Hear his words: 66 From my infancy I was passionately fond of reading, and all the money that came into my hands was laid out in purchasing books. I was very fond of voyages. My first acquisition was Bunyan's Works, in separate little volumes. I afterward sold them, to enable me to buy R. Burton's Historical Collections. They were small Chapman's books, and cheap; forty volumes in all. My father's little library consisted chiefly of books in polemic divinity, most of which I read. I have often regretted, [and this is a sentence that might be inscribed on the lofty cornice of this noble hall,] that, at a time when I had such a thirst for knowledge, more proper books had not fallen in my way. . . . There was among them Plutarch's Lives, which I read abundantly, and I still think that time spent to great advantage. There was also a book of Defoe's, called an Essay on Projects," and another of Dr. Mather's, called an Essay to do Good, which" did what, sir?-for I am now going to give you, in Franklin's own words (they carry with them the justification of every dollar expended in raising these walls,) the original secret of his illustrious career-what was the effect produced by reading these two little books of Defoe and Cotton Mather? They perhaps gave me a turn of thinking, which had an influence on some of the principal future events of my life."

6

Yes, sir, in the reading of those books was the acorn, that sprouted into that magnificent oak; there was the fountain-drop, which a fairy might sip from a buttercup, from which has flowed the Missouri and the Mississippi-the broad, deep river of Franklin's fame, winding its way through the lapse of ages, and destined to flow on, till it shall be ingulfed in the ocean of eternity. From his "infancy," sir, passionately fond of reading; nay, with the appetite of a vulture, with the digestion of an ostrich, attacking the great folios of polemic divinity in his father's library. Not a dull boy, either, sir; not a precocious little book-worm; fond of play; doesn't dislike a little mischief; sometimes, as he tells us, "led the other boys into scrapes; " but in his intervals of play, in his leisure moments, up in the lonely garret, when the rest of the family were asleep, holding converse in his childhood with the grave old non-conformists, Howe, and Owen, and Baxtercommuning with the austerest lords of thought; the demigods of puritanism-

Non sine diis animosus infans.

Franklin not a book-man? Why, he goes on to tell us that it was "this bookish inclination which at length determined his father to make him a printer," against his own inclination, which was for the sea; and when he had thus by constraint become a printer, his great consolation was, as he says, that "I now had access to better books. An acquaintance with the apprentices of booksellers enabled me sometimes to borrow a small one, which I was careful to return soon and clean. Often I sat up in my chamber reading the greatest part of the night, when the book was borrowed in the evening and to be returned in the morning, lest it should be found missing."

Then he made the acquaintance of Mr. Matthew Adams, an ingenious, sensible man, "who had a pretty collection of books." He frequented the printing office, took notice of the bright little apprentice, and "very kindly proposed to lend me such books as I chose to read." Having taken to a vegetable diet at the age of sixteen, he persuaded his brother to allow him in cash half the price of his board, lived upon potatoes and hasty pudding, soon found that he could save half even of that little allowance, (which could not have exceeded two-and-sixpence a week, lawful money,) and this poor little economy "was an additional fund for buying books." What would the poor, under-fed boy, who was glad to buy books on the savings of his potato diet, have said, could he have had free access to a hall like this, stored as it soon will be with its priceless treasures? Further, sir, while working as a journeyman in England, he says, "I made the acquaintance of one William Wilcox, a bookseller, whose shop was next door. He had au immense collection of second-hand books; "-(somewhat, I suppose, like our friend Burnham, in Cornhill ;)—" circulating libraries were not then in use, but we agreed that, upon certain reasonable terms, which I have now forgotton, I might take, read, and return any of his works. This I esteemed a great advantage, and I made as much use of it as I could."

We have never seen Defoe's "Essay on Projects," or the man or woman who had. The Essay is not contained in our edition of Defoe's Works, in twenty volumes.

