XXX DIVERS PUBLIC FUNCTIONS 81 



received an invitation from Ireland begging them 

 to appear ' in their native costume.' " 



Among other duties which Sir John took upon 

 himself in this crowded year of public life in 

 London was that of President of the International 

 Library Conference. In the letter inviting him 

 to the Presidency it is urged that the position he 

 had taken with regard to libraries marked him 

 out as the President par excellence of such a Con- 

 ference. 



From America alone nearly two hundred delegates 

 are expected, and we shall have delegates from every 

 other civilised part of the world. We should endeavour 

 to make your task as easy as possible, and the duties of 

 the office would be briefly as follows : 



To open the Conference with a short or long (at your 

 own choice) Inaugural Address, and to preside 

 when possible at the principal meetings of the 

 Conference. 

 To represent the Conference at the Mansion House 

 on the evening of July 13th, when the whole 

 Conference is to be entertained by the Lord Mayor, 

 and similarly to represent the Conference at the 

 other hospitalities and entertainments which are 

 promised. 

 Should you not be able to attend for the most part at 

 the meetings during the day, we could relieve you by 

 placing one of the Vice-Presidents in the Chair. 



We think that this Conference cannot fail to be of the 

 utmost value to the Library Movement, not only in this 

 country but in most others, and that it will prove to be 

 a point of fresh departure and a centre of energy which 

 would be long remembered in connection with the 

 Victorian year, and as such it would be very gratifying 

 to us that your name should be identified with it as its 

 President. 



The above may serve to indicate the purpose of 

 this international gathering. As a matter of fact 

 this Conference, which met in July, appears to 



VOL. n G 



