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

law with any body." Such a statement is
unsound in principle and dangerous in practice.
It is " a sprat thrown out to .catch a mackerel,"
a bait to ensure a little extra popularity, and
thereby gain re-election by the Vestry. It will
be observed that when Mr. DOVER wanted to
pledge himself that .the collection of the out-
standing parochial rate should be enforced
without partiality,' Mr. WOODRUFF refused to
do anything of the kind, and in giving his
reasons for declining to give any pledge, had
recourse to an amount of Jesuistry which was
too transparent to pass unnoticed ; and although
Mr. JEFFERY came to the rescue, and used all
the heavy artillery of his logic, he could not do
away with the impression that there was a want
of candour in the Churchwarden's state-
ments, and that his close relationship
to the Church had so enamoured him, that what
were formerly abuses in his estimation, are now
legitimate necessities, which must be provided for,
come from where it may.

In a populous place like that of Liverpool, it
will not do for
.our parish functionaries to- be
playing such a game upon the rate-payers. On
two occasions they have emphatically repudiated
a church-rate. The voluntary principle has been
applied, and Mr. WOODRUFF says it has
answered the purpose well. Nevertheless, the
disclosures on Tuesday show that if there be any
deficiency in the amount required, the Church-
wardens have an easy and pleasant remedy in
the poor-rates. It is against the possibility of
such practices that we speak. We do not desire
to see anything approaching deception marking
the public conduct of our Church officers. Nor can
we countenance the system of abstracting from
the parochial-rates, to support which the inha-
bitants say should be met by means of a volun-
tary contribution. A poll is to be taken to-day
for an Overseer and Select Vestrymen. The
abuses which were exposed on Tuesday, show
that there should be a strict watch kept upon-the
parish rates, and that they should not be em-
ployed for purposes altogether foreign to that for
which they were levied.

'We would also urge upon the people at large
to remonstrate against the continuance of church
rates. That overgrown establishment has within
herself ample means, if properly contributed, for
maintaining her ChUrches. Her members should
not look to others, who disown their communion,
to assist them in the proper conduct of their
services. Let there be one universal and indig-
nant shout against church-rates. Let the Legis-
lature, by some well-devised plan, settle this
long and much vexed question ; and let the rate-
payers of Liverpool this day show by their votes
that they despise parish jobbing, and condemn in
a most emphatic manner any tampering with the
parochial-rates.

TO MR. CHURCHWARDEN WOODRUFF.

Sir,—At the annual vestry meeting, yesterday,
I ventured to ask you what amount of money
had been paid out of the compulsory parochial
rates towards defrayino• the expenses in connec-
tion with the Perish churches.
To this you were pleased to reply that "you
were not aware of anything being paid."
I then put another question. I enquired how
many persons had, during the year, been
employed about the parish churches who were
maintained by the parishioners out of the Cpa-
pulsory parochial rates. •
To this your reply in substance was, that some
dozen or fifteen persons had been so employed,
but that the value of their lab&ur had been paid
out of the voluntary church rate, and the amount
carried to the credit of the poor's rate.
With these answers I expressed myself satis-
fied; and I did so under the full conviction that
thor were made with sincerity, and witliout any
mental reservation. My satisfaction, however,
was soon converted into disappointment. Almost
immediately after you had assured me, in the
presence of the parishioners, that "you were not
aware of any amount being paid out-of the com-
pulsory parochial rates for church purposes," you
admitted, in answer to a question from Mr.
Came, " that some of the clergy were paid out
of the Rlor's rate
I did not then follow up the question, for two
reasons : first, because I, had not a copy of the
church accounts, and secondly. the vestry ap-
peared impatient to proceed with other matters.
To-day I have procured a copy of the church-
warden's account of income and expenditure for
the past year, and I regret to find that the
answers you gave yesterday to my questions are
' quite at variance with the facts as given in this '
document, prepared under your direction, and
•signed by you.
The people of Liverpool are under the impres_
sion that. during your two years of office us
churchwarden,• you have levied no compulsory
rate upon them for church purposes, that the
whole expense of maintaining the parish
churches has been defrayed out of your boasted
voluntary rate. The questions I put to you
yesterday went to this• point, and you most
distinctly gave me and the parishioners to under-
stand that such was the fact.

