur l'administration des Archives Generates du Royaume depuis 1831. Par M. Gachard. Bruxelles, 1866. APPENDICES. 129 (b) Present Organisation. The section devoted to Belgium by MM. Langlois and Stein in their Archives de V Histoire de France gives an excellent account of the organisation of the Belgian archives in 1890, including a summary of the contents of the various depots. At that date, as now, there were nine record offices, or "Archives d'etat," con sisting of the large central depot at Brussels bearing the title of "Archives generates du Royaume," and eight smaller depots, entitled "Archives de l'etat dans les provinces." In 1899 these eight depots were situated at Ghent Liege, Mons, Bruges, Namur, Arlon, Hasselt, and Tournay. In 1895 the depot at Tournay was sup pressed and its contents were transferred to Mons. In 1896 a new depot was established at Antwerp. These minor depots are under the general control of the Archiviste General at Brussels, who inspects them yearly and reports to the Minister of the Interior. The regulations on this point run as follows : — ^' L'archiviste general du royaume fait chaque annee, apres en avoir recu l'autorisation du Ministre de l'lnterieur, l'inspection des archives de l'Etat dans les provinces. H rend compte au Ministre de la situation dans laquelle il les a trouves, et lui fait toutes les propo sitions qu'il juge necessaires pour accelerer le classement de ces depots et pour leur bonne conservation." The relation of the keepers of these depots to the Archiviste General is further set forth in two other articles : — " Les conservateurs sont subordonnes a, l'archiviste general du royaume, avec lequel ils entretiennent une correspondance reguliere. Au mois de Janvier de chaque annee, ils lui adressent un rapport sur les travaux qui ont ete executes l'annee precedente dans les depots confies respectivement a. leur garde et sur la situation de ces depots. Ils y joignent un etat des documents entres aux archives et de ceux qui en sont sortis."* The depots are also under the surveillance of the Governor of the province, who takes any measures necessary for their safety. Copies of the annual reports of the keepers are sent to him for communi cation to the council of the province. (c) Organisation of the Staff. The head of the Archives Generales du Royaume has under him four " chefs de section," each charged with the special care of a particular division of the records and documents. " Les chefs de section," say the regulations, " mettent en ordre et inventorient, d'apres les instructions de l'archiviste general, les collections qui leur sont respectivement assignees. Bs font, en outre, les recherches de pieces et de renseignements demandes par les autorites publiques ou les particuliers." A " sous-chef " and one or two first and second-class clerks are attached to each section. Of these sections the fourth, which is intended to receive modern records only, has been but recently established. There was also established in 1892, and attached to the " Archives generales," a " section sigillographique " under a special officer. This section is devoted to the preservation of impressions and moulds of the seals, of which the collection amounts now to over 26,000. The " sigillographe " is charged to arrange and catalogue them. The reproductions of the seals are admirably arranged in cases, and exhibited in a sort of museum where they can be easily studied. Copies of these reproductions can be purchased at from 6d. to Is. apiece. To sum up, the principle which governs the organi sation of the Archives du Royaume in Belgium is to encourage specialisation by entrusting the care of particular divisions of the archives to particular officers, who are made responsible for classifying and cataloguing them, subject to the general rules laid down in the regulations, and under the general direc tion of the head of the archives. It thus resembles the organisation of the British Museum rather than that of our Record Office., * Reglement d'ordre interieur pour les archives de l'Etat dans les provinces, 28th February 1878. E 14829 In the Archives de l'etat dans les provinces the organisation is of the simplest character. In tin larger the staff usually consist of a, keeper (Conser" vateur) and assistant-keeper (Conservateur-adjoint) with a couple of clerks, and a door-keeper. In small depots such as Hasselt and Arlon there is merely a keeper without assistant or clerks. (d) Training the Staff. The archivists and their assistants form a special branch of the Civil Service, and are specially trained for their work. In 1895 an examination for candidates for posts in the archives was established. It is con ducted by a board of from three to five examiners appointed by the Government, and is partly theoretical and partly practical in its nature. The following are the regulations : — Ne peuvent etre nommes en qualite de fonction- naires ou employes aux archives generales du royaume et aux depots des archives de l'etat dans les provinces, que ceux qui auront subi avec succes un examen theorique et pratique sur les matieres designees ci-apres : — (a) Epreuve theorique : Histoire politique du moyen age ; Histoire politique moderne ; Histoire politique interne de la Belgique ; Institutions du moyen age et des temps modernes. (&) Epreuve pratique : Paleographie et diplomatique, avec les notions de chronologie, de sigillographie et d'heraldique que cette etude comporte ; Latin du moyen age ; Vieux francais et vieux flamand ; Flamand moderne ; Une des langues Allemande, Anglaise, Espagnole, ou Italienne, au choix des recipiendaires ; Seront dispenses de l'epreuve theorique, les candidats porteurs d'un diplome regulier de docteur en philosophic et lettres (section d'histoire).* There is in Belgium no special institution for training archivists, such as the Ecole des Chartes. Candidates therefore usually obtain the training required in the universities where teaching in palaeo graphy, diplomatic, and the other technical subjects required has of late years been provided. The Archivist- General and the chief officials of his department expressed great satisfaction with the results of the training secured by the institution of this test. (e) Publications. The publications of the Archives de l'etat consist almost entirely of lists, inventories, and catalogues of the documents contained in the central or provincial depots. The publication of collections of State papers, charters, chronicles, and other materials for the study ot history is entrusted mainly to the Commission royale d'histoire de Belgique (of which an account is given elsewhere), or to the Academie des Sciences et Belles Lettres. Lists of the inventories and catalogues of the contents of each depot, which were in print before 1890, are contained in the work of MM. Langlois and Stein, together with the titles of the chief collections of published documents derived from those depots. These lists are supplemented and brought up to date by Professor H. Pirenne's " Bibliographie de l'histoire de Belgique " (2nd edition, 1902), and by E. Laloire's "Les Archives en Belgique — Notice Sommaire " — a paper published in 1907 in l'Annuaire de la Belgique Scientifique Artistique et Litteraire. The keepers of the various depots arrange and catalogue the documents under their charge on uniform principles, which are defined in the regulations as follows : — " Les conservateurs prennent pour regie, dans les travaux de classement : — 1. De rassembler les documents par fonds, c'est-a- dire de former une collection particuliere de tous les * Regulations of August 1903. the 14th June 1895, as amended 18th 130 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : titres qui proviennent du meme corps, du meme etablissement, de la meme administration ou de la meme communaute, sans meler les actes d'un corps d'un etablissement, etc., avec ceux d'un autre ; 2. De classer dans chaque fonds, les documents selon leur nature en coordonnant les matieres, selon les cas, d'apres l'ordre chronologique, topographique ou simplement alphabetique* At present the view generally accepted amongst Belgian archivists is, " qu'il faut respecter les fonds, ou, comme le disent les Allemands, le principe de provenance, et donner dans l'inventaire une image exacte de rorganisme ou de l'institution dont on veut faire connaitre les Archives." f It is, however, freely admitted that :m.any of the older published catalogues do not meet th e demands of modern scholarship. (f) Buildings. The buildings in which the Archives generales du Royaume are at present located are merely a tem porary resting place. Originally they were in the old Palais de Justice at Brussels, which was demolished in 1901. They were then removed to a part of the buildings of the Musee Royal de Peinture, known as the Ancienne Cour and previously occupied by the Museum of Natural History. It is announced that a more spacious and suitable fabric is to be erected for them in the future Palais du Mont des Arts. The Archives de l'etat dans les provinces are frequently lodged in ancient buildings which have been adapted for the purpose. At Ghent a fine 13th-century building, the Chateau of Gerard le Diable, has been fitted up with iron floors, galleries, shelves, and other necessaries. At Bruges the archives occupy the ground floor of the Palais de Justice. At Antwerp, instead of restoring an ancient building, the Government erected, in 1905-7, a special building which embodied all the devices for the security, order, and convenient use of the records that the Archiviste General and his officers could suggest. One peculiarity is that the rooms holding the records are not more than 8 feet high, and that no ladders or stools are necessary to reach the contents of the upper shelves. The shelves and book cases themselves are constructed of the material termed " beton arme," that is, a hard white enamel on »i framework of iron. A detailed account of the building, with plans annexed, is contained in a paper entitled " Le Nouveau Local des Archives de l'Etat a Anvers '' by M. J. Vannerus, the present keeper of the depot. This was published in 1908 in the Bevue des Bibliotheques et des Archives. The general prin ciples which should govern the construction of record- buildings are set forth, and different varieties of buildings recently erected for the purposes are com pared in a paper by another Belgian archivist, M. Joseph Cuvelier, printed in the Bibliographe Moderne, for 1909. The various modern devices ex plained in these papers might with advantage be considered when any extension of our Record Office is contemplated. The building at Antwerp would afford an excellent model for municipal archives or branch record offices in England.! (g) Provision for Students. In Belgian archives the " salle du travail," or search- room to which the public is admitted, usually contains a library of historical works relating to local and general history, with dictionaries, atlases, and other works of reference. At Ghent this library consisted of about 3,000 volumes ; at Antwerp, which is a much newer depot, there were about 500. These are for the use of students working in the Archives, not merely for the use of the officials. Attached to the Archives * Reglement d'ordre interieur pour les Archives de l'etat dans les provinces. f "Les Archives" par Joseph Cuvelier, 1903 (article reprinted from the Revue des Bibliotheques et des Archives). X Another good model of a different type is afforded by the Town Archives at Rotterdam, See p. HO post. generales du Royaume at Brussels tnere is a very large and valuable library. This is intended for the use of the officials, but students working there are permitted to consult the books. The regulation runs thus : " La Bibliotheque des archives n'est pas publique. Toutefois, les personnes qui, se livrant dans les Archives a des recherches historiques, desirant consulter des ouvrages apparte nant a la bibliotheque, peuvent en obtenir communi cation avec l'autorisation de l'Archiviste general." One of the " chefs de section " acts as librarian. (h) Local Archives. Besides the archives d'etat there are in Belgium large collections of archives belonging to the various provinces, cities, and communes. In the capital of each of the provinces there exists a collection of archives, consisting generally of the administrative records of the provincial Government since 1794. The papers relating to the period of the French domination (1794-1814), are the most important part .of these collections. Few of these collections are in the charge of trained archivists, and printed catalogues of them are rare. In some cases provinces deposit part of their older records in the State archives. The small towns and villages possess collections of local archives, but generally neglect to take the most elementary measures for their preservation, much less do they proceed to catalogue them. The historical value of the communal archives and the desirability of taking proper measures for their preservation are set forth in a paper entitled " Les petites Archives " by Professor H. Pirenne and M. Joseph Cuvelier, printed in Volume ILL of the Revue des Bibliotheques et des Archives. The great cities, such as Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, &c, possess very large and valuable collections of records stretching back to the middle ages. In the three cities mentioned and in several others the archives are carefully kept, well arranged, and in charge of trained archivists. A considerable number of printed catalogues have been published, of which a list is given in M. Laloire's Notice Sommaire. At Brussels the municipal records are lodged in the top story and attics of the Hotel de Ville. The older records were almost entirely de stroyed in the bombardment of the city by the French in 1695. The bulk of the existing records are there fore modern administrative records, which are ex cellently arranged for practical uses. The present archivist, Professor Des Marez, of the University of Brussels, is also in charge of the library and of the Musee Communal. During his period of office great additions have been made to the small but valuable collection of historical records which survived the bombardment. Accounts of these acquisitions, of the contents of the archives, and of their administration, are contained in the rep6rts of Professor Des Marez to the city council, which have been published since 1899. The foregoing report is partly based on the printed works cited, partly on information received by members of the Commission during a visit to Belgium in April 1911, and on what they saw during that visit. Mr. Tedder, Sir Sidney Lee, and Professor Firth visited at Brussels the Archives generales du Royaume, the city archives in the Hotel de Ville, and the Institut International de Bibliographie. At Antwerp they visited the Archives provinciales de l'etat. After the return of Mr. Tedder and Sir Sidney Lee to England, Professor Firth visited the Archives pro vinciales de l'etat at Ghent, and the Archives munici- pales of the same city. The thanks of the Commission are specially due to Monsieur A. Gaillard, the Archiviste General of Belgium, and to MM. Cuvelier, Mesdagh, Vannerus, and Professor Dez Marez. Nothing could exceed the kindness with which these officials received the commissioners and their willingness to supply any information required. APPENDICES. 131 . Official Return of the Establishment of the Belgian Archives.* Archives Generales du Boyaume a Bruxelles. Personnel ; traitements de disponibilite 92,150 Nombre d'agents. — _ — Archiviste General 1 Chef de Section 1 Id. 1 Id. 1 Sous-Chefs de Section 4 Employes de 1" classe Id. 3 SigillographeEmploye-Comptable - Expeditionnaire Huissier-Concierge 11 11 Huissier-Messagers 6 Gardien 1 Nominations, promo tions, &c. — Traitements de dis — ponibilite. Traitements. Montant de la depense. 8,000 8,000 6,600 6,600 6,000 6,000 5,500 5,500 4,500 18,000 3,400 10,200 3,000 6,000 3,400 3,400 2,200 2,200 1,400 1,400 1,800 1,800 ,400-1,800 9,800 650 650 — 4,800 — 7,800 92,150 Archives Generales du Boyaume a Bruxelles : Materiel ; atelier de reliure pour la restauration des documents ; collection sigillographique (y compris une somme de 1,000 francs en charge temporaire) Archives de l'Etat dans les provinces : personnel ; traitements de disponibilite 14,200 95,350 Anvers. 1 Conservateur 1 Conservateur-adjoint 1 Concierge 1 Conservateur - Arlon. Bruges. Frs. 4,600 3,2001,200 Frs. 9,000 3,000 1 Conservateur 1 Conservateur-adjoint 1 Employe 1 Concierge 4,500 3,2002,200 800 Gand. 1 Conservateur - 1 Conservateur-adjoint 2 Employes a 3,300 et 3,000 frs. 1 Concierge Frs. 10,700 - 6,600 4,800 6,3001,600 Frs. 19,300 Hasselt. 1 Conservateur 1 Concierge 4,600 1,200 Liege. 1 Conservateur - 1 Conservateur-adjoint 2 Employes a. 2,600 francs 1 Garijon de bureau. - 1 Concierge Frs. 5,800 ¦ 6,0503,600 5,200 1,600 500 Frs. 16,950 Mons. 1 Conservateur 1 Conservateur-adjoint 2 Employes a, 3,000 et 2,600 frs. 1 Garcon de bureau - Namus. 1 Conservateur - 1 Conservateur-adjoint 1 Gallon de bureau Nominations, promotions, &c, (1910-1911) Traitements de disponibilite' Frs. 5,500 3,600 5,6001,500 Frs. 16,200 4,6003,2001,760 Frs. 9,560 Frs. 4,840 Frais de publication des inventaires des Archives ; frais de recouvrement de documents provenant des Archives, tombes dans des mains privees ; frais d'acquisition ou de copie de documents concernant l'histoire nationale ; depenses de materiel des depots d'archives dans les provinces ; subsides pour le classement et pour la publication des inventaires des Archives appartenant aux provinces, aux communes et aux etablissements publics ; depenses diverses relatives aux Archives (y compris une somme de 4,000 francs en charge temporaire) Recouvrement d'Archives restees au pouvoir de gouvernements etrangers ; frais de classement, de copie, de transport, &c. Inspection des Archives communales Frs. 17,700 5,000 2,000 Frs. 24,700 Communicated by the Archiviste general. 3. Official Establishment of a Department of slgillography in the brussels archives. Ministere de l'lnterieur et de l'Instruction Publique. Administration de l'Enseignement Superieur et moyen des Sciences et des lettres. No. 12,342. Le Ministre de l'lnterieur et de l'Instruction Publique. Vu l'arrete royal du 27 fevrier 1878 relatif a l'organisation des Archives Generales du Royaume. Vu le rapport de l'Archiviste General du Royaume concernant la Section Sigillographique annexee aux Archives Generales par decision ministerielle du 20 juillet 1892. Arrete : Art. 1. La section sigillographique est affectee a la conservation des empreintes de sceaux ainsi que de leurs moules. Art. 2. Le service en est assure par un sigillographe sous la surveillance de l'Archiviste General du Royaume. Art. 3. Le sigillographe est nomme par le Ministre de l'lnterieur et de l'Instruction Publique, l'Archiviste General entendu. Art. 4. II est assimile aux employes des Archives Generales du Royaume et jouit des memes prerogatives et est astreint aux memes obligations que ceux-ci. Art. 5. Le sigillographe est astreint, en outre, aux obligations suivantes. (a) II est tenu de dresser les inventaires des moules et des sceaux. (b) II ne peut former pour son compte ni pour celui d'autres des collections de sceaux. (c) Tous les ans, au mois de Janvier, il est oblige de rendre compte a, l'Archiviste General des travaux qu'il a executes l'annee precedente. Art. 6. En adressant annuellement au departement de l'lnterieur et de l'Instruction publique un rapport I 2 132 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : sur les travaux des Archives du Royaume, l'Archiviste General rend en meme temps compte de ceux effectues a la Section Sigillographique. Art. 7. Tous les moules et les empreintes de sceaux sont etiquetes et arranges methodiquement dans les montres a ce destinees. Art. 8. Des inventaires en sont dresses et peuvent etre imprimis si le Ministre de l'lnterieur et de l'Instruction publique le juge convenable. Les frais de ces inventaires sont a, la charge de l'Administration des Archives du Royaume. Art. 9. Le public peut etre admis dans la salle d'exposition en vertu d'une autorisation speciale de l'Archiviste General. Art. 10. Si le public demande communication de moules et d'empreintes de sceaux, ceux-ci lui seront communiques dans la salle de lecture des Archives. Ils seront portes au registre de communication de cette administration. Art. 11. En cas de deplacement de ces objets, le sigillographe est oblige d'en surveiller la remise en place. Art. 12. Dans les cas oil le public demande des empreintes de sceaux, il s'adresse par ecrit a l'Archi viste General. Si celui-ci y consent, le sigillographe est oblige de les fournir aux interesses moyennant le paiement prealable des droits suivants : Les empreintes en soufre de 40 millimetres et moins a raison de 50 centimes pieces. Les empreintes en soufre de 41 a 75 millimetres a 75 centimes piece. Idem de 76 a 100 millimetres a 1 franc. Idem de 101 et au dela a, fr. 1.25. Art. 13. Le produit de ces ventes est verse annuelle- ment au tresor par l'employe charge de percevoir les droits dus aux Archives du Royaume. Art. 14. Les sceaux et moules entres dans la collec tion, ou qui en sont sortis, doivent etre portes a un registre special. Art. 15. Aucun echange ne peut etre fait sans l'assentiment du Ministre de l'lnterieur et de l'Instruc tion publique. Bruxelles, le 16 juillet 1896 (Se) F. SCHOLLAERT. Pour Expedition conforme : Le Secretaire General du Ministere de l'lnterieur et de l'Instruction publique, (Se) J. J. Germain. Pour Copie conforme : L'Archiviste General du Royaume, (Se) Ch. Piot. 4. Report of a Visit to the French Archives by Members of the Commission. (a) The Archives Nationales, Paris. On Thursday, June 1st, 1911, some of the Com missioners visited these archives by appointment, and were introduced by M. Paul Meyer, Director of the Ecole des Chartes, to the Director of the Archives, M. Dejean, and the staff, under whose guidance they viewed the contents of the famous Musee des Archives* in the Maison Soubise, now the repository of the ancient archives reorganised and reclaimed in 1789, and as the receptacle of the transfers (" versements ") of most of the ministerial archives. They likewise went through the various " salles " iii which the archives are placed according to the subject- matter of the several sections, which are arranged alphabetically. Thus, whilst the respective letters of the alphabet, with their sub-letters or sub-numbers serve as a table of contents to the official inventories the archives, as they are actually classified, are o-rouped according to the nature of the public institutions with which they are concerned. These groups form three great sections of the archives, two of which are con cerned with the ancien regime (Section Administrative et Judiciaire and Section Historique), and one with the revolutionary period (Section Moderne), whilst the * Cf. the "Catalogue Sommaire du Musee des Archives Nationales precede d'une notice historique sur le Palais des Archives, par Jules Guiffrey." department of the Secretariat has the charge of collections and publications of an official nature, and also serves as an official centre for the administration of the Archives Departementales et Communales. The peculiar circumstances under which the Archives Nationales were acquired by the State rendered the dis tinction of the Ancient and Modern sections inevitable ; but the distinction is somewhat artificial, and in fact many early documents are found amongst the modern archives transferred by the several Ministries and other public bodies.* The contents of this section are already very voluminous, and the question of providing space for future accessions is beginning to engage the anxious attention of the authorities. The Commissioners were able to ascertain that, although the arrangements made for the periodical transfer of these ministerial archives are not regarded by the official archivists as wholly satisfactory , they are more systematic than such as prevail in England. It will also be noticed below that, in the case of the great collections of State Papers preserved at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and War, a thoroughly scientific system of archive- economy is observed, whilst in the case of other departmentsf which are less suitably equipped, there is a periodical inspection by expert officials, and a certain control is exercised by the Commission Superieure des Archives. It was also noted by the Commissioners that ministerial archives, once transferred to the Archives Nationales, are not allowed to be reclaimed by the departments. Your Commissioners made special inquiry as to the procedure followed in respect of the destruction of useless documents. They were deeply impressed with the reluctance shown, both in the national and ministerial archives, to run the serious risk of inadvertently destroying documents which might become useful for legal or historical purposes. In some departments, indeed, nothing that is sufficiently important to be registered is ever destroyed, and in all cases the operations of examination and destruction are conducted with elaborate precautions. The consent of the Ministry itself is naturally required, but, in addition, the matter is submitted to the Commission Superieure des Archives, where many historical and literary interests are represented, and the decision does not rest, as in England, with a small body of official archivists. Finally it would seem that the decision in question is not arrived at from an examination of casual specimens, but after a scrutiny of every single document, specimens of the classes of documents destroyed being also preferved. The actual destruction takes place in the presence of a responsible official. It was understood that efforts are being made to ensure the complete separation, from the first, of documents which are of an ephemeral value from permanent records. It would seem to be clear that, whatever the losses the French Archives may have sustained in the past, they can have suffered few in recent times by the destruction of valuable documents. The subject of the classification and arrangement of the Archives is one on which French archivists appear to hold, in one respect at least, a very con servative opinion. It is essential, in their view, when the redistribution of an ancient series is made, that all the old titles or references should be religiously pre served. As long ago as 1871 the ancient classification of the Archives Nationales prior to 1789 was recon structed in the important Tableau methodique of M. Alfred^ Maury,! whilst in 1891 there appeared a complete Mat Sommaire of the contents of the Archives. * The " Rapport " of the Director of the Archives Nationales made in 1892 describes in detail the strenuous efforts made by his department to execute the decrees issued on the subject of these transfers. t A third separate collection formerly existed in the case of the archives of the Ministry of Marine which were trans ferred to the Archives Nationales in 1899. The Commissioners were informed by M. Paul Meyer that many early documents are preserved in the naval arsenals, but that these (unlike our own) have been carefully preserved. X Several Inventaires Sommaires have also been published based upon a theoretical construction of historical collections'. At the same time the system of "collections factices" or "special collections" is undoubtedly in favour with French archivists, although it has not been responsible for a deliberate suppression of ancient press-marks. APPENDICES. 1 '19 loo Again, in the preparation of the admirable Inventaires Sommaires for the several series of Archives, care has been taken that the enumeration and description of the individual documents shall be complete and final* whilst the nature of _ the existing lists that are' in use is set forth in an Utat des Inventaires, including the Departmental and other provincial archives, and to whichj is appended a valuable bibliography of unofficial monographs descriptive of the archives. These important undertakings have' been greatly facilitated by the initiative displayed by the heads of the several sections and by the professional zeal which animates the whole staff. Recognised duties and responsibilities are allotted to individual archivists who receive individually full credit for their share in the current work of the establishment. The Commis sioners are convinced that this official system is deserving of careful attention. They also think it a highly commendable practice to submit all measures of importance relating to the custody, transfer, distribu tion, and necessary destruction of the archives for the approval of a central Commissionf which includes the names of several distinguished historical scholars. As to the actual preservation of documents, the " Salles " of the Archives Nationales form deep recesses on one side of an open corridor which is well lighted on the other side by large windows looking on to the several courts of the Maison Soubise. In this respect the plan of the Archives Nationales differs greatly from that of the repository of our Public Record Office, where the record rooms are arranged like cells which give on to the corridor by iron doors. Undoubtedly the lofty recesses and wooden presses, together with the sense of light and cleanliness which pervades the whole interior of the Archives Nationales, contrast pleasantly with the darkness and dust which make the use of electric light and the vacuum cleaner essential for the production and preservation of our London records. The use of artificial light is not per mitted in the Paris Archives. Owing to the large quantity of wood used throughout the building, the result of an outbreak of fire would probably be even more disastrous than in the case of the London Record Office. It may be observed that the director and two other officials reside permanently in the Maison Soubise, whilst the " Resident Officer " in charge of the Public Record Office resides at a distance of five minutes' walk from that office . As in other manuscript collections, the precautions against theft take the form of a v igilant supervision of the search rooms and a frequent checking of the contents of the repository. This operation, like the production of the Archives and their preservation from the effects of dust and damp, is greatly facilitated by the exclusive use of cardboard boxes (cartons) as receptacles for parchment documents and unbound papers. These have the general effect of volumes as they stand on the shelves, and they are similarly lettered on the back. They are very inexpensive and remarkably durable, and their use, which probably * A disti action is clearly made by French archivists between the ¦' Repertoire Numenque " arid the " Inventaire Analytique "' which is not found in the case of our own official "Lists" and "Indexes." f The Commission Superieure des Archives, formerly attached successively to the Ministere de l'lnterieur and the Ministere de l'Instruction Publique, was concerned only with the Archives Departementales. The Commission was subsequently reorganised, and its jurisdiction was extended over the Archives Nationales. In 1902 its membership included. besides various high officials of the Ministere de l'Instruction Publique and Ministere de la Marine, representatives of the Institute of France, of the Faculte" des Lettres, and the Comite des Travaux Historiques, together with the Directors or Administrators, Inspectors-General and the Secretaries of one or other of the following Institutions : the Archives Nationales, Bibliotheque Nationale, and Ecole des Chartes. At the same time the supreme control and the patronage of the archives have been entrusted to the Ministere de l'Instruction Publique for the express reason that the training of archivists could be more effectually supervised by this Public Department than by that of the Ministere de l'lnterieur. The latter repre sented the old control of the Secretary of State, still to some extent exercised in this country by the Home Office, though for practical purposes this control has. been superseded since 1838 by that of the Master of the Rolls, subject to the approval of the Treasury. originated with the " layettes " of the old Tresor des Chartes, is more or less general throughout the French Archives. The system appears to be incomparably superior to that of the unsightly brown paper and destructive string with which the bulk of the unbound British Public Records are secured. Another merit of such cardboard boxes is that they would afford greater protection to seals, the condition of which has been a frequent cause of anxiety to students familiar with the Public Record Office. The neglect of adequate precautions for the pre servation of seals attached to public or private instruments or of any system of perpetuating the impressions of these fragile evidences has already been commented on by the Commissioners in a recent minute.