The other famous library was amassed by 'an extraordinary family of
book-collectors.' It was begun by Guillaume de la Moignon, who was
President of the Parliament of Paris in 1658. His son Chretien de la
Moignon was as zealous a book-buyer as his father, and he secured the
renown of their library by engaging the services of Adrien Baillet.
Dibdin quoted passages from Baillet's biography that show the tenderness
with which the family treated his 'crazy body and nervous mind': 'Madame
La Moignon and her son always took a pleasure in anticipating his wishes,
soothing his irritabilities, promoting his views, and speaking loudly and
constantly of the virtues of his head and heart.' Baillet in his turn
gave to his employers the credit of his best literary work. 'It was done
for you,' he wrote, 'and in your house, and by one who is ever yours to
command.' The library was much enlarged by its owner in the third
generation; and by its union with the collection of M. Berryer, who died
in 1762, it became 'one of the most splendid in Europe.' It was dispersed
during the troubles of the Revolution, and a great portion was brought to
London in 1791; but the works on jurisprudence were reserved, and were
sold in Paris a few years afterwards.
David Ancillon is perhaps best known as the defender of Luther and
Calvin. But according to Bayle he was an indefatigable book-collector,
and notable for having set the fashion of buying books in the first
edition. Most people thought, said D'Israeli, that the first edition was
only an imperfect essay, 'which the author proposes to finish after
trying the sentiments of the literary world.' Bayle was on the side of
Ancillon. There are cases, as he remarked, in which the second edition
has never appeared; and at any rate the man who waits for the reprint
shows 'that he loves a pistole better than knowledge.' Ancillon,
however, always indulged himself with 'the most elegant edition,'
whatever the first might have been; he considered that 'the less the eyes
are fatigued in reading or work the more liberty the mind feels in
judging of it.' It is easier to detect the merits in print than in
manuscript: 'and so we see them more plainly in good paper and clear type
than when the impression and paper are bad?' Some have thought it better
to have many editions of a good book: 'among other things,' says our
critic, 'we feel great satisfaction in tracing the variations.' Ancillon
was naturally accused of an indiscriminate mania for collecting; and he
confessed that he was to some extent infected with the 'book-disease.' It
was said that he never left his books day or night, except when he went
to preach to his humble congregation. He was convinced that some golden
thought might be found in the dullest work. Ancillon remained in France
as long as his religion was tolerated. He found a home across the Rhine
after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes; but from that time he had to
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