[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.