“The Society, having resumed their intention of advancing the Parochial Library, effected it with vigour answerable to their strength; and the books belonging to it were by these gentlemen removed from a damp, little, and inconvenient room, with a chimney difficult of access, and deposited in the Vestry.” After the death of the Rev. John Wareing, the Society purchased from his widow the very valuable collection of books which he had formed, and divided them between the libraries at the church and Grammar School. Papers called the _Englishman_, _Guardian_, _Entertainers_, and _Lovers_ were taken in, and (so long as they meddled not with politics) were read; as were also the _Honest Gentleman_ and the _Spyes_, so far as they were non-political. At first the various acts and regulations of the Society were recorded on odd sheets of paper of various sizes and shapes. These were subsequently bound together and entitled “the first book of Minutes or the Institution Book.” Subsequently other volumes of minutes were duly kept; the sixth volume being in use at the time of the death of the founder. The entries in these books are chiefly by Maurice Johnson, and the illustrations are numerous, and several of them beautifully coloured by him. Each is bound in vellum, and has a book-plate engraved by Vertue. A motto, differing in each case, is affixed to each of the first four volumes. They form some of the most valued works belonging to the Society. The varied nature of the communications received by the Society is indicated by the earliest of those recorded in the Institution Book. Thus, on November 10, 1712, there is a sketch of “The forme of a Tomb in the Cemetery of the Cathedral Church in Peterborough, in the County of Northᵗᵒⁿ on the south side near the choir, with yᵉ inscription thereon— ✠ AI̅A IOHANNIS DE SC̅O IVONIS QND̅M P̅ORIS Ꝑ MIÃM DI̅ IN PACE REC̅ESCAT. MDXII. Anima Johannis de Sancto Ivone Quandam Prioris per Misericordiam Dei. In pace requiescat. M.D.xij.”