50 THE LIBRARY OF THE INNER TEMPLE. 



submit to the trouble of looking after them. It was, there- 

 fore, necessary that the apparatus should not only be self- 

 acting, but never failing, and dependent solely for its action 

 on the ever benevolent energies of Dame Nature. 



However satisfactory such apparatus may be in theory, 

 we know by many experiences that we must rely on the 

 evidence of actual practice before an opinion on its results 

 may be safely expressed. An opportunity for the patent 

 Air-Pump Ventilator to "speak for itself" was afforded by 

 the utter failure of many attempts to ventilate the Library 

 of the Inner Temple. Robert Boyle, upon being invited 

 to deal with the difficulty, applied his apparatus in perfect 

 confidence that the problem which had baffled architects 

 and engineers would be promptly solved by its simple 

 action. He was right. It was a complete success, and the 

 stifling hot air of the great Library was at once exchanged 

 for cool fresh air without any inconvenient draughts. 

 *' Those fixed under my direction at the Library of the 

 Inner Temple," wrote Mr. Arthur Gates, architect to the 

 Crown, " have realised my expectations, and completely fulfil 

 the object which I had in view. I consider this application 

 of them a severe test, and the success which has attended 

 it confirms the statements which you make as to their 

 efficacy." 



The late Sir Gilbert Scott was equally delighted with the 



