Torrington Square, 24 May, 1846.
MY DEAR SIR,
I am favoured with your letter of yesterday. As you have referred our
correspondence to the Trustees, and as my letters advert to those
arrangements in your Department, which I consider detrimental to the
Public, it is possible that I may be requested by the Trustees to state
my objections more fully, when you will have an opportunity of answering
them. If, however, the Trustees do not do so, you may be assured that
you shall have ample information on the subject.
To enter into a personal discussion with a gentleman who is so perfectly
satisfied of the propriety of his own measures, as to invite it, only
that he may prove my objections to them "groundless;" and who, when
complained to of a flagrant act of neglect in his Department, thought
proper to justify it,--would manifestly be an utter waste of time. There
must be an appeal to a higher authority: and which is the more necessary
because you may not be answerable for all, though you certainly are for
much, of what seems to be improper in your Department.
You are mistaken in supposing that my unfavourable opinion on those
points is of a "_recent_ date." My sentiments respecting "Press-marks,"
&c. have long been entertained and expressed. I have also long thought
that the delay in completing the catalogue was unjustifiable; but not
having carefully examined its plan until a few weeks ago, or been
acquainted with your last reports, I was not aware of its imperfections
until lately.
It is candid to acquaint you that the opinions which I entertain about
"Press-marks," and the delay in obtaining printed books are shared by
every literary man to whom I have spoken; that no one can account for
the delay in completing the catalogue; and that none approve of its
plan. The general feeling appears to be similar to my own,--namely, that
the effect of the system you have introduced is to keep all the
_working_ part of literary men out of the Library until they are
_actually compelled to refer to it_.
You must admit that this question is one of deep interest to literature:
and as I do not imagine that you _desire_ or _intend_ to produce such
results, I may, without any personal offence, presume to think that you
have made some serious mistakes.
Believe me, &c.