UPON VELLUM. The cuts are coloured. The Abbé Strattman had told me that I
should necessarily find this to be the largest and completest copy in
existence. It is very white and tall, measuring fifteen inches, by nine and
three quarters; and perhaps the largest known. Yet I suspect, from the
smooth glossy surface of the fore edge--in its recent and very common-place
binding, in russia--that the side margin was once broader.[132] The cuts
should not have been coloured, and the binding should haye been less
vulgar: Here is ANOTHER COPY, not quite so large, with the cuts
uncoloured.[133]
_Tristran: chlr de la table ronde "nouellement Imprime a Paris_." Folio.
_Printed by Verard._ Without Date. This is a fine sound copy, in old
handsome calf binding.
_Thucydide (L'hystoire de)._ _Printed by G. Gourmont._ Without Date. Folio.
The translator was Claude de Seyssel, when Bishop of Marseilles, and the
edition was printed at the command of Francis the First. It is executed in
the small, neat, secretary gothic type of Gourmont; whose name is at the
bottom of the title-page. This is a beautiful copy, struck off UPON VELLUM;
but it is much cut in the fore edge, and much choked in the back of the
binding, which is in red morocco. It belonged to PRINCE EUGENE.
* * * * *
Comparatively copious as may be the preceding list, I fear it will not
satisfy you unless I make some mention of _Block Books_, and inform
you whether, as you have long and justly supposed, there be not also a few
_Cartons_ in the Imperial Library. These two points will occupy very
little more of my time and attention. First then of _xylographical_
productions--or of books supposed to have been printed by means of wooden
blocks. I shall begin with an unique article of this description. It is
called _Liber Regum, seu Vita Davidis_: a folio, of twenty leaves: printed
on one side only, but the leaves are here pasted together. Two leaves go to
a signature, and the signatures run from A to K. Each page has two wood
cuts, about twice as long as the text; or, rather, about one inch and three
quarters of the text doubled. The text is evidently xylographic. The ink is
of the usual pale, brown colour. This copy is coloured, of the time of the
publication of the book. It is in every respect in a fine and perfect state
of preservation. Here is the second, if not third edition, of the _Biblia
Pauperum_; the second edition of the _Apocalypse_; the same of the _History
of the Virgin_; and a coloured and cropt copy of _Hartlib's Book upon
Chiromancy_: so much is it cropt, that the name of _Schopff_, the supposed
printer, is half cut away. The preceding books are all clumsily bound in
modern russia binding. As some compensation, however, there is a fine bound
copy, in red morocco binding, of the Latin edition of the _Speculum Humanæ
Salvationis_; and a very fine large copy, in blue morocco binding, of the
first edition of the _Ars Memorandi per Figuras_; which latter had belonged
to Prince Eugene.
Of the CAXTONS, the list is more creditable; and indeed very much to be
commended: for, out of our own country, I question whether the united
strength of all the continental libraries could furnish a more copious
supply of the productions of our venerable first printer. I send you the
following account--just as the several articles happened to be taken down
for my inspection. _Chaucer's Book of Fame_: a neat, clean, perfect copy:
in modern russia binding. The _Mayster of Sentence_, &c. This is only a
portion of a work, although it is perfect of itself, as to signatures and
imprint. This copy, in modern russia binding, is much washed, and in a very
tender state. _Game of Chess_; second edition. In very tender condition:
bound in blue morocco, with pink lining. An exceedingly _doctored_ copy.
_Iason_: a cropt, and rather dirty copy: which formerly belonged to
Gulstone. It appears to be perfect; for Gulstone has observed in ms. "_This
book has 148 leaves, as I told them carefully. 'Tis very scarce and
valuable, and deserves an extraordinary good binding_." Below, is a note,
in French; apparently by Count Reviczky. _Godfrey of Boulogne_: a perfect,
large copy, in old red morocco (apparently Harleian) binding. On the fly
leaf, Count Reviczky has written a notice of the date and name of the
printer of the book. Opposite the autograph of _Ames_ (to whom this copy
once belonged) the old price of 16_l._ 16_s._ is inserted. On the first
page of the text, is the ancient autograph of _Henry Norreys_. This is
doubtless the most desirable Caxtonian volume in the collection. This
department of bibliography may be concluded by the mention of a sound and
desirable copy of the first edition of _Littleton's Tenures_ by _Lettou_
and _Machlinia_, which had formerly belonged to Bayntun of Gray's Inn.
