xxii 



1856, that the Trustees were enabled to invite Major-General McArthur who 

 then administered the Government to throw the Library open to the Public* 



At that period the centre portion alone was completed. It contained only 

 3,846 volumes. 



Many circumstances, upon which it is not necessary to dilate, suggested to 

 the Trustees that it would be advisable to adopt a greater freedom of ingress and 

 liberality of access to the books than is usual elsewhere. Accordingly, admission 

 without payment or the necessity for letter of introduction or authorisation 

 which latter proves, in many instances, a mere obstructive formality was granted 

 to all persons above the age of fourteen years, whether residents or strangers. 



All arbitrary restrictions on free reference to the books were removed, as 

 well as those restraints which in some Libraries operate only as impediments 

 to the students, without ensuring corresponding advantages or the expected 

 security, the enforcement of which requires, moreover, a larger staff of attendants 

 than the Trustees had at their command. 



Attention to the ordinary courtesies of life was all that was suggested ; 

 and it was hoped that, by reposing in the visitors an honorable confidence, a 

 taste for study might be awakened in some and encouraged in all, while a new 

 interest might arise tending to a better protection and preservation of the property 

 than if the use of it were fenced round by a multitude of prohibitory regulations. 



The success of these measures was so decided as to justify a further 

 extension of the hours of admission, and the attendance of readers increased so 

 considerably as to call for additional accommodation. 



An Appeal, addressed by the Trustees on behalf of the Public, to Her 

 Majesty's Government, in the year 1858, met with a favourable reception, and the 

 discreet liberality of the Legislature placed the sum of 20,000 at the disposal 

 of the Trustees, to enable them to enlarge the building. 



That sum was expended by them in erecting a Wing in which is a Reading- 

 Room opened by Sir Henry Barkly, our present Governor, on the 24th of May, 

 1859 and a Chamber for the reception of Works of Art, also opened by him 

 on the 24th May, 1861. 



The building at present erected forms only a portion of the western side 

 of the general design. 



It contains an Entrance Hall, measuring 50 feet square ; Fine Arts room, 

 55 by 50 ; Trustees' Room and attendants' quarters on the ground floor ; and 

 a temporary staircase leading to the Library, which occupies the first floor. 

 On this are two Reading Rooms en suite the first 50 by 50, and 34 feet high ; 

 the second (the Queen's Room), 95 by 50, and 34 feet high; giving a chamber 

 of 145 feet in length. 



A gallery runs round each side, supported by cross walls at right angles 

 to the main walls, connected with columns, which stand at a distance of 13 feet 

 from the latter. These carry the roof; thus leaving a clear space of 24 feet 

 for a row of tables up the centre. Under the gallery, in the intercolumnal 



Vide Address of the Trustees, ante p. vi. 



