Chapter XXXIX: Part VI: =The Alcove.= (5)

These are pretty lines, and have a melodious flow; but
Ronsard, in his 8 and 9 feet metres, is one of the most
fascinating of the old French poets. The subject, above
alluded to by Lysander, may be yet more strongly
illustrated: for thus speaks Spizelius upon it. 'Solent viri
multijugæ lectionis, qui avidè, quos possunt versant libros,
ut in mentis ventrem trajicere eos velle, totosque devorare
videantur, elegantis proverbii salivâ LIBRORUM HELLUONES
nuncupari; ipso quidem Tullio prælucente, qui avidos
lectores librorum, ac propemodum insiatiables Helluones
dixit, siquidem _vastissima volumina_ percurrant, et
quicquid boni succi exprimere possunt, propriis et alienis
impendant emolumentis." Again: "Maxima cum sit eorum
Literarum stoliditas, qui, quod nocte somniarunt, continuo
edunt in lucem, neque ipsa virium imbecillitate suarum, ab
arduo scribendi munere et onere, sese revocari patiuntur,"
&c. _Infelix Literatus_; pp. 295, 447. Morof is worth our
notice upon this subject: "Veniamus ad Bibliothecas ipsas,
quales vel privatæ sunt, vel publicæ. Illæ, quanquam in
molem tantam non excrescant ut publicæ; sunt tamen etiam
inter privatos viri illustres et opulenti qui in libris
omnis generis coemendis nullis parcunt sumptibus. Quorum
[Greek: bibliomanian] reprehendit Seneca _Ep._ 2. 45, _et de
Tranquil. animi_ c. 9, ridet Lucianus in libello [Greek:
pros apaideuton kai polla biblia ônoumenon]; et Auson.
_epigr._ 43. Sunt ita animati nonnulli, ut

_magno de flumine malint
Quam de fonticulo tantundem sumere;_

cum vastioris Bibliothecæ minor interdum usus sit, quam ejus
quæ selectis paucioribus libris constat." _Polyhist.
Literar._ vol. i., p. 21. He goes on in a very amusing
manner; but this note may be thought already too long.]

BELIN. Well; we live in a marvellous book-collecting and book-reading age--yet a word more:

ALMAN. I crave your pardon, Belinda; but I have a thought which must be now imparted, or the consequence may be serious.

LYSAND. I wait both your commands.

ALMAN. My thought--or rather the subject which now occupies my mind--is this: You have told us of the symptoms of the _Disease of Book-Madness_, now pray inform us, as a tender-hearted physician, what are the _means of its cure_?

BELIN. The very question I was about to put to our bibliomaniacal physician. Pray inform us what are the means of cure in this disorder?

LYSAND. You should say PROBABLE MEANS OF CURE, as I verily believe there are no certain and correct remedies.

BELIN. Well, Sir, _probable_ means--if it must be so. Discourse largely and distinctly upon these.

LYSAND. Briefly and perspicuously, if you please: and thus we begin.

In the _first place_, the disease of the Bibliomania is materially softened, or rendered mild, by directing our studies to _useful_ and _profitable_ works; whether these be printed upon small or large paper, in the gothic, roman, or italic type. To consider merely the _intrinsic excellence_, and not the _exterior splendour_, or adventitious value, of any production will keep us perhaps wholly free from this disease. Let the midnight lamp be burnt to illuminate the stores of antiquity--whether they be romances, or chronicles, or legends, and whether they be printed by ALDUS or CAXTON--if a brighter lustre can thence be thrown upon the pages of modern learning! To trace genius to its source, or to see how she has been influenced or modified by the lore of past times, is both a pleasing and profitable pursuit. To see how Shakspeare, here and there, has plucked a flower from some old ballad or popular tale, to enrich his own unperishable garland;--to follow Spenser and Milton in their delightful labyrinths 'midst the splendour of Italian literature; are studies which stamp a dignity upon our intellectual characters! But, in such a pursuit, let us not overlook the wisdom of modern times, nor fancy that what is only ancient can be excellent. We must remember that Bacon, Boyle, Locke, Taylor, Chillingworth, Robertson, Hume, Gibbon, and Paley, are names which always command attention from the wise, and remind us of the improved state of reason and acquired knowledge during the two last centuries.

