COST AND ENDOWMENT.

The cost of carrying out this great enterprise—­including the erection of buildings, purchase of books, fittings, &c.—­has already amounted to between L15,000 and L20,000, and the outlay shows no signs of cessation.  In addition to these expenses there is the Endowment Fund already referred to, and for this the munificent donors intend to set apart a sum to which the above amount bears but a small proportion.  So that altogether the community will be indebted to them for an educational foundation worth a magnificent figure in money value alone, while besides this, we must not forget the long years of thoughtful care and of self-denying energy involved in maturing these splendid projects, or the healthy mental and moral stimulus which the conduct of these patriotic gentlemen has supplied.

PRESENTATION OF PORTRAITS.

A very pleasing ceremony took place on Wednesday, December 17th, 1884, at St. Julian’s Hall, when His Excellency Major-General Sarel, C.B., Lieut.-Governor, presented Messrs. Guille and Alles with their portraits on behalf of a numerous body of subscribers resident in all parts of the island, and also in Paris, New York, and Brooklyn.  A public meeting had been called on the 4th of February previous, when an influential Committee was appointed; about L227 was speedily raised, and then Mr. Frank Brooks was commissioned to paint two life-size portraits in oil, which gave great satisfaction when finished, and are now hung in the Library.  Julius Carey, Esq., Chief Constable (Mayor) of St. Peter-Port, as President of the Portrait Committee, opened the proceedings, by briefly narrating the circumstances which had called the meeting together.

His Excellency then, after a few preliminary remarks, said:—­

He must express the very great pleasure which he felt in being present on such an interesting occasion, when the whole community were testifying their appreciation of the noble Library which had been founded for their benefit.  Indeed he felt it a great honour to have been asked to present these handsome portraits to Messrs. Guille and Alles.  It would not be necessary for him to dwell at any length on the antecedents of these gentlemen, who were well-known in the island.  Many years ago Mr. Guille went to the United States, and there he found the advantages which accrued from having access to a good library.  He then conceived the idea of one day bestowing a similar boon upon his own native island, and this project he had been happily spared to carry out.  During his exile the thought had remained ever with him; he had not allowed business to engross all his attention; and now that he had returned once more to settle down in the little rock-bound island-home of his youth, he was reducing to practice the beneficent plans of earlier years.  He was not content to lead a life of ease with the produce of his industry, but he had founded an institution of incalculable value for the moral and intellectual