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understood your Excellency's intimation that the local Government had no power to make a money grant for this purpose without the sanction of the Secretary of State, which was asked for and obtained. This step, of course, involves delay; and delay, as pointed out in the "Proposals", involves expense, which the Trustees can ill afford. It is therefore very desirable that a decision upon the whole question should be procured at as early a date as convenient, since, in the meanwhile, the Trustees would be precluded from making any permanent arrangement concerning the books in their possession.
We trust, however, that your Excellency will, after due consideration of their "Proposals", promote the progress by your support, and undertake cordially to recommend, both to the Legislative Council and to the Secretary of State, the money grants therein mentioned, consisting, first, of a sum sufficient to build or provide the apartments necessary for a Library, and next, of the annual estimate required for its maintenance during the present and future years. In such case, the Trustees would take the necessary steps.