e "Public Library" with the
City Library was removed to a new building opposite the north door of the
Guildhall, on the site of the present Norfolk and Norwich Subscription
Library.

Ostensibly the City Library was adequately cared for by the "Public
Library," but in reality it was greatly neglected. At a meeting of the
Council on July 10th, 1856, the Town Clerk read a report from the City
Library Committee, stating that they had inspected the books of the City
Library, and "considered them in a very disorderly and dirty condition,
that they could not be compared with the catalogue till they were
re-arranged. They recommended that a grant of 25 pounds should be made
for the rearrangement of the books, and that Mr. Langton [the Librarian]
be employed for that purpose." {15b} In the discussion that ensued Mr.
Ling said some of the books "were lying on the floor, damaged by dust and
cobwebs, and an extremely valuable manuscript of Wickliffe's Bible was in
a bad state." {15c} Mr. Brightwell suggested that the City Library would
be a capital foundation for the Free Library, and the matter was referred
back for the consideration of the City Library Committee. Those
interested in the "Public Library" strove hard to retain the City
Library, and on November 20th, 1856, the following memorial signed by the
President was presented to the Council and discussed:--

To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Norwich, in Council
assembled. {15d} The Memorial of the Committee of the Norwich Public
Library

Sheweth,--That at a quarterly assembly of the Corporation, held June
19th, 1815, a certain Report of the Library Committee was agreed to,
and consent given for the city books to be taken to the Public
Library under the direction of the same Committee.

That your memorialists have learned with deep regret that it is
contemplated to apply to the Council for power to remove the city
books to the Free Library.

That upon the faith of their tenure of these books, as long as the
conditions imposed were satisfactorily complied with, various sums of
money, to a considerable amount, have from time to time been expended
by your memorialists from the funds of the Public Library in their
preservation.

That the books of the City Library have been embodied in the
catalogues of 1825 and 1847, under the same scientific arrangement as
the books which are the property o