Torrington Square, 18th May, 1846.
MY DEAR SIR,
I beg leave to acquaint you with what occurred to me to-day in the
Reading Room of the British Museum, thinking it a proper subject of
complaint.
At a few minutes after three o'clock, I wrote, according to the present
forms, for _five_ books. After half an hour four of them were brought
me. The fifth, viz. "Burchett's complete History of Transactions at
Sea," not having appeared, I spoke twice to Mr. Scott, who assured me
that he had often applied for it, and that on his last application he
was told that I had given a wrong Press-mark, which he had corrected. I
denied that I had given a wrong Press-mark. At _half-past four_ I again
asked for the book; and a strong observation having caused the gentleman
who succeeded Mr. Cates to attend to the matter, he ascertained that I
had given both the Title and the Press-mark _correctly_. A person then
came to me from the Library. His first excuse was, that though the
Press-mark and the Title were correctly given, I had erroneously quoted
the date! This was true; but I submit that when a Press-mark, and a
Title are correctly stated, the book ought to be forthcoming; or, at all
events, that some explanation should be afforded _before an hour and a
half_. I told him so; and his excuse then was, that _he_ had _only_ had
my ticket _half an hour_, and that he had sent me FOUR books! How far
this may be a justification it is for you to judge; and I leave the
facts without comment for your consideration,