Thomas Frognall Dibdin - A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two

T >> Thomas Frognall Dibdin >> A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two

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It will not be necessary to select more flowers from this choice corner of
the tenth and last room of the upper suite of apartments: nor am I sure
that, upon further investigation, the toil would be attended with any very
productive result. Yet I ought not to omit observing to you that this
Library owes its chief celebrity to the care, skill, and enthusiasm of the
famous _Gabriel Naude_, the first librarian under the Cardinal its founder.
Of Naude, you may have before read somewhat in certain publications;[104]
where his praises are set forth with no sparing hand. He was perhaps never
excelled in activity, bibliographical _diplomacy_, or zeal for his master;
and his expressive countenance affords the best index of his ardent mind.
He purchased every where, and of all kinds, of bodies corporate and of
individuals. But you must not imagine that the _Mazarine Library_, as you
now behold it, is precisely of the same dimensions, or contains the same
books, as formerly. If many rare and precious volumes have been disposed
of, or are missing, or lost, many have been also procured. The late
librarian was LUCAS JOSEPH HOOKE, and the present is Mons. PETIT
RADEL.[105] We will descend, therefore, from these quiet and congenial
regions; and passing through the lower rooms, seek the _other_ collection
of books attached to this establishment.

The library, which is more immediately appropriated to the INSTITUTE OF
FRANCE, may consist of 20,000 volumes,[106] and is contained in a long
room--perhaps of one hundred feet--of which the further extremity is
supposed to be _adorned_ by a statue of VOLTAIRE. This statue is raised
within a recess, and the light is thrown upon it from above from a
concealed window. Of all deviations from good taste, this statue exhibits
one of the most palpable. Voltaire, who was as thin as a hurdle, and a mere
bag of bones, is here represented as an almost _naked_ figure, sitting: a
slight mantle over his left arm being the only piece of drapery which the
statue exhibits. The poet is slightly inclining his head to the left,
holding a pen in his right hand. The countenance has neither the fire,
force, nor truth, which Denon's terra-cotta head of the poet seems to
display. The extremities are meagre and offensive. In short, the whole, as
it appears to me, has an air approaching the burlesque. Opposite to this
statue are the colossal busts of LA-GRANGE and MALESHERBES; while those of
PEIRESC and FRANKLIN are nearly of the size of nature. They are all in
white marble. That of Peiresc has considerable expression.

This may be called a collection of _Books of Business_; in other words, of
books of almost every day's reference--which every one may consult. It is
particularly strong in _Antiquities_ and _History_: and for the latter, it
is chiefly indebted to Dom Brial--the living father of French
history[107]--that excellent and able man (who is also one of the
Secretaries of the Institute) having recommended full two-thirds of the
_long sets_ (as they are called) which relate to ancient history. The
written catalogue is contained in fourteen folio volumes, interleaved;
there being generally only four articles written in a page, and those four
always upon the recto of each leaf. This is a good plan: for you may insert
your acquisitions, with the greatest convenience, for a full dozen years to
come. No _printed_ catalogue of either of these libraries, or of those of
the Arsenal and Ste. Genevieve, exists: which I consider to be a
_stain_--much more frightful than that which marks the copy of the
"_Servius in Virgilium_," just before described!

It remains now to make mention of a _third_ Collection of Books--which may
be considered in the light both of a public and a private Library. I mean,
the Collection appropriated more particularly for the _King's private
use_,[108] and which is deposited beneath the long gallery of the Louvre.
Its local is as charming as it is peculiar. You walk by the banks of the
Seine, in a line with the south side of the Louvre, and gain admittance
beneath an archway, which is defended by an iron grating. An attendant, in
the royal livery, opens the door of the library--just after you have
ascended above the entresol. You enquire "whether Monsieur BARBIER, the
chief Librarian, be within?" "Sir, he is never absent. Be pleased to go
straight forward, as far as you can see."[109] What a sight is before me!
Nothing less than _thirteen_ rooms, with a small arched door in the centre,
through which I gaze as if looking through a tube. Each of these rooms is
filled with books; and in one or the other of them are assembled the
several visitors who come to read. The whole is perfectly magical.
Meanwhile the nephew of M. Barbier walks quickly, but softly, from one room
to another, to take down the several volumes enquired after. At length,
having paced along upwards of 200 feet of glazed red tile, and wondering
when this apparently interminable suite of apartments will end, I view my
estimable friend, the HEAD LIBRARIAN deeply occupied in some correction of
Bayle or of Moreri--sitting at the further extremity. His reception of me
is more than kind. It is hearty and enthusiastic.

