[108] On my arrival in England, I was of course equally anxious and happy
    to place the CHRONICON GOeTWICENSE in the library at Althorp.  But I
    have not, in the text above, done full justice to the liberality of
    the present Abbot of the monastery.  He gave me, in addition, a
    copy—­of perhaps a still scarcer work—­entitled “Notitia Austriae
    Antiquae et Mediae seu tam Norici Veteris quam Pagi et Marchae, &c.” by
    MAGNUS KLEIN, Abbot of the monastery, and of which the first volume
    only was published “typis Monasterii Tegernseensis,” in 1781, 4to. 
    This appears to be a very learned and curious work.  And here ... let
    me be allowed for the sake of all lovers of autographs of good and
    great men—­to close this note with a fac-simile of the hand writing
    (in the “dono dedit”—­as above mentioned) of the amiable and erudite
    donor of these acceptable volumes.  It is faithfully thus:—­the
    original scription will only, I trust, perish with the book: 

    [Autograph]

LETTER X.

IMPERIAL LIBRARY.  ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS AND EARLY PRINTED BOOKS.

VIENNA; Hotel of the Crown of Hungary, Sept. 9, 1818.

It gave me the sincerest pleasure, my dear friend, to receive your letter... only a very few hours after the transmission of my last.  At such a distance from those we love and esteem, you can readily imagine the sort of comfort which such communications impart.  I was indeed rejoiced to hear of the health and welfare of your family, and of that of our friend * *, who is indeed not only a thorough-bred Rorburgher, but a truly excellent and amiable man.  The account of the last anniversary-meeting of the Club has, however, been a little painful to me; inasmuch as it proves that a sort of heresy has crept into the Society—­which your Vice-President, on his return, will labour as effectually as he can to eradicate.[109]

I had anticipated your wishes.  You tell me, “send all you can collect about the IMPERIAL LIBRARY of Vienna; its MSS. and printed books:  its treasures in the shape of Fifteeners and Sixteeners:  in short, be copious (say you) in your description.”  The present letter will at least convince you that I have not been sparing in the account solicited; and, in truth, I am well pleased to postpone a description of the buildings, and usual sights and diversions of this metropolis, until I shall have passed a few more days here, and had fuller opportunities of making myself acquainted with details.  Compared with every other architectural interior which I have yet seen, this LIBRARY is beyond doubt the most magnificent in its structure.  But if my admiration be thus great of the building, and of the books, it is at least equally so of those who have the management of them.  You must know that