" conducted themselves in their intercourse with each other. There is a 

 " gentle but perfectly irresistable coercion in a habit of reading well 

 " directed, over the whole tenor of a man's character and conduct, which 

 " is not the less effectual because it works insensibly and because it is 

 " really the last thing he thinks of.*' 



We notice a tendency to imdervalue the possession of a great Reference 

 Library, because it is largely used b}- the educated and those who can 

 afford to purchase their own books. A Reference Library worthy of the 

 name should contain every book of repute written upon every subject ; 

 and if a Library is to maintain its efficiency, its shelves must every year 

 receive the addition of all recognised standard publications. It therefore 

 furnishes students with books of reference which they cannot obtain in 

 any other way, and it is very gratifpng to note how largely our Reference 

 Library is availed of by the clergy, teachers, students, journalists and 

 others, whose object is to weave the materials they thus collect into a 

 form which will instruct and entertain the people of the city, and thus, 

 directly or indirectly, every citizen can derive benefit from them. 



We may also venture to hope that the existence of our Library will 

 do something towards promoting the pursuit and love of literature in our 

 midst, and the formation of a literary society ; that Liverpool may some 

 day be as eminent in literature and in the fine arts as she is in commerce 

 may be an extravagant expectation, but there can be no reason why 

 she should not take a prominent position ; and certainly it is our duty, 

 while following the engrossing pursuit of commerce, not to neglect the 

 higher claims of culture and education. 



We cannot forget that some of the most splendid works of literary 

 genius, and the most admirable discoveries of scientific investigation, 

 have been produced by the leisure studies of men engaged in commercial 

 pursuits ; it is sufficient to mention such names as Priestley, Franklin, 

 Ricardo, Grote, Mill, Trollope, and in Liverpool we have the example of 

 William Roscoe. 



We also observe a disposition to underestimate the usefulness of our 

 Lending Libraries and Reading Rooms, because the popular demand is for 

 works of fiction, periodicals, and newspapers. Very little consideration 

 will show that this demand is a natural one and its supply a necessity 

 forced upon us by the adAauce in the general standard of education. 



