Litchfield enquirer., 1838-12-20
From th. Ner. York Observer.


 MIR. BUCKINGHAM LECTURES.
 CLcopatra's Library.-Under the reign of Cleopatra, Alexandria had become, sin ad- ditinn to its wealth, the seat also of oflearning and the arts; and it was her fortune to ren- der it still more so by founding the celebra- ated library whicl, bore her name. Its ori- gin is connected with a piece of history which is known to all None can be igno- rant of the attachment of Mark Anthony for this beautcous Queen. The work Of our popular poets, Shakespeare and Dry den, have fixed it forever in the minds of men. or all the characters in history, she presents one of the most remarkable. In other cases, the endowmen.s of nature and the gifts of Providence seem distributed with a discrimination which eOnfers some advantage on each individual which is witI,- held from ,he others. To some is given great personal beauty; to others, great powers of mind to others, extensive au- thority and influence to others, peculiar fascination of manner; but in Cleopatra all these seem to have been concentrated. and showeted with their utmost abundance on single individual. She shi,tes on tlse pa ges ortime, " one entire andperfect chrys- olite." In person, she wasfas beautiful as an angel in mental endOFments, she is said to have surpassed all females ofwhom we have any record, and go learned and &C., complished was she in tho hrts, as 10 be a critic in each branch; whi e at the same time she was sucl, an adepdin the langua- gcs, as to be able to converbe without the aid or an in,crprete. will, sixteen different ambassadors, each in his own tongue. The British Elizabeth was esteemed an nccon,- plished woman, because she could pro- nounce Greek and Latin lorations but what comparison is there between the knowledge 1.-two or three dead languages. and an acquaintance with sixteen living tongues And besides, Elizabeth, though majestic in person, could not be called beautiful. But Cleopatra, at once beanti- ful and learned, and wilhal of most winning department and manners, enjoyed bound- less wealth, and to crown all, was placed amidst the regal splrndor and influence of a court. tis scarcely to be wondered al, that both Cesar and Anthony should in succession have fallen prostrate beneath the force of her charms. t
 Mark Anthony was called to Asia Mi- nor; but though torn away by the necessi- ties of state, his heart was still possessed with the image of this enchantress; a proof of which is that his very first act after his departure, was an act of homage to her. When he arrived at Pergamos, he found there library containing 200, ,OOO volumes. I state this number, in order to show the .E a1. 0rNIlao aof9nna M. brary of 200, ,OOO volumes is larger than any now in Europe, after all the multiplication of books by the press, save il'at in the Vn- tican, the Bodleian Library iR England, and the Royal Library at Paris. And it may be doubted whether either of these celebrated collections exceed the number I have stated. Then we must remember the comparative scarceness and consequent coslliness of books, in that day, when all works were in manuscript. The library in Pergamos was more costly than three modern libraries of thc same size put iO- gether. But 90 large a space did tI,e re- membrance of Cleopatra occupy in the heart of the enamcred Roman, that he pnr- chased the whole and sent it hack 10 her as leve donation, accompanying his gift with 2 message expressive of l,is deep regret that lis mcans did a6t enable him iu offer her any thing more acceptable; yet, thougl, the present was insufficient in value, tt was cer- iainly appropriate, since she was yet more distinguished fur the beauties of her mind, than even for the charms of finer person, and rightly deserved that ihe treasures of, the wlsole world cf intellect sh"ald be spread out at her feet. Whrn we coniensllaIe snch an sct as ihis, oee caN seasrtiy hcsp thinking that we have failen "'' dseeuers,s times. In these days, a lover contents himself with presenting [" his mistress q copy of she last new annual, and thinks he has done uucOmmoply we'll if he adds 3 eilded album with some verses n REaise ei his lady intended. When we cOnsaasl Ihis