472 Mr. Charles Welch [Jan. 25, 



existence it would have been a great help to, and would itself have 

 received much benefit from, its sister institution, with the probable 

 result that the University of London at the present day would have 

 been older by some 250 years, and the best endowed University in 

 Europe. 



It is deplorable to think of the priceless manuscripts and incunalmla 

 that perished in the destruction of this old library. Its Ixjoks have 

 never since been heard of, and not even a catalogue of them remains. 

 There is just a possibility that a small, thick Latin manuscript on the 

 duties of a priest, preserved in the present library, and entitled 

 ' Oculus sacerdotis,' 7nay have formed part of the original collection. 

 Perhaps as the books were chiefly theological they were wantonly 

 destroyed by the Duke of Somerset, and they may even have been 

 " borrowed " by him expressly for that purpose. 



Nearly three hundred years passed before any attempt was made 

 by the Corporation to repair their loss. The second founder was 

 Mr. Richard Lambert Jones, whose wide and liberal views, great 

 energy, and conspicuous talent for public work in many departments, 

 were of the highest advantage to his fellow citizens. On April 8, 

 1824, upon his motion, the Court of Common Council unanimously 

 referred it to a Special Committee " to enquire and examine into the 

 best mode of arranging and carrying into effect, in the Guildhall, a 

 Library of all matters relating to this City, the Borough of South- 

 wark, and the County of Middlesex, and to report thereon to this 

 Court." The Committee thus appointed consisted of thirteen 

 members, and Mr. R. L. Jones was unanimously elected Chairman. 



The new Library did not start under such favourable auspices as 

 its predecessor ; no wealthy citizen appeared to follow Sir Richard 

 Whittington's example in building for its reception a "fayre and 

 large " house, and there is little doubt that the obscure and unsuit- 

 able apartments devoted to its use had a most unfavourable influence 

 upon its development, notwithstanding the well-directed energy of 

 the Committee under their indefatigable Chairman. On June 2, 

 1828, they reported, recommending that the rooms then occupied by 

 the Irish Society, in the east wing of the front of the Guildhall, 

 should Ije adapted for the purposes of the new Library, and that, 

 meanwhile, the front room by the Exchequer Court should be used 

 as a temporary depository. They also reported that the sum of £500 

 would be required for the outfit, and £200 annually for maintenance. 

 At the outset the Committee wisely confined their purchases to books 

 relating to the manners, customs, laws, privileges, and the history of 

 the City of London and the neighbouring localities. The condition 

 of the book market was then favourable for the procural of old and 

 scarce London books, private collectors being fewer than at present, 

 and our American rivals not being then in the field. 



No better fortune could attend any library at its inception than 

 to have the lines of its growth clearly laid down, and well is it for 



