She hath done what she could / A Discourse addressed to the Ratepayers of St. Marylebone, urging the adoption of The Public Libraries Act, 1855

Transcribed from the 1860 J. Bumpus edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
A DISCOURSE ADDRESSED TO THE RATEPAYERS OF ST. MARYLEBONE, URGING THE ADOPTION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACT, 1855.
BY MATTHEW FEILDE, ST. DAVID’S COLLEGE.
Late Member of the Committee of the Newspaper Press Association, for obtaining the Repeal of the Paper Duty.
But it is to Free Libraries and News Rooms , and NOT to high-priced Institutes, that you must look for the spread of knowledge and intellectual culture. It may be argued that 1 s. 6 d. a quarter, or 6 s. a year, is not much to pay to a Working Man’s Association. I contend it is exactly 4 s. 4 d. too much , as a halfpenny rate in the pound on a £40 house would amount to only 1 s. 8 d. a year.
LONDON: J. BUMPUS, 158, OXFORD STREET. 1860.
Price Sixpence .
“ She hath done what she could .”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Field of Battle is in sight at last! The St. Marylebone Mental Light Columns, escorted by Troops of Progress in bright armour, with Advancement in Knowledge Rifle Corps, fair women, and brave men, are in marching order, and eager for the fray with the Mental Darkness Brigade, the cruel and relentless enemies of Improvement. The Obstructive Forces for the defence of Ignorance, with a great flourish of trumpets, proclaiming themselves friends of the poor par excellence, are marching in defile, and scenting the battle afar off.
These bitter and unscrupulous foes, who care as much for the Poor, as their pretended and hollow friend, Judas Iscariot, who when he cried aloud for the public, meant only himself, of whom it was said, “not that he cared for the poor, but because he carried the bag,” who murmured at the waste of costly ointment of spikenard with which Mary had anointed the feet of Jesus, and treacherously asked “why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?”
These determined opponents of Progress—Parish Magnates—who dread the light of intelligence, and whose excessive desire to guard the ratepayers’ pockets is suspicious, and reminds me of Judas’ anxiety to trade on the distress of the poor. This Ignorant Phalanx, officered by pompous little great men, or loud little foolish men,—small vanities and pomposities, whose cry is “more taxation,” and who seem to say, “I am the Parish,” and “when I speak let no dog bark;” all these small politicians and miserable DO-NOTHINGS are making ready for the field.