I could mention many instances, one especially, where a window having been left broken for a long time, the ivy had pushed through and crept over a row of books, each of which was worth hundreds of pounds.

In rainy weather the water was conducted, as by a pipe, along the tops of the books and soaked through the whole.
In another and smaller collection, the rain came straight on to a book-case through a sky-light, saturating continually the top shelf containing Caxtons and other early English books, one of which, although rotten, was sold soon after by permission of the Charity Commissioners for L200.
Germany, too, the very birth-place of Printing, allows similar destruction to go on unchecked, if the following letter, which appeared about a Year ago (1879) in the _Academy_ has any truth in it:-- "For some time past the condition of the library at Wolfenbuttel has been most disgraceful.

The building is in so unsafe a condition that portions of the walls and ceilings have fallen in, and the many treasures in Books and MSS.

contained in it are exposed to damp and decay.

An appeal has been issued that this valuable collection may not be allowed to perish for want of funds, and that it may also be now at length removed to Brunswick, since Wolfenbuttel is entirely deserted as an intellectual centre.