New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-10
RELICS OF COLUMBUS.
HIS OWN BOOK OF PRIVILEGES OK
CODEx DIPLOMAT1CUs NOW FIRST
GIVEN IN FAC-SIMILE WITH TRANS
IATION AND CALCULATION, AND
WITH AUTOGRAPH LETTERS.


London, May %.
This book is one more monument to the men,
DRY Of a great man. Mr. Stevens tells the story
Of its origin In a sufficiently modest ana iuciu
Preface and his narrative proves That ne pos
sesses the instinct Of the historical antiquarian
ever on the alert for discoveries. and possessed
by a belief without which the antiquarian is
as naught. that there are still as good fish in the
sea as ever came out Of IT, He has long had the
run. so far as anybody has had 1t, Of museums
and archives Among other interesting depart
rnents he knew the Archives of the Foreign Office
at Paris: formerly Of the most inaccessible
in the world and still hedged about by some OF
those Ieaousics and suspicious which the French
carry not only into their Foreign Relations but
into their relations with foreigners. Mr.. stevens
however was on terms with NJ Girard de Realie,
the Director Of the Archives des Afa.res Etran-
CERES and he one day asked NJ de Reahe 10
show him the most precious document III MS
keeping
A bold request. But the learned Director was
in a complying mood and, probably with some
mental reservations Of his own as to what con-
s,ituted the superlatlve degree Of preciousness.
set off on search 10 crafty Mr. Stevenss lauu-
able curiosity He returned with a small folio
prise. proved 20 BE- christopher Columbus's own
Book Of Patents. Privileges. and Concessions
granted 10 him by Ferdinand and Isabella;
manuscript Of exquisite beauty and in an AL
most perfect state Of preservation" 1t Is that
manuscript out Of which this tey and hand
some volume has grown. The manuscript has
been geographically reproduced. transtorated
translated. edited. and duly commented on and
elucldated. It now appears in the honorable
company Of certain autograph letters Of Column
bus. with a Historical Introduction from the
very learned pen Of Mr. Henry Harrisse. In
tended 10 bring the bibl!oRra phica and historical
Information concerning this cartulary down 70
the present time.
II Is moment when any book concerning
Columbus is sure Of attention in America. and
even. 10 some extent. in England. II, however
there happened 10 Le an American who had not
come under the influence Of the Columbian wor-
ship now prevalent and rightly prevalent /
should still commend this volume TO him as an
Interesting piece Of booltm1king. Mr.. Stevens
has the right traditions. He docs not conde-
sccnd 10 cheapness. He has done his best 70 send
forth this transcript 81 a precious document IN
garb worthy Of f.. He obtained leave from the
Commission 81 Diplomatic Archives 10 photo
graph the manuscript and from the Foreign
Onice 70 set up a studio In their garden where
the work was done
The volume in which ne has now enshrinei II
Is a foolscap folio. printed az the Chiswick
Press on handmade paper. bound In halr-plg-
skin lettered IN black. with blank sides and
clasps Of anchor and chain PIP. XVI and 2Sf.
A a frontlspiece. the arms Of Columbus. IN
co.ors according to the letters patent granted by
their "Catholic Majestles. 20 May 1873 The
,i,le with "Chrstopher Columbus in old Eng
l!sh type and In red ink is a good piece OF COM
position fac-simile OF tho bag OF Cordovan
leather IN which Columbus sent the Privileges
70 Genoa faces D. XVI. The Illuminated title
page " the manuscript IS given at the beginning
OF the Codex itself. with an English translation
on n separate folio in bold black and red. and
on the following leaf the illuminated arms as
devised by Columbus himself; Of which believe
tn. heralds say hard things. The CodeX Itself
IT, II course IN fac-simile, with the letterpress
transllteration and translation on the opposite
pages hope It is needless 10 add that the
volume is issued in a perfectly pure and abso-
luteiy uncut state. Mr.. Stevens has shown before
now. and notably IN his series ~ fac-similes on
Manuscripts in European archives relating 10 the
New World. that he has due respect not only
for the substance. but FOR the form Of what he
and bibliophile on the whole. the present is
probably his most brilliant contribution to the
treasury OF the book-lOver.
II is not however. to be inferred that the con-
tents Of this goodly volume are new TO the STU
dent The Codex has long been known. and due
use has been made Of It, But It has never before
been made accessible 70 the public Mr.. Stevens
has now put the student Of Columbus in posi-
ton 70 Judge FOR himself Of these Privileges and
- pass Judgment on the inferences and conclu-
slons which the experts haye drawn from them.
y does not seem quite clear whether the present
manuscript had been seen until ". de Ralle laid
II before Mr. Stevens. II is reckOned SUP erior 10
that OF Genoa and an interesting question arises:
How comes 4 10 be In Paris. and In the archives
OF the French Foreign Ofiice7 No DOUBT II
formed part Of the plumber which the great
Napoeon-great in plumber as In other things
caused 10 be removed from Italy to Paris. The
archives OF Genoa, as Of many other capitals.
were transported In bulk 10 Paris and deposited
I'm the Soubse Palace. Most Of them were ulti-
mately after the downfall OF the Corslcan, re-
stored 10 their vightfu owners. But Genoa at
the time Of the transfer had ceased 10 be inde-
pendent; and the Genoa papers. therefore. instead
OF being consigned 10 the Soubise Palace with
the foreign archives were simply deposited In the
French Foreign ONCE hen DINERS "eIc ~
stored these remained Nobody seems 10 nave
traced them. This NJ any rate Is Mr.. Harrisse's
explanation. /; is conJectural. but seems suf-
fcicnt
More Interesting questions are raised by the
document Itself and answered by Mr. Harrisse
with fulness and precision.
Columbus, It is well known. had had nara
treatment from his royal patrons. Ferdinand
and Isabella. having taken legal advice upon the
validity Of their concessions. had been Informed
by their patriotic Spanish lawyers that, as
Columbus was a foreigner. no faith need be
kept with him. and that the royal grants might
be revoked. or treated as II they had never been
made. 1t was In consequence OF this decision
worry much what a French lawyer or French