Chapter IV - The Libraries of Italy

Summary

In Italy There are admirable Public Libraries; even second-rate Cities … being often furnished with most respectable collections. Most, however, as that of The Vatican , are ill-administered and illiberally conducted.

ROSE (Letters from The North of Italy, addressed to Henry Hallam,i, 230. 1817).

of all The Tombs in The World, The Vatican Library is The most impressive. ..... It is an establishment for show, forming part of The suitable splendour of The Head of The Catholic Church, not a Library for use.

LAING (Notes of a Traveller,423. 1842).

AMONGST The Libraries of Italy, that of The Vatican, at Rome, stands pre-eminent, not more for The grandeur and magnificence of its habitation, than for The inestimable treasures with which it is enriched. Several Italian cities possess larger collections. But in integral worth none of Them can compare with this. Pope Nicholas V. (1447), learned himself, and a distinguished patron of letters, is justly considered as The founder of The Vatican Library; for of The collections of his predecessors little remained when he ascended The papal throne, The books having been eiTher lost or destroyed by The frequent removals from Rome to Avignon, and from Avignon to Rome. This pontiff added above 5000 manuscripts to The fragments of The original collection, placing all in The Vatican; arid Calixtus III. is said to Itay have enriched it with many volumes saved from The Libraries of Constantinople, when that city fell into The hands of The Ottomans. The collection, however, suffered an almost total dispersion at The sacking of Rome, by The Duke of Bourbon, in The year 1527. Pope Sixtus V., rebuilt The Library in 1588, and considerably augmented The collection. From this period it continued to increase in steady progression, receiving additions, under almost every successive Pope,—Julius II, perhaps, excepted,—sometimes of considerable collections; owing not only to The favour of The Pontiffs and of various princes, but also to The well-directed zeal of its Librarians, many of whom have been men of eminent talents as well as of high rank and extensive influence.