Marsh's Library Act 1707

MARSH’S LIBRARY ACT 1707

CHAP. XIX.

An Act for settling and preserving a publick library for ever, in the house for that purpose built by his grace Narcissus, now lord archbishop of Armagh, on part of the ground belonging to the archbishop of Dublin’s palace, near to the city of Dublin.

The publick library built by archbishop of Armagh at St. Sepulchre’s Dublin, the ground, garden, &c. vested in trustees and their successors for ever,

unalienable,

free from all incumbrances, and claims,

and taxes, unless hereafter expresly charges:

WHEREAS the most reverend father in God Narcissus, lord archbishop of Armagh, primate and metropolitan of all Ireland, in the time that he was archbishop of Dublin, did, out of his generous inclinations to the publick good of this kingdom, for the propagation of the true Christian religion as by law established, and for the encouragement of learning, at his own great costs and charges erect and build a fair large house upon part of the garden or ground belonging to the house of Saint Sepulchers, which is the ancient feat or palace of the archbishops of Dublin, near to the city of Dublin : and has also by the consent of his grace William, lord archbishop of Dublin, fitted, prepared, designed, and appointed, the second story, or floor of the said house for a publick library for ever, for the use of all persons who shall resort thereto, at the hours appointed for the library-keeper’s attendance; and shall conform themselves to the rules, orders, and directions of the governors thereof for the time being: and has also provided all things convenient for the better order, use, and standing of the books therein, intended to be kept; and hath likewise fitted and prepared the ground-rooms of the said house for the accommodation of the reverend Mr. Elias Bohereau, the present library-keeper, and his successors, keepers of the said library for ever; and hath also laid out a piece of ground for a court or garden to the said house, and another piece of ground for the enlargement of the said house, and making a convenient passage thereinto for the lord archbishop of Dublin from his said palace, when it shall be thought fit so to do; and, to avoid any inconveniences that might attend the archbishop of Dublin by means of a publick passage through their said palace, hath made a convenient way or passage to the said house from Saint Patrick’s Close, with the consent of the dean and chapter of the cathedral church of Saint Patrick’s Dublin, and has inclosed the same with a stone-wall, and placed a gate at the entrance thereof; the said way or passage containing eighty four foot in length, and nine foot six inches in breadth, the said ground, whereon the said house is built, together with that which is laid out for making an addition to the said house, and for a court or garden thereto, containing twenty perches and one hundred sixteen foot, plantation measure, be the same more or less, bounded on the North by a parcel of ground belonging to the treasurer of Saint Patrick’s Dublin, ninety nine feet and six inches; on the East, by a garden belonging to the archbishop of Dublin’s palace, fifty four feet, and by part of the said palace fifty feet and six inches; on the South, by the back-way or passage leading to the archbishop of Dublin’s palace, sixty one feet six inches, and by part of the said palace, thirty five feet; and on the West, by the church-yard of Saint Patrick’s Dublin, and by part of the passage to the said library from Saint Patrick’s- Close, being together one hundred and two feet: and whereas the said Narcissus, lord archbishop of Armagh, hath also bought that very valuable collection of choice and excellent books, which was made by the learned doctor Edward Stillingfleet, late lord bishop of Worcester, deceased, containing two thousand five hundred seventy and four books in folio, or thereabouts; six thousand nine hundred thirty and eight in quarto, octavo, and lesser volumes, besides many pamphlets; and hath provided iron-chains, rods, and clasps, for the better preservation of the larger books; and close lattices, with locks, for the safe keeping of the books of the smaller size; all which said books, together with the said rods, clasps, lattices, and locks, are declared by the said Narcissus, lord archbishop of Armagh, from and immediately after passing this present act, to be by him bestowed on the publick, and designed to be lodged in the said rooms, by him built, prepared, and designed, for a publick library: and whereas the said Elias Bohereau, in consideration of his being made keeper of the said library, hath lodged a considerable number of books in the said house, built by the said Narcissus, lord archbishop of Armagh, (viz.) three hundred seventy and three volumes in folio, three hundred eighty and three in quarto, one thousand three hundred and twenty two in smaller volumes, besides some unbound books; to the intent that the same shall, from the time of the passing this act, for ever remain and be kept in the said library, as his gift, and as an addition to the said library or collection of books so bought and given by the said Narcissus, lord archbishop of Amagh, for the same use and purpose, and no other: be it enacted by the Queen’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and commons in Parliament assembled, at the humble suit of the said Narcissus, lord archbishop of Armagh, William lord archbishop of Dublin, the dean and chapter of Saint Patrick’s Dublin, and the said Mr. Elias Bohereau, that the house before mentioned to be built by the said Narcissus, lord archbishop of Armagh, the ground on which it stands, the garden or court thereto belonging, and the other parcel of ground herein before mentioned, to be laid out for the inlargement of the said house, and for a way thereto from the archbishop of Dublin’s said palace, and the said ground laid out for a way to the said house from St. Patrick’s-Close; and also all and every the before mentioned books, chains, rods, clasps, locks, and keys, and also all the classes, shelves, desks, tables, and all other appurtenances to the said house and library belonging, shall be and are hereby actually settled and vested in the said archbishop of Armagh for the time being, the lord chancellor of Ireland for the time being, the lord archbishop of Dublin for the time being, the lord chief justice of her Majesty’s court of Chief-place in Ireland for the time being, the lord chief justice of her Majesty’s court of Common-pleas in Ireland for the time being, the lord chief baron of her Majesty’s court of Exchequer in Ireland for the time being, the dean of the cathedral church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin, for the time being, the dean of the cathedral church of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, for the time being, and the provost of Trinity-college, near Dublin, for the time being, and their successors for ever; in trust, and to and for the respective uses, intents, and purposes, in this act before mentioned, to be intended concerning the same respectively: and that the same shall remain, continue, and be in the said trustees and their successors for ever unalienable, and without their being capable of forfeiting, selling, or otherwise disposing of the same, otherwise than as in this act is hereafter mentioned; and also freed, and for ever discharged, of and from all judgments, statutes, executions, extents, elegits, and of and from all other incumbrances of what kind or nature foever; and also of and from all right, title, interest, claim, or demand of him the said Narcissus, lord archbishop of Armagh, his executors, or administrators; and of the said William lord archbishop of Dublin, and his successors; and the said dean and chapter of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, and their successors for ever; and of the said Mr. Bohereau, his executors or administrators: and also freed, and for ever discharged, of and from all manner of taxes, and of and from all chimney-money, hearth-money, and lamp-money, and of and from all manner of taxes or charges hereafter to be imposed by act of Parliament, unless the same shall be charged expresly, and by name, in and by such future act or acts of Parliament; any law, usage, or custom to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding.