i88z.i883.] 175 



public library, an art gallery, and a museum, and he closed that 

 address with the suggestion that the best possible means by 

 which that could be accomplished would be to go in for the 

 adoption of the Public Libraries Act. Since then he took part 

 in a systematic movement for the purpose of endeavouring to 

 secure the adoption of that Act, and so successful was that 

 movement that the town had adopted the Act by a deci- 

 sive vote of four to one. The opposition against which they 

 had to contend had now vanished. With regard to the 

 possible consequences of the adoption of the Act in Belfast, 

 he should say that the public library formed under its pro- 

 visions would be free, not in the sense of a public school, par- 

 taking of the nature of charity, but like a public park, because 

 it would be maintained out of the public rates, and would be 

 public property. It should be open to all the world, without 

 excluding a single soul. They must at the same time have 

 schools of science and art. It might be that a penny rate 

 would not be sufficient to accomplish all that was desired, but 

 they must avail themselves of the experience of other places, 

 and devise a scheme, broad, generous, and fully equal to the 

 possible future requirements of the town. Having described 

 the system by which such a large free library would be estab- 

 lished and managed, he said the scheme should not be confined 

 to a library, but should include a museum and art gallery. 

 The Town Council are now in possession of some splendid 

 sites, and he hoped they would give one in a central position, 

 with sufficient space, not only for the present, but the future 

 requirements of the town. It was said that a site was to be 

 provided in Royal Avenue, but if the place which had been 

 indicated was really meant, he feared the space would not be 

 sufficiently large. Having dwelt at length upon the educational 

 advantages that would arise from such an institution as that of 

 which he spoke, he remarked that if they hoped to see it fully 

 established it would be necessary for some of the wealthy 

 citizens of Belfast to come to its aid. If they were not pre- 

 pared to do what Sir William Brown — a Ballymena man— did 



