courtyard, are two handsome saloons, each about forty-five feet by
twenty-two, and twenty-three in height. That on the left contained the
famous library of manuscripts collected by Count Federigo; the
corresponding one received the printed books, which, gradually purchased
by successive dukes, became under the last sovereign, a copious
collection. Baldi, in his description of the palace, printed in
Bianchini's work, dwells on the judicious adaptation of the former, its
windows set high against the northern sky, admitting a subdued and
steady light which invited to study; its air cool in summer, temperate
in winter; its walls conveniently shelved; the character and objects of
the place fittingly set forth in a series of rude hexameters inscribed
on the cornices. Adjoining was a closet fitted up with inlaid and gilded
panelling, beneath which Timoteo della Vite, a painter whose excellence
we shall attest in our thirtieth chapter, depicted Minerva with her
ægis, Apollo with his lyre, and the nine muses with their appropriate
symbols. A similar small study was fitted up immediately over this one,
set round with arm-chairs encircling a table, all mosaicked with
_tarsia_, and carved by Maestro Giacomo of Florence, while on each
compartment of the panelling was the portrait of some famous author, and
an appropriate distich. One other article of furniture deserves special
notice--a magnificent eagle of gilt bronze, serving as a lectern in the
centre of the manuscript room. It was carried to Rome at the devolution
of the duchy to the Holy See, but was rescued by Pope Clement XI. from
the Vatican library, and restored to his native town, where it has long
been used in the choir of the cathedral.'[68]
* * * * *
'Of Francesco Maria's literary pursuits we have various pleasing
memorials. Not satisfied with the valuable library of MSS. that had
descended to him from the Feltrian dukes, he formed another of standard
printed works. Indeed, he became an assiduous book-collector; and the
letters of his librarian, Benedetto Benedetti, in the Oliveriana
Library, are full of lists which his agents in Venice, Florence, and
even Frankfort are urged to supply. In his own voluminous
correspondence, we find constant offers from authors of dedications or
copies of their productions, the tone of which is highly complimentary
to his taste for letters. In 1603, the Archbishop of Monreale, in Spain,
transmits him the regulations he proposed to prescribe in bequeathing
his library to a seminary he had founded in his diocese, expressing a
hope that they might prove useful to the Duke's collection, "at this
moment without parallel in the world." Instead of quoting the vague
testimony of courtly compliment, as to the use which this philosophic
Prince made of these acquisitions, let us cite the brief records of his
studies, preserved in his own Diary. In 1585, "terminated an inspection
of the whole works of Aristotle, on which I have laboured no less than
fifteen years, having had them generally read to me by Maestro Cesare
Benedetti, of Pesaro."'[69]
* * * * *
'Francesco di Giorgio, in his _Treatise on Architecture_, mentions Duke
Federigo as holding out inducements for the learned men at his court to
illustrate the works of classic authors on architecture and sculpture.
But no testimony to his literary habits can be more satisfactory than
that of his librarian, Vespasiano, to the following purpose. The Duke
was a ready Latin scholar, and extremely fond of ancient history. As a
logician he had attained considerable aptitude, having studied
Aristotle's _Ethics_ along with Maestro Lazzaro, a famous theologian,
who became Bishop of Urbino, discussing with him the most intricate
passages. By the like process he mastered the Stagirite's politics,
physics, and other treatises; and having acquired more philosophy than
any contemporary prince, his thirst for new sources of knowledge induced
him to devote himself to theology with equal zeal. The principal works
of St. Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus were habitually read to him; he
preferred the former as more clear, but admitted that the latter
displayed more subtlety in argument. He was well acquainted with the
Bible, as well as the commentaries of Saints Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine,
and Gregory; also with the writings of the Greek fathers, such as Saints
Basil, Chrysostom, Gregory Naziazen, Nicetas, Athanasius, and Cyril.
Among the classic authors whom he was in the habit of reading or
listening to were Livy, Sallust, Quintus Curtius, Justin, Cæsar,
Plutarch, Ælius Spartianus, Æmylius Protus, Tacitus, Suetonius,
Eusebius. All men of letters visiting Urbino were hospitably
entertained, and several were always attached to his court. His
largesses to such were at all times liberal. He spent above 1500 ducats
in this way when at Florence, and remitted similar bounties to Rome and
Naples. He gave 1000 ducats to the learned Campano, professor of
belles-lettres at Perugia in 1455, who aided him in collecting ancient
MSS., and became Bishop of Teramo.'[70]
FOOTNOTES:
[66] Dennistoun, _Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino_, vol. i., p. 155.
