rian opening it only when he pleafes! No fault in the books being fo damaged during the twenty years fabbath of this reverend gentleman, as to require Mr. Charnley's affiftance to restore them from the injuries of the dampth! No fault in the regula. tions being withheld! None in the old library being pofitively refused accefs to! None in the compromifed attendance of the librarian or his deputy! None in that deputy receiving half the falary for half the ftatute attendance, and the real librarian curtailing the duties, and fhielding himfelf under the fmallnefs of the falary! None in many of the books entered in the catalogue being miffing!!! This gentleman would do well to take the number of years Mr. Ellifon has been librarian, which, multiplied by five, gives the fum he has received for buying books. How many has he purchased? If he wishes for conviction, let him apply to Mr. Charnley, of whom they were to be bought; but that worthy man has fpoken for himself above. It is alfo faid that Mr. Ellifon has no right to attend, or that it would be cruel to make him, when none, or only one or two, come. To this only one reply is neceffary: he receives his falary; by fo doing, he makes it his duty to attend whether any come or not: if he does not attend, or send a fubititute, why receive the money? As to the old library room, if it was empty, it might be open to inquirers. But we would ask any of the trustees, Is it a crime to make it useful? Would it be "impudence," as one of thofe gentlemen has affirmed, in any public body putting it to a public ufe," until wanted for the library, if the librarian fuffers it to be wanted at all? But Mr. Hird allows that there are fome books there; the neceffity, then, for for its being opened, is obvious; and yet thefe clerical gentlemen are the first to raise the hue and cry of innovation, directing their anathemas at reformations! They fhould not vociferate the Io Paans of felf complacency to ftun the ears of those who, but for them, would hear the till finall voice that reformers would ufe in their own defence. The only effectual cure we can point out is, to have the catalogue printed, as at Bamborough Caftle, with the above codicil and the regulations; and if any money is wanted to defray the charge of printing, &c. Mr. Ellifon cannot better employ the balance of what he has received for buying books, than by aflifting fuch a publication with it. The falary is at prefent paid by a Mr. Bofville, in in the county of York; and the trustees, ex officio, are: Jofeph Forster, Efq. mayor of this town. Rev. J. D Carlyle, vicar of do. *Rev. Dr. Thorp, arch leacon of Northumberland. SECONDARY. *Rev. Dr. Thorp, rector of Ryton. *Rev. Dr. Proffer, rector of Gateshead. *Rev. Mr. Greville, Rector of Whickham. Thofe marked thus (*) were, in conjunction with Mr. Reed, the late mayor, applied to; but have not yet thought any reform neceflary. Dr. Tomlinfon died March 24, 1747. Sir W. C. Blackett died February 14, 1777. OTHER OTHER LIBRARIES. At the New Affembly-houfe there is a fubfcription news-room, upon a plan peculiarly liberal and acceptable. Here, befides the public journals of every kind, a confiderable number of books, particularly thofe illuftrative of the public tranfactions and events, and of the ftate of manners and literature at home and abroad, are purchased and preferved, and will one day form a very valuable library of the most popular productions, on all fides, upon the various interefting topics of difcuffion which, from time to time, have agitated the public mind. We cannot avoid mentioning the valuable circulating libraries of Mr. Sands, in the Bigg-market, and Mr. Humble, in Mofley-ftreet; in which, particularly the former, are upwards of twelve thoufand books, on every branch of fcience and literature. There is alfo a circulating-library in the Groatmarket, confifting chiefly of novels, belonging to Mrs. Chilton. CHA CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. The Manors, once the fite of the fumptuous priory of the St. Austin friars, contain feveral charitable inftitutions, among which is JESUS HOSPITAL. This well endowed afylum had originally the name as above, but it is now called the Town's Hofpital, or General Hospital, for the reception of the poor of the several parishes of the town. You afcend to it by ftairs from the ftreet, and then enter into a pleafant field, on the north fide of which is the faid hofpital. It is three ftories high, and the under ftory is adorned with piazzas, which are about fixty yards in length, and make a very agreeable walk. About the middle of the piazzas is the entrance into the fecond and third ftories; and over against this entrance is a fountain (very much beautified) for the ufe of the hofpital. It was founded for a master and thirty-nine poor freemen, or free men's widows. A. D. 1683, it was incorporated by the name of the Master, Brethren, and Sifters of the Hofpital of the Holy Jefus, founded in the Manors, in the town and county of Newcastle upon Tyne, at the charge of the mayor and burgeffes of that town, for the fupport, for ever, of poor impotent people, being freemen and freemen's widows, or their fons and daughters that had never been married. - Thomas Lewen, merchant, was appointed the first mafter, with thirty-nine others, to have power to fue fue and be fued, implead and be impleaded, purchafe and hold lands, and have a common feal, with a crof's graven thereon, and in the circumference, "Sigillum Hofpitalis Sancti Jefu in Novo Caftro." The mayor, aldermen, and common-council of Newcaftle for the time being, were appointed vifitors, and to give rules and laws to this hofpital. Thefe rules were drawn up and fealed in the year 1683. So benevolent an inftitution, ferving as a calm and peaceful retreat in a moft delightful fituation, foon experienced that the obfervation of St. James (ch. ii. v. 15) was inapplicable to their generous patrons: "If a brother or fifter be naked and deftitute of daily food, and one of you fay unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not thofe things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?"What indeed? The moft fubftantial fources of fupport for the Freemen's Hofpital are as follow. A. D. 1683, a meffuage, key or quay, and garden, in that ftreet called the Clofe, in Newcastle, was purchased by the mayor and burgeffes for feven hundred pounds, and fettled on the mafter, brethren and fifters of this hofpital. In the year 1683, an eftate at Edderly, in the county of Durham, was purchafed as above for one. thousand fix hundred and ten pounds, and fettled on the above mafter, &c. In 1685, an eitate at Whittell, in the county of Northumberland, was purcahfed as above for one thoufand three hundred pounds, for the fame charitable purpose. |