* They were naturally much impressed with the very different conditions which they found to exist in the Paris Archives. Here there is not only a department for the scientific description of seals, but also a studio for the systematic reproduction by means of casts (moulage) of every seal that is met with in the course of the arrangement or production of the Archives. The casts are also catalogued and described by experts, and the most interesting of them are exhibited in the Musee des Archives.f Again, whilst it is recognised that no care can absolutely ensure the permanence of the originals, special pre cautions are taken for the production of seal-bearing documents to the readers and for their immediate repair in case of injury. Another sub-department of the Archives Nationales inspected by the Commissioners was that occupied with the repairs of documents and the re-binding of books. This is a matter to which the greatest im portance is properly attached, and the work performed by a limited staff appears to be remarkable. In addition to these repairs some thousands of " cartons " are made or repaired on the premises. With regard to the arrangements made for the inspection of the archives by readers, it is well known that greater formalities are observed in this respect in continental archives and libraries than in England. On the other hand, the French reader has the advan* tage of much skilled assistance, and a Bureau des Benseignements exists for making searches, the results of which are freely communicated to the public. The nature of the arrangements in question and the kind of assistance given to readers are well explained in the following passage from M. Ch. Schmidt's Les Sources de I'Histoire de France depuis 1789 (pp. 12-15) : — " Every person coming to work for the first time at the Archives Nationales is required to present himself at the Bureau des Renseignements, open every day from 11 to 4. The archivist on duty, or, failing him, his substitute, requests the new worker to fill up a Bulletin, after the model given below, and to write there, as exactly as possible, the object of his researches. " The ' Bulletin de Recherches ' is a paper of four pages, divided from top to bottom into two equal parts ; the successive requests of the worker are put on the right ; on the left are copied the replies of the archivists charged with researches, giving the reference number of the records, or other information. The Bulletin, which is numbered, is reserved for the use of the applicant, and is supplemented, as need arises, by new leaves. The bulletins of historians or of learned men who have long frequented the Archives Nationales now form a large collection and will prove valuable to biographers. Thanks to these bulletins, every worker can ascertain at what date he made a demand and what documents he has successively consulted. " These bulletins, of which there are to-day more than 34,003, are preserved ; a slip index of workers, as well as an index of the subjects of their researches, is carefully kept ; it is therefore possible to cause new researchers to benefit by former work, or to spare * 28th April 1911. f In 1902 upwards of 52,000 seals had been already reproduced and described. For a description of the similar department in the Archives Centrales of Belgium at Brussels. see above, pp. 131-2. I 3 134 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PURLIC RECORDS : them the labour of publishing documents already in print. " As long as a researcher comes to the ' salle de travail,' his Bulletin remains in the hands of the superintendent of the ' salle,' who returns it to him for each new request to be written upon it. When several weeks have elapsed without his coming to the. Archives his Bulletin is taken back to the Bureau des Renseignements and put in its numerical place ; the first step to take, therefore, before starting work anew, is to ask for the Bulletin again at the Bureau, if a fresh request is to be made. . . . " The Bulletin signed by the worker is transmitted to the heads of the different sections of the archives : the chief of the section in which the documents of the stated period are kept decides whether to produce at once the documents asked for, or — as is the case with requests affecting several series of documents — whether it is necessary to commission an archivist to search inventories not at the disposal of the public, and port folios containing documents too modern or too con fidential for unrestricted communication. In the first case he puts ' vu pour communication,' and the appli cant can have the portfolios and bundles the same day ; in the second case he puts ' vu pour extrait,' and the applicant is requested to allow the staff the time necessary for an effective search. The result of the search, signed by the archivist charged with it, is transcribed by the superintendent of the ' salle ' on the left side of the Bulletin and given to the applicant. In the last resort the Director of the Archives examines and approves, if necessary, the decision of the head of the section. " Application can be made by letters addressed- to the Director of the Archives. If desired, the secretarial department will reply by a printed form, stating that the search has yielded a positive result, and that the documents are at the disposition of the applicant, or, on the contrary, that it has yielded no result. But in the first case the office does not give detailed references to the records. " In case a worker desiring to consult anew documents which he has already seen, has only a short time to spend in Paris and at the Archives Nationales, he may, to save time, write to ' M. le President de la salle de ' travail des Archives Nationales, 60, rue des Francs- ' Bourgeois, Paris Hie,' requesting him to have the documents got ready. All requests of this kind coming in by the first post receive attention, on condition that the applicants have been already admitted as readers and are known at the Archives." The library annexed to the Archives is a very fine one, and besides a considerable number of books placed in the " salle de travail," the Commissioners were assured that any book desired by a reader would be produced as an act of grace. The arrangements made for the production and replacement of the documents seem to be as satisfactory as at the Public Record Office, whilst the precautions for the supervision of the readers are perhaps more effectual, a fact to which the system of preserving the documents in " cartons " and the care of the seals may also contribute. In this connection also the effects of the decentralisation of the Archives have proved beneficial. Thus, although the mass of the English public records is considerably greater than that of the French, the number of readers in the " salle de travail" of the Archives and libraries of France probably exceeds that of similar attendances in England, where the difficulties of production and supervision are increased by the obvious congestion of the central Archives. (b) The Bibliotheque Nationale. On the same day the Commissioners visited the Bibliotheque Nationale by appointment, and were received by the Administrateur General — M. Marcel, with the staff of the library. It would appear that a large number of official documents were acquired by the Royal Library* which * Similarly the Royal Library in Whitehall became the receptacle of Papers of State in the 16th and 17th centuries, which were transferred to the Public Record Office in the middle of the last century. are still preserved in the Bibliotheque Nationale though a certain number were " re-integrated " with the Archives Nationales by exchange some years ago. The MSS. now preserved in the Rue de Richelieu are placed on presses in closed galleries, and many interesting specimens are exhibited in glass cases in the public galleries. The classification, like that of the Archives Nationales, is by the letters of the alphabet, whilst the grouping of the modern sources is by countries. The collection of French diplomata is particulary fine, these and many other State documents having been acquired by various bequests* Many valuable MSS. have thus beSn preserved which might otherwise have perished, and it is also the mission of the Bibliotheque Nationale to acquire by purchase manuscripts which have strayed from official custody, the administration receiving a grant for this purpose from the Govern ment, as in the case of the British Museum. The Fonds Moreau and the Cabinet des Titres are also collections of a semi-official nature, and their careful preservation and arrangement contrast favour ably with the derelict state of the official transcripts handed down by the English Record Commission as a supplement to Rymer's " Foedera." The " Salle de travail" of the manuscript department is sometimes occupied by 125 readers, and here also books of reference from the library are produced to readers when required. Original MSS. are sometimes despatched by an official agency for the use of readers in other libraries and even to foreign countries. (c) Archives du Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres. On June 2nd the Commissioners visited these Archives by appointment, and were received by the director and the staff of the Archives. The Archives form an extensive collection magni ficently housed in one of the blocks of the Ministry, with an imposing entrance, and excellent Salle de' Travail and a fine library, the books of which are placed at the service of the readers when demanded. The number of the readers is considerable, but here, as elsewhere, an application for admission involves considerable formalities and delay. Moreover, a cer tain number of official documents are withdrawn from the inspection of readers under the reservation of "Papiers contentieux." Similarly the Consular Re ports are not communicated after the year 1789. The library contains more than 80,000 volumes, and adjoining it is a museum of diplomatic relics and curiosities. The documents date from the middle of the 16th century,f but a regular series is preserved only from the middle of the 17 th, many of the despatches for the intervening period being found in the Biblio theque Nationale and the Archives Nationales. None of the Foreign State Papers have been transferred to the Archives Nationales. Their arrangement in galleries resembles that observed- in the latter insti tution. A large proportion of the papers are bound, those of early date sumptuously. The unbound papers are preserved in "cartons," which are en dorsed with the title of the volume and series. The classification of the Archives is by countries in chrono logical order, but the sub-division of the sources is more elaborate than in the case of our own Foreign Office Records. For instance, a distinction is made between " Correspondance " and " Memoires et Docu ments," or "Relations," " Negotiations," &c while such subject-headings as "Commerce" or " Etat du Royaume " abound, and there is an extensive series of personal papers arranged in alphabetical order. There is an excellent " Inventaire Sommaire " of these_ Archives which gives a much more detailed description of the contents of each volume than our own meagre official '• List," The Commissioners were informed that practically none of the older Archives are destroyed as useless. it has been already remarked that these Archives are the "FeS CoiherV' ST^ * ^ ^ °f ** *»"* aS t ,The earliest document preserved here is a 14th-centurv Register abstracted from the Municipal Archives of the city of Genoa during the Napoleonic wars. 5 APPENDICES. 135 subject to official inspection and are to some extent under the supervision of the Commission Superieure des Archives. (d) Archives du Minisfere de la Guerre. On June 2nd the Commissioners also visited these Archives by appointment, where they were received by M. le Commandant Picard, Chef de la Section Historique. As in the case of the Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, all the Archives of the French War Office are preserved in the Ministry itself, where they are housed and cared for with the same attention and skill, no documents whatever being destroyed. These Archives are divided into two collections, the Section Historique and the Section Administrative, each of which is under the direction of a separate official staff. The contents of the latter section relating to the pay and discipline, &c, of the army, are never communi cated to the public, although with us similar documents are freely produced and are in great request. Again, no " contentious " documents are produced to readers in the Salle de Travail. Although some early corre spondence has been preserved from the 17th century, the bulk of the Archives date from the 18th century, the great series of General Orders (Travail du Roi) beginning in the year 1740. Another fine series of " Cartons des Rois '' (Royal Commissions, &c.) is preserved here. The "Registres" or "Inspection Reports " date also from the year 1740. The main classification of the Archives is by cam paigns, a geographical and chronological arrangement which is also found in the case of our own War Office Records. The sub-division of the correspondence is, however, more minute, as in the case of the Foreign Correspondence previously noticed.* The manuscript volumes of correspondence are elaborately indexed on fly leaves at the end, but this is a recent undertaking which is not nearly completed. An elaborate system of registration obtained at an earlier date whereby the contents of every paper were noted in a " Bulletin " annexed to it, and were also entered in a register. At the present day some historical researches of importance are carried on under the control of the War Office in addition to publications dealing with modern war. Officers are systematically employed to make searches amongst the provincial Archives in order to discover and collect materials for the history of military operations in various parts of France in earlier times. Their compilations, reports, and trans cripts are preserved in the War Office. There is also a i-erv large collection of regimental Histories, some published, others in MS., &c. The Section Historique of the Etat Major has its headquarters here, at least three experts being con tinuously engaged in editing or compiling works which are published by the Government. Current researches are published in a Revue Historique. The documents in the Section Historique are open to 1848 with certain reservations. The whole collec tion is arranged in two sections, before and after 1792. There are excellent printed "Inventaires Som- maires " for each section, and these, again, are far more detailed than our own " War Office List." There are also manuscript lists of the sources which are only open to an earlier date than 1848. No " Inventaire " of the Administrative Archives appears to have been published. On the whole, although far better preserved, arranged, and described than our own War Office Rocords, these Archives are not by any means so easily accessible to students. The " salle de travail " is largely frequented, and the library, which contains over 130,000 books and 800 MSS is available to readers. (e) Archives Departementales de Seine-et-Oise (Versailles). On June 3rd the Commissioners made a special visit to Versailles, by official arrangement, for the * In addition to the Despatches proper there are numerous and appropriate titles for recognised subjects of official corre spondence such as " Relations," " Memoires Historiques," "Reconnaissances," " Memoires Techniques," &c. purpose of inspecting a type of local record office which is universal in the north-west portion of the continent. More extensive and varied Archives might have been seen at Rouen or Lille, for the Archives Communales and the Archives Hospitalieres of the Department of the Seine-et-Oise are preserved else where than at Versailles, but time did not allow a longer excursion. Indeed there is some advantage in the selection of a quite ordinary provincial collection. It was seen that excellent results can be obtained at a very modest outlay, for the " budget " of these Archives amounts only to the sum of 17,000 francs. The Dep&t des Archives is in one of the official buildings Connected with the prefecture and the local courts. In addition to the Repository.it comprises the " Cabinet de M. l'Archiviste " and a " salle de travail." The staff consists of the archivist, Monsieur E. Coiiard, an experienced and accomplished eleve of the Ecole des Chartes, with only three clerk archivists, one of them a lady, who was in charge of the registers and correspondence. It may be observed here that, in addition to the care and arrangement of the Archives and the preparation of lists, the Departmental Archivists are charged with the duty of conducting searches for the Prefecture and the Ministries as well as for the public. From an inspection of the regis ters these duties would appear to be important and somewhat exacting. The arrangements made for the production of documents to the public or on requisition of the Ministries are carried out with the same formalities as in the Archives Nationales. In the Repository itself, an immense building with three floors, reached by internal staircases, the Archives are primarily arranged to suit the require ments of production, those that are most in demand being very accessible. The classification of the Archives on paper, however, follows the usual plan adopted in France. The two main sections of Archives dating before and after the French Revolution are divided into " Archives Civiles " and " Archives Eccle- siastiques," with appropriate sub-divisions for docu ments (Fonds Classes) relating to different public institutions. Some of the documents preserved amongst the " Fonds Anciens " are of exceptional interest. For example, the Archives of the famous Maison de St. Cyr are preserved here. The most ancient and interesting of the historical documents, dating from the 12th century, are placed in glass cases on the ground floor of the Repository, in a bay which serves as a museum. Besides the charters and other parchment or paper documents preserved in "cartons" or " liasses," many early registers have come into the possession of the State from the Maison de St. Cyr, and also from various religious houses whose docu ments were taken over at the Revolution.* It was noticeable that, for motives of economy applicable to all Departmental Archives, a considerable portion of the unbound documents were protected by " liasses " or loose covers of brown paper, but even these were care fully lettered on the back in the same manner as the " cartons " above referred to. Although the bulk of the Versailles Archives is already very great, and is rapidly increasing through the acquisition both of ancient and modern documents, comparatively few of these are destroyed as useless. The precautions taken to prevent the unauthorised destruction of Departmental Archives are indeed re markable. Documents reported by the Archivist as useless are considered by the Ministry, whose decision is executed by the Prefect, the documents being destroyed in the presence of an agent. No artificial light is installed in the Repository, but in spite of this precaution and the recent intro duction of fire-extinguishing apparatus, the damage that would be wrought by fire is almost incalculable, since all the presses, &c, of the Repository are of wood. In this connection we may mention that during the very period of our stay in Paris an account of the * These Archives also contain a fine collection of Notarial Minutes, &c, the official papers of the French Notaries being often regarded as private property. Others for this Depart ment are preserved at Etampes. 1 4 136 ROYAL COMMISSION . ON PUBLIC RECORDS : complete destruction by fire of the Departmental Archives at Evreux was published in the French papers, whilst almost at the same time came the news of a still more disastrous fire in Belgium, which has destroyed the fine Hotel Communal at Schaerbeck with all the Archives. These and other fatalities should be borne in mind in any scheme that may hereafter be devised for housing the English local ecords in provincial repositories. The binding and other repairs required for the Departmental Archives at Versailles are executed by outside labour, whilst casts of seals are made in the studio of the Archives Nationales at Paris. (f) Ecole Nationale des Chartes. On June 3rd the Commissioners visited this famous institution by the special invitation of the Director, M. Paul Meyer, with the further intention of taking his evidence on certain points, as set out below. After inspecting the school, which comprises offices for the administration (director and secretary), lecture rooms, a library of 40,000 volumes (containing a choice collection of Continental works dealing with the subjects of Bibliography and the auxiliary studies of History, and a less valuable collection of English and American publications), an extensive collection of facsimiles (for the use of students) and a Salle de Travail, the Comniissioners received some valuable information of a general nature from M. Paul Meyer and were allowed to question him on matters of detail under the following heads : — 1. As to the theory of the property of the State in all public documents and the possibility of recovering those abstracted. 2. As to the relations between the Ministerial Archives and the National Archives. 3. As to the relations between the National and Departmental Archives, i.e., the advantages of a general official system of custody and publication, &c. Answer. In the case of public documents, the widest interpretation of the word " official " is entertained. Thus documents abstracted from an official collection can be reclaimed, and no lapse of time bars the title of the State, provided always that the provenance of the documents in question can be proved by means of lists or press-marks showing the position that they formerly occupied in a series. Failing some such official clue, there is no remedy, as the documents may have been lost through the neglect or connivance of an adminis tration which did not take the pains to make an inventory of its property It is true that the several Ministries practically retain their papers as long as they please, but eventually they are transferred to the Archives Nationales, and once transmitted, the Minister cannot recover them. Moreover, the discretion of giving readers access to the modern papers rests with the Director of the Archives. Again, if the Ministry fails to keep papers in its custody in good order, the Commission Superieure des Archives can take steps to enforce a proper arrangement of the Ministerial Archives, or, in default, advise their transfer to the National Archives. However, in certain Ministries, especially those of Foreign Affairs and War, the arrangement of the Archives is excellent, thanks to the assistance of trained archivists : — The third question is covered by the answers given to the fourth and seventh questions.* 4. As to the advantages derived from a previous training of archivists, i.e., before they receive appointments, e.g., whether this is preferable to a training received in the Archives them selves, by experience only, as in England. 5. As to the best system of training archivists according to the means that exist in Oxford, Cambridge, London, &c. Answer. As to the advantages derived from a previous training of archivists, the experience of French * See the official Regulations given in an Appendix to this Report. scholars is in favour of that system. It might be argued that an untrained clerk will prove competent for dealing with modern State papers. The contrary has, however, proved to be the case ; as, for instance, when the French Governor of a West African colony applied for an archivist and received an untrained clerk as being competent to deal with modern Colonial Archives. The experiment was a complete failure, and the Governor was constrained to obtain an archivist trained in the Ecole des Chartes. Admission to the Ecole des Chartes* is by an entrance examination open to graduates under 30 years of age. The subjects of examination are Latin prose and French History and Geography, and either English or German, or both. A knowledge of other languages counts to the credit of the candidates. The examination is both written and oral, and lasts five days. It is well known, however, that foreign students may be admitted as an act of grace. The course of study at the Ecole des Chartes* occupies three years, in the first of which Palaeography, Philology (Romance) and Bibliography, including Library economy, are taken. In the second year, Diplomatic, History of the Political, Judicial, and Administrative Institutions of France (to which great importance must be attached), the Sources of the History of France and Archive Economy. In the third year the course includes the History of Civil and Canon Law, Mediaeval Archasology, and the Sources of the History of France for those who have not taken this subject before. A searching examination in these subjects must be passed by the candidates. On the average 15 pass out every year, from whom the Director of the Archives Nationales selects a certain number to fill vacancies, and the rest are distributed amongst the Departmental Archives as probationers receiving a special allowance for their maintenance (200 francs per month). Here they make themselves acquainted with the administration of Archives under the direction of the local archivists, and also give assistance in making searches for the information of readers. They make " inventaires," and inspect the "Archives Communales " and the Municipal Libraries of the Department in the company of the archivists. Thus, while the theory of his profession is taught at the Ecole des Chartes, practical experience is subsequently acquired in the local Archives. With regard to the desirability of training English archivists and the best system available for this purpose, regard must be had to the different conditions prevailing in England, although those conditions might be altered with advantage. In any case, it must be remembered that an archivist ignorant of his profession is in a false position towards the public, and it is the duty of the State to make this state of things impossible from the first. 6. As to the importance of lists (" inventaires sommaires ") compared with calendars and texts of documents. An swer. With regard to lists, there is no enthusiasm in France for calendars in the English style, and the great disadvantage of these calendars is that the process of preparation is interminable. Undoubtedly it is of the first importance to prepare lists (" inventaires sommaires ") of everything, both as a precaution against loss and for the information of the archivist and the reader. Such lists will be fuller than the " repertoires numeriques " usually produced in the English Archives. 7. As to the best means of dealing with the English local records, i.e., MSS. in private custody, for the purpose of preserving the documents in Departmental or Communal Archives and of publishing lists. * See an interesting paper on this subject by the late Professor F. York Powell in Transactions, R. Hist. Soc. N.S. NIL, and cf. the Lixret de V Ecole des Chartes for the history of that institution. APPENDICES. 137 Answer. Reference may be made to the following extract from a letter from M. Paul Meyer to the Commission, dated May 4th, 1911 :_ " La premiere chose a faire en Angleterre, pour les archives, c'est d'etablir un plan de classement pour les archives : des Communes (towns), des hospitaux, des corporations, et il est desirable que ce classement soit partout le meme. Quand je vais faire dans des archives eommunales une recherche, je sais exactement oil je veux chercher. S'il s'agit de la comptabilite, je sais que je trouverai dans la serie CO Si je fais des recherches sur l'instruction publique, je verrai dans la serie G.G. ; s'il s'agit de la guerre, de la milice, dans la serie E.E. " En Angleterre tout est en desordre, de facon que meme des publications tres scientifiques perdent beaucoup de leur valeur, par suite du classement irregulier des pieces. " Ainsi, prenez le Records of Leicester, par ma bien regret tee Miss Bateson : la publication a ete faite.sans aucun classement methodique des documents : on ne peut pas retrouver facilement les pieces a l'aide de la publication. Les boxes ne sont pas du tout classees d'une facon methodique. B faut done tout abord etablir un classement regulier, et ensuite l'imposer. Et pour cela vous pourrez avoir des inspecteurs tels que vous pourrez en prendre parmi les fonction- naires des Public Records."* In conclusion the Commissionersf have to express their appreciation of the kind reception and ample facilities which they received from the French autho rities in the course of their mission, for which they are largely indebted to the kind intervention of the British Foreign Office and of H.B.M.'s Embassy in Paris. They also wish to express the peculiar sense of gratitude which they entertain for the courtesy shown to them by M. Paul Meyer and for the information freely imparted by him. Arrete du Ministre de l'Instruction Publique Determinant les Conditions d'Admission a l'Ecole des Chartes. Le Ministre de l'Instruction Publique et des Beaux- Arts. Vu l'ordonnance royale du 31 decembre 1846 ; Vu les arretes des 24 juillet 1872, 9 decembre 1889 et 13 novembre 1890 ; Vu I'avis emis par le Conseil de perfectionnement de l'Ecole des chartes, dans ses seances des 7 decembre 1907 et 24 mars 1908 ; Arrete : Art. 1". Le nombre maximum des eleves admis, chaque annee, apres examen, a l'Ecole des chartes, est fixe a, vingt. Art. 2. Les candidats au titre d'eleve de l'Ecole des chartes doivent etre Francais, bacheliers, et etre ages de moins de trente ans revolus au 31 decembre de l'annee qui precede leur inscription. Des dispenses d'age peuvent etre accordees par le Ministre de l'Instruction publique apres avis du Conseil de perfectionnement. Art. 3. Le registre d'inscription est ouvert du 20 au 25 octobre. Les candidats doivent produire leur acte de naissance et leur dipl&me de bachelier. Art. 4. Les examens d'admission ont lieu dans les cinq jours qui suivent la cloture du registre. Ils sont subis devant le Conseil de perfectionnement assiste des professeurs. Art. 5. Les examens se composent d'epreuves ecrites et d'epreuves orales. . Les epreuves ecrites comprennent : (1) line version latine de prose classique ; (2) Un theme latin ; * See also the letter communicated by M. Paul Meyer to the Committee on Local Records (1902), Appendix, pp. 231-2. + The party consisted of the Chairman, Sir E. Vincent Evans, Professor Firth, Sir Sidney Lee, Mr. Tedder, and the Secretary. (3) Une composition sur l'histoire de la France avant 1815 ; (4) Une composition sur la geographie historique de la France. Les candidats ne pourront s'aider ni de diction- naires, ni d'aucun autre livre. Art. 6. Nul ne peut subir les epreuves orales si, ii la suite des epreuves ecrites, il n'a ete declare admissible. Art. 7. Les epreuves orales comprennent : (1) L'explication d'un texte latin de prose classique ; (2) Une interrogation sur l'histoire de la France avant 1815 ; (3) Une interrogation sur la geographie historique de la France ; (4) Une interrogation sur la langue allemande ou sur la langue anglaise, ou sur les deux langues, au choix du candidat. II sera tenu compte aux candidats de la connaissance des langues vivantes autres que l'anglais ou l'allemand. Art. 8. Apres la derniere epreuve, le Conseil de perfectionnement, assiste des professeurs, arrete la liste des candidats qui seront prese,ntes a la nomination ministerielle. . Art. 9. En dehors des conditions ci-dessus indiquees, des eleves pourront etre admis a titre etranger, sur I'avis du Conseil de perfectionnement. Art. 10. Les dispositions du present arrete seront applicables a. partir du concours d'entree d'octobre 1909. Fait a Paris, le 8 mai 1908. (Signe) Gaston. Doumergue. Pour ampliation : Le Directeur de l'Enseignement superieur, Conseiller d'Etat. Bayet. 5. Report of a Visit to the Archives of the Netherlands by Members of the Commission (April 1912). On the occasion of the visit of the Commission to the Belgian Archives in April 1911, the desirability of an inspection of the Archives of the Netherlands was reserved for further consideration. As the importance of the Dutch system of archive custody has been demonstrated on several occasions, and especially by the evidence of Miss Sellers, taken before the Com mission in November 1911,* it was resolved at the meeting of the Commission in February 1912 to apply to the Treasury and Foreign Office for the necessary facilities. The following were appointed to represent the Commission : — The Chairman, Sir E. Vincent Evans, Professor C. H. Firth, Dr. F. G. Kenyon, Mr. H. R. Tedder, and the Secretary. After consulting the Archivist of the Central State Archives at the Hague, the following Archives were selected for inspection : — The Hague : Central State Archives (Algemeen Rijks-Archief). Archives of the Royal Family (Koninklijk Huis- Archief). Archives of the Historical Section of the General Staff (Krijgsgeschiedknndig Archief van den Generalen Staf). Amsterdam : Town Archives (Gemeente- Archief). University Library (Universiteits Bibliotheek). Utrecht : State Archives (Rijks-Archief). Town Archives (Gemeente- Archief). Rotterdam : Town Archives (Gemeente-Archief). Middelburg : State Archives (Rijks-Archief). Town Archives (Gemeente-Archief). Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 377U-3S26. 138 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS: In addition to these, it was found possible to arrange for visits to be paid by some of the Commissioners to the following institutions ; — The Hague : Commission of Advice for National Historical Publications (Commissie van Advies voor S'Rijks Geschiedkundige Publicatien). Haarlem : States Archives (Rijks-Archief). Provincial Archives (Provinciaal-Archief van Noord-Holland). Town Archives (Gemeente-Archief). The Dutch Archives have an especial interest for English antiquaries because they furnish the most recent models in the shape of repositories and establish ments ; these, too, on a scale within the reach of our local authorities. Moreover, although the science of Archives was developed later in the Netherlands than in France or Belgium, it is nowhere pursued with greater energy or understanding. The Dutch system has its peculiarities in respect of the training of archivists and the control of the State. As in Belgium, there is no State education of archivists like that of the French Ecole des Chartes. One reason for this may be the comparatively small number of appointments available, but in any case the distinction is very noticeable In Holland the archi vists of the State Archives are appointed by the Government without examination, but it is understood that the degree of - Doctor of Letters or Law or Philosophy is an important qualification, and also that the archivist must be versed in the science of archives. This he may have acquired as an adjunct (or assistant) archivist or even as a "voluntary." For it is a feature of the Dutch system that unpaid amateurs are fre quently employed, to assist the ordinary establishment in most of the State Archives. Usually they are appointed by the archivist himself. In order to ensure a uniform procedure in the provincial depots, the Dutch archivists have formed themselves into a professional association which meets once a year to discuss the best systems of classification and other dispositions.* The result of these delibera tions may be seen in an admirable treatise on the principles of Archive classification by three Dutch archivists which has been translated or adapted for the use of several continental States. The Commission was much impressed with the zeal and efficiency of these officials and equally with the public spirit of the municipal authorities of the Dutch towns who have not only provided adequate and in some cases ideal repositories, but have followed the lead of the State in providing expert custodians. The several Archives which the Commission was permitted to inspect may be briefly described as follows : — (1) The Hague. (a) The Central State Archives (Algemeen Bijks- Archief). — In one aspect this is a central repository for the State Archives of the Netherlands, corresponding to the " Archives Nationales " in Paris or the " Archives du Royaume " in Brussels. As a matter of fact, how ever, no such centralisation has been carried out in the Hague as in London, Paris, or even in Brussels. The State papers which form a large part of this col lection have been preserved continuously at the Hague, as being the seat of the Government, though tran scripts are sometimes to be found in the Archives of other cities. The remaining contents of the Algemeen Rijks-Archief are chiefly the provincial records of the Province of South Holland, from the Middle Ages down to 1813. The central Archives of the State, which form the distinctive feature of the Hague depot, consist of a continuous series of proceedings of the States- General from 1576 onwards, together with those of the several departments. The records of the High Court of Justice up to the year 1891 have been trans ferred to the State Archives. These include a con siderable collection of notarial records which here, as elsewhere, are now open to public inspection. The * It is convened by the central archivist at the Hague, who acts as its president, and brings forward the questions which the Minister refers to it for consideration. judicial records, which have not yet been transferred, are in the charge of the Secretary and are under the nominal control of the Archivaris. The records of the Government departments (Foreign Office, Colonial Office, War Office, Navy, &c.) have been transferred to the Rijks-Archief down to the year 1830 (War Office, 1813) or are in course of transmission. Affidavits are made as to the complete ness of the transmissions, and in departments where the papers are not in the charge of a regular archivist the Secretary is responsible for the proper custody of those of more recent date. No provision at present exists for the transfer of documents of later date than 1830. The provincial Archives of South Holland have also been transferred down to the year 1813. After that date they are in the charge of secretaries appointed by the authorities. All the records are produced to the public, prac tically without reservation or restriction. If the production of any document is regarded as being undesirable in respect of public policy, it is withdrawn by the administration concerned. In all other cases the decision with regard to the production of docu ments rests with the Archivist, the departmental authorities having no further control over documents that have been transferred to the State Archives. The Commission was informed that cases in which docu ments have been withheld from the public in the Archives are rare. The Algemeen Rijks-Archief in the Bleyenburg is a fine building consisting of a lofty block- of offices for the administration of the Archives as well as for that of the Royal Historical Commission. It also contains the public search room and a small museum (Ten- toonstellingszaal) where ancient charters, treaties, and other historical documents of particular interest are exhibited. The repository itself extends back wards from the street. It was built in 1899 and is admirably designed and equipped. It is well lighted and is heated by radiators. The floors, six in number, are constructed of iron gratings and extend the whole length and breadth of the building. Access to each floor is gained by spiral staircases, and there are lifts at frequent intervals for moving documents. Each floor is occupied by iron presses about 8 feet high with slate shelves and there are several convenient fittings such as a footrail for reaching the upper shelves, sliding and folding book-rests, &c, none of which exist in our own Public Record Office. Apart from the immense economy of space and labour effected by the plan of this repository, it has also the advantage of admitting daylight to all parts and of reducing the deposit of dust to a minimum. No artificial light is used. The side windows and skylights are easily and quickly closed by iron shutters worked by hydraulic power, whilst the communication with the administrative offices is protected by massive iron doors. Documents produced in the search room or for the use of the staff are registered by an attendant seated in a lobby off the passage between the two blocks. The documents themselves consist, as usual, of bound volumes and loose papers or parchments. The latter are neatly secured in " liasses " (bundles) pro tected by cardboard sheets secured with tapes. Charters and other documents with seals attached are placed in " layettes " (cardboard boxes) or in cabinets. It may be remarked here that the use of " cartons " (cardboard cases) is not so noticeable here as it was in the Paris Archives. On the other hand, the " liasse " is more in evidence than the " carton " in the French provincial Archives which are more analogous to those of the Hague. In any case the untidy brown paper and string, which are so familiar to readers at the London Record Office, are rarely seen in foreign Archives. It may also be observed that the Dutch archivists appear to be thoroughly alive to the import ance of protecting the seals, which in many cases are enclosed in metal capsules, but the system of "moulage" (plaster casts) did not appear to be so extensively used as in France and Belgium.