Finally, sir, as I have already said, Franklin's first important movement for the good of his fellow-men was the foundation of the public library in Philadelphia. At his instance, the members of a little club, to which he belonged, tradesmen and mechanics of narrow means, threw into common stock the few books which belonged to them. A subscription was obtained from fifty young men, principally tradesmen, of two pounds each, and ten shillings per annum, and with this little fund they began. "The books were imported, the library was opened one day in the week for lending them to the subscribers, on their promissory notes to pay double the value if not duly returned." "This was the mother," says Franklin, "of all the North American subscription libraries, now so numerous. It has become a great thing itself, and continually goes on increasing. These libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans, made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries, and, perhaps, have contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges."

No, sir; if there is one lesson more than another directly deducible from the life of Franklin, it is the close connection of a thoroughly practical and useful life and career with books, libraries, and reading. If there is a thing on earth which would have gladdened his heart, could he have anticipated it, it would be the knowledge that his native city, in two generations after his death, would found a library like this, to give to the rising generation, and to the lovers of knowledge of every age, that access to books of which he so much felt the want. And could it be granted to him, even now, to return to his native city, which dwelt in his affections to the close of his life, his first visit would be to the center of the ancient burial-ground, where, in after life, he dutifully placed a marble slab on the graves of his parents; his second visit would be to the spot in Milk street where he was born; his third to the corner of Union and Hanover street, where he passed his childhood, in a house still standing; his fourth visit would be to the site of the free grammar school-house, where, as he says in his will, he received "his first instruction in literature," and which is now adorned with the statue which a grateful posterity has dedicated to his memory; and his last and longest would be to this noble hall, where you are making provision for an ample supply of that reading of which, "from his infancy, he was passionately fond."

The shades of evening are falling around us; those cressets, which lend us their mild and tasteful illumination, will soon be extinguished; and the first day of the new year, rich in the happy prospects we now inaugurate, will come to a close. May the blessing of Heaven give effect to its largest anticipations! A few more days-a few more years-will follow their appointed round, and we, who now exchange our congratulations on this magnificent new year's gift of our City Fathers, will have passed from the scene; but firm in the faith that the growth of knowledge is the growth of sound principles and pure morals, let us not doubt, that, by the liberality of the City Government and of our generous benefactors at home and abroad, a light will be kindled and go forth from these walls, now dedicated to the use of the FREE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, which will guide our children and our children's children in the path of intelligence and virtue, till the sun himself shall fall from the heavens.

After reading the extracts from Franklin's "Autobiography," Mr. Everett added:

In your presence, Mr. Mayor, and that of this vast assembly, on this first of January, 1858, I offer this copy of Franklin's "Autobiography," in Spark's edition, as a new year's gift to the Boston Public Library. Nay, sir, I am going to do more, and make the first, and perhaps the last, motion ever made in this hall; and that is, that every person present, of his own accord, if of age-with the consent of parent or guardian, if a minor-man, woman, boy, or girl, be requested, on going home, to select one good book, and, in memory of the poor boy, who half-fed himself to gratify his taste for reading, present it as a new year's gift to the Boston Public Library.

In consequence of this motion, many books (over 1400 in one month,) were received in the library, as donations.

VIII. JOSHUA BATES.

[BY PROF. TICKNOR, in Appleton's "New Encyclopedia."]

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JOSHUA BATES, whose munificent and unconditional donation of fifty thousand dollars to the city of Boston, in behalf of a Free Public Library, gave the decisive and guiding impulse to that enterprise, was born at Weymouth, in 1788-the only son of Col. Joshua Bates. He received his early education from the Rev. Jacob Norton, who gladly rendered this service to the most considerable among his rishioners. At the age of fifteen, however, and only a short time before the death of his father, the young man entered the countinghouse of William R. Gray, Esq., an accomplished man of business in Boston, where he received his first training in affairs, and where he, at once, showed not only a remarkable capacity for commerce, in its widest and most generous extent, but a singular facility for acquring the knowledge needful for a commercial career. There he soon attracted the notice and regard of Mr. Gray's father, afterward lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts, and, during the middle and all the latter portion of his life, the leading merchant of New England. Into his employment Mr. Bates soon passed, and even before he had attained his majority was much trusted by both father and son, in difficult and large affairs. But troublesome times soon came; the embargo, the non-intercourse, and the war with England. Mr. Gray, who usually had, at least, forty square-rigged vessels afloat, suffered from frequent captures, made both by France and England, and dispatched Mr. Bates to the north of Europe, to protect his interests there complicated in themselves, and much disturbed by the course and consequences of the war. This brought him into relations with some of the great commercial and banking houses of Europe, espe cially those of the Hopes and the Barings; and, having the control of Mr. Gray's affairs all over Europe, for several years after the peace, he was lead to a connection so free and intimate with them, that they too became aware, as Mr. Gray had long been, of his remarkable talent and judgment in whatever related to the commerce of the world.

