if of any book, it is of the first edition of Catullus Tibullus et Propertius, of 1472, folio—­that this Library has just reason to be proud.  Here are in fact two copies, equally sound, pure and large:  but in one the Propertius is wanting;[221] in lieu of which, however, there is the first edition of JUVENAL and PERSIUS by V. de Spira—­ in equal purity of condition.  The perfect copy has the SYLVAE of STATIUS subjoined.  It should seem, therefore, that the Juvenal and Persius had supplied the place of the Propertius and Statius, in one copy.  You are well aware of the extreme rarity of this first edition of Catullus Tibullus et Propertius.

I now take leave of the Public Library of Strasbourg; not however without mentioning rather an amusing anecdote connected with some of the books just described; nor without an observation or two upon the present state of the library.  The anecdote is thoroughly bibliographical.  After having examined some of the finer books before mentioned, and especially having dwelt upon the Latin Bible of Mentelin, and a few copies of the rarer Classics, I ventured to descant upon the propriety of parting with those for which there was no use, and which, without materially strengthening their own collection, might, by an advantageous sale, enable them to enrich their collection by valuable modern books:  of which they obviously stood in need.  I then proposed so many hundred francs, for such and such volumes.  Messrs. Schweighaeuser, jun.  Dahler, and several other professors were standing round me—­when I made this proposition.  On the conclusion of it, professor Dahler put his hand upon my shoulder—­stooped down—­(for I was sitting the whole time)—­and looking half archly, replied thus:  “Monsieur le Bibliographe, vous raisonnez bien:  mais—­nous conserverons nos anciens livres.”  These sturdy conservators were not to be shaken; and none but duplicates were to be parted with.[222]

The next observation relates to the collection.  Never did a collection stand in greater need of being weeded.  There are medical books sufficient to supply six copies for the library of every castellated mansion along the Vosges[223]—­should any of them ever be repaired and put in order.  Schoepflin’s library furnishes many duplicates both in history and theology; and in Classics they should at least make good their series of the more important first Editions.  The want of a perfect Virgil by Mentelin, and the want of a first Terence, by the same printer—­their boasted townsman—­are reproachful wants.  At any rate, they should not let slip any opportunity of purchasing the first Ovid, Horace, Ausonius, and Lucretius.  No man is more deeply impressed with a conviction of these wants, than the present chief librarian, the younger Schweighaeuser; but, unfortunately, the pecuniary means of supplying them are slender indeed.  I find this to be the case wherever I go.  The deficiency of funds, for the completion of libraries, may however be the cry of other countries besides France.