[67] _Ibid._, vol. i., pp. 156-7.
[68] _Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino_, vol. i., pp. 153-5.
[69] _Ibid._, vol. i., p. 154.
_Pieresc._
'When any library was to be sold by public outcry, he took care to buy
the best books, especially if they were of some neat edition that he did
not already possess. He bound his books in red morocco, with his cypher
or initials in gold. One binder always lived in the house, and sometimes
several were employed at once "when the books came rolling in on every
side."' 'Your house and library' (says the dedication of a book to
Pieresc) 'are a firmament wherein the stars of learning shine; the desks
are lit with starlight, and the books are in constellations, and you sit
like the sun in the midst, embracing and giving light to them all.' 'The
library is to be open to all the world without the exception of any
living soul; readers were to be supplied with chairs and writing
materials, and the attendants will fetch all books required in any
language or department of learning, and will change them as often as is
necessary.'[71]
* * * * *
'Bouchard states, in his funeral oration on Pieresc, "To this his shop
and storehouse of wisdom and virtue, Peireskius did not only courteously
admit all travellers, studious of art and learning, opening to them all
the treasures of his library, but he would keep them there a long time,
with free and liberal entertainment; and at their departure, would give
them books, coins, and other things, which seemed most suitable to their
studies; also he freely gave them at his own expense, whatever things
they wanted, most liberally, even as to all other learned men, who were
absent, and whose names he had only heard of; whatever he had among his
books or relics of antiquity, which he thought might assist them in
their writings, he would send it them of his own accord, not only
without their desiring the same, but many times when they were ignorant
of such things.'[72]
FOOTNOTES:
[70] _Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino_, pp. 219, 220.
[71] Elton, _Great Book Collectors_, pp. 180-4.
[72] _The Library_, July, 1895.
_Mr. Ruskin's Advice._
'I say first we have despised literature. What do we, as a nation, care
about books? How much do you think we spend altogether on our libraries,
public or private, as compared with what we spend on our horses? If a
man spends lavishly on his library, you call him mad--a biblio-maniac.
But you never call any one a horse maniac, though men ruin themselves
every day by their horses, and you do not hear of people ruining
themselves by their books. Or, to go lower still, how much do you think
the bookshelves of the United Kingdom, public and private, would fetch,
as compared with the contents of its wine-cellars? What position would
its expenditure on literature take as compared with its expenditure on
luxurious eating? We talk of food for the mind, as of food for the body:
now a good book contains such food inexhaustibly; it is a provision for
life, and for the best part of us; yet how long most people would look
at the best book before they would give the price of a large turbot for
it!'[73]
'It will be long yet before that comes to pass. Nevertheless, I hope it
will not be long before royal or national libraries will be founded in
every considerable city, with a royal series of books in them; the same
series in every one of them, chosen books, the best in every kind,
prepared for that national series in the most perfect way possible;
their text printed all on leaves of equal size, broad of margin, and
divided into pleasant volumes, light in the hand, beautiful and strong,
and thorough as examples of binder's work.'[73]
'I could shape for you other plans, for art galleries and for natural
history galleries, and for many precious, many, it seems to me, needful
things; but this book plan is the easiest and needfullest, and would
prove a considerable tonic to what we call our British constitution,
which has fallen dropsical of late, and has an evil thirst, and evil
hunger, and wants healthier feeding. You have got its Corn Laws repealed
for it; try if you cannot get Corn Laws established for it dealing in a
better bread--bread made of that old enchanted Arabian grain, the
Sesame, which opens doors, doors, not of robbers', but of kings'
treasuries.'[74]
* * * * *
'Whatever the hold which the aristocracy of England has on the heart of
England, in that they are still always in front of her battles, this
hold will not be enough, unless they are also in front of her
thoughts.'[75]
* * * * *
'But it is not gold that you want to gather! What is it? Greenbacks? No;
not those neither. What is it then--is it ciphers after a capital I?
