226 Manuscripts of the late Sir H. Elliot, K. C. B. [No. 3. 



" The author willingly undertook this task, as it did not appear to 

 offer much difficulty." 



Sir Henry possessed, when he undertook this labour, a very valu- 

 able collection of books on Indian History, and a more extensive 

 knowledge of the subject than any body else either in this coun- 

 try or in Europe, and was able to draw up in a very short time, 

 a list containing an unexpectedly great number of Historical works 

 replete with useful notices regarding their contents, merits and 

 authors. Fortunately the MS. of this first draft is preserved, and 

 will be a most useful guide for the editor of his papers. 



Before he gave the first draft of his labour to the public, he ex- 

 tended his plan. He says on this subject, " The mere Index which 

 the author was invited to compile, has insensibly expanded into 

 several volumes ; for encouraged, not only that no work had ever 

 been written specially on this matter, but also by receiving from 

 many distinguished orientalists both European and Native, their 

 confessions of their entire ignorance on the subject of his enquiries, 

 he was persuaded that it would be useful to append, as far as his 

 knowledge would permit, a few notes to each History, as it came 

 under his consideration, illustrative of the matter it comprehends, the 

 style, position, and prejudices of the author, and the merits or defi- 

 ciences of his execution." 



The work on this extended plan was calculated to form four vo- 

 lumes, the first of which was published in 1 849. Prefixed to it is the 

 scheme of the whole labour. It was to contain notices of, and extracts 

 from 23 1 historical works. The first volume according to this plan 

 was to contain sixty-seven, but it contains only thirty-one, and it is 

 therefore clear that the number of volumes would have exceeded 

 that of four. 



He continued his search for books after the publication of the 

 first volume, and in 1849 he published in the Persian language a list 

 of desiderata under the title of Micba& al^alibyn. It contains a 

 number of valuable bibliographical notices regarding the books in 

 request, and at the end is added a list of books on Indian Historio- 

 graphy, of which he had copies. His endeavours were crowned with 

 success, and he obtained copies or the loan thereof, of several of the 

 works he was seeking for. 



