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of Woodwarde Road and Lordship Lane has been selected in
preference, both to the more central and the more populous
portion of the Estate.
"To reply to this question I feel it necessary to refer
you to the application of the Commissioners to your
Governors for the grant of a plot of land for the erection of
a Public Library, which would, in effect, serve Dulwich
proper as also the populous part of East Dulwich. The
Commissioners are of opinion that in this extensive Parish
four Libraries are requisite. The generous gift of George
Livesey, Esq., of a Library erected on Freehold Land provided
for the Old Kent Road District. Mr. Minet's gift of
a Library for Camberwell, the intended erection of a
Central Library by the Commissioners for Peckham
District leaves only Dulwich and East Dulwich to be pro.
vided for. To supply these districts it was represented
that the Governors of the Dulwich Estate being such large
Freeholders in the Parish, and whose revenues are chiefly
devoted to Educational purposes, that the gift of a plot of
land for the promotion of the establishment of a Free
Library would be in furtherance of one of the great objects
of the Foundation. The Commissioners were therefore
induced to apply to the Governors for the grant of a plot of
land, and they were pleased to accede to the request subject
to the consent of the Charity Commissioners being
obtained.
"I learn from a letter of Mr. Gauntlett that application
was made for their consent, and they have stated in
reply that they did not consider they had any authority
to sanction the proposed grant as a free gift for a Public