greatest care in protecting them, but the contents of a good book never perish; they pass into the mental crucible and are reproduced. The form of expression may change, but the spirit and essence are indestructible. To whatever heights human knowledge and the product of human thought have attained, once enshrined in a printed book they become the inheritance of all the ages. Through our voices this morning the great city of Manchester conveys to Mrs. Rylands its profound gratitude for her noble gift, its high appreciation of the form her sagacious judgment has adopted, which, while continuing to a remote posterity the memory of her late husband, will add lustre to the city in which his long, diligent and honourable life was passed. When the chief captain learned that Paul was a free Roman citizen he exclaimed: "With a great sum obtained I this freedom". No "great sum" will ever purchase the freedom of the city of Manchester, but when its citizens consider what is the highest honour they can pay to those they hold worthiest the conferring of the freedom of the city is now, and ever will be, the expression of their highest regard; and it is with this sentiment in our minds to-day that we ask Mrs. Rylands to allow us to enrol her name among the very few upon whom this distinction has been conferred.

The Lord Mayor then, amid loud applause, handed the casket containing the scroll to Mrs. Rylands.

Mrs. RYLANDS made the following reply, which was read by her brother, Mr. J. L. Tennant: My Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen,-It is not my intention to make a speech, but as it would be repugnant to my feelings to remain silent, you will, I am sure, pardon me if I speak briefly. I wish simply in as few words as possible to thank you, and I do it most heartily, for the great honour you have conferred upon me in presenting me with the freedom of your great city. It was certainly a surprise to me when I became aware that you had it in contemplation to pay me this honour. I had never thought of public recognition of myself for this private work, which is designed as a memorial to my husband. It has been the delightful interest of the past ten years to watch its growth, and to-day that my object is fulfilled, and I see the library opened, I have only to add my earnest hopes that every expectation for good that it has ever raised may be fulfilled. In my affection the city of Manchester must always hold an unique place, inasmuch as it is the city with which my husband's life was most intimately associated, and it is for this reason, as you all know, that I have chosen to place here, in Manchester, this library bearing his name. And when I use the word city, I use it in the widest sense, that is to say, as applying to the city in all its manifold activities and life. These activities, and this many-sided life-literary and educational, mercantile, professional and industrial, and lastly, what I regard as first in importance, religiousI have endeavoured to associate in the government of this library. Nor have I forgotten the part which Manchester has played in the past, will, I hope, play in the future, in the life of the country at large, and more especially in that of the north of England. For this reason I have also associated in the government of this library certain bodies which are not local (such as the National Council of the Free Churches), and certain others which, though not exclusively local, have here the centre of their life (such as the Victoria University). Once again, my Lord Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, I express to you my hearty thanks for all the kind things you have expressed, and I repeat my deep acknowledg ment of the honour you have done me, and which I shall always hold

as a treasured remembrance.

and

Mrs. Rylands then signed the roll of burgesses amid enthusiastic applause.

The company afterwards adjourned to the large hall, where luncheon

was served to about 350 guests. The Lord Mayor presided, having Mrs. Rylands on his right hand.

After the customary loyal toasts had been proposed and loyally honoured the Lord Mayor proposed the toast of the day : "The health of the recipients of the freedom of the city". He said that practically from the laying of the first stone to the last stone of the library, Mrs. Rylands had superintended the erection of the building. He could not conceive a work which could more commend itself to the citizens than the one which Mrs. Rylands had carried out.

Mr. W. LINNELL, in responding on behalf of Mrs. Rylands, said Mrs. Rylands had been sustained and animated by a desire to make the John Rylands Library a memorial to her late husband worthy of a good man and of the city in which he spent so long and so successful a career. To those who knew the late Mr. Rylands and the direction which his philanthropy took-or rather, he would say, the direction which afforded him the most pleasure-this decision of Mrs. Rylands to erect, equip and endow a public library, rich in theological, classical, biographical and other works, would seem a decision that was peculiarly appropriate. It was a great gratification to Mrs. Rylands to-day to know that the outcome of her decision had met with such warm approval. That approval was enhanced in value by the fact that it emanated from a body of gentlemen eminently distinguished for their public spirit, foresight and desire to carry out the educational and commercial undertakings that had raised this great centre of industry to such a proud and enviable position among the cities of this country. It was but the barest justice to say that Mrs. Rylands had all along desired that this work should be carried on in a quiet and unostentatious way. He would like to say that with her this had not been a matter in which a rich person had said, "Here is so much money to spend; spend it"; and who then had left it. Mrs. Rylands had herself from the very beginning taken the keenest interest, had devoted almost all her time, almost all her thought, to this great work. She had not only done this as regarded the building and its arrangements, but also in regard to the selection of treasures that were to be found within the walls of the library. The more these treasures attracted students and scholars and men of learning, the more that this library added to the dignity and importance of this city, the more would Mrs. Rylands feel repaid for the time and thought and money which she had expended on the John Rylands Library. She would feel that she had erected in our midst a memorial worthy and enduring of the great man who was her husband.

