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volume must originally have contained the whole of the sacred Scriptures. 

 It is considered to be of the seventh century. From an inscription at 

 the beginning, " Liber Sancti Augu.stini Cantuariensis," it would appear 

 that a tradition prevailed that it had belonged to Saint Augustine. For 

 a description of very early and beautiful MSS. written by Irish scribes, 

 we must refer to Westwoods fine work, entitled, Paleographia Sacra 

 Pictoria ; 4 to, 1845. 



To enter upon a review of the antient manuscripts preserved in the 

 continental libraries would lead very much beyond the limits which are 

 now prescribed to us. It is impossible, however, to refrain from joining 

 in the tribute wliich all lovers of learning are bound to pay to that muni- 

 ficent restorer of it in the dark ages — the Emperor Charlemagne. After 

 the final overthrow of the lioman empire, a long night of ignorance and 

 barbarism ensued, until in the eight century this great man, by the 

 subjugation of the Lombards, Huns, and Hungarians, established the 

 Empire of the West. To the means which fortune placed in his hands 

 was added the most ardent zeal for the propagation of religion and letters. 

 He founded universities, and drew to his court learned men from different 

 parts of the world. Under his auspices many transcripts (chiefly of the 

 holy Scriptures) were made, and these were often revised by his own 

 hand. The authors of the Nouveau traite de Diplomatique say of him, 

 " Charlemagne fit a la verite changer la face de la literature. L'ortho- 

 graphic prit un etat de consistence q'elle n'avoit point eprouve jusqu' 

 alors." He ordered that all priests should make themselves acquainted 

 with the Greek and Latin languages, and that every bishop, abbot, and 

 count should retain a secretary to write correctly. In consequence of 

 tliis, the form of the letters became very much improved, so that the 

 writing of his day acquired the name of Caroline. 



One of the most valuable and magnificent of these manuscripts is an 

 Evangelistarium, (or collection of portions of the gospels used in the 

 services of the church), written throughout in golden initial letters, by 

 order of Charlemagne and his Queen Hildegai-de. The writing is upon 

 purple vellum, in double columns, surrounded by ornamental borders. 

 Its dimensions are 1*2 J by 8^ inches. The six first pages ai*e covered 

 each with a splendid illumination. Here we find the Saviour, the four 

 Evangelists, and some architectural designs, with mystical figures. At 

 the end of the gospel lessons is a calendar extending from the year 775 

 to 791, in the margin of which, opposite to the year 781, is a contem- 

 porary notice, that in this year " our Lord the King Charles went to 

 St. Peter's at Rome, where his son Pepin was baptised by the Pope." 

 The two last pages are occupied with Latin verses, setting forth (inter 

 alia) that the volume took seven years to complete it, and that in A.D. 

 II 



