The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-16 00:00:00

LITERARY AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

Mr. Lowt,cn LoWteti presJnted the following address,
on behalf of the members of the Literary and D-ramatic
Society :
To Wm: Brown, EA., M.P., on the occasion of his laying
the foundation Stone of the Liverpool Free
Public Library and Museum.
Sir,—The members of the Liverpool Literary and
Dramatic Society desire to b ar their heartfelt testimony
to the noble generosity of the deed by you this day
inaugurated. Your eminence in the commercial world
has long been acknowledged, and men of all countries,
who have wondered at and admired the merchant, will
now sae in the citizen the nobler title of the benefactor of
his age. The annals of this land of trade abound with
records of the spirit of enterprise ; these hare their brief
existence until eclipsed by some more startling ittstauce
of perseverance and success: Not so the deeds of those—
tier country's heroes—whose generosity adtanCes the
nation's glory. It is not for r.resetit personal benefit
alone that we are grateful, bat that, in yoti, we recognise
a pioneer, through whose instrumentality the stores of the
world's wisdom will be opened to future generations
Hitherto (he path of knowledge has been rough and beset
with difficulties, and history tells of genius toiling wearily
through youth and manhood, only bearing fruit when bent
aed worn with age. The progress of education tends to smooth
that rugged way, to sweep away those obstacles, that gifted
minds may, by self culture, become useful to the world with
all the strength and freshness of their powers unimpaired.
We look with deep respect,aed reverence on one who has
aided that cause so fraught with future blessings to
mankind. As a society whose first public effort contributed
aid to the institution of which you have become the
munificent endower, we have felt justified in offering this
spontaneoas expression of gratitude. Believe that we
fervently unite in the prayer that you may long live to
realise the fruition of your hopes.—We remain, sir, on
behalf of the Literary and Dramatic Society; your very
obedient servants,

Lo*TEN, President.
Fu. NITABE, Vice President.
JAMES KNox, Treasurer.
EDWIN YOUNG,
Hon. S es.
W. HUGHES,
Liverpool, I.sai April, 1857.

. .
Mr. Brown replied as follows:—Gentlemen, my 'towns-
men seem to overwhelm me with addresses, and with
honours, which are enough to turn my head. I trust,
however, that I have discretion enough left not to forget
myself, but to feel that I am not entitled to all that is said
of me for performing what, hi my estimation, is a simple
ad of duty. We should never forget that we are not
sent here altogether for our own purposes, but as stewards
for the benefit of others as well as ourselves. At the
same time it is particularly gratifying to me to receive
such a complimentary address froM the Literary and
Dramatic Society; who can well appreciate the advantages
of having access to that knowledge which well chosen
libraries contain. lam willing to hope that the intelli-
gence of ages which we there find is not all the advantages
which we may hope for, but that well ventilated,
well warmed, and comfortable apartments may induce
many of our humble fellow townsmen to resort to the
library in preference to some other places which do not
benefit their morals, and, I fear, too frequently involve
their poor families in distress. TO gentlemen of literary
pursuits we are deeply indebted for the advantages they
have conferred on mankind. Their useful labours have
never been sufficiently apprechted, and men who have
written works 'of great value to mankind hive passed
away without receiving those rewards which their useful
labours fairly entitled them to. To you, gentlemen, who
have honoured me with this too flattering address, I feel
much indebted, an.] beg again to return you my sitlcere
thanks.