The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-19 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 19, 1856.]

FREE LIBRARY FOI? BIRKENHEAD.

---...w-- at..
li vtlinac meeting of the ratepayers of Birkenhead aud Lt.
`'Pounding district was held in the Town-hall, Birkenhead,
4Saturday, having been convened by Mr. John Laird, chair-
All of the commissioners, in answer to a numerously signed
Lion, for the purpose of adopting measures for the es-
lißhment of a Free Public Library and Museum in the
„,,, ,
'on accordance with the provisions of the Public Libra-
Act of 1855. Mr. Laird occupied the chair; besides whom
:e Messrs. P. M. Dove, R. Lamont, A. Waln (clerk to the
(nissioners), Keightley, R. Bryans, &c. The ball was
1tc7013, well filled, the trading classes predominating over
','Of the lower order on the social scale.
ae CHAIRMAN having explained the object of the meeting,
Vir. WILE having read the requisition,
4,I%PEROT M. DovE then rose and moved the first resolution
And, in the opinion of this meeting, the establishment of
wofrll e, public library and museum is highly desirable, and
40 j greatly conduce to the instruction, recreation, and
r,,]V,, welfare of the inhabitants of this district ; and that the
Libraries Act, 1855, ought to be, and that the same be,
ih.,ted for the district aforesaid."—The speaker said he had
17, pleasure in acceding to the request made'to him to take
re Part in the proceedings of the meeting, from a deep sense
s,lttlhe importance of literature and learning generally, and
i
ki, the advantages which the culture of the intellect would
he upon the whole of the community. Comparing the
heft
ht nt time with the past, it would be found that the
Zeacies had never been greater than at the present day
iig the whole history of this country. That thought Shad
'rred to him some three or four weeks ago, when preparing
Le manuscript leters for the purpose of reading them to the
7°_rle Society of Liverpool. Amongst them were some
Zs of Benjamin Franklin, addressed to a friend of his, and
-,h_7% Dec., 1788: In one of them was a request that an ency-
lia might be sent out-for the use of a young student of
Zaaelphia, having heard that books under that title had
Tilt,ly been published in England. The book was to be sent
a'.3,' one of the spring ships ; showing how different the
'lt,ions between man and man in different regions of the
.."'ll Were at that time compared with the present. At that
Inti;oll it was evident there were no fast-sailing vessels at all
kes of the year. There were no builders of steam vessels—
rlli,ght say there were no John Lairds—(apphense)—conse-
thr the young student alluded to had to wait from Decem-
al.7BB, till the spring ships had arrived, before he could
'eY his cyclopredia. He thought, therefore, he had made
his position, that the difference between the days of
klin and our own was such as to show the importance of
Coral knowledge now compared with what it was then. The
;Mies and prospects of this nation are now vast and magni-
C." Commercial and political events are raising the Anglo-
41en race to a pre-eminence in the intellectual struggle that
likely to take place in the world. No class of men can
i'ler afford to be ignorant. If the field be not occupied by
'43:4 Will assuredly be taken possession of by a race similar to
Re Own—by our active and energetic transatlantic brethren.
4 wished, therefore, to impress upon them the necessity of
Ikviig in this town what must be done in every town in Eng.
