Grecian. Thus, although the Syndics required good lighting and ventilation they chose a style that did not strictly admit of external windows. It is true that the "Member of both Syndicates" explains that his belief was that the term "Grecian" was used only as opposed to Gothic, (Reply, p. 31). Mr. Cockerell, Mr. Wilkins, and Mr. Rickman sent their plans to the Vice-Chancellor, which were exhibited to the Members of the Senate in Oct. or Nov. 1830. Mr. Cockerell excluded himself from the competition by sending in an old plan which was not conformable to the instructions for the Architects. The Syndics reported in favour of Mr. Rickman's plan (Dec. 10, 1830). The Member of the first Syndicate published his observations on the 1st of Jan. 1831, supporting Mr. Cockerell, and opposing Mr. Rickman. On the other side there appeared the "Reply" of a Member of both Syndicates, defending the proceedings of the Second Syndicate, and accompanied by a defence of Mr. Rickman's own plan from the attacks made upon it, which was printed at Birmingham, as the avowed production of Messrs. Rickman and Hutchinson. Immediately afterwards appeared the "Remarks," being the rejoinder of the Member of the First Syndicate, composed with the assistance of the Architect whose design he supported. Finally, Mr. Wilkins published an Appeal," dated April 15, 1831. Thus in the short space of less than four months there appeared 268 closely printed pages of Pamphlets (228 of which issued from the University Press), yet notwithstanding the interest of the subject and the reputation of the disputants, not one of the five pamphlets is to be found in the University Library.

14. The Member of the First Syndicate comes to the conclusion that "it is very obvious, from what I have already said, that the 'judgment which I must feel compelled to pronounce must be in every "instance unfavourable to Mr. Rickman." (Obs. p. 47). The Member of both Syndicates opens his "Reply" with an avowal that he is "very "far from thinking the comparison so advantageous to Mr. Cockerell 66 as the author of the Observations does." The Member of both Syndicates endeavours to state the matter fairly and candidly; he lets Mr. Rickman speak openly in his own name, on the asserted defects of his own plans. On the other hand, we have in the Member of the First Syndicate a strong partisan of the candidate whose unavowed assistance he availed himself of in the composition of his second pamphlet. (Appeal, p. 1)

15. The second Syndicate, which recommended Mr. Rickman's design, was directed to examine and report on the means of the University for carrying it into effect. The Report (Feb. 1831) stated that the chest could furnish £8,000 without inconvenience, and a further sum of £7,000 received by the sale of the Old Printing House; and the remaining £15,000, was proposed to be raised by granting annuities of £400 a year from the chest, and £500 a year from the Library Subscription Fund: so soon was it proposed to divert one-third of this Fund, created, only five years previously, for the express purpose of buying and binding books. After this, it seems to have been found that nothing could be done by any party. In March, 1834, a Syndicate was appointed to confer with the four Architects previously invited to compete, who were informed that the University had been compelled to abandon the intention of building for the present. Mr.

Rickman, Mr. Burton, and Mr. Wilkins, agreed to accept 100 guineas each, the payment of which was authorized by Grace in June, 1834. Mr. Cockerell alone refused-he proposed a reference of which I can find no further mention.

16. In March 1835, the building question was revived-a Syndicate being appointed to collect subscriptions for enlarging the Public Library, &c. In Nov. 1835, a Syndicate was appointed to consider the best measures to be adopted with regard to building a new Library, and a week afterwards three Reports (A), (B), and (C), were issued. (A) stated that the subscriptions amounted to £20,895, (B) recommended the removal of the old buildings of the "Old Court" except the Gateway, (C) recommended that applications should be made to the four Architects before employed. The part of the building for immediate execution was to be confined to the "Old Court," it was to be sufficient to hold all the books in the present Library, with the probable additions for some years. All the fronts were to be of stone, and the sum to be expended in the first instance was not to exceed £25,000. Provision was now made for a free selection by the Senate. The last day for sending in plans was the 13th of April. The selection of a design was made in the Senate-House, on the 11th of May, 1836, when there was a large majority in favour of Mr. Cockerell's design. It is plain from the numerous details and measurements in the "Observations," compared with the size of the ground, and the plan of the existing North side, that the design adopted, so far as respects size and accommodation for books, did not differ materially from the plan advocated by the Member of the first Syndicate in 1831.