* Again, although constant attention has been given for a long time past to the repair and re-binding of * There are exceptions; for instance, the seals attached to the town records of Utrecht have been cast. APPENDICES. 139 the documents, the outlay on these necessary opera tions is admittedly inadequate. At the same time it must be remembered that the documents are less frequently and more carefully handled, and that the wear and tear of daily production has been largely reduced by the extensive use of photographic repro ductions for which ample facilities are provided. In the Algemeen Rijks-Archief two binders and repairers, at most, are regularly employed, and in most of the Dutch Archives the concierge is engaged during office hours upon this task. The reading-room is open to the public daily, from 10 to 4, and with some slight variations the hours of attendance are the same in other archives. A select library of works of reference is everywhere provided for the use of the readers who may also, in some cases at least, have access to the library of the staff. How ever, the necessity for economy has limited the provision made in this direction, and is responsible also for the united issue of printed inventories, though excellent manuscript lists are provided in all cases. At the Hague, as in other Dutch Archives, there is a decided official aversion from altering established references or destroying any ancient documents in order to gain space. The staff of the Algemeen Rijks-Archief consists of the archivaris, 3 " adjoints," 2 principal clerks, 3 other clerks, and 5 supplementary clerks. The method of appointment of the archivists has been referred to above, and it may be added that the archivist, as elsewhere, has to make a yearly report to the Minister. The Commission is indebted to the courtesy of Dr. Fruin, the newly-appointed archivist, and his staff for facilities to inspect the interior of the Archives and to make the preceding notes. Although there is a separate building for Town records (Oud-Archief en Bibliotheek der Gemeente) at the Hague, these are not of such importance as those at Amsterdam or Rotterdam, and the Commis sion was already engaged to visit the following special archives and departments. (b) The Commission of Advice for National Historical Publications (Commissie van Advies voor S'Rijks Geschiedkundige Publicatien). — In the Netherlands archivists are regarded as being chiefly occupied with the custody and arrangement of archives, and the above Commission has been occupied during the last 10 years with the direction of the State Publications. Like our own Historical Manuscripts Commission, this body is housed with the Administration of the National Archives. The Commission is appointed by the Government, and consists of 10 historical scholars, a secretary and assistant secretary. Although the object of the Commission is the publication of documents relating to the national history, the selection is not confined to the Dutch Archives. Many English State papers have been transcribed for publication, and volumes dealing with the Vatican and Venetian archives and the Baltic and Levantine trade have already appeared in addition to gleanings from native sources. The objects of the Commission have been recently explained by its secretary, Dr. H. T. Colenbrander, in a published article* and are given in greater detail in the yearly Reports made to the Ministry. As the salaries of the secretary and assistant secretary are defrayed as a separate charge and the Com mission enjoys the hospitality of the Rijks-Archief, the bulk of the modest appropriation of 833L 6s. 8d. can be devoted to defraying the cost of printing, binding, editorial remuneration, and travelling ex penses. Even so, the yearly publication of four or five large volumes of texts or reports must be regarded as a triumph of administrative skill and economy. At the same time, owing, perhaps, to the fact that free copies are distributed to all university professors and archivists, the sales of these pubhcations are consider ably smaller than in the case of the Reports of our own Historical MSS. Commission, but the Dutch Commission makes its own printing arrangements and exercises a direct and vigilant control over the press. * American Historical Association Report, 1909, pp. 243-258. In the temporary absence of Dr. H. T. Colenbrander' the Commission- obtained much useful information from his deputy, Dr. N. Japikse. (c) The Koninklijk Hnis- Archief . — By the gracious permission of Her Majesty the Queen of the Nether lands, the Commissioners were enabled to inspect this fine collection of State papers, correspondence and muniments relating to the princely house of Orange - Nassau. The papers of recent date have not yet been transferred to this repository. Those already trans ferred are open to inspection by students who have obtained the requisite permission down to 1815 only. Documents are also transmitted to other archives for the use of students. Official documents that have gone astray are sometimes purchased by the advice of the archivist. The repository forms part of the royal palace and is not fireproof. The shelving is entirely of wood and the windows have wooden sashes. It is warmed by hot-water radiators. The documents are beautifully kept and the loose papers are preserved to a, large extent in handsome cartons stamped with the royal arms. The charters are preserved in " layettes," and cardboard covers are placed over the bound volumes and " liasses " to protect them from dust, a device par tially adopted in other Dutch Archives. The usual ingenious devices for holding books, &c, are attached to the presses. A small well-selected library is annexed to the Archives for the use of the Royal Family and House hold. The staff consists of the archivist, three assistants, and two attendants, who are servants of the Royal Household. (d) The Krijgsgeschiedkundig Archief van der generalen Staf. — This institution, which is modelled on the " Section Historique " of the French Ministry of War, dates from 1894, and, under the energetic direction of Major-General F. de Bas, it has per formed much valuable work in the way of researches among the Dutch War Office Records and in foreign Archives. Quite recently a naval section has been added to the establishment, which now comprises one naval and two military officers and a secretary. Temporary members of the staff are appointed for the several garrisons in connection with local researches. The department is frequently re quired to supply information on historical or pro fessional points to the Government or to learned institutions, but it is chiefly engaged in the collection of materials for a history of the Dutch Army from 1568 onwards. This involves considerable research abroad for information relating to the Dutch troops in foreign service or the foreign troops serving in Holland at various dates. In addition to a history of the Dutch Army (Het Staatsche Leger) from 1568 to 1795, and a number of military monographs, the department also issues a series of " Researches and Studies " (Nasporingen en Studien) and a useful " Repertorium " or guide to the materials that exist for Dutch military history in diverse Archives in the Netherlands and abroad. It has been already mentioned that the War Office documents before 18l3 have been transferred to the State Archives. Those since 1813 are preserved in the Ministry of War, and the Historical Section of the General Staff has access to these. It has also formed a collection of its own in the shape of original docu ments and transcripts relating to the several campaigns dealt with in its publications, and these materials are carefully arranged on the " dossier " system in a separate repository. The collection is particularly rich for the Campaign of Waterloo. There is also a small museum of medals, colours, &c, and the nucleus of a military library. The tabulated researches of the staff are arranged in chronological order in a cabinet, and a table of the contents is posted on the doors. In due course these materials are printed in the series above mentioned. The Commissioners have to acknowledge the great courtesy and hospitality with which its members were received by General de Bas and the officers of his department. 140 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : (2) Amsterdam. (a) The City Archives (Gemeente-Archief) are housed in an ancient building in the New Market, formerly a town gateway, afterwards used as a weighing house and again as the hall of the Guild of Barber Surgeons. In the later aspect it has preserved many picturesque features, but as a repository of Archives it is somewhat inadequate, and it will be replaced by a new building in the course of erection. The Archives of later date than 1830, known as the " New Archives," are preserved in the town hall under the charge of an archivist, who acts as the deputy of the archivist of the "Gemeente-Archief." It may be observed that the State Archives of the province are preserved at Haarlem, and a separate description of these is given below. The Notarial Archives of the city, which are said to be very rich, have not yet been transferred, but will be received during next year. In the Archives the fittings are naturally of an older type than those of the Hague or Rotterdam, the shelving, shutters, floors, doors, &c, being of wood. The documents are well arranged in " liasses," or in " layettes " with falling flaps. There is a printed inventory, but this was com piled as early as 1874, and gives a primitive classifi cation of the Archives according to their form, as parchment or paper documents or bound registers respectively. In this as in all well ordered municipal Archives in Holland there are preserved a number of separate collections representing the various activities of the civic magistracy. One of the largest of these collections is for the Commission for Orphans, a body which occurs in the Archives of other Dutch cities.* Other sections represent the Chamber of Bankruptcy, the Hospitals (which furnish the earliest records pre served here), Church books up to 1811, and a few muniments of the Theatre saved from a disastrous fire.f Besides the usual judicial records (civil and criminal), there are some interesting registers relating to trade and trading companies, besides copies of official correspondence communicatedj by the States- General at the Hague for the information of the city magistrates. There is a search room to which the public are admitted freely, and an official library, as well as a topographical department for the display of early plans, &c, relating to the city. The current budget of the Archives, communicated by the courtesy of the archivist, is as follows : — Florins. The archivaris 4,000 The " adjoint " 2,500 His deputy (commies) at the Town Hall 2,400 Four clerks 4,033 Two bookbinders (including lodging money and uniforms) - 2,300 Two night watchmen (one at Town Hall) 700 Watchmen on public holidays 250 Gratuities for occasional assistance 1,000 Office expenses 550 Cleaning - 850 Lighting and warming 1,000 Materials for preserving the Archives 960 MSS. recovered by purchase 1,000 Various expenses 440 (b) The University Library (Universiteits Biblio- theek). — By the courtesy of the librarian some of the Commissioners were permitted to inspect some interest ing literary and classical MSS. preserved here. The value of the collection, however, lies in the Diederichs collection of autographs, the collection of letters of the 16th century " Remonstrants " and a collection of Travellers, Historians, and Miscellaneous MSS. It is worthy of notice that these collections have been fully described in a printed inventory the concluding volumes of which are still in the press. * The Commission has recently ascertained that a similar section exists among the muniments of some English cities, notably Exeter. ¦j- Neither the records of hospitals nor the theatre properly belong to the Municipal Archives, and here, as elsewhere, the presence of the Church hooks is a result of the introduction of the Etat Civil of Napoleon. (3) Utrecht, (a) The State Archives (Rijks-Archief) of the province are deposited in the same building with the city Archives, and the archivist acts in a dual capacity, dividing his time and receiving two separate salaries from the Government and from the city. Thus the services of such a distinguished scholar as Dr. S. Muller can be secured to the mutual advantage of the State and corporation. Moreover, a further economy is effected by utilising the old Palace of Louis Bonaparte as a repository for both collections, though they are kept entirely distinct. There is a public search room, open from 10 to 4. As elsewhere, it is expected that a copy of every work published from materials obtained in the Archives shall be presented to the library. There is a small museum for the exhibition of early charters, &c, and cabinets for seals and casts of seals. The charters are beautifully arranged in paper pouches closed by a thong passing through a slit and packed in cardboard layettes, a description of each document being endorsed on the pouch and box. The Archives generally are of the same nature as those found elsewhere, but the classification is excep tionally good, the records of each institution being separately arranged and installed. Thus the records of the States of Utrecht, those of the Five Chapters, those of the several monasteries, &c, each form a distinct class and occupy a definite part of the depository. There are a number of printed inventories, for the most part under the editorship of Dr. S. Muller. The establishment comprises — The archivaris (half-time). One official assistant. Two " voluntary " assistants (one a lady). One clerk. One binder (acting also as concierge). (b) The Town Archives (Gemeente-Archief). — These, as mentioned above, are preserved in the same repository and under the same control as the Archives of the province. They include the records of the town, also collections connected with the notaries of the parish churches and the almshouses. As in the adjoining Archives, the documents are kept in excellent order. Here, again, the inventories have been printed together with catalogues of the museum and the large collections of printed books and plans relating to the city. The archivist has the assistance of a Doctor of Law, charged with the care of the legal interests of the town, and of two clerks. The Comniissioners received the greatest assistance from Dr. Muller, and they were glad to have the opportunity of discussing several matters with such a profound authority on the Archives of the Nether lands.(4) Botterdam. The Town Archives (Gemeente-Archief). — This fine collection is preserved in the admirably - designed repository to which reference has been previously made. By the courtesy of the archivist (Dr. E. Wiersum) the Commission has been furnished with the elevations and details of construction of this repository which ought certainly to receive the careful consideration of any local authority desiring to erect a record repository on a scientific and economical plan. Without the ground, the cost of the buildings, com pleted, was 10,4162. 13s. -id., and ample space remains for additions at some future date. This repository is precisely similar in its main design to the Central Archives at the Hague, but is on a smaller scale, with four stories and a central stairway and lift. At the same time it should be observed that the presses are of wood, handsomely painted. A special feature is the ample facilities given for photography. There is a good search room with a reference library and a special collection of works relating to local topography. There is also a museum and a cabinet for seals. The town Archives are of the usual character. The establishment consists of an archivaris, with two assistants (one of whom is a lady) and two "voluntary" assistants, one of whom is also a lady and the other a Doctor of APPRNDICES. 141 Laws. Besides these, there are two clerks and a binder who also acts as concierge. The Commissioners are indebted to Dr. Wiersum for his kind assistance and hospitality. (5) Middelburg. (a) The State Archives (Rijks-Archief) for the province of Zeeland are deposited in a splendid suite of rooms occupying two floors of the row of houses adjoining the famous Cistercian Abbey afterwards occupied by canons. Each of these floors forms a gallery nearly 300 feet long. The original spiral staircases and party walls of the several houses divide the galleries into bays. The original mantelpieces are well preserved, together with a number of ancient presses, still used as receptacles for early charters, seals, and other precious documents. The documents are placed on wooden shelves and are in excellent condition. In some cases the early bindings have been successfully reproduced. In order to complete this local collection, a considerable number of early accounts were trans ferred from the Hague Archives to those of Middelburg. The series of accounts for the lordship of Zeeland has thus been rendered remarkably complete. Besides these seignorial records, there is also an extensive series of the State Archives of Zeeland from 1574 onwards, including the printed Resolutions of the Council of State and copies of State papers transmitted from the Hague. The records of the period of the French occupation (1794-1814) are preserved as records of the Prefecture. There are also series of Archives of the Notaries, Judicial Records prior to 1811 (the later ones are under the charge of the " greffier " in the Law Courts), and papers relating to trading companies, besides "church books" relating to the Abbey, to the English churches of Middelburg and Flushing, and to the Anabaptists. The records of the old Scottish staple at Veere are now lost, with the exception of a few letters. Some excellent inventories have been printed, chiefly by the care of Dr. Fruin (now transferred to the Hague), who is also responsible for the general arrangement of these important Archives. In addition to the Annual Reports (Verslagen) of the archivist, supplementary monographs (Bijlagen) have also been printed. The establishment consists of an archivaris with two adjoints (one a Doctor of Letters and the other acting as a clerk), together with the usual concierge- bookbinder. There is a search room and a museum. The Commissioners are indebted to the archivaris, Dr. Heeringa, for his guidance and for much useful information. (b) The Town Archives (Gemeente-Archief) are preserved in the ancient Town Hall (Stad Huis). but it was understood that they would shortly be trans ferred to a more suitable repository in the Guild-hall. The present muniment rooms adjoin offices and recep tion rooms, whilst wood-work is employed for the floors, shelves, cupboards, doors, and windows of the strong rooms. Some of the most interesting documents are exhibited in a museum, under glass, together with many objects of antiquarian interest. Amongst the contents of the Archives may be mentioned the Guild Registers, Civil Registers, and the Town Accounts (from 1365) and Minutes. There are also separate collections of Judicial Records, Registers of the Sales of Houses, and the Archives of the Notaries and the Chamber of Orphans. Amongst the miscellaneous documents are some of interest in connection with the English Society of Merchants Adventurers. There are also early Toll-books of shipping in the port, reminding students of the similar records at Exeter and Chester. Accommodation is provided for searchers in the archivist's ante-room, and there are printed inventories of the Archives. With regard to the establishment, it was stated that the archivaris is appointed by the town magis trate on the recommendation of a Commission of Archives and acts also as librarian of the Provincial Library, dividing the day between these duties. He is assisted by a " voluntary " archivist. The necessary attendance is furnished by the municipal staff. The Commissioners received much courtesy and attention from Mr. W. O. Swaving, the present archivist- librarian. (6) Haarlem. (a) The State Archives (Rijks-Archief). (b) The Provincial Archives for North Holland (Provinciaal- Archief ) . (c) The Town Archives (Gemeente-Archief). Although the above Archives were not originally included in the itinerary of the Commission, it was considered desirable to take advantage of an oppor tunity of visiting this interesting collection. It has already been observed that in the course of their visit to the Dutch Archives the Commissioners saw col lections of documents under several conditions of maintenance. At Utrecht they found a building and contents arranged to meet the requirements of 40 years ago ; at the Hague, a fine modern building equipped with the most recent structural improvements ; at Rotterdam, a smaller repository equally modern and efficient ; while at Middelburg, Amsterdam, and Haarlem, the Archives are deposited in ancient buildings adapted to modern requirements. At Haarlem, the old Meat Market, after some vicissitudes, having been within recent times an Artillery Magazine, was in 1897 adapted to Archive purposes. The structure outside and inside is extraordinarily well preserved, and is said to be one of the finest specimens of brick and stone in Holland of the Renaissance style. The repository is on the main floor of the building under a groined roof supported by stone pillars. The documents are chiefly bound, some are in " liasses," those of the French domination period in " cartons." They are in wooden cases standing in the centre and against the walls. The underground basement is used for stores. By means of winding turret steps access is gained to a charming series of apartments under the heavily timbered roof, including a central room used for meetings of archivists and similar bodies, a room for students, one for the archivist, another for the " adjoint " and one for the bookbinders. There is a collection of books of reference, chiefly on Dutch national and provincial history, to which readers have access. Casts of seals and medals are taken and sold at a small price. Above this series of apartments there is another long room in the apex of the roof in which are placed, temporarily, documents which are sent by the burgomasters of small towns in the neighbourhood. They arrive quite in the rough, are indexed or catalogued, bound on the premises and returned whenever so demanded. The Archives at Haarlem are kept in admirable order. There are some printed inventories, and everything in the building is beautifully clean, like a well-administered museum. There are a few antiquarian objects. Proper pre cautions are taken against fire. The staff consists of the archivist (Dr. C. J. Gonnet), an adjoint, two clerks, two bookbinders, and one attendant. The archivist, his adjoint, and the two clerks are paid by the State, The wages of the two bookbinders and the atten dant, the current expenses of upkeep, and any purchases are defrayed from an annual budget of 2,900 gulden. A general statement respecting the establishments and cost of the Dutch Archives is appended, by the courtesy of the Minister of the Interior. From this statement it will appear that State or provincial Archives exist for each of the 10 provinces of the Netherlands as well as town Archives for the larger towns of each province, most of them sub-divided into the " Old Archives " transferred to a public repository and the " New Archives " still retained at the Town Hall. Besides these chief Archives there are so-called Archives for a number of other towns in every province, including in the case of South Holland such important places as Leiden, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Gouda, and Delft. Moreover, besides these Archives there are provincial libraries where a professional archivist is occasionally employed, together with a number of museums and other learned institutions which contain sources of historical interest and which are equally well-appointed and well-administered. 142 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : (7) Copy of Correspondence between H.B.M, Legation at the Hague and the Ministry of the Interior on the subject of the Establishments of State Archives in the Netherlands. Translation. The Hague, May 10, 1912. I have the honour to return to your Excellency the annexe to the letter from the Protocol Department of the 6th instant, relative to State Archives, and to inform you that in this country there is one General State Record Office at The Hague which is at the same time the State Record Office of the Province of South Holland. There are, moreover, 10 State Record Offices in the capitals of the other Provinces. For expenditure for personnel and materiels (build ings and office expenses, including purchases) the State estimates for the financial year 1910, included on behalf of the General Public Record Office, Fls. 40,335 (3,361?.) and Fls. 23,500 (1,958?.) respec tively ; and for the financial year 1911, Fls. 40,190 (3,350?.) and Fls. 13,500 (1,125?.) ; and for the State Record Offices in the Provinces the estimates for the year 1910 included Fls. 65,535 (5,461?.) and Fls. 44,000 (3,666?.) ; and for the year 1911, Fls. 67,120 (5,593?.) and Fls., 44,000 (3,666?.). A printed return, such as the British Minister refers to, does not exist ; but I enclose a copy of the Royal Decree of January 22, 1904, No. 35, regulating the salaries of the officials of the Record Offices. For the municipal archives I venture to refer to the statement occurring on page 304 of the " Nederland- schen Staatsalmanak " for 1912. For the Minister of the Interior, (Signed) Kan, Secretary-General. Summary of the Provisions of the Boyal Decree of January 22, 1904, No. 35, regulating the Salaries of the Officials of the State Becord Offices. The General State Archivist is appointed on a salary of Fls. 3,700 (308?.), with four quinquennial increments of Fls. 200 (16?. 13s. ¦id.). The State Archivists in the Provinces and the Assistant Archivists at The Hague are appointed on a salary of Fls. 2,800 (233?.),with four quinquennial in crements of Fls. 200 (16?. 13s. id.). For the State Archivist in North-Holland, as long as he has an official residence, and for the State Ar chivist in Friesland, as long as he is at the same time the salaried Librarian of the Province of Friesland, the salary on which they are appointed is Fls. 2,400 (200?.) and Fls. 2,300 (192?.) respectively. The head -officials are appointed on a salary of Fls. 2,400 (200?.) with two quinquennial increments of Fls. 150 (12?. 10s.). Officials are appointed on a salary of Fls. 2,000 (167?), with two quinquennial increments of Fls. 150 (12?. 10s.). Assistant-officials are appointed on a salary of Fls. 1,000 (83?.), with five biennial increments of Fls. 180 (15?.). Clerks, servants, and amanuenses are appointed on a salary of Fls. 400 (33Z.), with biennial increments of Fls. 120 (10?.) up to a maximum salary of Fls. 1,000 (83?.). Sections. Extracts from the Netherland's State Estimates for 1912. (Ministry of the Interior.) Estimate for 1912. Granted for 1911. 168169 170 171 172 173 493 1 1 594 15 10 512 10 0 622 18 4 559 4 9 41 13 4 Salary of an Inspector of Public Record Offices - Travelling and office expenses of the Inspector of Public Record Offices. Salaries, allowances, and further remunerations of the officials and servants of the State Record Office at The Hague : — (a) State Archivist- Administrator - - £320 16 8 (6) State Archivists (c) Head-officials (d) Officials (e) Assistant-officials (f) Concierges and further servants (g) Allowances in lieu of remunerations for copying Cost of maintenance, domestic expenditure, hire of personnel, copyists' wages, travelling and incidental expenses, fitting up and maintenance of buildings, grounds, and rooms, and purchases for the State archives. Salaries, allowances, and further remuneration of the officials and servants of the State Record Offices in the Provinces : — (a) Archivist in North-Brabant (6) „ „ Gelderland (c) „ „ North-Holland (d) ,, ,, Zeeland (e) „ „ Utrecht (f) ., „ Friesland (g) ., ,. Overyssel (h) ,, ,, Croningen (i) ,, ,, Drenthe (j) „ ,3 Limburg (k) Head-officials, officials, assistant-officials, clerks, concierges, and further servants. (?) Allowances in lieu of remunerations for copying. Cost of maintenance, domestic expenditure, hire of personnel, travel ling expenses, purchases, furniture, and further expenditure for the archives in the Provinces. £ 125 87 d. 0 0 3,1451,125 £250 0 0 300 0 0 266 13 4 233 6 8 300 0 0 258 6 8 233 6 8 291 13 4 283 6 8 283 6 8 3,008 6 8 83 6 8 5,791 13 3,416 13 s. d. 3,349 3 4 1,125 0 0 Total -£13,690 16 8 5,593 6 3.666 13 13,734 3 4 APPENDICES. 143 Appendix X. — The Welsh and Palatinate Records. 1. Memorandum on Provincial Record Offices. The Act of 1838 placed various collections of records in different parts of the country under the control of the Master of the Rolls, but did not oblige him to remove them from the places where they were deposited to a general Record Office in London. Section 4 enabled the Master to make orders for the arrangement, preservation or removal of records under his control from their present places of custody ; section 7 _ empowered the Treasury to provide a suitable building or buildings to contain the records ; section 8 seems to have contemplated the possible continuance of Branch Record Offices after such building or buildings should have been provided. The question of the removal to London of outlying collections of records placed under the control of the Master of the Rolls seems to have been from the first regarded as merely a question of expediency. "It is " necessary," he wrote of the Welsh Records, " to " ascertain in what state they now are, and how far it " is proper or expedient to remove them to London : " and, at all events, to provide for their safe custody " under proper regulations."* After surveying the Welsh Records, Mr. Black, at the end of this report (31 March 1840), summed up the question as follows : — " On various measures suggested for improving the " condition and public use of the Becords. — The principal •' of these are, to collect the Records of the several ¦• counties into the central or principal places within the " late circuits ; as at Chester, Brecknock, Caermarthen " and Caernarvon only : — to deposit all the Records " of North Wales in Chester Castle, where there is (as " I can show by figures) ample space for their " accommodation in the Record-rooms : — to collect •' those of South Wales into one repository likewise : — ' to let them remain under their present custody and " contingencies, but placing them all under uniform " regulations for custody, attendance, fees, &c; and to " place them under a strict system of reporting and " visitation : — to remove them all to London, if a " fit place can be found for them to be arranged, " repaired, and made duly accessible. All these plans " have been suggested by the keepers, and other in- " telligent persons in Wales. There is, indeed, a strong " public feeling against any removal of them out of " North Wales. Tour Lordship has encouraged me to " offer any suggestions of this kind ; but I would " rather content myself with stating the facts fully " and fairly, as I have done, and barely to mention " these opinions, leaving it to your Lordship to form " such an opinion of the whole, and to adopt such " measures as shall be best for the preservation of the " Records themselves, and fittest for the public " advantage generally."f (1st Report, App., p. 116.) Commenting on Mr. Black's report, Sir F. Palgrave said : " The state of these records is, * * * * * on " the whole, very unsatisfactory. Dispersed in various " repositories, without any regular or efficient custody, ' uncalendared, unsorted, and liable to injury and " dilapidation, it may probably be found expedient " that they should be removed to London. But this " subject being connected with other operations of " the service, will require much consideration."^ (1st Report, p. 8.) The records were consequently left where they were. However, the control which the Master of the Rolls exercised over them was a very real control, and the magistrates in whose charge they remained were not allowed to alter their disposition without his leave. Montgomeryshire Becords. — In February 1842 the magistrates of the county of Montgomery proposed to pull down the building containing the records and build a new one. The new building was to be erected * D.K. 1st Report, Appendix I., p. 70. f Cf. Hardy, Life of Langdale, ii. 122. Letter of Lord Langdale to Lord John Russell, August 17, 1838. t See. also Report from the Select Committee appointed to enquire into the Public Records of the Kingdom, 1800, nn 246-252 ; General Report of the Commissioners for the Public Records, 1837, pp. 214-219. at the expense of the Earl of Powis. The Master of the Rolls consented on the following conditions : — 1st. That the removal should be effected under the superintendence of an officer belonging to the Record Establishment, and without any expense to the public ; 2nd. That the new building be, in all respects, properly adapted to the safe and convenient custody of the records ; 3rd. That the records to be placed in the new building should, in their new repository, be subject to the same authority, in all respects, as they are now, and also be subject to further removal, if required for their better management and protection, upon a system extending to all the records in Wales ; and 4th. That the Earl of Powis should bear the expense of sending an officer of the Record Establishment to superintend the removal of the records ; and that the means to be adopted for rendering the new record rooms fireproof should be approved by the Board of Works.* The new building was accordingly erected and the removal of the records to it took place in 1845 under the supervision of Mr. Black, who had previously in spected the building.f Anglesey. — In 1842 the magistrates of the county of Anglesey made an application to the Master of the Rolls respecting the records of that county then depo sited at Carnarvon, " for instructions whether the same should be removed from their said present place of deposit at Caernarvon." The Deputy Keeper's report says, " it appeared advisable, under existing circum stances, that the same Records should remain as they now are, until further measures can be suggested, after a greater progress shall have been made in the arrange ment of the metropolitan Records." J Carnarvon. — In 1845 the attention of the Master of the Rolls was called to the insecurity of the place of deposit of the records of the Suppressed Court of Great Sessions of the counties of Carnarvon, Anglesey and Merioneth, and he announced his intention of removing them to London. The magistrates strongly deprecated the removal and hoped the Master of the Rolls would not insist. On 9th January 1846 Lord Langdale drew up the following minute. § " It appears to me that the Records of the three counties ought to be kept together in one lawful custody, and I am prepared to place them, by my Warrant, in the hands of any proper person. It would be satisfactory to me if the magistrates of the counties of Caernarvon, Anglesey, and Merioneth would have the goodness to name to me a person whom they know to be free from objection ; but in whatever hands they may be placed, they must be subject to the control and direction of the Master of the Rolls for the time being, and must, of course, be removable to the Public Record Office at a future time, if it should be thought expedient. " The present place of deposit appears to be very objectionable, and the Records cannot be allowed to remain there. It is necessary for me to be distinctly informed in what specific place it is proposed to deposit them, and what securities the place and character of the building afford against the risks of damp, fire, and depredation. And it will also be necessary to state what attendance it is proposed to give for the con venience and accommodation of those who desire to consult the Records, and what fees it is proposed to demand. " In the case of the Records at Welsh-Pool, the expenses of erecting and fitting up a new building, and of removing the Records into it, under the care of a Record Officer from this Office, were defrayed ex clusively by the Earl of Powis ; and in this case it is necessary to consider and provide for the expenses which are to be incurred. If the Records were to be removed to this Office, the expense would not fall upon the counties ; but if the counties, as it seems, for their 1 D.K. 4th Report, p. 8 ; if. Appendix I., p. 32. t D.K. 7th Report, p. 6, and Appendix I., p. 15. X D.K. 4th Report, p. 8. § D.K. 7th Report, p. 7, and Appendix I., pp. 16, 17. 144 ROYAL COMMISSION ON" PUBLIC RECORDS: own convenience, desire to retain the Records for some time longer, it may appear that the expense of taking the proper means to preserve them ought properly co fall upon them."