Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/311

 An Address delivered by Richard Garnett, Esq., LL.D., Ex-President of the Library Association, at the Opening of the i;th Annual Meeting at Belfast, September 4th, I894. 1 SUPPOSE it can but rarely have happened that an address has been delivered before the Library Association under circumstances of such embarrassment as attend the delivery of mine. We know the fate of the inferior performer who follows the well-graced actor. But this unfortunate mime has at least these circumstances in his favour his part is prepared for him ; he has it by rote ; and the responsibility rests in a measure upon the author. I am my own author, and am, moreover, suddenly called upon to fulfil the task, difficult enough at the best, of supplementing the polished eloquence of one of the most accomplished speakers of our time. I will not say that this position was entirely unforeseen. When you, my Lord Marquis, after rendering the Paris meeting a success by your genial sympathy and ready assistance, conferred upon the Association the yet higher honour of accepting its presidency, it was of course perceived that public duties of far higher importance might prevent you entering into the affairs of libraries with the fulness of a professional librarian, or might even prevent your attendance altogether. That the latter calamity has not befallen us is a subject for deep satisfaction, and I desire to express the gratitude of us all for the courtesy and public spirit which have brought you here. The misfortune is that the task of addressing this assembly on library matters, with the briefest notice and most inadequate preparation, should have devolved upon me. But I was President last year, and I feel that the last holder of the office is the person justly liable for undischarged accounts. May a similar state of things exist next year, and may your Lordship, recognising the obligation as I do, give the Association such an address as I cannot ! 1 As Secretary of the Library Association I have received a letter from Mr. J. B. Martin in which he states that he " forbids " me to publish that portion of this address which refers to the case of his wife against the British Museum. I have replied, offering to print any reasonable statement Mr. Martin may send me but I decline to obey his dictatorial and unreasonable command, and as the Library Association cannot be consulted in time for this issue I publish Dr. Garnett's address on my sole personal responsibility. J. Y. W. MACALISTER, Editor of THE LIBRARY.