The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-03 00:00:00

OPENLNO OF THE MANCI
LIBRARY.

!'ER FREE

VW opening of the Manchester Free Public Li-
..., ha. been looked forward to with • good goal a
Li-
t. awl it will not be • natter of surprise Wit
moat saii.ty was manifested by the public to be mown
ne accenon. The ceremony took place in the
in which are stored the volumes design=
iir;rq ure,uce, ',blast the distinguished visitor In.
imbrig to Like part in the proceedings were received in
roes of corresponding proportions on the first floor,
aratsming the books, which form the public lending
',bury. At twenty minutes past li o'clock, when the
n and gentlemen invited to take part ic the pro-
stoLeo hid tales their seats in the upper room, there
1,,f, nearly a thousand..persons present, • great portion
gaiwo were Lilies. Nir John Potter presided, and ton
ig„,Ecr noblemen
.and gentlemen took their seats em
f side of the chsir 7 the Earl of Sh•ftestsury, the gad
et Wilton, ti.e Bishop of Manchester, Sir Edward Dai
laws,t,ir ",trith,.i. Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. Thacks.
ht. Mr. John bright, M.l'., Mr.
Man M V.. the Res. I)r. Vaughan, Mr. Wil-
bus M , Mr. Jim. Kershaw, M.P., Mr. Joseph
firth, Fon, M • and Mr. F. Ikiu, Mayor of Manchester.
Ag Aro the lIIMC didinguidisil ladies present were the
of Wilton 3101 the lion. Misses Egerton.
Tbe t'liAlliMAN, in opining the proceedings, prefaced
by resdiug a report which gives an interesting
gad socciart history of du, origin of this excellent

urroßr.

Your committee, es aoreething the completion of
gum labours, leil it Is be their duty to submit to the sub.
account of the origin, object. and history eg
lb, ',orrery, now about to be inaugurated ae one of din
• et eut,lse iiistitutio34 of Manchester. la the SOF
litres 1...0. a eulegript.en Cu. set on foot in this teen do
she rat library and museum, to be par
nit tot,. nte all elasers of the public. But, as it nee
g,s oteret el' the rrognoters to provide means fee the
modal culture and moral elevation of the artisans end
wil„.aople ebo form so tarn and important an element a
wee laid down as the fundamental built
dd.- Ate nie tank it sionilu ir.c.cle a free lending library—
., insteu•ers, it 6 la her ed, hitherto without en imple in
Ibis cancel. In eepport of this object, twenty-six
et ea: te.i.u-tewitsnien subscribed, either for them-
es:se. or for their respective gems, the sum of
Ica: ,oh. Forty-three other subscriptions were obtained,
mime?, with tl.e berm. r, an aggregate subscription of
The us, reser, of Manchester, who, at the outset,
Ind reit:iced an tamest di sire to promote the undertaking,
Verrall .onoibuted the ens of 2,0001. from a fund which
thy h.... 1 a, their disposal for purposes strictly pubic.
• beildine is whit .t you are now assembled had early
beta muted out is eat eel %purl to the contemplated pur-
low and as leae'y to he it; sins .1 on very moderate terms.
It !ad bs. a orientally built by the working classes, with
ea. atlas "And. rib:* eseeeding Om., but, under the
(ht.. come tin:SalOalICCS. those interested were willing
b 2..p0w of it tor 1.Z.,J/., or little more probably than a
!nob of as actual cwt. sir Oswald Mosley owned a chief
gat upon it of Kt. 6. per amino', which was estimated by
ine.t.at person. • be worth *2l years purchase, or about
Osweld Mosley, how. yes., on being informed of
ge ▪
purpose to whit h it wan intended to devote the building,
nrnseed hi. cordial approval, and stated, most liberally,
ex hr ,fin eld Yalu. the thief riot at only 20 years' pur-
chase ;1.434), and should further testify his goodwill to
le proud!" retior.ing one-half of the purchase money, as
sestribahon is the fund. Sir Oswald Mosley, therefore,
me: he regarded sea moat gcnereus supporter of this in-
intaen. Oa these terms the purchase, both of the building
sal the freehold. eas . &cud in the autumn of 18k0; and
B. lams esp. nil-1, including the neeeseary law charges,
seated to 2.11'1. Addition 11 subscriptions have sines
hr a obtained, amounting to 2,011/. As. 10d. and making,
ir..h the MIL of .1,1.44/. previously subscribed, a total, on
di Met Mi... of 9,423:. Os. 10d. A voluntary sub-
tcriptioa basing 1090 been set on foot amongst the working
Loos, a motion./ men's committee was formed, and ulti.
