[ xxix 



of the season he was able to select thirteen original oil paintings. These have 

 arrived, and will be accessible to view in a portion of the North Wing, fitted up 

 for their temporary reception until the contemplated Picture Gallery can be erected. 



It is not within the scope of this Preface to dilate upon the variety of 

 style and treatment, the admirable execution, and the intrinsic artistic excellence 

 which they represent. It is sufficient to observe that they are calculated to 

 awaken in a large portion of our population, to which such works are absolutely 

 new, a faculty of intellectual enjoyment hitherto dormant, and to afford entire 

 gratification to all competent to estimate truly the properties requisite to form 

 pleasing and instructive compositions. 



In conclusion, it may not be out of place to remind those who may peruse 

 these lines, that only ten years and a half have passed since the first stone of 

 the Melbourne Public Library was laid, and that nine years have not yet 

 elapsed since the Central Chamber was first thrown open to the Public. 



Up to this period, 1865, the mode of proceeding by the original Trustees 

 in the selection and acquisition of books was uniform. With the exception of 

 Donations and of Books bought in Melbourne, every book was ordered by name, 

 and in their directions to the Booksellers in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, London, 

 Paris, and Vienna, the Trustees were much influenced by the existence in Melbourne 

 of three other Libraries, with the management of one or other of which they had 

 the honor of being also connected. 



Two of these, that of Parliament and of the University, partake somewhat of 

 a national character, the first being formed and maintained out of the public 

 funds ; the second out of the endowment, being open to the admission of readers 

 other than members of the University, on presentation of letters of introduction ; 

 the third, that of the Supreme Court, supported wholly by fees paid by practi- 

 tioners in the Law, is strictly professional. 



The first of these contained at the outset chiefly works on constitutional 

 lore and statistics; the second embraced classics ancient and modern science, 

 natural philosophy, natural history, general history, and those which treat of the 

 various topics which are connected with education ; the third was confined to law, 

 history, and general jurisprudence. 



Thus, during the early years of the foundation of these libraries, while the 

 funds at the disposal of the Managers of each were meagre, the endeavour was to 

 keep each library within the points of its special intention, namely, to supply the 

 particular and technical information required by the statesman, the student, and 

 the practising lawyer. Accordingly the efforts of the Trustees were directed to 

 make the Public Library supplementary to the others, and thus to avoid the 

 needless multiplication of copies of the same book. 



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