British Museum, May 25th, 1846.
MY DEAR SIR,
I have to acknowledge your letter of yesterday, and as, do what I may, I
cannot prevail upon you to reduce to a definite and tangible shape the
vague and serious charges which you have volunteered against me, I must
have patience, and wait till you bring them before the "higher
authority" of which you speak; when, as you foresee, I may show that I
am "not answerable for all," though you, with characteristic fairness,
have begun by supposing that I was.
The only one of your charges, about which you venture to come to
something like particulars,--that relating to the Press-marks, &c.--I
cannot avoid showing to be utterly "groundless;" and I am confident that
you will agree with me in spite of your unfavourable opinion, which I
persist in thinking "of a recent date."
"The great object of a Public library is despatch in procuring books.
This can only be secured by _perspicuity_ in describing them. In my
humble judgment no better mode could possibly be devised for obtaining
any particular work than the printed tickets which I suggested in 1837,
and which are now in use. By specifying the Titles from the Catalogue,
and copying from it the _Press-marks_, the applicant can at once
identify the particular edition or copy of an edition which he requires.
The importance of this to a critical student is obvious; and I cannot
show the utility of the new system more forcibly than by appealing to
your own experience, which will bear me out in saying that readers have
often--before the introduction of those tickets--been assured that a
book was not in the Museum, though they had themselves referred to it
only a few days before. The requisition to insert the Titles and
Press-marks on the tickets is not merely reasonable, but it is
indispensible, if the Library is to be conducted with satisfaction to
the Public and to the Librarians. If people will not take the trouble to
comply with rules, which, so far from being vexatious, are absolutely
necessary for their own comfort, they can have no right to complain. The
fault is _theirs_, if mistakes or delay ensue; and it is as absurd as it
is unjust to impute the effect of their own ignorance or carelessness to
the Officers of the Museum."[A]
I thank you for your candour in acquainting me, "that the opinion which
you entertain about Press-marks and the delay in obtaining printed books
is shared by every literary man to whom you have spoken." To be as
candid with you, I beg to say that the experience of every one who has
been heard speak of the Museum has convinced him of the great
improvements which have taken place since my last appointment. I now beg
that you will do me the favour to give me your authority for your
assertion; I shall be most happy to give you mine, for one so directly
at variance with yours. I am, &c.