Imlay a atom of about 8904. was raised by the contributions
.ginore than 20.0ilit peewee employed in various industrial
mt.blishm. tee. sad residing is all parts of the town. The first
Mberiptim list was thus increased to 10,1234. 9s. 10d.
The tetal cspenditure in the repairs, alterations, and fur.
aidtaur of the buildine• amounts to 4,8161. Co. 2d. thus
moiety. Repairs and alterations to the budding generally,
; gas fittings, 2011. 84. 3d. ; warming and vesti-
bular apparitutt .1211. Ins. 4d. ; shelves and furniture,
LIIN. fie. 6,1 ; street paving, 241. 17s. 14.• total. 4,8161.
fa 21. The total cost, therefore, of toe building in Its pm-
ere; state, with its fittings and furniture, is 6,9631. 6.. W.
Meat of Arlen" already provided will accommodate
thea...ooo to 7,10110 additional volumes, and by merely inner.
in their morber,withour making any addition tothe building
ray alteration of simian', the number of volumes now in
t: ..DfaU Wight be doubled, or even trebled, if requisite.
T... amber of veluasee ultimately purchased was 18,(128'.
it. that aifitreaat, cost, in the condition in which you now
o• them, wesl,l4il., or about 4e. 74. parr volume an dm
c,rae.. In addition to the books thus acquired, WI
t....xtt hoe been presented to the library. Of them, Ili
s. ones have been contributed by literary, 'dentine., IR
• sesieties; lc, by various public departments; $l4
h ockeellers and publishon : and 2.3.5 S by private dens
uiclode many very valuable works, but hitherto the
tijonty of the books presented have been suitable rather
hr the library of circulation than for that of reference. The
timber of presented volumes which has been placed in the
haling library is about 2,1100; and to these have bees added
aSut 3.360 obtained by purchase; the entire somber=
ant available (or circulation being 3,305. Of then, lee
to the clam theolegy and philosophy ; 2,187 to
t legislation, polities, and commerce; 3101_1e 1M make-
s eel aaa physical sciences and the arm;emus tis liters-
hr. and the collective works of writers mi;osaionossitiosts.
0: the 2,181 volumes in the class history, Mean ON MIS* of
!chats history and biotraphy ; and 617 an ninneives of
y ures and travels. The collection thus mennienend by
rur committee will, they trust, be speedily sad 111.11111110.
• extended. The number of volumes at preama eser
tamed in the library of reference is 16,013, and lbsy Twin
elawilled thus:—Theology and philosophy, NB elediallit
,littory. 6.707 volumes ; legislation, ;Belida,. and amain.
4 volume; sciences sad arts, 1,310 vehimas; Ilkissere
lad polvgrephy, 4,626 volumes; total, MIAS 1111111111& It
will be isfaciently obvious that, in what they bale Ow he
bra enabled to accomplish, you ammittee Dave Due
Yid • feandation upon whisk Mom must band.
