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There is a tradition that Peiresc's correspondence, containing many thousands of documents, was destroyed by his grand-niece, 'a kind of female Omar, who insisted in using the papers for lighting fires and making trays for her silk-worms. Peiresc employed some of the most learned men of his time to collect for him in Italy.
The correspondence of PEIRESC branched out to the farthest bounds of Ethiopia, connected both Americas, and had touched the newly-discovered extremities of the universe, when this intrepid mind closed in a premature death. I have drawn this imperfect view of PEIRESC'S character, that men of letters may be reminded of the capacities they possess.
Such, indeed, were immortal friendships! Immortal they may be justly called, from the objects in which they concerned themselves, and from the permanent results of the combined studies of such friends. Another peculiar greatness in this literary character was PEIRESC'S enlarged devotion to literature out of its purest love for itself alone.
A great number of the MSS. were destroyed, though there are still a few volumes in the public library at Carpentras. These were purchased from Louis Thomassin, a member of Peiresc's family, by Don Malachi d'Inguimbert, librarian to Pope Clement XII., who founded the collection of Carpentras when he became Bishop of the diocese.