The New Library And Museum For The City.

after added 3 , 000 ? . more for a suitable muniment-room , to preserve , safe from fire and convenient for reference , the numerous documents embodying the official history and proceedings of the Corporation . The Corporation bad taken up this work with an earnest desire to promote the highest public interest , and in full view of tbe

overspreading influence of public education in augmenting the demand for knowledge which libraries and museums were so eminently calculated to supply . Ii would not detract from the credit due to the Corporation that this endeavour was but the beginning of a great work , But it was a beginning of which he trusted they might all be proud . They would soon have within these fast rising

walls room for 100 , 000 volumes , and he did not doubt they would be satisfied , by an inspection of their plans , that the building wculd fully meet the present requirements of tbe public , and probable prove sufficient for a hundred years to come . The committee had entered upon their task with cheerful deliberation . They had visited many of tho most famous libraries in this country

and on the Continent , and had studied , not only the safe keeping of their literary treasures , but also the convenience and comfort of those for whose use the Library was intended . Ifc would be a place for research , as well as for hasty reference to books . There would be a museum on the basement on the level of the crypt , and above that the Library , each of these occupying a space

100 feet long and 65 feet broad . In the Library there would be fourteen bays , each forming a quiet study . Nor was this all . There would now be instituted for the first time in this City a public reading-room , liberall y furnished with maps and plans , directories , works upon commerce , and banking , and dictionaries , with such other ready aids to obtaining information as would be needful in a place of general resort . In the name of the Corporation at largo and of the committee he had the honour to represent before them , ho invited the merchants and

bankers of London to co-operate with them in rendering this new institution the great boon ib was intended to be . He invited tbe young men to come and use it ; he invited all engaged in trade to embrace the opportunity which would now be provided for increased enli ghtenment , and for affording the commercial man the knowledge whicli he requires as a passport of safe conduct in the affairs

of his daily life . As to the constructive part of this undertaking , ifc was in good hands , and he was bound to refer to Mr . Horace Jones , the architect , who was unavoidably absent , as having entered into their views fully , and provided a design which would add to the architectural elegancies of the City . Many might regret the absence of tbe Lord Mayor on this occasion , ' but ib was not

through lack of sympathy , but through sheer self-denial that he had absented himself . The Lord Mayor would not , by bis presence , divide their attention , for if he came he must appear in his official capacity , bub if lie kept away the committee would have their full share of the honours due to them , and midisturbed possession of the sympathies of the assemblage , Such was the Lord

Mayor ' s view of the matter , and such bis reasons for bis absence , for bis lordship had always adhered to the doctrine that there could not be " two Kings in Brentford , " From this time they would look forward to the completion of tbe work they bad begun ; the committee would not cease from their labours , but pursue them with diligence and hope , trusting to the support of a generous who

public , , ho felt sure , would uphold an institution which may bo called the child of its adoption . He would hope , for himself and coadjutors , to meet with the sumo generous reception from the same smiling faces when they should meet again to dedicate the Library and Museum to the public service us they bad that day been honoured with in connexion with tbe ceremony of Jayinnthe foundation-stone . Professor Owen expressed himself as hi ghly gratified

in being present to assist in this interesting ceremony . It was especially satisfactory to reflect that this new Library was commenced during the premiership of a statesman who had crowned the great labours which had made his name most honoured and renouned with a legislative enactment which would open the gates of knowledge to every child in these realms . To one like

himself , leading the life of a recluse , working in a quiet to which the world was unused , and all unaccustomed to the bustle of public meetings , this scene was somewhat new and strange , but not less pleasing , though it imposed upon him tho performance of a task for which , by habit , he was utterly unprepared . But he could not but ; be glad to take part in this ceremony , even if ifc only afforded

him an opportunity of saying that , if it was appropriate to the Government which bad laid the foundations of a system of national education ifc was equally appropriate to the civic reign of a Besley , whose uprightness and generosity and downri ght Saxon truth and plainness , had won for him golden opinions from men in every sfcabion of life . It was a grand thing to see this

substantial revival of a great movement in aid of public enlightenment . It mi ght be hoped that this new Library would prove a powerful aid to the educational work on which the nation was now entering , aud that its good promises would all be fulfilled . He ( Professor Owen ) bad long been aware of the peculiar intellectual needs of tbe City of London . Ifc was impossible to carry on the

commercial affairs of this wealthy community without the aid of literature and science , and the mental activity and far-sightedness , which intellectual pursuits are so eminently calculated to encourage . He could not help calling to mind that Mr . Joshua Bates , of the house of Baring Brothers , first impressed him with tbe necessity for placing within reach of the citizens many and various sources of information . The merchant muse know much ofthe world and of mankind , much of countries , climates and the agencies of commercial intercourse , Many were

Mr . Bates ' s difficulties , in his first essays in business , owing to the scarcity of books ; and it was in remembrance of his own bard labours and tbe many impediments he had to encounter that belaid the foundation of a library in his native city of Boston , in the United States . If they were to be regarded as representative on this occasion , he would speak of Ms friend , Dr .

Saunders , as representing the great Whitfcington—and ho himself would be proud to represent one of tho curators of the old City Museum , and he would not mind representing such an one as bore rule in the day when Nebemiah Grew published his catalougue ofthe curiosities kept in charge in tho Gresbain College , on the spot where now stands the Eoyal Exchange of London

. Many of the specimens that were in that collection are now in safe keeping at the British Museum , aud others are in the Museum ol the College of Surgeons , at Lincoln's Inn . There is to be on this site , under the shadow ol tbe Guildhall , a Museum as well as a Library , -and none could doubt that the most advantageous relationships between them would be secured under the provident auspices of the Corporation . His hope and prayer

was , that those who now saw the beginning would also see tho end , aud that when tbe intended edilico occupied the place where they were now assembled , it would , amongst many other good objects , accomplish one that was much needed—an ample illustration and exposition of all the most important features of tho antiquities and history of the City of Loudon . Aldorman Sir David Salomons , M . P ., briefly addressed tho andin lace of vote

meeting , , p a of ihanks , called for a hearty cheer for Dr . Satindors . The cull was instantly responded to , and three cheers were added for the Lord Mayor . Dr . Saunders returned thanks . He said lids was a labour of love , and he would never weary in its prosecution . Mr . John Staples , Chairman of the Library Committee , made a brief address . He said the Corporation of London had set an example which tho British Government had followed , aud which would , no doubt , be followed in other countries extensively , as time rolled on . The Corporation had instituted a systematic in-