"Now that I am in this magical region, my good friend, allow me to inspect
the famous PRAYER BOOK of CHARLEMAGNE?"--was my first solicitation to Mons.
Barbier. "Gently,"--said my guide. "You are almost asking to partake of
forbidden fruit. But I suppose you must not be disappointed." This was only
sharpening the edge of my curiosity--for "wherefore this mystery, good M.
Barbier?" "_That_ you may know another time. The book is here: and you
shall immediately inspect it."--was his reply. M. Barbier unlocked the
recess in which it is religiously preserved; took off the crimson velvet in
which it is enveloped; and springing backward only two feet and a half,
exclaimed, on presenting it, "Le voila--dans toute sa beaute pristine." I
own that I even forgot _Charles the Bald_--and eke his imperial brother
_Lotharius_,[110]--as I gazed upon the contents of it. With these contents
it is now high time that you should be made acquainted.

EVANGELISTARIUM, or PRAYER BOOK--once belonging to CHARLEMAGNE. Folio. The
subject-matter of this most precious book is thus arranged. In the first
place, there are five large illuminations, of the entire size of the page,
which are much discoloured. The first four represent the _Evangelists_:
each sitting upon a cushion, not unlike a bolster. The fifth is the figure
of our SAVIOUR. The back ground is purple: the pillow-like seat, upon which
Christ sits, is scarlet, relieved by white and gold. The upper garment of
the figure is dark green: the lower, purple, bordered in part with gold.
The foot-stool is gold: the book, in the left hand, is red and gold: the
arabesque ornaments, in the border, are blue, red, and gold. The hair of
our Saviour is intended to be flaxen.

The text is in double columns, upon a purple ground, within an arabesque
border of red, purple, yellow, and bluish green. It is uniformly executed
in letters of gold, of which the surface is occasionally rather splendid.
It consists of a series of gospel extracts, for the whole year, amounting
to about two hundred and forty-two. These extracts terminate with "_Et ego
resuscitabo eum in novissimo die. Amen_"

Next comes a Christian Calendar, from the dominical year Dcclxxv. to
Dccxcvii. On casting the eye down these years, and resting it on that of
Dcclxxxi, you observe, in the columns of the opposite leaf, this very
important entry, or memorandum--in the undoubted writing of the time: "_In
isto Anno ivit Dominus_, REX KAROLUS, _ad scm Petrvm et baptisatus est
filius eius_ PIPPINUS _a Domino Apostolico_;" from which I think it is
evident (as is observed in the account of this precious volume in the
_Annales Encyclopediques_, vol. iii. p. 378) that this very book was
commanded to be written chiefly to perpetuate a notice of the baptism, by
Pope Adrian, of the emperor's son PIPPIN.[111] There is no appearance
whatever of fabrication, in this memorandum. The whole is coeval, and
doubtless of the time when it is professed to have been executed. The last
two pages are occupied by Latin verses, written in a lower-case, cursive
hand; but contemporaneous, and upon a purple ground. From these verses we
learn that the last scribe, or copyist, of the text of this splendid
volume, was one GODESCALE, or GODSCHALCUS, a German. The verses are
reprinted in the _Decades Philosophiques_.

