THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



QSeftembeb, 



tliis First Series unti) tlie whole had been completed, in order that 

 tlie pliites niifiht he ultimately arranged in proper sequence. 



Another very serious defect, to whicli we have not yet adverted, 

 is tliat there is no greneral architectural description of Mr. Barry's 

 edifice — not so mudi as any attempt at one ; and tlie particular 

 descri|)tions accompanying the plates are for the most part so 

 exceedinifly meagre, that they explain nothing, and amount to 

 just nothing; which, if not mortifying to the architect himself, is 

 assuredly highly unsatisfactory to architectural readers. 



PUBLIC AND SCIENTIFIC MBItABIES. 



1. De la Nfcessit': de crcer des Bihiiotheques Scientifiques-Industriellcs. 

 Par M. Mathias. Paris: 1818. 



2. The Sritixh Museum and the Nntionul GalJery. By James Feb- 

 GussoN, Architect. London: VV^eale, 1849. 



On a late visit to Paris, M. Mathias, the eminent engineering 

 puhlisher, put into our hands a small work of his on special libra- 

 ries for the mechanical classes of France; and it has therefore 

 seemed to us a good occasion to resume our remarks on the want 

 of libraries in England. The circumstances of France and Eng- 

 land are very different, though each labours under great wants. 

 In France, each town of the standing of what would be called a 

 borough-town here, has a free public library — sometimes very con- 

 siderable for the unimportance of the town. This library, made 

 up from the spoils of suppressed convents, colleges, and castles, 

 contains works more antiquated than modern, and which, however 

 valuable to the student of philosophy or humanity, has little or 

 nothing useful to the practical man. New books, where grants 

 are made for such, are as commonly works of amusement as of 

 information, but very rarely technical. In England, these town 

 libraries are wanting; but the greater wealth of the population 

 and the spirit of association supply other resources, for there is 

 hardly a small town without its literary or mech.anics' institution, 

 and perhaps with both. These libraries are much smaller than in 

 France, much less useful to the scholar, but much more available 

 for the instruction of the working classes, as they contain many 

 late and practical works. The establishment of a philosophical 

 class, with a special library, has a tendency to increase the number 

 of practical works. The price of admission to these institutions, 

 rarely above a jiound a-year, and sometimes as low as sixpence or 

 a shilling a-quarter, places them within the means of the indus- 

 trious classes. Some institutions, with subscriptions of a shilling 

 a-quarter, have four or five thousand volumes. The libraries be- 

 longing to churches, cha]iels, schools, book clubs, and agricultural 

 societies, extend the literary resources of the population; while 

 the number of small private libraries is great, and embraces most 

 members of the working classes. The poor women who work at 

 brusli-making have their book as they sit at work. 



In our larger towns are to be found the special libraries of 

 various societies; and there are likewise the larger collections of 

 the wealthy students of particular arts. On the whole, we believe 

 the library accommodation of England to be more available to the 

 body of the population than is tbe case in France; but the provi- 

 sion for literary purposes is less, and there is not that completeness 

 or extension of lilirary accommodation which is to be desired. 

 Above all, we consider special mechanical libraries are deficient. 



Although it is perfectly true the price of subscription is low, 

 still it is an undesirable deduction from the resources of those who 

 are provident, and it deters the less energetic from beginning and 

 prosecuting a course of study. Sometimes it happens an indus- 

 trious man is thrown out of work: then is the time when he can 

 read more, but when he is obliged to give up his subscription. 

 Sometimes he may wish to refer to works in another library in the 

 town, but can only afford one subscription. It is true it is held by 

 some that nothing is valued unless it is paid for — a doctrine the 

 career of the public museums fully denies; but it is further question- 

 able whether it is sound policy to place any restraint on the means 

 of instruction, and even a subscription of four shillings a-year 

 may be that restraint to the apprentice, or distressed workman. 



On every ground it is desirable to have free public libraries, and 

 it is much less diHicult to create them than is imagined. Indeed, 

 if is the want of facilities on the part of the law which prevents 

 them from being formed. All the resources are available, if they 

 can but be made use of. As it is now, the libraries of institutions 

 are precarious in their duration : an institution decays — it is 

 abandoned, and its library, the accumulation of years, is dispersed. 