* Under this pressure the magistrates agreed to build a repository at Carnarvon, and plans for the purpose were drawn up and submitted to the surveyor of the Commissioners of Woods and Forestsf . But nothing seems to have been done for several years. On 29 January 1853 the Clerk of the Peace for Carnarvon informed the Master of the Rolls that the magistrates had decided to pull down the whole of the old building and erect a new one on its site, to which he replied that before the records were removed the new building must be surveyed and reported upon on his behalf. J But Lord Romilly did not wait for this to be done. In July 1854 he issued warrants for the removal of the records in question to London. Mr. Roberts, who was sent to execute the removal, found that the records had been transferred to the Shire Hall while the new building was being erected, and then trans ferred back to a room in the new building, so that the arrangement of them made by Mr. Black had been destroyed, and they were all in confusion again. He had them removed to Chester and thence to London. § Carmarthen Becords. — In April 1850 the Quarter Sessions of Carmarthenshire represented to the Home Secretary that their records were insecurely housed, and urged their removal to a place of greater safety. Lord Langdale, to whom the matter was referred, informed the magistrates "that, in all analogous cases, ¦¦ all expenses relating to the buildings or repositories " in which Welsh Records are contained had been " defrayed (with the approbation of Lord Langdale as " as to the measures adopted) by the counties, or by " individuals interested in the County Records, of '¦ which conduct the late Lord Powis afforded a ¦• remarkable instance, and in no case had the expenses " been defrayed by the Treasury." The magistrates were therefore asked " what plan they would wish to " adopt for the safety of the Records, upon the under- ¦• standing that they are to find the means of defraying " the consequent expense ; " at the same time they were informed " that there would be space for the " reception of the Caermarthen Records " in the re pository to be built on the Rolls Estate " should it " be considered expedient to deposit them there." || Whatever the decision of the magistrates may have been, the Carmarthen records were removed by Mr. Roberts to London in November 1854.^[ This was probably advisable, since although the room in which the records in the Prothonotary's Office at Carmarthen were kept was in a satisfactory condition, Mr. Roberts found other records there badly housed and " in a state of confusion, dirt, and decay, beyond all description." Chester Becords. — The Chester Records were fully described by Mr. Black in 1840, and there are previous reports in 1800 and 1837 with which his may be compared.** His report was that they were housed in rooms both safe and fireproof, but with some exceptions neither well arranged nor kept in good repair.ff The removal of the records does not seem to have been seriously proposed till 1851, and was no doubt then suggested by the prospect of the speedy erection of the new Repository. In December 1851 the Master of the Rolls brought the question of the custody and preser vation of the records and other matters connected with the subject before the magistrates of the county and negotiations followed. A Committee appointed by Quarter Sessions reported, on 28th January 1852, that, in their opinion, "the respective places of deposit of the Records of the abolished courts of the County Palatine of Chester * D.K. 7th Report, Appendix I., pp. 16, 17. t D.K. 8th Report, p. 3, and Appendix I,, p. 2. X D.K. 15th Report, p. 4. § D.K. 16th Report, pp. 1, 2, and Appendix, p. 36. || D.K. 12th Report, pp. 3, 4. •J D.K. 16th Report, Appendix, p. 39. ** Report from the Select Committee appointed to enquire into the Public Records of the Kingdom, 1800. pp. 246-249, 261-265 ; General Report of the Commissioners on Public Records, 1837, pp. 214-216. ff D.K. 1st Report, Appendix, pp. S0-, 115. and the County of Flint in the Castle of Chester were suitable and proper. They further reported that having attentively considered the provisions of the Record Act 1 and 2 Vict. c. 94, they were strongly impressed with the opinion that it would be extremely undesirable to remove the said Records to London or any other distant place. The Committee alleges that at a comparatively small amount of expense and labour, the classification and arrangement of the Documents could be accomplished on the spot so as to answer every purpose which would be required. The Com mittee further think that much public inconvenience will be produced by the removal of the Documents from their present respective places of deposit, not withstanding that they might contain historical and antiquarian Documents of general public interest, and they state that beyond doubt the far greater portion of such Documents comprise evidences of title to estates within the County Palatine affecting the private interests of individuals, and which, whenever wanted, have been found easily accessible in the places where they are now deposited, and capable of produc tion at assizes at a cost infinitely less than would have been incurred if their place of deposit had been at a distance. The Committee recommend to the Court to represent these circumstances to the Master of the Rolls with a view to the appointment, so far as would be consistent with the Record Act, of a proper person to be resident in Chester to have the care and custody of the whole of the Records and Documents so as to ensure their being in legal custody for the purposes of evidence required by the Act, and the Committee suggest to the Court the propriety of appointing a standing committee to communicate with the Officers of the Rolls in the meantime nnt.il the final place of deposit for the Records should be determined upon. " In consequence of this order, a deputation of the Special Committee of Justices, viz., Sir Edward Cust (Chairman), the Marquis of Westminster, and Sir John Hanmer attended the Master of the Rolls at the Rolls House, 19th May 1852. The matter was then fully discussed, and it was agreed that the Master of the Rolls should appoint a competent person, being an officer of the Public Records, who should survey the state of the Records, and ascertain the length of time that would be needful to put them into a state, of repair. It was f urther agreed that the expenses of the journeys and the maintenance of the officer whilst at Chester should be defrayed by the County ; and that if he should require help they should also pay the wages of two efficient workmen. It was further under stood that this examination was to be made for the purpose of ascertaining whether any scheme could be formed, with the approbation of the Lords of Your Majesty's Treasury, for the purpose of continuing the location of the Records in Chester Castle, instead of their being removed to London, the county defraying all the expenses of the local repository, keeping up the building, and paying the salaries and allowances of the Custos, and of a sufficient number of clerks and work men. It appears that the reasons which induce the nobility and gentry to wish that the ancient Records should continue in the county are partly grounded upon convenience, inasmuch as, notwithstanding the changes of ancient tenures and other alterations and reforms of the law, the county, though no longer a County Palatine, may in some respects be considered as one great manor, and the Records thereof more or less concern all the landed property within its ambit. But another motive is found in the interest which is taken in the ancient dignity of the Palatine earldom, and the wish to have its muniments readily accessible to those residing in or near the county who may wish to investigate its history.* " Mr. Black was then sent to Chester by the Master of the Rolls to report on the questions raised in the discussions between the Committee of Justices and the Master of the Rolls, and was for some months at Chester during the autumn of 1852. His report is printed.f The Master of the Rolls deferred his decision " as the request made by the county * D.K 14th Report, pp. 8, 9. t Pari. Papers, 1852-3 (214) LXXVIII., 363. APPENDICES. 145 magistrates offers very many difficulties."* On the 5th August 1853 he communicated his decision to them, which was to this effect: "The Master of the Rolls is of opinion that if the County Magis- " trates should think fit to try the experiment of a " temporary Keepership or local Custos, whom they " should appoint (with the approval of the Master of " the Rolls) at the expense of the County, there might " be no objection to the plan ; though it was his opinion " that the Records of Chester, like all the other outlying " Records in Wales and the Palatinates of Durham " and Ely, must ultimately be concentrated in the new " repository." f The plan suggested was not carried out, perhaps because of this intimation that the arrangement could not be permanent. Accordingly, on 18th July, 1854, the Master of the Rolls issued his warrant for the removal of the Chester and Flint Records, and Mr. Roberts was sent down to execute it. With regard to the removal of these Records and the Welsh Records in general Mr. Roberts remarks at the close of his report " In conclusion I have only to " observe that no disinclination to give up the Records " was evinced ; on the contrary, from all parties con- " nected with them, I met with the greatest courtesy " and attention ; and many persons in Wales expressed " their approbation of the measure. The Records will •• be better preserved than they could have been in " their late places of deposit ; and from the many " searches which have been required since their arrival " in London, there seems no doubt that their useful- •• ness to the public will be greatly extended." J The records thus removed were about twenty-four tons in weight.§ Their arrangement, Mr. Roberts reported, would be the work of years, since about half the whole quantity had never undergone any arrange ment, and in the other half, though the different classes of documents were separated, they were for the most part not arranged in years, or even in reigns. " The Welsh Records," said the Deputy Keeper immediately after their arrival, " are generally in bad condition " and need repairs, and require a larger number of " workmen than is at present at the disposal of the " Office." || " The greater portion of the work," said the account of the operations of the bookbinders during the year 1856, "has been upon the Welsh Record Books, " which, being for the most part in a bad state, have " required not merely binding, but extensive repair, " sometimes leaf by leaf throughout the volume." % Successive reports give a detailed account of the work done in repairs, binding and arrangement.** The work of cataloguing them was next taken in hand. The report for the year 1858 contains an excellent Press List of the Welsh Records (as far as arranged) filling 10 folio pages, followed by a list of Welsh Books and Docket Rolls occuping another 13 pages.ff Lists of Records mainly relating to Chester but including some concerning Flint and Denbigh were given next year. JJ An elaborate Calendar of Rolls, bills, deeds and records of various kinds relating to the Palatinate of Chester and the county of Flint was published in instalments between 1864 and 1878. They fill about 2,000 pages of small print.§§ The Ruthin Court Rolls, though classed with the Welsh Records, came into the office at a different time and in a different way. They were lying in a loft above the old Town Hall at Ruthin, and in danger, it was said, of "total destiniction." Their removal was the result of an arrangement made with the Town Council of Ruthin, their temporary custodians, and Mr. F. M. West, their owner, by Mr. Roberts. He proposed in March 1859 that they " should be transmitted to the " Public Record Office for preservation in the custody " of the Master of the Rolls, and, if this proposition * D.K. 14th Report, p. 9. f D.K. 15th Report, p. 4. X D.K. 16th Report, Appendix, p. 41. § D.K. 16th Report, Appendix, p. 40 ; D.K. 17th Report, Appendix, p. 40. || D.K. 17th Report, p. 5. € D.K. 18th Report, p. 11. ** D.K. 19th Report, p. 10 ; D.K. 20th Report, p. vm. ; D.K. 21st Report, p. x. ff D.K. 20th Report, Appendix, pp. 160-183. + t D K. 21st Report, Appendix, pp. 26-46. |§ D.K. Reports 25 to 31, 36, 37, 39. E H829 " were carried into effect, that the documents should " be cleaned and repaired and a correct List made " thereof." This was agreed to and the documents were sent to London in August 1859. " When received, " they were, in consequence of the neglect which they " had long sustained, in a state of excessive dirt, " confusion and decay."* In February 1860 "a " .second large box or lot, containing Rolls and Paper " Proceedings, was received from Ruthin, in number " far exceeding those first transmitted, though only " extending over the same period, and in very bad " condition." f An inventory of both collections is printed in the Appendix to the 22nd Report (pp. 23-41). Durham Becords. — The records of the Courts . of the Palatinate of Durham placed under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls by the first section of the Act of 1838 were not examined till 1854. Mr. T. D. Hardy was then sent to examine them " inas- " much as the period is approaching when the same " can, if thought fit, be brought into the New Reposi- " tory. " Hardy drew up a long and detailed Report stating that the records were very valuable, very badly kept, uncatalogued and uncalendared. J To this Report he annexed a general inventoiy drawn up by himself, containing an account of those records which were " in " a state of arrangement to enable him to deal there - " with." However "a Yerj large number" were in such a state of disorder that it was impossible properly to examine them. It was clear, however, that many important records had been lost, and some had been destroyed quite recently. § As the Master of the Rolls had no space at his disposal to receive them, even if their removal to London had been deemed advisable, nothing more was done at that time (25th Report, p. xxv.). In 1867 the attention of the Master of the Rolls was again called to the Durham Records. A Mr. Surtees, who had occasion to consult them in a law case, wrote to Lord Romilly complaining that the state of the Registry and Record Offices at Durham was " a " disgrace to the age in which we live, " On this complaint Sir T. D. Hardy, now Deputy Keeper, was charged to examine into their condition. Since his former Report the records had been moved to a new building, erected by the University of Durham as a condition precedent to obtaining possession of the old building for the purpose of a library. The records themselves were, for the most part, in as bad a state as they had been in 1854. None of the recommendations he had made for their preserva tion and arrangement had been carried out. They had neither been arranged nor catalogued, Some were in "a disgusting state of decomposition and filth," especially those belonging to the Clerk of the Peace. In their present condition of disorder they could not be consulted either for legal or historical purposes and were in danger of total destruction. The best course would be to remove them. " I would ask whether the records of the Palatinate of Lancaster are not better taken care of in London than they would be at Lancaster, and what inconvenience is entailed on the inhabitants of that Palatinate by their being in London? — Then, with regard to the records of Chester, I ask, are they not better preserved in London than they were in Chester Castle, where they laid in a state of neglect similar to the records at Durham P — Not only have the Chester muniments been arranged and repaired since they were brought to London, but the greater portions of them have been calendared, and the calendar is printed. This is a boon which the inhabitants of the Principality of Wales fully appreciate and gratefully acknowledge. "Looking at the history of the records of the Palatinate of Durham, and remembering how much they have suffered from spoliation and neglect, I cannot but believe that their removal to London would tend immeasurably to their preservation and usefulness,. * D.K. 21st Report, p. x. ; D.K. 16th Report, Appendix,, p. 37. f D.K. 22nd Report, p. vii. j But see also Report from the Select Committee, appointed to enquire into the Public Records of the Kingdom, 1800, p.253 ; General Report of the Commissioners on the Public Records, 1837, p. 219. § D.K. 16th Report, p. 3 ; Appendix, pp. 44-93. K 146 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : and would prove anything but an inconvenience and detriment to the people of the county."* On the rumour of the intended removal of the Durham Records the High Sheriff and Justices of the Peace protested against it. The removal, they said, " would throw great additional costs and obstructions " in the way of persons so wishing to consult them " for legal purposes. It would also be " a serious " inconvenience to those now engaged in investigating " the true history of the Palatinate, and probably " altogether put a stop to such inquiries. "f Lord Romilly answered that if the Durham authorities wished to keep their records they could do so on certain conditions. In a letter to the Treasury, dated 23 October 1867, he wrote as follows : — " I should, moreover, be sorry to resort to any measure, if it could be avoided, that could be considered prejudicial or displeasing to the inhabitants of the Palatinate. "Before, therefore, I order the removal of the Records, I should wish to ascertain whether the authorities and gentry of the county, in the event of my allowing the Records to remain at Durham, would themselves undertake to pay an annual salary to a qualified keeper of the Palatinate Records at Durham, who should be competent to arrange and calendar them, and make them properly accessible to the public for legal and historical investigations. "Such a, record keeper would necessarily be under the jurisdiction of the Master of the Rolls. If the authorities of the county would undertake this re sponsibility, which I presume they will consent to do, after concurring in the memorial which the High Sheriff and Justices of the Peace addressed and sent to me (a copy of which I append to this letter), I should see no objection to allow the Records of the Palatinate to remain in the new building erected for them by the University of Durham, pursuant to the Order of the Queen in Council, dated the 19th July 1837. " If , on the other hand, the county authorities should decline to comply with this proposal, no other course is open to me than to remove the Records in question to London. This was exactly the course adopted by me in the case of the Palatinate Records of Chester, when, after meeting and considering the matter, the gentlemen of that county thought it best that the Records should be transferred to the Public Record Office, the result of which has been, I believe, to give satisfaction to all persons who have occasion to consult them."+ These conditions were not accepted. " The Justices " of the Peace for the County of Durham, to whom " the proposal of the Master of the Rolls was submitted, " declined to deal with the question, except so far as it " referred to the documents belonging to the Clerk of " the Peace," over which neither the Public Record Act, nor the Order in Council of 5th March 1852, have been regarded as giving the Master of the Rolls any authority. Accordingly, on 17th November 1868, the Master of the Rolls issued his warrant for the removal of the Palatinate Records to the Public Record Office. § On the reception of the Durham Records into the Public Record Office an inventory of the documents thus transferred was made out. It is printed in the appendices to the 30th Report, and supplements the very full and detailed description annexed to the Report made by Mr. Hardy in November 1854. || The inventory was followed by a calendar of the most important records — the Cursitors' Records — which extend through Reports 31 to 37, inclusive, and is continued in 40, 41 and 45. The calendars fill about 1,200 pages of small print. It is evident from these instances that both Lord Langdale and Lord Romilly conceived that the Record Act gave them power either to remove the records in question to London or to leave them in the localities where they were. The conditions on which they were willing to leave the records in their present reposi tories were obviously determined by a consideration of the duties which the Act imposed on the Master of the * D.K. 29th Report, Appendix, p. 109. f Ibid., Appendix, pp. Ill, 112. X Ibid., Appendix, p. 104. | D.K. 30th Report, p. a. ; Appendix, pp. 44-120. |'| D.K. 16th Report, Appendix, pp. 54-93. Rolls. The records must be safely housed ; they must be properly preserved, arranged, and inventoried ; they must be accessible for legal and historical pur poses ; they must be in the custody of a keeper whom the Master regarded as qualified for his duties. Unless these conditions were complied with the records could scarcely be deemed to be under the charge and super intendence of the Master of the Rolls. Further, both Lord Langdale and Lord Romilly invariably stipulated that the building in which the records were preserved should be erected and main tained at the cost of the locality, and that the keeper should be paid by the locality. In the case of Durham it was estimated by Mr. Hardy that the combined salaries of the keeper and his clerks would be about 300?. a year. It is unfortunate that neither Durham nor Chester nor any other place accepted the proposed arrangement. Had one of them done so other places desirous of retaining their records might have adopted the same plan. In that case we might have developed in England something like the organisation which exists in Belgium. That is, a central Record Office containing the records of general importance and the modern State papers, combined with a certain number of provincial repositories containing local records, inspected at regular intervals by officers of the Record Department, and managed by archivists who were either themselves officials in the National Record service, or possessed of qualifications equal to those of its officials. C. H. F. 2. Repositories of Welsh Records before 1854. i. Chester Circuit : Chester Castle. Montgomery. Welshpool. Denbigh. Wrexham.Ruthin. ii. North Wales Circuit : Caernarvon.Dolgelley. iii. Brecknock Circuit : Brecon. Presteign. Cardiff. iv. Caermarthen Circuit : Caermarthen.Cardigan. Haverfordwest. 3. Report of an Inspection of the Repositories and Local Records at Ruthin and Chester, by Members of the Commission (April 1911). In accordance with a suggestion made and adopted at the meeting of the Commission on the 24th March 1911, that in view of the controversial nature of the evidence recently taken by the Commissioners on the subject of the custody of the Records of Chester, Flint and Denbigh, transferred from Chester Castle to the Public Record Office, London, in 1854 and 1859-60 * it would be desirable for the Commission to receive further information on this subject, the following Commissioners expressed their willingness to visit either Chester or Ruthin or both for the above pur pose : — Sir E. Vincent Evans, Dr. (now Sir) F. G. Kenyon, Mr. W. Llewelyn Williams, MP. The Secretary thereupon communicated with the following local authorities for the purpose of obtaining the necessary facilities : — 1. Chester (and Flint) : The Clerk of the Peace for the County of Chester (Reginald Potts, Esq.). The Clerk of the Peace for the City of Chester (N. A. E. Way, Esq.). The Town Clerk of Chester (J. H. Dickson, Esq.). The General commanding the Western District (through the War Office). The Collector of Customs at Chester (through the Board of Customs and Excise). Also (at the suggestion of Sir E. Vincent Evans) with Henry Taylor, Esq., F.S.A., formerly Town Clerk of Flint and a well-known antiquary. 2. Ruthin .- The Clerk of the Peace of the County of Denbigh (W. R. Evans, Esq.). The Town Clerk of Ruthin (Baldwin Griffith. Esq.) * D.K.'s 16th. 20th, 21st and 22nd Reports. APPENDICES. 147 The Lord of the Manor of Ruthin (Col. Cornwallis West). Also (at the suggestion of Sir E. Vincent Evans) with the Rev. John Fisher, B.D., formerly curate of Ruthin and a well known local antiquary. Facilities for the inspection of the several record repositories were courteously given by the respective authorities, and Sir Vincent Evans and Mr. Llewelyn Williams with the Secretary proceeded to Ruthin, Sir Frederic Kenyon having been compelled to omit this visit. The Commissioners and the Secretary accom panied by the Rev. J. Fisher visited the Shire Hall under the guidance of Mr. Evans (clerk), who produced an excellent list of the Records and who appeared to be well acquainted with their arrangement. Over the entrance of this building is the following interesting inscription : — " The Magistrates of this County, at the expense of the inhabitants, for the convenience of the Courts of Law and safety of the public records, . erected these in the years of Christ, mdcclxxxv, MDCCLXXXVI, MDCCLXXXVII." The records of the Quarter Sessions preserved in this building include " Court Order Books," from 1650 to 1895, " Quarter Sessions Files," from 1700 ; Lists of Jurors, from 1707, of Voters from 1832, and of Electors, from 1834 ; Land Tax Assessments, from 1749 to 1851 ; copies of Private Acts, from 1769 ; Inclosure Awards, and Plans, &c. The records were placed in three rooms. The building and the record rooms, although not fireproof, cannot be regarded as dangerous although an open chimney should always be bricked up. The muniments of the corporation in the Town Clerk's office are preserved with the plate in a substantial safe. They consist of a series of " Order Books " dating from 1692, but an earlier volume was in existence in 1849 when it was lent to a gentleman in Denbigh, whose representatives have not hitherto been traced. The corporation also possess a copy of the Charter of Henry VII., dated 1507, and an original Inspeximus of 1606. The Commissioners have to record their appreciation of the courtesy and hospitality extended to them on the occasion of their visit to the town by the corporation represented, at the request of the mayor, by Mr. Rowus and the Town Clerk. Guided by Mr Fisher, who made a careful examina tion of these documents some years ago the Commis sioners inspected the Ruthin Court Rolls at the Castle Estate Office by the kind permission of Colonel Corn wallis West. These muniments are a continuation of the series of mediaeval court rolls of the lordship of Ruthin, referred to above as being now deposited in the Public Record Office, London They comprise a series of Court Baron Books from 1717 to 1817 and a series of files of the proceedings of the Court Leet from 1741 to 1849. Mr. Fisher, who made a rough list of these docu ments some years ago, which he kindly placed at the disposal of the Commission, noticed amongst these files documents relating to borough inquests, escheats, estrays and the forest courts, besides indentures dating back to the close of the fifteenth century and rent rolls and surveys, particularly an extensive survey made in 1737. Unfortunately a gap will be found to exist between the series of manor rolls preserved at Ruthin Castle and those transferred to London in respect of the period from 1655 to 1716. No full explanation has hitherto been given of the circumstances under which the earlier series of Manor Rolls, down to 1654, was deposited among the corpora tion muniments, whence they were transferred to London, as described in the Deputy Keeper's Reports and in the evidence recently taken by the Commission. The nature of this transaction will be fully explained by the official correspondence printed below * In view of the great historical interest of these local records and the remarkable continuity of the series * It is possible that these documents were in the custody of a former recorder who was also an officer of the corporation. Colonel Cornwallis West, however, is under the impression that they were in the possession of his father at the date of their removal by Mr. Roberts. Copies of the official correspondence on the subject are appended. which extends from 1295 to 1849, it appeared to the Commissioners to be very desirable that they should be placed in better custody. On Thursday, April 13th, in the forenoon, the Commissioners, accompanied by the Secretary, visited Chester Castle, under the guidance of the Clerk of the Peace for the county of Chester, who is also clerk of the council, for the purpose of inspecting the records of the quarter sessions and county council. These records are preserved in a very large and well-lighted room heated by hot-water pipes and sumptuously fitted up as a repository by means of wooden presses with sliding doors and table-stands with deep drawers. The contents of each division are painted on the doors and the whole collection is listed and indexed in MS. books. The Commisioners, however, noticed that many of the older records, having been put away in a damp con dition (from their former unsuitable repository) are showing signs of mildew, and the attention of the clerk of the peace having been called to this fact, he undertook to consider the possibility of causing all such records to be at once wiped and spread out on the wide table-stands for a few days' exposure to the light and air ; also to consult with the official architect as to boring holes in the workwork of the sliding doors of the presses for ventilation. The records include, besides a very interesting series of accounts dating from 1703, files of the quarter sessions records from 1569 onwards in an excellent state of preservation. The modern series is somewhat bulky and is arranged in subject-files for each year. No weeding of these or other records has been allowed. Of corresponding date, as it would seem, is the series of order books of the quarter sessions, which are in need of some cleansing and repair. The Commis sioners also noticed rolls of recusants (indentures), apparently from 1715 onwards ; sacramental certificates beginning in 1741, game-books from 1787 ; inclosure awards and plans from 1700, together with coroners' inquisitions, alehouse recognizances, friendly societies returns and turnpike trusts. The Clerk of the Peace expressed a strong opinion with regard to the value of the last-mentioned records and the inconvenience caused by their being allowed to remain in private custody, for the purpose of levying fees. The Commissioners were impressed with the careful and intelligent preservation and arrangement of these local records. They had intended to inspect the Circuit Records in the custody of the clerk of the assizes which were also deposited in the Castle, but these had been transferred to the Pubhc Record Office, London, about a week previously, under a warrant issued by the Master of the Rolls. Having ascertained, however that these records, though placed under the charge and superintendence of the Master of the Rolls by the Act of 1838 and the Order in Council of 1852, had never been inspected by his officers, and that several mediaeval Plea Rolls for the quarter sessions of Flint had been found amongst them on their removal to London, the Commissioners by permission of the deputy clerk of assize, visited the room where they had been preserved, but the wooden cupboards in which they had been placed were found locked. They did, however, actually find two unlocked drawers full of modern assize records in a state of confusion- in a room to which the territorial troops had access for the purpose of hoisting flags, and where War Office stores were preserved. This neglect is, perhaps, explained by the fact that the deputy clerk of assize resides at Congleton, 20 miles distant. The assize records have apparently been kept in cupboards without ventilation or proper arrange ment, and these conditions of their custody will explain the fact that the records when received at the Public Record Office were found to be in a very bad condition and in a state of complete disorder. The Commis sioners instructed the Secretary to communicate with the deputy clerk of assize on the subject of the derelict records which they had observed here. In the afternoon, the Commissioners called at the office of the Clerk of the Peace for the city of Chester. an office easily confused with that above mentioned. From inquiry, however, they satisfied themselves that no records of the Great Sessions or Quarter Sessions were in the custody of this official, who kindly accom- K 2 148 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : panied them to the town hall, where the early records of the corporation are preserved in a muniment room securely fitted and fire-proof, though the millboards, used as shelves, and the wooden divisions of the presses might well be dispensed with. The Commissioners were received with great kindness by several members of the corporation, interested in the state of the muniments, who were accompanied by two local antiquaries. The ancient charters of the city, which have been recently mounted in glass cases, were exhibited in the town hall, and the remaining documents were viewed on the shelves of the muniment room. Amongst these the Mayors' books dating from 1393, the sessions' files and other judicial proceedings may be regarded as local records of a publie nature. The famous Dee Mills were pulled down only last year and the documents relating to them are carefully preserved in a separate box.* Some early accounts of these and of other mills in North Wales are preserved in the Public Record Office among the Welsh records. The city of Chester, as the chief port of the Palatinate, accounted for the customs on merchandise, and a series of customs entry books from 1451 to 1624 is still preserved here, together with a later account dated 1791. The relationship between the Palatinate and the royal Customs revenues and their respective records would appear to be deserving of further investigation. Official Correspondence relating to the Custody of tlie Ruthin Court Rolls.f Public Record Office, Sir, 16th March, 1859. Will you allow me to call to your recollection that when I was at Ruthin in September, 1854, for the purpose of bringing up to this office such of the Records of the abolished courts of the Principality as were remaining at Ruthin, you showed me (at the instance I think of Mr. Cole) a quantity of rolls and other parch ment and paper documents in the loft over the Town Hall in a shocking state of dirt and decay. Mr. Cole (if I am right in his name) wished me to take them away, but I did not consider I was justified in doing so under the warrant which I had for bringing up the records of the late court of Great Sessions, &c. I saw enough of them, however, to be assured they were worthy of preservation and to regret the risk of loss or destruction to which they were exposed. If not for legal evidence, they are at alb events of much value for historical purposes ; and now that such great exertions are being made by Government and private individuals to collect and make known the rich materials which exist both for the national and local history of the island, it is the more to be regretted that anything which can throw light thereon should be lost for want of care ; and I have not ceased to regret that I was unable to bring these documents away with me, for there can be no place in which they would be so safe as in this Office, where, besides the various series of actual Records, we have now a large mass of documents sent from Government offices and other places for preservation. I beg leave, therefore, to propose that all the docu ments to which I allude at Ruthin should be transmitted to this office for preservation, and on behalf of the Master of the Rolls (to whom I have mentioned the subject) I guarantee that all expenses shall be at once repaid by this Office ; that the documents shall be cleaned and repaired ; that a correct list of them shall be made and transmitted to you, together with a proper receipt, signed by the Master of Rolls, stating that they are received into his Honour's custody for pre servation in this Office, and lastly that any persons from Denbighshire interested in them, shall at all times have gratuitous access to these documents forthe purpose of inspection or making copies from them. I am, &c. Robert Edwards, Esq., Charles Roberts. Ruthin. * These charters are of great interest for the history of the Palatinate, and in this connection it may be noted that a, fine series of Palatinate seals is to be seen in the Grosvenor Museum in Chester. f Printed by permission of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. Cf., D.K. 21st Report, p. x. Sir, Ruthin, 17th March 1859. