New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-15
Literary Robbery.

The Literary and scientific circles Of Paris have
for a long time past. been greatly interested with
respect to a charge made against al. Llofi well
known saudnt, n member OF the Institute, and
Professor of the College OF France OF having COM
nitted extensive theits OF valuable manuscripts
and books in the public libraries OF France. Ever
sipce the charge was first made, NJ Libri has
strenuously protested his innocence, and has been
warmly defended by different journals, and in
various pamphlets and periodicals. Shortly after
the revolution of February he deemed 1t necessary
TO seek refuge in England. The investigation OF
the charges against him was however, proceeded
with and sufficient proof of his guilt having, in the
opinion of the law officers, been obtained an in
diotment was preferred NJ. Libri not having sur
rendered on this Indictment the Court OF Assizes
on Saturday proceeded to try him par coutumace.
The indictment charged him with having, in 542,
taken away several precious books and manu-
scripts from the public library OF Carpentras, with
having sent them TO Italy 10 be bound and prepared
in Italian style, and with having sold them in Lon
don-one for IS much as 6,000 frsacs. One Of
these manuscripts was that Of Dantes Dlriad Com
media.
The indictment further charged him with having
taken away $50 valuable manuscripts and auto
graphs from the Bibliotheque Mazarine. At Troyes,
10 italian works Of the Middle Ages disappeared
after he bad visited the library. At Greno0e, six
1 works Of a similar character were taken by MN.
| At MONTPELIER he also committed thefts OF books,
covered by placing worthless books or inferior edi
tons in the room Of those be took away. From
the same library be also took good many Of the
letters OF Queen Christina. From the Institute Of
| Paris q great number Of letters Of Charles VII
( Charles VIII Francis l. and the whole correspon.
derce Of Henry ~. with bis wife were, it was al.
legged, taken away by the accused, together with a
number of letters of other distinguished historical
personages. The manuscripts of Leonard d Vinc
which are Of such great value as to be only shown
% persons specially authorized, were placed in bis
hands and &C sheets Of them were subsequently
sscertained % be missing. the indictment further
| alleged that many Of the books and manuscript
stolen from the different libraries were sold by NJ
Libri; and that the others were preserved in his
library.
This library is estimated to be worth the vast
sum Of COO 000f lt24OO0l and the Indictment
showed that NJ. Libris regular pecgniary resources
rbe principal Of which was his pr0isssOrship Of
4,0O0f 4 year at the College Be France) Were 70
tally insufficient to enable him TO purchase such Q
collection especially at the rate at which be lived
When be came TO France in 1880, he was, added
the Indictment In such distress, that his mother
wrote 10 him that he do right 70 be econo nical
even Of bis sous.
ia lis house, j. was further said, that be had
lumber Of instruments for scratching out marks
stamping, binding SC manuscripts and books. Al
ter tie reading " the indistment, the Advocate
General demanded the application Of articles 25
eld 255 Of the Penal Code and the Court con
eemned ". Libr BY default 70 ten years imprisoh
, ment ffectsioAj. Thus sentence il what tn
French lAv calls peiHe affective Il iHfdmanh
AID cors sis ia strc; confinement. with hard boz