THE establishment of a Public Library in Victoria, supported by the State, and stamped with the characteristics of a National Institution, was made the subject of early consideration by our first governor, Mr. Latrobe. Fully impressed with the importance of the influence likely to arise from voluntary adult mental improvement, as well as of the intellectual and moral elevation to be created by a cultivation of the works of standard authors, he placed upon the Estimates of the year 1853, a sum of three thousand pounds (£3,000) for the purchase of books, and ten thousand pounds (£10,000) towards the erection of a suitable building to contain them. These sums were cheerfully voted by Parliament; and, recognising and approving the liberality of sentiment which originated the design, two further sums, equal in amount, were in the ensuing year generously pro. vided for the like purposes. |