_At the Town Hall._
The opening of this library took place on the 4th july 1809. Since
then, the inhabitants and strangers are admited into this establishment
every day, (except Sundays, thursdays and during the vacations), from
eleven till four, and from 6 till 9 o'clock in the evening. The present
collection, consists of about thirty five thousand volumes. There are
above eleven hundred manuscripts. Several of them are very curious and
rare, from their date, their illuminations, or their subjects. Amongst
the first, although not the most ancient, I will mention the famous
_Gradual_ by Daniel d'Aubonne, who died in the year 1714. It measures
two feet seven inches in length by one foot ten inches in breadth and
weighs seventy three pounds. It is ornamented with brass plates; on each
side of the binding, we may observe the armorial bearings of the abbey
of Saint-Ouen, which are also of brass. This manuscript contains about
two hundred vignettes, initials of all sizes, and also a great number of
gilt letters. One cannot admire too much the patience of the author, who
passed thirty years, it is said, on this immense undertaking. The
library contains also other manuscripts, infinitely more precious,
amongst which are several of the XIth, IXth, and even of the VIIth
and VIIIth centuries. The learned will distinguish amongst the most
important of the manuscripts, the curious missal of archbishop Robert,
which was brought from England about the year 1050, with the
_benedictionary_, which was used at the coronation of the Anglo-Saxon
Kings. These two manuscripts are ornamented with magnificent miniatures
in the greek style of the empire. The books printed before the year 1500
amount to three hundred and twenty eight, of which two hundred and forty
bear dates; the most ancient is of 1468.
The library contains also collections of great value and editions which
have become very rare. The government has enriched it with several very
valuable works. The most important gift that has yet been made to the
library, is that which was sent, by the commission of records in
England, of the collection of historical documents, which they have
published. This magnificent gift, which will be followed by several
others, is composed of 71 vols. folio, and 168 vols. 8 vo.
The Leber's magnificent collection of books and manuscripts, bought last
year by the city, will shortly be added to the public library.
The present keeper is M.A. Pottier.