[ xiv ] 



That the Public appreciate the advantages they can here enjoy is clearly 

 shown in the Address just read ; the great fact in which, to my mind, is not 

 that the Trustees expect soon to have 25,000 volumes on their shelves, but 

 that, in spite of the limited accommodation they could hitherto offer to readers, 

 nearly 80,000 visits were recorded last year. 



I am glad to hear it will be in the power of the Trustees to afford hence- 

 forth increased facilities for study, and also to establish a system under which 

 some of the benefits of the Library may be enjoyed by those resident in our 

 country towns. 



I rejoice, too, to know that steps have been already taken to commence 

 the formation of a Gallery of Art in the lower story of the Wing just finished. 



We hear much now-a-days of "The People's Palace" in the mother-country 

 a splendid structure no doubt, erected by capitalists as a commercial speculation ; 

 but when the arrangements to which I have alluded are carried out, and this 

 entire building, which promises to do much credit to its architect, is completed, 

 it may, 1 think, with truth be averred that the people of Victoria have a 

 palace of their own. 



I now declare this Reading-Room to be opened for the use of the Public, 

 conferring upon it, in honour of Her Majesty's Birthday, which we to-day 

 commemorate, the name of the Queen's Reading-Room. 



On Friday, the 24th of May 1861, being the Birthday of Her Most Gracious 

 Majesty the Queen, Sir Henry Barkly opened the Museum of Art. 



THE TRUSTEES THEN ADDRESSED HIS EXCELLENCY 



AS FOLLOWS. 



Sir, 

 Since the occasion upon which you were pleased to open the Queen's 

 Room, on May 24th, 1859, the Trustees have been enabled to make such further 

 progress in completing a portion of the Left Wing of the building as to have 

 it now in their power to invite your Excellency to declare the first Chamber 

 of the Museum of Art ready for the reception of the Public. In doing so 

 they cannot refrain from expressing their regret that it was not in their power 

 to claim your assistance earlier. 



However, it is not unknown to you that the funds voted for the purpose 

 were small, and that they were placed at the disposal of the Trustees at 

 considerable intervals of time. 



You are, moreover, aware that it was necessary to send to Europe for the 

 objects which form the Collection. Of these, many were procured from various 

 parts of the Continent. The selection required much discrimination, the 

 execution of the orders much care and attention. The transit of the instructions 

 and of the objects occupied many months. 



