England, it is rather the fashion to sneer at him; but this sneer may
proceed as often from ignorance, as from superiority of information. The
truth is, M. Millin does _too much_ to do every thing _well_. At one
moment, he is busied with a dyptych: at another, he is examining a coin or
a medal: during the third, he is lost in admiration over a drawing of a
tomb or statue:--his attendant enters with a proof-sheet to engage his
fourth moment--and so it goes on--from sunrise to sunset; with pen in hand,
or blank or printed paper before him, he is constantly occupied in the
pursuit of some archaeological enquiry or other. THIS praise, however--and
no mean or unperishable praise it is--most indisputably belongs to him. He
was almost the ONLY ONE in France; who, during the reign of terror,
bloodshed, and despotism--cherished and kept alive a taste for NATIONAL
ANTIQUITIES. But for _his_ perseverance, and the artists employed by _him_,
we should not now have had those _graphic_ representations of many
buildings, and relics of art, which have since perished irretrievably.
Another praise also belongs to him; of no very insignificant description.
He is among the most obliging and communicative of literary Parisians; and
does not suffer his good nature to be soured, or his activity to abate,
from the influence of _national_ prejudice. He has a large acquaintance
among foreigners; and I really think that he loves the English next best to
his own countrymen. But whoever applies to him with civility, is sure to be
as civilly received. So much for MILLIN.[160]
This group of literary _whole lengths_ would however be imperfect without
the introduction of Monsieur LANGLÈS. The _forte_ of M. Langlès consists in
his cultivation of, and enthusiastic ardor for, _oriental literature_. He
presides, in fact, over the Persian, Arabic, and other Oriental MSS. and he
performs the duties of his office, as a public librarian, with equal
punctuality and credit. He has also published much upon the languages of
the East, but is considered less profound than DE SACY: although both his
conversation and his library attest his predilection for his particular
studies. M. Langlès is eclipsed by no one for that "gaieté de coeur" which,
when joined with good manners and honourable principles, renders a
well-bred Frenchman an exceedingly desirable companion. He loves also the
arts; as well of sculpture as of painting and of engraving. His further
room affords unquestionable evidence of his attachment to _English Prints_.
Wilson, West, and Wilkie--from the burins of Woollett, Raimbach, and
Burnet--struck my eye very forcibly and pleasingly. M. Langlès admires and
speaks our language. "Your charming Wilkie (says he) pleases me more and
more. Why does he not visit us? He will at least find here some _good
proofs_ of my respect for his talents." Of course he could not mean to pun.
I was then told to admire his impression of Woollett's _Battle of La
Hogue_; and indeed I must allow that it is one of the very best which I
have seen. He who possesses _that_, need not distress himself about any of
the impressions of the _Death of Wolfe_; which is also in the collection of
Langlès.
His library is probably less extensive than Millin's; but it is not less
choice and valuable. His collection of books (in which are a great number
of our best Voyages and Travels) relating to Asia--and particularly his
philological volumes, as connected with the different languages of that
country, cannot be too much commended. I saw Sir John Malcolm's _History of
Persia_ lying upon his table. "How do you like that work, M. Langlès?" "Sir
(replied he) I more than like it--I love it: because I love the author." In
fact, I knew that Sir John and he were well acquainted with each other, and
I believe that the copy in question bore the distinctive mark of being "ex
dono auctoris." I have had a good deal of interesting conversation with M.
Langlès about the history of books during the Revolution; or rather about
that of the ROYAL LIBRARY. He told me he was appointed one of the
commissioners to attend to the distribution of those countless volumes
which were piled up in different warehouses, as the produce of the
_ransacked monasteries_. I am not sure, whether, within the immediate
neighbourhood of the Royal Library, he did not say that there were at least
_half a million of books_. At that time, every public meeting of
Parisians--whatever might be the professed object--was agitated, and
often furious. One of the red-hot demagogues got up in the assembly, and
advised "mangling, maiming, or burning the books: they were only fit for
cartridges, wadding, or fuel: they were replete with marks of feudalism and
royalty--for they had arms or embellishments on them, which denoted them to
belong to Aristocrats." This speech made some impression: his comrades were
for carrying the motion immediately into execution, by sword and faggot....
