PREFACE. UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA THE account of the ceremonies attending the dedication of the Public Library Building, contained in the following pages, has been prepared in compliance with an order of the City Council, approved by the Mayor on the fourth day of January, 1858. In the preparation of the body of the work and in superintending the passage of the whole through the press, the Committee, to whom the duty was assigned, are happy to acknowledge their indebtedness for valuable assistance to our fellow citizen, Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, M.D., who promptly and cordially acceded to their request that he would render such aid as his multiplied engagements might permit. His deserved reputation as an editor, especially his complete success in the preparation, for the City Council, of the "Franklin Statue Memorial," his unwearied attention to the interests of the Public Library, and to the details of its management, and the invaluable services rendered by him from its commencement, both as a Trustee 242528 TIMIA OL AMBORILIAD 4 PREFACE. and a Commissioner, seemed eminently to qualify him for the trust. Although the character and design of this publication are not such as to admit of a detailed history of the Public Library, yet it is hoped that the historical account offered in the appendix will be sufficient for the purpose of giving an intelligible outline of the steps by which that institution has been brought to its present flourishing condition. The engravings, which exhibit the various views of the building, are by Mr. John Andrew, from drawings by Mr. Hammatt Billings. The plans and sections are from the original working plans, reduced to a proper size for printing, by the architect. MAY, 1858. ·J.' A. P. |