An Address delivered by the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, as President of the Library Associa- tion, at the Opening of the i7th Annual Meet- ing at Belfast, September 4th, 1894. TV /T Y Lord Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, When the Library
- Association conferred upon me the signal honour of
selecting me as its president for the current year I felt bound from conscientious scruples to stipulate that I should not be called upon to pronounce what is conventionally denominated the inaugural address, for the simple reason that I was quite incom- petent to treat the subject-matter of your deliberations, which are in some respects of a very technical character, in such a way as would satisfy the distinguished specialists who constitute the majority of the present meeting. I knew, moreover, that my only title to the occupation of this chair was my fortunate connection with Belfast and its neighbourhood that I was, in fact, merely a geographical expression, the unlearned but enthusiastic mouth- piece of those outsiders who are aware, indeed, of the great benefits your Association is conferring upon the world at large, who sympathise intelligently with your efforts, but are only im- perfectly acquainted with the more abstruse arcana of your pur- suits. In their name, then, I bid you heartily welcome, and I assure you that this welcome proceeds not only from a very warm-hearted community, but also from those whose watchword from earliest times has been " Progress," who have always been eager to assist every movement which is calculated to promote the intellectual advancement of mankind, and whose industry and energy have created the mighty and prosperous city in whose midst we stand. Nor, indeed, do I know of any associa- tion, amongst the many that have been established during the course of the present century, more worthy of the respect and gratitude of thoughtful people than your own. Our libraries are 22
