It was announced at the Banquet that a donation of ^1,000 had been 

 presented through Mr. Brown to the Library, by Joseph Shipley, Esq., 

 of Wilmington, Delaware, U. S., formerly of the firm of Brown, Shipley 

 and Co., of Liverpool. The Committee propose to expend this noble 

 gift in the purchase of valuable works, which would be beyond the reach 

 of the ordinary income of the Library, and to distinguish the works so 

 purchased by attaching to them the name of the donor. The new 

 building is spacious and commodious, and well adapted for the purposes 

 of the Institution in its several departments. Both the Museum and 

 Library have been of necessity closed since the 1st of September. The 

 books have been all transferred, and are being arranged and classed, 

 preparatory to the re- opening, which it is expected will take place about 

 the 1st of December. The opening of the Museum will be unavoidably 

 delayed for a longer period, owing to the greater amount of labour 

 connected with the cases and other fittings. 



A suggestion was made in the course of the past year by Mr. Brown, 

 that a portion of the new building might be advantageously appropriated 

 for the exhibition of new patents and improvements of a scientific 

 character. In order to provide space for this purpose, Mr. Brown has 

 igenerou-ly undertaken to bear the expense of erecting a large additional 

 room connected with the new building, about eighty feet by fifty feet, 

 with two spacious galleries round it, which will afford ample accommo- 

 dation for the purpose. Mr. Brown has also presented the sum of 

 i£3,000 towards the fittings, cases, &c., in the Library and Museum. 



The noble generosity thus evinced calls for a corresponding effort on 

 the part of all concerned, to spare no pains to render the Institution 

 worthy of the great community for whose benefit it has been estabhshed. 

 A large amount of labour, care, attention, and vigilance will still be 

 requisite, to guide and keep it in the path of usefulness and progress; 

 and it is earnestly hoped that, amongst the large and increasing 

 responsibihties of the municipality, the interests and welfare of the 

 Free Public Library and Museum will ever occupy a prominent and 

 distinguished place. 



