Address presented by the Trustees to his Excellency Major-General Macarthur, acting governor, at the opening of the library, 11 February 1856.SIR, IT affords the Trustees much satisfaction that it is at last in their power to ask your Excellency to throw open to the Public the doors of this Institution; on which occasion they have the honor to submit to you a Report of their Proceedings. The necessity for making provision to meet the literary wants of the community forced itself upon the attention of Her Majesty's Government Her Majesty's Government (HMG or HM Government), or when the monarch is male, His Majesty's Government, is the formal title used by the United Kingdom government, based at 10 Downing Street in London. and the Legislature at an early period of the history of the Colony of Victoria. Accordingly, in the year 1853, the sums of 3,000 [pounds sterling] for the purchase of books, and 10,000 [pounds sterling] in aid of the erection of a suitable building, placed on the Estimates by His Excellency HIS EXCELLENCY. A title given by the constitution of Massachusetts to the governor of that commonwealth. Const. part 2, c. 2, s. 1, art. 1. This title is customarily given to the governors of the other states, whether it be the official designation in their constitutions and laws or not. Mr. LaTrobe, were voted by the Honorable the Legislative Council; and in the following year like amounts, placed on the Estimates for similar purposes, were also cheerfully voted. Towards the close of 1853 the Trustees were appointed; and when the dedication to the public of a piece of land--containing nearly two acres--as a site on which to build was officially announced to them, they called for plans; and invited,--with the offer of liberal premiums,--the competition of all the professional men whose services were available. From those sent in, that of Mr. Reed was selected. The portion of the building already erected, and the drawing of the whole, as it is proposed to complete it, will enable your Excellency to judge of the design preferred by the Trustees; their desire was to secure for the Public a building combining internal convenience with external propriety of style, which would admit of extension without violating the proportion of that part of the structure, the erection of which was at the time contemplated, and of a class in accordance with the improved taste and prospects of the country. It is due to the other competitors to remark, that several of the plans,--in particular that of Mr. Burgoyne, to whom the second prize was awarded,--were deserving of honorable mention. The more pressing exigencies of the public service, and large demands upon the revenue, interrupted for some months the further proceedings of the Trustees; and it was not until the 3rd July, 1854, that the chief Foundation Stone was laid by His Excellency Sir Charles Hotham Sir Charles Hotham KCB RN (January 14, 1806 - December 31, 1855) was Lieutenant-governor and, later, Governor of Victoria, Australia from June 1854 - 31 December 1855. Hotham was born at Dennington, Suffolk, England the son of the Rev. , a day deservedly memorable as that upon which was also laid the chief Foundation Stone of a kindred institution--the Melbourne University. The portion of the building to be now opened consists of the centre, a square of 50 feet by 52 feet in height, forming an entrance hall, well adapted for a museum, or for the reception of statuary stat·u·ar·y n. pl. stat·u·ar·ies 1. Statues considered as a group. 2. The art of making statues. 3. A sculptor. adj. Of, relating to, or suitable for a statue. or works of art; and a chamber above--lighted by windows and a dome,--the dimensions of which are 50 feet by 50 feet, with a height of 32 feet. The extent of bookcases at present finished will receive about 8,000 volumes; the space will admit of shelving for several thousands more. The outlay, including the fittings, furniture, and other incidental expenses, has been 16,000 [pounds sterling]. By the immediate intended enlargement, Two Wings will supply accommodation for the Librarian, and additional room for objects of Natural History, and a complete collection of Geological Specimens, also a Reading-room, which, with that already built, will be about 150 feet in length; and a staircase and portico portico (pôr`tĭkō), roofed space using columns or posts, generally included between a wall and a row of columns or between two rows of columns. , the absence of which deprives the building of its most striking architectural features. As two side walls and a back wall are already erected, the whole may be finished for--as has been estimated--about 13,000 [pounds sterling], a sum which, when placed at their disposal, the Trustees will be delighted to expend with the strictest regard to economy. As soon as circumstances permitted, the Trustees forwarded to England 2,500 [pounds sterling] for the purchase of books; and being anxious to consult the wishes of those who would become the readers, requested the Public, by a series of advertisements inserted in the newspapers for some months, to favour the Trustees with catalogues and lists of such works as might be required. They also wrote to several gentlemen--members of this community, then in Europe--with the hope of enlisting their co-operation in London and elsewhere in the selection of the books ordered, and in obtaining by gift or purchase from the British Museum British Museum, the national repository in London for treasures in science and art. Located in the Bloomsbury section of the city, it has departments of antiquities, prints and drawings, coins and medals, and ethnography. , the Libraries of the Universities or Colleges, or from other public or private Societies, copies of any works of value. They, moreover, addressed a letter to the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet official in charge of managing the various British colonies. The position was first created in 1768 to deal with the increasingly troublesome North American colonies. , forwarded by his Excellency Mr. LaTrobe, informing him of the establishment and nature of the Institution; of the necessity for procuring many works of approved merit, which the means at their disposal would not allow them to order; and suggesting, that such as the Statutes at Large An official compilation of the acts and resolutions of each session of Congress published by the Office of the