Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-14

Accordingly they Subscribed G,So TO es-
tablsh a library IN the University OF Dub
lin. All OF the books were at first de-
posted In Dublin Castle, and II was only
after the Restoration that the college OBJ
tanned them. The library now contains
$4,000 volumes and i.S@ MSS About 5000
volumes are added every year.
GAY PARIS WELL SUPPLIED.
Paris is much better supplied with great
public libraries than London or any city
In the world. Besides the Bbliotheque
Rationale there are other great libraries,
each having over 10000 volumes.
Paris can claim the largest library I'm
the world in the Blblitheque Rationale.
The real foundation Of the institution.
which was formerly known as the Biblio-
theque du Rol, may be said TO date from
King John. the Black Princes captive.
who had a considerable taste for books.
and who bequeathed his royal library"
OF MSS. 10 his successor. Charles V.
Charles V. organized his library In the
Louvre. He was very liberal In his pat
ronage OF literature. and many OF the
early monuments OF the French language
are due 10 his having employed scholars
TO make TRANSACTIONS from ancient texts.
Under the management of Able Big
non the library was removed 10 its pres
ent home, in the Rue Richeleu. few
years before the Revolution the total
number OF printed books was 100000. The
Revolution was servlceabe 10 the library
now called Bibllotheaue Rationale by in
creaslng Il with forfeited collections be-
longing to exiles and to suppressed rel-
gious communities Napoleon increased the
government grant, and BY the strict en-
forcement OF the law concerning new
publications. realized i'm part his idea
that the library should be universal in
! character.
SOME BIG FIGURES.
The official estimates Of the number Of
| volumes In this great library reaches the
| extraordinary total OF 10000 The an
nral additions are 5000. The collection
| Of books on French history Is In itself
an enormous library Of 10000 volumes
| The maps ana charts are said TO number
| 100000. The manuscripts numbered in 1876
| 81 100 volumes and the department Of
medals possessed in 1873 1900 coins.
The royal Library Of Munich contains
| the largest collection OF books in Ger
many. 1t was founded by Duke Albrecht
| v, Of Bavaria d5J0-'70 who made nu-
| merous purchases from Italy and incor-
| porated the libraries Of the Nuremberg
physician. Schodel, and Of J.. j. Fugger.
| The number Of printed volumes Is close
AsNNNf'aFs
bula, many OF them being derived from
| the Libraries Of the mOnasteries closed
In 1893.
The building erected for this collection
under King Louis l., in 1923, IS con-
sidered a model library structure.
The archives are bestowed on the ground
floor. while the two upper floors
are devoted to the library, whi"' occu-
! pies seyenty-scven departments.
ia 81 mfaa
seventy-twO being registered in 1910. The
largest is the Royal Library. founded by
the Great Elector Frederick William, and
opened by him in 1861.
The largest library in Austria, and one
Of the most important collections i'm Eu-
rope, is the Imperial Public Library
founded by the Emperor Frederick Ill, in
l40. although its illustrious librarian
Lambecius. attributes this honor 10 Frede-
rick's son, Maximilian. The sum devoted
| annually to the purchase Of books IS
% 30 forms. The main library IS said to
| be one of the most splendid halls in Eu-
rope.
RICH ~ ANCIENT WORKS.
As the old centre OF civilization. Italy
| f.. of course. the country whore tire
Oldest Libraries are found. and where the
most valuable MSS. are preserved. The
| Vatican Library. at Rome, and the Lau-
rentian Library. al Florence. are sufficient
! 10 rank Italy before most OF the States
in that respect, I'm spite Of long crntu-
| ries Of persecution rn1 suffering Italy is
! stll rich IN books and MSS. There are
! probably more books in united Italy than
! i'm any country. except France.
When the Italian Government published
| its valuable report in 1850. which showed
| that while the number Of books in Austria
! q sos ESQ was greater than the total num-
| Der In public libraries IN Great Britain,
| Prussia. Bavaria. or Russia. II was sur
| passed in France G,3S9,00O and In Italy
| a. 1i92SD.
| The Vatican Library stands in the
! first rank as regards antiquity since from
the middle Of the hfth century we have
evidence Of pontihcal library at Rome.
Nicholas V, who reigned in ia5J may be
considered the true founder.
Few libraries are 50 magniic6ntly
housed as IS the Bibloteca Vatican. The
famous Codici Natcana are placed I'm the
great double hail, which Is decorated
with frcscOcs depicting ancient Libraries
and councils of the Church. At the end
Of the great hall is an immense hail. rich
~ decorated and opening out from right
10 left. The present official estimate Is
about 10000 Voumts. including 300 If
teenth-ccntury editions.
Among the - COO MSS are some OF the
most valuable I'm the world for antiquity
and intrinsic importance. The Biblioteca
Palatine. i'm Florence. is the large
library i'm Italy There are many valuable
autograph originals Of famous works i'm
this collection. including Dante ana the
later poets. as well - the historians,
from Villain 10 Mchiayeli
The Imperial Library Of ST. Petersburg
is the third largest in the world. and
now claims TO possess 100000 printed