364 
ANTHONY MAGLIABECHI, 
Though this extraordinary man must have lived a sedentary life, 
with the most intense and almost perpetual application to books, yet 
ye arrived to a good old age. He died in his eighty-first year, July 
14, 1714. By his will, he left a very fine library of his own collection 
for the use of the public, with a fund to maintain it ; and whatever 
should remain over, to the poor. By the funds which he left, by the 
addition of several other collections, and the bounty of some of the 
grand dukes, his library was so much augmented as to vie with some 
of the most considerable in Europe. Of this collection, a catalogue 
and description of the works printed in the fifteenth century were 
published by Fossi, under the title “ Catalogus Codicum Sseculo XV. 
impressorum in Bibliotheca Magliabechiana, Florentine adversantur,” 
Florence, 3 vols. fol. 1793 — 1795. 
Of the domestic habits of Magliabechi, we have many accounts 
that represent him as an incorrigible sloven. His attention was so 
entirely absorbed by his books and studies, that he totally neglected 
all the decencies of form and ceremony, and often forgot the most 
urgent wants of human nature. His employment under the grand 
duke did not at all change his manner of life: the philosopher still con- 
tinued negligent in his dress, and simple in his manners. An old 
cloak served him for a gown in the day, and for bed clothes at night. 
He had one straw chair for his table, and another for his bed ; in which 
he generally continued fixed among his books till he was overpowered 
by sleep. The duke provided a commodrous apartment in his palace ; 
of which Magliabechi was with much difficulty persuaded to take pos- 
session, and which he quitted in four months, returning to his house 
on various pretences, against all the remonstrances of his friends. 
He was, however, characterized by an extraordinary modesty, and 
by a sincere and beneficent disposition, which his friends often expe- 
rienced in their wants. He was a great patron of learned men, and 
had the highest pleasure in assisting them with his advice and infor- 
mation, in furnishing them with all necessary books and manuscripts. 
Cardinal Noris used to call him his Maecenas ; and writing to him 
one day, he told him, he thought himself more obliged to him for 
direction in his studies, than to the pope for raising him to the purple. 
He had the utmost aversion to any thing that looked like constraint. 
The grand dujke knew his disposition, and therefore always dispensed 
with his personal attendance upon him ; and when he had any orders 
to give him, sent him them in writing. The pope and the emperor 
would gladly have drawn him into their service, but he constantly 
refused their most honourable and advantageous offers. The regimen 
he observed contributed not a little to preserve his health to old age. 
He always kept his head warmly covered, and took at certain times 
treacle, which he esteemed an excellent preservative against noxious 
vapours. He loved strong wine, but drank it in small quantities. He 
lived upon the plainest and most ordinary food. Three hard eggs 
and a draught of water was his usual repast. He took tobacco, to 
which he was a slave to excess, but was absolute master of himself 
in every other article. 
tie in the midst of public applause, after enjoying, during all 
the latter part of his life, such an affluence as very few persons have 