Federal Register in the National Archives and Record Service. , the Statutes of the Realm, the various Records, State Papers The term State papers is used in the British and Irish contexts to refer exclusively to government archives and records. Such papers used to be kept separate from non-governmental papers, with state papers kept in the State Paper Office and general public records kept in the Public , Voyages, Travels, Surveys, Maps, Charts, Plans, and Reports published by the various Royal and Parliamentary Societies and Commissions, or by the Admiralty, &c. &c. might be supplied. It is with no slight regret that the Trustees are compelled to say that their advertisements were disregarded; the letters, with one exception--a refusal,--unacknowledged; and that His Grace the Secretary of State for the Colonies informed them "that he was unable to furnish any books unless payment were made for the same by the Colonial Government." They met with still further disappointment in not being able to obtain payment of the two sums of 3000 [pounds sterling] and 3000 [pounds sterling], voted by the Honorable the Legislative Council in the years 1854 and 1855 respectively, for the purchase of books, and are therefore able to present a very small number only of those ordered. The collection comprises such of the leading standard writers and compilations on the chief subjects of literary inquiry as the funds allowed them to buy, and their order has been complied with by the bookseller--Mr. Guillaume--in a manner of which your Excellency and the public will, it is hoped, form a favourable opinion. It also contains 84 volumes, presented by His Excellency Mr. LaTrobe; and a copy of the "Times" newspaper of the year 1800, presented by Mr. G. M. Gallot--the only donations of which it can as yet boast. That this collection is not larger is thus accounted for. But the Trustees are by no means discouraged, and look forward with sanguine expectation to the future. It is possible that the interest which the public of this country is known to feel in all subjects connected with the Arts, could not be effectually ef·fec·tu·al adj. Producing or sufficient to produce a desired effect; fully adequate. See Synonyms at effective. [Middle English effectuel, from Old French, from Late Latin brought into action, as regards this Institution, until it was placed on a declared footing; and there is every expectation that when the liberal principles on which it is established are known--all persons being free to enter who observe the decencies of dress and manners--and the advantages it will afford are appreciated, it will be warmly and generously supported. Contributions of books, pamphlets, maps, charts, prints--especially relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc the early history of this and the adjoining countries, and any presented by authors,--donations of coins, medals, works of art, of natural curiosities, will be gratefully received; and the Library may be rendered more comprehensive and varied if Visitors will oblige the Trustees by inserting in the Order Book the titles of such works as it is desirable should be obtained. The Trustees will enter into direct communication with the conductors of the European Libraries, and the officers of the different literary, philosophical and scientific Institutions and Societies, and solicit that assistance which the promoters of learning and science are always ready to give; and they--if supported as they expect to be--hope that in a short time, in addition to an extensive collection of English general literature, they may, through the instrumentality Instrumentality Notes issued by a federal agency whose obligations are guaranteed by the full-faith-and-credit of the government, even though the agency's responsibilities are not necessarily those of the US government. of the representatives of the ministers of different Foreign States, succeed in possessing themselves of that of other countries, as well as of a body of authentic official information emanating from the departments of the useful arts Useful arts are concerned with the skills and methods of practical subjects such as manufacture and craftsmanship. The term "Useful Arts" is used in the United States Constitution, which is the basis of United States patent law: , commerce, education, crime, and social and economical statistics. The misfortune of the lapse of the votes for 1851 and 1855, may be repaired by the honorable the Legislative Council, with the sanction of your Excellency, making up the deficiency. Such a recognition of the value of this Institution, none will acknowledge more gratefully than THE TRUSTEES Notes Edward Macarthur Sir Edward Macarthur KCB, (16 March 1789[1] – 4 January 1872) was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, an administrator active in Australia and Commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's forces in Australia from 1855. (1789-1872), the eldest son of the famous John Macarthur John MacArthur may refer to one of the following people:
Joseph Reed Joseph Reed is the name of:
The attempts of the Trustees (in effect, Redmond Barry Sir Redmond Barry KCMG (June 7 1813 – November 23 1880) was a British colonial judge in Victoria, Australia. Barry was the son of Major-General Henry Green Barry, of Ballyclough, County Cork and his wife Phoebe. ) to build up the collection of books and works of art will be discussed in some detail in the next issue of The La Trobe La Trobe may refer to:
REDMOND BARRY WILLIAM FOSTER STAWELL Sir William Foster Stawell KCMG (27 June 1815–12 March 1889) was a British colonial statesman and a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Early life JAMES FREDERICK PALMER Sir James Frederick Palmer (7 June 1803 – 23 April 1871) was a Victorian pioneer, first President of the Victorian Legislative Council Palmer was the son of the Rev. John Palmer, and was born at Torrington, Devonshire, England. HUGH CULLING culling removal of inferior animals from a group of breeding stock. The removal is premature, i.e. before completion of its life span, disposal of an animal from a herd or other group. EARDLEY CHILDERS DAVID David, in the Bible David, d. c.970 B.C., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 B.C.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Saul, who had been deemed a failure. CHARTERIS McARTHUR |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion