June 20, 1891. 



OUR COLUMNS. 



25 



to follow their example ; hence, notwithstanding the cost of establishing the Library and 

 the £200 spent in literature, the first financial statement showed a balance in hand. 



It is amusing to read, but it would be tedious to recount, the interminable discus- 

 sions which took place before " The Rules of the Society " were finally settled on a basis 

 satisfactory to the majority of the subscribers. These rules were 28 in number. That 

 relating to subscriptions specified "• that previous to July 1, 1831, every subscriber of 

 one guinea in advance shall be considered a member of the Society, but after that period 

 any new member shall pay half -a- guinea entrance fee in addition to his annual subscrip- 

 tion." The regulations about compounders have already been given, but it may be added 

 that compounders' privileges were transferable. Anothe]- rule states that a Comuiittee of 13, 

 together with a secretary and treasurer, are to be elected by ballot at the annual meeting, 

 held on the first Wednesday in July, ladies being allowed to vote by proxy. The Committee 

 (five members of which formed a quorum) were empowered to elect a Librarian and Cura- 

 tor for the Museum, and to purchase books, not exceeding ten guineas for any single work. 

 Committee meetings were to be held at the Library on the first Tuesday of every month 

 at 6 p.m. The Library to be open every day (except Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas 

 Day, &c.) from 10 to 9, the Librarian attending from 12 to 1 and from 2 to 4 on Wednes- 

 days and Saturdays for the purj^ose of exchanging books (this rule was subsequently 

 modified so that books could be exchanged on three days a week). The rule relating to 

 the time that books could be kept was as follows : — New books : folio, two weeks ; quarto, 

 two weeks ; octavo and 12mo, one week. Books a year old : folio, four weeks ; quarto, 

 three weeks ; octavo and 12 mo, two weeks; with an additional week allowed in all cases 

 to non-residents. A fine of 2d. a day per volume was imposed for retaining a book beyond 

 the appointed time, and of os. for taking a book away in the absence of the Librarian or for 

 lending it to a non-subscriber. 



FURTHER PROGRESS. 



The second year of the Society's life was one of gradual progress. The Committee 

 were able to report a steady increase in the number of the subscribers and a balance to 

 the good. Presents of books continued to pour in, and the museum was enriched by a 

 large number of additional specimens and " curiosities." The Library, including the 

 recently acquired books from St. Paul's, now contained 1850 volumes. The minutes for 

 the session are very extended, but include few matters of present interest. It may, 

 however, be mentioned that the Secretary was authorized to apply to the Trustees of 

 the British Museum for the recovery of the " Leiger Book " of Newenham Priory, which 

 many years previously had disappeared, in company with another book not named, in 

 a very mysterious way from the shelves of the Old Bedford Library. As may be supposed, 

 this application was refused, in spite of the presence of the Library stamp on the title- 

 page. Another entry in the minute book relates to a work which, with others by the 

 same eccentric author, once made some stir in the world, — " Hone's Mysteries." It was 

 ordered to be destroyed " as being of an evil tendency, and therefore unfit for circulation." 

 During the session 1832-1833 there was a slight diminution in the number of annual 

 members and only 230 books added to the Library, but a good balance. This year the 

 Committee were again called upon to exercise the functions of literary censors. A motion 

 being brought forward for discontinuing the Monthly Review, the following resolution was 

 unanimously adopted: — "The Editor of the Monthly Review (for Oct., 1832) having 

 inserted an article in reviewing a book entitled ' The present state of the Established 

 Church : an apology for secession from its Communion,' in which he indulges in a series 



