AMONG THE BOOKS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1963, 5 February 1885, Page 4

AMONG THE BOOKS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

The Pall Hall Gazette prints an interest ing account of an interview with Mr Girnett, Superintendent of the Bntish Museum Library, from which we extract the following :— The present magnificent circular chamber nsod a* » reading-room was erected and was opened to readers on May 18th, 18.17. In its diameter the dome of the reading-room exceedi all other* w ith the excepion of the Pantheon nt Rome, which is 2ft. wider. The diameter is 140 ft., and height lWft. Tliat ot the lantern, or centr.il light, is 40ft. There «re l*e-ides twenty circularheaded windows, 27ft. high by 12ft. wide. They «ro &>ft. fiom tho ground. The reading-room has accomodation for 320 roadern, who are ranged at tables radiating from the centre. To each reader is allotted a spaoe of 4ft. 3m. in length, by2ft. lin. in depth. He is aim) supplied with pens, ink, «nd blotting-pud. The heating and ventilating arrangement* are admirable. A superintendent was socially provided to keep order and to give every facility in their researches to readers. Nearly 20,000 volumes are at the cumnand of reader-) without tho formality of a ticket. "As a rule," said Mr Garnett, in tho course of a conversation the other day, " the chiefs of literature do not now often come here ; nt piesent amongst anthois of recognised eminence who use tho room frequently are Mr Lecky, Professor Gardiner, and Mr Leslie Stephen. Great men of letters employ person-, to make researches for them. The falling olf of distinguished readers began in 1830, the controlling influences being, I take it, the great increase of libraries and clubs, all of which possess works of reference ; and aKo the migration to the western or southwestern districts. Forty years ago the square* in our neighbourhood were fashionable quarter* of residence, the CJower and other streets boasted many dwellcis of world-wide fame." "At tho time of tho late Lord Lytton's death, it was stated that he had the privilege of a room to himself, where wore his desk and paper ready for his use." " If this was the ease, I never heard of it," Mr Garnett replied. " Lord Macaulay had a table to himself in the King's Library ; but then he was a trustee. The present Lord Lytton has been heio frequently while writing what has appeared of his fathei's life. Shakspere h*s deroted disciples hero. Mr Furnivall reads constantly ; also Mr Tyler and Mr Harrison, well-known worshippers at the shrine of the Poet of all time. The>e latter gentlemen have succeeded in identify ing the Dark Lady of the Bonnets »s Loid Pembroke's lover. Shakspero reminds me of Miss Mary Anderson, who came here to study the character of Lady Macbeth, and this autumn she again favoured us, for the purpose of studying Veronese life in the tune of Romeo and Juliet ; but actresses come chiefly to Une the costume books. Foreigners are well represented. Eminent German professors come in their vacation time to study old Eugh-.li literature, or consult classical or Oriental MSS. Our American cousin favours us with occasional Tinits, generally to look up his genealogy, that he may with the instinct of race identify himself more closely with the Mother Country. One American gentleman expressed his surprise to me that the iwe of ink wtn allowed to readers, and suggested that pencils, as in the State, should be substituted. I admitted that the disadvantages of ink were many and gnevous, but suggested that its advantages were even more considerable, and said ink was preferred by readeis, whose accommodation even in trivial matters the State consulted, and that very little darmge resulted from the privilege. 'Sir,' he said, 'I am delighted with the liberality of your sentimtntu, nnd when I return to Rochester, New York. I shall take care to make them known to the citi/ens.' Outside causes often swell our numl>ers ; the prize mania in the wet kly papers, for instance — double acrostics principally. A young lady's 'weekly' offered a prup for competition which for some weeks kept our biographical dcpaitment lnisy." Mi Garnett was deniroui, however, that it should be known that the propoition of frivolous books called for was Mnall. The novels sent into the room ha\ c been frequently counted, and have never been found to exceed 3 per cent of the whole number of books. " I remember," he said, " being on one occasion much impressed by the noble beating of n veneiable cleigyman who came to me for assistance in obtaining a book he required. I was sure he would a«k for some learned book of divinity, and was not a little surprised when he named ' Crawley's liilliaids.'"

Lost Trkasttrfs —The list of treasures lost in the tea would, indeed, be a long and melancholy one, instancing for example, the Madagascai from Australia, which in the early days of the gold fever there, having on hoard the yellow dust in enormous quantity, \va» never heaid of, and left not e\en the faintest clue to speculation as to her fate. And in later years the Thunderer, a steamer fiom Calcutta to Chinn, with some 300,000 dollars worth of silver, destined never to reach the expectant consignees, was supposed to be lying abandoned among the awful sandbanks nt the mouth of the Hoojrhly River, lint in spite of rumours, was never to be seen there. These are instances, out of many, of tieaaures never heard of. The wreck of the Royal Charter from Australia, lost in a frightful gale on the Anglesea coast in October, 1859, with some £SOO,OOO of gold on board, will doubtless occur to the reader's mind, coupled as it was with such a lamentable loss of life. In this case, happily, a great deal of treasure was recovered subsequently, hut there is still a fortune left at Maeffra for the fortunate being who fan find it. In old days Vigo Bay had always an attractive sound to treasure seeker*, from the reported wealth on board the Spanish fleet destroyed there in 176 - 2 by Sir fi. Rookc. but the infinite pains, money, and patience cxpende.d on its recovery have been thrown away, the silver (even if it is there, which is somewhat doubtful) obstinately refusing to make a re-appear-ance in the world. Good for Jlaih rs "-We arc plcised to say that our baby wai permanently cureil of a serious protracted irregularity of the be" U by the u*c ot Hop f! Uteri by its mother, which itthosamet wo restored her to perfect health and strength." Jhu Parents, bee.