GUGLIELMO LIBRI. 179 



library with the means of verifying Italian history. . . . 1849. 

 He specially collected Italian books, and the thefts 9 ffer of his 

 charged are mostly of that kind of literature. He offered the French 

 his whole collection, books and manuscripts, as a present ment! a " 

 to the French nation 011 condition that they should be 

 kept together and called by his name, which was refused. 

 The offer was made to M. Naudet, of the Eoyal Library. 

 When difficulties arose as to the stipulation, M. Libri 

 complained to M. Guizot, the most influential of the 

 Ministry in literature, always his firm friend, and a firm 

 believer in his innocence. M. Guizot certified this fact to 

 the editor of an English journal in 1849, and gave it in 

 evidence to a commission sent from Paris to examine 

 him, as we learn from his handwriting. This shows the 

 state of things in Paris with respect to M. Libri at the 

 time of his escape to England in the year 1848. It had 

 been rumoured that he, who was well known as having 

 bought rare books and as having sold a large collection, 

 had robbed the public libraries of a number of books to 

 the amount of several hundred thousand francs, and a 

 note was one day put into his hands at the Institute by 

 the editor of the National, threatening him with popular 

 vengeance, and advising him to disappear if he hoped to 

 escape. A report was drawn up by M. Boucly, the Pro- 

 cureur du Hoi, founded upon anonymous accusations, and 

 soon after M. Libri's escape to England a step recom- 

 mended at once by his friends in France this report was 

 published in the Moniteur. To it he replied, so com- 

 pletely proving his innocence, that no more was heard of 

 the document. In a letter to M. Falloux he continued 

 his defence, which produced no effect. His books and 

 furniture were seized, and a commission was appointed to 

 examine them. This commission made its report in 

 1850, and in 1852 the Acte d? Accusation was passed.' 



During the time he had been in England he had 

 gained some steady, energetic friends, many of whom 

 gave him sympathy and assistance. Scholars and biblio- 



N 2 