Now, I am sorry to have to make any charge
of equivocation against you, but as the matter
stands, I am. left no alternative. Your own
printed account, as furnished by the vestry
clerk, contradicts your statements made in the
vestry yesterday.
From this document I find that during the last
year you paid no lees a sum than L 1,459 2s. sd.
for church expenditure, out of what is technically
called the parochial rate; but vvh:ch, hereafter,
must certainly be called a church 'rate. I need not
tell you nor the public that the parochial rate is
a compulsory one; and that, therefore, to my
view, the people, of Liverpool do not maintain
their parish churches, out of a voluntary rate,
as you so gloriously boasted yesterday,
As I have stated above, you have paid for church
purposes during the last year £1,459 2s. sd. out
of the compulsory parochial rate, and during the
same time you have only paid £779 ss. 3d. out
of the voluntary rate, making a total payment
for church expenditure of £2,238 7s. Bd. for the
year.

I am not now going into the question of the
legality of the payments you have made, First
of all, I desire to give you a full opportunity of
of explaining away the contradiction which exists
between the statements you made at the Vestry
meeting yesterday, and those contained in your
printed accounts. When that is before the pub-
lic, I shall prqbably have something more to say.
—I am, Sir, very respectfully,

CHARLES WILLMBR.
21, Oxford-street, April 15, 1857.

THE NEW

FEE E PUBLIC LIBRARY
AND MUSEUM.

LAYING THE FOUi•IDATDN STONE AND
INA.UGUIIAL CEREMONIhS,

Liverpool witnessed yesterday a series of ceremonies, to
which public honours were paid to a private lildividual,
such as a citizen rarely receives; and in return for an aCt
of munificence such as a citizen rarely has exhibited.
The great Free Public Library and Mus+ urn, of which the
foundation stone was laid yesterday, will in future years
connect the narrie. of Liverpool as inseparably With the
cause of progressive popular education, as it has long
been connected with the history of expanding commerce.
Not alone as the possessor of an educesional institut ion of
a character not equalled in any provincial town throu
sh-
out these countries, will Liverpool be ernMent. She will
be even more remarkable as the possessor of such an
institution raised by the generosity of a single individual—
' an untitled citizen. Le former years, , tich a Work as that
we have just seen inaugurated, would have required the
patronage of, a monarch. It would have formed the
most permanent mark of honour sta, aped on the
memory of a Cosmo de Medici, or have redeemed
from oblivion the name of a Nicholas. Only ages
nearly linked to our own have been happy ennigh to
•see such acts done by private citiiens, who sought no
more honour than that which the silent gratitude of the
countless numbers whose benefactors they had been must
confer upon them. The honours we have had to record,
as rendered to the founder of our recently commenced
institution, have been only accepted by him on the urgent
sollOtations of those who did not think it well that Liver-
pool, for her own sake, should allow such an occasion to
pass over without giving some expression to her feelines
of gratitude. It would not be enough that fdture inhabi.
tants of Liverpool should possess the benefits Of such a
building, and should have the gratification of showing
that, in an eagerly commercial and aggrandising age, such
a splendid offering was made by a private merchant to the
town of his adoption. It must also be left for them to
read, that tho people among whom the benefactor
lived, appreciated his worth; and were not wanting,
when an eccasion7offered, to declare their thankfulness.
for such a gift. Liverpool-has, indeed, been allowed
to progress so far, without being Able to display
many noble monuments of private charity and gene-
rosity. But it oould happen to only few to have the
power of enriching his fellow townsmen with such a
memorial as Mr. Brown's ; and but few public institutions
could possess such means of spreading widely diffused
improvements around as the Free Library which will soon
rise on Shaw's Brow. A town such as Liverpool cannot
afford to dispense with any of the means which tend to
humanise the heart and reline the-intelligence. Where so
incessant a struggle for life keeps_ the faculties upon a
strain in one direction, so continuously every agency must
-be needed to prevent reaction or premature exhaustion.
Where the details of an eager and uuresting commerce
occupy so much of the mind, the need becomes indispens.
able for some power which will at the same time relax
the mental strain and keep fresh the spiritual attributes.
The philosopher who beezed, as a last request, that every
anniversary of his death should be kept as a holiday, had
more practical wisdom, and more human sympathy, than
most of the professed thinkers and teachers of his age.
The wisdom and the sympathy. of Mr. Brown haVe provided
in Liverpool a place where the overworked frame and mind
can enjoy every day some hours of freedom and of refresh-
ment. I t need scarcely be told to any resident of Liverpool,
that the means previously in existence were, however well
and judiciously dispcPed of, painfully inadequate to the end
required. Every day their narrowness was becoming
more and more evident ; and the gratification which those
who watched the subject felt, at the increasing eagerness
with which the working classes especially availed them_
selves of the means placed within their reach, was neces-
sarily mingled with regret to observe that the source was
becoming each day more contracted in proportion to the
calls for supply. Mr. Brown has now made -such a gift
to posterity, as_ will, for many generations, be ample
enough to meet the demand which, we trust. way still
keep, as it has done, ever increasing. fie has provided the
means by which the poorest boy, who labours all day;
may enjoy at night such means of education and refinement
of mind, as many an intellect of native power, in earlier'
years, thirsted for in vain, and, wanting it, was left to stag-
nate. He has done more than this—he has given an exam
pie which cannot tailto be fruitful, and will leavea memory
of charity and generosity behind him which will be appro.
ciated by every one who reads within the walls of the
building his hand has founded. It is much to be hoped that
the name by which the institution is hereafter to be known,
may embody in some way that of its founder, so thttt no
one can even passingly refer 'to the one, without having
his memory awakened to the good deeds of the other. •
It has been long a matter of very serious regret, that
the valuable and constantly increasing stock of vdlumes
which the existing free library of Liverpool possesses,
should be huddled away in a eornparatively small and
imperfectly ventilated room, in a dingy back street.
Perhaps it is still more to be regretted that the splendid
museum adjacent should be-crushed iato a space whiCh
made it all but useless—, he densely packed crowd of
objects rendering it all but impossible to see anything
with advantage. That these defects should have
remained so long without remedy, is scarcely to the
honour of our local powers; and whether they ever would
have been remedied at alt, but for the intervention of Mr.
Brown, is, we fear, somewhat questionable. News that
the difficulty has been so nobly met—now that a fine open
site and a splendid edifice are to be assigned to almoSt
the only popular literary and-scientific institution Liver-
pool has to boast of, we hope to sea that energy which
our Town Council were perpetually wasting in diseussions
upon the subject leading to nothinee. employed at last with
a more practical bent. We hope the gift of-Mr. Brown
may be made the splendid -centre of many less striking
but valuable institutions of smaller compass. We confi-
dently look to see many local libraries, especially•lending
libraries, established in diffeiient parts of the town. No
central institution, organised on whatever scale, can meet
the requirements of such a place as Liverpool. There are
around the people of such a town as this objects enough
to allure into hours of profitlessness and. lolly at _least.
We may hope thet yesterday's work, when completed,
will not have consummated its object, but that it will be
only- the leading feature in a system spreading all over
the town to place within the easy_reach of every class the
benefits to be derived from a source which, next to
religion, has done most for refinement and the exaltation
of humanity.