This MS. was given to the _Abbey of St. Servin_, at Toulouse; and it was
religiously preserved there, in a case of massive silver, richly embossed,
till the year 1793; when the silver was stolen, and the book carried off,
with several precious relics of antiquity, by order of the President of the
Administration, (Le Sieur S*****) and thrown into a magazine, in which were
many other vellum MSS. destined ... TO BE BURNT! One's blood curdles at the
narrative. There it lay--- expecting its melancholy fate; till a Monsieur
de Puymaurin, then detained as a prisoner in the magazine, happened to
throw his eye upon the precious volume; and, writing a certain letter about
it, to a certain quarter--(which letter is preserved in the fly leaves, but
of which I was denied the transcription, from motives of delicacy--) an
order was issued by government for the conveyance of the MS. to the
metropolis. This restoration was effected in May 1811.[112] I think you
must admit, that, in every point of view, THIS MS. ranks among the most
interesting and curious, as well as the most ancient, of those in the
several libraries of Paris.

But this is the _only_ piece of antiquity, of the book kind, in the
Library. Of modern performances, I ought to mention a French version of
OSSIAN, in quarto, which was the favourite reading book of the ex-Emperor;
and to which Isabey, at his express command, prefixed a frontispiece after
the design of Gerard. This frontispiece is beautifully and tenderly
executed: a group of heroes, veiled in a mist, forms the back-ground. The
only other modern curiosity, in this way, which I deem it necessary to
notice, is a collection of ORIGINAL DRAWINGS of flowers, in water colours,
by REDOUTE, upon vellum: in seven folio volumes; and which cost 70,000
francs.[113] Nothing can exceed--and very few efforts of the pencil can
equal--this wonderful performance. Such a collection were reasonable at the
fore-mentioned price.

And now, my good friend, suppose I furnish you with an outline of the
worthy head-librarian himself? A.A. BARBIER has perhaps not long "turned
the corner" of his fiftieth year. Peradventure he may be fifty three.[114]
In stature, he is above the middle height, but not very tall. In form, he
is robust; and his countenance expressive of great conciliatoriness and
benignity. There is a dash of the "old school" about the attire of M.
Barbier, which I am Goth enough to admire: while his ardour of
conversation, and rapidity of utterance, relieved by frequent and
expressive smiles, make his society, equally agreeable and instructive. He
is a literary bibliographer to the very back bone; and talks of what he has
done, and of what he purposes to do, with a "gaiete de coeur" which is
quite delightful. He is now engaged in an _Examen Critique et Complement
des Dictionnaires Historiques les plus repandus_;[115] while his
_Dictionnaire des Auteurs Anonymes et Pseudonymes_, in 4 vols. 8vo., and
his _Bibliotheque d'un Homme de gout_," in five similar volumes, have
already placed him in the foremost rank of French bibliographers. Such is
his attention to the duties of his situation, as Librarian, that from one
year's end to the other, with the exception of Sundays, he has _no
holiday_. His home-occupations, after the hours of public employment (from
twelve to four) are over, are not less unintermitting--in the pursuits of
literary bibliography.

It was at this home, that M. Barbier shewed me, in his library, some of the
fruits of his long and vigorously pursued "travail." He possesses Mercier
Saint Leger's own copy of his intended _third_ edition of the _Supplement
to Marchand's History of Printing_. It is, in short, the second edition,
covered with ms. notes in the hand-writing of Mercier himself.[117] He also
possesses (but as the property of the Royal Library) the same eminent
bibliographer's copy of the _Bibliotheque Francaise De La Croix du Maine_,
in six volumes, covered in like manner with ms. notes by the same hand. To
a man of M. Barbier's keen literary appetite, this latter must prove an
inexhaustible feast. I was shewn, in this same well-garnished, but
unostentatious collection, GOUJET'S own catalogue of his own library. It is
in six folio volumes; well written; with a ruled frame work round each
page, and an ornamental frontispiece to the first volume. Every book in the
catalogue has a note subjoined; and the index is at once full and
complete.[118] M. Barbier has rather a high notion, and with justice, of
Goujet: observing to me, that _five_ volumes, out of the _ten_ of the last
edition of Moreri's Dictionary--which were edited by Goujet--as well as his
_Bibliotheque Francaise_, in eighteen duodecimo volumes--entitled him to
the lasting gratitude of posterity. On my remarking that the want of an
index, to this _latter_ work, was a great drawback to the use which might
be derived from it, M.B. readily coincided with me--and hoped that a
projected new edition would remedy this defect. M.B. also told me that
Goujet was the editor of the _Dictionnaire de Richelet_, of 1758, in three
folio volumes--which had escaped my recollection.

