New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-12-30
Large Library for Sale.
U1irED STATES CONSULATE


DEAR SlR-Since the object OF this coiii''4 ui'-,
cation cannot fail to interest every patrol anu
friend of learning, offer no apology lor a'''-'~1
inc YOU. Owing to reverse Of fortune lhe t'i'-
sent representative of the Durazzo family one oi
tbe most ancient and illustrious OF Genoa ana III
deco all Italy, has offered his celeDfa'eo h.9,u'
for sale. As soon as | learned liis Intention :
called on the proprietor and obtained MS ~" 90
.or,ns with the refusal of the Library Tor i've
months. with the view Of writing N the mean
fine to the U. S. TO see if Congress could not be
prevailed upon to purchase it for the use Oh the
Government. This Library has been IN the pro-
cess Of collection for several hundred years, and
ALWAYS in possession of the same family, who have
at all times been distinguished friends OF Learn
inq. 1t has long been esteemed one OF the choicest
private Libraries in Europe. 1t contains over
10000 volumes of themost valuable and beautiful
editions of the most celebrated authors OF the an
cient and modern world, with severa! hundred very
rare and valuable manuscripts IN different ian
ouaces. many of them older than the art OF Prlnt-
ino-works Of inestimablc value never printed, anc
Of which no other copies are known to exist
Although the number Of volumes is no greater
vet almost every celebrated author OF every Ian
cpace is found in it, since nearly the entire LII
brarv is made up of large folio and quarto
editions which are very comprehensive. 1t Is
bound uniform in the most durable ana oeal'liiul
stylc. and the whole is in perfect state OF pre-
seryation-not an imperfect copy or volume
The Catalogue cannot be forwarded as only one
exists lin seven manuscript Volumes and only
general idea can be given Of It's contents. VI the
Great Departments Of Learning the most extern
sive are History, Laws, jurisprudence and Dlplo-
macy. The Classical Department IS also very
full, containing all the Greek and Roman classics,
in manuscripts by scholars Of the 18th, 10th and
18th centuries. These are among the most vail-
able in Europe l have spent several days eS-
pressly in the examination of the Library and 3D.
tanned the opinions Of some OF the best ltalian
scholars, and they all concur with The Books OF
photography in the opinion that 1t IS one OF inc
choicest and most valuable Private Libraries IN
Europe The price is so low it can offer no OBJ
stacle, it being only thirty thousand dollars
which is much less than the original cost of the
Binding and | am universally assured 1t is not
one-tenth the original cost ofthe printed volumes,
not to mention the MSS. The want Of such
Library is felt by American Statesmen and schol-
airs, and it may safely be asserted that more
valuable treasure could not be possessed by the
present or left by future generations. l then,
dear sir, make this appeal to you in the name OF
Country and Education and for these two sacred
objects ask that you will, in every manner in
your power, do all you can to have the matter
brought before Congress early this Session, and
a Bill passed that the time may not pass by and
the five months expire without consummatng
the object The Library can be had no less; 1t
can be boxed, insured and sent to Washington IN
a perfect state for reasonable sum, and am vii
ling to do it. Let Congress choose its own mode,
however, and its own agent, only let the Library
be bought for the American People
have the honor be- dear sir your obedent servant,
c. EDWARDS LESTER, U. 5. Consu! al Genoa