[ viii ] 



They, moreover, addressed a letter to the Principal Secretary of State for 

 the Colonies, forwarded by his Excellency Mr. LaTrobe, informing him of the 

 establishment and nature of the Institution ; of the necessity for procuring 

 many works of approved merit, which the means at their disposal would not 

 allow them to order ; and suggesting, that such as the Statutes at Large, the 

 Statutes of the Realm, the various Records, State Papers, Voyages, Travels, 

 Surveys, Maps, Charts, Plans, and Reports published by the various Royal and 

 Parliamentary Societies and Commissions, or by the Admiralty, &c. &c. might 

 be supplied. 



It is with no slight regret that the Trustees are compelled to say that their 

 advertisements were disregarded ; the letters, with one exception a refusal, 

 unacknowledged ; and that His Grace the Secretary of State for the Colonies 

 informed them " that he was unable to furnish any books unless payment were 

 made for the same by the Colonial Government." 



They met with still further disappointment in not being able to obtain 

 payment of the two sums of 3000 and 3000, voted by the honorable the 

 Legislative Council in the years 1854 and 1855 respectively, for the purchase 

 of books, and are therefore able to present a very small number only of those 

 ordered. 



The collection comprises such of the leading standard writers and 

 compilations on the chief subjects of literary inquiry as the funds allowed 

 them to buy, and their order has been complied with by the bookseller 

 Mr. Guillaume in a manner of which your Excellency and the public will, it is 

 hoped, form a favourable opinion. It also contains 84 volumes, presented by His 

 Excellency Mr. LaTrobe ; and a copy of the " Times " newspaper of the year 1800, 

 presented by Mr. G. M. Gallot the only donations of which it can as yet boast. 



That this collection is not larger is thus accounted for. But the Trustees 

 are by no means discouraged, and look forward with sanguine expectation to 

 the future. 



It is possible that the interest which the public of this country is known 

 to feel in all subjects connected with the Arts, could not be effectually brought 

 into action, as regards this Institution, until it was placed on a declared footing ; 

 and there is every expectation that when the liberal principles on which it 

 is established are known all persons being free to enter who observe the 

 decencies of dress and manners and the advantages it will afford are appreciated, 

 it will be warmly and generously supported. 



Contributions of books, pamphlets, maps, charts, prints especially relating 

 to the early history of this and the adjoining countries, and any presented by 

 authors, donations of coins, medals, works of art, of natural curiosities, will be 

 gratefully received; and the Library may be rendered more comprehensive 

 and varied if Visitors will oblige the Trustees by inserting in the Order Book 

 the titles of such works as it is desirable should be obtained. 



The Trustees will enter into direct communication with the conductors of 

 the European Libraries, and the officers of the different literary, philosophical, 