My first visit to M. Barbier was concluded by his begging my acceptance of
a copy of the _first edition of Phaedrus_, in 1596, 12mo.; which contained,
bound up with it, a copy of the _second_ edition of 1600; with various
readings to the _latter_, from a MS. which was burnt in 1774. This gift was
expressly intended for Lord Spencer's library, and in a few months from
hence (as I have previously apprized his Lordship) it shall "repose upon
the shelves" of his Collection.[119]

It is now high time to relieve you; as you must begin to be almost wearied
with BIBLIOGRAPHY. You have indeed, from the tenor of these five last
letters, been made acquainted with some of the chief treasures in the
principal libraries of Paris. You have wandered with me through a world of
books; and have been equally, with myself, astonished and delighted with
what has been placed before you. Here, then, I drop the subject of
bibliography--only to be resumed as connected with an account of book-men.

[91] [Because I have said that M. FLOCON was "from home" at the time I
visited the library, and that M. Le CHEVALIER was rarely to be found
abroad, M. Crapelet lets loose such a tirade of vituperation as is
downright marvellous and amusing to peruse. Most assuredly I was not
to know M. Flocon's bibliographical achievements and distinction by
_inspiration_; and therefore I hasten to make known both the one and
the other--in a version of a portion of the note of my sensitive
translator: "M. Flocon is always at work; and one of the most zealous
Librarians in Paris: he has worked twenty years at a Catalogue of the
immense Library of Ste. Genevieve, of which the fruits are,
twenty-four volumes--ready for press. Assuredly such a man cannot be
said to pass his life away from his post." CRAPELET, vol iv. p. 3, 4.
Most true--and who has said that HE DOES? Certainly not the Author of
this Work. My translator must have here read without his spectacles.]

[92] _Editiones Italicae_; 1793. _Praef._

[93] Vol. i. p. 63-7. It is there observed that "there does not seem to be
any reason for assigning this edition, to a _Roman_ press."

[94] See page 116 ante

[95] See page 139 ante.

[96] See page 145 ante.

[97] [Now the property of the Right Hon. T. Grenville; having been
purchased at the sale of Mr. Dent's Library for 107_l_.]

[98] M. Crapelet doubts the truth of this story. He need not.

[99] [See the account of M. Barbier, post.]

[100] It is on a small piece of paper, addressed to M. Barbier: "Cherchez
dans les depots bien soigneusement, tous les ouvrages d'ANDRE CIRINE:
entr'autres ses _De Venatione libri ii: Messanae_ 1650. 8vo. _De natura
et solertia Canum; Panormi_, 1653. 4to. _De Venatione et Natura
Animalium Libri V. ibid_, 1653. 3 vol. in 4to.--tous avec figures
gravees en bois. Peut etre dans la _Bibl. des Theatres_ y etoient-ils.
Je me recommande toujours a M, Barbier pour la _Scala Coeli_, in
folio, pour les _Lettres de Rangouge_, et pour les autres livres qu'il
a bien voulu se charger de rechercher pour moy." ST. LEGER.

[101] The Abbe Hooke preceded the abbe Le Blond; the late head librarian.
The present head librarian M. PETIT RADEL, has given a good account of
the Mazarine Library in his _Recherches sur les Bibliotheques_, &c.
1819, 8vo.; but he has been reproached with a sort of studied omission
of the name of Liblond--who, according to a safe and skilful writer,
may be well considered the SECOND FOUNDER of the Mazarine Library. The
Abbe Liblond died at St. Cloud in 1796. In M. Renouard's Catalogue of
his own books, vol. ii. p. 253, an amusing story is told about Hooke's
successor, the Abbe Le Blond, and Renouard himself.