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date respecting the old Records which I showed you in 1854 and which I regretted you could not take with you. Shortly afterwards they were removed, I think by Mr. Cole, to Ruthin Castle under the impression, I believe, that Mr. West ought to have the custody of them as lord of the manor. I have heard nothing of them since, but in all probability they are still at the castle. I will call an early meeting of the town council and submit your letter to them, and I hope they will co-operate with you in getting Mr. West's permission to remove the Records to London. I am glad that you have again thought of them and written to me, and it will afford me much pleasure if I can be of any assistance in carrying out your wishes. I have this year succeeded Mr. Cole as Town Clerk, the old gentleman having resigned in consequence of infirmity. Mr. Jones of Brynhyfryd will, I am sure, be glad to read your letter. I am, &c. Charles Roberts, Esq., R. Edwards. Public Record Office, &c, &c, London. Sir, Ruthin, 2nd August 1859. I am happy to say that the old Records, referred to in your letter to me of the 6th March last, have been forwarded to your office this day by luggage train from Mold. I will write to you more fully by to-morrow's post. I am, &c. Chas. Roberts, Esq., R. Edwards. Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London. Public Record Office, Rolls House, Rolls Tard, Chancery Lane, Sir, London, W.C, 4th August, 1859. Mr. Roberts being absent on Vacation, I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd of August, and to inform you that the box, therein alluded to, arrived here safely yesterday afternoon. The box will not be opened until Mr. Roberts returns from the vacation, probably in a fortnight's time. He will then examine the contents and send you a formal receipt for the documents, signed by the Master of the Rolls, (as mentioned in his letter of the 16th March last), as soon afterwards as possible. In the meantime, the fuller details promised in your letter of the 2nd August will probably have been received here. I have, &c. (Signed) John Edward. Robert Edwards, Esq., Ruthin, Denbighshire. Pubhc Record Office, Dear Sir, 20 September, 1859. I was very much pleased on my return here last month to find that the box of old Records had arrived from Ruthin. I have put them in hand to be cleaned and repaired, and one of our officers is engaged in making a list of them, but as I wish this to be carefully done, examining every membrane, it will occupy some little time, and when completed we shall be able to give a satisfactory receipt for the documents. In your letter of the 2nd of August, announcing the transmission of the box, you said you would "write more fully by to-inorrow's post," but no such letter has arrived. I shall be very glad to hear further from you on the subject and much obliged by all the particulars you can give me respecting these Records, and espe cially as to their removal from the loft of the Town Hall and their subsequent place of deposit; and by whom they have now been sent up here ; and to whom the receipt for them should be addressed. The number of parchment documents is less than I anticipated from the hasty inspection I made of them at Ruthin in 1854, but some of them are of an earlier APPENDICES. 149 date than I then noticed. The paper documents do not seem to be of much value, but the whole will, of ¦course, be preserved together. I am, &c. -r, , , _, n (Signed) Charles Roberts. Robert Edwards, Esq. Dear Sir, Ruthin 23rd, September 1859. * ±x. inSa- t0 aclmowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th inst. respecting the Old Records which I forwarded to you in August last. I had intended writing to you afterwards, but I went from home and the matter escaped me. As promised in my letter of the 17th of March, I submitted your letter of the 16th to the Town Council and it was arranged that the mayor should call upon Mr West on the subject, it appearing that the Records had been removed to the Castle since 1854, but as Mr. West was then in London, some time elapsed before he could be seen. Mr. West consented most readily to return the Records to the Council for the purpose of being sent up to your office to be examined, &c, as proposed in your letter, and he was very glad you had written to me on the subject. I believe he also stated that he had seen some reference made to these Records in a recent Blue Book. I was myself disappointed in the number of parchment Rolls, but I have no doubt we have had all that were removed to the Castle. I thought it better to send up the paper documents although they hardly appeared to be worth examining. As the documents have been sent up by the Council of this Borough, you will be good enough to let the proposed receipt under the hand of the Master of the Rolls be made out to them, to be kept with the Municipal Muniments. I am, &c. Robert Edwards, Charles Roberts, Esq. Town Clerk. Dear Sir, Ruthin, 22nd December, 1859. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th inst., and of the receipt of the Master of the Rolls for the Court Rolls and other documents sent up to you in August last. I regret to find that the series is not complete. I have to-day seen Mr. West's agent, who has kindly promised that a search shall be made at the Castle, and if any more Rolls are found they shall be forwarded to you. I will make enquiries as to the proper mode of spelling some of the names you have sent me. I am, &c. Charles Roberts, Esq. R. Edwards. Ruthin Castle, Sir, 28th Dec. 1859. The Mayor of this town has shown me a letter of yours addressed to the town clerk on the subject of certain records which I handed over to the corporation of Ruthin, at their request, for the purpose of preserva tion. I am glad to find that some of these papers contain family and local interest. I have by me a quantity of similar documents and have no doubt they will assist in making up the deficiencies named in your letter, and I have handed them over to the Mayor. I am, of course, much interested in all old documents relating to the castle and lordship of this town as well as the history of my maternal family, the Myddeltons, and perhaps I should be allowed to employ a qualified person to copy and make selections of these different documents after they have been examined. I am, &c. F. M. West. Charles Roberts, Esq. Public Record Office, Sie, 2nd January 1860. Not having been in town last week I have only to-day received your letter of the 28th ult, which I hasten to acknowledge, and have to express my thanks for your readiness to render more complete the series of documents lately received here from Ruthin. 14829 As you state that you have handed them over to the mayor I should be greatly obliged if you would request him to transmit them to me as soon as he can, because a calendar of those received is now in prepara tion and it is therefore important to fill up at once any deficiencies that we can. Free access to these documents will be given to you or any person interested therein from Ruthin, and I will take care that every facility shall be afforded to any person you may send to examine and make copies therefrom for you. I am, &c. Charles Roberts. F. M. West, Esq. 4. — Memorandum on the Welsh Records.* (a) The early History and Custody of the Welsh Records (1284-1542). Nothing is known as to the existence or preserva tion of official records in the principality of Wales previous to the English Conquest in 1283-4. It may, however, be inferred from the establishment of the Prince's Household, set forth in the Ancient Laws, and from the letters and instruments preserved in English Records and in private collections that some such Records may have existed in native custody at least as early as the middle of the thirteenth century. Again, it is quite conceivable that Records of a quasi-official nature were compiled and preserved in connection with the jurisdiction of the Lordships Marcher during the whole period of their feudal activity. However this may be, it appears certain that no such collections have survived.f It is also well known that the Records of the Council of Wales, which must have existed for the second half of the fifteenth and first half of the sixteenth century, have also for the most part disappeared.^ It is, however, clear that subsequent to and conse quent on the famous "Statute of Wales" in 1284 a considerable quantity of judicial and ministerial records must have been compiled, and a certain number of these are still preserved amongst the contents of the collections transf erred to the Public Record Office from the Chapter House and the Land Revenue Record Office or kindred repositories.§ The Welsh Records in question would seem to have been connected with the judicial and fiscal establishments created (on older national lines) for North and South Wales, respec tively, at Carnarvon and Carmarthen, || comprising, in each case, a local Chancery, Exchequer and Justiciary. In connection with these administrative centres " Great Sessions " were held by justices itinerant both for judicial and fiscal business, and subsidiary to these " Great Sessions " there were what might be regarded as the "Petty Sessions" of the County and Hundred Courts.^ In South Wales, moreover, there were " Welsh Courts " under local customs tolerated by the Statute of 1284, whilst outside the sphere of influ ence of the King's justitiaries lay the private courts of the Lordships Marcher, the manorial franchises ** of * Communicated by Sir Vincent Evans, Dr. Henry Owen, and Mr. Llewelyn Williams, M.P. (with the assistance of experts in Welsh Records). f See Dr. Henry Owen on the "Laws of Wales and the Marches" in V Cymmrodor, XIV. Cf. H. Hall on the "Diplomatics of Welsh Records" in Transact ions of the Ci/mmrodorion Sue., 1900-1. X Miss C. J. Skeel " The Council in the Marches of Wales " and if. Palgrave, " Kalcndars," Vol. II, p. 147 sq., and the Minutes of Evidence (Q. 3763). References to a few surviving records will be found in the Evidence (Qs. 179 sq., 3644, 3762). § Appendix II., No. 1. || The titles of Welsh Records formerly preserved in the Carnarvon Exchequer are sometimes cited in contemporary Chamberlains' Accounts and the " Proffers " of the Exchequer there are still partially preserved. Cf. Thomas, Handbook, pp. 327-333. Cf. also D.K.'s 1st Report, Appendix, pn 112 114. ,vv t Cf. Doddridge, " History of Wales," ka.,passim. ** E.g., the Ruthin Court Rolls now partly deposited in the Public Record Office and partly in the present owner's Estate Office. Some early rolls have been well edited by Mr. R. A. Roberts of the Public Record Office. K 3 350 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : and the Burgh moots of the privileged towns,* with the neighbouring jurisdiction of the County Palatine of Chester (to which the sheriff of Flint was officially attached by the Statute of 1284) and the nominal over- lordship of the Prince of Wales.f Besides the judicial Records accruing from the Courts of Justice in North and South WalesJ a large collection of ministerial records must have been preserved in each of these two administrative pro vinces representing the periodical accounts and other " returns " made by such officers as constables, chamberlains, sheriffs, auditors, surveyors, foresters, coroners, escheators, stewards, ministers and rej ceivers. Many specimens and a few extensive series of accounts are still preserved amongst the Public Records in the Fetter Lane repository,§ and there can be little doubt that the whole or greater part of these, together with a few Inquisitions, Quo Warranto Rolls, Inclosure Awards and numerous Extents, Rentals and Surveys, were transmitted to that Repository either through the channel of the Land Revenue Record Office (including departments connected therewith)|| or direct from the Principality itself (including Chester) either in 1854-55 or at some earlier date. If In any case it can be shown that between the years 1800 and 1837 a large number of Welsh Records were preserved in the Chapter House** and in the Exchequer Augmenta tion Officeff which could scarcely have been received from any other source than the Office of the Auditors for Wales. JJ It may be observed, in passing, that the dangerous and disordered state of these Welsh Records in the London Record Offices previous to the year 1838 was at least as discreditable as the neglect of the same records in Welsh repositories according to the official survey made by order of the Master of the Rolls in 1839 and subsequent years. §§ But the point that invites special attention is this, that mediaeval Welsh records, both of a judicial and ministerial nature, were deposited in local repositories in North and South Wales where they presumably remained for centuries ; that many of these were apparently re moved to London by the Exchequer Auditors for Wales some time between the middle of the sixteenth and end of the eighteenth century ; that others were removed at some date to Chester, and that an official tradition ascribes the preservation of other Welsh records in the Chapter House to a transmission effected about the year 1767. One deduction that may.be made from the above disjointed notices is this ; that the judicial records of the great Sessions of Wales from 1542 to 1830 by no means represent the whole class of Welsh records of native origin. To these should be annexed a considerable number of mediaeval and post-mediaeval Plea Rolls, Accounts and other records which have perhaps unwarrantably and certainly quite unintelli- * Cf. S. & B. Webb, English Local Government, Part I., pp. 233 sq. f Cf. the Charters of Edward II. and III. and Rot. Pari. passim. Records apparently relating to this jurisdiction will be found amongst the Miscellanea of the Exchequer (6-20 & ¦nassim). This was succeeded by the formal jurisdiction (chiefly in equity) of the later Council. For the earlier princely jurisdiction, cf. Exchequer of Receipt, Misc. Bk. No. 144, the Council Book of Cornwall (T. of R.) and John of Gaunt's Register, 1372-1376 (.edition R. Hist. Soc). X Presumably this division included the so-called West Wales, i.e., Cardiganshire. § See Minutes of Evidence, Q. 3706, and the 1800 and 1837 Reports on the Public Records cited in the following note. || For the History of these and the custody of the Welsh Records therein, see Thomas, "Antient Exchequer," pp. 9 sq., the 1800 Report, p. 212, and the 1837 Report, pp. 205-6. For instances of transfers of these and other Records to and from the Exchequer Offices, see 1800-1819 Report, Vol. I., p. 6 and passim. ^f Minutes of Evidence, Q. 3708 sq., Thomas (Handbook, p. 327) refers to an official tradition that Records were removed from Carnarvon to Westminster (Chapter House) in 1767, when the Exchequer at Carnarvon was rebuilt, and this tradition will at least indicate a possible method of transmission. ** These are said to have been " discovered " there between 1800 and 1837. (1800-1819 Report, Vol. I., p. 193, cf. 1837 Report, pp. 66-67.) ff 1837 Report, p. 209. XX Those found in the King's Remembrancer's Office (1837 Report, p. 160) are of a more doubtful origin. §§ Below, p. 153 gently been inserted amongst the purely English Records of a similar type, ignoring the conventional classification of earlier archivists.* Another deduction is that the mediaeval records of the Palatinate of Chester and County of Flint, of which comparatively few were transmitted to London before the last century, have been singularly well preserved in a local repository and that herein they were perhaps more fortunate than the neighbouring records of the Principality. (b.) The History of the Welsh Records, from 1543 to 1830.f The " Welsh Records " in the usual, but (as we have seen) limited acceptance if the term, as a recognised class of the Public Records, were called into existence by the famous Act of 1542/3. % To some extent, however,. this Statute depends upon the provisions of the earlier Act of 1535§ superseding the jurisdiction of the Lord ships Marcher and incorporating the Welsh Borders into four new counties. The tdtimate effect of both these Acts, as far as the subsequent custody of the " Welsh Records " is con cerned, may be stated as follows : — The Act of 1535. By this Act the twelve Welsh shires were withdrawn from any other administration of justice than that already established for North Wales, that is to say the Justitiarship of South Wales was assimilated to that of North Wales by discarding native Customs and by limiting the exclusive jurisdic tions of the Lordships Marcher (s. 10 seq.) from which all shire land was thenceforth exempt. For the four new Welsh shires an Exchequer and Chancery were erected at Denbigh and also at Brecknock (s. 9).. Herein we see the beginning of the expansion of the old judicial divisions of North and South (with West) Wales into the modern circuits, and it is noticeable that separate provision is made here for Denbigh and Montgomery but not as yet for Flint. || Finally the English language was substituted for the Welsh in all legal proceedings. The Act was clearly intended as a preparatory measure and is chiefly concerned with the delimitation of Wales (ss. 26, 27) with a view to the subsequent erection of a new Welsh judicature (ss. 36, 37), and this will perhaps account for the numerous provisoes for the safety of existing interests appended to this measure. The Act of 1512 — 3. This Act, whilst citing some of the provisions of that of 1535, practically supersedes it both in respect of the delimitation of Wales and the new provision made for the administration of justice. In the first place the position of the twelve shires is definitely settled, Flint being reckoned as a Welsh shire and therefore henceforth ceasing to form part of the English Palatinate of Chester, if it had ever had such a legal position formerly. Secondly, the four circuits are completely organized in connection with the new Great Sessions of Wales, a justice is assigned for each at a salary of 50?. ; but it is noted that the justice of the neighbouring Palatinate of Chester (who is already in receipt of a salary of 100?.) is to undertake the Sessions for Denbigh, Flint, and Montgomery without any further stipend^ (ss. 6-9). Moreover, each of these justices was to * Everything relating to Wales was formerly classified under the heading Wallia. This title was applied to Records (chiefly of the Chancery) compiled or properly preserved in England. The desirability of such a distinction in the case of transmitted Records would seem to be still greater. At present our knowledge of the origins of these Welsh Records- depends on the precarious existence of a manuscript list. f This information is based on a paper on the Welsh Courts of Great Sessions read before the Hon. Society of Cymmrodorion in 1911 by Mr. Llewelyn Williams. X 34 & 35 H. 8. c. 26. § 27 H. 8. c. 26. The provisions of this and the following Act are given in the works of Mr. Bowen and Miss Skeel. || Probably the suggestion of Professor Tout that in course of time Flintshire had become more closely associated with the Palatine of Chester than was intended by the Statute of Edward I. will explain this apparent omission. If This distinction between the Welsh and the Palatinate Sessions is preserved as late as the Act of 12 Geo. III. c. 30 (1772). The Act of 1576, adding to the number of these justices, refers to the several " counties" of Chester, Denbigh,. Flint, and Montgomery. APPENDICES. 151 receive a commission under the Great Seal of England, and thus the Justice of Chester held a commission in respect of the Great Sessions of Wales in addition to his commission under the Palatinate Seal. Again, omcial seals were to be provided for the new judicial regime,* and these again were distributed to the four Chanceries and circuits, the original seals being in the charge of the Chamberlains (ss. 16-19) and the judicial seals in that of the justices (s. 29). In the case of Flint, however, it was stipulated (probably in deference to the vested interests of the Chamberlain of Chester) that the original seal of the Palatinate should serve as the original seal of Flint (s. 20). A new judicial seal was, however, made for the coun ties of Denbigh, Flint, and Montgomery (s. 29).f Provision was also made under this Act for the ap pointment of subordinate officers in connection with the above judicial arrangements. Amongst these were four Prothonotaries (s. 44), of whom one was to attend on the justice appointed for Denbigh, Flint, and Montgomery, while the other three were to attend on the justices of the Carnarvon, Carmarthen, and Brecknock circuits. Here again the intention of the Act to distinguish between the judicial administration of the Welsh counties and the neighbouring Palatinate of Chester is clearly seen ; but here again vested in terests, protected by the Acts of 1535 and 1542/3, have led to some confusion between the jurisdiction of the Welsh shire and the Palatinate. The existing Pro- thonotary of Chester contrived to hold this office in connection with the Great Sessions for Denbigh, Flint, ajid Montgomery, and this arrangement continued in force down to 1830, although the distinction between the offices of Prothonotary of Chester and Prothonotary of Denbigh, Flint, and Montgomery was carefully pre served. £ Besides the provision made for the Great Sessions, the Act contains explicit directions for holding the Sheriffs' Courts, whilst there are clear indications that the Sheriffs' Accounts were to be taken before the Auditors for Wales. Appeals were to be taken to the English Chancery or to the Court of King's Bench. § The general effect of the Act was therefore to provide a considerably enlarged judicial apparatus, and a corresponding increase in the compilation of records both for the Great Sessions and the inferior courts must have taken place in consequence thereof, with a diminution in the number and importance of the Court Rolls of the Lordships Marcher. It may be observed that no provision is made under these or any earlier or later Acts for the custody or transmission of the Welsh Records, beyond the con cession of the custody of those connected with the Great Sessions to the several Prothonotaries or Clerks of the Crown; || and the Records doubtless remained in such custody down to the Act of 1830, by which the courts of Great Sessions were abolished ;^[ but it is provided that the existing Records shall remain in the same custody " until otherwise provided by Law."** i.e., until the Public Record Office Act of 1838. The later judicial records have remained in the charge of the clerks of assizeff in accordance with the unfortunate practice prevailing in England since the reign of Edward IV. and such as have survived were transferred to the Public Record Office under warrants issued by * It may fairly be inferred that a series of Seal-books, Docket-books or Fee-books must have existed from 1543 onwards for the Welsh Sessions and Exchequers, and it would be interesting to trace the fate of these. The best of the Chester series have been preserved. f This seal was " to be used within the said shires in the Sessions to be holden within the same shires, " though it was to be in the custody of the Justice of Chester ; but see below, p. 152. t See below, pp. 152, 153, 156. § There was a saving clause for the jurisdiction of the Council of Wales, but this, by a reputed judicial decision in 1569, did not include the Palatinate of Chester as being no part of Walea (cf. below, pp. 152, 156). || 34 & 35 H. 8. c. 26, s. 44. For the legislation and practice in respect of English Assize Records, see H. Hall, Studies in Official Documents, p. 117, n. 10. f 11 Geo. 4 and 1 William 4, c. 70. ** 11 Geo. 4. and 1 William 4 c. 70., s. 27. In default of the statutory custody, the Clerk of the Peace was to have charge of the Records. ff Cf. ibid., s. 33, and above Appendix II., No. 2. the Master of the Rolls since the appointment of this Commission. The Custos Rotulorum, whose authority in such matters has unfortunately been at all times purely nominal, was supposed to have the charge or superintendence of the county Records, especially those of the Sessions of the Justices of the Peace ; but the Act of 1542 -3 is silent on the subject of his duties, and the actual responsibility for the custody of the local Records has been very lightly worn by the Clerks of the Peace.* In any case there would be few precedents for the preservation in official custody of the Court Rolls and other muniments of such of the old Lordships Marcher or manorial jurisdictions as came into the hands of the Crown subsequent to the Act of 1554,f and it would appear from inquiries made at the Office of H.M. Woods and Forests, &c, that such of these records as have survived are only to be found amongst the Public Records or other public collections.^ Evidence of other Records. — The Commissioners have been favoured by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records with a memorandum on the subject of " the Records of Flintshire,"§ which, it is understood, repre sents the official view that will be published in the preface to the new list of Welsh Records, which has been prepared during the proceedings of this Com mission. || With the early history of the Palatinate of Chester or that of the subservient shire of Flint ^f we are not here concerned. It has been seen that the Statute of Wales placed that shire under the administration of a sheriff who (for official convenience we may assume) was to take his orders from the Justice of Chester and render his accounts at the Exchequer there. We have also seen that under the Act of 1542-3 Flint, though described as having been a shire " of long and ancient time," was similarly linked with the Palatinate for judicial purposes. The evidence of Local Records might be adduced to show that Flint as a shire had an official existence distinct from Flint as a reputed " parcel " of the County Palatine of Chester, and that this early distinction (which had gradually dropped out of sight) was revived and accentuated by the Act of 1542-3.** On the other hand it is clear, from the instances cited by the Deputy Keeper and from others that might be found amongst the Chester Records, that even after the Act of 1542-3 the official association of Flint with Chester for certain administrative purposes continued to be asserted down to the dissolution of the Courts of the Palatinate and Principality in 1830. At the same time it would be rather dangerous to attach too great importance to the sui-vival of this archaic practice which, apart from vested interests, was by no means consistently observed. Thus in * Cf. Report on Local Records, p. 13. Besides the Records of the Quarter Sessions there must have been many connected with the offices of Coroner, Escheator, Sheriff, Constable, Chamberlain, Bailiff. &c, other than those rendered as accounts or vouchers. Amongst the incidental references in the Act there is one to the office of Aulnager of Wales and the Records of this office would be valuable. f 1 & 2 Phil. & Mar. c. 15. X The Commissioners will be supplied with information as to Crown Manors in Wales by the courtesy of Mr. Morton Evans of the Office of Woods. Records of an earlier date are in the Public Record Office. § The Commissioners have also had the advantage of taking the evidence of the Deputy Keeper on this point. (Minutes of Evidence, Qs. 185-194, 225-255, 347.) || The official title given to these Records down to the year 1910 was in this compendious form. It is now apparently to be altered to " List of the Records of the Coimty Palatine of Chester and Principality of Wales." ^[ A valuable monograph for the history of Flint has recently been published by Professor Tout as an address to the Flintshire Historical Society. This is valuable for the study of the growth ol the shire and its jurisdictions (cf. the same writer's paper in Y Cymmrodor, IX., 201). The author has not only made great additions to our knowledge of the subject, but has also prepared us to expect further disco vel ies. ** The fullest assertion of the palatinate jurisdiction of Chester over Flintshire perhaps dates from the temporary creation of the Principality of Chester by 21 Richard II. During the 15th century, however, the official title " counties palatine of Chester and Flint " is usual, and the change of style to " county palatine of Chester " in the 16th century is therefore significant. K 4 152 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS ; respect of the Seals of the Palatinate of Chester and Shire of Flint, which have been the subject of some learned observations by the Deputy Keeper, it must be remembered that the attestation of instruments under this Seal, in default of a Prince of Wales, was by the King of England and not by the Earl of Chester, and that appoinments, though inrolled in the Chester Recognizance Rolls,* might still be attested at Westminster under the Great Seal of England. f Again it has been definitely stated that Flint was excluded from the use of the " original " or Chancery Seal allotted to Denbigh and Montgomery and continued to be dependent on the Seal of the Chester Ex chequer. But the fact that a judicial SealJ was shared by Flint with the Welsh counties would seem to indicate that the arrangement in respect of the " original " Seal was only a question of economy or vested interest. This view is confirmed by the discovery in an Exchequer account§ for the execution of various Seals at the accession of James I. of an entry for a " double original, or Chancery Seal " for the counties of Denbigh, Montgomery, and Flint, as well as for a " Judicial Seal " of the same counties. This contemporary view of the matter is of great importance as tending to show that the dependence of Flintshire on the judicial and administrative machinery of the County Palatine of Chester ceased soon after the date of the Act of 1542-3. The fact was perceived by Professor Tout, who shrewdly inferred that something more lay behind the traditional separation of the equity jurisdiction of Flint from that of the Chester Exchequer in 1569. || Further researches will possibly show that from this or from some earlier or later date the severance effected between the two counties in point of jurisdiction and administration was practically complete, and that the retention of the older Flint shire Records at Chester Castle was only a matter of convenience or indifference in which, however, the separate interests of the two counties were regarded down to the period of chaos that followed the dissolution of the Sessions in 1830. It may also be shown, by similar research, that even the early depen dence of Flintshire upon its palatine neighbour must not (as Professor Tout has warned us) be interpreted in general terms.^f It is at least certain that the County Palatine of Chester continued to assert . the subservience and even the inclusion of Flint under the Palatinate and to display a corresponding legend on its Seal long after the shire itself had escaped from the Palatine jurisdiction.** Time has not permitted of more than a cursory examination of the " Welsh Records "f f themselves for * Because the originals wore produced there by the grantees. f There was a distinction between the Great Seal of England or of the Duchy of Lancaster and the "Double" Seal of the Counties Palatine of Lancaster or of Chester. X The statement that Flint had no judicial Seal apart from Chester is all the more remarkable since impressions of this Seal from 1558 onwards have been reproduced. Indeed, strictly speaking, Flint had the use of two Seals, one for Chancery and one for Common Law business, whilst Chester had only the Palatinate Seal. § Pipe Office Declared Account, 2890. || T. F. Tout, "Flintshire," p. 29, Ormerod, " Cheshire " (Vale Royal), I., 129, and Skeel, op. eit., p. 130. The dictum oE the Elizabethan judges which roundly asserts the depen dence of Flint as a member of the County Palatine is evidently actuated by a regard for the royal claim to the Mise or quit-rent of the county. It would seem that the officials of the Chester Exchequer tried, about the same date, to coerce the citizens of Chester, who had already freed themselves from the palatine jurisdiction (Morris, " Chester " pp. 73, 74). ^f It may be suggested that the use of this Palatinate Seal for the counties of Chester and Flint since the year 1542 is merely an anachronism. ** It is not surprising that the officers of the Crown, prince or earl, should have sought to perpetuate the ancient rights of the Palatinate. The policy of the Crown and Parliament, which abrogated the powers of the Palatinates in every direction during the sixteenth century, at the same time maintained the private franchizes still in the hands of the Crown. Cf. Webb's, " English Local Government," p. 310 sq. ff E.g., the Bills and Answers of the Court of Chancery of the Exchequer of Chester, the Seal Books of the Palatinate of Chester and the Receiver General's Accounts of the Land Revenue Record Office. Cl the purpose of ascertaining the true position of those of the county of Flint, but even such a brief search leads to the conclusion that in respect of proceedings both at Common Law and Equity the records of Flint formed a distinct series. This distinction is equally clear in the case of the 16th century Revenue Accounts which either found their way into the Westminster Exchequer or are still preserved amongst the Land Revenue Office Records (Receivers' Accounts). Here we no longer find a composite account for Chester and Flint as in the old Chamberlains' Accounts, but a distinct account for " the County of Flint in North Wales."* We can also recognise the fact that the records habitually refer to the " Sessions of the County of Chester " or to the " Exchequer (and Chancery) of the County Palatine of Chester," and that the addition of Flint to this superscription may usually be regarded either as an embellishment found in Seals, or else as the gratuitous addition of a modern Record officer.f These antiquarian researches, which are evidently as yet by no means exhaustive (owing doubtless to the long standing neglect of the " Welsh Records ") and which lend themselves to conflicting arguments, are perhaps of less consequence for this inquiry than the official practice that existed in the early part of the last century.J In the year 1800 we find the records of the Great Sessions of Flint preserved in the custody of the Deputy Prothonotary and Clerk of the Crown for that Court, and although these records were kept at Chester they were kept " separate and distinct " from the records of the Court of Sessions of Chester " in different cases and closets. "§ The distinction made here between the " Great Session of Flint " and the " Sessions " of Chester is instructive, as is also the statement of the Clerk of the Peace for Flint|| that the oldest records of that county are " lodged in the Record Office at Chester," those since 1748, only, remaining in his own office. In the 1837 Report we find the Flint and Chester- records still regarded (in 1831) as separate collections, though, in consequence of a fire in 1817, the efforts of local antiquaries and the effects of the dissolution of the courts in 1830, they had been to some extent confused and amalgamated. At the date of Mr. Black's survey^]" on behalf of the Master of the Rolls the confusion had greatly increased, and the record experts from London seem to have paid little regard to this distinc tion, with the result that the " Chester Records," as surveyed and subsequently listed, are found to include those of Flint on the ground apparently of the archaic palatine jurisdiction. At the same time Mr. Black makes a distinction between the records of the Exchequer or Chancery of Chester and those of the Chancery of Denbigh, Flint, and Montgomery.** But it must now be seen that if such distinctions are to be made at all they will apply equally to the common-law records. The evidence of the Declared Account of 1603 must modify our views as to the provision made by Henry VIII.'s legislature for the Flintshire seals. Through its admission to share the use of a Chancery Court and Record Reposi tory with the linked Welsh counties, Flintshire has admittedly established a title to such records of local Chancery suits as were preserved elsewhere than at * The separation of Flintshire from Chester in certain aspects of the royal accounts is frequently noticeable even in the medieval period (cf. Morris " Chester," p. 57) and this dis tinction is also found in royal charters, e.g., that to Edward Prince of Wales in 1312. f Thus a modern label has been pasted on to the " Seal Books " of the Palatinate of Chester describing them as Seal Books of Chester and Flint. Many curious instances of this, assumption might be added. X See D.K. 1st Report, Appendix, pp. 78 seq., Ormerod " History of Cheshire," Vol. I., p. 127, &c, and the 1800 and 1837 Reports on the Public Records. § 1st Report (edition 1801), p. 248. || Ibid., p. 299. These were the records of the Sessions of the Peace, &c. H It may be inferred from Mr. Black's historical intro duction that he approached the classification of the Flint records with the theory of the dependent position of that county. ** Following the classification of Ormerod's " Historv of eshire," Vol. I., p. 360. J APPENDICES. 