New-York tribune., 1902-10-29
LORD ACTON'S LIBRARY.
MR.. MoRLEY's LETTER DIsPosING OF
MIR. CARNEGIE'S GREAT GIFT TO HIM.

MIR. MORLEY's LETTER DISPOsING OF
MIR CARNEGIEs GREAT GIFT To HIM.
When II was announced, not long since that
Mr.. Carnegie. having purchased the library OF
the late Lord Acton, had presented it to Mr..
John Morley. there was a good deal of specula-
tion 20 Just what the recipient Of this princey
gift would do with il. Mr.. Morley, as every one
knew. could not find room for the books in his
own house. II seemed almost certain that he
would hand them over to one of the great Eng
lish institutions Of learning and a short time
ago the dispatches informed us that he had de-
ctded to give them TO the University of Cam
bridge. A copy Of The London Times just 10
hand contains the following letters that have
passed between Mr.. Morley and the Duke OF
Devonshire. as chancellor of the university.
No. 81 EN- Park Gardens. October 20. 1902
My Dear Duke of DevOnshire: You may have
heard some months ago that what hoped viii
be known as the Acton Library passed, by the
signal regard Of a friend. into my hands.
For some time played with the fancy OF re-
tanning II for my own use and delectation- But
l am not cOvetous Of splendid possessions; life IS
very short. and such a collection is hitter for a
public and undyins institution than for any pri-
Vate individual After due inquiry and dehoera-
tion. and with the possible reservation OF an IN
considerable portion OF quite secondary IN
portance. have decided respectfully to ask the
University OF Cambridge, in which you hold tne
high office of chancellor. 10 do the favor or
accepting this gift from me.
The library has none Of the treasures that are
the glory Of Chatsworth, nor is it one OF those
noble and miscellaneous acCumulations that
have been gathered by the chances of time ana
taste in colleges and other places of old founda-
tiOn. 1t was collected by Lord Acton TO be the
material for history OF Liberty, the enancipa,
tion of Conscience from Power, and the sradual
substitution OF Freedom for Force in the govern
ment Of men That guiding object gives 20 thess
sixty thousand or seventy thousand volumes
unity that / would fain preserve by placing
UybR ba ban fpra and in
degree apart. / led 10 believe that az CAM
bridge this desire Of mine could be complied
with There is no other condition that wish 10
impose.
In this way, believe. Cambridge will have the
most appropriate monument Of a man whom
though she thrice refused him a learner she
afterward welcomed a teacher-One OF the
most remarkable men Of our time. extraordinary
In his acquisitions, extraordinary in the dePtH
and compass Of his mind. The books WILL IN tne
opinion OF scholars more competent 10 judge
than /, be valuable instrument OF knoWledse,
but that is hardly all The very sight or TINS
vast and ordered array in all departments,
tongues and times of the history of civilized
governments, the growth of faiths and lnstltI-
tions. the fuctuating movements OF human
thought, all the struggles of churcheS an
CreedS, the diverse types OF great clNII any.
ecclesiastical governors the diverse Ideals OF
States-all this will be TO the ardent scholar d
powerful stimulus 10 thought. And II was Ac
ton himself who said that the gifts OF hlstoricd'
thinking better than historical leafhlAS'
His books are sure to inspire both. for, multi
tudinous though they be. they concentrate tn0
cardinal problems OF modern history.
need not say that il Will be a lasting PIlue
and privilege 10 me that my name should, even
for transitory moment. be associated IN tnss
mind Of the university with the establishment =.
the Acton Library within the precincts OF
home so famous
Believe me to remain your sincerely