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 "gaieté de coeur" which is
quite delightful. He is now engaged in an _Examen Critique et Complément
des Dictionnaires Historiques les plus repandus_;[115] while his
_Dictionnaire des Auteurs Anonymes et Pseudonymes_, in 4 vols. 8vo., and
his _Bibliothéque 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 Léger'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 _Bibliothèque Française 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
_Bibliothéque Française_, 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 Phædrus_, 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. Geneviève, 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 Italicæ_; 1793. _Præf._
[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 depôts bien soigneusement, tous les ouvrages d'ANDRE CIRINE:
entr'autres ses _De Venatione libri ii: Messanæ_ 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
gravées en bois. Peut être dans la _Bibl. des Théatres_ y étoient-ils.
Je me recommande toujours à 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 Abbé Hooke preceded the abbé 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
Abbé 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 Abbé 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 Bibliothéques anciennes et
modernes,&c._ with a "_Notice Historique sur la Bibliothéque
Mazarine_: to which latter is prefixed a plate, containing portraits
in outline, of Mazarin, Colbert, Naudé 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'être heureux: ainsi je vous félicite d'être
constamment occupé." M. Barbier is also one of the contributors to the
_Biographie Universelle_,[116] and has written largely in the _Annales
Encyclopédiques_. Among his contributions to the latter, is a very
interesting "_Notice des principaux écrits relatifs à la personne et
aux ouvrages de J.J. Rousseau_." His "_Catalogue des livres dans la
Bibliothéque 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-même ne ferait plus cette rêponse aujourd'hui.
Peu de temps après l'impression du Voyage de M. Dibdin, ce qu'on
appelle une _organisation_ eut lieu. Après vingt-sept ans de travaux
consacrés à la bibliographique et aux devoirs de sa place, M. Barbier,
que ses fonctions paisibles avoient protégés contre les terribles
dénonciations de 1815, n'a pu régister, en 1822, aux délations
mensongères de quelque commis sous M. Lauriston.
_Insere nunc, Meliboee, pyros; pone ordine vites_!
J'ai partagé pendant vingt ans les travaux de mon oncle pour former la
bibliothéque de la couronne, et j'ai du, ainsi que lui, être 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....
His saltem accumulem donis, et fungar inani
Munere....
Perhaps the following anecdote relating to the deceased, may be as
acceptable as it is curious. Those of my readers who have visited
Paris, will have constantly observed, on the outsides of houses, the
following letters, painted in large capitals:
MACL:
implying--as the different emblems of our Fire Offices imply--
"M[aison] A[ssurée] C[ontre] L'[incendie]:"
in plain English, that such houses are insured against fire. Walking
one afternoon with M. Barbier, I pointed to these letters, and said,
"You, who have written upon _Anonymes_ and _Pseudonymes_, do you know
what those letters signify?" He replied, "Assuredly--and they can have
but _one_ meaning." "What is that?" He then explained them as I have
just explained them. "But (rejoined I) since I have been at Paris, I
have learnt that they also imply _another_ meaning." "What might that
be?" Stopping him, and gently touching his arm, and looking round to
see that we were not overheard, I answered in a suppressed tone:--
"M[es] A[mis] C[hassez] L[ouis]."
He was thunderstruck. He had never heard it before: and to be told it
by a stranger! "Mais (says he, smiling, and resuming his steps) "voila
une chose infiniment drole!"
Let it be remembered, that this HERETICAL construction upon these
Initial Capitals was put at a time when the _Bonaparte Fever_ was yet
making some of the pulses of the Parisians beat 85 strokes to the
minute. _Now_, his Majesty Charles X. will smile as readily at this
anecdote as did the incomparable Librarian of his Regal Predecessor.
[INTRODUCTION TO LETTER VIII.]