ALMAN. There seems at least sound sense, with the prospect of much future good, in this _first_ recipe. What is your second.

LYSAND. In the _second place_, the reprinting of scarce and intrinsically valuable works is another means of preventing the propagation of this disorder. Amidst all our present sufferings under the BIBLIOMANIA, it is some consolation to find discerning and spirited booksellers republishing the ancient Chroniclers; and the collections known by the names of "_The Harleian Miscellany_" and "_Lord Somers' Tracts_," and "_The Voyages of Hakluyt_."[464] These are noble efforts, and richly deserve the public patronage.

[Footnote 464: In the _Quarterly Review_ for August, 1810,
this my second remedy for curing the disease of the
Bibliomania is considered as inefficient. I have a great
respect for this Review, but I understand neither the
premises nor conclusions therein laid down concerning the
subject in discussion. If "those who cannot afford to
purchase original publications must be content with entire
reprints of them" (I give the very words, though not the
entire sentence), it surely tends to lessen the degree of
competition for "the original publication." A sober reader,
or an economical book-buyer, wants a certain tract on the
ground of its utility:--but take my own case--who have very
few hundreds per annum to procure food for the body as well
as the mind. I wish to consult Roy's tract of "Rede me and
be not wroth," (vide p. 226, ante)--or the "Expedition into
Scotland" of 1544 (see Mr. Beloe's _Anecdotes of Literature
and Scarce Books_, vol. ii., p. 345), because these are
really interesting, as well as rare, volumes. There is at
present no reprint of either; and can I afford to bid ten or
twelve guineas for each of them at a public book-sale?
But--let them be faithfully _reprinted_, and even a golden
guinea (if such a coin be now in the pocket of a poor
bibliomaniac like myself) would be considered by me as
_dear_ terms upon which to purchase the _original_ edition!
The reviewer has illustrated his position by a model of the
Pigot diamond; and intimates that this model does not
"lessen the public desire to possess the original." Lord
Mansfield once observed that nothing more frequently tended
to perplex an argument than a simile--(the remark is
somewhere in _Burrows's Reports_); and the judge's dictum
seems here a little verified. If the glass or crystal model
could reflect _all the lustre_ of the original, it would be
of equal utility; but it cannot. Now the reprint _does_
impart _all_ the intelligence and intrinsic worth of the
original (for "the ugliness of the types" cannot be thought
worthy of aiding the argument one way or another) therefore
the reprint of Roy's poetical tract is not illustrated by
the model of the Pigot diamond: which latter cannot impart
the intrinsic value of the original. Let us now say a word
about the _Reprints_ above commended by Lysander. When Mr.
Harding went to press with the first volume of the _Harleian
Miscellany_, his zeal struggled with his prudence about the
number of copies to be printed of so voluminous a work.
Accordingly, he ventured upon only 250 copies. As the work
advanced, (and, I would hope, as the recommendation of it,
in the last edition of the Bibliomania, promoted its sale)
he took courage, and struck off another 250 copies of the
earlier volumes: and thus this magnificent reprint (which
will be followed up by two volumes of additional matter
collected by Mr. Park, its editor) may be pronounced a
profitable, as well as generally serviceable, publication to
the cause of Literature. The original edition of _Lord
Somers' Tracts_ having become exceedingly scarce, and the
arrangement of them being equally confused, three spirited
booksellers, under the editorial inspection of Mr. Walter
Scott, are putting forth a correct, well arranged, and
beautiful reprint of the same invaluable work. Five volumes
are already published. _The Voyages of Hakluyt_ are
republishing by Mr. Evans, of Pall Mall. Four volumes are
already before the public; of which only 250 copies of the
small, and 75 of the large, are printed. The reprint will
contain the whole of Hakluyt, with the addition of several
scarce voyages and travels.]