But M. Langlès rose ... calm, collected, and actuated by feelings a little
more accordant with the true spirit of patrotism. "Citizens," said the
Orientalist, "we must not do mischief, in the desire of doing good. Let the
books remain where they are. If you set fire to them, can you say how far
the flames shall extend? Our own great national library, so renowned and
celebrated throughout Europe! may become the prey of the devouring element,
and _then_ how will you be reproached by posterity! Again--if you convert
them to _other_ purposes of destruction, how can you hope to prevent the
same example from being followed in other places? The madness of the
multitude will make no distinction; and as many pikes and swords may be
carried within the great library, as within the various depositories of the
monastic books. Pause awhile. Respect those collections of books, and you
will both respect yourselves and preserve the great national library. In
due time, we shall make a proper selection from them, and enrich the book
stores of the capital!" So spake M. Langlès; and the Assembly assented to
his contre-projet--luckily for Paris and themselves.[161]
But nearly all these worthy characters, of whom I have just made mention,
had an opportunity of exhibiting their social qualities, of whatever
description, at a sort of FESTIVAL which I gave the other day (last
Wednesday) in honour of the _Roxburghe Club_--which met on that same day, I
presume, at the Clarendon Hotel. This Parisian Roxburghe Banquet went off
upon the whole with flying colours. You shall know as much about it as is
likely to interest you. Having secured my guests, (Messrs. DENON, GAIL,
LANGLÈS, VAN PRAET and MILLIN) and fixed both the place and hour of repast,
I endeavoured to dress out a little bill of fare of a _bibliomaniacal_
description--to rival, in its way, that of _Mons. Grignon_, in the _Rue
Neuve des Petits Champs_, (within two minutes walk of the Royal Library,)
where we were to assemble, at five o'clock. I knew that Millin would put my
toasts or sentiments into good French, and so I took courage against the
hour of meeting. I had secured a ground-floor apartment, looking upon a
lawn, with which it communicated by open doors. The day was unusually hot
and oppressive. After finishing my labours at the Royal Library, I returned
to my hotel, arranged my little matters connected with the by-play of the
festival--dressed--and resorted to Grignon's. Every thing looked well and
auspiciously. Our room was in the shade; and a few lingering breezes seemed
to play beneath the branches of an acacia. The dark green bottles, of
various tapering shapes, were embedded in pails of ice, upon the table: and
napkins and other goodly garniture graced the curiously woven cloth. I hung
up, in the simplicity of my heart--over the seat which I was to occupy,--
the portrait of _John King of France_, which M. Coeuré had just finished;--
not considering that this said John had been beaten and taken prisoner, at
the battle of Poictiers by our Black Prince! Never was a step more
injudicious, or an ornament more unappropriate. However, there it hung
throughout the day. A dinner of the very best description, exclusively of
the wine, was to be served up for _twelve francs_ a head. I make no doubt
but the Club paid a _little_ more where they assembled in London!
At length came the hour of dinner, and with the hour the guests. I
requested Brother Van Praet to be deputy chairman; and taking my seat
beneath the unfortunate John King of France, gave the signal for a general
attack--upon whatever was placed before the guests. Monsieur Denon,
however, did not arrive till after the first course. He had been detained
by a visit from the Duke of Bedford. M. Millin sat at my right hand, and M.