Bet only is a library of 16,0811 volumes, however
uefi selectid, very inadequate to Met the demands
which may fairly be calculated spa is • town like
lisschestet ; but some of the classes whisk have been saw
aerated are, In a marked degree, and el aweessity, weaker
than others. Your committee felt that to matter theft r►
stroted means over too wide a surface Mold have bees a
ran method of producing • result eves still len orkike•
ton. Hence they have preferred to aim at the hen ilea
ef • truly valaabl, collection in certain laireelma digare.
meets, and is others to be for the resist aserrat with
what was indispenu'de, rather than to sabilvide their
sew in more equal proportion. It will boa bees lama
hos the preceding enumeration that the hat tavaleial
dam in the library of reference is that el hYluuy. The
1,707 volumes of which that class at aaslsb a»
ass composed --I.'nivereal history, 121" uhf.- Ancient
lumen, VI vols.; British and stank= Intery and
Mietephy, 3,`571 vols. ; foreign hien, raiTeUrsiphy,
111 vols.; voyages and travels, 1,614 ye. ,707

--The report then proceeds to point ost
tLe Lbrary in the esrtotts seasons, NA Maillia en lb&
lows

"The entire coat of the two libraries (all till=
depirtmeats of which have now been noticed) bit
to 4,A21. ; and your committee believe that hailitenpil
Mae arid similar condition have rarely if soot bus oell•
'Med ea terms so moderate. Mot the_ eimillOng in Mr
department. as also in that el Ile baildieratileglit
teed. d what was at first ft
r ormlnardsouble to make renewed efforts _ 11111110111ip
bor... In order to effect this object le my Ann* when
it was found to be absolutely necessary tipllalmolork ft"
tb's who had subscribed so liberally at •e et the
mintaking. Aced here your cocamftba Miellimmtaill PIO
geed their grateful sense of the milts* time
diced by your excellent treasurer, Mr. Allfidi
In the spirited exertions of that amillemas plat
toramittee mainly owe the large success of their renewed
lineal to the test supporters of this iriatilmtlis. The list at
seticd sulseriptions now amounts to Mama 2,3001., and an
114.bbeeel MINI Dot exceeding ,5001. will maim to dear el
ee• ry liability. It hail been always mennaplated that the
u. corteporatntenga or lonfelshesetekr.nue Lit
bilriustees for ittitelptabilr
tad accordingly, in the month of July last, the subjoin
Vasbrought before the town council by liir John Potter, the
dustman o' your committee. The council determined, es
the of their committee for general panne; ea re-
volt the mayor to take a poll of the bariene ea the
IE-4 iqo of maintaining the library al one of the
ant in.titutimis of the borough, under the p
he 1; sod 11 Viet., is. re% an act introduced to pediment
by Hr. Ewart and Mr. Bretherton, and commonly Mom
is the Public Libraries Act of WO. This act provides that
la cam isothirde of the rotas given shall be is lamer sf
its adi.ption, the town council may either wens ee take
se n at any lands or hvildinge for the purpose of h
1114 museum. or either of them, et allirZl a
ee
adapt soy building or buildings for enchrimms and 111111.
rice the lime in repair ; and ma from timeume prank
loth Avon e, furniture, fuel, lighting, std dim notten
on the appiint such idlieere and fervents es any be MOW
Imy for the lilllll mina and useful occupant* sail min-
mat, I I all the inhabitants, of the institution thee eon
tlahed, free of sty charge whatever. T s mart the mid.
tate .20,11401,m the council is empowered to levy with en
▪ pad of the hoe.nsth rate, sueh sums of money as may
imts lone to time he ae..dui, provided always that the
*lois mount of rate so keied shall not in any ono year
timed not halfpenny in the pound on the annual ea bee of
lbe property rateable to the borough rate. The gia thus
I"ltt•t.d was taken on the 20th of August, ma the
amml.r of votes r‘corded in favour of the adoptie* at the
let we, and against its adoption, 40. AM pen
bmm.te a believe that, however striking this 110118111111
rosy appear, that majority would Mew MeV
17. s tn.nner still more remarkable, were an seenet
lu pared of the proportion of the borough ememma
*loch is borne by those who voted for the inpanies M
he tate. It will be for the town council to togintlit
droombiehotti the oreersary annual exoendittam• 101 the
• 4“d Pennine ender which the institution nail
.".mit.l7eenetitisted, when the property shall have ben
Irst,terred to the rorporation, and the mammon* vested
it the comma; hut your committee would ill *Wham
Gen duty were they to resign their moon Inagnient with-
nt trending their deep conviction that the Oa le whs..