lt,,i'• Benevolent men were looking forward to this improved
of things. Many of them might be too old to live to see
Cr
_ir anticipations realised, but no doubt they would
1;11,774 the language of Franklin in one of the letters to
y3"ieb he alluded. He said—" It is an important thing
to lee the world getting better and happier,though we are about
iewre it." But what is the object, be (Mr. Dove) asked, in
7,4!!)lishing a free library here ? It is surely primarily
_,,uorelope and to make useful to-others a power which
111- but universal in n- an. The vast majority even of the
Oz,4ting classes have that within them which, if brought out
Let.irly culture, and then matured in after years by further
Zlng, would make them different beings, and give life and
inn to ?acuities of the very possession of which they would
th,,nrwise be wholly unconscious. It was not merely or ex-
-1,,,-'wely wealth which they desired for them, nor that which
`941a„.. need wealth ; it was rather 'that they should produce
hZngst all classes in this country a more general and genial
ranity, which should act between mind and mind, and re-
tiZt ultimately in a better state of soeiety ; because, if they
OroVed in real knowledge, so would they in their relations
titole another. It was therefore necessary, and he wished to
%Press it upon them particularly, that they should look to
etharacter of the books 'to be selected for such a purpose,
ti,
asto have them suitable. He did not stand there on that
t
Osion as the advocate of any section of the religionists of
til.l Country, but he would venture to assert that no knowledge
s
1,71 i impiously dethrones the Creator from the homage which
llie to Him, or which did not increase the feeling of reverence
bllls laws, would ever benefit a nation. We have only, he said,
forgjance at the history of-ancient nations most distinguished
learning, to find an illustration of the appalling fact that
, e exercise of the accutest intellect may be joined to the
rilfiletice of the grossest sensuality. From this he drew the
a erence that they must be careful what sort of knowledge
Zit' imparted, believing that the knowledge which only
Zelled the head, and did not-touch the heart, was not of that
there
which would benefit the community. (Hear.) But
h",tZe was another object, and it was purely a benevolent -and
;Vaathropic one, to give to our fellow-townsmen a solace
gieb, if once appreciated, will seldom fail in its effects.
"Co; all around in their worldly concerns was pervaded. ith
L'ilotn and darkness, there would be found in books that which
dreading
the troubled spirit ; and often, at his fireside, a man,
'treading an intellectual book, found a short respite from the
17n.bles which surrounded him, and obtained lessons of phi-
jrn,Phy which enabled him the better to bear the ills that
tiesla is heir to. He advocated the reading of the Bible as
y
onlook that wou produce these results under all -
Quistncbes. However,ld the present object was to refercir to,
L uti to recommend•those other means which, though immea-
ZFably less, were yet the gifts of a munificent Creator. He
Light say that the reading man lived in a new world, com-
ed with those who had not been in the habit of cultivating
aequaintance vriththe writers of old, and receiving wisdom
tomthose who had gone before them. The late Sidney
smith
had said that if it were not for the love of knowledge
ttillid books he would rather be the merest hedger and ditcher
On the most powerful man in the world. His love of know-
nge was such that he considered the pleasure of it far
,greater than wealth and power. But there might be a further'
be produced by the establishment of a library. It -might
, that some rising genius in Birkenhead would be enabled,
:1 the aid of the free library, to furnish his mind, andhring
li to maturity ; such a-one might rise to be an honounto Bir-
ienbnarieead, and add another star in that galaxy of intellectual
ii!Mis that form the glory of this country. (Applause.)
Lle referred to the diffioulties which even some of our eminent
Poets and writers had in obtaining books in formerdimes ;
'at by the establishment of the free library he hated all
'could be furnished with knowledge for the development of
lose noble faculties with which they had been endowed. In
licashire there were already four such institutions, contain-
-isu_g 80,000 volumes devoted to the public use. Each of these
books had been used eleven times, and provision was made for
replacing them as they became worn out • and one of the best
results which had attended such establishments was the union
ofi all classes, not only as regarded the funds necessary for
~.," en foundation, but by the subsequent participation in their
gyantages. They were libraries for the town, and not of
stoj section ; and he believed that under the amended act
I,ge3, would become increasingly popular. For the reasons he
that
stated, he gave his hearty concurrence to the resolution
''ilat had been placed in his hands, which he begged leave to
'Dove. (Applause.)
t, Mr. LAMONT had great pleasure in seconding the resolu-
tion, and in doing so he mast state that he hoped it would
'V.4". He could not imagine that any ratepayer would make
1:13' objection to it on the score of cost. The legislature, Wits
~isdom, had passed a very simple act, enabling such institu-
tions -to be formed in such townships as that. He did net
vBli to make any political remarks, but he must say he though
''this act was one of the fruits of the freedom of our country;
alld our representatives had given a great boon to their con-
etltuents in helping forward this movement. It was one of
the results of popular elections, he believed. He was not
srngto -detain them with any further remarks, but he hoped
there -happened to be any gentlemen present who were
~greater ratepayers, or who held a-higher position than their
.poorer brethren, they would consider that a greater reason
7113' they should help forward such a movement as that. He I
',oned they would show that evening that they appreciated
~_'ne establishment of such a provision, and unanimously autho-
Liiie their guardians of the district or the commissioners to
""tablish, without delay, an institution such as had been ex-
Plaittea by his friend Mr. Dove.
