Librarian and Keeper of the Papers and Sub-Librarian 1801-70

Librarian and Keeper of the Papers and Sub-Librarian 1801-70

The office of Librarian and Keeper of the Papers was created in 1801 following the reorganisation of the State Paper Office. (fn. 1) The salary, payable out of the contingent fund, was fixed at £200 in 1801 and increased to £300 in 1815. (fn. 2) In 1811 the office was brought within the terms of the order in council of May 1809 which provided increases in salary of £80, £200, £300 and £400 after successive periods of five years' service. (fn. 2) In 1822 the office was placed on the establishment with a salary of £350 rising by annual increments of £15 to £545. However, L. Hertslet, the Librarian in office in 1822, was already receiving a salary of £700 by virtue of his having completed twenty years' service in the Foreign Office, and this salary he was allowed to retain. (fn. 4) Until 1837 Hertslet received an annual allowance of £100 from the secret service fund for compiling from the newspapers volumes of 'Printed Public Documents'. From 1837 this allowance was paid from the fee fund as part of his regular salary, which was thus increased to £800. (fn. 5) In 1841 the salary of the Librarian was fixed at £600 rising by annual increments of £20 to £800. (fn. 6)

A Sub-Librarian served without salary from 1801. A salary of £50, payable out of the contingent fund, was first made available to the holder of the office in 1809. (fn. 7) The salary was increased to £100 in 1813. (fn. 8) In 1816 the office was brought within the terms of the order in council of May 1809 which provided increases in salary of £80, £200, £300 and £400 after successive periods of five years' service. (fn. 9) In 1822 it was placed on the establishment with a salary of £150 rising by annual increments of £10 to £350. The duties of the office of 'Entering and Dispatch Clerk', formerly performed by an Extra Clerk, were also transferred to the Sub-Librarian who was accordingly awarded an additional annual allowance of £100. (fn. 10) In 1827 the salary was increased to £350 rising by annual increments of £15 to £545. (fn. 11) In 1865 it was provided that future holders of the office should be graded as First Class Supplementary Clerks with a salary of £400 rising by annual increments of £15 to £500. (fn. 12)