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books to each other's houses for mutual pleasure and
information, thereby making a private circulating library.
ow the wealth and magnificent interest contained in private
libraries is untold, though unfortunately many of the most
valuable, such as Sir Robert Peel's, the Ashburnham, Althorpe
and others have been dispersed.
The hard-working man, the loving student and the
distressed may all find comfort and unmixed pleasure and
profit in a library. I may indeed quote Southey's pretty lines
in the " Golden Treasury of Songs and Lyrics," when alluding
to the friendship of books—
" My constant friends are they, with whom
I converse night and day."
Dr. .Johnson said—" When the exuberance of youth is
passed and decline of life is felt, then we like a little solitude
to renew our friendship with our books."
I earnestly desire that this Free Library, Baths and
Wash-houses will prove, not only a blessing, but a pleasure
and comfort to all in this neighbourhood.
I am sure we are most grateful to those who have been
concerned in the erection of this building, which I hear has
cost the large sum of £26,000. lam pleased and proud to say
it stands on the land given by my husband, and not far from
this ground is St. George's Church on land given by! my
husband's grandfather, so this ground has a double interest to
me, and with my personal good wishes for its success I now
declare this building open.