Sir William Ouseley, the editor of the three volumes entitled _Oriental
Collections_ (brother to Sir Gore Ouseley, whom he accompanied when he
went as ambassador to Persia in 1810), gathered, during some forty years
spent in accumulation, about 750 Oriental MSS., chiefly in Persian, but
including also a few in Arabic, Sanscrit, Zend, &c. Of these, in 1831 a
catalogue (in 24 pp. quarto) was issued by the owner, who wished to
dispose of them collectively, but no purchaser was then found, and they
consequently remained in Sir William's possession. After his death,
however (in Sept. 1842), they were again proposed for sale _en masse_,
and the Library became a purchaser in this year for the sum of £2000.
Many of the volumes are specimens of the best styles of Persian writing
and illumination, while others are of great antiquity and rarity. The
printed Oriental collection was also increased by various works printed
in the East Indies in 1830-1839, which were presented by the Asiatic
Society of Bengal, and by some Sanscrit and Mahratta books given by Rev.
G. Pigott, Chaplain at Bombay.