Calcutta, Jan. 29 :    Calcutta, Jan. 29:  A belvedere, the dictionary says, is a summer house. And of the buildings which fit that description in this city, few could rival the beauty of what used to be the seat of Warren Hastings in Alipore, which has housed National Library since February 1, 1953. But as historian P.T. Nair said in his lecture on the Belvedere at the library on Tuesday, originally the building was hardly as grand as we see it today. Over the years, its occupants added wings and rooms to the core structure consisting of a hall and a verandah in the south, in addition to six rooms. Mir Jaffar Ali Khan had gifted the 400-bigha Belvedere Estate to Hastings for his support in reinstating him to the masnad of Murshidabad in 1763. Though Hastings stated in his Minute dated February 9, 1775, that he bought the house occupied by his predecessors, Mr Verelst and Mr Cartier, for 60,000 sicca rupees, the correspondence of his associate Richard Barwell provides evidence that he had owned Belvedere since 1763. The then governor-general sold Belvedere Estate, which comprised Hastings House, Judges Court, Belvedere mansion, the land on which the zoo was built and stretches to the north and south of Belvedere Road, in lots in 1785-86. Hastings bequeathed 70 bighas to his step-son, Julius Imhoff, before selling off the estate. The home of National Library and the 63 bighas attached to it changed hands before East India Company finally bought it for Rs 80,000. One of its owners was an Indian, Sambhu Chandra Mukherjee, who is not to be mistaken for the famous journalist of that name. Between 1854 and 1912, the lieutenant-governors, who resided there, added on features to the building in the Italian Renaissance style, which enhanced its splendour. Electricity was introduced here in 1897, four years before the Governor's residence was given a power connection. The house used to be luxuriously appointed with paintings by the Daniells, portraits of the lieutenant-governors and statuary. The throne of the lieutenant-governors was made by J. Boseck. It was the scene of many grand parties. Most of the treasures were removed to Victoria Memorial in early 20th century. The building has had literary associations since May 16. Archibald Fleming, editor of Oriental Star, which was published from the city between 1793 and 1820, used to live there. The Society for Diffusion of Useful Literature in India held its first meeting there on January 31, 1890. Besides mahogany, mango, bamboo and banyan trees, the National Library grounds could boast a rare sundari tree and rare medicinal herbs. Unfortunately, scores of them were felled to make way for annexes.