153 Chester* This title is now greatly strengthened by the recognition of a Chancery Seal for Flint distinct from that of Chester since 1603, if not earlier. It follows equally that the similar description of a judicial Seal for Flint and the evidence of the position at a later date of all its common-law records, distinct Irom those of Chester, in the custody of a separate Prothonotary, must go far to vindicate the title of the Welsh shire to their custody as against the official assumption, since 1839 only, in favour of the county Palatine. J (e) The Survey and the Transfer of the Welsh Rccoi-ds from Wales to London (1839-1855). The Common Law and Chancery Records of the Courts of the Great Sessions for Wales and the Court of Sessions and Exchequer of Chester ceased to accrue after the abolition of those courts by the Act of 1830.f Provi sion was, however, made by the Act for the continuance of local judicial procedure in respect of Fines and Recoveries.+ From 1830 to 1839 the judicial records of the Principality and Palatinate were to all intents derelict, for although the Act of 1830 had placed them in the same custody as before,, until " otherwise pro vided by law,"§ the Prothonotaries or Clerks of the Crown, having no longer the stimulus of handsome fees to sustain their interest in this charge, appear to have paid very little attention to their safety. The devolutionary custody of the Clerks of the Peace, sanctioned by the Act,|| was likely to prove even less efficient, and it would therefore seem that the matter was a very proper one for the intervention of the newly constituted authority of the Master of the Rolls under the Public Record Office Act of 1838. At the same time it must be remembered that these Welsh Records are only mentioned in that Act side by side with those of the expired palatinate jurisdictions of Durham and Ely,«|[ whilst the problem of saving the very records of the Courts at Westminster had still to be faced, and was, in fact, to be emphasised by the grave scandal of 1840.** In view of these peculiar circumstances the action of the new authorities in directing their first efforts under section 4 of the Act towards these obscure Welsh Records is a little remark able. It must not, however, be forgotten that the recent abolition of the Welsh courts had provoked some display of national and professional feeling, and that the opposition offered to the Act of 1830 may easily have suggested to a member of the English Bench the desirability of furtherdisciplinary measures.f f However, this may be, the question of the Welsh Records had engaged the attention of the Master of the Rolls and his advisers from the date of the passing of the Act of 1838, if not before.^ J In August of that year Sir Francis Palgrave went to inspect the Records at Chester, and reported that those in the custody of the Chamberlain were worth removing to London. He was unable to obtain access to those in the charge of the Prothonotary. In 1839, a firm of solicitors having complained that all the Welsh Records ought to be annexed to the Land Revenue Records on the * It is possible that the Record officers made too much of this point ; but again the early Chancery Records for Flint seem to have perished. The extent of the jurisdiction of the Chester Exchequer over Flint is exaggerated in the printed official calendars. f 11 Geo. 4 and Wm. 4. c. 70. X Ibid., s. 28 and s. 29. The legal procedure of " Fine and Recovery " was abolished by the Act of 1834. § Ibid., s. 27. || Ibid., s. 33. f 1 &2 Vict. c. 94, s. 1. ** Cf. Report of Lords' Committee in 1840, and F. W. Maitland, Memoranda de Parliament!) (Rolls), Preface, p. xiii. ff Cf. the official edition of the Liber Tliberniar (Vol. I., Part i. p. 1), advocating the transfer of the Irish Records to London on political grounds. XX Sir F. Palgrave in an official letter of 22nd August 1838, mentions the great interest taken by the Master of the Rolls in this matter, and there exists a draft letter in his writing to Lord Russell, dated 17th August 1838, stating that certain Records, notably the Welsh Records, are now unprotected and neglected, and someone ought to be sent to survey them at once with a view to remove them to London. This early official attitude is confirmed by correspondence in 1839, preserved in the Record Office. assumption that they related chiefly to titles of Crown Lands, an acknowledgment was received from the Rolls House assuring these correspondents that the question of " the future place of deposit " of the Welsh records was under consideration. In June 1839, Sir F. Palgrave had, in fact, submitted a scheme for a " General Record Office" to contain besides the English judicial records those of the Welsh courts, the Palatinates of Chester and Durham, and the Land Revenue Office and Queen Anne's Bounty Office records. To these indications of a settled policy for dealing with the Welsh records may be added others contained in the instructions drafted by Lord Langdale for their survey in 1839.* It is stated here that the object of the survey is " to " enable the Master of the Rolls to judge of the manner " and expediency of transferring these records to Lon- " don," and also " for the safe custody of the records " until such removal." Primed with these suggestions, Mr. Black, the officer to whom this survey was entrusted, found little to say in favour of the existing custody of the Welsh records, and indeed this could only have been matched by the conditions then existing in the London repositories. It is possible to gather from Mr. Black's interesting and able reportf that the immediate danger threatened to those records lay in the dispersal of official documents that remained in the private custody of certain officials, a danger, however, to which many English records are equally exposed in our own time. But it does appear from Mr. Black's report, and also from that of his colleague Mr. Roberts in 1852, that the Chester Record Office was in every respect a suitable repository for the records, and in view of the strong opposition offered by the citizens of Chester to their removal it was seriously considered whether a " Branch Record Office " could be established there under the charge of an Assistant Keeper.J It also appears from the official correspondence of the period 1839-1855 that equally strenuous resistance was offered in other quarters to the removal of the Welsh records. Not only so, but the county authorities in some cases went to great expense in building or rebuilding record offices and in other preparations for meeting the requirements of the Master of the Rolls. These efforts of local patriotism § were, however, made in vain, and it is difficult to resist the conviction that the removal of the records had been long determined on. It will, in fact, be gathered from the official correspondence that the result of Mr. Black's survey of the Welsh records in 1839 was not only the condemn ation of the existing system, but also the fixed deter mination to remove the Welsh records to London as soon as a General Record Office was erected. This event was delayed for another twelve years, but as soon as the building was well in hand, another Record Officer was sent to complete the business. This officer (Mr. Charles Roberts) was charged with the execution of the warrants that had been already issued for the transfer of the Welsh records, and therefore his mission was chiefly confined to arranging and packing the records for removal. 1 1 may be noticed, however, that he evidently found these records far better cared for than they were in 1839. It may also be observed that he found the records of Chester and Flint, which were still separate collections in 1839, now to a great extent mixed.]] Finally, it will be remembered that Mr. Roberts set on foot the negotiations which resulted in the transfer of the Ruthin Lordship Records to London, although these admittedly did not fall within the scope of the warrant for taking over the Denbighshire records.^" (d) The Treatment of the Welsh Records in the Public Record Office between 1855 and 1886. The Welsh records having been consigned to London in various luggage vans and horse-boxes were " Rolls HouBe Correspondence, 1838-9. t D.K. 1st Report, Appendix, pp. 79 seq. X Rolls House Correspondence, 1852-3, and above, No. 1. § There was perhaps in those days nothing like a national sentiment on this subject. The counties of Carnarvon, Mer ioneth, Montgomery, and Denbigh seem to have shown the greatest solicitude in this matter ; but see above, No. 1. || This process, however, had been going on since 1817, or even earlier, cf. above, p. 152. ^f See above, No. 3. 154 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : received into the Fetter Lane Repository, where (with the exception of the Chester and Flint Records) they remained in practically the same state down to the year 1908, in spite of the fact that the original inten tion of the authorities of the Rolls had been to preserve and dispose " of them in a manner in all respects most useful to the pubhc."* Indeed in the first pronouncement of Lord Langdale on the subject of record policy we read that "the Records of the " abolished Courts of Wales are amongst those which " require the earhest attention."f This attention is defined as follows : " that the Records may be cleaned, " repaired, sorted, covered, ticketed, and bound or placed " in boxes on an uniform and systematic plan," whilst " complete chronological repertories, inventories, and " catalogues of the Records should be formed." % It would seem, however, that these necessary measures were quite beyond the reach of the single assistant keeper who was sent to survey the Welsh records in 1839, and his utmost efforts could only effect a rough sortation of the more " useful " records, and provide a few partial "repertories."§ In fact the only operation of an exhaustive or scientific nature that was undertaken previous to the removal of the Welsh records to London in 1854 seems to have been a "Calendar and Inventory " (sic) of "Fines and Recoveries." Urgent reasons for this work existed in connection with the titles to real estate which were still the subject of litigation, || and with regard to this calendar we are told that it is " highly expedient that " it should be finished as soon as possible to satisfy the " demands of applicants who are by means of these " records spared expensive and troublesome applications " to the Offices in the Palatinate and Principality."^ The allusion here is apparently to the transfer of a certain number of derelict Fines of the Chester circuit to the Rolls House,** but the question of the Welsh fines had been officially adverted toff as an instance of the dangers to which the Welsh records were exposed, and led to the passing of an Act of Parliament which might perhaps have been dispensed with.JJ In spite of all this stir, the "Calendar and Inventory " referred to was not begun till 1849, and probably few persons would now be aware that such a work was ever undertaken. The real reason for this delay in putting the Rolls programme of 1839 into operation is doubtless found in the plea that the records must be removed to London before they could be adequately dealt with. This argument, as we have seen, prevailed, and a new era in the custody of the " Welsh Records " was to have begun when the last contents of the Welsh shire- halls were received at the Fetter Lane repository in the year 1855. Unfortunately, however, these records did not benefit proportionately by the change of custody, and the reason may again be found in the inadequate provision made by the authorities in London for the formidable task that lay before them. And yet they had been already warned by Mr. Roberts, before the transfer took place, that "the arrangement of the whole will be " a work of years, unless an efficient force be placed " thereon." If these measures were taken, Welsh patriots might be assured that their records would be better cared for in London than they could have been in Wales, and that "their usefulness to the pubhc will be greatly extended. "§§ This was written in 1854, and in the next year the demand for special assistance was repeated.|| || During 1856 attention was again called to * D.K. 1st Report, Appendix, p. 77. f Official Letter to Lord J. Russell, 7th January 1839 j D.K. 1st Report, pp. 67, 68, 70. § Ibid., Appendix, p. 79 seq. || The judicial procedure connected with " Fines and Recoveries" was preserved by the Act of 1830, but was abolished by the general Act of 1834. f D.K. 10th Report, p. 13. ** D.K. 7th Report, p. 5. cf. 20th Report, Appendix, p. 194. ff D.K. 1st Report, Appendix, p. 116, and 2nd Report, p. 7. |J 5 Vict. c. 32. Many of the missing Fines were shortly afterwards recovered, cf. D.K. 7th Report, Appendix i, p. 9. §§ D.K. 16th Report, Appendix, p. 41. |||| D.K. 17th Report, Appendix, p. 40. the needs of the now transferred records, and we learn that little progress had been made in the work owing to "many interruptions" and "frequent transfers from one room to another " of the Fetter Lane Repository.* Again, we read in 1857, that " the work has been inter- " rupted even to a greater degree than in the preceding " year by the frequent removal of the Records from " room to room."f The Welsh Records were in fact temporarily piled up in several different rooms, and no attempt was made to bring them together till 1859, whilst no general list of their contents was completed until a still later date. These delays would seem to have been due partly to the priority of treatment accorded to records removed from the English Law Courts and Public Offices, and in part also to the promotion of Mr. Charles Roberts to the position of secretary of the Public Record Office in 1857. Between 1859 and 1862 greater progress was made in the work of repairing, arranging, and cataloguing the Welsh Records, under the direction of another Assistant Keeper (Mi-. Peter Turner) and a manuscript " Class List " was produced which continued in use down to the recent rearrangement of these records in 1908, which is still in progress. Moreover, several useful calendars of the " Welsh Records," as they were then defined, were included in the Deputy Keeper's Reports during the next ten years, but it must be observed that these relate exclusively to the counties of Chester and Flint. With the appointment of Sir T. D. Hardy as Deputy Keeper, in 1861, the whole policy of the Record Office underwent a marked change. The detailed reports of the transfer, repair, and arrangement of the records gave place to an ambitious scheme of publication. It is scarcely surprising there fore that little was done during the succeeding period to complete the work of arranging and describing the Welsh records promised by the Rolls authorities in 1839 and again in 1854. (e) The Treatment of the Welsh Records from 1886 to 1911. With the appointment of Sir H. Maxwell Lyte, in 1886, it is well-known that a great improvement took place in respect of the arrangement of the unsorted records. The Welsh records, however, seem to have been completely overlooked in these beneficial operations, and at the same time they suffered, as a national collection, by the process of disintegration which, according to the evidence taken by the Com mission, has equally obscured the provenance of the English judicial records. J In the case of the Welsh Records, however, this distribution is a still more serious matter. The ancient collection of Welsh State Papers, known by the official title of Wallia, may fairly be regarded as an archaic device, and even the famous " Welsh Rolls " might be merged, as was lately contemplated, amongst the " supplementary," Close or Patent Rolls of the English Chancery. All these properly form part of the English Records; but during the last twenty years further encroachments have been made. Few of the ministerial records, that were formerly preserved in Welsh repositories and removed thence to Chester or Westminster in an earlier period, and to the Rolls House in 1854-5, are still preserved amongst the Welsh Records. That is to say, the great series of Chamberlains' and other Ministers' accounts, § together with Court Rolls || and other local documents,^]" have been withdrawn from the Welsh Records and placed in the English series of "Special Collections." Even the Plea Rolls of the Great Sessions of Wales were taken out of the class list of Welsh Records and annexed to the English series of Plea Rolls.** At the same time the Welsh judicial records subsidiary to these Plea Rolls were allowed to lie in roughly sorted classes and in a long series of "Miscellaneous Rolls" or "Miscellaneous Books " without an adequate classification or descrip- * D.K. 18th Report, p. 11. f D.K. 19th Report, p. 10. X Cf. Report, p. 24. § Public Record Office, Indexes & List, No 5 || Ibid., No. 6. if See above Section (a). ** Indexes and Lists, No. 4. APPENDICES. 155 tion of their contents. In this state they remained until the year 1908 when, in consequence of a corre spondence* between the Deputy Keeper and * repre sentative body of Welsh scholars, members, or chiefly members of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, the task which the Rolls authorities had set themselves seventy years before was seriously undertaken.f The recommendations and criticisms submitted by these Welsh scholars seem to have caused some irritation in official quarters and to have evoked a promise to call tie attention of the " Destruction Committee " to these Welsh records. A promise was, however, given that any records so condemned should .be presented to the National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth. It will be seen from an examination by Welsh experts of the large mass of records thus consigned that they are by no means so "valueless" as the Record Office officials had supposed.]; In connection with this drastic clearance of the miscellaneous judicial records of -the old Welsh courts, (which remained unexamined and undescribed to the last),§ a new list was made which is believed to be now ready for the press. In the preparation of this list it would appear to have been at first the intention of the Deputy Keeper to follow closely on the lines of the classification of these records laid down since 1837, in respect of the inclusion of the records of the Pala tinate of Chester and county of Flint amongst those of the Principality at large. This intention was, however, altered whilst the new list was in the press, and the Chester and Flintshire records have been now withdrawn and presented as a separate list.|| It can scarcely be doubted that this sudden change of plan was to some extent influenced by the debateable position of the Chester and Flintshire records. ^[ At the same time the classification of the Chester records as distinct from those of the twelve Welsh shires is doubtless both justifiable and historically correct, though it seems very doubtful whether a proprietary claim on the part of the Palatinate of Chester to any of the Flintshire records could be sustained or was ever in fact made ; whilst it is apparently the considered opinion of the Deputy Keeper that the Flintshire Judicial Records, since 1543, belong to Flintshire as a Welsh county.** (f ) Welsh Becord Publications. In the course of the correspondence, previously referred to, between certain Welsh scholars and the Public Record Office, it was alleged that Wales was not properly represented in the official list of national Record Publications as compared with England, Scotland, and Ireland.ff It was also suggested that a native Welsh scholar might be employed on the staff of the Public Record Office with advantage. On this point the Commissioners have heard the evidence of the Deputy Keeper %% and of Professor Tout as well as that of Welsh scholars familiar with records. §§ It would seem, however, that the first part of the above representation can be verified by reference to the Stationery Office catalogue from which it will be found that the distribution of the official publications of the old Record Commission, the Rolls series of Chronicles and Memorials, the official Record publications and the Historical Manuscripts Commission is as follows : — * See Minutes of Evidence, Q. 333. f In 1854 Mr. Roberts represented that " the arrangement " (of the Welsh Records) will still be most incomplete until " the whole of the Miscellaneous has been sorted." % Below, No. 7, and Part III. (iv.), No. 17. § See the official Guide (ed. 1908), p. xxxv, where the subsidiary records are described as " Miscellaneous Books " (450 volumes) and " Miscellaneous Rolls " (154 Rolls), but where no allusion is made to 210 sacks and bundles of Mis cellanea still unsorted which are known to have existed in 1908. || The evidence for these changes is found in the lists which were inspected by the Commissioners, and which they desired might be preserved for reference. ^| The sudden alteration of the list coincides with the suggestion made in certain quarters for the retransfer of the Welsh Records to the Principality. ** Below, p. 156. ff See the Terms of Reference to this Commission, No. 3. tt Minutes of Evidence, Q. 261 sq. §§ Ibid., Qs. 2808-9, 3699, 3728 sq., 3769. ¦*- T3 13 m • a a a Publication.* A 5 eS 73 60r\ ¦s CO is w CO Record Commission 92 22 11 2 Rolls Series - 241 3 6 2 Record Offices^ — Texts 2 3 12 — Calendars - 333 85 38 — Lists 36 — — — Guides 4 1 — . — Reports § 74 — 43 — Facsimiles 45 3 5 — Historical Manuscripts 442 104 42 15 Commission. || From this table it will be evident that Wales has certainly not received a fair share in the appropriations of public funds for such publications. Whether for such a purpose it is proper to regard Wales as a distinct nationality apart from England is not a matter for the Commission to determine. The inquiry is covered by the Terms of Reference and it will be evident from the existence of the " Welsh Records," and the evidence tendered to the Commission by representatives of learned institutions of a national character, that this aspect of the matter can scarcely be ignored. On the other hand the evidence of the Deputy Keeper has proved that the present policy of the Rolls authorities is opposed to the recognition of any national distinctions for editorial purposes. The Com missioners have been informed that not only is the employment of a Welsh editor unnecessary, but that Welsh notices should not be extracted from the Records in the manner of the well-known Calendars of Scottish and Irish documents, which in the opinion of the Deputy Keeper are unsatisfactory productions. Without expressing any opinion on this technical question, it would be difficult to deny the great utility of these Calendars which not only indicate all the available record sources, but also give a more detailed precis of the documents than is found in the calen dars of the Patent and Close Rolls. To take a single instance, the Murage grants, fully calendared in the Irish series, give lists of the commodities of local trade, with their measures and values, which are of the greatest interest to a large body of historical students, but these (like so many other references to economic subjects) are deliberately omitted in the English Calendars. Finally, it may be remarked that the main argument advanced by the Deputy Keeper in favour of a general calendar mistakes the relative importance of the sources for a national mediaeval history. Apart from the above omissions in the English Calendars, it is scarcely the fact, as stated by the Deputy Keeper in his evidence, that the most important portion of the entries in the Irish calendars are derived from the Chancery Rolls, already covered by the modern series of calendars. A glance at the " contents " of these Calendars will show that nearly half the entries, and possibly more than half the bulk of the Calendar itself, are derived from a. variety of records, none of which have been calendared elsewhere, and of which in many cases not even a printed list was in existence at the date of the publication of the Irish calendar. The work was therefore of considerable educational value, and without its assistance students could scarcely have gained any knowledge of the records of the Exchequer and other neglected classes. Similarly it would be difficult to deny the value to students of a calendar of " Welsh Documents " and this calendar must clearly be preceded by the compilation of detailed lists or " Inventaires Sommaires " of the * The number of volumes of each kind of publication is indicated here. f Many volumes refer to Scotland, Ireland and Wales ; but only pubhcations of a distinctly national character are placed under those countries in this Table. X i.e., at London, Edinburgh and Dublin. § Deputy Keepers' Reports exclusive of Parliamentary Committees, &c. || The Reports are here counted as single publications. None are included after June 1907. 156 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : several classes of records. Finally, these sources can best be indicated by means of an official Guide on the lines of those that have proved so serviceable in the case of the English and Scottish records. Whether these necessary works, the inception of which has already been delayed for upwards of half a centiuy, could be executed more advantageously by Welsh or English scholars appears to be a vexed question which this Commission is not required to decide. It will, however, be easily inferred that the work is likely to be undertaken with more alacrity in Wales in the event of the retransfer of the Welsh Records to the Principality. 5. Note on the Records of Flintshire.* The records of Flintshire occupy a somewhat anomalous position. Some of them were formerly preserved at the Chapter House at Westminster, and others at Chester Castle.f The latter are again divisible into records of the Palatine of Chester and records of the Principality of Wales. From an early date, the county of Flint seems to have been a subordinate member of the Palatine of Chester. Camden quotes an ancient manuscript as saying Comitatus Flint pertinet ad gladium Cestrim. " The King's son," says Professor Tout, " was both " Earl of Chester and Prince of Wales ; he rules Flint " as Earl and not as Prince."J By the statute of 1284, the sheriff of Flint was required to be obedient to the justice of Chester and answerable for certain receipts at the Exchequer of Chester. He was thus on a footing different from that of the sheriff of the adjoining county of Salop, who accounted at the Royal Exchequer at Westminster. The appointments of successive sheriffs of Flintshire down to 1540 are recorded on the so-called " Recognis ance Rolls " of Chester, their patents having been issued under the Chester Seal. By the Act of 1543 (34 & 35 Hen. VIII. c. 26, s. 61) the appointment of sheriffs of the twelve Welsh counties, among which Flint was specified, was vested in the King. Some minor officers in the county continued, however, to be appointed under the Chester Seal. The Act of 1543 explicitly lays down that the writs for the election of coroners in the county of Flint shall be directed out of the Exchequer of Chester (s. 69). In the counties of Chester and Flint alike, the Chamberlain of Chester exercised for centuries a local jurisdiction hot unlike that of the Chancellor of England.. The records of inquisitions taken in Flint shire are thus integral parts of the records of the Palatinate. The so-called " Recognizance Rolls " deal with Cheshire and Fintshire alike. Estreats forfeited before justices in Flintshire were by the Act of 1535 returned and certified into the Exchequer of Chester (27 Hen. VIII. c. 5). On historical and on practical grounds it was right that the great bulk of admini strative and financial records of Flintshire should be preserved at Chester until their removal to the Public Record Office in 1854. The case with regard to the judicial records of Flintshire is not so simple. From the year 1284 onwards it was customary for the justices of Chester to hold occasional sessions in Flintshire, and the records of the proceedings before them, down to the reio-n of Henry VIII., belong to the Chester series. The Act of 1543 establishing "the King's Great Sessions in Wales " grouped Flintshire for some pur poses with the two new counties of Denbigh and Montgomery. The justice of Chester was thereby required to hold Great Sessions twice a year in each of the three counties (s. 6). Provision was also made for the appointment of one Prothonotary, and the use of one "Judicial Seal" for the three counties (ss. 29, 44). On the other hand, while the Act provided that an " original seal " for the counties of Denbigh and Montgomery should be entrusted to the steward or cdiarfflbeiiahr of Denbigh, it explicitly laid down that the " Original seal " for Flintshire should (as before) be * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. f Report of Commissioners mi Public Records, 1837, pp 27 67,214.' X Flintshire: Its History and its Records, 1911. The writer gives interesting particulars as to the geographical limits of the county at different periods. that which was in the custody of the Chamberlain of Chester, the Chester Seal (ss. 19, 20). In other words, a person wishing to begin a suit in Flintshire had to get the- necessary writ or writs from the Exchequer at Chester. It may here be noted that the Chester Seals of Edward IV., Henry VII., Henry VIII., and Edward VI. contain no reference to Flint. The Latin legend on the reverse of the seal of Elizabeth makes mention of " her county Palatine of Chester and her county of Flint." This wording was followed by James I., and, with a slight modification, by Charles, Prince of Wales. Under the Commonwealth, the legend was in English : — " The original seal for the countyPalatine of Chester and Flint, 1648."* There is a seal of Anne " comitatus Palatini sui Cestrae et Flint, an. 1706. "f The Act mentioned above seems to have been passed between the 22nd of January 1543, when the Parliament met for its second Session, and the 7th of April, when four seals for the Chancery of Wales (that is to say " original seals ") and four double seals called the " judicial seals " were ordered. % Sir Nicholas Hare, the justice of Chester and Flint, had been appointed justice of Denbigh and Montgomery as far back as June 1541, when justices were appointed for all the Welsh counties except Flint.§ His successors, down to the reign of George IV. received two separate commissions, one for Chester and Flint and the other for Denbigh and Montgomery. Nevertheless, it may fairly be held that as their proceedings in Flint were under the statute of 1543 " for certain ordinances " in the King's Dominion and Principality of Wales," the records of them should be regarded as belonging to that Principality. In one respect the Act of 1543 was consistently ignored for nearly three centuries, and some of the difficulties with regard to the records of Flintshire are due to this fact. The provision that there should be a common Prothonotary for the three counties of Flint, Denbigh, and Montgomery, appointed under the Great Seal of England, had been limited only by a clause protecting the interests of John Birkenhead, who was at the time Prothonotary and Clerk of the Crown in Flintshire as well as Cheshire (s. 44 of Recognizance Roll, 8 & 9 Hen. VIII. m. I.) However, upon the occurrence of the first vacancy, in 1555, old usage proved stronger than the recent statute, and three members of the Birkenhead family obtained a grant for lives, in survivorship, of the office of Prothonotary in the counties of Chester and Flint. This was made under the Chester Seal. (Recognizance Roll 1 & 2 2 & 3 Phil. & Mary, m. 2.) Without attempting a list of their successors, it is sufficient to observe that the Prothonotaryship of Flintshire went with that of Cheshire until the abolition of the Court of Sessions of Chester and the courts of Great Sessions of Wales by the Act of 1830. The Prothonotaries seem indeed to have recognised that they held two distinct offices. In 1800, Alexander Eaton described himself as " Deputy Prothonotary and " Clerk of the Crown of the Court of Great Session of " Flint, and Court of Session of Chester," and he consistently drew distinctions between the two courts. Most of the records of the Great Sessions of Flint, which had been created by the Act of 1543 were kept separated from those of the sessions of Chester. In certain cases, however, as might be expected, confusion had arisen. Thus some of the Crown Books, a few Rule Books, a Minute Book, some Docket Books of Fines and Recoveries and some rolls concerning attorneys were common to Chester and Flint. (Report on the Public Records, 1800, p. 248.) With these exceptions, all the records of the Court of Great Sessions for Flint may be regarded as records of the Principality of Wales. _ Turning from common law to equity, we find that, in the sixteenth century, bills and answers from Cheshire and Flintshire were filed in the Exchequer of Chester II These are obviously Chester records. At a very much later period, when the ju^tices^ofJlreatSessions in * Birch's Catalogue of Seals, Vol. II. pp 48_52 alretd^Totlr1 ^^ °f !t in ^—r Tout's address ppilHetT aDd paPel's>HenryTIII'i Vol. XVIII., Parti., § Ibid., Vols. XV., p. 508 ; XVI., p 464 || D.K. 25th Report, Appendix, pp. 23-si. APPENDICES. 157 Wales had acquired an equitable jurisdiction, bills and answers from Flintshire were addressed to "His " Majesty's justices of the several counties of Flint, " Denbigh, and Montgomery," that is to say the justices holding office under the Acts of 1543 and 1576. These should be regarded as records of the Principality of Wales. It must not be forgotten that all along a third and greater court of equity was open to suitors from Flint shire — the royal Chancery in London. 6. Oeficiax Return of the Records of Wales and Chester, incorporated with other Series since 1855* Eyre Rollsf (Chester, Flint, and Macclesfield) Edw. I. to Hen. VII. 9 rolls. Indictment Rollsf (Chester, Flint, and Macclesfield). Edw. I. to Edw. IV. 28 rolls. Cnamberlains Accountsf (Chester) Edw. LI. to Ph. & Mary. Ministers Accountsf (Chester) Edw. HI. to Hen. VIH. Ministers Accounts (Macclesfield) Edw. HI. to Hen. VI. Ministers Accounts (Flint) Edw. III. to Hen. VHI. Ministers Accounts (Denbigh) Edw. HI. to Hen. VH. Ministers Accounts (Anglesea, Carnarvon & Merioneth) Hen. IV. to Hen. VII. 5 rolls. Court Rolls (Chester & Denbigh) Edw. IH. Court Rolls of Ruthin or Diffrancloyd J Edw. I. to Chas. I. 7. Memorandum on the Records of the Great Sessions of Wales transferred to the National Library of Waxes.§ In the matter of purely judicial || records Wales, particularly mediaeval Wales, is peculiarly deficient, Comparatively few records are now extant either of the courts established by Edward I.^f in 1284 or of the court of the Marches of Wales.