Gail at my left. The first course consisted chiefly of fruit, and slices of
anchovy, crossed. A large paper copy of a _melon_ cut a magnificent
appearance in the centre; but all this quickly gave way to fish, flesh, and
fowl of a various but substantial description. Poor Millin had no appetite,
and would only carve. He looked particularly ill. The rest ate, drank, and
were merry. The desert was of the very best quality: and this was succeeded
by the introduction of a little of English fashion and manners. We drank
toasts, connected with the object of the day's festival; and never were a
set of guests more disposed to relish both the wine and the sentiment which
accompanied each glass. They even insisted upon a "three times three" for
"Lord Spencer and the Club!" But if we were merry, we were wise. Shortly
after dinner, M. Gail rose, as if in a moment of inspiration, from his
seat--and recited the Latin verses which are here enclosed.[162] They will
at least make you admire the good humour of thé poet. He afterwards chanted
a song: his own literal version of thé XIXth ode of Anacreon, beginning
[Greek: Hê gê melaina pinei]. The guests declared that they had never sat
so long at table, or were more happy. I proposed a stroll or a seat upon
the lawn. Chairs and benches were at hand; and we requested that the coffee
might be brought to us out of doors. It was now after sun-set; and a lurid
sky was above our head. Our conversation was desultory as to topics, but
animated as to manner. I had never witnessed M. Van Praet more alive to
social disquisition. We talked of books, of pictures, and of antiquities...
and I happened, with the same witless simplicity which had pinned the
portrait of King John over my seat at dinner, to mention that volume, of
almost unparalleled rarity, ycleped _the Fables of Pfister, printed at
Bamberg_ in 1461:--which they had recently RESTORED to the Wolfenbuttel
Library! It was "more than enough" for the acute feelings of the devoted
head-librarian. M. Van Praet talked with legs and arms, as well as with
tongue, in reply to my observations upon the extraordinary worth and
singular rarity of that singular volume. "Alas, Sir, nothing pained me
more. Truly--"Here a smart flash of lightning came across us--which
illumined our countenances with due effect: for it had been sometime past
almost wholly dark, and we had been talking to each other without
perceiving a feature in our respective faces. M. Langlès joined in M. Van
Praet's lamentation; and the Baron Denon, who (as I learnt) had been the
means of obtaining that identical precious volume, united his tones of
commiseration with those of his brethren.
The lightning now became more frequent, and in larger flashes--but neither
sharp nor very dazzling. Meanwhile the notes of a skilfully touched harp
were heard from one of the windows of a neighbouring house, with a mingled
effect which it was difficult to describe. _Pfister_, books, busts, and
music, now wholly engrossed our attention--and we were absolutely enveloped
in blue lightning. We had continued our discourse till towards midnight,
had not the rain come down in a manner equally sudden and severe. It was
one of the heaviest showers which I remember to have witnessed. The storm
was directly in the centre of Paris, and over our heads. We retreated
precipitately to the deserted banqueting room; and had a reinforcement of
coffee. After such a series of melting hot weather, I shall not easily
forget the refreshing sweetness emitted from every shrub upon the lawn.
About ten o'clock, we thought of our respective homes.[163] I went into
another room to pay the reckoning; liberated King John from his second
confinement; shook hands very heartily with my guests--and returned to my
lodgings by no means out of humour or out of heart with the day's
entertainment. Whether they have been more rational, or more _economical_,
in the celebration of the same festival, AT HOME, is a point, which I have
some curiosity, but no right, to discuss. Certainly they could not have
been happier.
Having come to the conclusion of my account of the ROXBURGHE BANQUET, and
it being just now hard upon the hour of midnight, I must relinquish my
correspondent for my pillow. A good night.
[156] He died on the 24th of May, 1828; on the completion of his 85th year.
See the next note but one.
