26 



OUR COLUMNS. 



Jiine 20, 1891. 



of abusive remarks highly of¥ensiYe to the feelings of members of that Chm'ch, it is 

 resolved that that publication be discontinued ; and that it is most desirable that nothing 

 abusive to any denomination should be encouraged either on subjects of religion or politics 

 in any publication received into the Library." The Society now being in the possession 

 of property in books and specimens of considerable value, the Committee were anxious to 

 vest it in the names of Trustees, but they had to consider the cost . of a trust deed ; this 

 difficulty was, however, partly solved by the liberality of Mr. W. Williamson, the barrister, 

 and Messrs. Pearse k Sons, the solicitors engaged in the matter, declining to make any 

 professional charge. The following twelve Trustees were appointed : — The Duke of 

 Bedford, the ^larquis of Bute, Mr. W. H. Whitbread, M.P., Mr. F. PolhiU, M.P., Mr. W. 

 Stuart, Mr. W. B. Higgins, Mr. T. A. Green, Mr. T. G. Elger, Dr. Lee, Dr. Witt, Mr. 

 Root. Newland. and Rev. J. Donne. 



EEMOVjLL to the BEDFORD EOOMS. 



Though there had been no very large increase in the number of subscribers between the 

 inauguration and the year 1834, the space occupied by the ever-increasing Library and the 

 room taken up by the Museum induced many of the members to desire more commodious 

 quarters. The Committee in the fourth annual report called attention to the urgent 

 necessity for better accommodation : — " Could a site sufficiently central and spacious be 

 procured, there is no doubt of funds being immediately raised by donations and shares 

 competent to erect a suitable building." Luckily for the Institution, the idea of rushing 

 into bricks and mortar came to nothing, probably for this reason : — the town haying long- 

 felt the want of a suitable room for balls, entertainments, public meetings, kc, the 

 upstairs room at "The Swan " and the old Shire Hall being the only available places for 

 these purposes, a company was formed to erect a building which would meet all these 

 requirements. The work, after being some three years in progress, was completed in 1836, 

 and the present handsome structure is the result. Early in 1835 the Library Committee 

 were endeavouring to come to some arrangement with the Bedford Rooms Company, 

 whereby a portion of the new building might be allotted to the General Library; and at 

 the annual meeting, held on August 5th of that year, the Committee were requested to 

 call a special general meeting of the subscribers to confer with the Directors of the 

 Bedford Rooms Company on the subject. This conference took place on February 3, 1836, 

 and a proposition was carried that a rent of £30 per annum (free from all taxes) be offered 

 for the use of two rooms in the new building, the tenancy being determinable by twelve 

 months' notice on either side. As the Company stood out for £40, the negotiations were 

 in danger of being broken off, and this probably would have happened had not the Rev. p]. 

 Williamson, Rector of Campton, his son, the Rev. E. R. Williamson, and others, generously 

 come forward with promised donations to help the Society to pa}" the additional £10 per 

 annum required. The matter was ultimately settled by a resolution passed at the annual 

 meeting, held August 3, 1836, to the effect that the two rooms in the north wing be taken 

 at the yearly rent of £35, the Rector of Caraj)ton and his son undertaking to pay £5 

 per annum for eight years to make up the necessary sum of £40. This important matter 

 happily arranged, the next question was the cost of converting the two rooms into 

 a suitably-furnished Library with proper fittings, book-cases, Sec. To meet this expendi- 

 ture, ultimately amounting, with the cost of removal, to more than £200, about £130 was 

 contributed by various friends (among them the Marquis of Bute, who gave £50), the 

 Architect of the building furnishing the working drawings of the fittings and superintend- 

 ing the work gratuitously. The removal took place in October, 1836. 



