12 OCTOBER 1889, Page 43

The centenary of what is commonly known as the Linen

Hall Library of Belfast was celebrated last year ; and, as a sequel to the celebration, Mr. John Anderson, its honorary secretary, has pub- lished (McCaw, Stevenson, and Orr, Belfast) a well-printed volume entitled A History of the Belfast Library and Society for Promoting Knowledge, which is chiefly taken from the minutes of the Society. Whatever interest attaches to such a book is, of course, essentially local; but it is evident that Mr. Anderson has done his work with great care. The troubled history of Ireland left its mark even on the transactions of this peaceful Society. Mr. Thomas Russell, who was its librarian in 1794, became an intimate friend of Wolfe, helped to found the Society of United Irishmen, and was executed in 1803.