the chancellor, let them not blame the trustees; let them not cenfure the librarian; they, and they only, will be to blame: their exertions will shew, whether they deserve the use of so valuable a library or not.

Newcastle, May 1, 1789.

MODERATOR.

THE unaccountableness of firnames, and their not being applicable or defcriptive of the disposition or faculties of their pofsessors, have frequently employed my thoughts, and have made the vacant hours pass as agreeably as castle-building, or a game at cards, and perhaps more usefully. How many Whites do we know, whose complexion and conduct are black? How many Blacks, who are remarkable for beauty and fair-dealing? How many Strongs, who are delicate? And how many Browns, who are fair? Even the perfon, whose name was Justice, has been transported, or finished his career at the fatal tree. The Chriftian name should remind us of our profeffion; and from the firname, the contemplative mind will derive hints and maxims to correct its vicious propenfities, and to promote its happiness, and the happiness of mankind.

When anonymous writers voluntarily endeavour to amuse or instruct the public, their fignatures should at least be descriptive of their perfons or fentiments. An essay on urbanity should not be figned Vindex; nor should the advocate of chicanery call himself Justice. If these remarks are proper, what shall we think of the writer whose signature is Moderator, in your paper of the 2d instant? He says, " to Lector's spirited queries no objection can be made."

Is this the language of moderation? - Is it the language of truth? What, shall the Querift charge a most respectable character with a breach of trust, and shall no objection be made to it? Will not every generous mind alike despise the calumny and the calumniator? Those who know the respectable gentleman alluded to, are convinced, that his innocence, and placid temper, prevent him from justifying himself. But for fake of the profeffion to which he is an ornament, it would give his friends the greatest pleasure if he would filence his calumniators by publishing, în your excellent paper, a lift of the new books he has purchased MR. PRINTER. It appears by the infcription upon Dr. Tomlinfon's monument in Whickham church, that he left his library to the corporation of Newcastle, for public use. What follows is copied from the marble:

"He also bequeathed his library, a large and most valuable "collection of books, in all branches of literature, to the corpo"ration of Newcastle, for public use, with a rent-charge of five " pounds a year for ever, as a fund to buy new books."

From this extract any person would suppose, that the corporation, as a body, must have fome part of the trust vested in them by the doctor's will; and if they have, they will next week have a fine opportunity of feeing the archdeacon and vicar, at the vifitation, which will be held at St. Nicholas' church on Wednesday next, the 10th instant, when the librarian may be ordered to shew the trustees the condition the books are at present in, and directed immediately to open the library for the use of the public. June 5, 1789.

LECTOR.

To the Stewards of the incorporated Companies in Newcastle. GENTLEMEN. The following hints are fubmitted to your confideration, without any apology, because you cannot be unacquainted with the inefficacy of the measures that have been taken to compel the librarian of Dr. Tomlinson's library to open it for the benefit of the public.

The law of this country will not compel a trustee to execute the will of another, unless he thinks proper. The majority of the truflees under the will of the late Dr. Tomlinson either refuse to act, or the librarian refuses to comply with their directions, and difregards the statutes of the library, though he is paid the falary, to which he cannot be entitled unless he discharges his duty. This being an indifputable fact, the business comes properly before the burgesses assembled in guild, because the library was bequeathed to the corporation of this town.

To introduce this business before the guild, give me leave to suggest to you the propriety of a previous meeting, that you may be masters of the subject. Would there be any impropriety in Mr. Mayor and the burgesses sending a card to the librarian, to attend them at the guild; and in publicly asking him why he does not do his duty? If he do not attend, apply to Sir Thomas Blackett, to appoint another librarian; and insist on the present. librarian's paying the damages the books may have sustained by

his neglect, and accounting for the money he has received to purchafe new books.

Some of you, perhaps, will say, This has no relation to our rights or privileges: Let fuch remember, that the library is bequeathed, not to the trastees, but to the corporation. That burgesses have, or may have, fons to be educated for the church, or for fome of the liberal sciences, and that fuch students have a right to the use of the library. If you disregard this address, you will deprive the inhabitants of this town, and your posterity, of an advantage no private fortune can procure, or opulence itself obtain, because many of the books are extremely scarce, and cannot be bought. A BURGESS.

