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land which in a few years will be covered with houses
having a large population, and the commencement of the
road will be a handsome church and the end a Public
Library of an ornamental character. The grant will therefore
be the means of developing the Estate. It is not far
from Alleyn's School, having 600 boys, and will be a central
position for the residents of Dulwich, of the Village and
Schools; and as the Library is intended also for the inhabitants
of East Dulwich it is most advantageously
situated, the latter having a population of 40,000.
"Of course Dulwich proper, most of the inhabitants of
which are of a wealthy class, has not so great a need of a
Public Library as East Dulwich, which is densely populated
and by a poorer class. The Commissioners have, in the
erection of the Library, to consider these facts.
"I have written to a resident in Dulwich, who has great
knowledge of the wants of that District, as to the eligibility
of the spot chosen, and in reply he states : 'I have consulted
with many of the most prominent people hereabouts (Dulwich)
and they agree with me that the site proposed for the
Dulwich Library is as good as any, seeing that it is a gift to
the Parish and contiguous to a populous neighbourhood
both in esse and in posse. In the enclosed plan you will see
site marked for the New Church, the erection of which,
together with the Library, must, I think, naturally assist in
the further and more rapid development of the Dulwich
College Estate.'
"Considering the present and prospective advantages,
the Commissioners trust that the Charity Commissioners