335 



tain 3883 distinct tracts; and, in the Miscellaneous portion, 173 

 volumes contain 1402 tracts. Thus 765 volumes of the above total 

 of 20,018 volumes, comprise as many as 5285 separate works. 



The Library contains, besides, a valuable collection of Oriental 

 Manuscripts, especially Sanscrit, formed by Sir William Jones during 

 his residence in the East, and presented to the Society, after his de- 

 cease, by Lady Jones. Many of these are unique in Europe ; and 

 their value is attested by learned foreigners coming to this country 

 for the express purpose of consulting them. Of the Miscellaneous 

 Manuscripts, the autograph of the Principia, presented by Sir Isaac 

 Newton to the Society, and from which the first edition was printed, 

 must be considered invaluable. An unpublished MS. of Aubrey's 

 is also in the Library, and contains curious researches frequently re- 

 ferred to by antiquaries. The collection likewise contains MSS. of 

 Pappus Alexandrinus, Statins, Jordanus, Nemorarius, Malpighius, 

 John Robins, &c. The Catalogue of Miscellaneous Literature is 

 peculiarly valuable, as containing autograph letters of the majority 

 of distinguished individuals throughout Europe since the first forma- 

 tion of the Society ; for instance, of Newton, Leibnitz, Wren, Heve- 

 lius, Huygens, Lister, Ray, Wllloughby, &c. &c. 



The Library possesses, besides, a large collection of Maps and 

 Charts, and many Engravings ; but of these no catalogue is as yet 

 published. 



In almost every department of Science, the Library contains all 

 the most valuable works, especially in the mathematical sciences. 



In the Miscellaneous division of the Library, the largest propor- 

 tion of which was acquired by the bequest of the Earl of Arundel, 

 the Library possesses some very interesting books, especially some 

 of the early works of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and many 

 Editiones principes of the Classics. The majority of these came into 

 the possession of the Earl of Arundel by the purchase of the library 

 of the celebrated Bilibaldus Pyrckheinier ; particularly the jurists 

 and the early reformers. Of these, the first editions of many of Lu- 

 ther's tracts are interesting. There are, besides, some curious col- 

 lections of Italian and Spanish poetry. 



The earliest printed book in the Library is a splendid copy upon 

 vellum of the Decretals, printed by Fust in 1465, and Tully's Offices, 

 also on vellum, by Fust in 1466 ; and there are specimens of many 

 of the early German and Italian presses. Of our own, there are 

 copies of Caxton's second edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, 

 and Pynson's first edition of the same works, the first half of which 

 was revised by Caxton. Neither have dates ; but the former is sup- 

 posed by Tyrwhit to have been printed about 1482, and the latter 

 about 1493. With these exceptions, the Library contains but few 

 early English books ; for the second folio edition of Shakspeare can- 

 not be so called, as there are scientific books of an earlier date than 

 this in the Library. There are also the majority of the books printed 

 by the Record Commission and by the Oriental Translation fund. 