One esfie'cial cause or gratification must hive penetrated
every one who witnessed yesterday's proceedings, or who
takes any interest in their ohimt. Gifts such as' this
presented by an individual to a community, are rarely
received until after the donor can no longer' enjoy the
sight of the good they cnnfer. In this instance we may
safely hope to see the generous giver enjoying, not only
the sight of the work he founded yesterday, fully com-
pleted, an ornament to the spot where it is to stand, a.,d
an honour to the town, but that he may, for many years,
behold its benefits more and more appreciated,. and have
the happiness to feel that the operation is fairly in action,
in the erection of which he was the principal agent-, and
whose humanising effects can neither bo limited nor
exhausted.
The establishment of a Free Public Library in Liverpool
is of so recent a date, and the circumstances connected
with it so fresh in the memory of all, that it may seem :a
needless labour On our part, to make any reference to its
Origin. We shall, therefore, only make a passing allusion
to it, though the subject of the legalised establishnient of
free libraries is one which may be• profitably considered,
wit only as an evidence of the good times in which" our lot
has been cast, but as a promise of the still better times
which are even now dawning on this land. The establish-
.n3ent of "mechanics institutions!' in our large towns_and -
cities, was a great good ; but though they did not realise
all that was expected of them---(what .human scheme
does ?)—yet who will deny that it was-not in that self-same
thought; that strong desire for improvement which was
felt by the masses, and fostered by men like our gifted
townsman, Mr. Wm. Ewart, who sprung froth the people,
share in their sympathies and aspirations, that the legis-
lation which has led to the general establishment of Free
Libraries had its origin. We think it was ; and, tracing
the good which we • now enjoy to that cause, we look
forward with hope to a further development of it in a
higher and larger form.

