1907.] on the Guildhall Library. 475- 



The advantages of removing these valuable works from neglected 

 cupboards in a City church to the shelves of a library where, under 

 proper restrictions, they are freely accessible to all, are self-evident. 



Early in 1865, on the death" of Mr. Alchin, Mr. William Henry 

 Overall was appointed to succeed him in the office of Librarian, the 

 present writer having some months previously been appointed as 

 Assistant. The staff continued to consist of two officers only until 

 the erection of the new building. In 1867, the collection of maps, 

 prints, and drawings, was arranged and placed in portfolios, and a 

 new Ciitalogue prepared and printed. 



Many are the pleasant memories recalled by this old Library in 

 which I spent the first eight years of my official life. The accommoda- 

 tion for readers was cramped and insufficient, the farther of the two 

 rooms provided for their use was badly lighted, the intrusion of museum 

 cases and objects made progress difficult, and on dark winter days even 

 somewhat dangerous ; in winter time too, the place was not properly 

 warmed, and was never free from draught. Specially privileged 

 readers were sometimes invited to study in the Committee Room, a 

 large and comfortable apartment over the Guildhall porch, which is 

 still used as a store-room for books. But with all its drawbacks, the 

 old Library was much appreciated by its habitues, most of whom had 

 their regular seats, those within easy reach of the fire being of course 

 most prized. Among the many readers at this period whom my 

 memory recalls, were Professor Henry Morley, the author of ' The His- 

 tory of Bartholomew Fair ' ; Mr. H. T. Riley, the editor of ' Liber 

 Albus ,' ; Dr. Munk, the historian of the College of Physicians ; Sir 

 Charles Reed, who was twice Chairman of the Committee ; a group 

 of London antiquaries, of whom Mr. Charles Roach Smith, Dr. W. H. 

 Black, Mr. Walker Baily, Rev. Tliomas Hugo, and Mr. J. G. Waller 

 were the most prominent : and a little knot of students who regu- 

 larly attended the lectures at Gresham College, which were then 

 dehvered in Latin as well as English. Another less distinguished 

 coterie was that formed by several frequenters of the debates held by 

 the Ancient Society of Cogers, who, it must be confessed, did not put 

 in an early appearance, and were not specially distinguished for the 

 neatness and cleanliness of their person and attire. 



The time had at length come when the Guildhall Library was to 

 be provided with a home more suitable to its needs and importance, 

 and more favourable to its future growth. The rooms, or rather 

 cupboards, in which its books were stowed away, were considered 

 unworthy of the Library at its establishment, and three years later, 

 in 1831, the Committee were empowered to consider "whether there 

 are any premises attached to, or connected with, the Guildhall which 

 can be converted into a handsome and capacious Library worthy of 

 the Corporation, or any ground similarly situated on which such a 

 Library can be built." This was but the first of a long series of 

 references and plans which came to no result until, in the year 1869, 



