access to a library. On the basis of financing and constitutions, Manley distinguishes sharply between groups run by and catering to the ‘working class’ and those patronised by the ‘middle class’. How discrete these categories were in Ireland before 1825 may be questioned. Such a rigid division makes it hard to see where exactly apprentices, skilled artisans, ‘mechanics’ and aspirants to higher status fit. Undoubtedly there were book clubs and libraries that were variants of the rich associational life of the capital and larger towns or sociable expedients to relieve the tedium of rural retirement. Mysteries envelop how the books were chosen. Enterprising booksellers and publishers pushed their wares, sometimes with tempting discounts; newspaper advertisements and increasing numbers of reviews alerted the interested, as did private correspondence and conversations. It is clear that if refreshment was sometimes the adjunct to reading, it thrived as a sociable pastime. Discussion of the merits of particular titles, reading aloud and courses of lectures and experiments frequently occurred in the orbit of the libraries. But these activities are only occasionally reported. In general, Manley separates those libraries which resulted from bequests and donations from those in which the subscribers made the selection of stock. It could be that forceful members of the group directed the choices. Again, there may have been discussions and dissensions of which there is now no trace. Libraries served as centres of conviviality, although sometimes instead of contention, even of physical brawling. Several consciously aspired to avoid religious and political controversy but did not always succeed therein. By the nineteenth century, particular foundations were denounced as instruments of proselytisation. Moreover, there persisted a fear among the educated that encouraging the ignorant to acquire learning through print would make them insubordinate. Manley does full justice to the complexity of reactions and indeed to the impressive variety within the collections. His findings have many implications for the understanding of late-eighteenthand early-nineteenth-century Ireland, and, it is to be hoped, will be further explored.

中文翻译：

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书评：爱尔兰饥荒前的乞讨、慈善和宗教

访问图书馆。在资金和宪法的基础上，曼利在由“工人阶级”经营并迎合他们的群体与受“中产阶级”光顾的群体之间进行了清晰的区分。可能会质疑这些类别在 1825 年之前在爱尔兰的离散程度。如此严格的划分让人很难看出学徒、熟练的工匠、“机械师”和有志于获得更高地位的人究竟适合哪里。毫无疑问，读书俱乐部和图书馆是首都和大城市丰富社团生活的变种，或者是缓解农村退休乏味的社交权宜之计。谜团围绕着如何选择书籍。有进取心的书商和出版商推销他们的商品，有时还会提供诱人的折扣；报纸广告和越来越多的评论提醒了感兴趣的人，私人信件和谈话也是如此。很明显，如果茶点有时是阅读的附属品，它作为一种社交消遣而蓬勃发展。在图书馆的轨道上经常发生讨论特定标题的优点，大声朗读以及讲座和实验课程。但这些活动只是偶尔被报道。一般来说，曼利将那些由遗赠和捐赠产生的图书馆与订阅者选择股票的图书馆分开。可能是团体中强有力的成员指导了选择。同样，可能有过讨论和分歧，但现在已无迹可寻。图书馆是欢乐的中心，尽管有时不是争吵，甚至是肢体冲突。一些有意识地渴望避免宗教和政治争议，但并不总是成功。到 19 世纪，特定的基金会被谴责为传教的工具。此外，受过教育的人一直担心鼓励无知者通过印刷获得知识会使他们不服从。曼利对反应的复杂性以及系列中令人印象深刻的多样性做出了充分的评价。他的发现对理解 18 世纪末 19 世纪初的爱尔兰有很多影响，希望能得到进一步的探索。受过教育的人一直担心鼓励无知者通过印刷获得知识会使他们不服从。曼利对反应的复杂性以及系列中令人印象深刻的多样性做出了充分的评价。他的发现对理解 18 世纪末 19 世纪初的爱尔兰有很多影响，希望能得到进一步的探索。受过教育的人一直担心鼓励无知者通过印刷获得知识会使他们不服从。曼利对反应的复杂性以及系列中令人印象深刻的多样性做出了充分的评价。他的发现对理解 18 世纪末 19 世纪初的爱尔兰有很多影响，希望能得到进一步的探索。