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| THE LIBRARY, MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.- The grand library of Maynooth Catholic ecclesiastical college is situated in the new building designed by the noted architect, Pugin, who delighted in the Gothic style, and carried his ideas into execution in the construction of the commodious quadrangular structure which has taken the place of the old, rather ramshackle, collection of "edifics," familiar to Irish clergymen of the old school, who studied at Maynooth long anterior to the era of disendowment. In the month of November, 1878, a fire, due to overheating, caused the destruction of the southern and western sides of the new college, but, most fortunately, the priceless library-one of the best in the world-escaped, owing to heroic exertions on the part of the professors and students, with scarecely any damage. This library has no rival in Ireland except that of Trinity College, and, of course, in the matter of theological works, the Dublin University's collection is greatly inferior to it. The sketch shows the main hall of the institution, and conveys, comprehensive as it is, but a faint idea of the extent of the library. Here the five hundred students of old Maynooth find all the works necessary in the pursuit of their studies; and others that serve to relax the mind, and amuse while they instruct. |
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