| OCR Text |
Show Cairo 23rd August 194-9 To J The Most Learned Dr. Luther H.EvanB Librarian, The Library of Congress, Washington 25 D.C. U. S. A. Most "earned Doctor, We received your letter of the l6th. inst., and while we were drawing up our answer to it. Mr. W. Phillips, your representative, called at our Convent to inform us that you were desirous to have all the manuscripts of our library photographed. Although to gratify your above wish ia for us a very difficult task indeed, nevertheless, out of consideration for the great, friendly Nation of the U.S.A., we have decided to comply with your request and have given it our appro* bation. We have, however, explained to your aforesaid representative that our Monastery which, through so many centuries, not with standing the frequent dangers, has been able to safeguard these precious spiritual treasures, whose photos you now wish to take, is entitled to an equitable compensation- especially at the present time at which it is facing heavy financial difficulties. Our Monastery, Most Learned Doctor, on accountof the loss €t the most lucrative of itB properties which, being in Russia, Romania and Turkey, have been confiscated by the governments of the aforesaid three Countries, is now owing more than L 30,000. Resided this debt, our Monastery is onliged to afford the means of subsistence to its Friars, who are the vigilant guardians of its inestimable treasures, as well as to more than four hundred poor Arabs who live in the neighbourhood. Now, as the manuscripts in question are to be photographed for the benefit of the Library of Congress, and as this enterprise is to be lacked by the state, since it will be carried out at the expense of the American Government, we think it is xxxkfcfc right and reasonable that our Monastery should get a pecuniary relief of about LE. 10,000 which will greatly contribute to the amelioration of its finances. Besides this pecuniary relief which, as a matter of fact, is insignificant to the Great American Republic, our Monastery demands to be furnished with copies of the photos of all the manuscripts which will be photographed by you. That our demand is right and totally pa&±f±M& justified "is also admitted by Dr. Aziz Atiya, the well-known Egyptiologist, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Letters, Farouk 1st. University, Alexandria, who, in a special memo, has undertaken to enlighten you on this matter. Trusting that you will give this letter of ours your kind consideration, We remain, Most Learned Doctor. lours Faithfully, / |
