In this are collected rare books in every known and spoken language,
and in languages whose literatures were formed by the labours of
Catholic Missionaries only. Of the latter class are works in the very
difficult dialects of innumerable Indian tribes, whose tongues had to
be learned, reduced to grammar, and made permanent by the labour of the
devoted men, who went to carry the light of the Gospel, and with it
brought, as Catholic Missionaries have ever done, the light also of true
civilization. Through this means the Maori of New Zealand, the natives of
Fiji, and Samoa, and of Tonga-Taboo, can read and write, and be brought
into civilized contact with the white man. Eastern literature gives to
this library a value still more extraordinary. In it learned men of every
rite into which Eastern Christianity is divided, have left the wealth of
their researches, during two centuries. These not only illustrate the
history of their several nations, but throw an inestimable light upon
biblical and archæological knowledge. The study of the Oriental languages
is one which for obvious reasons the Propaganda has never omitted to
foster. And at the present moment its professors are acknowledged to be
amongst the foremost in Europe in this valuable department of linguistic
science. I believe that since the time of Cardinal Mezzofanti, no greater
Oriental scholar has appeared than Professor Ciasca of the Propaganda. He
is being fast approached by Professor Ferrata, brother of the late Papal
Nuncio to Switzerland. The linguistic capabilities of our own Cardinal
Howard are of a high order, and he occupies a distinguished place amongst
his brother Cardinals who form the special council of the Oriental
Department of the Propaganda.
It is well known that a great part of the value of the Propaganda
library depends upon another department of that great institution which
is foremost, if not unique, in its kind in Europe. This is the famous
Propaganda _Stamperia_ or