Stanislovo Čerskio Kelionė Po Vakarų Europą 1819–1821 M.
Stanislovas Čerskis’ Journey Across Western Europe Between 1819 And 1821

Summary/Abstract: The researchers of the old Lithuanian culture are well familiar with the personality of Stanislovas Čerskis (Stanis³aw Czerski), canon of Samogitia, author of žemaičių vyskupijos aprašymas (1830; Description of the Diocese of Samogitia). However, the contents of his scientific journey across Europe conducted between 1819 and 1821 have not been disclosed. A lecturer of classical languages at Vilnius Gymnasium, Èerskis went on the journey for Vilnius University to collect material for the Latin-Polish dictionary. Based on the correspondence kept in the Czartoryski Library in Kraków it has been established that Èerskis visited 21 city and studied the collections of 15 libraries (Royal Libraries of Berlin, Paris and Dresden, Laurentian Library in Florence, Ambrosian Library in Milan, St Mark‘s Library in Venice, libraries at Königsberg University and at the British Museum and others) and 6 archives (the „secret“ archives of Königsberg, the Neapoli City Archives, the Chapter Archives in Frauenberg/Frombork and others). He conducted correspondence with Adomas Jurgis Čartoryskis (Adam Jerzy Czartoryski), curator of Vilnius University and the educational district of Vilnius, through Adolfas Dobrovolskis, secretary of the latter. The letters indicate that Čerskis browsed the collections of main libraries and archives and reported of the historical material (antiquities) found on Čartoriskis‘ commission. The patron Èartoriskis ordered to purchase or to copy some rare manuscripts illustrating the history of the Polish-Lithuanian state. Historical documents were sought without the intention to expand the collections of the library at Vilnius University; instead, the aim was to enrich the famous Pu³awy collection, which comprised nearly 40 thousand prints and several thousands of rare manuscripts at that time. It is interesting to note that the collection of Vilnius University library became that large only before the university was closed in 1832. Therefore, it is to be considered that the journey was coordinated not only (and not that much) by Vilnius University but by the patron as well. On the other hand, the aims of the scientific journey have also been fulfilled, as already in 1822 Čerskis published the Latin-Polish dictionary.

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