The great Polish library of 7aluski has been already spoken of on more than one occasion. Its collector is one of tho most remarkable men in the annals of libraries. His incessant devotion to that great object—the collection of a public library, which he opened during his lifetime, and in which ho himself took his seat in the reading-room as one of the readers--inapires us, with respect, and makes us, regret that, according to the Poll/1h historian Lelewel, his method of obtaining books was often seriously objectionable. "Soso he bought," says Lelewel," some he acquired by exchange, some he extorted, and some he obtained surreptitiously." The result of his long and patriotic labour. wee, that his great Polish library, with not more than five Russian books; in it, was carried off to SL Petersburg. The best that can be said in extenuation of the act is, that in Poland itself the treat ment of libraries was anything but exemplary. Lelewel relates that in the Jagelion library of the university of Cracow, during the Austrian occupation, about 1800, the sparrowa built their nests in the piles of volumes, and that the librarian Przybylski called them his best assistant librarians, because they ate tho insects. The principal present libraries on the l'olish soil are, that of Lemberg, founded by Count Ossolinski, formerly director of tho imperial library of Vienna ; that of Posen, founded by Count Raczynski at his private expense for public use ; and that of Cracow. Among Russian libraries, tho imperial of St. Petereburg stands of course pre-eminent, and uow enjoys the full sun shine of imperial favour. In the year 1852 the Emperor Nicolas bought for it in a mass the library of the academician Pogodin, for which the sum of 150,000 ailver rubles, or 24,000E., was given. Tho library haring outgrown the building, a largo extension of it has been ordered, and tho works are in program Of the other libraries at St. Peteraburg, that of the Academy of Sciences, and of tho Rumianteov Museum, founded by Count Itumiantsov, are the most important, the former containing a splendid collection of Oriental manuscripts, partly acquired by the successes of the Russian arse in Persia. Though 3loscow possemes two libraries, one of the synod and another of the university, the deficiency of a public library is so much felt, that in 1859 the intention of founding one by subscription was under dire emission. The libraries of Kevin, Kiev, and Kharkov aro some of tho most Important of the provincial libraries, and a general activity respecting libraries now prevails in Russia, of which in a few years it may be expected to see the fruit& England has been a country whose condition with regard to libraries use decidedly in arrear of its general condition with regard to learning and literature. For centuries its capital was without a public library ; many of its towns and cities of a size and importance which would on the Continent ensure their possessing such an institution,are still with out one. While in some localities libraries were so distreaelngly deficient, In others they were witlessly numerous. With no collection of books beyond subscription libraries of moderate extent at Noweastle or Liverpool, twcuty or thirty were congregated at Oxford and Cambridge, where however they were never "introduced to each other," and drew no advantage from the proximity. One great objection existed to almost all this libraries of England—their inacces eibility In some cases+, their too limited accosaibility in general. A movement has now commenced in two directions: to collect in one locality a great tnonurnental librnry, such as may give to our authors and Inveitigatom advantages they have never enjoyed, but which for the advancement of sound literature are really indispensable; and to scatter all over the oountry collections of respectability and value, so as to provide for residents, in all parts raasonubfo access to sources of solid instruction. 1t is a groat thing that Ise much should have been done In England without dime appliances.
A separate article has been given In the English Cyclopedia to the British 3fuseum. No other cullection in the metropolis is of so much importance as some in tho provinces. Tho library of the London institution in Finsbury. Circus is an establishment at tho head of clam, once promising to become more numerous than it ever became —the proprietary libraries, set on foot by a union of shareholders, who, in addition to the purchase of the share, contribute an annual subscription, which defrays the going-on expenses of the establish ment. An enthusiasm for these valuable institutions was a pleasing feature at the commencement of the century ; the Royal Institution, the London, tho Russell, and the Surrey were established within a few years of each other, beginning with 1803. The library of the London ln.stitution was formed with admirable taste and judgment by extensive purchases at the sales of the 3Iarquis of Lansdowne and others in 1806 and subsequent years. As Professor Person was the librarian, it may
be supposed that German was not hi the ascendant, but in other modern literatures—French, Spanish, Italian—the collection is much richer than nsuaL By a liberal regulation, each shareholder or pro prietor is entitled to give admission to two readers; and the noble library-room of the London Institution, close to the city of London, but looking out on the trees and turf of the Circus, lugs been the scene in which the literary tastes and feelings of many a young fellow citizen of Milton have been imbibed or strengthened. Tho library contains 60,000 volumes ; but less money is annually expended on the books than on the lectures, which are one of the principal attractions in this as in most similar establishments. In the Royal Institution, founded before the London, in 1803, science has always been the most prominent feature ; and from its Laboratory the discoveries of Davy and Faraday have emanated, to spread through Europe. The library is reported to contain about 26,000 volumes. The Russell Institution is an establishment of the same kind, but of lees import ance. Two others of the class, the Surrey and the Aldersgate Street Institutions, have, after some years of prosperity, sunk and disappeared, a Lamentable proof that without permanent endowment such institu tions are liable to dissolution as well as decay. Persons have been known to purchase shares in an association of tide kind with the express purpose of proposing to break up the institution and divide the property, reckless of the detriment they might inflict on the literary .prospects of coming generations. In cases where the original spirit survived in the body of the members, such proposals have been rejected with the indignation they deserve.
Many associations of this kind exist in the suburbs of London, at Islington and elsewhere ; and the Mechanics Institutions, which were originally founded at Glasgow, but introduced to London in 1S23, may be regarded as a humbler form of the same kind of establishment. The " London Library," in St. James'a Square, has a somewhat dif ferent character. The London Library is, in fact, a proprietary circu lating library, while the London Institution and others of its class aro proprietary reading-rooms. The libraries of the Clubs--another series of proprietary libmrice—are in appearance some of tho most splendid rooms in London, and aro in some cases remarkable for the intrinsic value as well as for the firm condition of their volumes. The library of the Atheneum contains, for instance, a good collection of English history.
The libraries of the learned societies, and of the inns of court, are in many instances of considerable importance, and in some not exclusively of a professional or limited character. That of the Royal Society, lately removed to Burlington House, stands at the head, with 50,000 volume& The Antiquarian, the Geographical, the Royal Asiatic, and the Linnman societies have collections which comprise tunny valuable works, but which, in some cases, are almost wholly made up of donations or exchanges, and it would be vain under those circum stances to expect completeness. Tho libraries of the lima of court are differently situated, and more than one of them bee lately been the object of liberal expenditure. Tho library of Lincoln's Inn, is the oldest In London, its foundation dating from 1497, but the noble edifice in which it stands was only erected in 1845, on what was formerly a portion of the gardens. It has been made the repository of a greatly extended collection of books, not only of English, but of American, colonial, and foreign law, amounting, when Mr. Spilsbury the librarian published an account of it in 1856, to 27,000 printed books and 700 manuscripts. A new building is now erecting for the library of the Middle Temple. rendered necessary by the recent enlargement of the collection. There are two libraries in London chiefly intended for the clerical profession, but of a more public character than most of those which have been enumerateL The library of Sion College, in London Wall, of which all the incumbents of benefices in the city of London aro fellow& was founded as far back as 1630, when, on the Rev. John White building a row of almshouses on the usual one-story plan, it struck one of his friends that the space above them, otherwise thrown away, would afford an excellent opportunity for building a library, without any expense for ground, and the notion was carried out. The collection is said to amount to 40,000 volumes, and admiseion can be granted by any Fellow of the college or by the librarian. The Dissenters' library, In Redcroas Street, founded by Dr. Williams, is of about half tho number of volumes and of still more easy access.