'Early in liikso the Corporation appointed a special com-
mittee of its body to enquire ire() and report on tho pro..
priety of establishing a Free Public Library in Liverpool,
and the result of their report was an application to Parlia-
ment by the town council for power to levy a rate
-tor the
establishaient and maintenance of such an institution in
this town. The power was accordingly granted. The
Free Public ',Library, the T)erby Museum, of which we
shall have to speak hereafter, being incorporated with it,
was established, and from that date the rate known as the
library and museum rate, and ;which, by act of parlia-
ment, cannot exceed one penny in the pound, has been
levied for their support. The establishment of such an
institution being-fairly- considered in the light of an
experiment, but one which a single year's experience
p• cored a-success, temporary accommodation for its work-
ing was provifled in the building once known as the Union
News Rooms, in Duke street. The library was formally
opened in October, 1852, and, in the satne month the
following year the committee of the council under whom
it was managed had the gratification of reporting
to that bodylhe complete and assuring success Which had
attended their labours during the twelvemonth. If space
allowed it we would here quote from the report then pre-
sented, and which not only described the general working of
the institution, but also classified the readers, the volumes
read, with -other interesting particulari, and we may
mention that the same system of classification has been
observed in the succeeding reports, which are most-odm-
plete in their character.

In September, 1853, Mr. William Brown, ever Zealous
for the welfare of the people, and anxious, to confer
on them a boon which would tend to the great end
that, during the whole 'course of his long public life
he had unswervingly pursued—their moral and Intel.'
lectual improvement—offered to the Town Council,
through the then mayor, Mr.. Samuel Holme, to contribute
the-muntficent sum of 4.6,000 towards the erection of a
Free Public Library, provided the council contributed out

