Siècle de Louis XIV. par Voltaire, 12mo. XV. par Voltaire, 12mo. Commentaries on the Laws of England, by William Blackstone, 4 vols. 8vo., newest edition. The Justice of Peace, and Parish Officer, by R. Burn, 4 vols. 8vo. The Works of the English Poets, by Sam. Johnson, 68 vols. 12mo. 12mo. A Select Collection of Poems, by J. Nichols, 8 vols. 12mo. Œuvres de Destouches, 5 vols. 12mo. The Works of Sir William Temple, 4 vols. 8vo. Thus, to revert to the position with which this I now come to a more particular account of the na- the dates and conditions of books, but he should know some little of their internal character, and of the histories of their authors. In regard to the former, it will be seen that those passages have been extracted which are not only exclusively professional,* but which are supposed to be replete with original and interesting matter. The volumes from which they are taken are also of unusual occurrence. But in spite of these claims to approbation, I fear that the SERMONS of the Old English Divines may have been a little too freely dealt with: and that even this "mentis gratissimus error" cannot be received as an apology. A more difficult temptation to resist, was that of Anecdote: the most delightful, and at times the most instructive, department of literary research. But it has been sparingly introduced. Slight sketches are given of a few of the more prominent characters of former and modern times, in order to enliven the * The extracts from the Sermons of LATIMER, FOX, DRANT, and EDGEWORTH, extend from page 66 to 83; but they are replete with both curious and edifying matter. Previous to which the reader may examine a short but noble passage from BARNES, (page 27) and a very singular extract from a work called Grounds and Occasions of the Contempt of the Clergy and Religion enquired into, 1670, 8vo. p. 57-8. For other extracts, the reprint (in three pages only) of that extraordinary Dialogue between Bishop GARDINER and Judge HAILES, in the time of Queen Mary, is the longest to be qualified by an apology; while, on literary and philological subjects, the extract from Hearne and from the Itinerary of Fynes Moryson (page 227 and page 433) are alone of a length to need excuse. + Of PERSONALANECDOTES and CRITICISM, the chief may relate to the articles Mezerai (p. 291), Bayle, (p. 484) Amyot (p. 489) Fugger (p. 495) unavoidable dryness of bibliographical detail; and many living Characters are frequently mentioned, to whom, in this place, any allusion would be premature if not indecorous. To critics, of every denomination, I am anxious to address myself as not being desirous of shunning merited castigation for frequent and palpable errors. But, on the other hand, if the omission of much that might be deemed essential for introduction, be pointed out and condemned, it must be remembered that much has been collected and brought together from numerous, and at times discordant, sources: and that the LIBRARY COMPANION, with its present contents, might have been easily dilated into three respectable volumes. And here, let me be allowed to anticipate an objection which may be made, from the apparent vanity of such frequent references to my own publications. The truth is, in the first place, that an author has a right to make use of his own property as he may think proper: but, in the second place, having devoted so many years to the study, and published so many works on the subject, of BIBLIOGRAPHY, it were barely possible to avoid noticing rare, curious, and valuable books, which had not been described, with more or less minuteness, in the publications referred to. In no instance however, have I made such reference, where I was conscious of having it in my power to direct the reader to a more copious Dr. Johnson (pp. 510, 523) Strype (page 516) Robert Burton (page 599) Addison (page 603) Swift, De Foe (page 606)—and to the most eminent of living Poets. or accurate detail. This avowal, fairly and honestly made, will, it is hoped, justify, as well as account for, the frequent references to the Bibliomania, Bibliographical Decameron, Typographical Antiquities, and Bibliotheca Spenceriana. The age of " Commendatory Prefixes" is past. The Muse of a friend is no longer invoked to throw her protecting arms round the labours of an author; *who is now doomed to stand or fall by the intrinsic merit, or the insufficiency, of the performance which he submits to the world at large. *The fashion of prefixing commendatory verses to publications of any note, obtained till as late as the end of the reign of George II.— if not later. During the seventeenth century these verses were in high vogue: but among them, my reading has furnished me with none so truly quaint and original as the following-prefixed to "Solomonis ПAN APETOE: or a Commentarie upon the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs! By JOHN TRAPP, M. A. Pastor of Weston upon Avon in Glocestershire, 1650, 4to." [The Author was the Father of the well known Translator of Virgil.] · On the Books of Solomon opened by Master Trapp. I stood in Solomon's Porch before, Unable to unlock the doore, And view the glory that within Rather than live I would have seen. Now in his Temple walk I can, The Holy of Holies open lies, But in the anticipation of a favourable or unfavourable issue, from such a formidable tribunal, it is impossible for that author not to feel something like anxiety, in spite even of the approbation which may have attended his previous labours. The growth of knowledge is daily increasing in rapidity and strength. In this wonderful country, it is barely possible for those, who lead a quiet and uniform life far beyond the reach of the hum of our great Metropolis, to form a correct notion of the various channels by which knowledge is so swiftly and so widely diffused; and it is not the least instructive feature in the HISTORY OF Books, to be apprised of the expenses incurred, and hazards run, in the establishment of a popular and useful work. The gift of speech and the gift of knowledge should seem to be almost simultaneous. There are at this moment before me, the CATALOGUES of SCHOOL BOOKS circulated by the two greatest Publishers in England. I mean the catalogue of Messrs. Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Co. and that of Messrs. G. and W. B. Whittaker. The most superficial view of the contents of these Catalogues, shews the extraordinary and advantageous variety of instruction which they contain. Science, Arts, Trade, Manners, Customs -something of every thing, and of the very best kind -will be found in each; and little does the studious, or fanciful, or classical Writer imagine, that, while If you would know how in I gat, I passed through the Beautifull Gate; |