Ferrari, as we know, was very successful in
the next generation in finding rare books in Spain for Borromeo's
Ambrosian library. At Bruges, Don Ferdinand met Jean Vasee, a man just
suited for an appointment as librarian, and he too was persuaded to
accompany the traveller on his return. Don Ferdinand established a large
library in his house at Seville. Clenard helped to arrange the books, and
Vasee became librarian. The volumes amounted at least to fifteen thousand
in number, though the exact amount remains unknown owing to discrepancies
in the earliest catalogues.
Don Ferdinand hoped that the library would be kept up by the family of
Columbus. With that object he left it to his great-nephew Don Luis, with
an annuity to provide for the expenses; if the legacy were refused, it
was to pass to the Chapter of the Cathedral at Seville, with alternative
provisions in favour of the Monastery of San Pablo. As events turned out,
the succession was not taken up on behalf of his young kinsman, and after
some litigation the Fernandina, or 'La Colombina' as it was afterwards
called, was adjudged to the Chapter of Seville and placed in a room by
the Moorish Aisle at the Giralda. Owing chiefly to the generosity of
Queen Isabella and the Duc de Montpensier the library of 'La Colombina'
has been restored to prosperity, although according to Mr. Ford it was
long abandoned to 'the canons and book-worms.' It appears that in the
middle of the last century three-quarters of the MSS.
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