In the year 1826, through the influence of Messrs. Baring Brothers & Co., he formed a house in London, in connection with Mr. John Baring, son of Sir Thomas Baring, under the firm of Bates & Baring.

On the death of the late Mr. Holland, these gentlemen were both made partners in the house of Baring Brothers & Co., of which Mr. Bates has ever since been an active and efficient member, and to which his uncommon abilities, knowledge, and judgment have given not a little of the power it now exercises over the greater interests both of Europe and of America. On one occasion, at least, this action has been direct and official. For when, in the year 1854, a commission was arranged, with full powers to make a final settlement of all claims from citizens of the United States on the British government, and from subjects of Great Britain against the United States, but chiefly for spoliations committed during the war of 1812-14, Mr. Bates, under the provisions of the treaty, was appointed umpire between the English and the American commissioners, in all cases where they should disagree. The position was an honorable and delicate one, involving not only great pecuniary interests of individuals, but the feelings of the respective countries toward each other, which might easily have been roused by imputations of injustice or unfairness. The two commissioners, as had been foreseen, often disagreed. Mr. Bates decided between them, plainly, promptly, and faithfully; and it is enough to say of his decisions, that the voice of complaint regarding them has not been heard in either of the countries between which he was thus called to hold the balance.

While he was yet a young clerk in Boston, and living at a distance from his family and its resources, he was eager, as he always had been at home, to improve himself by severe self-culture. He sought, therefore, on all sides, for good books and for a good public library. Neither was easily to be had. There was, at that time, hardly an institution in New England deserving the name of a public library, and certainly none that was accessible to him or to any young man in Boston, whose position was like his. The books, indeed, he got, and so laid the foundations for his future success; but he never has ceased to remember the difficulties he encountered in obtaining them. When, therefore, in 1852, he chanced, by a mere accident, to read the official report of a plan for establishing a free public library in the city of Boston, he was struck with the project as one which, if it could be carried out in the spirit in which it had been conceived, would be of permanent benefit to the city, and especially to the young men there who might be situated as he had been, above forty years earlier. He determined, therefore, at once, that such a project should not fail for want of means, and wrote immediately to the mayor of Boston, offering to contribute $50,000 toward its success, annexing no conditions to his munificence, except that the income of his fund

should annually be spent in the purchase of good books, of permanent value and authority, and that the city should always provide comfortable accommodations for their use, both day and evening, by at least one hundred readers. Nor did he stop there. As soon as a suitable building was undertaken, he began to send books for it in no stinted numbers; so that, when its halls were dedicated, January 1, 1858, between 20,000 and 30,000 volumes, over and above all that had previously been purchased by the resources of his fund, were waiting to be placed on its shelves. His wise beneficence, therefore, which gave the decisive and guiding impulse to this important institution, and which still continues to foster and enlarge it, will, in all future time, render the city of Boston his grateful debtor, and preserve, through the successive generations of its people, a fresh recollection of the large space he filled in the interests of the stirring age in which he

has lived.

Mr. Bates was married, in 1813, to Lucretia Augusta, of the Boston branch of the Sturgis family, by whom he has only one surviving child, Madame Van de Weyer, wife of the eminent statesman, who has more than once been called to administer the government of Belgium, and who is now its representative at the court of St. James.