She hath done what she could

In this spirited 19th‑century address, a fervent advocate rallies the ratepayers of St. Marylebone to embrace the Public Libraries Act of 1855. Using vivid battlefield metaphors, he portrays free libraries and newsrooms as bright‑armed troops marching against the “Mental Darkness Brigade” that clings to ignorance and excessive taxation. The speaker’s language crackles with irony as he exposes the self‑serving motives of parish officials, newspaper magnates, and other “opponents of progress” who claim to protect the poor while stifling access to knowledge.

The pamphlet blends sharp satire with earnest argument, urging ordinary citizens to see a modest library rate not as a burden but as an investment in community enlightenment. Listeners will hear the persuasive call to replace fear‑driven fiscal conservatism with a shared commitment to education, setting the stage for a lively debate about public funding, civic responsibility, and the power of books to lift a society out of darkness.