I have the honour to be, sir,

Yours obediently,
(Signed) Richard F. Burton.”

“Dr. R. Rost,
Chief Librarian, India Office.”

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 Manuscript, 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 Saturday, September 25, the Curators could form no quorum; the same thing took place on Saturday, October 9; and there is a prospect that the same will take place on Saturday, 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 manuscript; 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 manuscripts 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 Saturday, 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:—­