Clement VII., who charged Michelangelo to construct a suitable edifice for its reception. It was opened to the public by Cosimo I. in 1571, and has ever since gone on increasing in value, the acces sions in the 18th century alone being enough to double its former importance. The printed books it contains are probably no more than 3000 in number, but are almost all of the highest rarity and interest. It is, however, the precious collection of MSS., amounting to about 7000 articles, which gives its chief importance to this library. They comprise some of the most valuable codices in the world, the famous Virgil of the 4th or 5th century, Justinian's Pandects of the 7th, a Homer of the 10th, and several other very early Greek and Latin classical and Biblical texts, as well as copies in the handwriting of Petrarch, about 100 codices of Dante, a Decameron copied by a contemporary from Boccaccio's own MS., and Cellini's MS. of his autobiography. Bandini's catalogue of the MSS. occupies 13 vols. folio, printed in 1764-78. At Genoa the Biblioteca Franzoniana, founded about 1770 for the instruction of the poorer classes, is noteworthy as being the first European library lighted up at night for the use of readers.—Ambrosiana.The famous Biblioteca Ambrosiana at Milan was founded in 1609 by Cardinal Fed. Borromeo. It contains 164,000 printed volumes and 8100 MSS. Amongst the MSS. are a Greek Pentateuch of the 5th century, the famous Peshito and SyroHexaplar from the Nitrian convent of St Maria Deipara, a Josephus written on papyrus, supposed to be of the 5th century, several palimpsest texts, including an early Plautus, and St Jerome's commentary on the Psalms in a volume of 7th century execution, full of contemporary glosses in Irish, Gothic fragments of Ulfilas, and a A irgil with notes in Petrarch's handwriting.[1] Note worthy amongst the printed books is Yaldarfer's Boccaccio of 1471, as well as the Virgil of 1470 (Venice), and the editio princeps of Isocrates, both printed on vellum. Cardinal Mai was formerly custodian here. In 1879 Professor C. Mensinger presented his " Biblioteca Europea," consisting of 2500 volumes, 300 maps, and 5000 pieces, all relating to the literature and linguistics of European countries.[2] The Melzi and Trivulzio libraries should not pass with out mention here, although they are private and inaccessible without special permission. The former is remarkable for its collection of early editions with engravings, including the Dante of 1481, with twenty designs by Baccio Bandinelli. The latter is rich in MSS. with miniatures of the finest and rarest kind, and in printed books of which many are unique or nearly so. It consists of 70,000 printed volumes.—Monte Cassino.The foundation of the monastery of Monte Cassino is due to St Benedict, who arrived there in the year 529, and established the prototype of all similar institutions in western Europe. He brought with him a few manuscripts, four or five of which are still to be seen. The library of printed books now extends to about 20,000 volumes, chiefly relating to the theological sciences, but including some rare editions. A collection of the books belong ing to the monks is in course of formation; it contains about the same number of volumes. But the chief glory of Monte Cassino consists of the archivio, which is quite apart; and this includes 30,000 or 40,000 bulls, diplomas, charters, and other documents, besides 1000 MSS. dating from the 6th century downwards. The latter comprehend some very early Bibles and important codices of patristic and other mediaeval writings. There are good written catalogues, and a calendar is now being published, Bibliothcca Casincnsis, of which 4 volumes have appeared. These libraries enjoy no special revenues, and owe their accessions entirely to donations. At Ravenna the Biblioteca Classense has a 10th cen tury codex of Aristophanes and two 14th century codices of Dante. Here are also the autograph correspondence of Muratori, and many unpublished letters of modern writers. Vercelli.At Vercelli the Biblioteca dell Archivio Capitolare, the foundation of which can be assigned to no certain date, but must be referred to the early days when the barbarous conquerors of Italy had become Christianized, comprises nothing but MSS., all of great antiquity and value. Amongst them is an Evangeliarium S. Eusebii in Latin, supposed to be of the 4th century; also the famous codex containing the Anglo-Saxon homilies which have been published by the Ælfric Society. The " Frari " at Venice contains an enormous collection of archives, the invaluable state paper records of the Venetian republic.
Not a few of the communal and municipal libraries, as will be seen from the tables, are of great extent and interest.
Belgium and Holland.