** The only distinctively Welsh judicial tribunal whose records are tolerably complete is the Court of Great Sessions set up by Henry VIH. The records of this court from the period of its inception down to its dissolution in 1830 made up the bulk of the vast mass of Welsh records which were transferred to London in 1854. Up to the latter date these documents (with the possible exception of those of Flint) were kept (badly kept it is true) in their various local repositories in Wales, e.g., at Carnarvon, Dolgelley, Carmarthen, Ruthin, Welshpool, Brecon, Cardiff, and Haverfordwest. Altogether as a class these documents form an important source of information upon almost every aspect of Welsh history from about 1545 to 1830 A.D. At present our knowledge of the Great Sessions is somewhat elemental and crude. Its precise functions and exact organisation have never been determined. An intimate knowledge of these points is imperative if its records are to be properly appraised and reduced into workable proportions. In view of the dearth of Welsh historical sources in general, it is highly important that every document of value should be carefully preserved. The erring, if any, should be on the side of the duplication of the evidences. The extant proceedings of the Great Sessions fall generally into two classes. (i) The main records, e.g., the Plea Rolls on the civil side, the Gaol Files and Indictment Rolls on the criminal side, and the Bills and Answers or Pleadings on the equity side. (ii) The subsidiary records or " Papers, Book, and Writs," e.g., Original and Judicial Writs, Declarations ; * Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. f D.K. 21st Report, Appendix, pp. 26, 27, 32, 34. X D.K 22nd Report, Appendix, pp. 23-41. § Communicated by Dr. E. A. Lewis (Minutes of Evidence, Q. 3717). II Omitting the extant Manorial Court RoUs. W There are just a few Assize and Plea Rolls, and Flintshire proceedings are preserved at some points. ** Several important documents relative to this Court are still to be found in the Public Record Office. Bonds and Obligations ; Affidavits ; Petitions (mainly of Prisoners) ; Inventories of Goods, &c, and various administrative books relative to fees, &c. Now it is clear that the main records in their entirety will be carefully preserved as a matter of course, as will also such of the subsidiary records as are (a) of a date prior to 1661,* (6) of sufficient public importance or presenting special features, after 1660. Subsidiary documents which, in the opinion of the official inspectors, do not satisfy one or other of the above conditions are, in accordance with the Public Record Act of 1877, either transferred to another repository or reduced to pulp. As the result of this process, pursuant to a schedule laid before Parliament in April 1909, two large consignments of the above subsidiary documents were transferred to the National Library in October 1909 and in February 1910. The documents thus transferred range in date from 1660 to 1830. At the instance of the authorities of the National Library a cursory examination of some of these subsidiary records has been made with the object (1) of ascertaining the value of their contents and (2) of deciding what method should be adopted to make such of them as are worthy of preservation accessible to students. No definite opinion can very well be expressed upon their value until the extent and nature of the Great Session Records still preserved at the Public Record Office are known. According to the above schedule, the documents are considered to be of insufficient public importance to be retained at the Public Record Office apparently for three reasons — (1) Because the important data which they contain is sufficiently covered by the main records. (2) Because the more important of the subsidiary documents have been withdrawn and preserved. (3) Because the evidence of the documents des patched to Aberystwyth is either dupli cated or of temporary importance only. A careful perusal of the typical classes of documents now deposited in the National Library of Wales creates some doubt upon each of these points, and generally warrants the conclusion that they at least contain some important data, which it would be impossible to replace by reference to those retained in public custody. With regard to the duplication of evidence, it is important to be assured on the point of the completeness of the series of main records. For instance, is the series of Welsh Plea Rolls complete from about 1660, and are the extant Plea Rolls necessarily complete and legible in all cases ? In the event of any defects of this character the subsidiary papers might possibly be of primary importance. Another source which might, supplement any gaps in the Plea Roll evidences will be found in the sixty odd sacks and miscellaneous packages of Writs. These latter also contain a large number of Jury Panels.f It is not clear what sources in the Public Record Office would cover the personal names which these contain. Furthermore, there is the consideration of the independent value of the subsidiary records. In matters of finance it is generally true that the subsidiary account is of more value to the historian than the enrolment. It is less true perhaps of the subsidiary evidences on the judicial side. Nevertheless in many cases the so- called subsidiary papers to a suit at law are more significant historically than the main record itself. Hence, besides the matter, which more or less appears duplicated upon the Plea Rolls and other main records, the Great Session records or papers at Aberystwyth contain several documents of indepen dent value, the destruction of which would deprive the local historian at least (and possibly the national historian) of much interesting and illustrative material. A few typical examples of the historical data, which (so * The Act of 1893 sanctions the destruction of certain subsidiary documents of a later date than 1660. No particular reason is given for the selection of the year 1660. f The Parliamentary Schedule states that Jury Panels will be preserved, and therefore their inclusion seems due to careless sorting. 158 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS far as we are aware) are not likely to be covered by the evidences retained at the Public Record Office, are given below. The more important sources may be roughly classified as under — (a) Presentments of Grand Juries and other docu ments illustrating the administrative func tions of the Great Sessions, e.g., such matters as the condition of Highways and Bridges, and the administration of poor relief. (b) Affidavits. — A large part of these consists of formal affidavits of service which only occa sionally contain items of curious and local interest. But some of the remaining affidavits touching, for instance, election riots and the non-appearance of witnesses, &c. are well worth preserving. (c) Petitions of Prisoners and others. — Several of these are particularly valuable. Among the examples given below will be found one from Rice Prytherch, a prominent pioneer of Nonconformity in Breconshire. (d) Inventories of the Goods and Chattels of Pri soners. — The example given below sufficiently indicates the character of the evidence which documents of this class contain. (e) Examinations taken before Justices of the Peace. — •According to the schedule, examinations in murder cases have been withdrawn for pre servation. The titles of some of the rejected documents, of special interest to the districts to which they relate, are given below.* The evidences in witchcraft cases appear to be exceptionally valuable, for here we get on oath what is mainly relegated nowadays to hearsay and tradition. (/) Bondi and Obligations. — These are very con siderable. Similar documents are carefully preserved in other manuscript repositories, It remains to be seen how far the Plea Roll evidences cover the important data some times included in the conditions attached to these documents. (g) Panels of Jurors. — These occur in large numbers in the large series of writs, and again among the. Prothonotary papers. Personal names form a considerable item in the value of judicial sources. (h) Challenges to Sheriffs, &c. — These papers, detail ing the alleged relation of suitors with the sheriff or the holder of any other important judicial office (e.g., the coroner), contain suggestive matter for the local genealogist. (i) Prothonotary Correspondence. — The majority of the Prothonotary letters are of course of a purely formal nature, but some of them relate to matters of public and private interest, e.g., the custody of public records, the health of the judges, local inns, signatures, &c. (j) Miscellaneous Documents. — Tradesmen's bills, oc casional plans in right of way disputes, &c. In view of what has been already indicated above, it seems that any official treatment of the transferred sub sidiary records must be guided mainly by the treatment of the main records at the Public Record Office. At any rate it seems advisable to postpone any calendaring work until it is definitely known what course it is decided to pursue with regard to the main records. In the meantime provisional lists, session for session. of all the existing writs and papers transferred to Aberystwyth may be compiled. Such lists as a matter of fact are already in progress and will, it is thought, form an interesting contribution to a complete and exact inventory of the existing proceedings of the Great Sessions of Wales. They should also be of use in order to direct and facilitate the future disposal of such documents as are valueless. In conclusion it may be stated that the above remarks are made with the simple object of retaining all that is really valuable of the extant documents relating to the Court of Great Sessions in Wales, and to render them accessible to historical students. * The specimen documents printed below form only a, small proportion of the transcripts communicated to the Com mission. The rest are omitted owing to the exigencies of space. 8. Specimens of Valueless Welsh Records; transferred from the Public Record Office to the National Library of Wales. (a) Presentments of Grand Juries. 252 (34 Chas. II.). The Presentments of the Grand Inquest impanelled to Inquire between our Soveraigne Lord the King and the Body of the County of Cardigan. Wee doe present that the transportation of Cattle, Sheep, wool, and horses out of Ireland into the King- dome of England and principalyty of Wales is a Great and insupportable Greevance and Common nusance to his. Majestyes subjects in this county of Cardigan and inevi tably tending to the perpetuall Ruine Destruction and impoverishing of the Inhabitants of the sayd County. Wee Likewise doe present a Bridge upon Vynoch called Pont ar Vynach to be out of repaire and that it ought to be repaired by the Inhabitants of the sayd County. Wee Likewise present a Bridg uppon Tstwyth called Llanavan Bridge to be out of repaire and that it ought to be repaired by the Inhabitants of the sayd County of Cardigan. Morgan Herbert. Watkin Llovd. Thomas Knolles. John Lewes. Walter Lloyd. Charles Lewis. Evan Thomas. Evan Price. Hugh Morris. Watkin Rees. Evan Enion. Edward Rees. Thomas Phillips. John Evan. Evan Davies. (Endorsed.) The Presentments of the Grand Inquest of the County of Cardigan, Anno xxxi Caroli secundi Regis. 252 (11. Wm. 3). Att the Greate Sessions held for the county of Cardigan att the Guild Hall of Cardigan the fifteenth day of April in the eleaventh yeare of the Reigne of our sovereigne Lord William the third by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Kinge, Defender of the Faith etc anno domini 1699, before Marmaduke Gibbs Esquire Justice of the same Greate Sessions. The presentmentes of the Grand Jury are as followeth : Imprimis we doe present John Jenkins (Junior) of the parish of Llandugwy in the said county for an assault and affray by him committed against Hughe David of the parish of Llandeviriog in the said county (Bayliffe of the hundred of Tredroyre) to the effusion of his blood. And also for a Rescue by him made against the said Bayliffe in the execution of his office between the first day of November and the 25th day of December last past. Item we doe present an Antient Highway from the Church and village of Llanilar and from other remoter partes leadinge on the south side of a water course by Aberpulley near the end of a small weare and thence leadinge over a small parcell of ground called Dol y Cappell and soe to a place called Trinity Chappell and leading from thence to a place called Pentre on the south side of the mill pound, and straight forwards to the Church and village of Llanvihangell y Croythyn, and from thence towards the markett Towne of Llanidlas, to be out of order, beinge ploughed in severall places and sometimes shutt up between Pentre and Aber pulley (and nowhere else) by the occupiers of the messuage and tenement called Tir Glanystwyth beinge Margaret Moris widow and Moris John or their work men (especially John Williams and Evan Thomas), and ought to be putt agayne in order and made open by the occupiers of the messuage and tenement aforesaid. (Signatures of Jurors follow.) (b) Affidavits. Radnor Papers (29 Geo. 2). Thomas Lewis, of Harpton co Radnor, Esquire, M.P., in the present Parliament, for the Borough of New Radnor, maketh oath that he was present at New Radnor APPENDICES. 159 at the last Election, on the 16th day of April in the year 1754, when there was a great Mobb and great numbers of riotous and disorderly people who greatly insulted and obstructed this Deponent's Friends in guiving their votes for this Deponent. And in a very riotous and outragious manner hindered several of this Deponent's voters from getting up to the polling place in order to poll for this Deponent and with great violence beat and abused many of them who attempted to vote for him ; which this Deponent observing he went himself in order to assist his Friends to get up to poll ; in doing which he was greatly obstructed and insulted by several loose riotous and disorderly people, unknown to this Deponent. And this Deponent particularly remembers that one of the said Rioters, whose name this Depondent does not know, came up to this Deponent in a most rude outragious and audacious manner and treated this Deponent with such violence that this Deponent admits he threw the said unknown person's hat amongst the crowd in order to get rid of the impertinence. But this Deponent positively saith that to the best of his remembrance and belief that he never struck or attempted to stricke or endeavoured or designed to strike the said unknown person, as mentioned in the affidavit of Richard Beeston and others by one Edward Powell, one of the persons who joins in the said affidavit. And the Deponent further saith that he does not know William Edwards one other of the persons who joins in the said affidavit. But this Deponent saith that, to the best of his remembrance and belief, he never did, during the said Election, strike the said William Edwards or take him the said William Edwards by the hair of the head in a severe manner, as is suggested in the said affidavit. But on the contrary used his Endeavours to preserve the peace and quest of the said Election ; and he verily believes the said Richard Beeston, Joseph Child, and William Harris and several others were some of the greatest promoters and encouragers of and active in the Riots and Disorders that happened at the said Election. Sworne at my Chambers in Thomas Lewis. Lincoln's Inn 21 June 1755, Before me, John Heney. (c) Petitions of Prisoners and others. Brecon Papers. (2nd Sess. 1689.) To the Honourable their Majesties' Justices of the Great Sessions fore the Counties of Glamorgan, Brecon and Radnore. The Humble Petition of Rice Prytherch, now a prisoner in ye Gaole of the said county : That several of ye inhabitants of ye parish of Llywell in this county did make their application to your Petitioner to preach them a sermon att a little Chappell built upon the Ground of one of the said inhabitants, as your Petitioner was informed, who alsoe informed your Petitioner that the Curate officiateing therein did con sent thereunto, provided the same were upon a weeke day, the Vicar of the said parish being dead and noe person yet presented thereunto. That your petitioner complied with their desires therein and upon Tuesday the 10th day of this instant September did come to the said Chappell which as your petitioner was then and is since informed was not conse crated but only a chappell of ease to the said parish. That your Petitioner being in his sermon, Daniell Williams Esquire one of ye Justices of Peace of this County came into the said Chappell and commanded your Petitioner to come out of Pulpuilte, which your petitioner obeyed, and upon pretence that ye doore of ye said chappell was shutt, whereas there was neither Lock nor Barr or Bolt on ye said doore, neither could ye same be latched, there being no Latch for ye same. And notwithstanding your Petitioner produced to ye said Mr. Williams a Certificate of his having taken ye oathes and Testament and subscribed such of ye Articles of Church of England as are required in ye Act of Indulgence graunted to Protestant Dissenters, the said Mr. Williams committed your Peticioner and several others to Prison where they now remain. Tour Peticioner therefore humbly prays your Lord- shipps would please to take your Peticioner's case into consideracion, he keeping a schoole being remote from his habitacion, and that your petitioner may be dis charged out of Prison. And your Peticioner shall ever pray etc. Allocatur. Deb. 2 solv. Justice Powlett. 252 (6 Wm. and Mary). To the Right Honourable their Matle" Justices of the Great Sessions held for the severall Countyes of Carmarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan. The humble Petition of Richard Vaughan of the parish of Pembrin in the county of Cardigan, Gent. Sheweth : That your Petitioner, about three years since came to Cardigan Towne, to the Great Sessions then held there for the County of Cardigan, he haveing a tryall about the title of land to come on the Tuesday in the said Sessions, as by the Records of the said Sessions will appear, was on Tuesday morning in the said Sessions, before the said Tryall came on, taken in Execution by John Evans Hent, then Under Sheriffe under Daniel Evans, Esquire, then Sheriffe of the said county, and immediately putt in Goal ; by which means the said tryall was prevented ; and further sheweth unto your Lordships that since his imprisonment he hath been most barbarously used by the goalers and under - sheriffes (that is to say) One Walter John, Goaler, while your Petitioner continued in the Goal at Lampeter did most unhumanly beat your Petitioner with an Iron Chaine or link, and the reason he then gave your Petitioner for his soe beating of him was because your Petitioner refused to give a Release to the said Daniel Evans, the said Mr. Evans claymeing some title to your said Petitioner's lands. And your Petitioner also sheweth that Evan Price, late under Sheriffe of the County, the night before he was superseded by the present Sheriffe did cause your Petitioner to be hand cuffed with Irons that were soe narrow that they pinched your Petitioner's wrists and veins, that before the morning your Petitioner's arms, by reason thereof, were swolne to twice the bignesse they used to be, and very probably, if Mr. Philips of the Priory had not given orders to file them of, your poor Petitioner might have perished, the said Evan Price haveing carryed the Keyes thereof with him into Carmarthenshire. Tour Petitioner, therefore, minding to prosecute the said Gaoler and Price, humbly prayes your Lordships to permitt and order him with his Keeper to attend the Grand Jury and the Marshall, both to give instructions to draw a Bill of Indictment and to give evidence thereupon for the King and Queen against the said Goaler and Mr. Price, and to releive him further in the premises as to your Lordships shall seem fit. Aid your Petitioner shall ever pray &c. Brecon Papers (3 Wm. and Mary). To the Right Honorable Lord Cheiff Justices of the severall countyes Radnore, Brecknock and Glamorgan. The Humble Petition of mained soudlers of this county of Radnor are to acquaint your Lordship that the said mained soulders are behind of theyr pay this to years an upwards and are like to perish unless your Lordship will take it into your consideration and cause the said County to pay us the former order that was made by the said county, for severall of us were prest and takne out of this parish of Presteigne upon King Charles the first account, and we are in hopes that your lordships will Relive us or els wee perish ; and your poor pettioners will ever praie. (d) Inventory of the Goods and Chattels of a Prisoner in the County Gaol, Montgomery. Montgomery Papers (128) temp. Geo. II. A Schedule of the Real and Personal Estate of one Edward Morris late of Broniarth, in the parish of Guildsfield, co Montgomery, now a prisoner in the County Gaol of the said county at the suit of one Margaret Godolphin, spinster ; also a list of the several persons indebted to the said Edward Morris. One large spinying wheel, One small spining wheel. Two saddles. Two bridles. One spade. 160 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : One Lime cart and wheels. One ox wain and wheels. Twelve Pewter Dishes. Twenty four pewter plates. One large table and Frame. One small table. One Hanging Press. Two Chests and Drawers. One feather Bed and Bolster. Three Chaff Beds and Three Bolsters and Bed Cloathes. One Warming Pan. One Frying Pan. One Fire Tongs. One Fire Shovel. One hand iron. Two Pails. Five Cheeswets. Nine Transiars. Two sieves. Five Bags. Two small baskets. Two small glass Bottels. A small parcel of Hemp. Three wooden Boles. One fleesh and another small piece of Bacon. Three old chairs. One Dripping Pan. Two earthen dishes. Six pound weight of corse wooll. Two old glass cases. One old tea Kettle. Three small wooden boxes. One small trunk. One salt Box. Four milk mits. One malt mill. One old hair cloth. Three small iron potts One old brass Kettle. One mashing tub. Timber for making a harvest cart. Two ox yoaks and Bows. Three old ox chains. Four pair of traces. Two leather Backhands. One old coller. Five pair of Holms. One pair of Iron Tushes. One Plough. One three corner harrow. One old Tumbrel Body. Two Sledges. One com Roller without Shafts. Twenty nine sheep of all kind. Sixteen lambs. Two Ducks and a Drake. One hen. One Dresser and Shelves. One cobler. Two Tubs. One churn and Staff. Two old Barrells. One small Barrel. One hogshead. A small quantity of old Iron. Five Piggins. Four Pewter spoons. A quantity of rough timber now lying on the land of William Davies of Pwll, near Pentre Bierth, in the parish of Guildsfield. A small quantity of Hay. (Then follows a list of debtors to the said Edward Morris.) (/) Obligation* 252 (8 William 3). Between Thomas Powell Kt., plaintiff and Edward Rees, defendant, in a plea of debt of £20, according to an Obligation made at Mount in the said county, bearing date 9 March 1696, on the following condition : — The condition of the above written obligation is such that if the above bounden Richard Rees and * Specimens of heads (e), (g), (i), (j) are omitted for want of space. Edward Rees or either of them, their or either of their heires, executors or administrators, doe, shall and will well and truely pay or deliver or cause to be paid and delivered unto the above named Sir Thomas Powell his executors or assigns the quantity of seaven teals and seven pecks of good and marketable corne, rye and pilcorne, according to the measure used att Aberystwyth,. at or before the five and twentieth day of July next ensueing, the day of the date of the said Obligation, or the summe of three and twenty shillings of lawful money of England for every teale thereof that shall then be and remaine unpaid, and soe proportionably for every lesser quantity, and also the quantity of foure teales and foul- pecks of like marketable corne, according to the measure aforesaid, at or before the first day of November next ensueinge the day of the date of the same obligacion, without fraude or further delay, then the said obligation to be voyd and of none effect or else the same to stand remaine continue and be of full force effect and vertue. (h) Challenges to Sheriffs. 252 (35 Chas. 2). Inter Tho : Pughe plaintiff and Morgan Lloyd defendant in a plea of ejectment. John Lloyd Esq., Sheriff Mary Lloyd John Lloyd ux. lessor Rees Lloyd David Lloyd John Price Morgan Lloyd Thomas Price Hugh Lloyd Richard Price John Lloyd John Price now sheriff now Coroner 252 (12 Chas. 2). Powell pit. Vaughan deft. John Stedman Esq. father of I John father of Lettice mother of Anne Lewis mother of Anne Phillipps mother of John Vaughan Ethliw Gurynne Esq. mother of now defendant. George father of Rees Gwynne Esquire one of the coroners. 9. Summary of the Prothonotary's Papers transferred to the National Library of Wales.* County. Chester Flint Denbigh MontgomeryAnglesey Carnarvon - MerionethBrecon Radnor Glamorgan - CarmarthenPembrokeCardigan Date. No. of Packages. 13 Chas. IL— 1 Wm. IV. 30 12 „ - „ 20 13 ., - „ 22 12 „ - „ 25 2 Anne — ,, 10 » — „ 12 34 Chas. II.— 9 1 Jas. II. — 16 12 1 Anne — 26 14 Chas. II — 5 Geo. II. - 4 12 „ —6 4 12 „ -5 ;; 0 192 Communicated by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. A more detailed list was exhibited by the Librarinn of the National Library of Wales ^ibianan APPENDICES. 161 Appendix XI. — The Government of the Public Record Office. 1. Foreign Committees for the publication of Historical Documents. An excellent account of the different authorities for publishing historical documents, and of their publications, may be found in the Manuel de. Btlrtio- graphie Historique of M. Ch. V. Langlois published in 1904. In the Second Part of this work, which deals with "Les Etudes Historiques au xix1' Siccle," the author wives under each country an account of the various bodies, whether governmental commissions, national academies, or private societies, which issue historical pubhcations. Tet he hardly gives sufficient details on the composition and procedure of these bodies to serve the present puipose. The history of one of these bodies has been written in detail, namely, the committee established by Guizot in 1834 to assist in the direction and superintendence of researches and publications . . . on inedited documents relating to the histoiy of France. This body, which has passed through various changes of form, has been, since 1881, called the " Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques." It has pub hshed, besides other things, the great collection of " Documents inedits sur l'Histoire de France," which now numbers over 250 volumes. One of the works it has issued contains its own history : " Le Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques " (Histoire et Documents), par Xavier Charmes, in three volumes, 1886. The committee is divided into five sections, one of which deals with histoiy. The historical section consisted in 1886 of about 30 "membres tituiaires," including MM. Fustel de Coulanges, Lavisse, Sorel, Paul Meyer, and all the best known French historians of the day. M. Leopold Delisle,as head of the Bibliotheque Nationale, was president of the section ; M. Alfred Maury, as director- general of the Archives Nationales, was its vice- president. This section directs the historical work of the Comite, which is not limited to publishing docu ments, but includes other functions such as attempting to organise the operations of local historical'societies, &c A better model than the Comite, simpler in organi sation and with more limited functions, is afforded by the Commission des Archives Diplomatiques. The French Foreign Office does not deposit the historical portion of its records in the National Archives as ours does, but keeps them in its own buildings under its own control. In 1874 the Commission des Archives Diplomatiques was established, and in 1880 it was reorganised. Its functions were four : (1) the classifi cation and preservation of the archives, (2) the regula tion of their use by the public, (3) the compilation of a general catalogue, (4) the publication of documents. The committee consisted, in 1882, of a president, (M. Henri Martin, the historian,) two vice-presidents, and 25 members. About 12 out of the 25 were historians, the other 12 diplomatists or officials, (including the Director- General of the National Archives and several officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs). The secretary was M. Hanotaux, at that time " Chef du Bureau Historique a, la Division des Archives," assisted by two other members of the same division of the department. It is evident from the composition of the Commission that the aim was to guarantee that the interests of historians should be duly considered in the regulations made and in the publications issued. The publishing work of the commission, which is all that concerns us at present, falls under three heads : — (a) The publication of the general catalogue or " Inventaire Sommaire," described in the pre vious paper. This consists at present of about six volumes. (6) The publication of what is termed an " Inven taire Analytique " of the correspondence of certain ambassadors ; that is, practically a calendar of their letters, in which the impor tant parts are given in full, the unimportant very much abridged. " H fut resolu," says E 14829 the introduction of one of these volumes, "quel 'Inventaire Analytique serait analogue " a la publication Anglaise, pour la forme " des analyses. Le cadre seulement en fut " considerablement reduit." Of this series ten volumes have been published; six of them contain the correspondence of Bar- thelemy, ambassador of France in Switzer land from 1792 to 1797 ; two with the cor respondence of the French ambassadors in England during 1537-1542 and 1546-1549 ; and two with the correspondence of a French ambassador at Venice, 1540-1542. (c) The best known of the commission's publications is a third series : the " Recueil des Instruc- " tions donnees aux Ambassadeurs et Ministres " de France. " This consists of the instructions given to French agents and ambassadors at various European courts from 1648 to 1789. They are carefully edited with introductions and notes, and while each volume, taken separately, shows the policy of France towards a particular power for a hundred and fifty years ; taken together they show the European policy of France at any particular moment. Sixteen volumes have been published, and seven more will complete the series. The last report of the commission announced a new publishing programme, but its details are not yet known. What the commission has pubhshed already shows the advantage of entrusting the selection of materials and the method of publication to a body of experts instead of leaving it to an official without a special knowledge of the several classes of records. A contrast to the Commission des Archives Diplomatiques, whose operations are limited to one class of historical documents, is afforded by the " Commission Royale d'HIstoire " in Belgium. Origin ally its functions were as restricted as those of the body mentioned above. At first it consisted of a committee of six historians and a secretary, appointed 22 July 1834. to undertake the publication of inedited chronicles of Belgium. It received the title of " Commission Royale d'Histoire " in 1838, and in 1845 it was reorganised and attached to the Belgian Academy, though remaining an independent authority with a budget of its own. From 1845 it has published annually a " Bulletin" which contains an account of its proceedings, with reports, notices, and documents of various kinds annexed. It was speedily discovered that other sources of Belgian history needed publishing as well as the chronicles. The custom crept in of printing collections of records and charters as appen dices to chronicles, and in 1869 the commission was formally authorised to publish inedited cartularies and other documents of the same kind, and commenced to issue them as independent works. Further, from about 1854, it began to publish collections of state papers, such as the correspondence of Charles V., the relations of Venetian ambassadors, Kervyn de Lettenhove's ten volumes of documents on the relations of England and the Netherlands, and similar works. Its bulletins began to contain reports of investigations in the archives and libraries of other countries, the results of which were sometimes sufficiently important to be issued as separate books. By 1909 the commission had published 116 volumes in quarto, 38 in octavo, and 78 volumes of its bulletin. Recognising that some of its early publications were defective, owing to the defects of the university teaching of the time, it issued in 1896 a series of "Instructions for the publication of Historical Texts." Finally, in 1898, it decided to make a general survey of all the materials for Belgian history and to draw up a detailed scheme for its future work. One part of the scheme determined what docu ments should be published in future ; the other defined the lines of a systematic series of researches in native and foreign archives. The deliberations on this programme occupied several years ; its execution has already commenced. L 162 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS The organisation of the Commission has altered very little during .the 77 yei^rs of its existence. It has always consisted of historical scholars, not officials. The seven original members have been increased by the addition of three "inembres suppleants," super numerary members who become full members on the next vacancy. There are also collaborators who edit works for the commission, or assist its members in the preparation of the works they edit. It is chiefly from the ranks of these collaborators that the Govern ment recruits the commission. Another example is supplied by Holland. The Dutch Government had from time to time subsidised particular historical publications, and it had promoted investigations in foreign archives for materials elucidating Dutch history, but it had not acted on any regular plan. In 1902 it resolved to set to work more systematically. By royal decree of 26 March 1902, the Queen appointed a body of ten persons entitled " Commissie van Advies voor's Rijks Geschiedkundige Publication.'' Dr. Colenbrander, the Secretary of the Commission, summarises its objects and its activities as follows : — " A State commission of ten leading historical men was instituted to meet in the central depot of State archives at The Hague as often as they should deem necessary, but at least once a yeai (as a rule the commission has met four or five times a year), under the presidency of the general archivist of the Kingdom, one of the ordinary archivists acting as secretary. Its task was to be the planning of historical publications to be undertaken by the State, and to superintend the performance of its own designs, as soon as they had been laid before the Minister of the Interior and accepted by him. In the act of institution. the particulars to be expressed in every advice to the Government were precisely detailed so as to prevent as far as possible the deviating by performers from the intentions of the real authors of the plan. The control of the execution of all plans of publication rested with the president and secretary, it being left free to the commission to appoint in every particular case one of its non-official members to constitute with the president and secretary this board of control. A yearly allowance was made for the purpose of printing and binding the publications, for copying manuscripts, defraying voyages to foreign archives, and for paying moderate fees to publishers. This allowance, which has been raised from time to time, now amounts to 8,000 guilders a year. Of each publication, 150 copies are left to the Commission of Advice to dispose of as it deems proper ; 100 of these copies being regularly presented by them to libraries and institutions in Holland, the colonies, and abroad, and 50 reserved for presentation in special cases, according to the character of the publication. The other copies are handed over to a bookseller to be sold at the cost price of printing."* The members of the Commission, before they entered on the business of publication, resolved to make a general survey of the materials available for the study of every period of Dutch History and every side of it, and to consider to what extent those materials had been already published, and in what manner. The result of this investigation was to indicate a certain number of gaps to be filled by new publications, and to show that some older documentary publications were incomplete and needed supplement ing. These conclusions were embodied in a report published in 1904 : " Overzicht van de door bronnen- " publicatie aan te vullen leemten der Nederlandsche " Geschiedkennis." (" Survey of gaps in the knowledge " of Dutch history to be filled by the publication of " new sources.") This report is a volume of over a hundred pages, suggesting about sixty series and minor pubhcations, and indicating briefly in what way the material described should be dealt with. But before any publication was taken in hand, a detailed scheme * "The work of Dutch Historical Societies." By H. T. Colenbrander. (Reprinted from the "Annual Report of the American Historical Association for 1909.") for the particular work was to be drawn up by the Commission1, and the execution of the scheme to be carefully superintended by it. Since 1905, about twenty volumes have been published by the. Commis sion, and their value has been generally recognised. The progress of these publications and the inception of other enterprises is announced in the yearly reports by the Commission. In 1910 the Commission, ,which had been hitherto . attached to the General Record Office, was. given an office of its own, and provided with a director, a sub-director, a clerk, and some, copyists. It became an executive instead of a merely advisory commission. Inspired by these examples, American scholars pressed the Government of the United States to improve its system of publishing historical materials. President Roosevelt instructed "a Committee on Department Methods " to include this subject in its inquiry. The instruction ran as follows : — " With a view to the adoption of a more systematic and effective method of dealing with the problem of documentary historical publica tions of the United States Government, so as to secure a maximum of economy and efficiency, you are instructed to consider the desirability of reviewing, with the aid of a sub-committee of experts, the whole field of documentary publica tions which consists wholly or mainly of material for the history of the United States, and framing a preliminary plan which will represent the deliberate judgment of historical expert^ and serve to guide subsequent governmental work of this kind into the best channels." The sub-committee consisted of eight well-known historians with the head of the division of MSS. in the library of Congress as their secretary'. They re ported in November 1908. The first part of. their report showed, the expensiveness and inefficiency of the existing system of publication. Then came a general survey of the field of United States history, showing what had been done to cover it by the documentary publications of the Government in the past, and what would be done in the future to fill up the gaps which existed. This survey went into great detail, and. covered systematically every side of the subject : in both respects it followed the model supplied by the report of the Dutch Commission mentioned above. The Committee, after recommending that certain works should be undertaken as soon, as possible, considered the proper policy to be pursued by the Government in respect to historical publications, and described the system adopted by other Governments. "In general terms it may be said that those nations which have . . developed an adequate mode of dealing with the problem have done so by entrusting the planning of historical series and the supervision of their execution to permanent special commissions , of historical experts, qualified to judge what materials, hitherto unpublished or imperfectly published, would be most useful to the advance ment of historical science." The Report then points out that Great Britain, which had been the first country to adopt this plan, afterwards abandoned it. " The later British series, the Rolls series, the Calendars of State Papers and other calendars, have been produced under another system. For 50 years then publications have been nominally under the charge of the Master of the Rolls, whose ancient title connects him with the records, but who is really an equity judge. Practically the whole matter has usually been in the sole control of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, who has doubtless had the advice and aid of the assistant-keepers.'' "But," continues the Report, "the system is not one to be recommended, providing, as it does, no regular means for bringing to bear upon these problems the opinions of historical scholars outside the archive staff Better models of organisation and procedure are to be found on the Continent than in England."