Trinity has a very fine library.  It is one of the five which by an act of Parliament has a right to demand from the publisher a copy of every work published.  The origin of the library is quite unique.  It dates from a benefaction by the victorious English army after its defeat of the Spaniards at Kinsale in 1603, when they devoted one thousand eight hundred pounds—­a sum equivalent to five times that money at present rates—­to establish a library in the university, being, it may be presumed, instigated by some eminent personage, who suggested that such a course would be acceptable to the queen, who had founded the university.

Dr. Chaloner and Mr. (afterward Archbishop) Ussher were appointed trustees of this donation; “and,” says Dr. Parr, “it is somewhat remarkable that at this time, when the said persons were in London about laying out this money in books, they there met Sir Thomas Bodley, then buying books for his newly-erected library in Oxford; so that there began a correspondence between them upon this occasion, helping each other to procure the choicest and best books on moral subjects that could be gotten; so that the famous Bodleian Library at Oxford and that of Dublin began together.”

The private collection of Ussher himself, consisting of ten thousand volumes, was the first considerable donation which the library received, and for this also, curiously enough, it was again indebted to the English army.  In 1640, Ussher left Ireland.  The insurgents soon after destroyed all his effects with the exception of his books, which were secured and sent to London.  In 1642—­when the troubles between King and Parliament had broken out—­Ussher was nominated one of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, but having offended the parliamentary authorities by refusing to attend, his library was confiscated as that of a delinquent by order of the House of Commons.  However, his friend, the celebrated John Selden, got leave to buy the books, as though for himself, but really to restore them to Ussher.  Narrow circumstances subsequently caused him to leave the library to his daughter, instead of to Trinity.  Cardinal Mazarin and the king of Denmark made offers for it, but Cromwell interfered to prevent their acceptance.  Soon after, the officers and, soldiers of Cromwell’s army then in Ireland, wishing to emulate those of Elizabeth, purchased the whole library, together with all the archbishop’s very valuable manuscripts and a choice collection of coins, for the purpose of presenting them to the college.  But when these articles were brought over to Ireland, Cromwell refused to permit the intentions of the donors to be carried into effect, alleging that he intended to found a new college, in which the collection might more conveniently be preserved separate from all other books.  The library was therefore deposited in Dublin Castle, and so neglected that a great number of valuable books and manuscripts were stolen or destroyed.  At the Restoration, Charles II. ordered that what remained of the primate’s library should be given to the university, as originally intended.