On the history of librarianship in Europe in the 18th century: from the correspondence between father Paciaudi the theatine and abbot Mercier

The collection of N. P. Likhachev in the archives of the St. Petersburg Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences includes five letters from the Italian historian and bibliographer of the 18th century P. M. Paciaudi. Of particular interest are two letters, dated January 18, 1781, and July 20, 1782, addressed to the French bibliographer, historian of literature and printing, B. Mercier, Abbot of Saint-Leger. The content of these letters, in addition to some interesting details about the scientific and cultural life in Italy at the end of the 18th century, shows the other side of the life and work of scholars, their relationship with the authorities, everyday difficulties and plans for the future, some of which remained unfulfilled.