The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-02 00:00:00

THE LITERARY FUND.

A long t
h en acecucionu
on
ft
certainappeared
negotiations in
the Abeen going on for some time between the Committee
of the Literary Fund and the Rev. Mr. Elvin and
Mr. Dickens, and which came to an untimely end
which
hber f
haveo
last Wednesday. The actual facts of the case may
ottihaetio lastiis
be briefly stated. A gentleman who was anxious
to place his library after his death under the care
of a public institution, offered it, through Mr. Elwin
and Mr. Dickens, to the Literary Fund, together
with a sum of £lO,OOO, none of which, however,
was to go to the benefit of the Fund, but to be tied
up strictly for the increase and maintenance of the
library. The reversion was not to take place till
after the termination of the lives of two persons,
now about 45 years old each, a contingency which,
according to the calculation of probabilities, could
not be expected to arise in less than thirty years ;
and, in the interval, the owner of the books was to
exercise a complete control over them in the waY.
of buying, selling, and exchanging, so that the
reversion was to consist of the library not in its
present condition, but in whatever condition it might
happen to be in at the death of the donor: The
simple and obvious course to pursue under such
circumstances was to convey the library to the in-
stitution by way of bequest, accompanied by sonae
tangible consideration to the institution for
undertaking the charge of it. But the donor
had other views ; he clogged the offer by con-
ditions affecting the constitution of the society,
and stipulated not only that a new charter
should be procured to carry them into effect,
but that it should be procured immediately ; that is
to say, that, although the society was not to come
into possession of the library for probably 30 years,
it was to alter its constitution at once. Such a
proposition was, perhaps, never submitted to an
executive body. Its unreasonableness is perfectly
irrespective of the nature of the gift or conditions,
which, whether beneficial or othrwise, should at
least be coincident. To require a public install:
tion to adopt alterations in its constitution in 1851/1
on the prospect of some suppoktious advantage thaL,
is not likely to accrue to it till in or about 1890,
when its affairs will be in the hands of a new gene"
ration, is very much like demanding interest on a
loan 30 years before the obligation is incurred.
Indeed, the latter proposition, which would bef
regarded by men of business as an overt act es
lunacy, is by far the more rational proposition 01
the two, because the loan would, at all events,
whenever it came, be a positive and decided benefit,
whereas the benefit, if any, to be derived from ht
library library is problematical and vague. Not 01117 i
doubtful whether the charitymight not b
damaged by adopting a feature so inconsistent
with its objects as that of a public reading-room'but there is no guarantee for the quality of the
library with which the reading-room is to be fur"
*ished.
The Committee of the Literary Fund saw clearly
all the objections to this proposal, but they de-
lined the responsibility of rejecting it, and agreed by
unanimously to a formal resolution, e seriously
which the
decision was to be referred to a general meeting of
the whole society. Mr. Elwin and Mr. DickenS
finding that objections existed, intimated their
willingness to modify their original stipulations,
and the committee appointed a day to receive then',
for the purpose, as expressed in the secretary's
letter, of hearing what modifications they were la'
structed to make. The interview took place lest
Wednesday, when Mr. Dickens and Mr. Elwin,
instead of stating their modifications, required the
committee, in the first instance, to determine
whether under any modifications they were willing
to accept the library, because if they did not it WI
useless to discuss the conditions. This &non'
would have been justifiable if the
re-
jection rested with the committee but as the deck'
opinion was to provoke an obstructivegeneraleffectforcingcommittee to its
tadniscceuosson.
an expression o
and complicate a question which up to this time
was proceeding quietly to its legitimate solution.
A long debate ensued on the subject, in the absence
following resolution was carried ,b
of Mr. Elwin and Mr. Dicken finally' the
s and
a majority g
13 to 7 :
" That no sufficient evidence has been laid before the
committee of any pecuniary or other benefit resulting t° as
society from the proposed accession to it of a librarY) toa
to justify the committee in recommending the same
"

general meeting."
The Atheneum says that this resolution is ill
contradiction to the views of the founder, but the
only authority by which the committee can
er the
only
or by which the views of the found;
reduced to an authentic and practical shaPet fit
made known, is the charter obtained by hiose
with the spirit and intentions of which this reso-
lution is in entire accordance.
The Athceneum further says that the comruittee,:,
while inviting Mr. Elwin and Mr. Dickens to Sta',
their modifications, had already resolved to vice::
the offer. Here are two errors. The comulitt',
did not " invite" Mr. Elwin and Mr. Dickens, .be"
gave them an interview at Mr. Elwin
nor have the committee up to this moment rejec,..ktea,,
the offer. Pressed to a resolution one way or
other, they have simply determined that toelt
cannot recommend the general meeting to adfß,
the offer on such evidence as is before them. 'l'2;
for the annual meeting to accept or reject 141.-
offer.
According to the statement in the Athenolf
the seven members who voted in the minority are
" official reformers," and are to be considered in
favour of the library. The Atheneum counts
SUggeStlolll
itg
host too hastily. Most of these gentlemen had
previously recorded their opinion on the other ski?'
and the only explanation that can be given of their
last vote is that they would not, in that stage of
,
the proceedings, pronounce against the library until
they had heard the modifications Mr. Elwul and
Mr. Dickens had to propose. Bat the rest of ill'
committee, compelled to vote one way or the otherl
voted according to the evidence before them, an
consistently with the opinions which they had had.
and expressed throughout. In their opinions they ar''
sustained
theb p
by the concurrence
eao o
s St.
ofp atuhle, s ema nr.o f
Blikro
ietsotu:
minster,
mC oermn
be ye
r, s a no
fd tehoeu
nwehi
lo ewobfo tha
tet
evoi cde;dp ret shied e
mn tese, t
jai;
with the exception of two members of the council,
who have always upon every question been in Or
position.— Times.