The Royal Library, therefore, embarrassed King GEORGE THE FOURTH in two ways. It cost two thousand two hundred pounds a year, even without making any new additions to its contents. It occupied much space in the royal residence which could be devoted to more agreeable purposes. Then came the welcome thought that, instead of being a charge, it might be made a source of income. The Emperor of Russia was known to covet, as a truly imperial luxury, what to the new King of Great Britain was but a costly burden. He broached the idea—but met, instead of encouragement, with strong remonstrance. The news of the royal suggestion soon spread abroad. Amongst those who heard of it with disgust were Lord FARNBOROUGH (who is said to have learnt the design in talking, one day, with Princess LIEVEN) and Richard HEBER. Both men bestirred themselves to prevent the King from publicly disgracing the country in that way. Lord FARNBOROUGH betook himself to a conference with the Premier, Lord LIVERPOOL. Mr. HEBER discussed the matter with Lord SIDMOUTH. By the ministers, public opinion upon the suggested sale was pretty strongly and emphatically conveyed to His Majesty, whatever may have been the courtliness of tone employed about it. [Sidenote: CONFERENCE BETWEEN GEORGE IV AND HIS MINISTERS ON DISPOSAL OF THE LIBRARY.] GEORGE THE FOURTH, however, was not less strongly impressed by the charms of the prospective rubles from Russia. He felt that he could find pleasant uses for a windfall of a hundred and eighty thousand pounds, or so. And he fought hard to secure his expected prize—or some indubitably solid equivalent. [Sidenote: R. Ford, in the _Quarterly Review_ (Dec., 1850), vol. lxxxviii, p. 143;] ‘If I can’t have the rubles,’ said the King, ‘you must find me their value in pounds sterling.’ The Ministers were much in earnest to save the Library, and, in the emergency, laid their hands upon a certain surplus which had accrued from a fund furnished some years before by France, to meet British claims for losses sustained at the date of the first French Revolution. [Sidenote: Comp. _Minutes of Evidence taken by the Commissioners on Brit. Mus._ (also in 1850), pp. 117, 118.] But the expedient became the subject of an unpleasant hint in the House of Commons. And the Government, it is said, then resorted to that useful fund, the ‘Droits of Admiralty.’ By hook or crook, GEORGE THE FOURTH received his ‘equivalent.’ He then sat down to his writing-table (at Brighton), to assure Lord LIVERPOOL—in his official capacity—of the satisfaction he felt in having ‘this means of advancing the Literature of my Country.’ Then he proceeded to add:—‘I also feel that I am paying a just tribute to the memory of a Parent, whose life was adorned with every public and private virtue.’