of the public funds 810,000 towards the same purpose.
The noble offer was at once accepted, and !he 810,000
voted by the council. • The site for the proposed building
was fixed on Shaw's brow, where it is now about to be
erected; and lasayear architects were invited to send In
plans. The discussions to which these plans gave rise in
the. Council Chamber are not yet forgotten, and while not
disposed to re-open the cantrOversy we cannot forbear
expressing an opiuion that Con Amore was not fairly dealt
with, and least of all in a manner becoming the position
and wealth of the Liverpool Corporation who, as a public
body, whatever they may do as individuals, should foster
the growth of art in the country by a generous liberality
towards its professors and not discourage it by the mean
and:peddling character exhibited by them in this instance.
OMAnxious to witness the realisation of what had i become
td him one of the great objects of a life—every period of
which has been marked, by usefulness—Mr. Brown offered
to double his contribution ...to give, instead of 86,0,:0, the
princely sum of £12,000 towards the work, if the design, to
which the first prize had been awarded, were at once
carried. out. The Council were, however,' still deterred
by the expensive character of the design, and like all
deliberate assemblies in such cases where prudence and
inclination are at war, took refuge in renewed discussions,
in which everything was discussed but the question at
issue. Aaain Mr. Brown stepped ia, and solved the
difficulty, by undertaking to erect the building at his sole
expense, thus at once enhancing the value of his gift by
enabling those for whom it was intended to enjoy its early
"the hope deferred which maketh the heart sick." The
fruition,
offer was at once accepted, The design of CO3 Amore was
referred to the Borough Surveyor, Mr. Weightman, with
instructions to so modify it as to bring the cost of con-
struction within the sum contemplated by the Council—
.E3o,ooo, and measures were forthwith taken to clear the
site on Shaw's brow, which had been already granted and
fixed upon by the Corporation.
Such munificence on the part of a private citizen, and
so striking ,an instance of public spirit, could not be
allowed to pass with a' mere expression of thankfulness
howsoever warm and sincere it might be. It was felt that
the public gratitude, required' embodiment, not only to
mark the feeling of the people towards a public benefactor,
but to incite others blessed with an equal means of doing
good to emulate his example; for, in truth, neither statue
nor portrait is requisite to preserve the memory amongst
the people cf Liverpool of such a man as Mr. William
Brown, whose name has long been identified with its
commerce, and whose public spirit on this odcasioa is as
wise as it is munificent. The building, the foundation of
which he laid yesterday, will be for him a memorial which
will outlive ages, and which, in the absence of any other
monument, would be sufficient to distinguish 'him in the
eyes of posterity as one of the' first of " Liverpool
Worthies. This consideration, however, could not
relieve the public of the duty which Mr. Brown's liberality
imposed on them, and, accordingly, the Town Council,
immediately on the acceptance of his last offer, appointed
a special committee of their body to consider and report
on the most appropriate manner in which.-they, as the
representatives of the Whole-ceirnibutiity; meld-adequately
testify their sense of the obligation about to be coqferred
on the town.
_„At the :next meeting of the Council the
committee brought up the r report, in which they recom-
mended that elr. Brown should be honoured, at the public
expense, with a full length portrait and statue, the former
to be placed in the New Library and the latter in a niche
in St. George's-Hall-ate fitting companion--for those of the
two great men which already grace that noble building.
The recommendation of the committee was at once
confirmed by the Council. We have no doubt that it will
be carried out in its fullest spirit, and that both the por-
trait and the statue,'which we believe has been entrusted
to the eminent' sculptor, Mr. McDowell, for execution,
will be worthy of him whose likeness they are intended to
preserve, and that they will be of a-character to show to
_those who come.-after after us, that while this, our age, was
rendered glorious by having a citizen amongst us of a
public spirit not inferior to that displayed at any period,
even by men whose public munificence has been Considered
deserving of record in the brightest page of history, the
generation in which he lived was not only not insensible
of his virtue, but knew haw to honour it with befitting
memorials. The next virtue to being good one's self is to
recognise and honour it in others.
What the character of the new building will be we are not
_atepresent in &position to state. _As_weeleefore remarked,
the deign of Can Amore has been referred to the Borough
Surveyor for modification, and the extent of that moditi.