[157] The reader may be amused with the following testy note of my vigilant
translator, M. Crapelet: the very Sir Fretful Plagiary of the minor
tribe of French critics! "Cette phrase, qui n'est pas Française, est
ainsi rapportée par l'auteur. M. l'Abbé Bétencourt, aura dit a peu
près: "Il mourra sans laisser d'élève." M. Dibdin qui parle et entend
fort bien le Français, EST IL EXCUSABLE DE FAIRE MAL PARLER UN
ACADEMICIEN FRANÇAIS, et surtout de rendre vicieuses presque toutes
les phrases qu'il veut citer textuellement? L'exactitude!
l'exactitude! C'est la première vertu du bibliographe; on ne saurait
trop le répéter a M. Dibdin." CRAPELET. vol. iv. 124. Quære tamen?
Ought not M. Crapelet to have said "il mourrira?" The sense implies
the future tense: But ... how inexpiable the offence of making a
French Academician speak bad French!!--as if every reader of common
sense would not have given _me_, rather than the _Abbé Bétencourt_,
credit for this bad speaking?
[158] [In a short, and pleasing, memoir of him, in the _Révue
Encyclopédique, 115th livraison, p. 277, &c._ it is well and
pleasantly observed, that, "such was his abstraction from all
surrounding objects and passing events, he could tell you who was
Bishop of such a diocese, and who was Lord of such a fief, in the
XIIth century, much more readily, and with greater chance of being
correct, than he would, who was the living Minister of the Interior,
or who was the then Prefect of the department of the Seine?" By the
kindness of a common friend, I have it in my power to subjoin a
fac-simile of the autograph of this venerable Departed:]
[Autograph]
[159] The _Thucydides_ was published first; in twelve volumes 8vo.
VOL. II. 1807; with various readings, for the first time, from
thirteen MSS. not before submitted to the public eye. The French
version, in four volumes, with the critical notes of the Editor, may
be had separately. The VELLUM 4to. copy of the Thucydides consists of
fourteen volumes; but as the volumes are less bulky than those of the
Xenophon, they may be reduced to seven. The _Xenophon_ was published
in 1809, in seven volumes, 4to. The Latin version is that of
Leunclavius; the French version and critical notes are those of M.
Gail. The vellum copy, above alluded to, is divided into ten volumes;
the tenth being an Atlas of fifty-four maps. Some of these volumes are
very bulky from the thickness of the vellum.
Upon this unique copy, M. Gail submitted to me, in writing, the
following remarks. "Of the Xenophon, two vellum copies were printed;
but of these, one was sent to the father of the present King of Spain,
and received by him in an incomplete state--as the Spanish Ambassador
told M. Gail: only six volumes having reached the place of their
destination. The Editor undertakes to give authenticated attestations
of this fact." "If," say M. Gail's written observations, "one
considers that each sheet of vellum, consisting of eight pages, cost
five francs ten sous, and three more francs in working off--and that
skins of vellum were frequently obliged to be had from foreign
countries, owing to the dearth of them at Paris--whereby the most
extravagant demands were sometimes obliged to be complied with--add to
which, that fifteen years have passed away since these sums were paid
down in hard cash,--the amount of the original expenses is doubled."
The volumes are in stout boards, and preserved in cases. In one of his
letters to me, respecting the sale of his vellum copy--the worthy
Professor thus pleasantly remarks: "Je ne veux pas m'enricher avec ce
livre qui, lorsque je serai cendres, aura un bien grand prix. Je n'ai
que le desir de me débarrasser d'une richesse qui m'est à charge, et
ne convient nullement à un modeste et obscur particulier, comme moi."
I subjoin the autograph of this worthy and learned Professor: hoping
yet to shake the hand heartily which guided the pen.
[Autograph]
[160] M. Millin DIED about the middle of the following month, ere I had
reached Vienna. His library was sold by auction in May 1819, under the
superintendence of Messrs. Debure, who compiled the sale catalogue. It
produced 53,626 francs. The catalogue contained 2556 articles or
numbers; of which several were very long sets. One article alone, no.
