THE LIBRARY OF THE INDIA OFFICE By A. J. Arberry
Lord Zetland, the Secretary for India, justly observes in a preface to Dr. Arberry's interesting little book (published by the India Office) that the magnificent Oriental library which the author serves is not well known to the public. Students, however, take full advantage of the collections to which they are freely admitted and will value this authoritative history. The East India Company decided to form a library in 1798. Possibly Warren Hastings, who had encouraged Sanskrit studies in Bengal, had inspired the decision. At any rate it was on his advice that Charles Wilkins, whose version of the " Bhagavad-gita " had been printed by the Company in 1785, was appointed the first librarian in 18or. Collections of MSS. and books were gradually acquired by gift or purchase, including Tippoo Sultan's library and the remnants of the Mogul State library. For many years—indeed until 1874— the rooms available first at East India House and then at the India Office were partly devoted to the museum of Indian art which the Company regarded as a desirable complement of the library, and the crowds that flocked to the museum must have sadly incommoded the readers. The contents of the museum were unfortunately, dispersed in 1874, but the library has since then had plenty of room for its 20,000 MSS. and its 230,000 printed books. Dr. Arberry gives an account of the scholars who have presided over the library and describes some of its principal treasures.
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