"A few minutes after four the sounds of distant music intimated the approach of Sir Samuel Bignold (the Mayor) and his friends, and, after the lapse of another second or so, his worship appeared in sight, accompanied by H. Birkbeck, Esq. (the Sheriff of the city), the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Orford, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., Sir J. P. Boileau, Bart., Edmond Wodehouse, Esq., M.P., S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., the Rev. E. Sidney, most of the members of the city magistracy and corporation, several county magistrates, a large number of influential county gentlemen and citizens, J. R. Staff, Esq. (the Town Clerk), Mr. E. E. Benest (the City Surveyor), the Corporation officers bearing the city regalia, &c., &c.--followed by a large procession of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, carrying flags and banners, the most prominent of which bore the mottoes--'Success to the Free Library,' 'Peto, the true Friend of Civil and Religious Liberty,' 'The Durability of the Constitution,' and 'Education for the People.' The procession was headed by an excellent brass band, playing, as it approached, the popular air, 'Cheer, boys, cheer!' At this stage of the proceedings the outer crowd, in their anxiety to get within view of the proceedings, broke the barriers, overpowered the police, and made a rush to the palisades which surrounded the ground. These, by the weight of the many persons who clung upon them, unfortunately gave way, bringing with them a coping stone to which they were attached, and on which a young man named Samuel Harper had been sitting. He was thrown to the ground, and several people falling upon him he sustained a fracture of one of his ankles. He was immediately conveyed to the hospital, and we are glad to learn is doing well. Several other persons were also injured, but not seriously. Beyond this no accident occurred. "With the assistance of the City Surveyor and Mr. Stanley, stone-mason, the worthy Mayor then proceeded to discharge his agreeable duty--the laying of the first stone. He used for the purpose a very elegant silver trowel {59a} with ivory handle, furnished by the Messrs. Etheridge (which had been presented to his worship by Mr. E. E. Benest) bearing the following inscription on the blade:-- Presented to Sir Samuel Bignold, Knight, Mayor of Norwich, on the occasion of his laying the first stone of The Free Library, September 13th, 1854. "Upon the surface of the stone a brass plate was fixed, on which was engraved the following inscription:--