LOREN. I fully coincide with these sentiments; and, as a proof of it, regularly order my London bookseller to transmit to me every volume of the reprint of these excellent works as it is published.

BELIN. Can you find it in your heart, dear brother, to part with your black-letter Chronicles, and Hakluyt's Voyages, for these new publications?

LOREN. I keep the best editions of the ancient Chronicles; but the new Fabian, the Harleian Miscellany, Lord Somers' Tracts, and the Voyages, are unquestionably to be preferred; since they are more full and complete. But proceed with your other probable means of cure.

LYSAND. In the _third place_, the editing of our best ancient authors, whether in prose or poetry,[465] is another means of effectually counteracting the mischievous effects arising from the bibliomaniacal disease; and, on this score, I do think this country stands pre-eminently conspicuous; for we are indefatigable in our attentions towards restoring the corrupted texts of our poets.

[Footnote 465: The last new editions of our standard
belles-lettres writers are the following: which should be
found in every gentleman's library. _Shakspeare_, 1793, 15
vols., or 1803, 21 vols. (vide p. 427, ante); _Pope_, by
_Jos. Warton_; 1795, 8 vols. 8vo.; or by _Lisle Bowles_,
1806, 9 vols. 8vo.; _Spenser_, by _H.J. Todd_, 1805, 8 vols.
8vo.; _Milton_, by _the Same_, 7 vols., 8vo.; _Massinger_,
by _W. Gifford_, 1806, 4 vols. 8vo.; _Sir David Lyndsay_, by
_George Chalmers_, 1806, 3 vols. 8vo.; _Dryden_, by _Walter
Scott_, 1808, 18 vols. 8vo.; _Churchill_, by ----, 1805, 2
vols. 8vo.; _Hudibras_, by _Dr. Grey_, 1744, or 1809, 2
vols. 8vo.; _Ben. Jonson_, by _W. Gifford_ (_sub prelo_);
and _Bishop Corbett's Poems_, by _Octavius Gilchrist_, 1807,
8vo.]

PHIL. Yet forgive me if I avow that this same country, whose editorial labours you are thus commending, is shamefully deficient in the cultivation of _Ancient English History_! I speak my sentiments roundly upon this subject: because you know, Lysander, how vigilantly I have cultivated it, and how long and keenly I have expressed my regret at the almost total apathy which prevails respecting it. There is no country upon earth which has a more plentiful or faithful stock of historians than our own; and if it were only to discover how superficially some of our recent and popular historians have written upon it, it were surely worth the labour of investigation to examine the yet existing records of past ages.

LOREN. To effect this completely, you should have a NATIONAL PRESS.

LIS. And why not? Have we here no patriotic spirit similar to that which influenced the Francises, Richlieus, Colberts, and Louises of France?

ALMAN. You are getting into bibliographical politics! Proceed, good Lysander, with your other probable means of cure.

LYSAND. In the _fourth place_, the erection of PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS[466] is of great service in diffusing a love of books for their intrinsic utility, and is of very general advantage to scholars and authors who cannot purchase every book which they find it necessary to consult.

[Footnote 466: The ROYAL, LONDON, SURREY, AND RUSSEL
INSTITUTIONS, have been the means of concentrating, in
divers parts of the metropolis, large libraries of useful
books; which, it is to be hoped, will eventually bring into
disgrace and contempt what are called _Circulating
Libraries_--vehicles, too often, of insufferable nonsense,
and irremediable mischief!]

PHIL. You are right. These Institutions are of recent growth, but of general utility. They are a sort of _intellectual Hospitals_--according to your mode of treating the Bibliomania. Yet I dare venture to affirm that the _News-Paper Room_ is always better attended than the _Library_!

