THE ATHENAEUM.

This institution was raised by three hundred and fifty shareholders, who each subscribed ten guineas. Each proprietor also pays two guineas and a half annually. It is situate in Churchstreet, and was opened in the year 1799, having cost £4000. This edifice which has a handsome stone front, was erected according to the designs of the late John Foster, Esq. The ground-floor. is appropriated to the News-room, the dimensions of which are 2000 square feet, and is supplied with most of the daily and weekly journals of the country, besides the principal magazines and reviews. The Library occupies the upper story, and comprises one of the most valuable and choice collections in this part of the kingdom, there being no fewer than 14,000 volumes, all in excellent condition, and many of them scarce works. The books are not allowed to be taken out, but the library is open every day from an early hour till ten at night. Strangers are eligible to be introduced by a subscriber.

This was the first institution of the kind in this country, and has been called after a place in Athens, which was dedicated to Minerva, and celebrated as the resort of the poets, philosophers, and rhetoricians, who recited their compositions, delivered their lectures, or declaimed before the public.

THE EXCHANGE NEWS-ROOM.

The description of the architecture and dimensions of this elegant and spacious apartment are given in our account of the Exchange Buildings. The subscribers are very numerous, and each pays annually three guineas. A great variety of the daily and weekly journals, with the most distinguished periodical works, are regularly taken here.

THE LYCEUM.

This very beautiful specimen of Grecian architecture is situate at the bottom of Bold-street, and is built of fine freestone. The entrance is adorned with a handsome portico, formed of six Ionic columns, which support a neat and plain pediment. The façade opposite to Church-street is decorated with four half columns of the same order, having a correspondent entablature, surmounted by an attic in the centre; and the whole reflects the highest credit on the taste of the architect, Mr. Harrison of Chester. This structure was erected by public subscription, and cost £11,000. It comprises a spacious and welllighted News-room, the area of which is 3264 feet. It is supplied with most of the daily and weekly journals besides the reviews, magazines, &c. The annual subscription for each individual

is

a guinea. The Library is a circnlar room, lighted by an elegant dome, 135 feet in circumference, and altogether produces a most pleasing effect; the upper part is encircled by a light and neat gallery, ornamented with the busts of many distinguished authors. This institution contains more than 30,000 volumes, and is supported by a numerous body of proprietors, each paying one guinea a year. A Lecture-room and Committeeroom occupy another part of this building.

The term Lycæum was appropriated to a structure situate in a pleasant spot on the banks of the river Illissus, in Attica, and rendered famous by Aristotle having taught his philosophy there; hence its application in the present instance.

THE UNION NEWS-ROOM.

This handsome stone building is situate in Duke-street, and was erected in the year 1800, the period when the union between England and Ireland commenced, and from this circumstance took its name. It was built according to the designs of the late John Foster, Esq. The ground floor contains a spacious News-room, 49 feet in length, and 46 feet in width, with two recesses, each 17 feet square, the fronts of which are adorned with elegant Ionic columns and pilasters, supporting a corresponding entablature. The arch over the entrance to the bar is decorated

with an excellent painting illustrative of the union, by Fuseli. This room is supplied with the principal London and provincial papers, besides reviews, magazines, &c. The upper story consists of an extensive room (at present occupied by the School of Arts, where lectures are regularly delivered), and of a smaller room, which is appropriated to a select Library. The basement story comprises several apartments, which are assigned to the use of the master of the room. The union arms, finely executed in stone by Legé, adorn the central part at the top of the façade in Duke-street.

This edifice was raised by public subscription, at an expense of more than £5000, and each proprietor pays two guineas per annum.

THE APPRENTICES' LIBRARY.

This institution is situate near the bottom of School-lane, and was established in the year 1823, for the sole use of the apprentices belong. ing to the town, any of them being entitled to read the books on obtaining a note of recommendation. This library, that now contains a great number of volumes, which have been gratuitously presented by various benevolent individuals, owes its origin to the laudable exertions of our worthy townsman, Mr. Egerton Smith, the editor of The Liverpool Mercury.

THE LAW LIBRARY.

This library has not been long formed. It is composed of works solely pertaining to the law, and is kept in the Clarendon Buildings, South John-street. The proprietors are gentlemen of the legal profession.

THE UNDERWRITERS' ROOM.

This room is in the Exchange buildings, and is conducted similarly to Lloyd's in London, being supplied with shipping intelligence, newspapers, &c.