[102] _Bibl. Spenceriana_, vol. i. p. 3, &c. and page 154 ante.

[103] When Lord Spencer was at Paris in 1819, he told MM. Petit Radel and
Thiebaut, who attended him, that it was "the finest copy he had ever
seen." Whereupon, one of these gentlemen wrote with a pencil, in the
fly-leaf, "Lord Spencer dit que c'est le plus bel exemplaire qu'il ait
vu." And well might his Lordship say so.

[104] _Bibliomania_, p. 50. _Bibliographical Decameron_, vol. ii.
p. 493.

[105] Mons. Petit-Radel has lately (1819) published an interesting octavo
volume, entitled "_Recherches sur les Bibliotheques anciennes et
modernes,&c._ with a "_Notice Historique sur la Bibliotheque
Mazarine_: to which latter is prefixed a plate, containing portraits
in outline, of Mazarin, Colbert, Naude and Le Blond." At the end, is a
list of the number of volumes in the several public libraries at
Paris: from which the following is selected.

ROYAL LIBRARY _Printed Volumes_ about 350,000
_Ditto, as brochures_, &c. 350,000
Manuscripts 50,000

LIBRARY OF THE ARSENAL Printed Volumes 150,000
Manuscripts 5,000

LIBRARY OF ST. GENEVIEVE Printed Volumes 110,000
Manuscripts 2,000

MAZARINE LIBRARY Printed Volumes 90,000
Manuscripts 3,500

LIBRARY OF THE PREFECTURE
(Hotel de la Ville) Printed Volumes 15,000

------- INSTITUTE Printed Volumes 50,000

This last calculation I should think very incorrect. M. Petit Radel
concludes his statement by making the WHOLE NUMBER OF ACCESSIBLE
VOLUMES IN Paris amount to _One Million, one hundred and twenty-five
thousand, four hundred and thirty-seven_. In the several DEPARTMENTS
OF FRANCE, collectively, there is _more_ than that number. But see the
note ensuing.

[106] [Mons. Crapelet says, 60,000 volumes: but I have more faith in the
first, than in the second, computation: not because it comes from
myself, but because a pretty long experience, in the numbering of
books, has taught me to be very moderate in my numerical estimates. I
am about to tell the reader rather a curious anecdote connected with
this subject. He may, or he may not, be acquainted with the Public
Library at Cambridge; where, twenty-five years ago, they boasted of
having 90,000 volumes; and now, 120,000 volumes. In the year 1823, I
ventured to make, what I considered to be, rather a minute and
carefull calculation of the whole number: and in a sub note in the
_Library Companion_, p. 657, edit. 1824, stated my conviction of that
number's not exceeding 65,000 volumes, including MSS. In the following
year, a very careful estimate was made, by the Librarians, of the
whole number:--and the result was, that there were only.... 64,800
volumes!]

[107] Now, numbered with THE DEAD. Vide post.

[108] [The translation of the whole of the concluding part of this letter,
beginning from above, together with the few notes supplied, as seen in
M. Crapelet's publication, is the work of M. Barbier's nephew.]

[109] [For M. Barbier Junior's note, which, in M. Crapelet's publication,
is here subjoined, consult the end of the Letter.]

[110] See pages 65-7 ante.

[111] [This conclusion is questioned with acuteness and success by M.
Barbier's nephew. It seems rather that the MS. was finished in 781, to
commemorate the victories of Charlemagne over his Lombardic enemies in
774.]

[112] [This restoration, in the name of the City of Toulouse, was made in
the above year--on the occasion of the baptism of Bonaparte's son. But
it was not placed in the King's private library till 1814. BARBIER
Jun.]

[113] [Now complete in 8 volumes--at the cost of 80,000 francs!]

[114] [The latter was the true guess: for M. Barbier died in 1825, in his
60th year.]

