Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/172

 !6o The Library. On another occasion some eight years later he stayed on his rounds at Lyons, and there was invited by M. Pericaud, the librarian, to inspect the public library. He found among other curiosities an old book relating to Vespasian, Emperor of Rome. According to this version of the legend, that august personage was cured of a bad ulcer by St. Veronica and the holy face of the Saviour. In gratitude for the cure, the Roman Emperor, followed by his dukes, counts, barons and knights, destroyed Jerusalem, was afterwards baptised, confessed and received the communion at the hands of his good friend the apostle of Rome. Pilate, having defended Jerusalem to the last extremity, was excommunicated and banished to Vienne. Peignot was delighted with this curious mixture of Roman and mediaeval history. Singular to relate, these are almost the only two notices, con- tained in more than a hundred of the letters, of libraries and books, excepting his own publications. Of other matter, such as politics and important contemporary events, there is nothing to be found. Probably the writer, who was a confirmed royalist, had acquired the habit of epistolary caution in the days of the Directory, Consulate and Empire and retained it in his old age. A letter he wrote on 2yth May, 1814, when he was threatened with dismissal from office, is one long groan. A visit which he paid the year before to Beaune, the place ridiculed by the poet Piron as inhabited by long-eared gentry, Peignot makes great fun of : " It was market day, the road up to the town was encumbered by those peaceful animals to whom Beaune owes a renown more durable than brass or marble. What a number of ears ! and of what a length ! Doubtless those gentlemen recognised in my heavy, massive driver a colleague and friend, for the moment he appeared in the midst of them, they saluted him with acclama- tion. This concert of hian ! hian ! was divine. The good man smiled his gratitude and perfectly enjoyed the harmony, but I not belonging to this parish and preferring more refined pleasures, bade him hasten forward." The first letter of the series is dated from Grai, 2gth May, 1813, when he first went to reside in Dijon. The last of the series is dated nth November, 1845, four years before his death. In August, 1814, Talma, the famous actor, visited Dijon and played " Hamlet " there, producing a great sensation. The women among the audience uttered loud cries, and many of them left the theatre, followed by some of the men. To his great delight,