Brussels.The national library of Belgium is the Bibliotheque Royale at Brussels, of which the basis may be said to consist of the famous Bibliothequc dcs Dues de Bourgogne, the library of the Austrian sovereigns of the Low Countries, which had gradually accumulated during three centuries.[3] After suffering many losses from thieves and fire, in 1772 the Bibliotheque de Bourgogne received consider able augmentations from the libraries of the suppressed order of Jesuits, and was thrown open to the public. On the occupation of Brussels by the French in 1794 a number of books and MSS. were confiscated and transferred to Paris (whence the majority were returned in 1815); in 1795 the remainder were formed into a public library under the care of La Serna Santander, who was also town librarian, and who was followed by Van Hulthem. At the end of the administration of Van Hulthem a large part of the precious collections of the Bollandists was acquired. In 1830 the Bibliotheque de Bourgogne was added to the state archives, and the whole made available for students. A 7 an Hulthem died in 1832, leaving one of the most important private libraries in Europe, described by A T oisin in Bibliothcca Hulthcrniana, Brus., 1836, 5 vols., and extending to 60,000 printed volumes and 1016 MSS., mostly relating to Belgian history. The collection was purchased by the Government in 1837, and, having been added to the Bibliotheque de Bourgogne (open since 1772) and the Bibliotheque de la Ville (open since 1794), formed what has since been known as the Bibliotheque Royale de Belgique. The printed volumes now number 350,000, with 30,000 MSS., 100,000 prints, and 50,000 coins and medals. The yearly additions to the books amount to between 1500 and 3000; the other departments receive few acces sions. The special collections, each with a printed catalogue, consist of the Fonds van Hulthem, for national history; the Fonds Fe tis, for music; the Fonds Goethals, for genealogy; and the Fonds Muller, for physiology. The catalogue of the MSS. has been partly printed, but in an imperfect manner.
Ghent.The University Library of Ghent, known successively as the Bibliothèque de l'École Centrale and Bibliotheque Publique de la Ville, was founded upon the old libraries of the Conseil de Flandres, of the College des Echevins, and of many suppressed religious com munities. It was declared public in 1797, and formally opened in 1798. On the foundation of the university in 1817 the town placed the collection at its disposal, and the library has since remained under state control. The printed volumes now amount to 250,000, with 1600 MSS; the annual increment is about 2500 volumes. There are important special collections on archaeology, Netherlands literature, national history, books printed in Flanders, and 23,000 historical pamphlets of the 16th and 17th centuries. There are printed catalogues of the works on jurisprudence (1839), and of the MSS. (1852).—Louvain.The Bibliotheque de l'Universite Catholique of Louvain is based upon the collection of Beyerlinck, who bequeathed it to his alma mater in 1627; this example was followed by Jacques Romain, professor of medicine, but the proper organization of the library commenced in 1636. There are now said to be 250,000 volumes.—Liége.The Bibliothèque de l'Universite of Liege dates from 1817, when on the foundation of the university the old Bibliothèque de la Ville was added to it. There are now 105,746 printed volumes, 87,254 pamphlets, 1544 MSS., and 142 incunabula. The Liege collection (of which a printed catalogue appeared in 3 vols. 8vo, 1872), bequeathed by M. Ulysse Capitaine, extends to 12,061 volumes and pamphlets. A printed catalogue of the medical books was published in 1844, and one of the MSS. in 1875.
The Hague.The national library of Holland is the Koninklijke Bibliotheek at the Hague, which was established in 1798, when it was decided to join the library of the princes of Orange with those of the defunct Government bodies in order to form a library for the States General, to be called the National Bibliotheek. In 1805 the present name was adopted; and since 1815 it has become the national library. In 1848 the Baron W. Y. H. van Westreenen van Tiellandt bequeathed his valuable books, MSS., coins, and antiquities to the country, and directed that they, should be preserved in his former residence as a branch of the royal library. There arc now upwards of 200,000 volumes of printed books, with an annual increment of 4000 volumes. The MSS. number 4000, chiefly historical, but including many fine books of hours with miniatures. Books are lent all over the country. Some twenty-five years ago it was decided for economical reasons to restrict the purchases to political, historical, and legal works, but recently, in consequence of an increase in the yearly subsidy, literature has been added to these three classes. The library boasts of the richest collection in the world of books on chess, Dutch incunabula, Elzevirs, and Spinozana. There is one general written catalogue arranged in classes, with alphabetical indexes. In 1800 a printed catalogue was issued, with four supplements down to 1811 j and since 1866 a yearly list of additions has been published. Special mention should be made of the excellent catalogue of the incunabula published in 1856.
Leyden.The next library in numerical importance is the famous Bibliotheca Academic Lugduno-Batavrc, which dates from the foundation of the university of Leyden by William I., prince of Orange, on February 8, 1575. It has acquired many valuable additions from the books and MSS. of the distinguished scholars, Golius, Joseph
- ↑ Ceriani has published many of the unique treasures of this collection in his Monumenta Sacra et Profana.
- ↑ This, as well as the Brera library, is exhaustively described in Gli Istituti scientifici, letterari, ed artistici di Milano, published by the Societii Storica Lombarda in 1880; a. special treatise on the Brera was published in 1873 by the librarian G. Sacehi. See also Boscha, lie oriyine et statu BMiotheae Ambrosianx, 1672.
- ↑ A most interesting account of the history of this library may be read in the introduction to Catalogue des MSS. de la libliotheque royale des ducz de Bourgogne, by M. Marchal, Brussels. 1842, 3 vols. 4to.
