William Munroe, son of a Concord tradesman who vied with the Thoreaus in the manufacture of lead pencils, after leaving the Concord schools went into business, and later into the manufacture of silk. His intelligence and force of character secured prosperity. He loved Concord, and, to use his own words, “desired to testify my regard to my native town by doing something to promote the education and intelligence, and thus the welfare and prosperity of its people.” He gave to Concord a lot of land in the heart of the town and a building for a Free Public Library, which, with great care and thoroughness, he had built thereon and duly furnished; and made handsome provision for care of the land and the extension of the building later. He added a generous gift for books of reference and standard works. The town thankfully accepted the gift, placed their books in it, and chose their library committee. On a fine autumn day in 1873, the library was opened with public ceremonies. Mr. Munroe in a short and modest speech explained his purpose; Mr. H. F. Smith, on behalf of the new library committee, reported its action and the gifts which had poured in; Judge Hoar received the property on behalf of the Board of Corporation, and Mr. Emerson, but lately returned with improved health from his journey to the Nile, made the short address. Writing was now very difficult for him, but the occasion pleased and moved him, and his notes on books and on Concord, and the remembrance of his friends the Concord authors but lately gone, served him, and the day passed off well. [222] _Page 498, note 1._ _The Gospel Covenant_, printed in London in 1646, and quoted by Mr. Emerson in the “Historical Discourse.” [223] _Page 499, note 1._ Major Simon Willard, a Kentish merchant was Peter Bulkeley’s strong coadjutor in the founding of Concord. He also is alluded to in the “Historical Discourse.” [224] _Page 500, note 1._ These extracts are from the diary of Miss Mary Moody Emerson. [225] _Page 500, note 2._ This letter was written not long after the death of John Thoreau, Henry’s dearly loved brother, and also of little Waldo Emerson, to whom he became greatly attached while he was a member of Mr. Emerson’s household. [226] _Page 501, note 1._ Mr. Emerson here speaks for others. He could not read Hawthorne because of the gloom of his magic mirror, but the man interested and attracted him, though even as neighbors they seldom met. [227] _Page 506, note 1._ Mr. Emerson notes that this is an allusion to the “Harmonies of Ptolemy.” THE FORTUNE OF THE REPUBLIC