IOR/F/4/624/15931

Title page

‘Letter from Dr. Wallich, Superintendent of the Botanic Garden suggesting the Establishment of a Public Library at the Institution. The purchase of the Dr.’s collection of Books on that branch of scientific Literature for the sum of SaRs [Sicca Rupees] 8, 506.10 recommended to the Court’s favourable consideration.

The sum of £200 per annum authorised to be placed at the disposal of the Superintendent of the Botanic Garden for the purchase of the periodical and other Botanic Works. Bills on the Court have been granted to Dr. Wallich for £400’.

Correspondence/documents

Extract Public Letter from Bengal, 31 Jul 1820 [pp. 1-4]

• general material relating to establishment of library at the Botanic garden, with Wallich’s personal library forming the foundation collection

Extract Bengal Public Consultations, 7 Jan 1820 [pp. 5-46]

• Wallich states case for acquiring/developing an institutional library for the Botanic garden,
• including estimated value of Wallich’s personal library which would form the foundation collection, and suggested acquisitions budget for additional books, periodicals, etc.
• list of Wallich’s own botanical works with prices [pp. 19-34]
• list of botanical works which would be required to complete the preceding collection [pp. 34-40]
• committee established to evaluate Wallich’s collection

Extract Bengal Public Consultations, 8 Feb 1820 [pp. 47-60]

• report evaluating Wallich’s collection
• two main categories of works in Wallich’s collection:
• 1. relating directly to Botanical science
• 2. works on not written expressly or exclusively about Botany, which nevertheless contain relevant information, eg. Botanical characters, localities, the economical use of certain plants
• Wallich’s collection consists mostly of the first kind
• comments on particular works
• comments on and praise for work of Wallich and his predecessors

Extract Bengal Public Consultations, 25 Apr 1820 [pp. 61-65]

• funding of new library