590 Asiatic Society. [No. 115. 



It is highly satisfactory to me, as it will no doubt be to the Committee, to know that most of the 

 Books belonging to the Society are in good condition. I am, however, sorry to say, that some 

 of the Manuscripts of the Sanscrit and Persian Library are in a state which threatens irreparable 

 loss, if not immediately transcribed. 



Of these I forward a list. 



The key of the Medal Cabinet having been delivered to me by Mr. Piddington, I counted the 

 medals in the presence of Mr. De Koros and Mr, Bouchez, and found their number exactly 

 corresponding to that stated in the list, excepting two impressions which were not mentioned 

 in it. 



My attention has been directed to the arrangement of the Books and of the Catalogue, and I 

 avail myself of the present opportunity to make a few remarks. 



The arrangement of the books is made, I perceive, according to the languages in which they 

 are written, and in each division they are placed according to their size ; the same plan is 

 adopted in the Catalogue, with the exception, that the Books instead of being placed according to 

 their size, are arranged after the alphabetical order. 



I need not stay to inquire how this arrangement is at variance with a proper classification, 

 as I think this is clearly apparent, I shall merely offer a few remarks concerning it. 



As the proper and principal design of the arrangement of a Library is to promote the most exten- 

 sive and the most beneficial use of the books, no classification which does not approach as 

 near as possible to the natural division of literature in general, can be satisfactory. 



An arrangement opposite to the classification of sciences, isolates the use of the books, while 

 a Library, arranged as strictly as possible according to the subjects, suggests at once all that is, and 

 all that is not contained in the collection relating to the different branches of science, and at 

 the same time invites and introduces the inquiring mind into the outer halls of science. 



All the large libraries which I have seen are arranged according to this plan, for instance those of 

 Berlin, Goettingen, and Wolffenbuttel. 



It is desirable, that this principle should be followed in the arrangement of every library ; yet it 

 must be allowed, that it can strictly be adhered to only in large collections which contain the lead- 

 ing works of every branch of learning; it must, however, be borne in mind, that an arrangement 

 according to a well-concerted plan, though not followed out in the minor niceties, is infinitely pre- 

 ferable to an arrangement, based upon a contrary principle. 



For a Catalogue there is not, however, the same necessity for such an arrangement. A Catalogue 

 has to state only what books are in a library, and to point them out, so as to be easily and 

 immediately found; the alphabetical order seems to be a sufficient provision. 



This arrangement is adopted in the Catalogues of many libraries. There is, however, another 

 purpose in the framing of a Catalogue which should not be forgotten, and that is to inform the man 

 of reading and science, what advantages he may derive from consulting the library. It can scarce^ly 

 be expected, that such information can be obtained by an alphabetical order. To peruse a Cata- 

 logue of a large library to ascertain what works it contains, relating to particular branches of learn- 

 ing, is a waste of time to which few people will submit, and consequently a library may contain 

 many excellent works which have escaped the notice even of literary men, and the Catalogue 

 therefore fails in accomplishing the most important purposes for which it was made. 



If the foregoing remarks be correct, a new arrangement of the Library and Catalogue is desirable. 



The number of books being 5,000 and upwards, is, I think, sufficiently large to sanction such 

 an arrangement, and as a new Catalogue is now about to be printed, this is perhaps the most 

 favorable time to make it, should the Committee deem it necessary. 



Under this impressfon, I have directed my attention to a proper arrangement of the Library and 

 Catalogue, which might afford the members of the Society the greatest facility in using the books. 



I have now the honor to lay the arrangement which I think it desirable to make before the 

 Committee; but I would, however, beg to say the arrangement is based on a Classification of the 