This, and most of the preceding articles, from the early English press,
were supplied to the Imperial library by the late Mr. Edwards.
And now, my good friend, I hope to have fulfilled even your wishes
respecting the earlier and more curious book-treasures in the Imperial
Library. But I must candidly affirm, that, although _you_ may be satisfied,
it is not so with myself. More frequent visits, and less intrusion upon the
avocations of Messrs. BARTSCH and KOPITAR--who ought, during the whole
time, to have been inhaling the breezes of Baden,--would doubtless have
enabled me to render the preceding catalogue more copious and satisfactory;
but, whatever be its defects, either on the score of omission or
commission, it will at least have the merit of being the first, if not the
only, communication of its kind, which has been transmitted for British
perusal. To speak fairly, there is a prodigious quantity of lumber--in the
shape of books printed in the fifteenth century--in this Imperial Library,
which might be well disposed of for more precious literary productions. The
MSS. are doubtless, generally speaking, of great value; yet very far indeed
from being equal, either in number or in intrinsic worth, to those in the
Royal Library at Paris. It is also to be deeply regretted, that, both of
these MSS. and printed books--with the exception of the ponderous and
digressive work of Lambecius upon the former,--there should be NO printed
_catalogue raisonné_. But I will hope that the "Saturnia regna" are about
to return; and that the love of bibliographical research, which now seems
generally, to pervade, the principal librarians of the public collections
upon the continent, will lead to the appearance of some solid and
satisfactory performance upon the subjects of which this letter has
treated. Fare you well. The post will depart in a few minutes, and I am
peremptorily summoned to the operatical ballet of _Der Berggeist_.
[109] [All this is profound matter, or secret history--(such as my friend
Mr. D'Israeli dearly loves) for future writers to comment upon.]
[110] [Mons. Bartsch did NOT LIVE to peruse this humble record of his
worth. More of him in a subsequent note.]
[111] [M. Payne now CEASES TO EXIST.]
[112] My excellent friend M.A. DE BARTSCH has favoured me with the
following particulars relating to the Imperial Library. The building
was begun in 1723, and finished in 1735, by Joseph Emanuel, Baron de
Fischer, Architect of the Court: the same who built the beautiful
church of St. Charles Borromeo, in the suburbs. The Library is 246
German feet in length, by 62 in width: the oval dome, running at right
angles, and forming something like transepts, is 93 feet long, and 93
feet high, by 57 wide. The fresco-paintings, with which the ceiling of
the dome in particular is profusely covered, were executed by Daniel
Gran. The number of the books is supposed to amount to 300,000
volumes: of which 8000 were printed in the XVth. century, and 750 are
atlas folios filled with engravings. These 750 volumes contain about
180,000 prints; of which the pecuniary value, according to the
computation of the day, cannot be less than 3,300,000 "florins argent
de convention"--according to a valuation (says M. Bartsch) which I
made last year. This may amount to £300,000. of our money. I apprehend
there is nothing in Europe to be put in competition with such a
collection.
[113] The reader may not be displeased to consult, for one moment, the
_Bibliog. Decameron_; vol. i. pp. xliii. iv.
[114] [A sad tale is connected with the procuring of a copy, or fac-simile,
of the initial letter in question. I was most anxious to possess a
_coloured_ fac-simile of it; and had authorised M. Bartsch to
obtain it at _almost_ any price. He stipulated (I think with M.
Fendi) to obtain it for £10. sterling; and the fac-simile was executed
in all respects worthy of the reputation of the artist, and to afford
M. Bartsch the most unqualified satisfaction. It was dispatched to me
by permission of the Ambassador, in the Messenger's bag of
dispatches:--but it NEVER reached me. Meanwhile my worthy friend M.
Bartsch became impatient and almost angry at the delay; and the artist
naturally wondered at the tardiness of payment. Something like
_suspicion_ had began to take possession of my friend's
mind--when the fact was disclosed to him ... and his sorrow and
vexation were unbounded. The money was duly remitted and received; but
"the valuable consideration" was never enjoyed by the too enthusiastic
traveller. This beautiful copy has doubtless perished from accident.]
[115] Vol. ii. p. 458.
