THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 181 



which was purchased in October 1840, is also to be 

 found in the library. Thomas Thorpe, born in 1791, 

 was a bookseller in Piccadilly, and later at 13 Henrietta 

 street, Covent Garden, from 1839 to his death in 

 1 85 1. Thorpe was celebrated for his extensive deal- 

 ings in old books and manuscripts, and his carefully 

 compiled catalogues were highly esteemed. The col- 

 lection of tracts comprises ten volumes small quarto, 

 1629-1758 ; and two volumes, folio, 1641-1737. 

 Each volume contains a printed list of contents, 

 and a list will be found in the supplemental cata- 

 logue of the Society's library, published in 1850, pp. 

 45-65. 



The Society was possessed of 2 1 8 volumes of old 

 pamphlets, extending in date from 1634 to 1843, a 

 detailed list of which appeared in the library catalogue, 

 1731-1859, p. 153. In it is also printed an alpha- 

 betical index to the first 80 volumes. 



In 1838, Miss Tew, of Kingstown, delivered to 

 the Society the library of her late brother, Rev. William 

 Tew, ofBallysax, consisting of 180 volumes of divinity 

 and classics, which he had bequeathed to it. 



The report of the Commission of 1836 first de- 

 finitely laid down that, as the library was supported by 

 funds voted by Government, it ought to be open to 

 all persons properly introduced. As in the case of 

 the British Museum Library, the institution was to be 

 looked on as the National Library. In 1849, more 

 than 8000 readers attended. In 1878, about 27,000 

 were returned as using it, while in 1899, the number 

 had reached a total of more than 155,000. The 

 present National Library of Ireland is generally con- 

 sidered one of the finest, as it certainly is one of the 

 most frequented, in the world. The average attend- 

 ance is over 700 daily. £500 a year were allowed for 