Cannot you practise writing ciphers, and write as many as you want?
Write ciphers for an hour every morning, in a big book, and say every
evening, I am worth all those noughts more than I was yesterday. Won't
that do? Well, what in the name of Plutus is it you want? Not gold, not
greenbacks, not ciphers after a capital I? You will have to answer after
all, "No; we want, somehow or other, money's _worth_." Well, what is
that? Let your Goddess of Getting-on discover it, and let her learn to
stay therein.'[76]
* * * * *
'And the entire object of true education is to make people not merely
_do_ the right things, but _enjoy_ the right things--not merely
industrious, but to love industry--not merely learned, but to love
knowledge--not merely pure, but to love purity--not merely just, but to
hunger and thirst after justice.'[77]
FOOTNOTES:
[73] _Sesame and Lilies._
[74] _Sesame and Lilies._
[75] _Crown of Wild Olive_, p. 87.
[76] _Ibid._, p. 60.
[77] _Ibid._, p. 46.
INDEX
Abbotsford Library Catalogue, printed by Maitland Club, 80
Abbotsford Library, impressions of, 80
Accessions, on placing, 89
Acland, Sir H., the 'Radcliffe' bookcase, 113
Addison, Essay on 'My Lady's Library,' 50
Addison's picture of 'Tom Folio,' 79
Advertisements, which to distrust, 14
Ælius, 148
Æmylius Protus, 148
Agabito, librarian to the Duke of Urbino, 119
Albemarle, Duke of, 78
Alberti, 142
Ambrose, St., 148
American tables, 104
Angelo, Michael, 142
Angling books, 10
Anonymous Literature, how to catalogue, 84, 85
_Anthrenus varius_, bookboring insect, 23
Apollo Library, 135
Appliances for the library, 103
Aquinas, St. Thomas, 148
Arcangelo, Don, 138
_Archaic Dictionary_, 44
_Architecture_, by Vitruvius, 119
Aristotle, Inspection of the works of, 147
Aristotle's _Politics_, 143
Athanasius, St., 148
Augustine, St., 148
Augustus, Emperor, author and booklover, 135
Austen, J., _Northanger Abbey_, 36
Author, the, 3
---- whims and fancies of, 3
Autograph letters, how to catalogue, 64
Bacon, Lord, 36
---- his retreat at Gorhambury, 107
Bacon's _Natural History_, 40
---- _Organon_, 74
Baker's _Chronicle_, 72
Baldi's description of a Florentine palace, 110, 146
Balfour, Mr., advice on reading, 27
Barclay, A., _Ship of Fools_, 76
Basil, St., 148
Beauchamp, Guy, earl of Warwick, Library of early romances, 71
Beauclerk, T., 79
---- Library of, in Great Russell Street, 107
Bedford, Duke of, and Charles V.'s Library, 71
Beecher, H. W., on reading, 30
Benedetti, B., Book lists of, 147
---- librarian to Francesco Maria, 147
---- C., of Pesaro, 147
Beyle, Henri, Pseudonyms used by, 84
Bianchini's works, 110, 146
Bible, 148
Bibliography, Science of, when commenced, 144
Bibliomaniacs, Great, 71
Blackie, J. S., on reading, 32
_Blackwood's Magazine_, Extracts from, 30, 31, 32
Blades, W., _Enemies of Books_, 7, 21, 100
---- on the handling of books, 22
---- on the preservation of books, 19, 99
_Blatta Australasia_, a bookboring cockroach, 23
Bookbinding, 52
---- and the bookbinder, 23
---- colour, 49, 54
---- Covers, what to choose, 64
---- errors of taste, 56
---- gilding, 57
---- Good, what is fatal to, 97
---- leather, kind to choose, 54
---- lettering, 58
---- marbling, 55
---- provincial, 7
---- style and colour of, 49
---- style, 49, 54
---- the, remarks on, 61
---- what is good and bad, 5, 6
Books, accidentally destroyed, 12
---- arranging, difficulty of, 17
---- care of, 15, 16
---- ---- maxims for, 24
---- classification of, 87
---- commonplace, 38
---- contents of, how to master the, 31, 32
---- counterfeit, 52
---- dusting, 20, 21
