A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three | Page 6

be
cruelly disappointed; with the exception of the Hôtel de Ville, which is
placed near a church, and more particularly of a Crucifix--there is little
or nothing to satisfy the hungry cravings of a thorough-bred English
Antiquary. The latter is of stone, of a rough grain, and sombre tint: and
the figures are of the size of life. They are partly mutilated; especially
the right leg of our Saviour, and the nose of St. John. Yet you will not
fail to distinguish, particularly from the folds of the drapery, that
precise character of art which marked the productions both of the chisel
and of the pencil in the first half of the sixteenth century. The Christ is,
throughout, even including the drapery, finely marked; and the attitude
of the Virgin, in looking up, has great expression. She embraces
intensely the foot of the cross; while her eyes and very soul seem to be

as intensely rivetted to her suffering and expiring Son.
I was not long in introducing myself to M. LE BRET, the head
Librarian; for the purpose of gaining admission to the PUBLIC
LIBRARY. That gentleman and myself have not only met, but met
frequently and cordially. Each interview only increased the desire for a
repetition of it: and the worthy and well-informed Head Librarian has
partaken of a trout and veal dinner with me, and shared in one bottle of
Fremder Wein, and in another of Ordinärer Wein.[3] We have, in short,
become quite sociable; and I will begin by affirming, that, a more
thoroughly competent, active, and honourable officer, for the situation
which he occupies, his Majesty the King of Würtemberg does not
possess in any nook, corner, or portion of his Suabian dominions. I will
prove what I say at the point of--my pen. Yet more extraordinary
intelligence. A "deed of note" has been performed; and to make the
mystery more mysterious, you are to know that I have paid my respects
to the King, at his late levee; the first which has taken place since the
accouchement of the Queen.[4] And what should be the object of this
courtly visit? Truly, nothing more or less than to agitate a question
respecting the possession of two old editions of Virgil, printed in the
year 1471. But let me be methodical.
When I parted from Lord Spencer on this "Bibliographical, Antiquarian
and Picturesque Tour," I was reminded by his Lordship of the second
edition of the Virgil printed at Rome by Sweynheym and Pannartz, and
of another edition, printed by Adam, in 1471, both being in the public
library of this place:--but, rather with a desire, than any
seriously-grounded hope, on his part of possessing them. Now, when
we were running down upon Nancy--as described in a recent
despatch,[5] I said to Mr. Lewis, on obtaining a view of what I
supposed might be the Vosges, that, "behind the Vosges was the Rhine,
and on the other side of the Rhine was Stuttgart! and it was at Stuttgart
that I should play my first trump-card in the bibliographical pack which
I carried about me." But all this seemed mystery, or methodised
madness, to my companion. However, I always bore his Lordship's
words in mind--and something as constantly told me that I should gain
possession of these long sought after treasures: but in fair and

honourable combat: such as beseemeth a true bibliographical Knight.
Having proposed to visit the public library on the morrow--and to
renew the visit as often and as long as I pleased--I found, on my arrival,
the worthy Head Librarian, seriously occupied in a careful estimate of
the value of the Virgils in question--and holding up Brunet's Manuel du
Libraire in his right hand--"Tenez, mon ami," exclaimed he, "vous
voyez que la seconde édition de Virgile, imprimée par vos amis
Sweynheym et Pannartz, est encore plus rare que la premiére." I replied
that "c'étoit la fantasie seule de l'auteur." However, he expressed
himself ready to receive preliminaries, which would be submitted to the
Minister of the Interior, and by him--to the King; for that the library
was the exclusive property of his Majesty. It was agreed, in the first
instance, that the amount of the pecuniary value of the two books
should be given in modern books of our own country; and I must do M.
Le Bret the justice to say, that, having agreed upon the probable
pecuniary worth, he submitted a list of books, to be received in
exchange, which did equal honour to his liberality and judgment.
I have said something about the local of this Public Library, and of its
being situated in the market-place.[6] This market-place, or square, is
in the centre of the town; and it is the only part, in the immediate
vicinity of which the antiquarian's eye