aim under which the library is now to he leentelna Fe"
links ...Laminable alteration and amendment, I. oar to

the M
ainmast, by oases d fe*MOD ef say
rich whisk as bit astisthithry lo Ihth oftelthunity. Tha
act, la its present fear, purlieu Or the mime or hire et
loads sad buildings ; for the ;lemur of smirks ; for dr
procuring of Sates., funiture, and fed I but mhos no
provision, whatever for the paeohele of bean vemdis
town opened, to en* huildiegt fee Illmosie
leisallalea, without stiat as to mosoittsg• ur red WIWI
than the Wait of the rate ; bat it doss or tsar dim II
the
ono book an the shelves, or one spinosa 0)
the ewes. The grimmer Man sat. if unanordsd.
ia this cam h• the ithalor_ elen our librey eandethe ••very
large proportion of ealetalds publisodons whisk an still I.
proems. If we providon he moth the their asminuatiso.
what you &heady perm wM bees* leelr worth-
' Ism. Nor ma any library be ofPIM tis a
sanity unless its books ia all tmenr ow mg by
thentent Warm as as to be la ears degree Id
ellta the spit ispeanat le
anne eat miens Year
tannates bmet, tbarefem. that earner sad slat es
of public opiates will go hese to the
re, and that some oeseber of the Home of Dom•
will immediately ardor a been ea the podia by tetra
• bin for the eillosteei eseatseet of the
ge question. With ea stogy**, position for
Mere parlour of books, with a Ilbed spirit of
eaassgament, and a continued interest in the petesperity
of the institution on the part of those who age
successfully launched it, year summits. ass' Soft OM
the free library will prove to be she et the salt yelaebb
ad *Sarum benefits which have been eshost ea
M sad district. The lending library will, it Is help.. be
Se mesas of carrying the beat works of our best authors be
the homes and amides of the artisan Red the team,
worker; whilst the library of reference will afford to the
Mailers of every class an impulse towards consecutive sad
thoughtful reading, and will encourage the pursuits it
stadia* the results of which, under favourable aireasastanom
may extend the bosuidaries of humus , and malth
r the inetreasents of natio.] civilisation. Isw
byt"and pictures, the foundation of 'AY has hut=
eosin bution s of two e mi mess guintpoldlibmet
Is iwadea, aid of some of our fellow-towsamme, meaty rev
be provided for the cultivation of a taste OM OM*
delightful arts which at once charm the eye and Psi* the
wind. And all these advantages—whatever the adult it
which they may hereafter be
will mainly owe to the far-seeta7l9=l. tr.=
sued liberality, and the indefatigable penevemase et so
%Sur who. presidency it bas berra the pelves. eyelet
easamitte• to begin and to end its labours, sad Ste teed
be regarded as emphatically the founder of the istltatiem
Tear eanosittee feel that any record of their penesilges,
assuming to be historical, would indeed be tamely sod im-
potently concluded without this public Ppm*a of their
personal feelings of deep respect towards their distleigaisird
chairman, who, having long served this consamaity in he
highest offices, has now achieved a still greater and ISM
**during claim to grateful esteem, in the establishment of
an institution which bids fair to benefit not alone those whe
Pa at once profit by its &chantey*, but (how also who will
come atter tnem.—lty order of the committee, EDWARD
EDWAKDs, Librarian."
In the mars of his address the CHAIRMAN pointed to a
Pusher et kabsosely bound volumes presented by his
loyal bares Priam Albert, amidst loud cheers, and
Ogee • meg from Col. Phippo, which sccompasied them.
Se sulaird by making a formal tender of the library,
ledailea the title-deeds of the building, to the Cot-
poratilla.