---- enemies of, 7, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23
---- binding, fifteenth-century, 70
---- handling, 22
---- housing of, 100
---- metal bosses on, desks for, 106
---- packing, 24, 25
---- ------ Rare and handsome, 89
---- ------ Reference, 89
---- Rare, what constitutes, 11
---- ------ Why so called, 12
---- How to read, 32
---- Recommending, 33
---- Reference, 42
---- ------ List of good, 44
---- ------ On placing, 89
---- ------ Uses of, 43
---- Repairing, 60, 61
---- Restoring, 60, 61
---- Ruined, how often, 7
---- Shelfmarking, 93
---- Sizes of, as decided upon by the Associated Librarians of Great
Britain, 98
---- Suppressed, 12
---- Treatment of, 108
---- Valueless, 14
Bookcase, the 'Radcliffe' iron, 113
---- revolving, 105
Bookcases, 49, 94
---- at Trinity College, Cambridge, 102
---- beautiful specimens of, 99
---- for rare and beautiful books, &c., 99
---- glass doors undesirable, 100
---- height of, 50, 95
---- in bedrooms, 38
---- lettering and numbering, 93, 99
---- shelves covered with padded leather, 100
---- Tonks' patent fittings advisable, 95
Book-collecting, Revival in, at Florence, 140
Book collectors, early, 71
---- collectors of the eighteenth century, 79
---- hobbies, 65
---- readers, two classes, 34
---- screen, 47
Bookshelves, 130
Book support, metal, 106
---- values, 9
---- ---- how to determine, 9
Booksellers, Old London, 72
Bookworm, The, 23
Bordesley Abbey, and the Earl of Warwick's Library, 71
Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch, dimensions of book-room, 113
Boswell, _Life of Johnson_, 3
Boudoir bindings, pretty effects of, 48
---- libraries, 46
---- library catalogue, 50
Bowen, on _Novel Reading_, 37
Bracciolini, Poggio, 137
Bradshaw, H., the Cambridge University Librarian, 117
Braybrooke, Lord, his collection of county histories, 66
British Museum Library Catalogue, 85
Brontë, C., _Jane Eyre_, 37
Bruni, Lionardo, 137
Buchanan, G., 117
Buckram binding, 62
Buffalo Bug, or Carpet Bug, 23
Burke, on reading, 31
Bustle tails, bookboring insects, 23
Butler's _Hudibras_, 72, 74
Cæsar, 148
_Cambridge University_, _History of_, by Willis and Clark, 120
Campano, Bishop of Teramo, 149
Campion, Hanmer and Spencer's History of Ireland, 75
Care of books, On the, 15
---- Maxims to be learned, 24
Carlyle, on a library catalogue, 81
Carpet Bug, or Buffalo Bug, 23
Casaubon, among his books, 72
Catalogue, a fifteenth-century, 70
---- Alphabetical system, advantages of, 86
---- Classification of the, 82
---- Sectional, Lord Crawford's, 83
---- The, 81
---- The, alphabetical arrangement of, 81
---- The, classified system, advantages of, 86
---- The, cross-references, 85
---- The, how not to make, 82, 84
---- The, expert advice on, 84
---- The, rules to be observed, 85
---- The, subjects, classification of, 86
---- The, preparing titles, 87
Chairs, Library, 104
Charles V. of France, library of, 71
Chaucer, Speght's edition (1602), 75
Chippendale, bookcase designs by, 99
Chrysoloras, M., 143
Chrysostom, St., 148
_Clarissa Harlowe_, 60
Clark, J. W., on the position of the library, 119
---- Student-life of the past, 72
Classic authors, list of, 148
Classics, no suitable edition in England as in France, 1
Classification, 81
---- of books, 87
Clement XI., Pope, and the eagle lectern, 147
Clement, D., _Bibliothèque curieuse_, 11
Clement, D., on degrees of rarity, 11, 13
Colet, among his books, 72
Collected editions, how to catalogue, 94
Commonplace books, 38
---- books, simplest form of, 40
Compositor, the, 3
Condition, as affecting the price of books, 13, 11
_Consuelo_, 37
Consumer, the, 3
