The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

offered on thepart of the Russian troops

cumstance is accounted for owing to the (

Prince GORTSCHAKOFF is said to

msess in tas

superior. military skill, as well as regard

cipation of the upshot of this terrible

There are rumours of a special Ambs

lclor being

ordered to the PORTE

Considerable anxiety prevails in the Metr(

in consequence of this fresh intelligence, for,whi

the public mind had been altoget

aer unprepared,

as an armistice was considered to have been con

eluded, in order to allow time for what was gene-

rally believed would have proved a successful
negotiation.

WE have been favoured by the Chairman of the
" Library and Museum Committee" with the
current Report of the Institution, upon which we
venture to offer a few strictures suggested by a
perusal of the same.

Perhaps there never was a time when philan
thropy was more misdirected, or when ch
obtained to such an extent, as the present

Quad

nostrums and jim-crack panaceas are unfortunately
too much the order of the day,; and whilst "HOLLO-
WAY'S Ointment," and similar infallible remedies
are announced for all " the ills that flesh is heir
to," there are not wanting patent elixirs for mental
and social infirmities—perseverance in the use of
which being the only condition of cure ! As far
as we ourselves are concerned, we have little faith
in either, considering it bett(
"Bear the ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of

Free Libraries for the people cannot, however,
be regarded in a similar point of view. Provided
that the benevolent sentiment does• not rest satis-

fled with this one object, we hail such institutions
as appropriately meeting a most decided want.

Still we must confess, that there does exist danger
of philanthropy being contented with thi

singlE

achievement. Of course, tis a very desirable ob-
ject that the artizan class should have every facility
afforded them for obtaining information. But we
all know well enough that there must exist neces-
sary conditions ere such a boon can either be
appreciated or become generally acceptable. Whilst
the working classes of this country are ill-fed and
ill-lodged, there is little hope of their cultivatin
to any considerable extent, literary tastes

whilst we should much regret to undervalue an
object so utilitarian as the general establishment
of Free Libraries, we yet conceive that the frequent

erection of model-lodging houses and public ba
would be more essentially conducive to th

nutan

condition and social progress of the int

Were physical comforts more highly estimated, and
the lawn of health more generally complied with,
intellectual culture would become a necessity—and

the majority of those who now seek the tavern ane
the tap-room as a refugium peccatorurn would, it
all probability, resign a polluted atmosphere o:

tobacco-fume and unlimited potations of "half-
and half," for less debasing and unprofitable
indulgences.
We are glad, nevertheless, to find that the esta-
blishment of a Free Library in Liverpool has not
proved a failure. The experiment has only been
tried twelve months; and although no great hopes
were entertained, at the outset, of its success,
experience now warrants a different conclusion. We
cannot do better than give the following particulars
from the Report itself :
The Library was opened on the 18th of October, 1852.
From that period down to the same datt, of the prooont year

there have been issued to readers the number of 111,723
volumes; in addition to which there have been 16,960 read-
ers of periodical publications which are left lying on the
tables, making a total of works perused of 128,683. The
average nnmber of books issued per diem is 394, and of
readers of periodicals 80. Assuming the average number of
books in the Library during the year to have been 10,000,
which is near the truth, the numbers issued are equivalent to
every book in the Library having been read thirteen times
over during that time. Gratifying as the result must be, it
does not fairly represent the demand for the advantages of
the Library. The utmost number which the present rooms
can accommodate at one time, even with inconvenient crowd-
ing, is 140 to 160 persons. In the evening, which is of
course the principal time for readers, the rooms are always
filled, frequently crowded to a most inconvenient extent.
The discomfort arising from this source, and from the
stifling atmosphere which the frequenters of the rooms have
to submit to in consequence, is.a sufficient evidence of the
avidity with which the inhabitants avail themselves of the
advantages of the Institution.
So far the result is most gratifying, and fully
warrants those further measures which are being
adopted for the extension of so manifest an advan-
tage to the labouring classes. We only hope that
those for whose direct benefit it is intended, will
appreciate the same commensurately with its
worth, and " seize Time by the forelock," in order
to bring themselves within the range of its
operation.
Although we perceive, by the excellent classi-
fication given in the Report, that works of light
literature form nearly one-half of the books read—
by the way, not an unhealthy sign in itself—still
the number of readers requiring a higher range of

instruction, are not at all inconsiderable

Work

on Metaphysics, Natural Philosophy, Law, Poli.
tics, &c., are in repeated requisition, and certainly
show a higher condition of intellect amongst the

masses than one would be disposed to give them
credit for. We have not the slightest doubt bu
that, under certain conditions, the working class
would rise greatly in the social scale

As it i

there are but too many potent influences perpetu•
ally and imperceptibly at work, to disease their
bodies and debase their minds. And it is pretty
clear that none but themselves can become their