Christlike character stand out even before his scholarship, for he has been well described as combining the intellect of the student with the innocent simplicity of a child.
Arnold Green.His son Arnold died on the 13th of September, 1907. To him was entrusted, as I have mentioned above, the collection of books not only in England, but also from all parts of the Continent; and had it not been for him, the Althorp Library would not have been secured.
Alexander Balderston Railton.Alexander Balderston Railton died on the 11th of September, 1904. He entered the service of Messrs. Sotheran in June, 1867, and became a partner on Henry Sotheran's retirement in 1893. He superintended the removal of the collection from Althorp to Longford Hall, checking individually the Caxton items and other incunabula. It was a pleasure to witness the delight and enthusiasm with which he would impart bibliographical information from his own vast stores. In private life he was an earnest Christian worker, and for years associated himself with the large number of young men who attended the ministry of Samuel Martin at Westminster Chapel. The Athenæum, in its obituary notice, well said of him: "His personality won the regard of all who came in contact with him."
Lectures and Exhibitions.By the kindness of Mr. Henry Guppy, the courteous Librarian of the Rylands Library, I have been enabled to make myself acquainted with some of its treasures. The Catalogues and Bulletins which he has edited are most valuable, and evince great care and labour. The Bulletins show the work and progress of the library, the accessions and gifts to it; and it is pleasant to record that the Governors do not confine themselves to the mere preservation and storage of the treasures, but seek to make them practically useful by lectures, demonstrations, exhibitions, and organized visits of senior scholars. As an instance of how interesting these exhibitions are, it may be mentioned that at one of them was shown the copy of the Gospels which was presented to Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her progress through the City in January, 1558/9, by Francis Newport, who, for the sake of his religion, had been compelled to fly during the reign of Mary. Other personal
copies were those of King James I., of Elizabeth Fry (full of her marks and comments) , and of Thomas Cromwell (which afterwards belonged to George III.).
The various Catalogues now issued include one of an Exhibition of Books and Broadsides illustrating the early history of printing, specially arranged to signalize the visit of the Federation of Master Printers and Allied Trades last year. In the arrangement of this Mr. Guppy expresses his indebtedness to his colleague Mr. Guthrie Vine.
