I have the greatest satisfaction in your appointment to the office of Principal Librarian, and offer you my warmest congratulations on the attainment of a post in which your abilities will be exercised so advantageously. You cannot doubt that I concur most entirely in the sentiments of your letter—that I shall always consider it my first duty to devote myself to the interests of this Institution, and to satisfy the Trustees by punctuality, diligence, and general zeal in their service. Without harmony of action and due subordination, all must be confusion in such an establishment as ours. I shall therefore be at all times eager to support your authority, and to follow your directions as the Principal Officer of the Trustees, and the proper interpreter of their wishes and instructions. While endeavouring to satisfy you and them by my best personal exertions, I shall feel full assurance of your concern for the interests of the Department, and shall confide in your protection and assistance, as well as in your lenient consideration of such shortcomings as want of ability may render unavoidable. Believe me, dear Sir, very faithfully yours, EDWD. A. BOND.” “British Museum, March 25th, 1856. “My dear Sir, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th inst., by which you acquaint me that the Trustees had, on Saturday last, put you in possession of the office of Principal Librarian, to which Her Majesty had been pleased to appoint you. You do me but justice, and I speak with equal confidence of all those engaged with me in the Department of Printed Books, when you say that you rely on receiving from us that assistance which is absolutely necessary for the good of the service. That I may reckon on your endeavouring to do the utmost for the advantage of this Department, and of those employed in it, for the support of authority and for facilitating the due execution of the orders, and a hearty compliance with the wishes of the Trustees, is no more than was to be expected from the vigour of your administration while at the head of this Department, and the generous earnestness with which you have at all times advocated the claims and supported the interests of all those placed under your orders. I most fully concur in the views and sentiments enunciated in your letter, and particularly in the portion where you urge united and harmonious exertion and the utmost punctuality and steady attention in the performance of our duties; and I beg to assure you that my best exertions shall be directed towards carrying out your views on these as well as on all other points.