TO CATALOGUE OF 1861. 



"There studious let me sit, 

 And hold high converse with the Mighty Dead. 

 Sages of ancient time, as gods rever'd, 

 As gods beneficent, who blest mankind 

 With arts, with arms, and humaniz'd a world." 



Thomson's 



Winter." 



The establishment of a Public Library in Victoria, supported by tbe State, and 

 stamped with the characteristics of a National Institution, was made the subject 

 of early consideration by our first Governor, Mr. LaTrobe. 



Fully impressed with the importance of the influence likely to arise from 

 voluntary adult mental improvement, as well as of the intellectual and moral 

 elevation to be created by a cultivation of the works of standard authors, he 

 placed upon the Estimates of the year 1853 a sum of three thousand pounds, 

 3000, for the purchase of books, and ten thousand pounds, 10.000, towards 

 the erection of a suitable building to contain them. 



These sums were cheerfully voted, and, recognising and approving the 

 liberality of sentiment which originated the design, two further sums, equal in 

 amount, were in the ensuing year generously provided for the like purposes by 

 Parliament. 



In the year 1853 Five Trustees were appointed, and possession of a portion 

 of land, comprising nearly two acres, conveniently situated near the centre of 

 the town, was given to them as a Site for the Building. The Foundation- 

 Stone of this was laid by Sir Charles Hotham, our second Governor, on the 

 3rd of July, 1854, the same day as that upon which was laid the First Stone 

 of the University of Melbourne. 



The expense attending building operations, and the interruptions and delays 

 by which they were accompanied at that period of our history, retarded the 

 completion of the work, consequently it was not until the 11th of February, 



in 