866., consisted of 326 volumes in folio, quarto, and octavo. It is
thus designated, "RECUEIL DE PIECES SUR LES ARTS, LA LITTE'RATURE, LES
ANTIQUITE'S, _en Latin, en Italien, et en François_. This article
produced 4501 francs, and was purchased by the Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Millin had brought up from boyhood, and rescued from poverty and
obscurity, a lad of the name of _Mention_. This lad lived with him
many years, in the capacity of a valet and private secretary. In his
second and last voyage to Italy, Millin declined taking him with him,
but left him at home, in his house, with a salary of fifty francs per
month. Five months after his departure, in February, 1812, a great
quantity of smoke was seen issuing from the windows of Millin's
apartments. Several people rushed into the room. They found the
drawings and loose papers taken from the portfolios, rolled up
lightly, and the room on fire at the four corners! A lighted candle
was placed in the middle of the room. Suspicion immediately fell upon
Mention. They ran to his bed chamber: found the door fastened: burst
it open--and saw the wretched valet weltering in his blood ... yet
holding, in his-right hand, the razor with which he had cut his
throat! He was entirely dead. Millin's collection of Letters from his
numerous Correspondents perished in the flames.
This accident, which also deprived Millin of a fund of valuable
materials that he was preparing for a _Dictionary of the Fine Arts_,
and for a _Recueil de Pièces gravées Inédites_--might have also had an
infinitely more fatal tendency: as it occurred _within_ the walls
which contain the ROYAL LIBRARY! Millin received the news of this
misfortune, in Italy, with uncommon fortitude and resignation. But
this second voyage, as has been already intimated, (see p. 260)
hastened his dissolution. He planned and executed infinitely too much;
and never thoroughly recovered the consequent state of exhaustion of
body and mind. As he found his end approaching, he is reported to have
said--"I should like to have lived longer, in order to have done more
good--but God's will be done! I have lived fifty-nine years, the
happiest of men--and should I not be ungrateful towards Providence, if
I complained of its decrees?!" And when still nearer his latter
moments--he exclaimed: "I have always lived, and I die, a Frenchman:
hating no one: complaining only of those who retard the cause of
reason and truth. I have never, intentionally, hurt a single creature.
If I have injured any one, I ask pardon of him for the error of my
understanding." He died on the 18th of August, and his body was
interred in the churchyard of Père la Chaise. His old friend and
colleague, M. GAIL, pronounced a funeral discourse over his grave--in
which, as may be well supposed, his feelings were most acutely
excited. I subjoin a facsimile of Millin's autograph: from the richly
furnished collection of Mr. Upcott, of the London Institution.
[Autograph: A.L. Millin]
[161] [Mons. Langlès survived the above account between five and six years;
dying January 28, 1824. His Library was sold by auction in March,
1825. It was copious and highly creditable to his memory. From the
source whence the preceding autograph was derived, I subjoin the
following autograph.
[Autograph: L Langlès]
[162] Monsieur Millin had been before hand in his description of this day's
festival, but his description was in prose. It appeared in the
_Annales Encyclopédiques_, for the ensuing month, July, 1818, and was
preceded by a slight historical sketch of the Club, taken chiefly from
the Bibliographical Decameron. His account of the festival may amuse
some of my readers, who have not been accustomed to peruse _English
toasts_ cloathed in French language. It is briefly thus:
"Pendant que les membres du Roxburghe Club célébroient le 17 juin 1818
la mémoire des premiers imprimeurs de Boccace, à Venise et en
Angleterre, sous la présidence de sa grâce lord Spencer; M. Dibdin,
vice-président, s'unissoit à ce banquet bibliographique par une
répétition qu'il en faisoit à Paris. Il avoit appelé à ce banquet M.
DENON, à qui la France doit encore une grande partie des manuscrits et
des éditions rares dont elle s'est enrichie, et plusieurs
conservateurs de la bibliothèque royale, MM. VANPRAET, LANGLE'S, GAIL,
et MILLIN. On pense bien que l'histoire littéraire, la bibliographie,
devinrent un inépuisable sujet pour la conversation. L'entretien
offrit un mélange de gaïté et de gravité qui convient aux banquets des
muses; et selon l'adage antique, les convives étoient plus que trois
et moins que neuf. M. Gail lut sur cette réunion des vers latins, dont
les toasts bruyans ne permirent pas de savourer d'abord tout le sel et
l'esprit. Ils doivent être imprimés dans _l'Hermes Romanus_.
