Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/395

 The Vatican Library. 383 1 8th century, gives us a quaint but not altogether favourable picture of the Vatican Library when he went there. Shown into the large gallery where not a single volume is visible, "Que diable une bibliotheque " he breaks out. " As Cardinal Quirini, the librarian, is also Bishop of Brescia, he is always away in his diocese," he complains. " His portrait in the ante-chamber has to do duty instead. The copyists are ignorant and dear." Quirini's successor, Cardinal Passionei, receives rather a scorch- ing criticism. In 1797 the French carried off 500 of the most valuable MSS. to Paris, a catalogue of which was printed at Leipsic in 1803. The Sistine collections again suffered during this occupa- tion. The volumes were removed to a room used for the breeding of poultry and placed in the custody of the hen-wife. The collection of coins, sculpture, and the museum also fared badly at the same time ; but the Vatican books seem to have been spared. The fine collection of medals was returned in I8I5- 1 The private library of Pius VI., which contained precious MSS. and rare i5th century books, was miserably dispersed. Under Pius VII. (1800-1823) came the collection of Card. Zelada. 2 Leo XII. (1823-9) was another great benefactor to the library in purchasing the collection formed by Count Cicognara, consisting of printed books on the fine arts, and numbering about 5,000. They were bought by him for ^4,ooo. 8 The additions under Gregory XVI. (1831-46) were so great that it became necessary again to make use of the Borgia rooms, and so cover up the magnificent frescoes with which these are decorated. 4 In 1855 the collection of Cardinal Mai (6,950 vols. and 292 MSS.) was presented by Pius IX. Later 162 Greek MSS. from the convent of S. Basilio, at Grotta Ferrara have been added. 5 At the beginning of the i7th century the catalogue of the Vatican was commenced, which is still in use at the present day, and a system of classification was thought out then (after occupy - in- the attention of six successive librarians) which might have 1 Edwards, Memoirs of Libraries, ii., 356. 2 Ugolini, p. 9. 3 Edwards, 354. 4 Ugolini, p. 5. 5 Murray, Handbook to" Rome.