17. Immediately after the election, a Syndicate was appointed to examine whether the chosen plan was in conformity with the instructions, and the Report of May the 18th was favourable, but stated that Mr. Cockerell declined to pledge himself that the expense would not exceed £25,000, whereupon the Caput most properly rejected the Report. The Syndics were re-appointed in June, 1836, and they reported favourably in the following November, stating that regard being had to the price of building materials at the time of sending in the plans (April, 1836), Mr. Cockerell was of opinion that the part to be built immediately could be prepared for its fittings for £25,000, and this Report was confirmed. Finally, a Syndicate was appointed (Dec. 7, 1836), to confer with Mr. Cockerell respecting any alterations thought expedient in the character and details of the design, and to advertise for tenders for that portion which was proposed for immediate erection. The Report appeared on the 8th of March, 1837, and recommended several extensive alterations, the effect of which was to considerably simplify the original design. The Syndics then observe that they have "completed their Report so far as regards the objects specified in the terms of their appointment," yet they afterwards proceed to lay before the Senate a proposition from Mr. Cockerell, which they recommend for adoption.

18. Up to this time it appears that Mr. Cockerell held out hope that the whole of the West Front, opposite Trinity Hall, and parts of the North and South sides, (Portfolio, No. 5)* of the proposed quad

* Very much to my regret, all my enquiries have failed to discover this Portfolio, No. 5,

B

rangle could be built and prepared for their fittings for £25,000. On the ground of a rise in the price of materials in the preceding ten months it was represented that this part could not be executed for the stipulated sum, and Mr. Cockerell in consequence obtained leave to build the whole North side, which is said to be of a "less expensive character" in the style of its Architecture than the part originally promised, and it must be further observed that it was far less in extent also. Mr. Cockerell's computation gave room for 180,000 volumes, and he also promised Mineralogical and Geological Museums, and one Lecture Room.

19. Now that the North side is completed, we find that that alone has cost at least £28,400 (§. 22) to prepare it for the reception of its fittings, that it is capable of accommodating only 70,000 or 80,000 instead of the promised 180,000 volumes. Again, the Old Library has a surface of 16,000 square feet covered with books, but the New Library has shelves for only 9,244 square feet, including galleries; therefore, the accommodation is only half of that which was required by the "instructions."

20. As respects the accommodation on the Museum floor, the Professor of Mineralogy states, that the accommodation afforded by the additions to the Library for Professors is very indifferent. "Accommodation for students seems never to have been contemplated." (Ev. p. 134). The Lecture Room of the Professor of Geology adjoins the Museum, but is "in other respects totally unfit for a Lecture Room." These home truths were not agreeable to the Commissioners, and instead of meeting the charge boldly, they seek to evade it, but at the same time acknowledge its truth, by remarking that “the Woodwardean Professor lectures in a large room, not designed for such a purpose, adjoining his Museum." (Report p. 115.) If this assertion be true two important questions naturally arise-What was this large room intended for? And where are the two Museums (Min. and Geol.) and one Lecture Room, required by the Instructions (C), Nov. 25, 1835, and promised in the plan finally adopted, March, 1837 ? The Cellars are damp and nearly useless.

21. Thus we arrive at the usual conclusion that the cost has been excessive considering the amount of accommodation afforded. The estimate was greatly exceeded, while the space for books is less than half of what was promised (March, 1837) and the rooms below afford very indifferent accommodation for Professors.

22. The cost of the building may be arrived at as follows :— Mr. Cockerell was authorized to proceed with the foundations in June, and in July, Messrs. Rigby entered into a contract to complete the building ready for its fittings for £23,945. From the statement of the funds of Nov. 9, 1839, it appears that the subscriptions with Interest, &c. up to that date, amounted to £23,410, that there had been paid for Foundations, Clerk of Works, &c. £2,489, and, on account, to Messrs. Rigby £20,200, leaving a balance in hand of

which contained the drawings of the part proposed for immediate execution, as I was very desirous of exhibiting it on the plan, Fig. 3. The position of the Old Library, however, is marked, and the instructions with which the adopted plan was reported to be conformable required proper access to be made to the New from the Old buildings.

£721. There was, therefore, a deficiency of rather more than £3,000 required for payment of the contract, and an estimated debt of £2,000 for Architect, Clerk of Works, &c., making together £5,000. The total cost of preparing the building for its fittings must have been £28,434, exclusive of the value of the site, and of the old materials of the "Old Court" that may have been used in the foundations, as was recommended in March, 1837.

23. In order to meet this expense and to provide Library fittings there was a sum of £23,410 raised by subscriptions, &c., a sum of £3,777 invested in the 3 per cents. (in 1840-42 nearly at par), and sums of £4,500, £3,000, and £400 were borrowed on the security of the Library Subscription Fund, April 3, 1840, July 3, 1841, and Nov. 28, 1842 respectively (Ev. p. 54). Moreover, there may have been Subscriptions received after December, 1839, and as the accumulations of the Library Subscription Fund were applied for fittings, and the prospective income was charged with a debt of £7,900, it may have been that some portion of the current income of £1,600 a year was devoted to the same purpose. I mention these matters to shew that my calculations give as an inferior limit of the cost of this building a sum of £35,087. To this must be added the expense of fittings for the Geological Museum £4,122 (Ev. p. 17), and for the Mineralogical Museum £735, (Ev. p. 16). Thus the total cost of the existing North side of the proposed Quadrangle, about 154 feet long, with fittings, has been at least £39,944, or about £40,000, exclusive of site and value of any old materials that may have been used in its construction. The surface covered or to be covered with books in this new Library is only 9,244 square feet including the galleries.