Conversazione at the Library.

In the evening there was a conversazione at the library. The guests, who numbered about 1000, were received by Mrs. Rylands. Music was provided by the band of the Royal Artillery, under the conductorship of Cavaliere L. Zavertal. The exquisite work of the interior of the building was seen to great advantage under the brilliant installation of the electric light, and the exhibition of some 200 of the chief treasures which had been arranged for the occasion in various parts of the building, added greatly to the enjoyment of the guests.

THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY OF MANCHESTER CONFERRED ON DR. RICHARD

ΤΗ

CHRISTIE.

COPLEY

HE name of Mrs. Rylands was not the only one added to the list of the honorary citizens of Manchester on the 6th of October last. Another distinguished member of the Library Association, Dr. Richard Copley Christie, who filled the presidential chair in 1889, and who has from the foundation of the Association displayed the keenest interest in its welfare, was honoured by having his name added to the civic roll.

It was deeply to be regretted that Dr. Christie, who for some time past has been confined to his Surrey home by lingering and painful illness, was unable to be present on that historic occasion to receive the distinction which the city of Manchester has conferred upon him.

The resolution of the Council conferring the freedom on Dr. R. C. Christie ran as follows:

"That the members of this Council desire to express their opinion that the powers accorded to them by law for the recognition of eminent services would be fittingly exercised by conferring upon Richard Copley Christie, Esquire, M.A., LL.D., the freedom of the city-the highest distinction which it is their privilege to bestow. Mr. Christie has been long known as a useful and honoured citizen of Manchester, and was the respected Chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester for twenty-one years, from 1872 to 1893. Educated at Lincoln College, Oxford, he early brought his learning to bear upon the classes of the then recently established Owens College as Professor of History, Political Economy, Jurisprudence and Law; and, at a time of apparent apathy, his energy, zeal and learning did very much to raise the college to a higher level, and to give it an impetus from which it has never receded. When he ceased to be a professor and became a Governor of the College, he brought his great qualities to bear in widening the curriculum of that institution, till it became fit to aspire to university distinction; and to his advice and action success was largely due in the obtaining of a charter for the Victoria University and its location at Manchester. The College received many valuable gifts of money which he and his co-legatees of the late Sir Joseph Whitworth made to it, and it now owes to him the Whitworth Hall, which is in course of erection. But the college is also indebted to him for a most precious personal gift that of a handsome building-to be known henceforth as the Christie Library, in which Mr. Christie's own books will find a permanent home. In addition to these special gifts to the Owens College, the city has benefited by Mr. Christie's action as a joint legatee of Sir Joseph Whitworth in the gift of the Whitworth Park and Galleries, and their partial endowments; the site of the Technical School, money to the School of Art, land and money in aid of the erection of the Openshaw Branch Free Library and Public Hall, and the Whitworth Baths. He also joined in dedicating Stanley Grove to the beneficent purpose of hospital ac

commodation. The Cancer Pavilion and Home for the reception of patients suffering from cancer, and for the study and treatment of that malignant disease, was originated by him, and has received his warmest sympathy and generous support. Mr. Christie is president of two of the literary societies-the venerable Chetham Society and the more modern Record Society. He has enriched literature by compositions of his own, and in ways too numerous to mention he has shown his deep interest in the welfare and social happiness of the citizens of Manchester. The Council, in recognition of these and other eminent services which he has rendered to this city, do hereby, in pursuance of the Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act, 1885, confer upon the said Richard Copley Christie, Esquire, the honorary freedom of the city of Manchester, and hereby admit him to be an honorary freeman of the city of Manchester accordingly."

The LORD MAYOR, on rising to move the resolution, said: You will all regret with me that Mr. Christie through ill-health is unable to be present here to-day to receive the freedom of the city. Mr. Christie was for many years one of Manchester's most honoured citizens, and for over twenty years Chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester. During his career in Manchester he worked zealously and earnestly to raise to a high level the educational movements at Owens College, and the College is to-day deeply indebted to Mr. Christie for many munificent acts. In conjunction with Mr. Darbishire, he has liberally administered the trust of the late Sir Joseph Whitworth. He has initiated the erection and completion of many public buildings, including the Whitworth Institute. It will afford me great pleasure to personally attend at Mr. Christie's house to hand the casket, and express to him your good wishes.