Before entering upon the perusal of this memorable Letter--which, in the
previous edition, was numbered LETTER XXX,--(owing to the Letters having
been numbered consecutively from the beginning to the end) I request the
Reader's attention to a few preliminary remarks, which may possibly guide
him to form a more correct estimate of its real character. MONS. LICQUET
having published a French version of my Ninth Letter, descriptive of the
Public Library at Rouen, (and to which an allusion has been made in vol. i.
p. 99.) MONS. CRAPELET (see p. 1, ante) undertook a version of the
_ensuing_ Letter: of which he printed _one hundred copies_. Both
translations were printed in M. Crapelet's office, to arrange, in type and
form of publication, as much as possible with my own; so that, if the
_intrinsic_ merit of these versions could not secure purchasers, the beauty
of the paper and of the press work (for both are very beautiful) might
contribute to their circulation. To the version of M. Crapelet[120] was
prefixed a _Preface_, combining such a mixture of malignity and
misconception, that I did not hesitate answering it, in a privately printed
tract, entitled "A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER." Of this Tract, "only _thirty-six
copies were printed_." "So much the better for the Author"--says M.
Crapelet. The sequel will shew.
In the publication of the _entire_ version of my Tour, by M.M. Licquet and
Crapelet, the translation of this VIIIth Letter appears as it did in the
previous publication--with the exception of the omission of the _Preface_:
but in lieu of which, there is another and a short preface, by M. Crapelet,
to the third volume, where, after telling his readers that his previous
attempt had excited my "holy wrath," he seems to rejoice in the severity of
those criticisms, which, in certain of our _own_ public Journals, have been
passed upon my subsequent bibliographical labours. With these criticisms I
have here nothing to do. If the authors of them can reconcile them to their
own good sense and subsequent reflections, and the Public to their own
INDEPENDENCE of JUDGMENT, the voice of remonstrance will be ineffectual.
Time will strike the balance between the Critic and the Author: and without
pretending to explore the mysteries of an occasional _getting-up_ of
Reviews of particular articles, I think I can speak in the language of
justice, as well as of confidence, of the Author of ONE of these reviews,
by a quotation from the _Ajax Flagellifer_ of SOPHOCLES.
[Greek: Blepô gar echthron phôta, kai tach' an kakois
Gelôn, ha dê kakourgos exikoit' anêr.--]
To return to M. Crapelet; and to have done with him. The _motive_ for his
undertaking the version of this memorable Letter, about "BOOKSELLERS,
PRINTERS, and BOOKBINDERS at Paris," seems to be wholly inconceivable;
since the logic of the undertaking would be as follows. BECAUSE I have
spoken favourably of the whole typographical fraternity--and because, in
particular, of M. Crapelet, his _Ménage_, and Madame who is at the head of
it--_because_ I have lauded his Press equally with his Cellar--THEREFORE
the "_un_holy wrath" of M. Crapelet is excited; and he cannot endure the
freedom taken by the English traveller. It would be abusing the confidence
reposed in me by written communications, from characters of the first
respectability, were I to make public a few of the sentiments contained in
them--expressive of surprise and contempt at the performance of the French
typographer. But in mercy to my adversary, he shall be spared the pain of
their perusal.
[120] [A young stranger, a Frenchman--living near the mountainous solitudes
between Lyons and the entrance into Italy--and ardently attached to
the study of bibliography--applied himself, under the guidance of a
common friend--dear to us both from the excellence of his head and
heart--to a steady perusal of the _Bibliographical Decameron_, and the
_Tour_. He mastered both works within a comparatively short time. He
then read _A Roland for an Oliver_--and voluntarily tendered to me his
French translation of it. How successfully the whole has been
accomplished, may be judged from the following part--being the version
of my preface only.
OBSERVATION PRELIMINAIRE.
"La production de M. Crapelet rappelée, dans le titre précédent, sera
considérée comme un phénomène dans son genre. Elle est, certes, sans
antécédent et, pour l'honneur de la France, je desire qu'elle n'ait
pas d'imitateurs. Quiconque prendra la peine de lire la trentième
lettre de mon voyage, soit dans l'original, soit dans la version de M.
Crapelet, en laissant de coté les notes qui appartiennent an
traducteur, conviendra facilement que cette lettre manifeste les
sentimens les plus impartiaux et les plus honorables à l'état actuel
de la librairie et de l'imprimerie à Paris. Dans plusieurs passages,
où l'on compare l'éxécution typographique, dans les deux pays, la
supériorité est décidée en faveur de la France. Quant a _l'esprit_ qui
a dicté cette lettre, je déclare, comme homme d'honneur, ne l'avoir
pas composée, dans un systême d'opposition, envers ceux qu'elle
concerne plus particulièrement.
