Page:A century of Birmingham life- or, A chronicle of local events, from 1741 to 1841 (IA centuryofbirming02lang).pdf/711



Since the publication of the first volume I have received from Mr. John F. Lee some additional information on the early history of the Library.

Mr. Lee says: "My father, Mr. John Lee, was one of the first subscribers, and had the care and management of the books at the house of my grandfather, in Snowhill, where the books were exchanged every morning between the hours of 9 and 10. As the books increased in number a Bookcase was made, fitted up with sliding shelves, on which they were kept until 1782, when they were removed to a room in the Swan Yard. This bookcase is now in my possession.

"I enclose a list of the subscribers in 1789, which, I suppose, is made out in the order they became members, and you will see that many of these are Dissenters. Hutton says the Society 'received from the benevolent hand of Dr. Priestley, in 1782, that stability and method without which no institution can prosper;' but you see, by the list of the Committee in 1789, that the Society did not long enjoy the benefit of his counsels and advice, as his name does not appear in the Committee, nor does that of any Dissenter, except Mr. Dearman. As the Dissenters were thus excluded, my father refused to act as Treasurer, which he had done from the commencement."

In 1789 there were 349 subscribers, and the following is the list of the Committee for that year:—

Rev. Charles Curtis, President.

Mr. John Lee, Treasurer.

William Horne, Librarian.

Francis Parrott, M.D.

Mr. John Freer, jun.

Rev. J. Clutton.

Rev. C. Curtis,

Mr. Joseph Rabone.

Mr. Geo. Holl Barker.

Mr. Thos. Cooper.

Mr. Geo. Kennedy.

Rev. Joseph Berington.

Rev, Thos. Price.

Captain Cooke

Mr. Joseph Gibbs.

Mr. J. P. Dearman.

William Gilby, M.D.

Mr. John Blount.

Mr. Sampson Lloyd.

Mr. Charles Stewart.

Mr. James Woolley.

Mr. Samuel Garbett.

Mr. John Lee, jun.