amount precisely to 10,000 volumes. Hence, we may safely 

 conclude that the literary treasures, contained in all the 

 libraries of Constantinople, do not exceed 25,000 volumes, 

 or, as the various* catalogues have much in common, per- 

 haps 5,000 works. The single library that was consumed 

 by fire in the Basilica, just ten centuries before the Turks 

 obtained possession of the city, contained 120,000 manu- 

 scripts ! We will not say anything respecting the character 

 of this triple literature, except, that if we are to estimate the 

 value of genius from the influence it is likely to exercise on 

 the happiness of mankind, it is probable that the works 

 of Plutarch and Cicero are worth all the learning of the 

 East. Here we cannot omit the opportunity of expressing 

 our opinion, that, with due diligence, much classic treasure 

 might still be rescued from the dusty chests of the Seraglio. 

 There is no good reason for believing that the library of 

 the Palaeologi was destroyed by the Ottoman conquerors. 

 Mahomet II. was an accomplished prince, the patron of 

 letters, and versed, it is said, in the Greek language ; on 

 the conquest of Constantinople he immediately took posses- 

 sion of the imperial palace ; why, then, should he destroy 

 the library ? Besides, no mention is made by the Turkish 

 historians of the destruction of Greek manuscripts, at that, 

 or any future period; on the contrary, we have positive 

 and we think unquestionable evidence, in proof of their 

 existence. Ismael Bey, a learned Turk, who had lived 

 nine years in the Seraglio, assured Toderini that there 

 existed an immense quantity of manuscripts in the Greek, 

 Latin, and other languages; not in the library, indeed, but 

 in the store-rooms of the Seraglio ; this testimony was con- 

 firmed by Francesco Franchini, the Venetian Dragoman, 

 who turned Musulman, and was appointed Keeper of the 

 Imperial Library ; he stated that many books, in the Greek, 

 Latin, and Syriac languages, remained shut up in chests, 

 and that a collection of manuscripts, brought from Jeru- 

 salem, was said to be among them. The indefatigable 

 Toderini published in 1788 the Catalogue of the Imperial 

 Library of the Seraglio, of which he had surreptitiously 

 procured a copy. If General Sebastian i had not been 

 ignorant of this circumstance, as well as of the jealous care 



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