The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-27

m. Buekingham's Lectures ON the MSoaae
Mr. leicester r. A. the learned and slo-
quent lecturer from England delivered, Friday even
ing at Clinton Hall the second lecture OF his course
ON Literature, Learning and Religion In the middle
ages The audience was large and respectable; and
the absorbing interest and unbroken attention with
cd the high Of his auditors The special
topic selected for examination in this lecture the
nature and extent Of the means which existed In the
middle ages for the multiplication Of books and the
zeal With which the monks of those times sbored to
increase the literary treasures Of mankind; and .
vast amount Of curious evidence, bearing upon this
important and interesting question: which must have
been collected BY along course Of patient nd ndefa
sg.els research was presented BY the lecturer Ad-
middle ages nov known to be in existence, twenty.
tour Of the principal European libraries, containing
Dense number being distributed In various smAle.
collections MT. Buckingham proceeded to enumers.te
several causes which have exerted active agency in
the distribution OF MSS, 30 - to render 1t most
unfair TO judge Of the number which existed
even by the immense surviving remnants. rhe wars
which, At various periods, devastated Europe, had
large share In promoting the demolition o. there trea
snres Of antquity The monasteres viii CHI contained
the principal libraries always obj of attack
and so greatly did they suffer that ia France alone
three hundred and monast cries were destroy
Cd BY foreign assailants and other European coun-
tries exempt from simib.r Gala mites. Acct
dental CONGREGATIONS which we've by OF
noe and the negligence dishonesty of those
lent their aid to diminish the number Of ancient
MSS and at the period OF the reformation an im-
sometimes
in the warlike assaults m de the menasteres by
the partsans of the new epinons and sometimes
England, BY dsliber.te and w,lful demolition,
arising from the of All these
circumstances clearly indicate the mpossiblity OF
forming any accurate Judgment as to the abundance
Of books in the mid die ages from the of an
cient literature Which have survived these various
causes OF desfruc tom and the time lead in
evitsoly to The Conclusion, that they must have been
then most abuy idant, since great number still
main TO US, AZ have escaped all these agencies Of de-
moliton.
Tuv r.
OF the activity Of the monks in increasing the album
dance an6. accessibility of literature, Mr.. Buckingham
proceeaeA to chow that in this department OF their
labors the monks most jealous and perseverng.
large library always looked upon indispsn-
sable adjunct to monastery; books among the
hnge thought the nders of such establish
mes necessary to be provided and the records of
monastc history present innumerabe Of the
themselves to add to their literary collections Yet
these exetons can excite surprise in the minds Of
those who are acquainted with the sentiments which
monastc writer's invariably expressed with regard to
literary pursuits no language appears too strong, in
their apprehension for the expression of their devoted
love Of Books and their attachme MT life of study
The monastc rules prescribed the most
In the handling Of books, that they might receive
xScS tbsv contain may;fist shs xSsS tSs
monks entertained for the productions Of human in
teect, and. st the same time prove how extensively
habits OF study must have prevailed among them But
the monks did not content themselves with reading
the books which existed; their most strenuous
dsavors directed to the efthe
of literature. The scriptorum was important part
ofevery monastery; ENDORSEMENTS were made especially
ly in the multiplication of books that they might in
crease the means OF knowledge among the people.
During the midele ages, very extensive literary
carried on betwee the abbots of different
nssterie in the borrowing and lending of books to
be copied and the letters of these dguitares
many curious illustrations of this prevailing custom,
which is indicative very vigorous appetite for learn,
ing And in addition to this it must be noticed that
We meet With frequent high CONNIE ndations of monks,
for their diligence in the copying Of books which
evidently regarded by these bographers as q most