[115] It was published in 1821. In one of his recent letters to me, the
author thus observes--thereby giving a true portraiture of himself--
"Je sais, Monsieur, quelle est votre ardeur pour le travail: je sais
aussi que c'est le moyen d'etre heureux: ainsi je vous felicite d'etre
constamment occupe." M. Barbier is also one of the contributors to the
_Biographie Universelle_,[116] and has written largely in the _Annales
Encyclopediques_. Among his contributions to the latter, is a very
interesting "_Notice des principaux ecrits relatifs a la personne et
aux ouvrages de J.J. Rousseau_." His "_Catalogue des livres dans la
Bibliotheque du Conseil d'Etat_, transported to Fontainbleau in 1807,
and which was executed in a handsome folio volume, in 1802, is a
correct and useful publication. I boast with justice of a copy of it,
on fine paper, of which the author several years ago was so obliging
as to beg my acceptance. [From an inscription in the fly-leaf of this
Catalogue, I present the reader with a fac-simile of the hand-writing
of its distinguished author.]

[Autograph]

[116] [I "ALONE am responsible for this Sin. _Suum Cuique_."
BARBIER, Jun.]

[117] [These volumes form the numbers 1316 and 1317 of the Catalogue of M.
Barbier's library, sold by auction in 1828.]

[118] [Consult _Bibl. Barbier_: Nos. 1490, 1491, 1861.]

[119] [The agreeable and well instructed Bibliographer, to the
praises of whom, in the preceding edition of this work, I was too
happy to devote the above few pages, is now NO MORE. Mons. Barbier
died in 1825, and his library--the richest in literary bibliography in
Paris,--was sold in 1828. On referring to page 197 ante, it will be
seen that I have alluded to a note of M. Barbier's nephew, of which
some mention was to be made in this place. I will give that note in
its _original language_, because the most felicitous version of it
would only impair its force. It is subjoined to these words of my
text: "Be pleased to go strait forward as far as you can see."
"L'homme de service lui-meme ne ferait plus cette reponse aujourd'hui.
Peu de temps apres l'impression du Voyage de M. Dibdin, ce qu'on
appelle une _organisation_ eut lieu. Apres vingt-sept ans de travaux
consacres a la bibliographique et aux devoirs de sa place, M. Barbier,
que ses fonctions paisibles avoient proteges contre les terribles
denonciations de 1815, n'a pu register, en 1822, aux delations
mensongeres de quelque commis sous M. Lauriston.

_Insere nunc, Meliboee, pyros; pone ordine vites_!

J'ai partage pendant vingt ans les travaux de mon oncle pour former la
bibliotheque de la couronne, et j'ai du, ainsi que lui, etre mis a la
retraite au moment de la promotion du nouveau Conservateur." CRAPELET,
vol. iv. p. 45.

I will not pretend to say _what_ were the causes which led to such a
disgraceful, because wholly unmerited, result. But I have reason to
BELIEVE that a dirty faction was at work, to defame the character of
the Librarian, and in consequence, to warp the judgment of the
Monarch. Nothing short of infidelity to his trust should have moved
SUCH a Man from the Chair which he had so honourably filled in the
private Library of Louis XVIII. But M. Barbier was beyond suspicion on
this head; and in ability he had perhaps, scarcely an equal--in the
particular range of his pursuits. His _retreating_ PENSION was a very
insufficient balm to heal the wounds which had been inflicted upon
him; and it was evident to those, who had known him long and well,
that he was secretly pining at heart, and that his days of happiness
were gone. He survived the dismissal from his beloved Library only
five years: dying in the plenitude of mental vigour. I shall always
think of him with no common feelings of regret: for never did a kinder
heart animate a well-stored head. I had hoped, if ever good fortune
should carry me again to Paris, to have renewed, in person, an
acquaintance, than which none had been more agreeable to me, since my
first visit there in 1818: But ... "Diis aliter visum est." There is
however a mournful pleasure in making public these attestations to the
honour of his memory; and, in turn, I must be permitted to quote from
the same author as the nephew of M. Barbier has done....

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