LIBRARIES. if 
should be formed, and in due course that was accomplished so 
successfully that by 1825 an important collection of 289 volumes, 
written by the most distinguished botanists, had been made. 
The expenses of the garden proved greater than was expected, for 
it was found necessary to increase the funds by extending the 
number of shares to 375, this number being further increased in 
May 1807 to 450, in consequence of the burden of a considerable 
debt for building conservatories. 
The Garden was removed in 1836 to Edge Lane, and in 1841 was 
transferred to the town, the Corporation undertaking to pay the 
£3,800 borrowed by the proprietors. As this was effected under 
the powers conferred by Mr. Ewart’s Museum and Libraries Act, 
the responsibility of administering the affairs of the Garden sub- 
sequently fell upon the Library, Museum and Arts Committee. In 
1862, however, it was found desirable to place the Garden under the 
authority of a separate Committee; the collection of books being 
taken over with the Gardens by the new Committee. Included 
among the original shareholders, beside William Roscoe, were 
Edward Falkner, William Lawson, Dr. John Bostock, Thomas 
Earle, William Rathbone, Dr. James Currie, Dr. John Rutter, 
Thomas Binns, S. Colquitt, Matthew Gregson, the Rev. W. 
Shepherd, Charles Turner, John Williamson, and many others no 
less distinguished. 
Our local collection of prints and drawings proved extremely 
useful in connection with the 700th Anniversary of the founding of 
Liverpool. The workers and artists found much helpful material 
in the Library books, particularly in regard to costumes and 
architecture. Five banners representing historical incidents 
connected with the town have been presented to the Library 
Committee, and are now hung in several of the Branch Libraries. 
A selection of Reference Library books, prints, drawings and 
documents of local value and interest were included in the 
Historical Exhibition connected with the Pageant, and it is 
believed contributed in some measure to the general interest which 
the Exhibition certainly aroused. 
