The New York herald., 1879-12-02
LONDON LITERARY GOSSIP.
TIES AT THE PROPOSED WITHDRAWAL OF
THEIR STIPEND.

ALARM AMONG THE BRITISH MUSEUM AUTHoRI-
TIES AT THE PROPOSED WITHDRAWAL OF
THEIR STIPEND.
LONDON. Nov. IT. 1879.
Much indignation has been created in London
literary circles by Mr.. loves revelations concern
ing the intended economy to be made by the govern
ment. at the expense of the British Museum. In de-
priving that institution Of the paltry allowance of
e. 900 year. in order that the miserable drop may
fall into the ocean of expenditure incurred by the
Afghan war. The excitement has been great among
the savans of the Museum, for even bookworm
will turn when trodden upon. The sum of $4,000
does not seem much; but when it is remembered
that that is all the Museum authorities have
or had at their disposal for the purchase
OF important foreign books published during the
year. the stoppsge OF 1t looks serious. It need
hardly be said that some of the best works in
tain departments are the production of French and
German thinkers. and that the lack of them in the
library is great drawback to students aud savans.
But the bookworms won't let the matter drop. As
neighborhood of Bloomsbury. There will be insur-
rection ere long. There will be sach letting. not
of the liquor sanguinis. but Of ink that fancy tho
magnates of Downing street Will wish they had not
touched this sacred fund. 1t is well known
that there is no being more ferocious in
in his passion. Who but has heard of the awful
encounters between rival book collectors at Sothe
Dys auction rooms IN DyBOue 0aySf Men VINO,
their families and in their relations with the
world. are looked upon as the mildest and most
amiable of their kind. became positively savage
when conscious that antique treasure of typog->
rapny or binding. or even Of error in printing is
about to elude their grasp. Tho late Earl Spencer
the greatest book collector OF his day and the most
gentlemanly in his feelings, of the most humane
and philanthropic sentiments, on being outbid by
the Duke of Marlborough for the famous Boccaccio;
first edition; much torn and defaced; nine pages
only three of them stained with red wne''-
according to the description set forth in the
catalogue-having gone far 760 guneas
in his eagerness to possess the gem, turned pale
when the Duke Of Marlborough. another bibliophie.
rushed at up to 800 guineas and, forget
ting everything but his disappointment, he ex-
claimed to his librarian. DiDdn :-"Never mind.
The Duke won't enjoy 1t long. shall have it soon!"
"How do you know that my lord?" asked the libra
rian in astonishment. From the Dukes own
DOCTOR" the answer, given with look of
triumph that Dibdin never forgot. Earl Spencer
would have looked with as much scorn upon the
of books as the literary world to-day regard its
withdrawal The savans OF the Museum
said to have determined on memorializing the gov
ernment the subject and are meanwhile busy in
their endeavors to interest the public in the impor
tance of that establishment. One of the facts put
forth the occasion has somewhat astonished even
readers 1t appears that the building contains three
miles OF book shelves eight feet high. that
twenty Ave miles in length. The dome of the read
the largest in tho world. This dome is frequently
quoted by architects showing the value OF iron.
for while the piers Of the dome of the British Mu
scum occupy 200 feet those of the Pantheon l 7477
feet OF space although the dome itself is only two
feet larger in circumference.