The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-16 00:00:00

EMIGRANTS AND LIBRARIES.

TO Till lIDITOR or TIM DULT NEWT.

Sip.,—l have noticed with great satisfaction some
remarks on the recent report by commissioners of in-
quiry as to the state of oar public libraries—and have
wen some hints or suggestions that the duplicate
volumes in the British Mu•eum, amoontin .s to 52,000
volumes, should be distributed amongst the most
deserving institutions of this country, such as me-
chanics and literary subscription libraries. While I
view this matter of the distribution of superabundant
copies of valuable works in one library amongst others
less efficiently supplied but very deserving institutions
as a most juiicious and desirable thing, yet I hope the
government will not overlook the importantsettleme rats
on far distant shores of a clue cf emigrants
who, to a great extent (proportioned to
their numbers) were the originators or hearty
supporters and contributors to the institutions
of the fatherland so deserving of support and en.
couragement, and which, should this suggestion rot
be made public and meet with attention from govern-
ment, will become memorialists fur participation in
the distribution of the superfluous volumes in ques-
tion.
In many a thousand cases I have no doubt the
enterprising emigrant quitted this country with
pleasing reflections on tare profitable evenings he
spent in the libraries and lecture rooms of the insti-
tution, dear to him as the best traits and glory of his
native country, and occasioned to him perhaps the
latt and severest pang at leaving these enlightened
'horse.
The property in most of these institutions is in
pare the contributions of the now distant emigrant,
and when justice, generosity, end brotherly feeling is
put into the balance, the claim et' the emigrant and
his deprivations will meet with a hearty good-w;ll,
that instead of monopolising these precious books
and crowding the shelves in their already well sup-
plied libraries, the managers and subscribers of the
public libraries in this country will say to the
government, should the offer be made them—" We
have already reaped where we have not sown, and
have gathered what has been strewed by the now
=ciat ; we have entered their labours, and our
n are suffering great deprivation in their new
banes, and would rather the capitals of the last set-
dissents had the valuable present you offer us given
Is them."
The government is disinterested and generous ;
they encourage emigration, and more would emigrate
were the sacrifice less. With what fee hng would an
emigrant enter a library where every book he opened
would speak sentiments in his heart of filial regard
for home, end our government would be looked upon
as their fathers and their libraries as parental gifts.
In proportion to the enlightenment of the early
settlements will be the prosperity and rapidity of
their progress in the arts and sciences of life, and tke
cultivation of the intellect will be the best police.
Independent of the justice and generosity of the act,
the hest policy will be to educate and stimulate the
settlers to mental cultivation.
Such a step by government would I have no doubt
meet with an emulating spirit amongst those who
have ever been forward in the patronage and encou-
ragement of arts and industry; and spare b,.oks and
models from public and private collections would,
added to other voluntary subscriptions, swell the
boon that would be wafted from these shores to en-
rich the new homes of our children. SOHO.

WINDING lIP or JOINT STOCK COKPANllO.—Amoart
the joint stock companies, before the Masten in Chancery
during the week, to have their affairs settled and wound up
under the provisioas of the act has been the sue of the India
and Amenlie Mail Packet Company, projected with a
capital of 100,0001., and the business of which was carried
06 /DM 1847, to April, 1819, until the affairs became greatly
embarrassed, and it could not be dissolved, the shareholders
not having paid no their cells to constitute a legal meeting
fer the purpose, and which wee to be done whenever a lass of
75 per cent. as the capital for the time being was subscribed
list of contributories, with the caption of some ad-
joarsed eases, base been settled. It appears that the deed
was signed by shareholders to the extent of 1080 shares,
the unseat of deposit and calls paid was 3,2401 ;
the amount rewired, 2,833(. ; the amount still due,
9071. ; the number of shares on which the par-
liameatery deposit of se. was paid, but in respect of wh•ch
the deed was not signed, was 2,4301. ; amount paid, 7,2904. ;
received, 6431. ; and still due, 6,6471. The fetal number of
allotted* who paid the parliamentary deposit war 4,686.
Only 242 shares were taken in Madras and 81 in Ceylon
The only assets are 3971., under a distringss, and a call has
cc be merle on We contributories to pay uff ou•stinding
claims, which amount to between 2,0001. and 3,0001.
GMAT SOUTHERN END WISTRI6—The directors have
issued circulars to the shareholders, offering to each his pro-
portion of the new 61.55. shares, to be issued for the purpose
of raising the 312,5901. additional capital.
Rasmus Ustox.—The directors have extended the time
for taking the new imam of 10 per cent. shares until the end
of the sawth, when the unclaimed residue will be commuted,
and based ealy hereafter at t reduced rate of interest.
MR MARQUESS 07 AROLLSIA'S IRISH PRO-
EszEr.—The Evening Pada* says :—We are gratify dto
state that Lord An/e'en has instructed the respected agent
of his Irish estates, A. W. Rutherford, Reg ,to allow all
his tenants 20 per cent. this year upon their rent, and le
expend 3001 annually henceforth in hewer. mints as his
lordship's Csrlingford property, which Is under 6,0001. pas
amuse. The same journal states that Irish coal of a sary
superior quality is now being raised from pits adjacent to
the Arline mine, county of Mummoron.
AITERSS or FOREUNE.—Thers is & lady at pro-
ses% an Monte of the workhouse hew, whose husband was
high sheriff of this county a few years baek.—Lisserick
Examiner.