[116] Tasso, in fact, retouched and almost remodelled his poem, under the
title of _Jerusalem Conquered_, and published it under that of
Jerusalem Delivered. See upon these alterations and corrections,
Brunet, _Manuel du Libraire_, vol. iii. p. 298. edit. 1814;
_Haym Bibl._ Ital. vol. ii. p. 28. edit. 1808; and particularly
Ginguené _Hist. Lit. d'Italie,_ vol. v. p. 504.
[117] See p. 139, ante.
[118] Lord Spencer has now obtained a copy of it--as may be seen in _Ædes
Althorpianæ_, vol. ii. pp. 39-40, where a facsimile of the type is
given.
[119] See pages 98, 103, 228, 239, ante. His Lordship's first copy of the
POLISH PROTESTANT BIBLE had been obtained from three imperfect copies
at VIENNA; for which I have understood that nearly a hundred guineas
were paid. The Augsbourg copy now supplies the place of the previous
one; which latter, I learn, is in the Bodleian library, at Oxford.
[120] A particular account of this edition will be found in the _Bibl.
Spencer._ vol. iv. page 522.
[121] See the _Bibl. Spencer._; vol. i. page 135-144.
[122] It is singular enough that the Curators of this Library, some twenty
years ago, threw out PRINCE EUGENE'S copy of the above edition, as a
duplicate--which happened to be somewhat larger and finer. This latter
copy, bound in red morocco, with the arms of the Prince on the sides,
now graces the shelves of Lord Spencer's Library. See _Bibl.
Spenceriana_, vol. i. p. 305, 7.
[123] See vol. ii. p. 120.
[124] See vol. ii. p: 120.
[125] Including LEXICOGRAPHY.
[126] A copy of this edition (printed in all probability by Fyner of
Eislingen) was sold at the sale of Mr. Hibbert's library for £8. 12s.
[127] [Of which, specimens appear in the _Ædes Althorpianæ_, vol. ii.
p. 273, &c. from the copy in Lord Spencer's collection--a copy, which
may be pronounced to be the FINEST KNOWN copy in the world!]
[128] _Bibl. Spenceriana_; vol. iv. p. 121.
[129] Vol. ii. p. 191.
[130] This book is fully described, with numerous fac-similes of the
wood-cuts, in the Ædes' Althorpianæ, vol. ii. p. 204-213.
[131] Since the above was written, Lord Spencer has obtained a very fine
and perfect copy of it, through Messrs. Payne and Foss: which copy
will be found fully described, with a fac-simile of a supposed
whole-length portrait of MARCO POLO, in the _Ædes Althorpianæ_, vol.
ii. p. 176.
[132] I think I remember to have seen, at Messrs. Payne and Foss's, the
finest copy of this book in England. It was upon vellum, in the
original binding, and measured fourteen inches three quarters by nine
and a half. Unluckily, it wanted the whole of the table at the end.
See the _Bibliog. Decameron_, vol. i. p. 202. [Recently, my
neighbour and especial good friend Sir F. Freeling, Bart. has
fortunately come into the possession of a most beautifully fair and
perfect copy of this resplendent volume.]
[133] While upon the subject of this book, it may not be immaterial to add,
that I saw the ORIGINAL PAINTINGS from which the large wood blocks
were taken for the well known work entitled "the _Triumphs of the
Emperor Maximilian_" in large folio. These paintings are in water
colours, upon rolls of vellum, very fresh--and rather gaudily
executed. They do not convey any high notion of art, and I own that I
greatly prefer the blocks (of which I saw several) to the original
paintings. These were the blocks which our friend Mr. Douce entreated
Mr. Edwards to examine when he came to Vienna, and with these he
printed the well-known edition of the Triumphs, of the date of 1794.
LETTER XI.
POPULATION. STREETS AND FOUNTAINS. CHURCHES. CONVENTS. PALACES. THEATRES.
THE PRATER. THE EMPEROR'S PRIVATE LIBRARY. COLLECTION OF DUKE ALBERT.
SUBURBS. MONASTERY OF CLOSTERNEUBURG. DEPARTURE FROM VIENNA.
_Vienna, September_ 18, 1818.
