C xvi ] 



Writings, translated into as many different tongues ; and a complete copy of 

 all the publications from the Patent Office has, after renewed solicitations, 

 been obtained. 



When it is borne in mind that two copies of this great national work, 

 comprised in upwards of 1800 large octavo volumes, have been already bestowed 

 on this country one given to the Library of the Houses of Parliament, the 

 other to the Office of the Registrar-General the unusual presentation of a 

 third copy to this Institution must be regarded as highly complimentary. 



With this excellent addition to the mechanical and scientific works, 

 equivalent in money value alone to three thousand five hundred pounds, but 

 in other respects inestimable, it has become more demonstratively essential that 

 a separate apartment for study and reference should be erected. 



Without such a room, in which unrestrained and uninterrupted access to 

 the authorities can be had by those pursuing complex or abstruse questions 

 connected with art, science, and the various branches of industry which con- 

 stantly arise, the books are divested of much of their intrinsic value ; while 

 members of the different learned professions those in search of technical and 

 practical information afforded by reference to maps, plans, and drawings, and 

 those who for literary purposes would wish to make extracts written in ink 

 the use of which is as yet necessarily prohibited complain frequently, loudly, 

 and with reason, that they are denied the opportunity of turning to the best 

 account the choice works which the Library contains, and which as copies have 

 been procured at the public expense, it cannot be expected that private 

 individuals will buy for themselves. 



These inconveniences and obstructions the Trustees have been most anxious 

 to relieve and remove, but unfortunately the urgent representations pressed 

 by them on behalf of the Public have not met with the ready acceptance which 

 was expected. 



It is not to be denied that the demands upon the general revenues of the 

 State are large, and it is self-evident that the occupation of so extensive an 

 area of Country as is included within the boundaries of this Province has 

 entailed upon its inhabitants burthens with which other communities equal in 

 number are unacquainted. Still, it is not unbecoming to appeal to those who 

 disburse the three millions of income at the disposal of the Representatives of 

 half a million of people, in order that they should vindicate the principles of 

 political wisdom, by placing upon a really efficient basis establishments founded 

 to educate the people up to the right enjoyment of political freedom ; that is 

 to be done only by enlarging the sphere of usefulness of those establishments, 

 according as the just claims of their supporters are temperately put forth, and by 

 the exercise of a judicious bounty, and even munificence, giving that direction to 

 popular instruction, which will prove the best safeguard against the encroachments 

 of ignorance and vice. 



The success of the circulating department has been as complete as could 

 have been expected, regard being had to the limited means employed, and the 



