ATHENÆUM.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 337, 29 August 1868, Page 6

ATHENÆUM.

Sir,-—ln common with other subscribers to the Athenaeum, I have been much puzzled by the manner in which Mr O'Conor, at the conclusion of his lengthy effusion in your paper, refers to the peculiar " relationship in which he stands to the Athenaeum." At first I thought the peculiarity might consist in his acting as a committee man, without having ever subscribed a > hilling to the Institution, coupled with the recollections of some remarks made at public meetings. I conclude that Mr O'Couor refers to a delusion which he cherishes,that he is the original founder and father of the Athenaeum, and as such, the only proper guardian of its infant footsteps. Perhaps this belief may account for the virulence he displays whenever his suggestions are not met in the spirit of filial submission, he has so mnch right to expect. But the delusion though amusing, and comparatively harmless, is calculated to inflict injustice on several gentlemen, who with at least equal merit are diffident in that self-assertion which is one of Mr O'Conor's most striking attributes, and I must therefore beg a short space to put the matter in a proper light. Mr O'Conor has cultivated so large a crop of laurels, that he can have no objection to a few sprigs being transferred to their rightful owners. Some weeks before the subject acquired sufficient importance to qualify it for Mr O'Conor's protection, several gentlemen had taken steps towards starting an Athenaeum. Mr Crate, in particular, .had obtained much valuable information as to site, grants in aid, and other matters, which he had communicated to the present secretary, Mr Whitefoord, who had entered into a correspondence with the Nelson Government on the matter. Indeed a requisition to Dr Giles to call a public meeting on the subject was in actual circulation, when Mr O'Conor unexpectedly elbowed himself into the front and in his capacity as self-elected apostle of pure literature, took upon himself the responsibility of calling a public meeting. At this meeting the information previously collected, was produced and proved most valuable. Energy is a most valuable quality, but it is possible to have too much of it as well as other things, and had matters been allowed to go on as previously intended there can be little doubt the result would have been more satisfactory. As things went, the future Athenaeum seemed to many to be another of his (O'Conor's) bantlings, or pertinacity, not calculated to inspire much confidence in its constitution.

It seems rather hard that when a mine is carefully dug, a train laid, and everything going on well, that a gentleman, red hot from that centre of in-

tellectual activity, Nelson, should prematurely explode it and blow the actual engineer into oblivion, leaving Mr O'Conor triumphant on the ruin . I do not for a moment assume that Mr o'Conoi*'s aid is not useful in starting any public object. A certain amount of talk and bluster is not without its effect in attracting public attention, but unfortunately it is not always as easy to shako a man olf, and a useful auxiliary becomes in the end a serious incumbrance. A fire ship is a terrible engine of war, but it is one often mere dreaded by its friends than by its foes. I enclose my card as a proof that I am entitled to sign myself, Not a Committee Ma^.