Cosimo's generosity to men of letters, 144
---- Medicean library, 138
---- plan of the formation of a library, 138
---- versatility and comprehensive intellect, 139
---- zeal for learning, 139
Cotton's library, dimensions of, 73
Counterfeit books, 52
County collections, what should be aimed at, 66
---- Histories, on collecting, 66
Courthope's edition of Pope, 3
Crawford, Lord, Ballad catalogue, 83
---- Collection of books, pamphlets, ballads, &c., 65
---- Sectional catalogue, 83
Cross-references, when to make, 85
Cunningham, P., edition of Walpole's letters, 3
Curiosities, arrangement of, in library, 122
Cyril, St., 148
Damp, an enemy to books, 17
De Maistre's _Journey Round my Room_, 47
Dennistoun's _Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino_, 110, 145, 147, 149
Desk, standing, 105
Dictionaries, use of, 30
_Dives et Pauper_, 70
Drawings, safe keeping of, 106
Duns Scotus, 148
Dusting of books, 20, 21
Edis' _Decoration and Furniture of Town Houses_, 132
Éditions de luxe, 3
Education, What is? 45
Edwards, _Memoirs of Libraries_, 13, 97, 99, 100
---- on bookcases, 97, 99
Elizabethan Poetry, catalogue of, 83
Ellwanger's _Story of my House_, 9, 104
Elton, _Great Book Collectors_, 115, 149
Elwin's edition of Pope, 3
Enemies of books, 17, 18, 19, 21
Erasmus, among his books, 72
Eusebius, 148
Evelyn's directions for gathering a library, 78
---- Letter to Pepys on the Seventeenth Century libraries, 79
Eversley Rectory armchair, 105
Facetiæ, on placing, 89
Family papers, how to catalogue, 64
Farnaby, T., _Index Rhetoricus_, 74
Federigo, Count, famous library of MSS., 110, 146
---- Duke, Literary habits of, 148
Feltrian dukes, MSS., 147
Fergusson's _Architecture_, 44
Ficino, Translator of Plato, 142
Fiction Library, how to arrange, 36
Fiesole, Abbey of, on building a library at, 138
Fiesole Abbey, Library of, 138
Fifteenth Century Library Catalogue, 70
Fine Copy? What is a, 5, 6
First Edition Craze, fight against, 14
Fish Bugs, bookboring insects, 23
Florence, Revival in learning at, 140
---- _Studio Pubblico_, Improvement of the, 143
Florentine Library, Description of a great, 110
Floriculture, on collecting books on, 67
'Foxed' Book, A, 6
Foxhounds in England, 135
Francesco Maria's literary pursuits, 147
Froude, W., The 'Radcliffe' bookcase, 113
Fuller, T., on memory and note-books, 39
Gas, an enemy to books, 18
Genealogical books, rise in price of, 66
Getting-on, Goddess of, 152
Gibbon, Edward, 1
---- library catalogue, 83
Gilbey, Sir W., sporting books, 67
Gilding, Advice on, 57
Giorgio, F. di, _Treatise on Architecture_, 148
Gladstone, W. E., _Books, and the Housing of them_, 100
---- _Gladstone in the Evening of his Days_, 36, 108, 110
---- on library shelves, 96
Gladstone's Temple of Peace, Tables in, 104
Glastonbury, Treasures at, 69
'Globe' edition of English classics, 2
Goldsmith Chair, The, 105
Good Edition, how to make, 3
---- What is a, 1
Gosse, E., Library Catalogue, 83
Gregory, St., 148
Greek Fathers, writings of, 148
Greenbacks, 152
Guidobaldo I., Library Rules, 118
Haigh Hall, Ballad Catalogue at, 83
---- Library Catalogue, who compiled by, 65
Hallam's _Literary History_, 41
Hamerton, Philip G., Advice on reading, 27, 28, 29
Harding's _Chronicle_, 76
Hart, Dr. E., on books in bedrooms, 38
Hawarden Library annexe, 107
---- ---- Cost of, 113
Heat, an enemy to books, 18
Heppelwhite, Bookcase design by, 99
Hill, B., Edition of Boswell's Johnson, 3
Howard, Sir J., Library of, 70
'Humanity Room' at Hawarden, 109
Humphrey, Duke, 71
Ireland, History of, 75
Ink Maker, The, 3
Jerome, St., 148
