"_Per Curiam_,

"LODGE." [i.e., Nehemiah Lodge, Town Clerk].

The Minute Book which finishes on April 3rd, 1733, is silent regarding
these new regulations, but Benjamin Mackerell (Librarian of the City
Library from 1724 to 1731) writing in 1737 shewed that they did not
result in improving the management of the Library:

"For some few years it has been a Lending Library and some persons
have had books two or three years together contrary to an order to
the contrary. Here is no salary given by the city for anyone to take
care and the charge of the books upon him only the keys thereof are
left at the house of the Clark of St. Andrews Parish, and any man may
be admitted that will but give him twelve-pence a quarter, but unless
the Corporation would be at the expence of a salary for any sober
discreet person to take the charge of the said books upon himself and
have the sole custody of them, and pecuniary mulcts inflicted upon
such as break the orders already made, there is little hopes of
keeping the books there, or in any good order long together, besides
this is also made use of upon the account of the trustees for the
Charity Schools who frequently meet here, notwithstanding there are
so many more convenient rooms in the said hall. Especially that in
which the Grand Jury meet in at every Assizes. Persons may borrow
two books out of this Library at a time but ought not to keep them
above one month without giving notice to the Library keeper." {13a}

Mackerell's remarks, and the fact that the Minute Book was not filled,
seem to indicate that the Library was neglected for some years. On
September 21st, 1801, the Assembly complied with the request of the
Committee of a subscription library, with the misnomer "Public Library"
(established in 1784 in St. Andrew's Hall) by granting them leave "to
have the use of the books in the City Library, to be kept under the care
of their Librarian apart from other books, the President giving a receipt
for the safe return of the same on demand." {13b} The City Committee
reported to the Assembly in 1805 "that the books in the City Library have
not of late been carefully preserved, that some valuable works have been
mutilated and others lost or mislaid." {13c} The Assembly thereupon
rescinded the order of September 21st, 1801, requested the Pr