Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/205

 Rh the programme has been carried out by the Council on behalf of the Fellows, who have ever had in view the importance of procuring as complete a collection as possible of the literature of the Colonies and India, in order that reliable information might be supplied to those in search of knowledge regarding all parts of the British Empire. One of the first acts of the Council in the early days was the appointment of a deputation to wait upon the Secretaries of State for the Colonies and India, which offices were then held respectively by the Duke of Buckingham and Sir Stafford Northcote, afterwards Lord Iddesleigh, for the purpose of obtaining their official sanction and support, which was readily granted, in addition to which both those distinguished statesmen undertook to address the governors of the various Colonies and India in favour of the Institute, the result being that many works illustrative of the resources and progress of all parts of the Empire were received and formed the nucleus of the library in which we are assembled this evening. As another instance of the interest taken in the library during its childhood by the leading statesmen of that day, it is only necessary to mention the constitution of the first library committee, which consisted of the Right Hon. Stephen Cave, Mr. Arthur Mills, M.P., Sir William Denison, formerly Governor of Tasmania, and the Right Hon. Hugh C. E. Childers, who is now the sole surviving representative. These gentlemen, with the assistance of the Rev. Dr. Currey as honorary librarian, an office which was afterwards held by Mr. J. V. H. Irwin, were instrumental in enlisting the sympathy and co-operation of several prominent Colonists as well as publishers and authors, and so adding to the library many works of a distinctly Colonial character, besides drawing up lists of books suitable for purchase. Although the acquisition of a representative library was one of the chief aims of the founders of the Institute, it was quite impossible for a few years to devote any special grant for the purchase of books, owing to difficulties which had to be faced and overcome, both as regards insufficient space and a still greater obstacle, want of funds. The Council were, therefore, almost entirely dependent upon the generosity of donors for any substantial increase in the library. Hence it is not surprising to find that during the first five years of its existence the progress of the library was far from rapid, and that at the termination of that period, viz., 1873, the year following the commencement of my own connection with the Institute, the collection of books numbered slightly