LYSAND. Let us have no sarcasms. I will now give you the _fifth_ and last probable means of cure of the Bibliomania; and that is _the Study of Bibliography_.[467]

[Footnote 467: "UNNE [Transcriber's Note: UNE] BONNE
BIBLIOGRAPHIE," says Marchand, "soit générale soit
particuliére, soit profane soit écclésiastique, soit
nationale, provinciale, ou locale, soit simplement
personelle, en un mot de quelque autre genre que ce puisse
être, n'est pas un ouvrage aussi facile que beaucoup de gens
se le pourroient imaginer; mais, elles ne doivent néanmoins
nullement prévenir contre celle-ci. Telle qu'elle est, elle
ne laisse pas d'être bonne, utile, et digne d'être
recherchée par les amateurs de l'Histoire Litteraire."
_Diction. Historique_, vol. i. p. 109.

Peignot, in his _Dictionnaire de Bibliologie_, vol. i. 50,
has given a very pompous account of what ought to be the
talents and duties of a bibliographer. It would be difficult
indeed to find such qualifications, as he describes, united
in one person! De Bure, in the eighth volume of his
_Bibliographie Instructive_, has prefixed a "Discourse upon
the Science of Bibliography, and the Duties of a
Bibliographer," which is worth consulting: but I know of
nothing which better describes, in few words, such a
character, than the following: "In eo sit multijuga
materiarum librorumque notitia, ut saltem potiores eligat et
inquirat: fida et sedula apud exteras gentes procuratio, ut
eos arcessat; summa patientia ut rarè venalis expectet;
peculium semper præsens et paratum, ne, si quando occurrunt,
emendi, occasio intercidat: prudens denique auri argentique
contemptus, ut pecuniis sponte careat quæ in bibliothecam
formandam et nutriendam sunt insumendæ. Si forte vir
literatus eo felicitatis pervenit ut talem thesaurum
coacervaverit, nec solus illo invidiose fruatur, sed usam
cum eruditis qui virgilias suas utilitati publicæ
devoverunt, liberaliter communicet;" &c.--_Bibliotheca
Hulsiana_, vol. i. Præfat. p. 3, 4. Morhof abounds with
sagacious reflections upon this important subject: but are
there fifty men in Great Britain who love to read the
_Polyhistor Literarius_? The observations of Ameilhon and
Camus, in the _Memoires de l'Institut_, are also well worth
consultation; as are those of Le Long, and his editor,
prefixed to the last edition of the _Bibliotheca Sacra_.]

LIS. Excellent!--Treat copiously upon this my darling subject.

BELIN. You speak with the enthusiasm of a young convert; but I should think the study of Bibliography a sure means of increasing the violence of the book-disease.

LYSAND. The encouragement of _the Study of Bibliography_, in its legitimate sense, and towards its true object, may be numbered among the most efficacious cures for this destructive malady. To place competent Librarians over the several departments of a large public Library; or to submit a library, on a more confined scale, to one diligent, enthusiastic, well-informed, and well-bred Bibliographer or Librarian (of which in this metropolis we have so many examples), is doing a vast deal towards directing the channels of literature to flow in their proper courses. And thus I close the account of my recipes for the cure of the Bibliomania. A few words more and I have done.

It is, my friends, in the erection of Libraries as in literary compositions, the task is difficult, and will generally meet with opposition from some fastidious quarter,[468] which is always betraying a fretful anxiety to bring every thing to its own ideal standard of perfection. To counteract the unpleasant effect which such an impression must necessarily produce, be diligent and faithful, to your utmost ability, in whatsoever you undertake. You need not evince the fecundity of a German[469] author; but only exert your best endeavours, and leave the issue to a future generation. Posterity will weigh, in even scales, your merits and demerits, when all present animosities and personal prejudices shall have subsided; and when the utility of our labours, whether in promoting wisdom or virtue, shall be unreservedly acknowledged. You may sleep in peace before this decision take place; but YOUR CHILDREN may live to witness it; and your name, in consequence, become a passport for them into circles of learning and worth. Let us now retreat; or, rather, walk round Lorenzo's grounds. We have had _Book-Discussion_ enough to last us to the end of the year.[470] I begin to be wearied of conversing.

