160 
Notices of BooJcs, [no. 3, new series. 
Extract of a letter from the Baroness de Trenck de Tonder to M. Reinaud giv- 
ing an account of her father's death. Dated Vienna 13th December ISoG. 
* * * " In the midst of his sufferings my father continued (o busy himself 
■with the studies which he had pursued during his long life. The day before his 
death when scarcely able to speak, he explained to me with much difliculty that he 
wished me to send to the Imperial Library for an Arabic work which he heard had 
just been published. Alas! he never cast eye upon v'. He was constantly asking 
for books to read or calling for his secretary to write to his dictation. On the very 
last morning of his life, I was obliged in order to keep him quiet, to bring him paper 
and ink and to place a pen between his fingers with which he traced a few illegible 
words. 
During the last fortn'ght, the oppression under which he labored prevented 
his lying in bed. All that time he passed in an ea«y chair before his writing table 
in the middle of his Library. Such a place was little suited for the attentions 
which his state required. But we dartd not change it. "NVe saw too well that he 
wi>hed to die surrounded by his books like a warrior on the field of battle. 
" On the morning of the 20ih November he received the holy sacraments. 
During the 23rd he was more restless and disturbed than usual. He continued how- 
ever to write with his pencil on his handkuchief and on liis linen ; at length ho 
began to doze. We listened with thankfulness to his quiet and regular breath- 
ing. Twice or thtice he clapped his hands, a mode of calling his servants htj 
had acquired from his travels in the East. On drawing near however we found 
him still in the .same tranquil sleep. About a quarter past six a deep sigh drew 
our attention to him ; another followed ; it was the last! 
*• I must add a few words relative to the state in which my poor father h^s left 
the works in which he was engaged The seventh Volume of the History of A ra- 
bic Literature is quite finished, and will be shortly despatched to the individuals 
arid to the Scientific Societies which have leceivcdthe preceding Volumes. The 
reflection that he had completed this Volume was a source of great comfort to 
my father and he has left me full instructions for its di^tribution. He has ex- 
pressed a hope in his will that the Hnperidl Academy will complete what is con* 
sidcred indispensable to the work, at least as far as regarJs the tables. M. Pfitz- 
maier is engaged in the revision of the second Volume of the Persim chrooicle of 
Wassaf. 1 feel sure that the respeci due to the memory of the Translat )r and 
Editor will prevent any delay in completing this publication >\hicl), you aro 
aware, is carried on under the auspices of the Imperial Academy. 
I shall not astonish you, Sir, who know the indefatigable application and the 
immense labors of my father when I tell you that his repositories contain nume- 
rous writings it' his own hand of whicli, unfortunately, the characters are for the 
most part, almost illegible. I need not say that I feel it to bo a sacied duty to 
have these MSS. arranged by a skilful person, to whom, I trust, my practice in 
deciphering my father's writing, will prove of some use." 
M. Reinaudadds in a note that M. de Hammer long ago completed a Transla- 
tion in French of the Aiabian talc of Aniar. Some yeai's since, the elder M. Poi;- 