cation can be known only when he submits his plans
and drawings to the Council, which it is expected he
will do at the neat monthly meeting. Meanwhile, it
may not be out of place to express a hope that, however
Mr. Atom's design may be Modified, it will not be altered,
or rather changediefor-the-worseein -any-m eterial- parti-
cular, and, least of all, in the accommodation 'to be pro-
vided for the readers, and the magnificent collection of
works with which the Library is now stocked.. At present
•it contains upwards of 21,00 u vols, which includes the
most valuable and rare works in every department. of
science, literature, and art. It is peculiarlY rich iii works
of reference, particularly as regards architecture. To
judge of the value and importance of these works, it is but
necessary to behold the numbers of advanced mechanics
and artisans who make it their business to study them—a
study in which pleasure and information is to be gained;
In the numbers frequenting the establishment there has
been a steady increase since its first opening; Indeed, from
the returns it would appear that they have been limited
only through the inadequate accommodation which the
present reading room affords. The number of volumes
issued : last year was 153,169, against 131,192 in the
previous 'year, while the average number of readers at
night was 170, though the reading room is not calculated
to hail conveniently more than 100 per-ens. - As` to the'
conduct of the'readers and the care taken of the books,
the committee, in their reports, declare that they have
been beyond all praise; and this fact, we think, may be
taken of the value which the people attach to this the
aepilEwcswTLAtmno.
,nlurioiihaoiianoodt,
Tnegv: 1
gosds,
dhtehteolhtahuesrrewtl
feisituppisceynnt
bpttpstponapseeoihse.ceyo%oplovcfeuociladeponiiti
hainarmwrsneahasaitoenfbbeeiddehl
conformity
sail
ijyierez
lurneats-ni
collection
oostrdht o f ail our loc e 1 institutions. Of the Lending
Libraries, which were established ins October, 1853, one at
the North and-the otheaat the-South-end of the town, it
is unnecessary that we should here make any detailed
mention. They are, In fact, part of the Reading Library,
and have proved so valuable, that vita hope to see their
further extension throughout tact town. A word now of
the Free Public Museum. This valuable institution
consists principally of the extensive and valuable z tole-
o
gic a 1 collection
young
-some
geesi
valuable
teaehalt—ylhogdsmwif:hbisiteetreg.
spetaehdaiodnop 1
tedertrgi
fl,
et:
presented
c:a:resirereh.
tliopletiusisaaiseetse
,;timitni
et,
htroonistddEredosotsftiteffiilcignEe,
paaiwo-otdtee:
ndoutorshnfoih together,
imports,rrtl.
wish
nhtrhaldrithbLoiornriru7rfe;
uonviudisegottprnetDy tolhrfthi
rOheagirooeamlth fdpeebcrten.
otlitrheesmoosinaohbo:
neoupteogtaeriefroti
al
rrsagtedt,
It also
wlethutrtdi
s.
eanrasyti
etoorfesree hnto.hyanmosr:iilceasefl,t.t::f.
s
e
grati-
fication
thetcatsit6und consists
one of the most extensive wiles. ions of birds ever formed ;
to these-may be added a large collection of eggs, a number
of reptiles, fishe &c., but some of these are not at present
in . bt
(II
fid est
h,
ecaxncde lattere
s. ios
a:
evol,enoraoyiOn-l-aftrohgree
wantbpirred proportion
eornftiiisenprilab
ee
eri
wereni
ng
exhibited for want of room. The total number of quad.cases. These skins are nearly 8,000 in number,
rnpr :ter
eeap
sregeldlirnas
tzle
000—ofe9addnt :
the stuffed specimens displayed in the room amountiue to
of
received,er
a birds
eeee
a i
sm buteo i n
a as
ts
ofe many
haveth
the most
of i
ms on s the
since
extensivesome 11,000. 'The quadrupeds number about 1,100, a
considerable portion of which were also unstuffed when
been
s
smalleretanal
u)
specimensai.
collectionTvnaetuable
ever
formed. It is exceeded in this eountry only by that in
the BritiSh Museum; no provindill collection approaches
-it-in number or •variety of specimens. -The-prinoipal con-
tinental collections are at Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Ley-
den, but no catalogues -or estimates- of. the nun:leers of
these are publiihed.
Some valuable and extensive donations have been made
to the Museum by the E ist India Company, consisting of
casts of fossil remains from the Himalayas, together with
numerous skins of quadrupeds and birds. A series of
fossil elephant and other „bones from the Himalayas has
been presented by Col. Sir T. T. Caulty, and skins of a
remarkably fine Yak, and other aniin ils, have been re-
ceived from Captain E. Smyth. The Yak is a remarkable
species of horne I cattle;_ it has a strong resemblance in
several points to a horse. It is likewise furnished with a
large quantity of long silky heir hanging from its sides
and loins, and a tail so bushy, that it is in great request
throuehout India to brush away the flies. Yaks are tound
in every state,-from-complete domesticity -to complete
wildeess. The range of this species in a state of nature is
on the margin of the snow line of Central Asia, which it
follows as the snows recede in summer to retura before it
as it descends is winter.

