Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-07

Of Humboldt, applied to Plus VII, for
the restoration of some OF the manuscript
which had been pluniered from the Hell
delburg Library by De Tilley. A more
favorable moment for this request could
not have been chosen; the service rem
dered to the Church by the restoration Of
the pope to his throne was acknowledged
by that enlightened and virtuous pontifl
on all occasions and in this instance the
request of the king Of Prussia was imme-
diately answered by the restoration OF
many manuscripts of great Importance to
the German historian. At the present
timo-for we do not know Of any additions
certainly since twenty-five years the Va
tlcan Library contains in the Oriental col
lection 500 Hebrew, 1877 Arabic, 80 Cop
tic, II Ethiopic, 459 Syriac, GA Turkish,
65 Persian, Samaritan, 13 Armenian,
Iberian, % Indian, 10 Chinese aud 1S
Slavonic manuscripts. The amount of
the whole collection Of Greek, Latin and
Oriental manuscripts is %, $50, the finest
collection in the world. The number Of
printed books is estimated ut 80, 900, and
includes the collection of Cardinal Nal, q
munifcent donation of Plus TX. to the
library of the Vatican.
The principal manuscript treasures OF
the library are the following: The cele-
brated CodexVaticanus, or "Bible of
the End of the Fourth or Beginning Of
the Fifth Century" in Greek, containing
the Oldest version of the Septuagint and
the first Greek one of the New Testament.
The most important document in biblical
literature was published by the late Car
dinal Nal in 1927. The "Virgil" OF the
fourth or fifth century, with fifty minia-
lures, including a portrait of Virgil, well
known by the engravings of Santo Bartoli ;
the. Terrence" Of the ninth century, with
miniatures "Terence" of the fourth or
fifth century. the Oldest known: "Frag-
ments Of Virgil of the twelfth century.
The "Cicero de Republica," the cele-
brated palimpsest discovered by Cardinal
Mai, under version of "St. Augustine q
Commentary on the Psalms" This is
considered the Oldest Latin manuscript
extant. The "Palimpsest of Livy, lib,
9l," from the library of Christina, queen
Sweden. "The "Pzuby Grotius. The
"Seneca," the fourteenth century, with
commentaries by the English Dominican
monk. Triveth. A "Pliny" with inter.
estinn figures of animals. "a Menelogia
Greca; or Greek Calendar of the Tenth
Century" ordered by the Emperor Basil
a fine example Of Byzantine art, brilliant
ly illuminated with representations OF
basilicas, monasteries, aud martyrdoms
of various saints of tide Greek Church.
The "Homilies of st. Gregory Nazianzen'
of the year 1868, and Fonr Gospels of the
year 1928, both Byzantine manuscripts ol
great interest A Greek version OF the
"Acts of the Apostles" written in gold
presented to Innocent VIII. by Charlotte
queen of Cyprus. The large "Hebrev
Bible, in folio, from the library of the
Duke of Urbino, for which the Jews Of
Venice offered its weight in gold. The
"Commentaries on the New Testament,
with miniatures of the fourteenth cen
tury, by Nicola da Bologna. The "Bre
wary of Matthias Corvtnus," of the yea
1892, beautifully written and illuminated
by Allavanti. The parchment scroll Of I
Greek manuscript of the seventh century
thirty-two feet long, with miniatures o
the history of Joshua. The "Ofiicium
Mortis," with beautiful miniatures, Th,
'"Codex Mexicanus," q calendar of i'm
mense length. The dedication copy o
the "Assertio Septem Sacramentorun
adversus Martinum Lutherum," by Hen
ry VIII, printed on vellum of London il
1921, with the kings signature and tn,
autograph inscription on the last pag
but one "Finis, Henry Rex"
"Anelorum rex Henricus, Leo Decline, mitu,.
Hoe opus ct ndel testis amlctig."
Letters from Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn
seventeen in number nine are in Frencl
and eight in English. The dante" o
the fifteenth century, with miniatures b,
Guillo Clovio. The "Dante del Bocca
colo" in the very beautiful writing Of thu
author of the "Decameron. to whice tn
signature of Johannes de Certaldo is ai
fixed, and with notes said to be by Pet
rarchs autographs. Several manuscript
Of Luther, and the principa, part Of tn
"Christian Catechism," translated int
German by Melancthon, 1866; the Lati
poem Of "Donizo, in honor of the Coun
tess Matilda" with her full-length poi
trait, and several historical miniatures c
great interest, which represent the reper
tance Of the Emperor Henry w., his alb
solution by Gregory VII, and simila
6ubiects