[Footnote 468: My favourite author, Morhof, has spoken
'comme un brave homme' upon the difficulty of literary
enterprizes, and the facility and venom of detraction: I
support his assertion 'totis viribus'; and to beg to speak
in the same person with himself. 'Non ignotum mihi est,
quantæ molis opus humeris meis incumbat. Oceanum enim
ingressus sum, in quo portum invenire difficile est,
naufragii periculum à syrtibus et scopulis imminet. Quis
enim in tanta multitudine rerum et librorum omnia
exhauriret? Quis non alicubi impingeret? Quis salvum ab
invidia caput retraheret, ac malignitatis dentes in
liberiore censura evitaret? Præterea ut palato et gustu
differunt convivæ, ita judiciis dissident lectores, neque
omnium idem de rebus sensus est, hoc præsertim tempore, quo
plures sunt librorum judices, quam lectores, et è lectoribus
in lictores, ubique virgas et secures expedituros, multi
degenerant.' _Præf. Morhof._--Even the great Lambecius (of
whom see p. 41, ante) was compelled to deliver his
sentiments thus:--'laborem hunc meum non periculosum minus
et maglignis liventium _Zoilorum_ dentibus obnoxium, quam
prolixum foro et difficilem.' Prod. Hist. Lit. _Proleg._ One
of the Roman philosophers (I think it was Seneca) said, in
his last moments, 'Whether or not the Gods will be pleased
with what I have done, I cannot take upon me to pronounce:
but, this I know--it has been my invariable object to please
them.' For 'the Gods' read 'the Public'--and then I beg
leave, in a literary point of view, to repeat the words of
Seneca.]

[Footnote 469: 'From the last catalogue of the fair of
Lepisic [Transcriber's Note: Leipsic], it would appear that
there are now in Germany _ten thousand two hundred and forty
three authors_, full of _health_ and _spirit_, and each of
whom publishes at least _once a year_!' _American Review_,
Jan. 1811, p. 172.]

[Footnote 470: Through the favour of Dr. Drury, the Editor
is enabled to present the reader with an original letter,
enclosing a list of books directed to be purchased by
BENJAMIN HEATH, Esq.; also his portrait. This document would
have been better inserted, in point of chronological order,
in part V., but, as the Editor did not receive it till long
after that part was printed, he trusts it will be thought
better late than never.

THE DIRECTION.

To
Mr John Mann
at the Hand in Hand
Fire Office in Angel Court
on Snow Hill
[illegible]
in
London]

Exeter, 21st March, 1738.