My dear friend;
"Extremum hunc--mihi concede laborem." In other words, I shall trouble you
for the last time with an epistle from the Austrian territories: at any
rate, with the last communication from the capital of the empire. Since my
preceding letter, I have stirred a good deal abroad: even from breakfast
until a late dinner hour. By the aid of a bright sky, and a brighter moon,
I have also visited public places of entertainment; for, having completed
my researches at the library, I was resolved to devote the mornings to
society and sights out of doors. I have also made a pleasant day's trip to
the MONASTERY of CLOSTERNEUBURG--about nine English miles from hence; and
have been led into temptation by the sight of some half dozen folios of a
yet more exquisite condition than almost any thing previously beheld. I
have even bought sundry tomes, of monks with long bushy beards, in a
monastery in the suburbs, called the ROSSAU; and might, if I had pleased,
have purchased their whole library--covered with the dust and cobwebs of at
least a couple of centuries.
As, in all previous letters, when arrived at a new capital, I must begin
the present by giving you some account of the population, buildings, public
sights, and national character of the place in which I have now tarried for
the last three weeks; and which--as I think I observed at the conclusion of
my _first_ letter from hence--was more characteristic of English fashions
and appearances than any thing before witnessed by me ... even since my
landing at Dieppe. The CITY of VIENNA may contain a population of 60,000
souls; but its SUBURBS, which are _thirty-three_ in number, and I believe
the largest in Europe, contain full _three times_ that number of
inhabitants.[134] This estimate has been furnished me by M. Bartsch,
according to the census taken in 1815. Vienna itself contains 7150 houses;
123 palaces; and 29 Catholic parishes; 17 convents, of which three are
filled by _Religieuses_; one Protestant church; one of the reformed
persuasion; two churches of the united Greek faith, and one of the Greek,
not united.[135] Of synagogues, I should think there must be a great
number; for even _Judaism_ seems, in this city, to be a thriving and
wealthy profession. Hebrew bibles and Hebrew almanacks are sufficiently
common. I bought a recent impression of the former, in five crown octavo
volumes, neatly bound in sheep skin, for about seven shillings of our
money; and an atlas folio sheet of the latter for a penny. You meet with
Jews every where: itinerant and stationary. The former, who seem to be half
Jew and half Turk, are great frequenters of hotels, with boxes full of
trinkets and caskets. One of this class has regularly paid me a visit every
morning, pretending to have the genuine attar of roses and rich rubies to
dispose of. But these were not to my taste. I learnt, however, that this
man had recently married his daughter,--and boasted of having been able to
give her a dowry equal to 10,000l. of our money. He is short of stature,
with a strongly-expressive countenance, and a well-arranged turban--and
laughs unceasingly at whatever he says himself, or is said of him.
As Vienna may be called the key of Italy, on the land side--or, speaking
less figuratively, the concentrating point where Greeks, Turks, Jews, and
Italians meet for the arrangement of their mercantile affairs throughout
the continent of Europe--it will necessarily follow that you see a great
number of individuals belonging to the respective countries from whence
they migrate. Accordingly, you are constantly struck with the number and
variety of characters, of this class, which you meet from about the hour of
three till five. Short clokes, edged with sable or ermine, and delicately
trimmed mustachios, with the throat exposed, mark the courteous Greek and
Albanian. Long robes, trimmed with tarnished silver or gold, with thickly
folded girdles and turbans, and beards of unrestrained growth, point out
the majestic Turk. The olive-tinted visage, with a full, keen, black eye,
and a costume half Greek and half Turkish, distinguish the citizen of
Venice or Verona. Most of these carry pipes, of a varying length, from
which volumes of fragrant smoke occasionally issue; but the exercise of
smoking is generally made subservient to that of talking: while the loud
laugh, or reirated reply, or, emphatic asseveration, of certain individuals
in the passing throng, adds much to the general interest of the scene.
Smoking, however, is a most decidedly general characteristic of the place.
Two shops out of six in some streets are filled with pipes, of which the
_bowls_ exhibit specimens of the most curious and costly workmanship. The
handles are generally short. A good Austrian thinks he can never pay too
much for a good pipe; and the upper classes of society sometimes expend
great sums in the acquisition of these objects of comfort or fashion. It
was only the other evening, when, in company with my friends Messrs. G. and
S., and Madame la Comtesse de------a gentleman drew forth from his pocket a
short pipe, which screwed together in three divisions, and of which the
upper part of the bowl--(made in the fashion of a black-a-moor's head) near
the aperture--was composed of diamonds of great lustre and value. Upon
enquiry, I found that this pipe was worth about 1000l. of our money!--and
what surprised me yet more, was, the cool and unconcerned manner in which
the owner pulled it out of a loose great-coat pocket--as if it had been a
tobacco box not worth half a dozen kreutzers! Such is their love of smoking
here, that, in one of their most frequented coffee-houses--where I went
after dinner for a cup of coffee--the centre of the room was occupied by
two billiard tables, which were surrounded by lookers on:--from the mouths
of every one of whom, including even the players themselves, issued
constant and pungent puffs of smoke, so as to fill the whole room with a
dense cloud, which caused me instantly to retreat... as if grazed by a
musket ball.