The following is an extract of a letter from a gentleman of this town, addressed to Dr. Barrington, bishop of Durham.

Newcastle, May 7, 1801.

MY LORD, Your lordship will find in the 61ft page of Bourne's History of Newcastle, in the 2d volume of Wallis's History of Northumberland, and in Hutchinson's History of Durham, article Whickham, in a note, that there was an old library in St. Nicholas' church; and that, in addition, a very extensive one (for the north of England) was left to this town by the late Dr. Tomlinson, of Whickham, that a building was erected for them by the late Sir W. Blackett, (fee Brand's History of Newcastle) : the lower part of this building is occupied as a vestry; the two upper rooms, which would each contain ten thousand volumes, were dedicated to the use of the old and new library. My lord, for twenty years this invaluable collection was locked up, by the Rev. John Ellison; and the falary and the money for buying books spent...he knows best in what manner. He was only brought back to his duty by a public censure in the Newcastle Advertiser, for April and the following months. in 1789 I understand, from undoubted authority, that, in the regulations of that library, the hours of attendance are from ten to twelve in the forenoon, and from two to four in the afternoon of every day, Sunday excepted. The prefent librarian attends from nine to twelve in the morning only, and in every holiday this library is shut up, nay more, my lord, admittance is absolutely refused to the old one. My lord, the public neither know when to go, what power to use when there, nor what books they contain. Your lord

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lordship's interference, and publication of the rules and the catá logue, are the only cures left. I beg your Lordship's pardon for the freedom of this letter, if your lordship should find too much in it; but, in the cause of knowledge, I would be ashamed to be otherwise.

I am, my lord, &c.

P.S. A fub-librarian has been appointed, (by Mr. Ellison) who has to attend prayers every other day at eleven, and frequently at the bridge-end chapel at ten o'clock, when the doors are shut for that day. Should you, my lord, recommend a catalogue and the rules being published, I would, with great pleasure, take the trouble (if the truffees chuse to appoint me, and allow me to name my own assistant) of comparing the books with the catalogue; (for it is faid fome of them are lost since Mr. Ellifon was librarian) and overlooking the press;-my own confcience will be my reward.

To which his lordship was pleased to return the following answer.

Cav. Square, May 11. 1801.

SIR, If the abuses, of which you complain, can be proved, and I have any authority to redress them, you may rest assured that I will enter upon the enquiry. The best time for the pur. pose, in case I have the authority which your complaint implies, will be in the evening of the 6th of July, when the business of my vifitation at Newcastle is finished.

I am, Sir, with regard,

Your humble servant,

S. DUNELM.

It is no wonder that the attempts which have beeir made within the last twelve months were ineffectual. The greatest part of our townsmen being unconfcious of their privileges, mis-statement and evasive apology were exhibited and received in the place of facts.--It was faid that the present librarian is an old man, and that great indulgence ought consequently to be allowed. Surely the public not observing his nonattendance for above twenty years, is an indulgence

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of the most extraordinary kind! It is faid by Mr. Brand, in his letter to a gentleman in this town, who wrote to him on the subject in question, that the falary is shamefully inadequate to fuch duties as the regulations require. In reply, it may be observed, firft, that at the appointment, in 1747, the sum was quite sufficient: fecondly, that very many, even at the present day, would be glad to have such an office with such a falary: thirdly, that if the librarian think it too little, his resource is obvious, refignation. But the present librarian took the office, knowing the duties and the compenfation; his continuance is, therefore, an acknowledgment of the sufficiency of the income.

But let us suppose a regular attendance. Where are the regulations? Not upon any of the tables; not exhibited as publicly as the library they direct! not shewn to any of the vifitants! but with the fixty folios and forty quartos of Cofins, with the books of many others, as at page 294; with the manufcripts, with many even of Dr. Tomlinson's books, and with the privileges of the inhabitants; --they are quickly going, if not gone already to decay!

A gentleman who holds one of the offices that give to the poffeffor the right of a trustee, has declared that he faw nothing to be complained of! No fault in the non-attendance for upwards of twenty years! No fault in receiving more than one hundred pounds in that time for buying books, and almost none purchased with the money! No fault in taking the full falary for twenty years non-attendance! None in the library being shut up so often all the day on account of holidays, (and Mr Hurd going to the bridgeend chapel) as to license the expression of the libra