'Bodleian Library,
'January 9, 1849.
'Sir,—In compliance with your letter, dated Oct. 27, 1848, desiring certain Returns respecting the Bodleian Library, I have to state—
'1. As to the number of books received under the various Copyright Acts, no distinct register of the books so received has been kept, but they have, at the end of each year, been incorporated into the general collection, so that I am unable to give the number of the books so received.
'2. The number of printed volumes in the Bodleian Library amounts to about 220,000; but this statement will very inadequately express the real extent of the collection, as so many works have been bound together in one volume.
'3. The number of manuscripts is about 21,000.
'4. All graduates of the University have the right of admission to the Library; other persons must apply for admission to the regular authorities.
'5. No register is kept of persons consulting the Library; accordingly, the number of students who have frequented it during the last ten years cannot be ascertained.
'I have, &c.
'BULKELEY BANDINEL,
'Bodleian Librarian.
'George Cornewall Lewis, Esq.,
'Under-Secretary of State, Whitehall.'
The estimate of printed volumes here given is believed to be as nearly accurate as it was possible to make it, as considerable pains were taken in forming the calculation. The number of separate printed books and tracts may be reckoned as at least treble the number of volumes. With regard to the reply to the fifth enquiry some explanation is requisite. A register is kept of all the octavo and most of the quarto volumes taken out for