THE BIBLIOTHtQUE NATIONALE .
[To. the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—" A. F." does not appear to recognize that the admin- istration of the Bibliothlque was reformed (once' and for all, it would appear) in 1859. M. Merimee had made a " spirituel" report on the subject, and certain ameliorations followed it. It seems possible that they were too numerous, and that the official mind has not yet got used to them. Let " A. F." go to the Bibliotheque again in twenty, or, better, fifty years
-En attendant I will giire him a -"-tip." Let him send fifty francs, or, say, one hundred francs, to a minor official in the rue Richelieu with instructions to copy any extract' required. He will 'get -it quickly. In all probability, the ' officials are greatly bored by a Government which pays them badly, and by a public Which -does. not do anything-but give thein trOuble. ' A' few francs in addition to meagre .pay act;
like' inagie.- .
Let " A. F.", when he arrives at the -British Museum, ask for Les Triteaux, by Charles Monselet (Paris, 1859), and read the paper on the Bilitiothaque. But he had better wear a muzzle when doing so, or his laughter will disturb the other readers and may bring about his expulsion from the " Room."—I am, 26 West Hill, Highgate. .
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