[222] “These Duplicates related to some few articles of minor importance
    belonging to the library of the Public School, and which had escaped a
    former revision.  The cession was made with due attention to forms, and
    with every facility.”  Such (as I have reason to believe) is the remark
    of M. Schweighaeuser himself.  What follows—­evidently by the hand of M.
    Crapelet—­is perfectly delicious ... of its kind.  “That M. Dibdin
    should have preferred such an indiscreet request to the Librarians in
    question—­impelled by his habitual vivacity and love of possessing
    books—­is conceivable enough:  but, that he should publish such an
    anecdote—­that he should delight in telling us of the rudeness which
    he committed in SITTING while the gentlemen about him were STANDING,
    is to affect a very uncommon singularity"!!! [Greek:  O popoi!]

[223] There are yet libraries, and rare books, in the district.  I obtained
    for my friend the Rev. H. Drury, one of the finest copies in England
    of the first edition of Cicero’s Offices, of 1465, 4to.  UPON
    VELLUM—­from the collection of a physician living in one of the
    smaller towns near the Vosges.  This copy was in its ancient oaken
    attire, and had been formerly in a monastic library.  For this
    acquisition my friend was indebted to the kind offices of the
    younger M. Schweighaeuser.

LETTER XIV.

SOCIETY.  ENVIRONS OF STRASBOURG.  DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE, MANNERS AND
CUSTOMS. LITERATURE.  LANGUAGE.

My last letter, however copious, was almost wholly confined to views of interiors; that is to say, to an account of the Cathedral and of the Public Library.  I shall now continue the narrative with views of interiors of a different description; with some slight notices of the society and of the city of Strasbourg; concluding the whole, as well as closing my Strasbourg despatches, with a summary account of manners, customs, and literature.

The great Greek luminary, not only of this place, but perhaps of Germany—­the ELDER SCHWEIGHAEUSER—­happens to be absent.  His son tells me that he is at Baden for the benefit of the waters, and advises me to take that “enchanting spot” (as he calls it) in my way to Stuttgart. “’Twill be only a trifling detour.”  What however will be the chief temptation—­as I frankly told the younger Schweighaeuser—­would be the society of his Father; to whom the son has promised a strong letter of introduction.  I told you in my last that I had seen LICHTENBERGER at Treuttel and Wuertz’s.  I have since called upon the old gentleman; and we immediately commenced a bibliographical parley.  But it was chiefly respecting Lord Spencer’s copies of the Letters of Indulgence of Pope Nicolas V. of the date of 1455, that he made the keenest enquiries.  “Was the date legitimate?”