, Mr. Gunax (an ertzploy under Mr. Laird) moved a nega-
tive to the proposition, on the ground that the education of
e people had been so neglected by those who ought earlier
t 0
have seen to it, that a free library would be no boon to them ;
-411(1 that, tired of waiting for their betters to assist them, the
working men themselves were about to establish a concert hall,
,%viith evening lectures, schools, and reading rooms. Other
:reasons why he was opposed to a new tax 'being laid upon the
`People for a purpose like this, lay in the coming ten per cent.
`income-tax, and the inability of the authorities to put the
"Ads in Birkenhead in repair with the means at their dis-
'Posal.
~ Mr. ToWNSEND, in supporting the proposition of Mr. Dove,
'rated that the present free library at Liverpool, which now
°limbered 65,000 volumes, originated about eighty years ago
with .a number of gentlemen who kept the few books with
which they commenced in a box at a coffee-house. He men-
tioned this fact as one of encouragement to the promoters of
this meeting.
Mr. Hanaisona of the Canada works, as one well acquainted
With the habits, wishes, and mental capacities of the working-
!nen ofßirkenhead, rebutted the slander that they were unable
t° read, and asserted that such a library as the one eoutem-
l''ated would be a great boon to them, and that among the good
`nilags it would accomplish, would be the bringing together,
gilder the same roof, and for the same improving and elevating
purposes, both master and man.
in answer to a question from the body of the hall, it was
stated, by Mr. WALT. that the maximum rate authorised by
'ne act was one penny in the pound, that the election of a
13,113mittee of management rested with the commissioners, and
flat the composition of such commiteee was not confined to
laembers of their own body.
, Mr. Hornblower, Mr. Bailiff, Mr. Walker, surgeon, and Dr.
Baylis, also supported the motion, which, on being put to the
vote, was carried nem. dig.
A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings

LIVRRPOOL POSTOFFICL—From the estimates of the.
revenue department for the ensuing financial year the following
I°N postoffice particulars are gathered. The salary of the
werpool postmaster is £l,OOO per annum, being higher than
tat of any other provincial postmaster with the exception of
Manchester, where the salary is £1,300. In addition to this,
the poundage on the sale of postage labels and envelopes
mounts to £3BO per annum, in which item the emoluments
of the Liverpool office are intermediate between those of the
Postmasters of Manchester and Bristol. Rent, rates, taxes,
°oals, and gas amount to £216 per annum, and the annual
allowance for incidental expenses to £1,614. The establish-
pent
comprises a chief clerk, two principal clerks, a comp-
troller and an assistant-comptroller of sorting offices, an in-
814e dor of letter-carriers, two assistant-inspectors, eight first-
elatai clerks, sixteen second-class clerks, and seventeen supple-
mentary,, clerks, whose united salaries amount to £6,468 per
altnum. The letter-carriers and sorters are 178 in number,
leer week
20 first-class men, receiving from 31s. to 355. each
week ; 23 of the second class, at from 265. to 30s. ; 46 of
title third class, at from 225. to 255. ; 78 of the fourth class, at
letter-carrier,
to 21s. ; ten temporary sorters, at 18s.; and one extra
at 17s. 6d. The annual amount payable to the
letter-carriers
(92 in number) is £4,902. The wages of 13
tsleiral letter-carriers amount to £203 per annum, and there are
messengers, stampers, and porters, whose wages amount, in
I,* aggregate, to £5,563. 58 sub-postmasters and receivers,
connexion with the principal office in Liverpool, receive
salaries amounting to 11522 ; and there are two letter-carriers
"L' sub-offices receiving 10s. each per week. The total amount
Paired for the expenses of the postoffice establishment in
—iyerPool for the ensuing year is estimated at £20,924.