The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night Volume XIV Part 12

As nearly a month had elapsed without my receiving any reply, I directed the following to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Rev. Dr. Bellamy:--

No. II.

ATHENAEUM CLUB, PALL MALL, Oct. 13, 1886.

"Sir,

"I have the honour to submit to you the following details:--

"On September 13, 1886, I wrote to Dr. Rost, Chief Librarian, India Office, an official letter requesting him to apply to the Curators of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, for the temporary transfer of an Arabic Ma.n.u.script, No. 522 (the Wortley Montague text of the Arabian Nights) to the library of the India Office, there to be kept under special charge of the Chief Librarian.

There being seven volumes, I wanted only one or two at a time. I undertook not to keep them long, and, further, I pledged myself not to translate tales that might be deemed offensive to propriety.

"Thus, I did not apply for a personal loan of the MS. which, indeed, I should refuse on account of the responsibility which it would involve. I applied for the safe and temporary transfer of a work, volume by volume, from one public library to another.

"My official letter was forwarded at once by Dr. Rost, but this was the only expeditious step. On Sat.u.r.day, September 25, the Curators could form no quorum; the same thing took place on Sat.u.r.day, October 9; and there is a prospect that the same will take place on Sat.u.r.day, October 23.

"I am acquainted with many of the public libraries of Europe, but I know of none that would throw such obstacles in the way of students.

"The best authorities inform me that until June, 1886, the signatures of two Curators enabled a student to borrow a book or a ma.n.u.script; but that since June a meeting of three Curators has been required; and that a lesser number does not form a quorum.

"May I be permitted to suggest that the statute upon the subject of borrowing books and ma.n.u.scripts urgently calls for revision?

I have the honour to be, sir,

Yours obediently, (Signed) RICHARD F. BURTON.

"THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, OXFORD."

The Curators presently met and the following was the highly unsatisfactory result which speaks little for "Bodleian" kindness or courtesy:--

No. III.

Monday, Nov. 1, 1886.

"DEAR SIR RICHARD BURTON,

"The Curators considered your application on Sat.u.r.day, Oct. 30, afternoon, and the majority of them were unwilling to lend the MS[FN#420]

Yours very truly, (Signed) EDWARD B. NICHOLSON."

Learning through a private source that my case had been made an unpleasant exception to a long-standing rule of precedent, and furthermore that it had been rendered peculiarly invidious by an act of special favour,[FN#421] I again addressed the Vice-Chancellor, as follows:--

No. IV.

23, DORSET STREET, PORTMAN SQUARE, November 3rd, 1886.

"Sir,

"I have the honour to remind you that, on October 13, I communicated with you officially requesting a temporary transfer of the Wortley Montague ma.n.u.script (Arabian Nights) from the Bodleian Library to the personal care of the Librarian, India Office.

"To this letter I received no reply. But on November 1, I was informed by Mr. Librarian Nicholson that the Curators had considered my application on Sat.u.r.day, October 30, and that the majority of them were unwilling to lend the ma.n.u.script.

"The same Curators at the same meeting allowed sundry ma.n.u.scripts for the use of an Indian subject to be sent to the India Office.

"I cannot but protest against this invidious proceeding, and I would willingly learn what cause underlies it.

"1. It cannot be the importance of the ma.n.u.script, which is one of the meanest known to me--written in a schoolmaster character, a most erroneous, uncorrected text, and valuable only for a few new tales.

"2. It cannot be any consideration of public morals, for I undertook (if the loan were granted) not to translate tales which might be considered offensive to strict propriety.

"3. It cannot be its requirement for local use. The ma.n.u.script stands on an upper shelf in the ma.n.u.script room, and not one man in the whole so-called 'University' can read it.

I have the honour to be, sir,

Yours obediently, RICHARD F. BURTON."

"THE VlCE-CHANCELLOR, OXFORD."

In due time came the reply:--

No. V.

ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD, November 6th, 1886.

"Dear Sir,

"I will remove from your mind the belief that I treated your former letter with discourtesy.

"I may say, that it did not appear to me to contain any question or request which I could answer. You informed me that you had made formal application in September for a loan of MSS., and your letter was to complain of the delay in considering this request.

You told me that you had learned from the Librarian the cause of the delay (the want of a quorum), and that he had intimated that there would probably be no meeting formed before October 30th.

"You complained of this, and suggested that the statute regulating the lending of the Bodleian books should be speedily revised.

"As I had no power to make a quorum, nor to engage that your suggestion should be adopted; and as your letter made no demand for any further information, I thought it best to reserve it for the meeting of the 30th, when I communicated it to the Curators.

"I will lay the letter (dated November 3rd), with which you have favoured me, before the next meeting of the Curators.

I beg to remain,

Yours faithfully, (Signed) J. BELLAMY."

"SIR R. F. BURTON."

To resume this part of the subject.

The following dates show that I was kept waiting six weeks before being finally favoured with the curtest of refusals:

Application made on September 13th, and sent on.