24. Suppose now that the cost of completing the quadrangle, and the accommodation for books thereby obtained, would each vary as the length of the building (about 398 feet), we get an estimate, certainly rough, but very likely to be much nearer the truth than Mr. Cockerell's calculation. By the expenditure of more than £100,000, at this rate, a frontage for books of 23,800 square feet might be obtained, capable of accommodating 150,000 vols. But the Old Library, as now existing, furnishes a frontage for books of 16,200 square feet, and contains 100,000 vols. exclusive of Novel, Music, and Newspaper Rooms. It thence appears that if the £100,000 was laid out at once, and the proposed quadrangle completed, there would be in addition to Schools, &c., a gain of a frontage for books of only 7,600 square feet, capable of receiving 50,000 volumes, as the Old Library must be removed. This space would be filled in ten years, allowing the present income of 5,000 volumes a year. But the East and West fronts being of a more ornamental character than the North side, it is probable that the cost of building would be greater, and the accommodation for books less than has been supposed in the preceding rough calculations.

25. But the adopted design was reported to be in conformity with the instructions which directed "The whole of the second "floor to be appropriated to the Library, which will be required to accommodate not less than 300,000 volumes; also a Reading Room, a Private Room for the Librarian, and separate Rooms for manuscripts " and books of great rarity." Even if these instructions had been complied

66

66

with, we should have room for only 120,000 volumes, after deducting space for the 180,000 now possessed. It is probable that, as the yearly income of the Library has increased from about 3,000 in 1830, (Remarks, p. 15) to 5,000 in 1850, we should thus only have provided Library accommodation for the additions of the next twenty years.

26. The Commissioners state that "it was to provide the requisite "fittings for this Library that £8,000 was borrowed in 1841 upon bonds "repayable in 20 years" from the Library Tax, (Report, p. 132), which is quite an erroneous view of the case. In Dec. 1839, there was found to be a deficiency of about £5,000 in the sum required to pay the building contract, Architect, Clerk of Works, &c., and the Grace of April, 1840, authorized the borrowing of £4,500, of which £1,000 was proposed to be applied immediately to paying the contractor. Afterwards, in July, 1840, the fittings of the East End were contracted for with Mr. Cockerell's approval, for £2,125 18s. 2d., and in November, Mr. Cockerell's suggested changes were authorized, the additional expense was not to exceed £218, making together £2,343, which, as was distinctly stated, was to be paid out of the invested accumulations. Accordingly in October, 1840, £1,000, and in March, 1841, a further £1,500, making in all £2,500, of the Stock purchased with previous accumulations were sold in order to be applied in accordance with the contracts of July, 1840, and November, 1840.

27. The sum remaining invested was chiefly applied to "extra works," (Grace, June, 1841). A further £3,000 was raised by bonds, (June, 1841,) and immediately after a contract was entered into with Messrs. Rigby for the completion of the fittings for £2,910 16s. I meet with nothing to shew whether the fittings of the Galleries were included in these contracts. I have thought it necessary to be thus particular as to the purposes for which the £8,000, or more correctly £7,900, was borrowed. The Member of the First Syndicate assures us that when this Fund was established it was expressly stated that the whole proceeds of it were to be applied to the purchase and binding of books. (Obs. p. 57). Although the Senate might have power to modify any pledge of this kind, there was always manifested a reluctance to apply this Fund to other purposes. Thus it seemed to be less objectionable to apply it to fittings than to building, and the Commissioners as apologists for the New Library take this view of the

matter.

28. The invested savings of the Library Subscription Fund, £3,770, and the additional sum of £7,900, which was borrowed, were appropriated toward the payment for building and fitting up the New Library. The liquidation of the debt of £7,900, at the proposed rate, would require payments of which the sum would be £12,200. Thus nearly £16,000 has been turned from its proper purpose of buying and binding books to that of building and fitting up the Library.

29. The total sum raised and charged to the Library Fund after November, 1839, (when there was an estimated debt of £5,000), was £11,670, which left £6,670 for the fittings of the Library, affording a frontage of 9,244 square feet for books, the average cost being thus rather more than 14s. for every square foot of frontage. These fittings are a mere collection of shelves, but they are certainly well worthy