ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS, ETC., IN THE MARCH NUMBER.

Cousins, George W. and J. M. Geortner, | Dean, Samuel Hart, J. G. Cooper, H. A.

SOME of my readers have seen very large collections of books; and no doubt they have been astonished when they were told how many volumes those collections contained. But there are several libraries in Europe which are by far greater than any in the world, and which, if you were to visit them, would perfectly overwhelm you with astonishment. Some of these libraries I have seen, and must give you a little sketch of them, as well as of some of the prominent ones in this country. I am sure you will be gratified to learn how large they are, and what a multitude of books there are in them. The editor of the United States Magazine has just collated a mass of valuable facts in relation to these and other libraries, from which I glean most of my information.

The Royal Library at Munich comprises the largest collection in Germany. The building containing this celebrated library is the one represented at the head of this article. The edifice was commenced in 1832 and was completed in 1842. The whole number of printed works, without regard to the number of volumes, is over 400,000. There are also 22,000 manuscripts in it, among which are 580 in Greek, 268 in Eastern languages, 313 in Hebrew, 14,000 in Latin, 4,000 in German, and 600 in French. This library is valuable, too, on account

of the specimens which it contains of most of the different materials which have been used in the manufacture of books. It contains, besides, a great many rare and curious things, among which is the first printed Bible, by Guttenberg and Faust, near the year 1450.

The Royal Library at Berlin is a very large one. It contains 480,000 volumes. It contains, among other rare works, several ancient Egyptian deeds, written on papyrus. The building occupied by these books is very large and elegant, and is one of the most imposing edifices in the city. It was built by King Frederic II.

No one who visits the beautiful city of Frankfort-on-the-Maine should fail to take a stroll to the City Library. It is not so large as many others in Europe, but the books are selected and arranged with the greatest care, and the building itself, which contains the collection, is richly worth seeing.

The Library of the British Museum, in London, is the most valuable to Americans of all the European libraries. It is the fifth in size. The buildings containing the library and museum articles cost $3,500,000. The cost of the books is more than $5,500,000. Its annual receipts,

from all sources, is $260,000. The number of visitors to it is immense. There have been as large a number in a single day as 30,000. This valuable library originated in the bequest of a gentleman by the name of Sloane, who died in 1572, and left his immense collection to the nation. This bequest included books to the number of 50,000.

The National Library of Paris is not only one of the largest, but one of the richest collections in the world. In 1850 it contained 824,000 volumes of printed books, and 80,000 manuscripts. Of this library the French people may well be proud. Next to that of the British Museum, no collection in Europe pleased me so well.

The Vatican Library, at Rome, is a very celebrated one, as you have no doubt heard. It is more remarkable for the works of rare learning which it contains than for the variety and general interest of the topics treated of; and it is famous, too, for the splendid manner in which the rooms alloted to it are fitted up. The principal chamber of the library is 180 feet long and 51 broad. The collection was commenced as early as 465, by Pope Hilary. Of course it must contain a very large number of manuscripts, as many of the works were produced before the origin of the art of printing. It is a fact which may seem somewhat ludicrous to you, as it certainly did to me, that the librarian took our party through the entire library-and I think this is the ordinary mode of exhibition—and showed us every thing but the books. Not a volume was in sight. They were all in handsome cases, closely locked.

We must not omit the fine libraries in our own country, while we are on this subject. The collection of books belonging to Harvard College, at Cambridge, is well worth attention. It consists of 85,000 volumes. This collection was begun nearly ninety years ago. Gore Hall, the building which contains the collection, is a splendid edifice, as you see by the engraving. It was built expressly for the library, by funds contributed by the Hon. Christopher Gore, whose name it bears. The Philadelphia Library contains 61,000 volumes. It was founded by a company of literary gentlemen, among whom was the celebrated printer and statesman, Benjamin Franklin.

The Congressional Library at Washington is a rich storehouse of literature, containing 50,000 volumes. The first library of Congress was founded in the year 1800. In 1814 it was destroyed by the British army. The following year the government purchased Mr. Jefferson's collection of 7,000 volumes, which formed the beginning of the present library.