There wants, first, a power of mortmain for books devoted to 



public uses: once so devoted, they should never be allowed to re- 

 lapse to private use; and by a provision for that end,' a constant 

 accumulation of literary stores would be ensured. There should, 

 therefore, be every facility for the establishment of inalienable 

 public libraries. It might be desiral>le to give the privilege of in- 

 alienability to existing institutional libraries, in consideration of 

 their giving limited facilities of admission for free- reading stu- 

 dents. Thus, the library of the City of London Institution, with 

 its ten thousand volumes, or of the London Mechanics' Institution, 

 miglit be made inalienaljle on their admitting the public into a 

 reading-room between the hours of twelve and four: such readers 

 not being allowed books purchased within two years. This would 

 not interfere with the privileges of subscribers, but would be a 

 boon to many of the public, and would extend library accommoda- 

 tion. 



There are many who would freely give or bequeath books to 

 libraries, if they had but this guarantee of inalienability; and we 

 feel assured, that were a legal provision made, no market-town 

 would be long without its public library. 



After books, the next thing is a room in which to hold them; 

 and there is no parish which cannot give them housing, either in a 

 town-hall, school, workhouse, or vestry-room; to which the public 

 could have access the greater part of the day or evening, the 

 room being only occasionally required for the discharge of other 

 business. 



The shelves and other fittings would be given by the tradesmen 

 and mechanics of the town, who would not be behiiidhand in 

 doing their share of a common deed. Such a work once set going, 

 all would bear a hand,— some would give books, some labour, some 

 materials, some money. 



A further step is a catalogue; and this could very well be made 

 by the willing labour of the young men. 



A librarian comes next. If such officer were chosen by the 

 town council, vestry, or inhabitants, his salary would not be 

 grudged; but for a small evening library, the work might be done 

 by some of tbe readers in turn. 



A subscription might be charged for the privilege of taking 

 books out of the library; or the privilege should be made a con- 

 dition of serving in turn, for a limited time, as librarian, secretary, 

 or catalogue-maker. 



Thus, by a simple organization, free public libraries may be es- 

 tablished throughout the country; and a very short act of parlia- 

 ment suffices. A plan of this kind was put into the hands of Mr. 

 VV'yld, M.P., and by him brought before the tlommittee on Public 

 Libraries in the last session; but the consideration of it was got rid 

 of by Mr. Ewart, tbe chairman of the committee, who did not 

 seem to wish any independent memljer should have the chance of 

 investigating the question of public libraries. It is to be hoped 

 Mr. ^Vyld, Mr. Hamilton, or some other member, will bring in a 

 bill for public libraries next session. 



So far as to general public libraries. Like remarks will apply 

 to special public libraries. In many towns there are medical libra- 

 ries or book clubs, but no provision for their inalienability. In all 

 towns there should be such a library, for it is desirable even the 

 youngest and poorest practitioner should have access to the latest 

 discoveries in medicine, and the best information. Medical periodi- 

 cals do much for tlie spread of knowledge, as is^hownbythe rapid 

 extension of the use of ether, chloroform, glycerine, and the Fallo- 

 pian process. Periodicals, however, and other standiird books, must 

 be put within the reach of all; and if acknowledged public medical 

 libraries were set up, many besides medical men would be the con- 

 tributors to them, for all have as deep an interest in tbe preserva- 

 tion of health and life. In a large town, the library could be kept 

 in the hospital, by the house surgeon; in a small town, in the union 

 workhouse, under the care of the master. 



There are likewise law libraries in some towns, — so should there 

 be in all; and no attorney or magistrate would decline to subscribe 

 if he had full assurance of the perpetual preservation of such an 

 establishment. A good collection of reports year after year is of 

 the greatest value to the lawyer. 



These two are libraries which must be of general extension; but 

 special libraries suited to the mechanics and workmen of each town 

 will vary. The Potteries ought surely to have a library of English 

 and foreign works on the objects of their manufacture. Birming- 

 ham, Wolverhampton, and Walsall, want books on machinery. 

 All manufacturing towns, moreover, want books giving them in- 

 formation as to the exertions of their foreign rivals, and as to the 

 state of the markets throughout tbe world. Indeed, hardly any 

 measure better adapted for the promotion of our trade could be 

 devised than the establishment of special libraries. In large towns 

 they might be devoted to particular trades. Thus the Clock- 