Mr. Alderman THOMPSON, upon whom devolved the honour of seconding the resolution, said: Mr. Richard Copley Christie passed first class in Law and History at Oxford, in 1853, and was appointed a Professor at Owens College in 1854, taking the chairs as the College could afford-namely, that of History (1854), Political Economy (1855), Jurisprudence and Law the same year. He was Chancellor of the Diocese of Manchester from 1872-93. He was President of the Record Society (1883-95), of the Library Association (1889), and has been President of the Chetham Society since 1884. He is the author of several works for the Chetham and Record Societies, and of reviews and articles in the principal quarterly and monthly magazines; but he is principally known as an author by his biography of Etienne Dolet, scholar and poet, author and printer, and martyr under condemnation of the Church of the French Renaissance. In the preface to this book Mr. Christie says he does not anticipate that the public will ever call for a second edition. It is a most interesting circumstance that on this day of rejoicing, when his fellow-citizens are showing honour to him, a second edition of the biography, revised and corrected by the author, is being issued to the public. From the time when called to the Bar until his retirement in 1876, Mr. Christie had a large practice at the Manchester sittings of the Chancery Court of the County Palatine, and for some years he presided in the Second Court of the Salford Hundred Quarter Sessions. But it is more on account of his public works and acts of benevolence that we are here to-day to do honour to him. For some years he was a deputy treasurer of the Infirmary, and took an active part in its management. The present constitution and rules of the Infirmary were prepared jointly by Mr. Christie and Sir Joseph Heron. He was for many years Chairman of the Clinical Hospital Committee, Chairman of the Portico, and a member of the governing bodies of the Hulme Trust, Granby Row Schools, Ashley

Lane Schools, Education Aid Society, the various societies connected with the Diocese of Manchester, and is now President of the Cancer Pavilion and Home, that admirable institution established to receive patients sufering from cancer, and where the origin and progress of that feil disease is studied in the hope that some means may be discovered of curing it and of preventing its growth. Mr. Christie-I am giving this at Mr. Christie's request-married Mary Heien, daughter of Mr. Samuel Fletcher, a greatly esteemed merchant, who, by his generosity, supported many valuable institutions, and by his example and wise counsel cheered and encouraged toilers in charitable and self-sacrificing enterprises. Mrs. Christie has always taken the deepest interest in the various charities of Manchester, and continues to do so-and may be regarded as the founder of the cancer hospital and its generous supporter, her husband ever helping her in this good work. While Mr. Christie shared with Mr. Darbishire and Lady Whitworth so long as she lived the administration of Sir Joseph Whitworth's estate, and sympathised with the foundation of the Whitworth Park and Institute, for which Mr. Darbishire must be considered the special founder, and also with the contribution that the legatees were able to make to the Manchester Technical School, yet, as chairman of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Co. from the death of Sir Joseph until the amalgamation of the company with Armstrong's, Mr. Christie felt special interest in Openshaw, and was particularly gratified at being able to apply considerable sums from Sir Joseph's estate to the foundation of the baths, library and municipal buildings there, and subsequently to join with Mr. W. J. Crossley in giving the open space in or near Ashton Old Road, Openshaw. But it is of his connection with Owens College that I want to speak especially. He became a Professor of the College some three or four years after it was opened. Starting with a fair number of students, it afterwards witnessed a relapse, and it was in a large measure owing to Mr. Christie's sound advice and untiring energy that the College began its more prosperous life, which has steadily increased to the present time. When Mr. Christie retired from professorial work his interest in the College took another form, and in conjunction with the two other legatees of Sir Joseph Whitworth, the College received large sums of money for the engineering laboratory, the museum, the College Hospital Estate, and for general purposes, and latterly ten acres of land at Fallowfield for athletic exercises. After the death of Lady Whitworth the legatees devoted the funds at their command severally rather than jointly. We have heard of Mr. Darbishire's deep interest in and of his wide generosity to the Whitworth Park and picture gallery; the devisees of Lady Whitworth are also doing their own work, and to Mr. Christie the Owens College owes the noble hall-the Whitworth Hall-which is now being built. I should say that the Whitworth Hall will cost at least £50,000. But to Mr. Christie's own personal and private generosity the College owes the beautiful building henceforth to be known as the Christie Library-erected at a cost of over £21,000. Here the books forming Mr. Christie's private library will find their final resting place. The burgess roll that is to be presented with the casket is illuminated with Mr. Christie's arms and motto, Sic viresco-" So I grow strong". Alas, that this cannot apply to our friend's physical condition. Pain and weakness wear out the day and drive sleep away at night. How gladly should we hear of a return to vigorous health and a brighter life; but if the mortal part of the man grows feebler his motto will be true as to his acts and deeds-they will follow him, and for generations to come his benevolence will grow stronger and stronger in the blessings which he has brought to a struggling scholar or to a diseased and helpless sufferer. I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution.