The decoration of the title-page is adapted from an origi- nal design by Eisen formerly in the Goncourt Collection THE DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF A LIBRARIAN An Edition of frsso hundred and fifty copies in this form and of twenty-five copies on Large Paper vsere printed at The Merrymount Press, Boston, in July, 1906 THE DUTIES & QUALIFICATIONS OF A LIBRARIAN A DISCOURSE PRONOUNCED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SORBONNE DECEMBER 23 1780 BY JEAN-BAPTISTE COTTON DES HOUSSAYES CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG & CO. MDCCCCVI COPYRIGHT, A. C. MCCLURG & CO., 1906 PUBLISHED, JULY IO, 1906 D. B. UPDIKE, THE MERRYMOVNT PRESS, EOSTON c c - BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE V T HE UNIVERSITY )] or BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE THE following address was originally spoken in Latin, and when first printed bore the title: " Oratio habit a in comitiis generalibus societatis sorbonicce die 23 decembris 1780 a D D. Joan. Bapt. Cotton des-Hous- sayes doff. th. pariensi, soc sor- bonico, bibliothecce , sorb.prcefedlo, sdl. Parisiis,p7'oelio Philippi Di- onysii Pierres regis typographi ordinarii, 1781." Brunei is the authority for the statement that only twenty -five copies were is- sued. The learned bibliophile, Pierre Alexander Grate t Duplessis, re- cognizing the value of the paper, io Bibliographical Note and desiring a larger audience for it, translated it into French, and gave it to Jacques Joseph Techener for the " Bulletin du Bibliophile, Petite Revue d'an- cien Livres," zvhere it appeared in the number for January , 1839 (No. 11, s e serie). It occupied the first place among the biblio- graphical, philological and liter- ary notices which were under the editorship of Charles Nodier; and the title now appears as," Dis- cours sur les qualites et les de- voirs du bibliothecaire, prononce dans V assemblee generale de Sor- bonne, le 23 decembre 1780, par J.-B. Cotton des Houssayes; tra- duit du latin en frangois par tin bibliophile." The initials " G, D." Bibliographical Note 11 are signed at the end. In 1857, Aug. Anbry reissued this translation exactly as it stood, among the " Varietes Bib- liographiques" of his "Bulletin du Bouquiniste f> (17* numero, 1 cr Septembre ),but with the addi- tion of a preliminary note signed " G. Duplessis." We may assume that the paper aroused the inter- est it deserved, since it was reis- sued the same year as an odtavo pamphlet of thirteenpages, limited to one hundred copies. The title- page reads as follows: Des Devoirs / Et Des Qiiali- tes I Du Bibliothecaire / Discours prononce dans V Assemblee gene- rale de Sorbonne, / le 23 de- cembre 1 780, / Par J.-B. Cotton 12 Bibliographical Note Des Honssayes; / Traduit Du La- tin En Fran$ais, Avec Quel- ques Notes / Par Gratet-Duples- sis. [^Printer's markr\ Paris / A. Aubry, Libr aire- Edit eur , / 16, Rue Dauphine. / 1 8 5 7 In this form the text is the same as before; but Gratet-Duplessis's connection with the work being explained on the title-page, his name is dropped from the " Pre- liminaire" and his initials from the translation; and the whole is prefaced by an " Avertissement de I'editeur," whose name does not appear, but who, we may fairly suppose, zv as Aubry. While our chief debt of grati- tude must always be due to Du- plessis for his perpetuation of so Bibliographical Note 13 valuable a contribution to library literature, which otherwise might have been lost to us, we are under no small obligatio?i to the editor of " The Philobiblion , a Monthly Bi- bliographical Journal," published by George P. Philes & Co., of New Tork [vol. ii, March, 1863 [number 15]]), for a translation of the "Discours" as it appeared in the " Bulletin du Bouquiniste." This translation was afterwards used, with a slight introduction, under the title " What a Libra- rian should be" in "The Biblio- grapher" [vol. Hi, December, 1882) ," a Journal of Book Lore," published in London by Elliot Stock, and in New Tork by J. W. Bouton. We find it again under 14 Bibliographical Note the title "The Librarians Dit- ties "in" Book-Lore , a Magazine devoted to Old-Time Literature" [vol. ii, June, 1 88 5 -November, 1885), London, Elliot Stock, but with the introduction some- what altered. The text here presented con- forms to the reprint of 1857, and thus includes what " The Philo- biblion" omitted, Aubry's note. The translation is partly that of " The Philobiblion " and partly nezv. PREFACE ' 'NOTICE BY THE EDITOR" The Discourse on the Qual- ities and Duties of a Libra- rian has already been edited by our colleague, J. Techener, in 1839. The rarity of this treatise is not the only motive which induces us to publish it again, the charm we felt in reading it makes us believe that we ought to share with others the reading of a mas- terpiece, almost unknown, or at the best forgotten. The author of the translation, M r - Gratet-Duplessis,* has giv- en a very happy rendering of the * Gratet-Duplessis {Pierre- Alexandre) was born at Janville (Ei/re-et-Loir) 18 Notice by the Editor Discourse of Cotton des Hous- sayes. It is impossible to give to his version a more graceful or original turn, or to render with more delicacy the grand and in- on December 16, 1792. Although very young, he showed so much intelligence in teaching that he attracted the iiotice of the government. He was appointed successively princi- pal of Angers' college, inspector of Caen university and reclor of the Lyon and Douai academies. Everywhere he proved himself an experienced admin- istrator, everywhere he knew how to male himself loved and obeyed by his loyalty, his independence and his justice. He early abandoned his university career, in order to give himself up en- tirely to study. It would be impossible in so short a notice to enumerate the forty- nine productions of M r - G.-Du pies sis; Notice by the Editor 19 genious thoughts of the librarian of the Sorbonne. La Bruyere has said: " Scarcely ever till now has a masterpiece of the intellect been seen which has been the work of several we will only mention his " Bibliographie paremiologique" (l vol. 8vo, Paris, 1847), his edition of the "Maximes de La Rochefoucault" (1 vol. 18/00, Paris, 1853), an d the "Livre des Mi- racles de N.-D. de Chartres" (1 vol. &vo, Ckartres, 1855). M r - G. -Duple s sis died of an apo- pletlic stroke in 1 853. He was unani- mously regretted. "He was" says M r - Sainte-Beuve, "the most indefatigable and most disinterested professor of this time, and also the most obliging to every one. Amateur of books in the true sense of the word, he did not only know them thoroughly, but also knew the peculiari- of THE ^ UNIVERSITY OF so Notice by the Editor people; collaborated work and translations have never revoked this condemnation. Indeed, gen- ius demands unity, great minds understand alone their own thoughts, alone they possess the admirable secret of expressing them in an unparalleled manner. Corneille would probably have translated Shakespeare very badly, and Schiller could never ties which distinguished them. He was different to most amateurs in this, that he desired rather to know than to pos- sess them." IVe will add nothing to this praise. M r - G.-Duplessis still continues to live with us; we all reme?nber his affability, and no one in the republic of letters can fail to know that he was as much a man of intelletJ as a man of courage. Notice by the Editor 21 have shown the beauties of Cor- neille. However, these are three tragic writers of the highest or- der. To this singular incapacity, which is caused by the diversity of our sentiments, one can only add what Fontenelle said in speaking of our features : " What secret can nature have had to enable her to vary in so many ways so simple a thing as a face." This apparently insurmounta- ble difficulty has not even been perceived by M r - Gratet-Duples- sis, because in him the Abbe Cot- ton des Houssayes lives again. He possesses the same modesty, the same urbanity, the same lit- erary erudition. That which the 22 Notice by the Editor learned librarian expressed with so much grace and affability has been thought and practised by M r Duplessis without other mo- dels than his own instincts. This is the secret of this charming treatise, of this translation, which has not even the appearance of one. We will say nothing of des Houssay es' Discourse ; the read- er will appreciate it. We can only wish that all the principles which he here includes should become the rule of conduct: of all libra- rians. They would lose nothing by it, and the public would gain much. INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION THE short discourse of which we here offer to our readers a translation, has never received a great degree of publicity. Delivered in Latin, be- fore a grave meeting of learned doftors, it was designed, un- doubtedly, for none but the friendly ears of the venerable assembly to which it was ad- dressed. A learned printer, — of a class sufficiently numerous in times past, and of which we are fain to believe, without, how- ever, venturing to affirm, there may even yet be found a few, rari nantes, — a printer to the King, Monsieur Pierres, divined 26 Introduction the merit of the traft, and was unwilling that so elegant a com- position should be w T holly con- demned to forgetfulness : and in this he manifested both good taste and discernment. He there- fore obtained the author's per- mission to print a few copies of it, solely for the use of those who were friendly to bibliogra- phical studies. The number of these privileged amateurs was quite limited, and we are nearly certain that there are hardly more than twenty-five copies existing of this original edition of the Discours de VAbb'e Cotton des Honssayes. It makes a small o6lavo pamphlet of eight pages, printed with great care on beau- Introduction 27 tiful fine paper. The copy before us, which we have used for this translation, was presented to the celebrated Abbe de Saint-Leger by the publisher, whose envoi and signature it bears. The author of this little al- most unknown chef-d'oeuvre is scarcely known himself except to the literary profession ; since he belonged to the race, almost wholly extindrt at this day, of modest and laborious scholars who cultivate learning for its own sake, and find more plea- sure in adorning and strength- ening their minds in the silence of the cabinet, than satisfaction in taking the universe into con- fidence in their smallest labours 28 Introduction or most insignificant discoveries. The Abbe Cotton des Hous- sayes was born near Rouen, November 17, 1727, and died at Paris, August 20, 1783. The greater part of his life was passed at Rouen, in the employ- ment of teaching; and he was uniformly distinguished as one of the most aftive and enlight- ened members of the Academy of the Palinods. He came to re- side at Paris and the Sorbonne about the year 1776. The Abbe Cotton des Hous- sayes conceived the proje<5t of a grand bibliographical work, which was to appear under the title, Histoire Litter aire U?iiver- selle, or Bibliotheque Raisonnee, Introduction 29 the plan of which may be found in the Ann'ee Litteraire for 1 780, and in the Journal des Savants for 1 781 ; but the project was never executed. The Abbe has left be- hind him only some eulogies and a few poetical pieces, which are contained in the printed collec- tions of the Academy of Rouen. The following discourse is per- haps the most finished of his works. It seems, in fa 61, scarcely possible to bring together more happily so many thoughts in so limited a space, and not less difficult to present them with greater precision and elegance. We have endeavoured to make our translation worthy of so per- fect an original. DISCOURSE DISCOURSE ON THE DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF A LIBRARIAN TO receive a public testi- mony of esteem from an assembly of illustrious person- ages, whose merit places them above eulogium, has always ap- peared to me the highest and most glorious of distinctions. On learning that your suffrages had designated me as the guardian of your library, I experienced some difficulty, I must confess, in subduing a slight feeling of presumption ; but refleftion soon gave me to understand, that what you desired by this circumstance to honour and reward in me was 34 The Duties of not successes, which my labours had not obtained , but some feeble efforts which you had deigned to appreciate. When I refleft, indeed, on the qualifications that should be united in your librarian, they present themselves to my mind in so great a number, and in such a character of perfe&ion, that I distrust my ability not only to enumerate, but also to trace a true pifture of them ; for it can- not be denied, gentlemen, that the Society of the Sorbonne, so justly celebrated in all Europe, or, more properly, throughout the world, for the depth no less than for the extent of its erudi- tion, ought, as it has hitherto done, to present to the learned ■ ERS | 'OF A ETB^fflAN 35 world, in the person of its li- brarian, none other than one of those privileged men, capable of proving himself, upon occa- sion, instructed to the same degree in profane as in sacred learning, — familiar with the re- searches of the highest erudi- tion, and with the productions of a more ephemeral and less elevated literature. Your librarian, gentlemen, is in some sort your official repre- sentative. To him is remitted the deposit of your glory. To him is intrusted, as a duty, the impor- tant mission of maintaining, and even of increasing, if that be pos- sible, and as far as his ability will admit, — of increasing, I repeat, your brilliant reputation when- 36 The Duties of ever a stranger, illustrious by birth or his scientific merit, or doubly illustrious, perhaps, by both of these titles, comes to the Sorbonne with a curious, a learned, or even with a jealous eye, to examine the precious the- ological and literary treasures of your library, and to draw from it wherewith to increase his own riches. Thus, therefore, your li- brarian should be, above all, a learned and profound theolo- gian; but to this qualification, which I shall call fundamental, should be united vast literary acquisitions, an exacl; and pre- cise knowledge of all the arts and sciences, great facility of expression, and, lastly, that ex- quisite politeness which concili- A Librarian 37 ates the affeftion of his visitors while his merit secures their es- teem. A librarian truly worthy of the name should, if I may be per- mitted the expression, have ex- plored in advance every region of the empire of letters, to en- able him afterwards to serve as a faithful guide to all who may desire to survey it. And though it is by no means my intention to give the preference above all other sciences to the science of bibliography, which is nothing more than an exacT: and critical acquaintance with the produc- tions of the intellect , it will never- theless be permitted me to con- sider this science as the forerun- ner of all the others, — as their 38 The Duties of guide, who is to light them with his torch,* — nearly as a devoted and dutiful son precedes his fa- ther, to secure and facilitate his progress by throwing light upon his path. Thus the superinten- dent of a library, whatever be its character, should be no stranger to any department of learning: sacred and profane literature, the fine arts, the exaft sciences, all should be familiar to him. A diligent and indefatigable stu- dent, ardently devoted to let- ters, his sole and abiding aim should be to make sure their advancement. Especially should the superintendent of such a li- brary as yours, — which is not, by right, designed for the pub- lic, — if he desires to increase the A Librarian 39 reputation of the illustrious so- ciety which he represents, — if he also desires to give proofs of its devotion to learning — re- ceive all its visitors whether scholars or the simply curious, with an assiduous attention so polite and kindly, that his recep- tion shall appear to each one the effeft of a distinction purely personal. He will never seek to steal away from the notice of all into some solitary or un- known retreat. Neither cold nor heat, nor his multiplied occupa- tions, will ever be to him a pre- text for evading the obligation he has contracted to be a friendly and intelligent guide to all the scholars who may visit him. For- getting himself, on the contrary, 40 The Duties of and laying aside all occupations, he will lead them forward with a cheerful interest, taking plea- sure in introducing them to his library; he will examine with them all its parts and divisions; every thing precious or rare that it may contain he will himself put before them. Should a parti- cular book appear to be even of passing interest to one of his guests, he will quickly seize the occasion, and obligingly place it at his service; he will even, moreover, have the delicate at- tention to lay open before him all the books relating to the same subject, in order to make his researches easier and more complete. When parting from the stranger whom he has just A Librarian 41 received, he will not fail to thank him for his visit, and to assure him that the institution will al- ways feel honoured by the pre- sence of a man whose labours cannot but contribute to its re- nown. The custodian of a liter- ary deposit should especially guard himself against that unfor- tunate disposition which would render him, like the dragon in the fable, jealous of the trea- sures entrusted to his keeping, and lead him to conceal from the inspection of the public riches which had been brought togeth- er solely with the view of being placed at its disposition. What, moreover, would be the objeclof these precious collections, gath- ered at so great expense by for- 42 The Duties of tune or by science, if they were not consecrated, according to the intention of their generous founders, to the advancement, the glory, and the perfection of science and literature? But that a library may fully at- tain the end of its foundation, — that it may be in reality useful, and useful with equal certainty and facility, — it should be ad- ministered by a librarian distin- guished for soundness of judge- ment no less than for the readi- ness and accuracy of his memory . Men would love to find in him, not that vain and imperfeft bi- bliographical knowledge that at- taches itself merely to the sur- face, much less the narrow pre- ferences inspired by the spirit A Librarian 43 of party, or those exclusive pre- dilections that border upon ma- nia; but an erudition at once ample and considerate, which has solely in view the advance- ment of knowledge, and which is ever able to distinguish, with equal taste and accuracy, origi- nal works that are worthy to be proposed as models, from those equivocal productions justly con- demned to forgetfulness for their mediocrity. He will therefore not admit indiscriminately every book into his collection, but will selecl: such only as are of genu- ine merit and of well-approved utility; and his acquisitions, guided by the principles of an enlightened economy, will be rendered still more valuable by 44 The Duties of the substantial merits of an able classification. It is impossible, in fa<5t, to attach too much impor- tance to the advantages resulting from an intelligent and methodi- cal order in the arrangement of a library. Of what utility would be the richest treasures if it were not possible to make use of them? Wherefore this complete arsenal of science, if the arms it keeps in reserve are not within reach of those who would wield them? And if, as is said, books are the medicine of the soul, what avail these intellectual pharmacopoe- ias, if the remedies which they contain are not disposed in order and labelled with care? In thus considering, gentle- men, all the various attainments A Librarian 45 that should characterize a libra- rian, will any one now wonder at the consideration which has ever been, and still is, accorded to men honoured with this title? Will he wonder to see at Rome, at the head of the Library of the Vatican, a learned Cardinal, equally distinguished for his im- mense erudition, and for supe- rior merit in every department? Will he be surprised, in short, that in all ages, and even in our own time, the greater part of the scholars charged with the administration of libraries have shone with so much brilliancy in the empire of letters? And if I wished to give to my words the authority of example, I should have to name here only a few 46 The Duties of of those who have preceded me in the walk that has just been opened to me ; I should content myself with citing the name of the venerable man whose place I supply, and whose retirement, caused by infirmities, inspires you with such poignant regrets. But for fear of exposing myself to the reproach of adulation, — though my praise would be but the expression of truth, — I shall endeavour to be silent. I shall not attempt further to lay open be- fore you, as Naude formerly did, the particular catalogue of librarians who rendered them- selves distinguished; but you will at least permit me to re- call to you the names of the il- lustrious Cardinals Ouirini and A Librarian 47 Passionei;-f that of Naude,^ who deserves particular men- tion, that of Muratori,§ that ad- mirable prodigy of learning, whose writings in every depart- ment of learning would of them- selves alone form a library; and, finally, the name of Franck,|| whose Catalogue of the Library of Biinau has always seemed to me the first and most perfeft of all the works devoted to biblio- graphy. Thus, gentlemen, when the numerous duties of the librarian, and the consideration habitually attached to that title, present themselves to my mind, I have been surprised, as I still am, at having been the objeft of your suffrages; and my surprise is 48 The Duties of increased when I reflect that a single circumstance was the cause of the honourable prefer- ence which you have been pleased to accord me: I mean the assiduity with which I visited your library, during a spring and summer, for the purpose of silently selecting from it the documents needed to conduct to their conclusion some theologi- cal and literary labours, which I shall consider brought almost to perfection if they result in caus- ing me to appear even in a mo- derate degree worthy of the honours which you have been pleased to confer upon me. I therefore truly appreciate, gentlemen, all the honour of the glorious burden which you have A Librarian 49 just imposed upon me ; but I feel, at the same time, how much it is beyond my strength, as well by its own nature as by the duties which circumstances may fur- ther add to it. But I venture to hope that your kindness will sustain my weakness; I shall have to support me your coun- sels, which I shall ever make it a duty to follow. Your spirit, your hands even, I am fain to believe, will aid me in arran- ging, in ornamenting, in main- taining, in enlarging your li- brary ; and what remains to me yet of vigour, what remains to me yet of a life which is ad- vancing rapidly to its decline, I have firmly resolved shall be de- voted to the task of proving my- 50 A Librarian's Duties self in all respefts worthy of the honours which you have been pleased to confer upon me, and the confidence you have placed in me, of which I trust you will never have cause to repent. Thus, gentlemen, all my cares, all my efforts, all my studies, will be devoted to the sole ob- ject of proving the deep grati- tude with which your goodness has inspired me, of which I shall never lose the remembrance. NOTES NOTES * Notitia librorum est dimidium stu- diorum, et maxima eruditionis pars exaclam librorum habere cognitionem. "An acquaintance with books abridges by one-half the path of knowledge; and he is already well advanced in learning who knows with exactness the works that contain it." — Gas par Thurmann, quoted by the Abbe Rive, "Prospetlus d'un ouvrage publie par souscription," page 59, notes. \ ^hese two Cardinals were both li- brarians of the Vatican, and both for- eign members of the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-lettres. Quirini, or rather Querini, was born at Venice, March 30, 1 680, and died January 6, 1759. His eulogy, by he- beau, may be found in volume xxvii of "Memoires de V Academie des Ins crip- tionsT 54 Notes Passionei (Dominick) — born Decem- ber 2, 1682, deceased July 5, 1761 — succeeded Querini in the office of librarian of the Vatic an. He was a man passionately devoted to letters, and somewhat vehement in characler. At the conclave of 1758, he was on the point of being eletled Pope: he had ob- tained eighteen votes; but the fears in- spired by the inequality of his temper caused him to be set aside. His eulogy may be found in volume xxxi of " Me- moires de V Academic" J Naude (Gabriel^), a learned biblio- grapher, who may be regarded as in facl the creator of the Mazarine Li- brary, was born at Paris, February 2, 1600, and died in the prime of his life, July 29, 1 653. Some particulars concerning him, equally curious and reliable, ?nay be found in a work by M. Petit-Radel, entitled " Recherche s Notes 55 sur les BibliotKeques Anciennes et Mo- dernes" (Part's, 18 19, 8vo). Naude was the dearest and most constant friend of the learned and caustic Guy- Patin; and, such an intimacy existing, it is difficult to explain how he could be the eulogist of the Saint Bartholomew. "Le Sage dit, selon les gens, etc." § Muratori (Louis- Antoine) was born Oclober 21, 1672, in the duchy of Modena, and died January 23, 1750. Tkis indefatigable scholar left sixty-four works, which form a collec- tion of thirty-six volumes quarto, pub- lished at Arezzo, 1767-80; or a se- leclion of forty-eight volumes oclavo, published at Venice, 1 790- 1810. I F ranch or Franke (Jean-Michel) was born in 1717, in Upper Saxony, and died June 19, 1775. His "Cata- logue de la Bibliotheque du Comte de Bunau," Leipsic, 1750-6, in seven vol- 56 Notes umes quarto, is a masterpiece of patience and bibliographical learning. Unfor- tunately for science, this work was not wholly completed. Franck ?nerits in every respetl the praise bestowed upon him by the author of the Discourse; and it would be gratifying if all the editors of catalogues — though it would be too much to exacl of the?n the power of this able bibliographer — would at least take him for a model before commencing their work. 14 DAY USE RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED EIMAHX SCHOOL LIBRAE/ This book is due on the ast date stsmnpd Kalnnr nr ■t^ r— H30 r -*■* o > O5I z l C "O *2? ■< > m 73 O ▼z c m 00 O O 7\ CO O LiBRAI 2 Sout > > < Cn ho 00 00 9_n H m ""i > ^ O 2 m n O "0 > r- m r - 1 D 1 — m a 55 CO > 70 m > 70 < o —i m 73 O CO i a > CO NO 1 hO hO Oi CO LD 21-40m-10 '65 General Librs try - (F7763sl0)476 University of Call fornia Berkeley U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES CD5M7Mafi7D — ' ■fciQ I m