"Cependant, il n'en a pas moins plu à M. Crapelet, imprimeur de Paris,
l'un de ceux dont il y est fait plus spécialement l'éloge,
d'accompagner sa traduction de cette lettre, de notes déplacées et
injurieuses pour le caractère de l'auteur et de son ouvrage. Par suite
probablement du peu d'étendue de ses idées et de l'organisation
vicieuse de ses autres sens, ce typographe s'est livré a une séries
d'observations qui outragent autant la raison que la politesse, et qui
décèlent hautement sa malignité et sa noirceur. Les formes de son
procédé ne sont pas moins méprisables que le fond. Avec la prétention
avouée de ne répandre que partiellement sa version,
(Voulant blesser et cependant timide pour frapper)
il s'est servi de ses propres presses et il a imprimé le texte et les
notes avec des caractères et sur un papier aussi semblables que
possible à ceux de l'ouvrage qu'il venait de traduire. Il en a
surveillé, a ce qu'on assure, l'impression, avec l'attention
personelle la plus scrupuleuse, en sorte qu'il n'est aucune _epreuvé
égarée_, qui ait été soumise à d'autres yeux que les siens. Il a prit
soin, en outre, d'en faire tirer, au moins, cent exemplaires, et de
les répandre.[C] Comme ces cent exemplaires seront probablement lus
par dix fois le même nombre de personnes, il y aurait eu plus de
franchisé et peut-être plus de bon sens de la part de M. Crapelet à
diriger publiquement ses coups contre moi que de le faire sous la
couverture d'un _pamphlet privé_. Il a fait choix de ce genre
d'attaque; il ne me reste plus qu'à adopter une semblable méthode de
défense: si ce n'est, qu'au lieu de cent exemplaires, ces remarques ne
seront véritablement imprimée qu'a _trente six_. Ce procédé est certes
plus délicat que celui de mon adversaire; mais soit que M. Crapelet
ait préféré l'obscurité à la lumière, il n'en est pas moins évident
que son intention a été d'employer tous ses petits moyens, a renverser
la réputation d'un ouvrage, dont il avoue lui-même avoir à peine lu la
cinquantième partie!
"Par le contenu de ses notes, on voit qu'il a cherché, avec une
assiduité condamnable, a recueillir le mal qu'il me suppose avoir eu
l'intention de dire des personnes que j'ai citées, et cependant, après
tout ce travail, a peine a-t-il pû découvrir l'ombre d'une seule
allusion maligne. Jamais on ne fit un usage plus déplorable de son
tems et de ses peines, car toutes les phrases de cette production sont
aussi obscures que tirées de loin.
"Il est difficile, ainsi que je l'ai déjà observé, de se rendre compte
des motifs d'une telle conduite. Mais M. Crapelet n'a fait part de son
secret à personne, et d'après l'échantillon dont il s'agit ici, je
n'ai nulle envie de le lui demander.
T.F.D.
"J'avais eu d'abord l'intention de relever chacunes des notes de M.
Crapelet, mais de plus mûres réfléxions m'ont fait connaitre
l'absurdité d'une telle enterprise. Je m'en suis donc tenu à la
préface, sans toutefois, ainsi que le lecteur pourra s'en appercevoir,
laisser tomber dans l'oubli le mérite des notes. Encore un mot; M.
Crapelet m'a attaqué et je me suis défendu. Il peut récommencer, si
cela lui fait plaisir; mais désormais je ne lui répondrai que par le
silence et le mépris."
[C] "M. Crapelet, en sa qualité de critique, a mis ici du
raffinement; car je soupçonne qu'il y a eu au moins vingt cinq
exemplaires tirés sur papier vélin. C'est ainsi qu'il sait dorer
sa pillule, pour la rendre plus présentable aux dignes amis de
l'auteur, les bibliophiles de Paris. Mais ces Messieurs ont trop
bon gout pour l'accepter.
_LETTER VIII._
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE ABBÉ RIVE. BOOKSELLERS. PRINTERS. BOOK-BINDERS.