Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-05-10
A Eotable Collection of Books.

Several large cases attracted our a.ten.
ton at the Depot short time ago, and In
answer TO our enquiries as to their contents,
we were told that the boxes contained
books. On following up the matter still
further, we found that it was the library of
Rev. DR.. F. w. Boyd, rector of ST. Paurs
Episcopal Church, of this city, which had
just arrived from Natchez, Miss, his former
home. According to the freight bills the
books weighed nearly three tons. A few
days since we spent pleasant hour or two
among this labyrinth of books, and were
much interested in looking over tbs various
works. The library contains over 1000 vol
umes. Many OF the works are of a very
ancient date. One of these is very remark
able. 1t is in a language not now spoken
by any people, and is a compound of Chal
daic and Senscrit The internal evidences
show it to be of the 9TH century, and is
doubtless older than any MSS. on this side
of the Atlantic. The most competent ex-
part now living-the Custodian of the man
uscripts of the Library of the British Muse.
um-declares it to be portion of the Pen
iateuch. Other books can here be seen
which, although of more modern date
than the one just described, are OF rare val
ue, and will carry person back nearly to
the time when the art of printing was dis
covered. A complete set of St. Irenaeus'
works, printed in 1928 Vulgate Bible, with
st. Jerome's Annexation of l57O Common
tary on the Psalms, 1888; Book of En-
blems, 1881 beautiful copy of Ancient
Historians from Eusebius to Dorotheus, in
Latin folio, published in 1911 Several
ancient works are bound, in parchment
one on Ancient Coinage, date 1859. Be-
sides the copy Of this book in possession of
DR.. Boyd, but one other is known to be in
existence, and this one is in the British Mu-
scum Library, London. A fine edition of
Caves Historic Literaria, in folio Latin,
published in 1888. Other very old vol
umes of the date 1850 and subsequent are
collected in this library. We also saw
curious copy of the Bible, of date 1915, call
ed the ''Breeches Bible" from the transla-
ton given to the 7th verse of the 3rd chap
ter OF Genesis, "And they sewed fig leaves
together and made themselves breeches."
There is not known to be more than two
copies of this bible in this country. Be-
sides an extensive theological series, there
Is very complete genealogical collection
of Noble and Royal families with Gentry
and CommoneTs of Great Britain full
set of Blackwood's Magazine complete
copy Of Niles Register, the most valuable
work for reference perhaps, ever published
and a large collection of British and other
serial publications offering facilities for in
yes ligation through continuous years for
century or more on the current TOT pics. H.
deed, in general literature the shelves are
well filled, giving full opportunity
for the reader to revel, if he so desires, in
Poetry, Bellies Lettres Fact. Fiction, Travels,
Histories, &c, &c. Rev DR.. Boyd has al
so amomg his relics, piece of Mosaic pave
ment from the Palace of Herod at Jerusalem,
on which our Savior may have t-od, also
candlestick made from Olive wood that
grew in the Garden of Gethsemane curosi-
ties which he obtain ed while travelling in
the Holy Land. and piece of marble from
St. Mark Cathedral in Venice.