A very in' eresting series of orangs has also been added
to the collection; consisting of adult specimeps of the only
two species yet authentically established, viz , the Simla
Satyrus of-Linnaeus,-and the &mia Norio of Owen, •both
from Borneo, to which island an I Sumatra the true orangs
are strictly confined. the African °rang or Chimpanzee
being as strictly limited to the mainland of the %Vest Coast
of Africa: These specimens were shot by Mr. A. It.
Wallace; who is investigating the Natural History of the
Indian Archipelago, and who is already, well known •by
histravels in the Amazons. It will require strong -faith
in the doctrine of the progression of-Species which incul-
cates that the human. race has been developed in the course
of-ages from the apes, the anes in their:turn- from inferior
quadrupeds, and so on ad infinitum, to examine these huge
specimens of the mookey tribe, and not become exceed.
ingly Sceptical of the,sottndneAs of the theory.
The two models of Liverpool are very attractive portions
of the Museum. That representing Modern Liverpool is
on a scale of eight inches to the mile, and includes a
'distance five miles along the river front. It was one of
the best models at the great Exhibition, attracted great
crowds, and was a regular place of meeting for all Liverpool
people: It gives a better idea'or the Principal portion, as
a whole town, than can be obtained by any other means,
whether by personal inspection, by drawing and plans, or
even by a,bird's eye view from a balloon. It will remain
a lasting and authentic memorial of the state of Liverpool,
and serve admirably to point out the various improve-

ments hereafter effected. It already shows considerable
changes—St. George's Hall was not then enclosed within
its balustrade. The warehouses road the Stanley and
other docks had not been raised, nor had many other
improvements been then effected. We may.thus see how
rapidly this model will increase in interest and value, and
how much an equally authentic representation of Liver -
pool, made 50 years back, would be appreciated, whereby
t 4 observe the rapid increase and improvement to the town
during the last half century.
The model purporting to represent Liverpool as it stood
two centuries back is the work of Mr. Augustus Harding;
and turning from this to its companion we see an increase
of population and wealth, which for rapidity of growth
cannot be equalled in the kingdom. What a chage •
Scarcely a building is now standing tha• is here repre-
sented. Yet hale and. hearty men can remember the
burning of the old Town Hall; the liberation of debtors
from the Tower Prison, on the occasion of the rejoicings
held in honour of George 111 having reigned fifty years ;
can remember to have shot snipes in Bold street, nr
bathing as lads on the shore, where now huge blocics
of granite' keep Out the" flowing tide, and form lastieg
bulwarks to the docks of Liverpool.
The Museum is visited on every public day, on the
average, by considerably over 500 people, and though CO
Public holidays the rooms are densely crowded not the
slightest injury to the property or specimens has been
snstaineel,•while there is a marked improvement in the
demeanour of the poorer class of visitote•
• In concluding this brief outline of the rise of an institutioe
which will be one of the proudest distinctions of Liverpool/
we feel called upon to bear willing and grateful ter>tin3°rl
to the' manner in which it has been managed, ever ti;Ze`
its establishment; and to the efficiency, combined With
unvarying courtesy, which his markel the conduct of Mr'
Dalton, the chief librarian, and Mr. Moore, the curator of
the-museum, in their respective departments. We batg
never yet heard any ono complain of either inattention
or ',tell of courtesy on ,their part, and when we consider
the number of people who visit the library and musettOr
and; who, if anything called for complaint, would very
certain to make their grievances known through the
press; the mention of this circumstance, we think, vfl'i
be considered the highest praise that could be bestowed 00
them.

