BOOK IV. Chapter II. Libraries of the Bristol did not possess one until 1772.1 Nor is it less Subscription to the honour of Franklin, and of Philadelphia, that one United States. of the first regulations which was made for the management of the Library, directed that it should be publicly and gratuitously accessible as a Library of reference. The instructions to the first Librarian, Louis Timothee, expressly empower him to permit "any civil gentleman to peruse the books of the Library in the library-room." The first donor to the infant Library was Peter Collinson, "Mercer, in Gracious Street, London," and the second, William Rawle, of Philadelphia (who gave Spencers works in six volumes). Franklin himself succeeded Timothee as Librarian for three months. In 1738, a piece of ground was granted to the society by John Penn; and, within little more than thirty years of the establishment of the Library, it was stated in a report that "many other libraries, after our example and on our plan, have been erected in this and the neighbouring provinces, whereby useful knowledge has been more generally diffused in these remote corners of the earth." In August, 1774, an order was made that the Librarian should "furnish the gentlemen who are to meet in Congress, in this city, with such books as they may have occasion for during their sitting, taking a receipt for them." A similar privilege was afterwards accorded to the legislature of Pennsylvania. In 1777, the Library was, for a time, converted into a military hospital. During the nine months of the British occupation of Philadelphia, the Library sustained no injury, except Tovey, The Bristol City Library, p. 22. 2 Address presented to John Penn, 1763, quoted by Jewett, ut supra, p. 116. FRANKLIN'S LIBRARY AT PHILADELPHIA. 185 BOOK IV. Chapter II. Subscription Libraries of the (as during the whole period of the war) from the nonimportation of books. The funds which had accumulated in the interval were expended, on the conclusion United States. of peace, in a large accession of English and foreign literature. In instructing their agent as to the purchases they wished to make, the Committee write thus:-"We shall confide entirely in your judgment to procure us such books of modern publication as would be proper for a public library, and though we would wish to mix the utile with the dulce, we should not think it expedient to add to our present stock anything in the novel way." In 1789, a new building was erected for the reception of the books, and an inscription was placed on the corner-stone, which is worth quotation: Be it remembered in honour of the Philadelphia youth that in 1731, they cheerfully, instituted the PHILADELPHIA LIBRARY, is become highly valuable and extensively useful, are now destined to contain and preserve; The collection founded by Franklin had scarcely been arranged in its new habitation when the addition to it of the library of James Logan (the friend of William Penn, and the first President of the Pennsylvania Council) made an enlargement of the building necessary. This "collection of rare and valuable books, BOOK IV. Chapter II. Libraries of the ... principally in the learned languages, and in the existSubscription ing languages of the continent of Europe, which, having formed it at considerable expense, he was anxious should descend to posterity, ... Mr. Logan had endowed and vested in Trustees, for the use of the public for ever." The Library thus bequeathed was enlarged by the brother and son of the founder. At the time of annexation it contained about 4,000 volumes. Large additions have since been made by purchase (as well from the sale of the original building and site, as from the founder's endowment), and also by donation. In 1828, Mr. William Mackenzie, an eminent collector, bequeathed "all his books printed before the beginning of the eighteenth century, and eight hundred volumes more to be chosen by the Trustees, from his French and Latin books of later date." This valuable bequest amounted to 1,519 volumes "of great rarity and value,” and 3,566 volumes were subsequently purchased from the Executors. 500 selected volumes were also left by Mr. Mackenzie to the Philadelphia Library, and its Directors made a purchase of 1,466 additional volumes." The present contents of the Loganian collection exceed 10,000 volumes, and they are thoroughly accessible to the public at large. The progress of the Philadelphia Library during the present century has been still more considerable. By the bequest of a native of Ireland, Mr. Henry Cox, it received a large number of MSS. relating to Irish his 1 Catalogue of the Loganian Library, quoted by Jewett, ut supra, p. 121. 2 Catalogue of Books belonging to the Library Company of Philadelhia (1835), Preface, x. seqq. FRANKLIN'S LIBRARY AT PHILADELPHIA. 187 tory, including, it is said, the original correspondence of James I. with the Privy Council of Ireland for upwards of twelve years, with other historical documents, the value of which remains unknown. Shortly afterwards (in 1803) another British subject, the Rev. Samuel Preston, Rector of Chevening, in Kent, bequeathed his library of above two thousand five hundred volumes, many of them, it is stated, "very splendid works, selected with great taste and judgment." Mr. Preston, it appears, was an intimate friend of Benjamin West. In the following year John Bleakley, of Philadelphia, bequeathed a thousand pounds to the library, of which he had long been a director. At a subsequent period about 5,000 volumes were purchased on very favourable terms of James Cox, an artist, since deceased. Amongst these were many very valuable works on the fine arts, and many rarities. By these varied means, the Philadelphia Library, which, seventy years ago, contained but little more than 5000 volumes, has now grown to upwards of 60,000 volumes.2 Much to the honour of the Association, "citizens and strangers are permitted to consult the books without charge." "3 The privilege of borrowing is of course restricted to shareholders and subscribers. "The number of persons who consult the library is," it is stated, But for so many similar examples, the possession of State Papers of a date comparatively recent by a private person would excite suspicion as to the manner of their obtainment. Can this Mr. Henry Cox have been a descendant of the Irish Historian, and Lord Chancellor, Sir Richard Cox? List of Books added, &c. April 1857, 11. BOOK IV. Chapter II. Libraries of the the American Society. "very considerable." A subscription has recently been entered upon with a view to the erection of a new and fire-proof building for this rapidly increasing collection. 2 Another Philadelphia Library-that of the AMERICAN [2] Library of PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY-is of considerable antiquity, Philosophical and now contains upwards of 20,000 volumes. The Society itself dates from 1742, was also founded by Franklin, and is the oldest of its kind in the United States; but of the precise date when its collection of books was begun, there seems to be no record. The Society also possesses a considerable number of MSS., Maps, and Prints. [3.] Redwood Library at Newport. The Redwood Library, at Newport, Rhode Island, appears to rank next to the Philadelphia Libraries in point of date, though there is great difference between it and them in point of extent. But this collection is intrinsically more valuable than might be inferred from its smallness. Abraham Redwood, the founder, gave, in 1717, the sum of £500 for the purchase of standard books in London. A sum of £5000 was speedily subscribed by the citizens for the erection of a building to receive them (to which sum was ultimately added £1200 more), and a site was freely presented by Mr. Henry Collins. In its very infancy the Redwood Li 3 1 List of Books added, &c. April 1857, 12. 2 Jewett, ut supra, 122. Catalogue of the Redwood Library, 1843, Preface. (Quoted by Jewett, 48, 49.) |