REFACE ΤΟ Catalogue of Donations. "CONVENIT ILLA MIHI, CONVENIT ILLA TIBI." Ovid. THE MELBOURNE PUBLIC LIBRARY was founded in the month of July, 1853. The building was commenced in the same month, and by progressive enlargements has reached its present dimensions, at an expenditure of £83,300. The Library proper consists of three chambers on the first floor, not separated from each other by partitions or doors, viz.: a central apartment, 50 feet by 50 feet, and one at each side, 95 by 50, giving a Reading Room In this the books are arranged open compartments, formed by walls which project 12 feet from the main walls. Each compartment is capable of containing about 2000 volumes. A clear space of 24 feet is left in the centre, and a gallery, raised 13 feet from the ground, runs round the whole of the interior, giving further accommodation for several thousand volumes. Provision is made to secure abundant light and sufficient ventilation by day and night. 240 feet long by 50 feet wide, and 30 feet high. in The number of Books, Pamphlets, etc., on the shelves at the last enumeration exceeded 71,000, and £53,135 8s. 8d. has been expended in the purchase of those bought. The remainder, the titles of which are included in the present volume, consist of Donations, viz. : Together with Parts and Pamphlets, Newspapers, Single Sheets, Maps, Charts, Plans, Elevations of Buildings, Music, Photographs, and Original Manuscripts, many of which possess rare interest. a A contribution so extensive, so valuable, and so generously bestowed, bearing so large a proportion to the books otherwise acquired, has suggested the advisability of printing a separate Catalogue, confined to these gifts; and the occasion affords an opportunity of rendering to the donors this public acknowledgment of the gratitude of the Trustees, in addition to that already more particularly expressed. Of these Donations, many are of the highest order of literary and scientific merit; many of a class and of an expensive character, which the resources at the command of the Trustees would not have enabled them to purchase. For such the public have been indebted to the munificence of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and the Sovereigns of several of the states of Europe, as well as to the comity of several departments of the Government of the United Kingdom and of Foreign countries, the liberality of many Literary and Scientific Societies and of private individuals, as well as to the courteous and assiduous intermediation of the Consuls of the different countries. The Emperor of the French enriched the collection with presents of a most varied and important character, amounting in the whole to 301 volumes. The Emperor of Russia also has extended his generosity to the Library. The King of Prussia presented, with other books of peculiar interest, a copy of Lepsius' great work on Egypt, in twelve volumes of the largest size; these were accompanied with most encouraging promises of further aid by Dr. Pertz, Librarian of the Royal Library of Berlin, which have been liberally fulfilled, the total contributed being 110 volumes. The late King of Denmark, through the medium of the Librarian of the Royal Library of Copenhagen, also bestowed 86 volumes. The King of Italy intrusted to his Consul here, a handsome gift, and subsequent presentations, making in all 43 volumes, which indicate substantially His Majesty's sympathy for the Library. The Belgian Government have furnished a series of historic records from the earliest periods, as also miscellaneous and statistical contributions of a most comprehensive character, included in 197 volumes, parts, and pamphlets. The Imperial Geographical and Geological Societies of Austria forwarded, at the instance of the late venerable Haidinger, a large body of scientific productions of great practical usefulness, in addition to that formerly given by those and by other Societies in Vienna. The Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries of Denmark has, through the instrumentality of the distinguished historian Rafn, sent from Copenhagen a rare and curious set of Chronicles connected with the history of the nations of the north of Europe, including a complete series of Icelandic Sagas, in 45 volumes, compiled and published under the supervision of the Arnæan Magnæan Society, and the auspices of the Danish Government. |