.228 Retrospective Criticism. 



the county, and by all classes clown to the poorest and most distressed of 

 its inhabitants. 



" Every year's experience convinces the manager of the East Lothian 

 libraries of the necessity of combining gratuitous circulation with the plan 

 of supplying the whole population with libraries, and that confining the use 

 of the books wholly to subscribers, however small the sum required should 

 be, will greatly impede the usefulness of such an institution. Many of the 

 readers are young persons, whose tastes and habits are just forming, and 

 who have no means of paying a subscription without applying to their pa- 

 rents, who may be either unable or unwilling to pay for them. It is, at 

 the same time, to those young persons, and the younger branches of the 

 families of subscribers, we are to look as the future and the best supporters 

 of such institutions. Indeed, they have already proved to be so, to the 

 East Lothian libraries. The Haddington Juvenile Society for the support 

 of Missions, Schools, &c. have, from 1822 to 1827, given five donations, 

 amounting to 19/. 12^., and there is reason to hope they will continue to 

 take the same deep interest in an institution which was originally formed 

 for their benefit. 



" The manager of the East Lothian libraries returns his warmest thanks 

 to the ladies and gentlemen, and societies, that have supported him in car- 

 rying forward an experiment, which, it is not improbable, will ultimately 

 have considerable influence on the state of the world. The principle has 

 already been adopted by various Seamen's Societies ; it is a part of the 

 plans of the Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scot- 

 land for improving the Highlands, and also of the Inverness Association for 

 promoting Education in the Highlands. A Society was formed in 1826, in 

 Edinburgh, for supplying Mid-Lothian with such libraries. It has been in- 

 troduced into Ireland, British America, and the United States, and its 

 supporters may reasonably hope that its economy and efficiency will re- 

 commend its adoption wherever it is known." {The Fifth Report, ^c, 

 p. 11.) 



Agricultural Lih^aries. — You have said a great deal in favour of garden 

 libraries, for which the gardener is more indebted to you than for any thing 

 else that you have done. Could you not add a word in favour of similar 

 establishments for the agricultural class ? We have tried it in this neigh- 

 bourhood, but unsuccessfully, because they were not allowed any share in 

 the management of it, and paid nothing for it. — A. G. Near Barnsley,. 



Art. X. Retrospective Criticism. 



Mr. Sweet and a Blooming Bulb. — Sir, Although I am fully aware tlia£ 

 every line of the Gardener's Magazine is most valuable when treating on 

 subjects of general interest, yet I trust you will allow the insertion of°the 

 following comments on Mr. Sweet's remarks, in your last Number, on the 

 article signed " a blooming bulb." (Vol. IV. p. 541.) Hippeastrum vittatum 

 feels this but an act of self-justification after Mr. Sweet's ungracious tirade 

 and, therefore, speaks for himself as follows : — 



" Mr, Sweet, it appears, has taxed a Blooming Bulb with pilfering from 

 Mr. S., the manner in which he has arrived at perfection. He assures Mr. 

 Sweet, however, that he had already filled the offices of parent and grandsire 

 before the appearance of the Gardener's Magazine, through which his 

 patron first became acquainted with the Botanical Cultivator. He could call 

 his compeers to witness, fellow-inhabitants of the frames, who, like himself, 

 have been twisted and twisted from one pot to another, that this ordeal 



