Records of the Borough of Leicester e-bog

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. I am glad to congratulate the Municipality of Leicester on the public spirit which has led to the publication of the earliest Records of their civic history. These Records are the most valuable of the possessions committed to their keeping; and to make them generally available is to discharge a public duty. It may be that Open Spaces affect a larger number than Open Records. But there is no competition between these two objects of municipal forethought; they do not exclude one another. Records once published are accessible for all time, and books require no annual charge for their maintenance. They remain, and become increasingly useful when they deal with a subject of permanent importance.<br><br>The past history of the life of a great town must of necessity be of enduring interest to its citizens. Each generation must endeavour to keep alive and extend the sentiment of local patriotism. It is true that this sentiment is inspired by the sense of present needs; but it is well that it should be supported by a knowledge of the results of past activity. The position of any large centre of industrial life gains in dignity in the eyes of its citizens when they appreciate the labours of those who went before them.