Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1853-01-06

ADVANTAGES OF PR1NTING.-Before
the invention Of printing and the manu-
facture Of paper, books were so scarce
and bore aprice SO extravagant as TO be
beyond the means of all but the most
wealthy and opulent. Few private in
dividuals could command resources to
become proprie,ors Of single work, and
the most extensive libraries Of well en-
dowed institutions were limited to few
individuals. Now they have become so
cheap that few ave destitute Of some Of
the treasures of knowledge, and our pubs
lie associations possess thousands. For
merly, the art Of reading was confined
to a few monks; and probably the doc>
trine in the Roman Church that only
the priests should read and interpret the
scriptures arose from this circumstance
and the universal ignorance of the mass
es Of the people. now this source of in-
struction is enjoyed by all classes. and
extended to almost every individual
Some curious facts are preserved in
history relative to lhe-scarcity and valus
Of books during the dark ages. A BIZ
shop in the 18th century. having occa-
sion to consult large Bible, before he
could obtain loan from monastery,
was compelled to execute bond, DIRE wn
up with due Formally. for the safe res
turn. The bequest Of a book to reli>
gious house was thought a present OF
SO high value, and an act Of such mer>
it, as to obliterate all sins. and entitle
the donor to happiness and salvation. A
Convent threatened annually to excom.
manicate whoever should dare to deface
u translation of an old Greek author
In the 18th century the Countess Of
Aniou is recorded to have given two
hundred sheep, FIVE quarters Of wheat,
as much rye and other grain, and a great
quantity Of furs. in exchange for cop,
Of some homilies. Even Kings could
not be safely trusted with articles Of such
exsravagan. price. Louis TX. OF France
IN l74l, borrowed the works Of an Ara
bian physician, and Was Obliged not on
y TO deposit his jewels as pledges, but IL
lind a noblcman to join rs surely with
him in u bond, conditioned for their re
sloration under An enormous forfeiture
r." -- >~---~-~~---~--
DEscENDsNrs OF TAE kMPKEas JosE~
PHrNE.-rte same telegraptic despatc
winch annouced in London the re.estab-
llshnne nj Of the empfe in France. ais,
conveyed info, NATION Of the death Of t;r
Duke De Leuchtenberg. the secoad son
OF Eugene Beauharnss, and son ia law
Of the Emperor Nicholas The elde'
bioihef Of this young Prince died short,
Iy after his marriage with the Queen Of
sPoftaga i, the flower Of his age. The
Duke. hiinsen was in his 36th year, and
had acquired position in the Imperial
family of Russia which seemed 10 des.
tine himte higher honors.
HIS death Vi announced al the very
moment when his consin Louis ,Napole,
on is ascending the Imperial throne Of
France, and ths only Ink which connec-
Ted the Bonaparts family with that Of
Russia is thus dissolved. It seems as
if in spite Of the extrao, binary advan,a-
yes of fortune y hich have followed the
Empress Josephine, some fatality inter
posed to prohibit the permanence OF
their honor, and to oblilerate the tra>
ces they have left amongst the reigning
families OF Europe. f
There is every reason To- suppose that
Louis Napoleon will guard himself as
ma'ca as. possible against these coniin-
'gencies, and that his marriage will fol>
low very shortly upon lhe proclamation
and accession. But the support which
he still 6Ods ia the confidence Of u large
pc, ton OF the French people, and in the
timidily Of the rest. is personal to him-
self. 1t will not be transferred To- the
mere object of his choice, or the kins-
men who have even less claim than him
self to bear a great name !. and In The
present rapid course OF events. who shall
say that man OF A on the eve OF enter
Ing for the fest time into the married
state. will leave an heir of an age 10
conduct the affairs of a nation which has
not permanently renOunced the liberties
i. once enjoyed 2 Nothing can BE- more
uncertain or mose ci i3ehcal than such
specuIations, and il is an essential char
acterislic Of the institutions. which have
lately been imposed on France THAI the
security they confer is limited to the du
,a.ion Of single life. il, indeed. thai be
not curtailed by the anxiety and the &C,
cidents Of such o reign.
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