"M.D., amphitryon et président du festin, porta, comme il convenoit,
les premiers toasts:
1°. A la santé de milord Spencer et des honorables membres du
Roxburghe Club. 2°. A la mémoire de Christophe Valdarfer, inprimeur du
Boccace de 1471; livre dont l'acquisition fait par le duc de
Marlborough, fut l'occasion de la fondation du Roxburghe Club. 3°. A
la mémoire immortelle de Guillaume Caxton, premier imprimeur anglois.
4°. A la gloire de la France. 5°. A l'union perpétuelle de la France
et de l'Angleterre. 6°. A la prospérité de la bibliothèque royale de
France. 7°. A la santé de ses dignes conservateurs, dont le savoir est
inépuisable, et dont l'obligeance ne se lasse jamais. 8°. A la
propagation des sciences, des arts, des lettres, et de la bibliomanie.
9°. Au désir de se revoir le même jour chaque année.
"Les convives ont rendu ces toasts par un autre qu'ils ont porté, avec
les hurras et les trois fois d'usage en Angleterre, au vice-président
du Roxburghe-Club, qui leur avoit fait l'honneur de les rassembler.
"La Séance a fini à l'heure où le président du Roxburghe-Club lève
celle de Londres; et le vice-président, M. Dibdin, a soigneusement
réuni les bouchons, pour les porter en Angleterre comme un signe
commémoratif de cet agréable banquet."[E]
The verses of Monsieur Gail were as follow:--but I should premise that
he recited them with zest and animation.
Auspice jam Phæbo, SPENCEROQUE AUSPICE, vestrum
Illa renascentis celebravit gaudia lucis
Concilium, stupuit quondam quâ talibus emptus
Boccacius cunctorum animis, miratus honores
Ipse suos, atque ipsa superbiit umbra triumpho.
Magna quidem lux illa, omni lux tempore digna.
Cui redivivus honos et gloria longa supersit
_Atque utinam ex vobis unus, vestræque fuissem_
Lætitiæ comes, et doctæ conviva _trapezæ_.
Sed nune invitorque epulis, interque volentes
Gallus Apollineâ sedeo quasi lege Britannos.
Arridet D***: habet nos una voluptas.
Me quoque librorum meministis amore teneri,
Atque virûm studiis, quos Gallia jactat alumnos:
Nam si _Caxtonio_ felix nunc Anglia gaudet,
Non minus ipsa etiam _Stephanorum_ nomina laudat.
Hic nonnulla manent priscæ vestigia famæ.
Nobis Thucydides, Xenophon quoque pumice et auro,
Quem poliit non parca manus; felicior ille
Si possit ...[F] melius conjungere Musas!
[Greek: Koina ta panta philôn] perhibent: at semper amici
Quidquid doctorum est: tantis ego lætor amicis.
Æternum hæc vigeat concordia pocula firment
Artesque et libri, quæ nectant foedera reges,
Utramque et socient simul omnia vincula gentem.
CECINIT JOAN. B. GAIL,
Lector regius in biblioth. regiâ codd. gr. et lat. præfectus.
While one of the London morning newspapers (which shall be here
nameless) chose to convert this harmless scene of festive mirth into a
coarse and contemptible attack upon its author, the well-bred
Bibliomanes of Paris viewed it with a different feeling, and drew from
it a more rational inference. It was supposed, by several gentlemen of
education and fortune, that a RIVAL SOCIETY might be established among
themselves--partaking in some degree of the nature of that of the
ROXBURGHE, although necessarily regulated by a few different laws.