1907.] oil the Guildhall Library. 473 



the institution if those lines are firmly kept in view throughout its 

 history. It is only a national collection which can afford to make 

 adequate acquisitions in all departments of knowledge. In the case 

 of ordinary libraries the line of growth soon becomes determined by 

 the special circumstances of its locality, the needs of its readers, the 

 acceptance or purchase of special collections, and the particular needs 

 or tastes of the authorities. The Guildhall Library was especially 

 fortunate in being founded as a " Library of all matters relating to 

 the City," and its present position fully justifies its claim to have 

 succeeded in this aim. The London collection far exceeds in extent 

 and importance any similar collection that exists elsewhere, and 

 contains many rare and some unique books and maps. 



The services of Mr. William Upcott, Librarian of the London 

 Institution, having been engaged for arranging the books, the Com- 

 mittee, early in 1828, recommended that the Library should be 

 opened for use, that Mr. William Herbert should be appointed 

 Librarian, and that a catalogue of the books should be prepared. 

 The Library was accordingly opened in June following, with 1700 

 volumes, a catalogue of which was prepared by Mr. Edward Tyrrell, 

 Remembrancer. The collection had increased by November 5, 1829, 

 to 2800 volumes (1050 of which were donations) and nearly 2000 

 prints and 100 drawings, consisting chiefly of London topographical 

 views and portraits of City celebrities. The books included a com- 

 plete series of the ' London Gazette,' from its commencement in 

 1665 to 1792, and sets of tlie 'Gentleman's' and 'European' 

 Magazines. By June 15, 1840, the Library contained nearly 

 10,000 volumes, and extensive additions to the premises had been 

 obtained, including a room to accommodate a museum of local 

 antiquities. A new edition of the catalogue was prepared this year 

 by Mr. Herbert, the Librarian. 



From this time the growth of the Library, though not rapid, was 

 steady and continuous, and marked at intervals by acquisitions of 

 importance. In the beginning of December 1840, an experiment 

 was made of keeping the Library open in the evening from six to 

 nine o'clock. This did not then prove successful, and was discon- 

 tinued in June 1841. In May 1848, the autograph signature of 

 Shakespeare, attached to the purchase-deed of a house iu Blackfriars, 

 dated March 10, 1612, was bought at a sale in Messrs. Evans's rooms 

 in Pall Mall for £145. This was secured for the Library in the first 

 instance by the Chairman, Mr. Jones, on his personal responsibility, 

 the purchase being afterwards confirmed by the Court of Common 

 Council. The mortgage-deed of the same property, also bearing 

 vShakespeare's signature, and dated the following day, was purchased 

 by the British Museum in 1858 for £815. 



Mr. William Herbert resigned the office of Librarian early in 

 1845, on account of faihng health, and on the Committee's recom- 

 mendation a pension was awarded to him. His name will long live 