ADDRE3SES TN THE TOWN HALL.
At half-past ten o'clock, a large company had asierable‘•
in the ball room of the town ball, where it was aim ,uaced
that Mr. Brown would receive and reply to addressee. It
would be impossible to give anything like a list or event*
numerous selection of_the names of the gentlemen present,.
so crowded wal the room ; but we may mention the fol"
lowing names :
__ _ _ _

..• Mr. Alderman Samuel Holme,
Who acted on behalf of t 'e Mayor, whom inclisPosaid°
prevented from attending ;
Lord Bishop of 'Chester W. P. Jeffreys, esq,
Von. Archdeacon Jones, J Kitchen, esq.
Lord Stanley, M.P T. L. Hodson, esq.
'Sir John Pakington. M.P., Laurence Heyworth,
Lieut. General Sir 11. Smith, Jahn P. Heywood,esq,
Monckton Milnes, esq, M.P., Rev. Mr. Howson, .
Nathaniel Hawthorne, esq, Richard Sheil, esq,
J. C. Ewart, esq, M.P., Steains, esq,
J. Cheetham, esq, M.P. Joseph Mayer, esq,
Thos. Thoraley, esq. M.P., W. Litherlan esq,
Major Gen. Sir E. Cust, John Faruworth, esq,
Ref. Dr. Hume, E. Pugh. esq,
Rev. Dr. Raffiss, Samuel Job, esq,
Rev. H. Stowell Brown, Robert Smith, esq,
A Pieton, eq. ' Wm. Crossfield, esq,
Rev. Professor Griffiths, Thomas B. Job, esq,
Dr. Vose, J. L. Cross, esq,
Dr. Cameron, J. Martin, esq,
Dr. Duncan, E. Mounsey, esq,
F. A. Clint, esq; J., D. Willott, esq,
Alderman J. H. Turner, George M'Connell, esqs
Alderman Bennett, George Sc&t, esq,
J. A. Tobin, esq, David Bell, esq,
Rathbone, esq, H. F. Hall, esq,
C. 'R. Hall, esq, S. Frazer, esq,
Stitt, esq, G. R. Bell esq,
S. R. Graves, esq, James Russell, esq,
J. R Jeffery, esq, &c, &c, at
Mr. Brown, with Mr. Holme, then took a position s
the west end of the roans. The company assembled round
him, and the addresses were presented in the foliown4
order:- „s -
HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND
CHESHIRE.
SoSciiretEy,iwtahred (Iplile3atsinsgai'_ld:utAys
of offeaing you an address upon -the occasion n'' f
has called us together this day. As an associate
and has President
devolvedof the
upon
p s
svohr society we hail with the pleasure of a brother, ;
with pride and satisfaction an act on your part ,vPso
shall advance the cause of literature and science, and
have therefore naturally been eager to offer pur congS,..3(
[lllations to you, and with them to offer an expression
our good will and of the satisfaction which, it has glvr.
us to be here present to day to.aid in your triensPf„
There have been many occasions, perhaps, when othe!;
sell
science, you have done largely for the cause of literature se,';
T I
possession bu to ift
strength
nrgatrhelyani happenedhealth. thatsuc ha
asm ihnotphees N
wl
long be continued to you, has come forward with ii
munificence as that which distinguishes your act' :is a
has given a degree of superior distinction to yoe ,_„
Merchant Prince of Liverpool over those public boiler „
tors to whom I have relerred, and a like distinction
the
manner on the merchants of Liverpool generally by 11,.
manner in which they have shown themselves sensible o,t
your public seirit and munificence. We ha.ve all heard. !ti.
mentioned that it revives to a certain degree the times
when the merchant princes of Italy made that sensati
which has been handed down to us in history, but in S'°us
case I, take the liberty of savior that it is rather as
..4
PRINCE OF MERCITANTS that we find you coming foreqll.,_
standing at the head of this large and wealthy eommenu.'.:
and that it is which distinguishes you. I might take to
the time of the company too long were I to 3ttemlitr,,o
express all that I feel on this subject, and I must there'tjure
content myself with repeating that I have great pleasee.
in being the means of presenting this address to ,
(Applause.) I will"now thank the secretary to read Its
The Rev. Dr. Hume then read the following:
ert toe°
Address, presented by the Members of the
Society, to William Brown, Esq., M.P., on Ttblic
. the Foundation Stone of the Liverpool Free
Library.
Sir,—You this day lay the foundation stone of 80 gd
to be devoted, to a Free Public Library and Museum;
toe,
you have also, with a spirit worthy of so good A owe
signified your intention to erect it exclusively at your "tee
cost. We might, on general grounds, congratulate..ift;
public and ourselves as the recipients of such a noble (bider
and any body of men might, with much propriety,
to you'their grateful acknowledgments. But the Ate"' feel
of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire Pit
that they have a peculiar right to do so. It is rosiS
pleasing duty to record facts of interest resperting„tels
part of the country, and to cultivate an extende ails-
lectual spirit ; their meetings are held within thew "d
St. George's Hall ; the Society has itself colleotespa
Library and Museum for the use of its own members , ,0
a place of deposit has been promised for this collectiot',lid
soon as sufficient space can be spared in the Pc,ioo
Museum of the town. It affords the highest gratifiroei its
to s very person in this great community, to see °neo&
members spontaneously producing from his abet, n'
such a valuable and suitable off ring for the benefit or this
public at large. It is particularly gratifying Wrileal;
Society, that one who has been enrolled among its moat,
bers from the first, and who occupies a prominent Groat
place within the area of its operations, should affsr"„, so
material aid to the intellectual objects which it to
promote. Nor can it be less satisfactory to yourse'dust,
witness the high appreciation of your generous c°ll.ooo
as evidenced by the enthusiastic and grateful reeogril the
of all sections and grades of society. We regard
principal ceremony of this day, as initiatory in berst
senses than one. We trust that it will induce many °`,, stl
of our Merchant Princes '' to emulate so gooutiog
example; and we rejoice to see facilities for coloPle for
the education of our ordinary schools, as well ass.
carrying general intelligence to lower grades of the co
ote
munity. We foresee, in the new erection, the approPr for
home of some of tour Societies and lustitutiontord
Literature, Science, and the Arts; and we look for!' bef
with hope to its affording valuable aid towards a hifses.
class of Education than any that Liverpool yet Posers of
May yon be spared to witness length of years and years of
happiness, and to see amid the praise and twarj,S tree
young and old, the valued fruits of the beaut"-
which you this day plant among us. as for
A W A
Mr. Brown, who appeared deeply moved, ane,3s an,
some seconds scarcely able to speak, took the adua'otoriu
eald : Sir Edward Cost and gentlemen of the 3-",.,,asien
Society, you cannot be surprised that upon an eau
of this kind I should feel somewhat unnerved.. coo
readily meet a party at an election, which afforusA feel
little, sport in contesting' a seat; but cur c)
ieeds.
exceedingly embarrassed when I see nothing but der
cf upon w
around to congratulate rue hat haves:has I
taken to do I feel that I really cannot state care,
would do without the assistance of notes. I altswerS
therefore, that you will pardon me if I read utlY teees.
to the addresses, in place of attempting to make spec „jag
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Brown then delivered the feu°
Repßeply of Wm. Brown, Esq., M.P., to the members of the
Historic Society of Lancashire and
onoCheshire:--rg
Gentlemen,--So totally unexpected are the - hpis ,y
which my fellow townsmen are conferring on eir
desire in some slight,degree to aid and prom sto, , tarts
onward progress in acquiring knowledge of the usettabie
to
of life—that it exceedingly embarrasses me to find sul` tee
language to express my-feelings; particularly rthi
Historic Society, of which I have been I fear an only° at
member.
_My only apology is,. that I have not tirleelve
rn y command, or that knowledge which would enable
make myself useful in fishing the inexhaustible foe, 10
serves of antiquarian lore which is so extremely sa e
verifying and correcting many important parts of his the
Therefore, all I can do is to try to mend, and extend ter
net in some slight degree, that you may have a gr duty
power of withdrawing more and more from those dr
ay
serves the treasures which they yet contain. In th.:;To ane
consider that, we are all called upon to assist• ip all
andcan appreciate more olrceatnhaansslurdeoyyoouutrhautseLfauml labourse—
your three chosen lines of enquiry, archaeology, lit fat, fled'
at your desiring to present to me such an addairuecssh,ger4Firei
as it is itt language most flattering. To be count+