The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-12

Amazed ut Praws aud Hopkins's Libe'
rality.
Editorial correspondence Baltimore Americana
LONDON, July 2S.-Through the Kind at
tention Of Messrs. Brown, Shipley 4 Co.. |
find myself In possession OF the statistics OF
all the free libraries OF England, Scotland,
and ireland, which will be OF especial in-
terest 10 Baltimoreans i'm view OF the recent
munifcent donation OF nearly eleven hun
dred thousand dollars by our philanthropic
fellow-citizen. Enoch Pratt, Esq, for free
library.
NUMBER OF LIBRARIES.
From these tabular statements II appears
that there are but eighty free libraries IN
Great Britain. There Is only one In the
great city OF London-the Corporation
Iibrary-which has about $4,000 books on
its shelves. IL only loans books to persons
over sixteen wears OF age, except by special
nermissiop. Thus il will be seen that Mr..
Pratt's library will, in all probability, start
with as many books on its shelves as the
only free library in the great city OF Lon
don. Indeed, It is probable that on the
occasion OF the opening OF the Pratt Tree
library there will be as many books do
mated rs are now on the shelves OF the
London library, and your correspondent
promises not less than five hundred vol
umes as his share Of the donations.
BOOKS IN ENGLISH LIBRARIES.
birmingham has 44,519 volumes i'm its
reference library and 41,519 volumes in its
lending library. Glasgow has free lend
ing library OF 1850 volumes, founded by
beouest OF E67, 900 by Mr.. Mitchell. Dub"
lin and Edinburgh have no free libraries.
Leeds has very reputable reference
library OF 22.763 volumes and lending
library of II 1865 volumes, thus greatly ex-
ceeding the city OF London. Manchester
has free lending library OF $4,000 volumes
and reference library OF 81 200, and the
number Of volumes loaned during
the past year was 56S,411. AT Stafford
there are $4,000 volumes in reference IL
brary and $1,000 in the leading library. AT
Paisley there Is reference library with
$500 volumes, and a lending library OF
16, 600 volumes. The building was given
by Sir =. Coates, the great thread-manu-
iacturer. Bristol has a reference library OF
1900 volumes and n lending library OF
$4,000 volumes. Sheffield has public
lending library OF $4,000 volumes and Il
reference library OF 7.343 volumes. The
other libraries, seventy in number, scarce
" average 10000 volumes each, and one,
located in Aberrystwith, 1875; Airdve,
1850 volumes; Aston, 1850; Bangor,
1900; Belipgton, 10000; Bilston, 6,00o {;
Birkenhead, $4,000; Blackburn, 1870 !;
Bolton, 14,S47; Bradiard, 20, 1876; Brighton.
22,C00; Burslem, 1880; Cambridge, H.
800; Canterbury, 5000; Cardiff, 1000;
Chester, 6,227; Clitherge, 2,461 Darlar-
ton, 1850; Darman, 1900; Derby, o.
666 Doncaster, 1900; Dundalk, $500 !;
Dundee, 26,540; Exeter, $500; FOrfar
$3.50; G,ishiels, 5000: Hawick, 2,400;
Hereford, 1877; Hartford, 1000; Hey
wood, 5,423; Kiddlesminster, 100; Lea.
mington, 6,916; Leicester, 1924; Noting
Hill, $500; Macclesdeld, 10000; Maid
stone, 10000; Middlesborough. S,275;
Newcastle-on-Tyne, TO open with 10000;
Newport, 500; northampton, 1850;
Norwich, 5000; Nottingham, $4,000; Ok
ford, 5000; Plymouth, 11,000; Preston,
6,492; Rochdale, 1881 Smethwick, 5000;
Southport, 5000; SouthShields, 5000;
land, 1900; Swansea, 7,173; Thurso,
2.1O0; Tynemouth, 14,426; Wallsall, 49,
173; Warrington, 10000; Warwick, 5000;
Wednesday,, $50; West Bromwitch,
9,S43; Westminster, 11,1C0: Wigun, T.
127; Willenhall, $3.50; Winchester, g.,
009; Wolverhampton, Ills volumes.
BOSTON BEATS GREAT BRITAIN.
Ii will thus be seen that all the free libra
ries OF England, Ireland, and Scotland
combined have less than 100000 books Oh
their shelves. This is but few more vol
umes than the great free library OF Boston
alone possesses. The only gratifying fact
contained in these statistics is that the
number of books loaned during the past
year was six to eight times greater than the
whole number OF books in possession of
each of the several libraries. Thus the
number of books loaned at the Liverpool
Library during the year was 1881, whilst
the whole number OF books on their shelves
was but 1897, showing that on an average
each book on its shelf passed through the
hands Of nearly ten readers.
FEMALE LIBRARIANS.
In answer to question, " Are female AS
sistants employed, and if so, how many.
and at what age!" the following answers
were gwen: Fifty-one OF the libraries an
swer these questions with an emphatic
"No!" Swansea reports one at a salary
OF $3.50 per annum. Westminster reports
one at $3.50 per annum, in charge OF q
branch. Noting Hill answers "Chef
librarian and superintendent of ladies'
ROOM" Manchester has thirty-one female
assistants, at from two and half 10 four
and half dollars per week. New Castle
has one at $3.50 per annum. FALSELY has
two ut six shillings and seven shllings per
week. Smethwick has one at e20 It's. per
annum. Derby has one at GAG per annum.
Birmingham has one in charge Of Alderly
Park branch. In answer to the question,
"What were the expenditures last yearg"
various sums are given, ranging from go
per annum up TO $4,000. Most OF these libra
ries have been established by contributions,
few by donations, and others by requests.
ENGLISH PHILANTHROPY.
The wealthy men Of England are not Ia
nous for deyOiing any great portion OF
their wealth for phianthropic or charitable
purposes. In Scotland, and especially at
Edinburgh, there are, however, great
number Of public institutions established
by money devised by businessmen and
tradesmen. The wealthy aristocrats think
OF nothing but the accumulation OF vast
estates to pass to their eldest sons to magni-
~ the importance Of their titles, and the
mercbant-princes have learned that money
Is the only key that gives access to titled
society for their sons, and thus accumula.
ton becomes the aim OF their lives, and an
alliance with nobility their last thought on
dying.
The most charitable men i'm Great Bri.
tain, and those who have given the most
Ior phiiantbroplc purposes, are the great
brewers. They have built churches, re-
stored Old eathedrals, donated public
squares, established hospitals and asylums.
ana are foremost in every work. In return
Tor TINS some OF them have been knigbted
and titled by her Majesty, and have tins
with golden key reached the goal OF every
Engishman's ambition.
AMERICAN IIBERAIrry