The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-05
I'D WITHOUT ,oSDr1ross.

I
| formed by the auctOneer, Mr.. Nayo
Il at there was no condition Of roserva-
ton or reclamation OF gIch books rs
might be desired 10 retain for the liz
hrary. and that the whole lot was sold
without conditions
Il renew most earnestly my protest
against tie sale Of these books In SUD-
port Of this protest. / deny the right OF
the Secretary Of the Commonwealth or
even the Library Committee, 20 lake tho
sale. and / question the fact that any
osdcr Of the Lihrary Committee directed
or contemplated this disposal of the vast
majority OF the books in that pile OF
| sCme twenty tors.
"One OF the oldest and best Law yers
I'm the State comedies In the )pinion that
only an act OF tte Legi ila.ure coad au-
thorze such sale
Whatever may be the opinion of any
individual as 10 the worth Of the books
/ In that lot. it has been the settled policy
/ OF the State to collect and preserve them:
under this policy the collection has grown
to tie one OF the most complete OF its
[ Kind In this country. In the judgme,t
Of many psople books Of this class are
the foundation and characteristic OF a
State librarw.
VERY respectfully. &c"
PROTECTING fTgE pAoPfnrY.
Yesterday, the 81 instant. the Librarian
commenced delivery OF the books to the
alleged buyer. No sooner was this tact
known than my indignant friend. VIII
liam l.. Royal. bristling up like an old
lion, who saw his whelps endangered. IN
stantly commenced proceedings for an
injunction. and has lugged me into
chancery or some other sort OF court
where the matter is now pending tor
judicial decision; and l am placed in
the position OF a private citizen pro-
tecting the States property against the
act OF one who Is her own official.
am not n lawyer. ana have nothing 10
say about the legal technicalities of the
case. Apart from its legal aspects. the
gist OF the whole matter is a difference
Of opinion as 10 the value and worth
OF certain books. About them. | do
profess 10 know something. and | am
happy 10 find my estimate Of the books
In question sustained by the Judgment
and published opinions OF Messrs Brock
and Bruce, the former and present sec
retarles Of the Virginia Historical Socie-
~, and Dr. Ryland, the librarian or
Richmond College.
/ understand the Secretary Of the Com |
monwealth to maintain that IT is in |
his discretion 10 sell any book. or any |
quantities OF books. in the library. Now.
! believe that nobody really knows what |
is I'm and under that huge Pile OF books
In the basement Of the Capitol At |
least one volume OF biography, bought
OF recent years. was found with the pile.
This aroused a suspicion Of a like fate
for other books. some Of which. 20 one
ignorant OF their real value. might be
deemed proper subjects for the junk-pfo |
Sime people would tefuse sheIf-room
70 kingsborough's Mexico or Halliwelrs
Shakespeare. and yet the sets OF these
works IN the library have a market
value OF about five hundred and one
thousand dollars. respectively.
\ request in the present beautiful
library readlngroom. for such elementary
and standard books on American ana
Virginia history as Forces Archives" "
'Almon's Remcmbrancer." the MARY
land and Virginia Boundary Report"
;emples Virginia Bapusts." and Burke's
History Of Virginia. was grathed by the
production OF only the last-named work
rhe others could not be foundi II is TO
'e hoped that they are not in that pile
'ut may be yet in the library. await
ng classification and arrangement.
,NswFa To va. scorr.
The c1rd Of Mr.. Scott, the librarian. In
io-days papers, contains some state
nents requiring notice by me. In contra
iiction Of his statement that when / left !
he library ,he books were Lying in in ,
discriminate eonfusiJn in the TOP gallery" Z
acsert that those books were arranged 7
n chr0nologic order and that any Of /
hem could be easily and readily found
when wanted, ami this fact / can prove. Z
{ necessary. The gallery was so crowd G
d that even the fi0or space was covered. O
Is To Government dOcum m-uts In a State Y
brary being classed as Junk" that &. q
matter of opinion. As 20 leaving some 8
% their sacks that was dictated by lack I
+ space. there being neither shelf nor Is
cor l0Om for them. Abundant room was /
rovided for them in the now library.
"OLe OF the leading book dealers I'm
richmond said he Noull not make q LIST
T TIE books FOR them" saJs Mr. Scott. ! a
20, of the leading b0ok-dealcrs tells nee | o
nat he offered % send @ list or 1escriD- q
on 10 probable buyers OF IN books e.
r Scott says that "the books OF the hl
'iice show that Mr Plnlextor made a Is
m lar sale in l.'3.' Not at all In that r
ansact.on fha Governor had turnco pa
YER n iot ~ rubbish from his Office n
mich was sold for the be1snt OF the 81
lrar.' afic. retaining twenty-five ronics tr
IT the library And that brings me to 81
To- matter o. duplicates. about which
confidently believe that OF an the mass u
bound books In that huge pile sold the "
her day. there We're not ono hundred / I'D
ipllcates in he library. as
AS 10 Mr.. Sc1tts sar,tstic illusions 70
y motives. that s. entirely out OF place oc
any public discussion Of this matter. ca
Very respectfully. vi
CHARLES POiNDEXTER vi
Richmond, "a. oct. g. 1895. gr
Tn
lit ,HATEUR's OPINION. m.
good many experienced book men u,
this city were seen yesterday and ask ad
for their opinions regarding the value IL
the books which were sold as Junk 70 th
;. J. C.. Smith W.
aptain Benjamin W. Parham. whose 20
mo is familiar 20 the citizens OF Rich l'
,d a. bs,,i,,s, hen eo,. -. -, ito