In the Report of the University Commission, which was issued in this
year, various suggestions were embodied which had been made by several
witnesses. Sir Edmund Head renewed his plan of allowing books to be
taken out of the Library by readers, and was supported by the opinions
of Professors Wall and Jowett; but the proposal was met with the strong
counter-testimony of Mr. H. E. Strickland[349], Prof. Vaughan, Dr. W. A.
Greenhill (at that time a constant reader in the Library), Prof. Donkin,
Mr. E. S. Foulkes, and others. And the Commissioners were not prepared
to report in favour of a plan which would at once lessen what was
described as being one of the great advantages of the place, namely, the
certainty of finding within its walls every book which it possessed. At
the same time, they were disposed to recommend a relaxation in some
instances of the strictness of the rule, and concurred in a suggestion
made by Dr. Macbride and Mr. Storey Maskelyne, that duplicates should be
allowed to circulate. Most, however, of the suggestions for extension of
facilities to readers, as well as of the reasons alleged for alteration
of system, have now been answered by the opening (through the liberality
of the Radcliffe Trustees) of the Radcliffe Library as a noble
reading-room for both day and evening. As the hours during which the
Library may be used extend now, in consequence of this addition, from
nine a.m. to ten p.m., it is at once apparent that the Bodleian presents
greater advantages to students than can anywhere else be enjoyed; to
which is to be added the readiness and quickness (specially testified
to, in 1852, by Dr. Greenhill) with which, under all ordinary
circumstances, readers are supplied with the books which they require.
The Commissioners in their Report called attention to a suggestion of
Sir Henry Bishop, then Professor of Music, for the establishment of a
classified musical library, which should comprehend, not merely the
music received by the Bodleian from Stationers' Hall, but all superior
foreign music as well, of every school and every age. Such collections
the Professor said were only to be found at Munich and Vienna.
The Report and Evidence upon the recommendations of the Commissioners,
which were issued by the Hebdomadal Board in the following year, did not
differ widely in testimony or suggestions from those of the Commission.
Dr. Pusey and Mr. Marriott agreed in deprecating the allowing removal of
books, speaking (as did several of the witnesses before the Commission)
from actual experience as constant readers in the place; and Dr.
Bandinel mentioned, in a paper of observations which he contributed, the
fact that he had been told by the Librarian of the Advocates' Library at
Edinburgh that between 6,000 and 7,000 volumes appeared to have been
lost there from the facilities afforded to borrowers. A comparative
tabular statement respecting the arrangements and rules of the libraries
at Berlin, Dresden, Florence, Munich, Paris and Vienna, drawn up by Mr.
Coxe from the Parliamentary Report on Libraries, which showed very
favourably in behalf of the Bodleian, was subjoined by Dr. Bandinel to
his evidence.
The great feature of this year was the acquisition of the Italian
Library of the Count Alessandro Mortara, consisting of about 1400
volumes, choice in character and condition, for £1000. The Count, who
was distinguished for his literary taste and knowledge of the literature
of his own country, had, although holding the nominal office of Grand
Chamberlain to the Duke of Lucca, taken up his abode in Oxford some ten
years previously, on account of his desire to examine the Canonici MSS.
and of his friendship with Dr. Wellesley, the late Principal of New Inn
Hall. He became a daily reader in the Bodleian, where the interest which
he took in the place, together with his polished, yet genuine, courtesy,
made him a welcome and popular visitor. It was upon returning to Italy
(where he died, June 14, 1855, at Florence), that he disposed of his
valuable collection. A catalogue, compiled by himself, with occasional
short notes, was issued with the purchase-catalogue for the year. He
also drew up a catalogue of the Italian MSS. in the Canonici collection,
which was published, in a quarto volume, in 1864. (See under 1817.)
Among miscellaneous purchases were a few volumes which were wanted to
make the Library set of De Bry's _Voyages_ complete, an imperfect copy
of the Oxford _Liber Festivalis_ (see 1691), and a large collection of
Dr. Priestley's writings (believed to have been made by himself), in
thirty-nine vols.
[349] Several important suggestions were made by this gentleman. One,
that the Library Books should all be stamped with a distinguishing mark,
is now in process of being carried out. Another, respecting the great
importance of collecting the most ephemeral local literature, especially
for the county of Oxford, and of procuring books printed at provincial
presses, relates to a subject which has received much more attention of
late years than formerly. A third, on the desirability, acknowledged (as
we have seen) in the last century, of having a general Catalogue
compiled of the books found in College Libraries which are wanting in
the Bodleian, has unfortunately as yet seen no accomplishment.