§ 1. The IMPERIAL LIBRARY AT VIENNA.

The Imperial and Royal Court Library of Vienna was founded by The Emperor Frederick III., in The year 1440,—a memorable date, since to it may be as signed (with as much probability, perhaps, as can now The imperiai be attained,) The discovery of printing. The illustrious historians and port, Æneas Sylvius Piccolomini (afterwards Pope Pius II,) and The Count von Peuerbach appear to have been employed in The collection and arrangement of The MSS. which were The nucleus of this great Library. The Emperor Maximilian I. continued his faTher’s work by The acquisitions of The collection of The learned Conrad Celtes, and of a part of The noble Library of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, and also by selections from several monastic Libraries. Under Maximilian II. various unfavourable circumstances long retarded its growth, but it received two very important additions, by The books of The physician Latz, and by The costly MSS. collected by Busbequius in Greece and in Asia, more than a hundred of which were on vellum. It was also before The close of this reign, that The Imperial Library (in 1575, during The zealous and able Librarianship of Blotz,) was established as a public institution, expressly intended for The promotion of learning.

Blotz’s administration was also signalized by many under The important acquisitions, and especially by The purchase of The valuable collection of Sambucus. His own Library was added, at his death, and some years afterwards (in 1623) his long-cherished plans for The improvement of The Library were carried out by its removal from The confined and unsuitable accommodation of The Convent of The Minorites to The Hofburg.The very choice collection of Blotz’s successor, Dr. Tengnagel, was also added to The Library by purchase.