Testimonial letter from the British Museum (1883)

This is a testimonial letter in support of James Bain for the position of Chief Librarian of the New Toronto Public Library, written by the Keeper of the department of Botany in the British Museum on February 15, 1883.

 

On loan from the Bain family.

 

Creator: N. Carruthers, Keeper of the Department of Botany, British Museum, London, England

Date: February 15, 1883

Identifier: testimonial-letter-2-p1

Format: Manuscript

Rights: Public domain

Courtesy: Toronto Public Library.

 

Transcription of Testimonial Letter in Support of James Bain for the Position of

Chief Librarian of the New Toronto Public Library by N. Carruthers, Keeper of the

Department of Botany, British Museum, London, England

February 15, 1883

______________________________________________________________________

15 February 1883

Dear Mr. Bain,

I am very glad to hear that you have become a candidate for the Librarianship of the New Public Library.

Having had the pleasure of your personal acquaintance while you were in England I had plenty of opportunities of observing that your relation to books was not a merely professional one, but that you possessed a love of books on their own account, and that you had an extensive acquaintance not only with current English literature, but also with the literature of past centuries.

Your practical acquaintance with the book trade in England as well as in Canada would be of special service in founding a new library.

And when in addition I recall your reliable judgement, your courteous and gentlemanly bearing, and your upright Christian character I have the strongest conviction of your singular fitness for the office of Librarian in this New Public Library.

I am faithfully yours

N. Carruthers

F.R.S. Keeper of the Department of Botany, British Museum.

James Bain, Jr. Esq.

Done