REPORT. 



The publication of the Annual Report has been this year somewhat 

 retarded beyond the ordinary time of issue, from a desire to include 

 in its notices a record of the opening of the New Building. 



This event, the most important which has taken place in the history 

 of the Institution, was celebrated on the 18th October, 1860, exactly 

 eight years from the original opening of the Library in Duke Street, 

 Every desire was evinced by the authorities, and by the inhabitants 

 generally, to do honour to Mr. William Brown, the munificent donor of the 

 building. The day was kept as a general holiday, and probably a larger 

 concourse of people assembled than was ever before brought together 

 in Liverpool. A procession of the Mayor and civic authorities, with the 

 principal Bankers, Merchants, Clergy, and other inhabitants, preceded 

 by the several Volunteer Corps, 2,700 strong, marched round the town 

 from the Town Hall to the New Library. The ceremony of handing 

 over the building by Mr. Brown to the Mayor, on behalf of the inhabi- 

 tants, took place on a platform in front of the building, in the presence 

 of an immense assemblage. The Lord Bishop of Chester, Lord 

 Brougham, Sir Robert Peel, M. P. ; Sir John Bowring; William Ewart, 

 Esq., M. P. ; T. B. Horsfall, Esq., M. P. ; James Brown, Esq., of New 

 york, and other distinguished persons, were present, and addressed the 

 assembly. In the evening, a banquet was held in St. Georges Hall, the 

 Mayor, T. D. Anderson, Esq., in the chair. In the course of the pro- 

 ceedings, the statue of Mr. Brown, executed by P. MacDowell, Esq., 

 R. A., for the Corporation of Liverpool, was inaugurated A full length 

 portrait of Mr. Brown, painted by Sir John Watson Gordon for the 

 Corporation, was also placed in the new Library. The following 

 evening, about 1,200 guests were entertained at a soiree, at the Town 

 Hall, given by the Mayor, in honour of the occasion. 