Of female society I can absolutely say little or nothing. The upper circles
of society are all broken up for the gaieties of Baden. Yet, at the opera,
at the Prater, and in the streets, I should say that the general appearance
and manners of the females are very interesting; strongly resembling, in
the former respect, those of our own country. In the streets, and in the
shops, the women wear their own hair, which is generally of a light brown
colour, apparently well brushed and combed, platted and twisted into
graceful forms. In complexion, they are generally fair, with blue eyes; and
in stature they are usually short and stout. The men are, I think, every
where good-natured, obliging, and extremely anxious to pay you every
attention of which you stand in need. If I could but speak the language
fluently, I should quickly fancy myself in England. The French language
here is less useful than the Italian, in making yourself understood.
So much for the living, or active life. Let me now direct your attention to
inanimate objects; and these will readily strike you as relating to
_Buildings_--in their varied characters of houses, churches and palaces.
First, of the STREETS. I told you, a little before, that there are upwards
of one hundred and twenty palaces, so called, in Vienna; but the truth is,
almost every street may be said to be filled with palaces: so large and
lofty are the houses of which they are usually composed. Sometimes a
street, of a tolerable length, will contain only a dozen houses--as, for
instance, that of the _Wallnerstrasse:_ at the further end of which, to the
right, lives Mr.------ the second banker (Count Fries being the first) in
Vienna. Some of the banking-houses have quite the air of noblemen's
chateaux. It is true, that these houses, like our Inns of Court, are
inhabited by different families; yet the external appearance, being
uniform, and frequently highly decorated, have an exceedingly picturesque
appearance. The architectural ornaments, over the doors and windows--so
miserably wanting in our principal streets and squares, and of which the
absence gives to Portland Place the look, at a distance, of a range of
barracks--are here, yet more than at Augsbourg or Munich, boldly and
sometimes beautifully managed. The _Palace of Prince Eugene_[136] in the
street in which I reside, and which no Englishman ought to gaze at without
emotions of pleasure--is highly illustrative of the justice of the
foregoing remark. This palace is now converted into the _Mint_. The
door-ways and window-frames are, generally, throughout the streets of
Vienna, of a bold and pleasing architectural character. From one till
three, the usual hour of dining, the streets of Vienna are stripped of
their full complement of population; but from three till six; at the latter
of which hours the plays and opera begin, there is a numerous and animated
population. Notwithstanding the season of the year, the days have been
sometimes even sultry; while over head has constantly appeared one of the
bluest and brightest skies ever viewed by human eyes.
Among the most pleasing accompaniments or characteristics of street
scenery, at Vienna, are the FOUNTAINS. They are very different from those
at Paris; exhibiting more representations of the human figure, and less
water. In the _Place_, before mentioned, is probably the most lofty and
elaborate of these sculptured accompaniments of a fountain: but, in a sort
of square called the _New Market_, and through which I regularly passed in
my way to the Imperial Library--there is a fountain of a particularly
pleasing, and, to my eye, tasteful cast of character; executed, I think, by
DONNER. A large circular cistern receives the water, which is constantly
flowing into it, from some one or the other of the surrounding male and
female figures, of the size of life. One of these male figures, naked, is
leaning over the side of the cistern, about to strike a fish, or some
aquatic monster, with a harpoon or dart--while one of his legs (I think it
is the right) is thrown back with a strong muscular expression, resting
upon the earth--as if to balance the figure, thus leaning forward--thereby
giving it an exceedingly natural and characteristic air. Upon the whole,
although I am not sure that any _one_ fountain, of the character just
mentioned, may equal that in the High Street at Augsbourg, yet, taken
collectively, I should say that Vienna has reason to claim its equality
with any other city in Europe, on the score of this most picturesque, and
frequently salutary, accompaniment of street scenery. In our own country,
which has the amplest means of any other in the world, of carrying these
objects of public taste into execution, there seems to be an
infatuation--amounting to hopeless stupidity--respecting the uniform
exclusion of them.