GEOGRAPHICAL WORK OF THE INDIA OFFICE. 375 



in the earlier stages of its preparation. Its object was to supply a 

 catalogue of all the geographical documents in the India Office, and 

 with the addition of the regular quarterly lists of maps since 

 received from India this object may be still said to be secured. 

 The enormous accession of new maps during the last fifteen years 

 has, however, completely revolutionised the former condition of 

 things, and an entire re-arrangement of the geographical collection 

 of the India Office has now (1891) become necessary. The ideal 

 organisation, did space permit, would be to have presses in and 

 adjoining the map room sufficiently numerous to accommodate a 

 copy of every map, old and new, for consultation and ready reference, 

 with a reasonable margin of room in each press for future accessions. 

 This would constitute the permanent collection. Space, however, is 

 precious, and it will probably be necessary to effect some compromise 

 which will enable those maps in most frequent demand to be stored 

 within easy reach. The saleable and non-saleable stock, though also 

 crowded, are conveniently arranged under reference numbers, and 

 do not so urgently need additional accommodation. This re-arrange- 

 ment of the collection will be a fitting opportunity for the complete 

 revision of the general catalogue.* 



In 1877, Mr. Markham's retirement from the public service 

 naturally affected in a very marked manner the geographical 

 business of the office. The Department or Branch was his own 

 creation ; for ten years he had watched over its growth, and his 

 geographical talents, his energy, and the personal example with 

 which he inspired the staff, had borne good fruit. A short sketch 

 of the public services of this officer is here necessary. 



Mr. Markham served in the navy for eight years, during which 

 time he was employed in one. of the Arctic Expeditions in search 

 of Sir John Franklin. In July 1854 he was appointed to the 

 Board of Control, and served in the Secret Department through the 

 time of the Persian War and Indian Mutiny. From 1858 to 1862 he 

 was in the Bevenue Department, and it was during that period 

 that he was deputed to South America for the purpose of collecting 

 chinchona plants and seeds and. introducing them into India. 



* During the last few years a useful series of catalogues of current maps of the different 

 presidencies and provinces of India has been issued by the Surveyor-General of India. 

 The opportunity has been taken to bind these different fasciculi together and reprint 

 the -work, with the addition of an index, for the use of the India Office and English 

 readers. This catalogue, which will fulfil a much felt want, has been just published. 



