Chapter IV: The Library

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