* Report, pp. 37, 38. APPENDICES. 163 An account of these foreign models is then given : it includes the Comite des Travaux Historiques and other French bodies, and the Belgian and Dutch Com missions, whose history has been sketched above. To them are added examples of similar institutions in the German States and in other European countries. " Perhaps, however, the most famous of such commissions is that which in 1858, at the instance of Ranke, Sybel, and Waitz, King Maximilian II. of Bavaria, was established in connection with the Bavarian Academy.* To this commission we owe more than a hundred volumes of the best- edited historical material that Germany has produced. " Commissions of this form have come more and more into favour in the German States, and have increased rapidly in recent years. A par- ' ticularly successful one was established in Baden in 1883. Wiirttemberg founded one in 1891 ; the province of Styria in 1892 ; the Kingdom of Saxony in 1896 ; the Prussian provinces of West phalia, Nassau, Hesse, and Saxony in 1896-8. With these, with the Commissions more recently established by the Thuringian States, Alsace and Lorraine, and with the very active Commission for the Modern History of Austria, founded in 1901, one may fairly say that such commissions have become the accepted mode in the country in which the editing of historical documents has received its most scholarly development. "Hungary also has a historical commission of the same nature. Russia has both the Commis sion for Printing Letters Patent and Treaties, founded in 1811, and the Archaeographical Com mission, of broader scope, founded in 1834. Italy has had, since 1883, in the Italian Historical Institute, an organisation designed both to supervise the collection entitled ' Sources for the History of Italy,' and to act as a clearing house for the provincial historical societies and commissions."t Of all these national commissions the Dutch, in the opinion of these American historians, furnishes the best model. In conclusion, the Report points out the ' practice of connecting such Commissions with learned societies, already in existence in the various countries, particu larly with those societies which are founded for the encouragement, or make it one of the chief objects of historical studies. " In the composition of such Commissions as those which have been described above as the usual machinery of governmental historical work in Europe, the European Governments have often taken advantage of the existence of national historical institutions, associations, or academies, especially in those countries in which national academies have a large share in the general control of intellectual interests. Thus the direct ing committee of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica, the chief Beries for Gerinan medieval history, consists of nine members, appointed by the l-oyal academies of Berlin, Vienna, and Munich. The Royal Historical Commission of Belgium is chosen on nominations by the Belgian Academy from among its own members. Of the Munich Historical Commission, three members must by statute be members of the Bavarian Academy, and in practice several others are. The Commissions of the most recent model usually consist of an archive official or two, specially competent in history, of historical professors in the universities, and of men prominent in the work of the chief historical organisations of the respective countries. In the United States, which has no national academy of the historical and philological sciences, the obvious analogue for such purposes is the American Historical Association, incorporated by Act of Congress in terms inclusive of precisely such services. "J * Its history is related, in '.' Die Historische Commission bei der koniglich bayerischen ' Akademie der Wissenschai'ton " (Munich, 1883). f Report, pp. 37, 38. % Report, pp. 38, 39. The Report, therefore recommends the establish ment of a permanent " Commission on National Historical Publications," to consist of "nine persons " of the highest standing for scholarship and judg- " ment in' the field of United States history," to be appointed by the President from among the members of the American Historical Association, and " to have " authority to defray from such appropriations as may " be made "to the said Commission, the cost of pre- " paring and printing such volumes of material for " American history, as it may deem most useful." C. H. F. 2. Memorandum on the History of the Mastership of the Rolls. Previously to the passing of the Act of 1838, the Master of the Rolls was the official custodian of one part of the records, namely the Chancery Records, and by virtue of his office was included in each of the six Record Commissions which acted between 1800 and 1837. The Select Committee of the House of Commons in 1836 reported that these Commissions had failed to achieve the main ends for which they were appointed, and declared that this failure was due " not to any fault of individuals composing them," but to "a radical and irremediable defect" in the constitution of the Commissions. The Committee accordingly proposed the appointment of a new Com mission organised on a different basis. It was to consist of a much smaller number of persons, not more than 8 or 10, instead of 24. • None of these were to be placed on the Commission because they were the occupants- of particular offices, but because of their knowledge of particular classes of records or their qualifications for judging the value of record publi cations. Of these Commissioners three were to be paid and to be specially charged with administration, finance, and the general business of the Commission. The rest of the Commissioners were to advise on all questions connected with the publications of the Com mission. It did not occur to the Committee that it would be advisable to entrust the custody of the records and the direction of record publications to the Master of the Rolls. On his part, the Master of the Rolls did not desire these powers. In their account of the share taken by the ex-officio Commissioners in the conduct of the business of the Commission, the Select Committee observed : " The present Master of the Rolls has attended at only one of many Boards to which he has been summoned, that being the only occasion ' on which he ' could attend without interfering with the business ' of his Court, which he considered more important.' He does not think it possible that under any arrange ment the Record Commission could make, he could have an opportunity of giving that attention to the business of: the Commission which would enable him to take an active part in it. " ' Any other person he should think would do quite as well ' in deciding on the editing and publication of antiquarian works. Indeed others ' would have more time.' " While the Committee thus indicated its opinion that the Master of the Rolls was not the right person to charge with the care of the records, it did not suggest that any other legal or official personage was better fitted for the post. It declared against any unpaid head. " The superintendence of the business of arranging, classifying, and calendaring the records and the regu lation of the Offices and fees, appears to be of such a nature as cannot safely be entrusted to anyone to whom it is not assigned as a duty, and who is not paid for performing it." Accordingly, when it became evident that the proposal for three paid Commissioners would not obtain the support of the Government, and did not commend itself to public opinion, the Bill promoted by Mr. Buller in 1837 to give effect to the recom mendations of the Committee proposed the appoint ment of a single paid officer to be styled " Keeper General of the Public Records of England and Wales." This Bill was dropped in Committee, and in the Bill introduced by the Government of Lord John L 2 164 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS Russell in 1838, the Master of the Rolls and a paid Deputy Keeper were substituted for the three paid Commissioners or the paid Keeper General. The reasons which led the Government to adopt this solution of the problem do not appear in the official correspondence relating to the carrying out of the Public Record Office Act, nor are they stated in those letters of Lord Langdale and Lord John Russell which have been published.* C. H. F. Appendix XII. — Bibliography of the History of the Public Records, f 1. Bibliographies. (a) Becord Publications (England and Wales). Public Record Office : Stationery Office Catalogue of English, Scottish, and Irish Record Publications, &c, 1908, Ac. Including the Rolls Series ol Chronicles and Memorials. Catalogue of the Public Record Office Library. Third Edition, 1902. Supplement to the Catalogue of the Public Record Office Library. 1909. Catalogue of the Manuscripts and other objects in the Museum ; with notes by Sir H. C. Maxwell Lyte, 1911. Davenport, F. G. A classified list of printed materials for English Manorial and Agrarian History (Boston, 1894). See also Moore, M. F. Gross, C. Sources and Literature of English History 1900. " Appendix A. — Reports of the Deputy Keeper of the Pubhc Records. Appendix B. — The Historical MSS. Commission. Appendix C. — Rolls Series (Chronicles and Memorials). Appendix D. — Chronological Tables of the Principal Sources. Hardy, Sir T. D. Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland. Vols. I.-III. 1862, &c. To 1327 only. The continuation by C. T. Martin was suspended after the year 1888. Moore, M. F. Two Select Bibliographies of Mediaeval Historical Study, 1911. See also Davenport, F. G. Thomas, F. S. Notes of Materials for the History of Pubhc Departments, 1846. Appendix E. — List of publications of the Record Commissions. Appendix F. — List of Record Works left unfinished by the late Record Commissioners, showing which of them have since been finished. Appendix G. — List of Manuscripts pertaining to or collected by the late Record Commis sioners. J Appendix H. — List of printed pamphlets and papers connected with or arising out of the Record Commission. Appendix I. — Returns, Reports, Papers, etc. laid before Parliament with reference to the Public Service. (b) Parliamentary Papers relating to the Becords. Analytical Index to the Acts of Parliament relating to the Land Revenues of the Crown, 1881 . Index to Sessional Papers (House of Commons). 1X01- 1852. 1852-1869. Indices to Sessional Papers (House of Commons), 1880- 1889. r But see below, p. 165 n. f This Bibliography is not intended to be exhaustive. The titles mentioned are chiefly those of works referred to or consulted by the Commissioners for the purpose of their Report. Works relating to the Scottish and Irish Records are, therefore, for the most part excluded. A number of other MSS. and printed matter connected with the Record Commission, the property of the late Mr. C. P. Cooper, have lately been presented to the Public Record Office, by the Masters of the Bench of Lincoln's Inn. Index to Sessional Papers (House of Commons), 1890- 1899. Numerical List and Index to the Sessional Printed Papers (House of Commons) Series, 1900-1910. Index to Sessional Papers (House of Lords), 1801- 1845. 1846- 1859- 1871- -1858. 1870. 1884-5. Parliamentary Papers, Son.) 1801-1900. (P. S. King and (c) Foreign Archives. Abert, J. F. Die Archivalische literatur der letzen acht Jahre, 1898-1906 (in Archivalische Zeitschrift N.F. XIV.), 1907. J ' Burnett, E. C. List of printed guides to, and descrip tions of, Archives, &c. of Historical Manuscripts Washington, 1897. Guiffrey, J. Catalogue Sommaire du Musee des Archives Nationales. Paris, 1893. Hettler, August. Archivalische Almanach. Halle 1910. Archivalische Bibliographie, 1908. Adressbuch der wichtigsten historischen archive Europas. — _ — _ Jahrbuch der deutschen historischen missionen, Institute mid Vereine, &c, 1904-9. Langlois, C. V Manuel de Bibliographie Historique, 1904. Pannier, L. l'Etat- des Inventaires Sommaires (in Bibliotheque de l'Ecole des Chartes. T XXXVI XXXVIL). ' Pirenne, H. Bibliographie de l'Histoire de Belgique 1902. ° H ' Kom- 2. Works relating to the Public Records of England and Wales. Andrews, C. M. Materials in British Archives for American Colonial History (in American Historical Beview, January 1905). Ayloffe, Joseph. Calendars of the ancient charters, &c, and of the Welsh and Scottish Rolls, now remaining in the Tower of London. 1774. Bemont, C. Roles Gascons. Supplement, T. 1, Intro duction. (France, Ministere de Instruction Publique- Documents inedits.) 1896. Blok, P. J. Verslag, &o. in Engeland naar Archivalia &<-. voor de geschiedenis van Nederland. The Hague, 1891. Brewer, J. S. English Studies, 1881. Brugmans, P. J. Verslag van een ondeT-zoek naar Archivalia in Engeland. The Hague, 1895. Cole, Henry Sir. Fifty 'Tears of Public Work, 1884. Cooper, C. P. An account of the most important Public Records of Great Britain, and the publications of the Record Commission. Record Commission 2 Vols. 1832. imibsion, Delpit, J. Collection generate des documents Francais qui se trouvent en Angleterre. Paris, 1847. Devon, F. Pell Extracts, or Issues of the Exchequer &c. 1836. (Volume I., Introduction.) Edwards, Edward. Libraries and Libraries, 1865. Encyclopaedia Britannica " Records." Founders of (11th edition), Article APPENDICES. 165 Ewald, A. C. Our Public Records ; A brief handbook to the National Archives. 1873. Firth, C. H. Notes on the Diplomatic Relations of England and France, Germany, &c, &c, compiled by S. C. Lomas, J. F. Chance, and L. Wickham Legg. Edited by C. H. Firth, Oxford, 1906, &c. Grimaldi, Staeey. Origines genealogies, or the sources whence English genealogies may be traced. 1828. Hall, H. Studies in English Official Historical Docu ments (Part I.). Cambridge, 1908. Formula Book of English Official Historical Docu ments (Parts I. and IL). Cambridge, 1908-1909. The Foreign Aspect of the Welsh Records (in Y Cymmrodor. 1910). The Diplomatics of the Welsh Records (in Trans actions Cymmrodorion Society, 1900-1901). Hardy. T. D. Memoirs of the life of Henry, Lord Lang dale! 1852.* Hardy, W. J. The Rolls House and Chapel (in Mid dlesex and Herts Notes and Queries, ii., 49-68). 1896. Holdsworth, W. S. A Histoiy of English Law. 1903. Livingstone, M. Guide to the Pubhc Records of Scotland, Edinburgh. (Introduction.) 1905. Lyte, Sir H. C. Maxwell. The Rolls Chapel (Deputy Keeper's 57th Report, pp. 19-47). 1896. Maitland, F. W. Records of the Parliament at West minster in 1305. (Introduction.) (Rolls Series). 1893. Nicolas, Sir N. H. Observations on the state of his torical literature, with remarks on the Record Offices and on the proceedings of the Record Commissioners. 1830. Refutation of Mr. Palgrave's remarks, &c. Additional facts relative to the Record Commission and Record Offices. 1831. Public Records : A description of the contents, objects and uses of the various works published by the Record Commission. 1831. Record Commission : A letter to Lord Brougham on.fhe constitution and proceedings of the Com mission. 1832. Palgrave, Francis. The Ancient Kalendars and inven tories of the Treasury of His Majesty's Exchequer, with other documents illustrating the history of that Repository. (Record Commission.) 1836. Remarks in reply to a, pamphlet by Sir N. H. Nicolas entitled, " Observations on the state of historical literature." 1831. Powell, Thomas. Directions for Search of Records in the Chancerie, Tower, and Exchequer. 1622. Powell, F., Tork. The Ecole des Chartes and Eng lish 'Records (in Trans. R. Hist. S. N.S., XL), 1897. . . . Powell, T. The repertorie of Records remaining m the four Treasuries on the receipt side at West minster, the two remembrancers of the Exchequer, &c, as also a calendar of the Records of the Tower. 1631. Prothero, G. W. Presidential Address delivered before the Royal Historical Society. February 1902 (in Trans. N.S. XVI.). Prynne, W. An Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower of London (Collected by Sir R. Cotton). 1657. „ , „_ Public Record Office. Lists and Indexes. Nos.1-35. 1892, &c. ,,,,.„ List of Admiralty Records in the Public Record Office. 1874, P.P. List of Colonial Office Records m the Public Record Office. 1876, P.P. List of Records of the Lord Chamberlain^ Department in the Public Record Office. 1887, P.P. List of Foreign Office Records in the Public Record Office. 1883, P.P. List of Home Office Records in the Public Record Office. 1873, P.P. . List of Paymaster General's Records m the Public Record Office. 1888, P.P. List of War Office Records in the Public Record Office. 1874 ; 1880 ; 1886, P.P. Rye W. Records and Record Searching. 1897. * This desultory work is supplemented by the semi official MSS. (Record Office Letter Books, 1«36, &c.) referred to above, P.4 ". Roberts, R. A. The Public Records relating to Wales (in Y Cymmrodor, 1890). Strachey. Index to the Records. 1739. Sainsbury, W. N. The British Public Record Office and the Materials for early American History. (Pro ceedings of the American Antiquarian Society.) Worcester (Mass.). 1893. Scargill-Bird, S. R. Guide to the Public Records. 1st edit., 1891 ; 2nd edit., 1896 ; 3rd edit., 1908. Select Essays in Anglo-American Legal History. Cambridge, 1907. Thomas, F. S. Handbook to the Public Records. 1853. Notes of Materials for the History of Public Departments. 1846. History of the State Paper Office with a view of the Documents deposited therein. 1849. Tout, T. F. Flintshire, its Histoiy and its Records. [Trans. Flintshire Hist. Soe] Ward, A. W. Presidential Address delivered before the Royal Historical Society, February, 1900 (in Trans. N.S., XIV.). 3. Works relating to Foreign Archives. Altamira, R. De Historia y Arte. Madrid, 1898. Austria-Hungary. Inventare Oesterreichischer Staat- licher Archive. Das Neue Gebaude des K.U.K. Hans-Hof und Staats-archiv zu Wien. 1906. (Deutsche Ge- schichts-u. Altertums-Vereine.) (See also Helfert, M. von.) d'Azevedo, P. A. E. Baiao, A., O Archivo da Torre do Tombo. Sua historia, corpos, &c. e organizacao. Lisbon, 1905. Bas, F. de. Repertorium voor de Nederlandsche Krijgsgeschiedenis. The Hague, 1905. Belgium. Inventaires Sommaires des Archives des Anciens Gouvernements des Pays Bas. Brussels, 1906, &c. Inventaires des Archives de la Belgique publies par ordre du Gouvernement. Brussels, 1837, &c. Rapport (au Ministre de l'lnterieur) sur l'Ad- ministration des Archives Generales du Royaume depuis, 1831. Brussels, 1866. Ministere de l'lnterieur. Archives Generales du Royaume. Organisation — Reglement d'ordre inter ieur. Brussels, 1878. Archives de l'Etat dans les Provinces. Arrete organique — Reglement d'ordre interieur. Brussels, 1878. Commission Royale d'Histoire. Seance solennelle du 8 Novembre, 1909. Brussels, 1909. Instructions pour la Publication des Textes Historiques. Brussels, 1896. — See also " Bibliographies " and " Periodical Pubh cations." Burkhardt (C. A. H.). Hand-und Adressbuch der Deutschen Archive im Gebiete des Deutschen Reiches, der Oesterreich-Ungarischen Monarchie, der Russ- ischen Ostsee-provinzen, und der Deutschen Schweiz. Leipzig, 1875. Colenbrander, H. T. The work of Dutch Historical Societies. (Report of American Historical Associa tion, 1909.) Cuvelier, J. " L'Education des Archivistes " (in Bevue des Bibliotheques et Archives de Belgique. IV. (1.), 1906. La Reorganisation cles Archives en France. Ibid., T. II. (3), 1903. Le Role des Archives (in Le Musee du Livre, 19-20). Brussels, 1911. Inventaire des Inventaires de la IP Section des Archives Generates du Royaume. Brussels, 1904. France. Archives des Missions Scientifiques et Litter- aires. Paris, 1855-1889. Nouvelles Archives des Missions Scientifiques et Litteraires, &c. Paris, 1891, &c. Etat Sommaire par Series .... des Archives Nationales. Paris, 1891. Musee des Archives Nationales. Documents, &c. exposes dans l'Hotel Soubise. Paris, 1872. Liventaires Sommaires des Archives Departemen- tales, Communales et Hospitalieres. Paris, 1861, &c. L 3 166 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS France — cont. Etat General par fonds des Archives Departe- mentales. Paris, 1904. Seine et Oise. Conseil General— 2e Session Ordi naire de 1909. No. 231. Archives. Rapport de l'Archiviste du Departement. Versailles, 1909. Societe Bibliographique de Paris. Rapport au Congres de 1899. Les Inventaires des Archives. Par L. Mirot. Paris, 1899. Ministere de l'Instruction Publique, &c. Direc tion des Archives. Rapport au Ministere sur l'Administration des Archives Nationales, &c. Suivi de l'Etat des Inven taires des Archives Nationales, &c. Paris, 1902. Lois, Decrets, Arretes, Reglements relatifs, 1° Aux Archives Nationales, 2° Aux Archives Departementales. Paris, 1905. . Catalogue des Manuscrits conserves dans les Depots d'Archives Departementales, Communales et Hospitalieres. Paris, 1886. Ministere de l'lnterieur. Collection des Inven taires Sommaires des Archives Departementales, Communales et Hospitalieres anterieures a 1790. Paris, 1861, &c. Commission des Archives Departementales et Communales. Paris, 1841, &c. — Commission des Archives Diplomatiques. Paris, 1884, &c. Ecole des Chartes (Paris), Livret de 1'. (1891- 1901.) Paris, 1902. For a list of Archive Publications, see Annuaire des Bibliotheques, &c. (1903), p. 205. For a list of Reports, &c, see Comite des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques (1898). Gaillard, A. Les Archives de l'Etat. (Le Mouvement Scientifique en Belgique ; 1830-1905.) Brussels, 1905. Inventaires Sommaires des Anciens Gouverne- ments des Pays Bas, &c. Brussels, 1906. Germany. Publicationem aus den K. Preussischen Staatsarchiven. Berlin, 1878, &c. See also " Bibliographies " and " Periodical Publi cations." Hasse, A. R. Materials for a Bibliography of the Public Archives of the Thirteen Original States (in Annual Beport of American Historical Association, IL, 289 seq.). Helfert, M. von. Staatliches Archivwesen. Vienna. 1893. Holtzinger, G. Handbuch der Registratur und Archiv wesen. Leipzig, 1908. Italy. L'Ordinamento delle Carte degli Archivi di Stato Italiano ; Manuale Storico Archivistico. Rome, 1910. (Ministero dell'Interno.) See also " Periodical Publications." Jameson, J. F. Gaps in the Published Records of the United States History (in American Historical Beview, XL 4). 1906. Reports of the Department of Historical Research of the Carnegie Institution, Washington. 1907, &c. Kaiser, H., and Wiegand, W. Anleitung zum Ordnen und beschreiben von Archiven. Fur Deutsche Archivare Bearbeit. Leipzig, 1905. See also Muller, S. Laborde, L. de. Les Archives de la France ; leurs vicissitudes, &c. 1867. Laloire, E., and Lefevre, E. Tableau Synoptique des Archives Generates du Royaume a Bruxelles (in Bevue des Bibliotlibques et des Archives de Belgique). 1903. Langlois, C. V., and Seignobos, Ch. Introduction aux Etudes Historiques. Paris, 1898. See Chapter 1. Langlois, C. V. La Science des Archives (in Bev. Internat. des Archives, &c). Paris, 1895. Langlois, C. V., and Stein, H. Les Archives de 1'Histoire de France. Paris, 1891-3. Lasteyrie, R. de. Bibliographie Generate des Travaux Historiques, &c, par les Societes Savantes de la France. 1888, &c. Von Loher, F. Arcliivlehre. Paderborn, 1890. Miguel, L. R. Manual del Archivero, 6 teoria y practica de arreglo y classification de los archivos Toledo 1877. Muller, S., Feith, J. A., and Fruin, R. Handteiding vor het Ordenen en Beschrijven van Archieven ontworpen in opdracht van der Vereeniging van Archievarissen in Nederland. Groningen, 1898. Translated into French as " Manuel pour le Classement et la Description des Archives "' (Hague, 1910) ; also into German and Italian. Netherlands. Commissie van Advies voor s'Rijksge- schiedkundige Publication : Overzicht van de door Bronnenpublicatie, &c. der Nederlandsche Geschiedkennis. 1904. Verslagen omtrent s'Rijks oude Archieven. Overzicht van de Inveritarissen der' oude Rijks- archieven in Nederland. 1884. Jaarverslag van der Commissie van Advies voor sRijksgeschiedkundige Publication. The Hague, 1904. See also " Bibliographies " and " Periodical Publi cations." Opfermann, Rudolf. Uber Archivbauten ; Handbuch der Architektur. Stuttgart, 1905. Portugal, see d'Azevedo, &c. Richou, G. Traite theoretique et pratique des Archives Publiques. 1883. Roumania. Din Istorria Archivelor Statului in Bucha rest. Bucharest, 1903. Spain. See Altamira, R. Stein, II. Manuel de Bibliographie Generate. Paris, 1897. Switzerland. Inventare Schweizerischer Archive. Bern, 1895, &c. Taddei, P. L'Archivista ; Manuale teorico pratico. Milan, 1906. See also Italy and below " Periodical Publications." United States of America, Report of the Committee on Department Methods (Historical Publications), 1908. See also Jameson, J. F., and Andrews, C. M. ; above " Bibliographies," and below " Periodical Publications." 4. Parliamentary and Departmental Papers.* Report of the Lords' Commitees appointed to view and consider the Public Records. 1719. (1723.) Report from the Committee appointed to view the Cottonian Library, &c. 1732. (H.C. Reports, I. 508. 1773.) Commons Journals, XXXIII. 791; XLVLIL 848. (Removals of Records, 1772-1832.) Reports of the Commissioners on the Woods, Forests and Land Revenues of the Crown. 1787-1793. Record Commission : Reports from the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the state of the Public Records. 1800. Commissions, and abstract of Annual Report of the Commissioners on the Public Records. 1807. Reports from the Commissioners appointed to execute the measures recommended by the Select Committee. 1800-1819. ¦ Proceedings of His Majesty's Commissioners on the Public Records of the Kingdom (June 1832- August 1833). 1833. First and Second Reports of the Select Committee on Public Documents. (H.C. 44. 717.) 1833. — Report from the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the management and affairs of the Record Commission and the present state of the Records of the United Kingdom. Parliamentary Papers, 1835 (429), XVI. 1. Report from the Select Committee on the manage ment and affairs of the Record Commission. Evidence and Appendix. (Ibid.) 1836 (565). XVI. 5. Observations upon the Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Record Commission; Correspondence thereon with the Lords of the Treasury, &c. (Ibid.) 1837 (177) XXXIX. 369. General Report from the Commissioners on the Public Records. 1837. * For the titles of other Parhamentary Papers relating to the Records, see F, S. Thomas "History of Public Departments," Appendix J. APPENDICES. 167 Record Commission Pamphlets :* Observations on the Public Records of the Four Courts at Westminster (by W. Illing worth). 1831. Letter to Lord Brougham (Lord High Chancellor) on the constitution and proceedings of the present Commission for the Public Records. (By Sir Harris Nicolas.) 1832. A proposal for the erection of the General Record Office, &c. with plan. (By C. Purton Cooper.) 1832. The Public advantages of entrusting the Records of the Exchequer, &c. to the irresponsible custody of the King's Remembrancer, &c. 1834. Foreign Circulars (Aux savans et antiquaires francais ; Aos cartorarios, bibliothecarios e antiquarios de Portugal). Paris and Lisbon, 1834-1835. Observations, letters and opinions of the Com missioners on the constitution and duties of the Commission. 1836. The ease of the Commissioners before the Committee of the House of Commons. A letter to Patrick Frazer Tytler, Esq. (By the Rev. Joseph Hunter.) 1837. Letters from eminent Historical writers relating to the publications of the Board of Commissioners on the Public Records. 1836. Including D'Israeli, Hodgson, Ling.ird, Meyrick, Ormerod, Raine. Southey, &c. Papers relating to General Record Office. the project of building a (Plans.) 1835. - Papers and Documents relating to the Evidence, &c. before the Select Committee of the House of Commons. 1837. Scotland. Documents and Records illustrating the History of Scotland, and the Transactions between the Crowns of Scotland and England. Edited by Sir Francis Palgrave. 1837. Record Commission Pubhcations, Ireland . Liber Munerum Publicorum Hiberniae, or the Establish ments of Ireland, &c. 1152-1627 ; being the Report of Rowley Lascelles. 1822-1852. Public Record Office. Estimate of the sum required to cany on the business of binding, cleaning, repairing and indexing the Public Records. 1837- 1838. Parliamentary Papers (313), XXXVH. 384 (and following years to 1844). Report of the Select Committee on the Destruc tion and Sale of Exchequer documents. H.L. (298), 1840. Copies of Communications between the Treasury and the Controller-General of the Exchequer on the subject of certain Papers and Documents moved from the vaults at Somerset House to the office at Whitehall Tard, 17th March 1840. Observations addressed to the Master of the Rolls on the Defective State of certain Records of Fines and Recoveries in the Principality of Wales and the county of Chester. H.C. (223), 2 May 1842. ¦ Names and titles of works left unfinished by the late Record Commissioners, &c. Parliamentary Papers, 5 July 1842 (401), XXXLV. 363. Report of the Metropolis Improvement Com missioners respecting a proposed new Record Office. (Ibid.) 1847 (in 861), XVI. 349. Cost of preparing and fitting Record Repositories, &c since the passing of 1 & 2 Vict. c. 94. (Ibid.) 1847 (398), XXXIV. 385. Records in the charge of the Master of the Rolls on 31st December 1849 and the dates when the Repositories or Records were actually placed in his Lordship's custody. Parliamentary Papers, 1850 (in 1221), XX. 512. Transfers and Interchanges of Records after Public Record Office. The Deputy Keeper's Report to the Master of the Rolls on the subject of the Union of the State Paper Office with the Record Depart ment. 1853. P.P. Correspondence between the Master of the Rolls and the Treasury respecting the publication of materials for the History of Great Britain previously to the reign of Henry VIII. Parliamentary Papers, 1857, XIII. 43. Letter from the Master of the Rolls to the Home Department with reference to the alleged abstrac tion from the Record Office of certain Papers. (Ibid.) 1863 (203), XLVIII. 321. Treasury Minute on Record Publications : (Ibid.) 1866 (202), LVII. 85. Return of all Record Publications relating to England and Wales published by the late Record and State Paper Commissioners, or under the Master of the Rolls, up to the end of the year 1866, including the Irish and Scotch Records. (Ibid.) 1867-68 (20). 1867. Return of all the Record Publications relating to England and Wales published since the end of the year 1866, &c. up to the end of the year 1876. (Ibid.) (430). 1877. Memorandum (dated 20th November 1875) by the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records on the subject of the destruction of useless documents now pre served in the Public Record Office. (Ibid.) 1876 (389), LX. 597. Bill to amend the Public Record Office Act. (Ibid.), 1838, V. 415-33. 1877. Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords appointed to consider the Public Record Office Bill. H.L. (51). 1877. Copies of all Warrants that have been issued by the Master of the Rolls under the Third and Fourth Sections of the 1st and 2nd Victoria, chapter 94, and of all other Warrants under which any Pubhc Records have been transferred from or to the Public Record Office or its branch offices or to any other place from 8th January 1848 to 30th June 1876. H.L. (153). 1877. For the Return of Transfers of Records prior to 18-18, see D.K., I.-IX. Reports. For Returns between 1S76 and 1878, see H.L. (211) of 1878, and for later Returns, see above, Appendix IL, No. 3, Appendix VIII:, No. 2. Report from the Select Committee on Public Offices (Sites) Bill together with the proceedings of the Committee, and Minutes of Evidence. (Pro posed extension of the Pubhc Record Office.) H.C. (204), pp. 40-41. Reports (Annual) of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records. Parliamentary Papers, 1840, &c. Index, 1840-61. 1865. Index, 1862-78. 1880. Official Publications of the. See Stationery Office Catalogue and Gross, " Sources and Literature," Appendix D. Reports of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, &c, in Ireland. Dublin, 1869, &c. Reports of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1870, &c. Report of the Committee appointed to inquire as to the existing arrangements for the collection and custody of Local Records, &c. 1902. having been brought into the custody of the Master of the Rolls previously to 1st January 1850. (Ibid.) 1850 (in 1221), XX. 517-. * For the Bibliography of the Commission, see Stationery Office Catalogue. Thomas's "History of Public Offices," Appendices E., F., H, ; and Gross, "Sources and Literature," Appendix D. 5. Periodical Publications. Almanach de Gotha. Gotha, 1864, &c. Annuaire des Bibliotheques et des Archives. Paris, 1903. Annuaire de la Belgique Scientifique, Artistique et Litteraire. 1907. Annario del cuerpo facultativo de Archiveros, &c. Madrid, 1881, &c. Archivalisches Centralblatt ; Organ fiir die Gesamtin- teressen des Archiv-wesens. (Hrsg. von A. Hettler.) Halle, 1903, &c. Archivalische Zeitschrift. Stuttgart, 1876-88. (Neue Folge.) Munich, 1890, &c. Archives Beiges. Namur, 1899, &c. L 4 168 ROYAL COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS : APPENDICES. Athenaeum. 26 Dec. 1903. (" The Old State Paper Office.") 10 Sept. 1904. (" An English Ecole des Chartes.") 7 Jan. 1905. (" History and the Science of Archives.") 23 Dec. 1905. ("The Study of National History.") 16 April 1910. ("American Archives.") 6 Aug. 1910 and 1 October 1910. (" The Instru ments of Manuscript Research.") Bibliotheque de l'Ecole des Chartes. Paris, 1835, &c. Bibliographie Moderne : Couirier International des Archives et des Bibliotheques. Paris, 1897, Ac. Boletim das Bibliothecas e Archivos Naciones. Coimbra, 1902, &c. Bulletin des Bibliotheques et des Archives. Paris, 1884, &c. Bulletin des Comites des Travaux Historiques. Paris, 1882. &c. De Gids. Amsterdam, 1837, &c. See especially, the years 1891 and 189S. Magazine of the Moscow Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Moscow, 1880, &c. Meddelanden fran Svenska Riksarkivet. Stockholm, 1877, Ac. Meddelelser fra det Danske Rigsarkiv. Copenhagen, 1906, &c. Meddelelser fra det Norske Rigsarchiv. Christiania, 1902, &c. Messager des Sciences Historiques. Ghent, 1823- 1896. Mitteilungen der K. Preussischen Archiverwaltung. Leipzig, 1900, Ac. Mitteilungen der III. (Archiv) Sektion der K. K. Zen- tralkommission f iir Kunst und Historische Denkmale in Wien. Vienna, 1888, &c. Minerva, Jahrbuch der Gelehrten Welt. Strassburg, 1891, Ac. Nederlandsch Archievenblad : Organ van de Vereenig- ing van Archivarissen in Nederland. Haarlem, 1892, &c. Nederland schen Staatsalmanak. The Hague, 1912. Quarterly Review. No. 64 (1829), No. 83 (1830), No. 116 (1837), No. 232 (1865), No. 260 (1871), No. 353 (1893), No. 422 (1910). Revue des Bibliotheques et des Archives. Paris, 1891, Ac. Revue des Bibliotheques et Archives de Belgique. Brussels, 190*3, Ac. Revue d'Histoire Diplomatique. Paris, 1887, Ac. Revue Historique. Paris, 1876, Ac. Notices of French and ot her Archives ; e.g., T. L1X and LXXXI for Dutch Archives. Revue Internationale des Archives, des Bibliotheques et des Musees. Paris, 1895, Ac. Rivista de Archivos. Madrid, 1897, Ac. Rivista Storica Itahana. 1884, Ac. Index (1884— 1900). Turin, 1904, Ac. Military — c&niinued. Establishments. Peace. Part II. Territorial Force: 1912-13. U. 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