of the City of Norwich, Gent. [1716] Helwys, Nicholas, 1 Esq., Citizen and Alderman of Norwich 1717 and 1718 Prideaux, Humphrey, 2 D.D., and Dean of Norwich 1718 Clark, Thomas, Esq. 3 1719 Houghton, William 1 1721 Grayle, John, Rector 9 of Blickling 1725 Knyvett, John, of 1 this City, Esq. 1726 Tanner, Thomas, 100 {55a} S.T.P., and Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich [afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph] 1727 Reveley, Edward 4 1728 Kirkpatrick, John, His Library Merchant and Treasurer to the Great Hospital in this City 1729 Jermy, John, Esq. [?] {55b} 1730 Prideaux, Edmund, 60 {55c} Esq. 1730 Wingfield, Robert, 13 Writing master 1731 Pagan, William 7 1731 Gurdon, Thornaugh, [2?] {55d} [Letton] King, Reuben, Primier 1 [_sic_] English Schoolmaster in this City 1731 Mackerell, Benjamin, 13 the present Library Keeper 1733 Whaley, John 1 Bennet, Gilbert 2 1733 Jermy, John 40 1732 Ellis, Ben-Jos[eph], 2 Minister of St. Andrew's in Norwich 1737 Jermy, John, Esq. 14 1737 Nash, Robert, Esq., 4 Chancellor of this Diocese PART II. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. FOUNDATION AND HISTORY. Warrington and Salford claim to have established the earliest examples of municipally-controlled and rate-supported free popular libraries in the United Kingdom, they having added books to the attractions of their museums which were established in 1848 and 1849 respectively under the Act of 1845 "for encouraging the establishment of museums in large towns." Norwich, however, has the distinction of being the first municipality to adopt the first public library act, which was due to the labours of Mr. William Ewart. Ewart's act received the royal assent on the 14th August, 1850, and within seven weeks Norwich had decided to adopt it!