The Mayor of MANCHESTER, on behalf of the cor-
poration, in trust for the people received the gift, is a suit-
able reply.
The Right Hon. the Earl of SHAFTESBURY said—
Sir John l'otter, ladies and gentlemeo,—ln rising to
propose the first resolution, I must defend my-
self against the very probable charge that, as a
stranger, unconnected with your great city, I meanie te
obtrude =pelf on the notice of this meeting. But you, Sir
John Putter, know very well that the directors of the insti-
tution assigned to me the honour, and 1 undertook it most
cheerfully, because, though not connected with this
city, I am not uninterested in your welfare ; and many of
the former events of my life have given me • deep and hat-
ing desire for the honour and prosperity of the city of Man-
chester (Cheers.) Now, the resolution which lam called
upon to move 'apeman That this meeting witnesses
with great satisfaction the opening ceremony of the Mow
chest. Free Library, and desires to express its entire coal.
dene that this noble institution will effect great and last•
iag good to the community for generations to come."
(Cheers.) Sir, there will be as ditheelty is Orrin your
concurrence in this mosherifisi. ad there will 110 a little
difficulty in showing dr blander sad the wield at large
the local benefits*. Sleds hem this institute. Bat we
must go further then heal beadle; and allow mile ahemve
that, in these days Wet sad eneitseaset, in *redeye of
novel projects and lasoky,ta theme degestandoesed
intercourse. when sae Mast ems sdeet, you
are preparing thereby on satkises a mieYdlbst neigkt
' otherwise arise; eat la estliai aa ezeire SS say be ind-
tated, and k . yr, ewe a pigeon vetoing' splits-
tior., you MMt that the Mee gee ef memenese is to make
the imitations it the essay wahoervisat le iht 'kids
dem eat tan he civilised.' subservient to as toad
and mud asathontion of the whole fauf moolthed.
Tao have headed this great ad &does iaelitudsa, large,
liberal, and cosmopolite, and bin egElnift 1 as;, may
God prosper It for the purpose he PIM It was intended
sad may you, in the pursuit of wealth, mils the duties of
commerce, in the expo*e of every virtu', la the mints-
apes of every sound and great principle—may you, I say,
thereby sanctify the possession and enjoyment of year
riches, sad may you enjoy for yourselves, and harmk to
then that NUMB after you, the atiseaship of • greedgel 04,
whoa insebeate are princes, and who.. WY= era Se
beamerable et the earth. (Cheers.) I PP the beerge
proposing the reshaties which I have read le yea. (Lad
Omni.)
Sir EDWARD BULWER LYTTON, is eseendls
the propositioa, raid: This library is a new, am en-
during, sad a Maly conservative link—(hear, Iterne)—
between your wealth and their labour, betwees the
manufacturer awl the operative, for every time that the
operative did one Into this library be will feel that you
have invited luesesdpi to be the impartial arbiter be-
tween all the deem of property and all the rights of
labeerste.) Gentlemen, the other day I naked
the later of the United States what was
Ihe SO. fa America ; and be told me,
eilkee to enpii=iss. list a poor rate in emus of the
less wee at Wavy se it min this sonstry ; but
be said that the beset rote, and the moat general, was
▪ rate for the pesos ef edesedies—(beer, hear)—and that,
said be, is a note we near midis at, because it ie in ode-
anion that so ISt Ihe Ostler Meer safety. Bet, gentles
men,, dasellea See ad anti when we leave school. Ids
oaths lebtb ametimal, to she week stains, sad libraries
are thegebeaems of grevamp sea. I do feel
a meet east's eat I may ray a selsma, interest in the use
• may be mete of this eV*, moss. I sell it en
seed, Sr bogie see wassas, Stellstor war or la self-
Mhos* ; eat pair ge doe prlastglee Mtvelry eee as ap-
plicable tithe sides new as they Ise le the kw& of
old—to dein/ the meek, a raid the egremer, a nits
holiday Soh easege, glee te maim weds sada bens
the . nue se Om Sloe to tibia the Matent Seed
pl lobes le Ws up Seamen, =
igneer. Ckelinge. abates, Sale may be
to rev tap lad hi mileh oder the ids et di Se et
hamlets which yea have as *heed, asae it me sea
sengssturs ; bet yen of ties psalm gesereden ton nobly
Sae year duty, ad may slay leave the =di te des
awe thee yea hew dud. beds the soneamod ems '
sad miss d this aims mad lita the ME mall=
that-beast era peak that tied ear emboad eat eenv
fort sus di sips. Tor home Ithe mhos of ewe *My labour
yea how spool tits pip did sold whia, Se the di-
vlien 'fear stallia. gem leek es the of
mil heist telhe piste, of an aide teo,
withell am say to tame Makate dam Ws Mary SD
MI heft eat meats—l may way to thorn, almost la the very
raids wllli abaft that pima aradaiee—
Sat Yea hid bare ow. use dim
We ger of oat Ile hems, Sat Ildfo•
_

The resoletia we serried with lead Outwits.