Jessopp, Dr., Library annexe of, 107
---- on old libraries, 68
Johnson, Dr., careless with his books, 16
---- Life of, 3
---- on knowledge, 42
---- on the editions of _Thomas à Kempis_, 67
Johnson's _Dictionary_, 44
Justin, 148
Kerr's _Gentleman's House_, 120
Knowledge, On. Extract from the _Spectator_, 42
---- Two kinds of, 42
Lady's Library, how arranged, 51
Lamb, choice of books, 34
Lampson, L., Rowfant Library Catalogue, 83
Landino, 142
Lang, A., remarks on the 'binder,' 61
---- on the care of books, 16
Lapaccini, Fra G., a MS. copyist, 138
Large-paper copies, 8, 13
Larousse's _Grand Dictionnaire_, 43
Leather for binding, 53
Lectern, an historic eagle, 146
Leighton, J., _Book-plate Annual_, 15
---- Careless handling of books, 16
Leland, C. G., on _Mending and Repairing_, 61
---- Glastonbury treasures, 69
Leonora's library, how arranged, 51
_Lepisma Saccharina_, bookboring insects, 23
_L'Escholle des Filles_, 77
Librarian, A, 115
---- Qualifications of a good, 115, 117
---- The motto of a good, 118
Libraries, Classification of headings of, 94
---- in country houses, lamentable condition of, 15
---- Old country, 68
---- XIIth century, 69
---- XIIIth century, 69
---- XVIIth century, 72
---- Suite of, 121
---- Public, Originator of, 143
_Library, The_ Extract from, 150
Library, Appliances for the, 103
---- The, architecturally, 119
---- arrangement, On, 91
---- Arrangement of, two plans, 121
---- Artistic treatment of the, 122
---- Aspect for the, 125
---- An economic, 133
---- Curiosities in, 22
---- Decorations of the, 131
---- Enemy of the, 120
---- fireplace, 126
---- intercommunication, 126
---- On heating, 120, 128
---- On lighting, 120
---- Portable, Composition of a, 46
---- Position of the, 119, 124
---- rules, 118
---- Study attached to the, 127
---- Windows in the, 125
---- annexe, The, 106
_Library Association Report_, 1878, 115
---- _Journal_, Reference to, 91
---- ---- American, 117
Lionardo, M., translator of Aristotle's _Politics_, 143
Lippincott's _Biographical Dictionary_, 44
Livy, 148
Lockhart, _Life of Sir W. Scott_, 80
Lorenzo and his literary circle, 142
Lucullus' vast collection of books, 135
Macaulay, private libraries in 1685, 79
---- _State of England in 1685_, 72
Magazines, How to bind, 63
Maggliabecchi, Anecdote of, 116
---- his abnormal knowledge of books, 115
Manetti, Giannozzo, 137
Manuscripts, How to catalogue, 64
---- collecting and preserving at Florence, 140
---- Collection of ancient, 149
---- Famous library of, 110
---- of the Feltrian dukes, 147
---- Urbino's library of, 146
Marbling, what to choose, 55
Marryat, original binding of his novels, 6
Marsuppini, Carlo, 137
Maxwell, Sir H., advice on reading, 26
Medicean Library, 138
Medici, Cosimo de', on housing of large libraries, 137
---- The, and their friends, 137
---- Lorenzo de', 137
Memory and note-books, 39
Mending and repairing, 61
Middleton Cheney, Library annexe at, 107
Mirandola, P. della, 41, 142
Monastic libraries, Old, 69
Monmouth rebellion, romances on, 36
Monreale, Archbishop of, 147
Morocco leather, kind to choose, 54
Munificent book-buying, 133
Murray's _Dictionary_, 59
---- _Magazine_, on county histories, 66
Music, How to bind, 64
Napoleon, on the composition of a portable library, 46
---- a lover of small books, 46
---- and novel-reading, 38
Nares' _Glossary_, 44
Natural history, on collecting books on, 67
Naudé, G., _Avis pour dresser une Bibliothèque_, 10, 79
Naziazen, St. Gregory, 148
Niccoli, N. de', Home life and habits of, 141
---- literary dictator at Florence, 140
---- to whom he bequeathed his library, 137