New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-22
LJBRARIES AND OLD BOOKS N GER
MANY.
Ceusspondeuc. Of The N. Y. Tribune.

Correspondeucs Of The n Y. Tribune.
NIENNA, September 10, 800.
When in Breslau, some time since, took notes
for letter. intended more especially for my nu-
m.rous friends among the disciples OF Gutenberg,
Faust and Frankliu-the " Typos" The thing
was after this manner;
One of the most pleasant and valuable acquaint-
ances which | made in the Sesan Capital was
with Prof. Stenzler of the University, who, beside
teaching his haf-dozen students Sanscrit has
charge, in part of the great Library, not only of
the department of Oriental Languages, but of d.
vision which be himself has made, and which par
tcularly interested me.
have special love for old books as such-thst
is, for fine specimens of old Typography, even
though can make nothing of their contents 1t IL
quite passion with me; much So that having
last season received my proportion, like the pro-
djeous son" (as Launce tells his dog, spent II IN
the rotous' purchase OF old books, until my IN
private sub.treasury was IN as bad y condition as
those of Cobb in s time of profound peace; and
was the victim of vacuum as abhorrent 10 me as
10 nature, Il. J. Walker and CObb-s vacuum
which, BY their showing, cannot be, yet L. What
y superb FalstStfan power these Democratic Treas
urers have of nyentng reasons and excuses for the
annual utter overthrow by facts of all their theories
This little kick al Cobb by way of psrenthess.
While walk ng one day with Prof. StenZer through
the long ranges of apartments OF the old monkery,
or coister which is now the library building of the
Bressu University. he remarked, IN one OF the
rooms that be hsd collected there such works from
sll parts of the collection threw light upon the
early History of Printing A slight examination of
the books induced me afterwsrd 10 make long
visit thither and jot down few memoranda.
OF the great German Libraries, that at Breslau
- -fdarsd the nfth rark-RpTQ. Vienna.
Munich Goeitingen. Breslsu. The number OF vol
umes is not exactly sscertsned, but II exceeds
300 600. IL IS very rich IN old EcceNastlcsl works,
both manuscript and print; and this because upon
the suppression Ot a vast number of SlesIan con
vents " hich uuder the old Austrian rule swallowed
the ist of he land, sll works found IN their libra
res which were not already IN that of the aver
sity, we're ADDED 10 the latter. In this WAY il IS
that three lsler Ioors are filled with manuscripts,
both parctul. no and psucrnany %! exquisite beauty
and that So are, ; number OF books belonging 10
the first sixty years IT typography A.D. li40-
1900 is there 10 be found.
The utter want OF literary value Tor any purpose
whatever unless one desires 10 know how many
soul, can dance upon the point of needle, which
IS card 10 be the topic Of one of Aquinass ucubra-
tons-oimost of the old monkish writings led Prof.
;. 10 look over the library 70 see whether the!
might not have styp0gIaphl,al yalue-so 10 SPEAK.
Iaklpg the year 1900 as limit, be found over
1000 volumes scattered IN the various rooms and
extending IN date back certsinly 10 the year 900.
The number proving 50 Unexpectedly large, was
determined 10 carry out his idea aud place these
books by Themselves.
The number now brougb, together and arranged
is 2,2g5, and few volumes yet remain whose
proper places IN the collection have not yet been
determined. Ii Is 10 be understood that OF this
large number, although there are many duplicates
Indeed, u some gases, quite large number 81