Mr. CHARLES DICKENS, who was received with the
meet cordial cheering, rid—Sir John Potter, bike, sad
celemea,—l have helm se mach In the IeML within the
a=
t, of rely* syea the weeds ef Ohm pm*,
thet gaits • mead mammies to be bees isymmisat
sol=merer. I mese yes, I feel at this moment
in of sidle, Into the leagenge ef my
bind Who addremed yes last ; and from the wee fetes of
bilik I mere adm the yessegter.
trou(11 lamth.) For this
reseeth sod may ethses; I ail ble me with •my
therlsgsesh Weed. Myopia the iseeletim with which
I hem the beams Is be imilmited. Its. pats*, s-
isal=mesh"dela.Y thatl ceamst de btu than
IS le y at ewe :—"Tltst as, In this Mediation,
spiel gimlets& bee been made fir the within duets,
by mem of a fres _ this meet
lag shortage the wart isiterillet the teak am seeds
available will prove • memo ed &OW, sad ingsweemeat
in the cottages, the garrets. sad fellers of the palest of
our people." (Cheers) Lake and gentlemen,
what I shall say cm tetra sable* be two very brief leads,
I would beg to observe, thee I ham bees mode
happy, sine* I have bum bin, by tke selesien
of a :problem which hat keg yerylemeil me. I have
seen so many reformism medals newmegers, parliamen-
tary debates, sad elsewhere, to "the Masishester
that 1 have long bed • masidsrable amid le knew
what that phrase might mean, sad when the liaaabutsr
sehirol might be. (Ca es and Meg= My metnrei
curi,tity on this head has ass bees hind ,bY the
contradictory accounts I hive rerriVtd r. speedy{ that
sclins,l ; some great authorities assuring me that it
was a very good one, some that it wee a very bad one ;
wane that it was very broad and enmprebensive, some that
it was very narrow and limited ; some that it was "all cant,"
and same that it was all cotton. (Cheers and laughter.)
Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have solved this difficulty by
Ending here to-day that the Manchester school is a great
free school, bent on carrying instruction to the poorest
hearths. (Cheers.) It is this great free school, inviting
the humblest workman to come in and to be a student
—this great free school, munificently endowed by volun-
tary subscriptions, in an incredibly short space of time—
starting upon its glorious NSW with twenty thousand
volumes of books—knowing as sect, no party, and no die.
tinction ,• nothing hat the yetis want and the public good.
(Cheers.) newsier*, Indies and gentlemen, this building
slat represses es me the Measherser eased. I have long
bee& Is my eghere, a maims shale he the diffusion of
kaewledge emeao4ldwisse end steads' of wen—(cheers)
—because I do lisisca, with all the strength and might
with which I em gegieble of believing anything, that the
more a man knows Me mere amply, and with the more
faithful spirit, he NON beak to the fountain of all know-
ledge and takes to his Bart the great and sacred precept,
"On earth peace, geed-will towards men." And well