Dear Sir,

I take the liberty presuming upon the Intimacy of our
Acquaintance to employ you in a pretty troublesome Affair.
Fletcher Gyles, Bookseller in Holbourn, with whom I had some
Dealings about two years ago, has lately sent me Down a
Catalogue of a Library which will begin to be sold by
Auction at his house next Monday Evening. As I have scarce
laid out any Money in Books for these two years past, the
great number of Valuable Books contained in this Collection,
together with the tempting prospect of getting them cheaper
in an Auction than they are to be had in a Sale, or in any
other way whatsoever, has induced me to lay out a Sum of
mony this way, at present, which will probably content my
Curiosity in this kind, for several years to come. Mr. Gyles
has offered himself to act for me, but as I think 'tis too
great a Trial of his Honesty to make him at the same time
both Buyer & Seller, & as Books are quite out of my
Brother's Way, I have been able to think of no Friend I
could throw this trouble upon but you. I propose to lay out
about £60 or £70, and have drawn up a List of the Books I am
inclined to, which you have in the First Leaf, with the
Price to each Book, which I would by no means exceed, but as
far as which, with respect to each single Book, I would
venture to go; though I am persuaded upon the whole they are
vastly overvalued. For my Valuation is founded in proportion
upon what I have been charged for Books of this kind, when I
have sent for them on purpose from London, and I have had
too many proofs that the Booksellers make it a Rule to
charge near double for an uncommon Book, when sent for on
purpose, of what they would take for it in their own Shops,
or at a Sale. So that, though the Amount of the Inclosed
List is above £120, yet, when Deductions are made for the
Savings by the Chance of the Auction, & for the full rate of
such Books as I may be over bid in, I am satisfied it will
come within the sum I propose. Now, Sir, the Favour which I
would beg of you is to get some Trusty Person (& if you
should not be able readily to think of a proper Person
yourself, Mr. Hinchcliffe or Mr. Peele may probably be able
to recommend one) to attend this Auction, in my behalf, from
the beginning to the end, & to bid for me agreeably to the
inclosed List & (as the Additional Trouble of it over and
above the Attendance would not be great) to mark in the
Catalogue, which you may have of Mr. Gyles for a shilling,
the price Every Book contained in the Catalogue is sold at,
for my future Direction in these Matters. For this Service I
would willingly allow 3 Guineas, which, the Auction
continuing 24 Days, is 3 shillings over and above half a
Crown a Day; or, if that is not sufficient, whatever more
shall be thought necessary to get my Commission well
Executed. It may be necessary to observe to you that the
Auction requires the Attendance of the whole day, beginning
at Eleven in the Morning, and ending at two and at five in
the Afternoon, and Ending at Eight. It may also be proper to
inform the Person you shall Employ that he is not to govern
his first bidding by the valuation in my list for many of
the Books will very probably be sold for less than half what
I have marked them at; he is therefore, in every Instance,
to bid Low at first, and afterwards to continue advancing
just beyond the other Bidders, till he has either bought the
Book, or the price I have fixed it at is exceeded. There are
many Books in the List which have several numbers before
them; the meaning of which is that the very same Book is in
several places of the Catalogue; and in that Case, I would
have the first of them bought, if it be in very good
condition, otherwise let the person Employed wait till the
other comes up. I would desire him also not to buy any book
at all that is both Dirty & ragged; but, though the Binding
should not be in very good Order, that would be no Objection
with me, provided the Book was clean. I would also desire
him not to bid for any Number in the Catalogue that is not
expressly mentioned in my List, upon a supposition that it
may be the same Book with some that are mentioned in it; nor
to omitt any Book that is actually upon the List, upon an
Imagination, from the Title, that it may be there more than
once; for I have drawn it up upon an Exact consideration of
the Editions of the Books, insomuch that there is no Book
twice upon the List, but where there is a very great
difference in the Editions; nor is any of the Books in my
List oftener in the Catalogue than is expressly specified in
it. By the Conditions of Sale, the Auction is constantly
adjourned from Fryday night to Monday Morning, the Saturday
being appointed for fetching away, at the Expence of the
buyer, the Books bought the week before, & for payment of
the Mony. This part of the trouble I must beg you to charge
yourself with; &, in order to enable you, as to the payment,
I shall send you up, either by the next Post, or, however,
time enough for the Saturday following, Fifty Pounds. I
would beg the Favour of you to let me hear from you, if
possible, by the Return of the Post; & also to give me an
Account by every Saturday night's post what Books are bought
for me, and at what price. As to which you need only mention
the Numbers without the Titles, since I have a Catalogue by
me. When the Auction is Ended, I shall take the Liberty of
giving you farther Directions about Packing up the Books, &
the way I would have them sent down. When I drew up my List,
I had not observed one of the Conditions of Sale, which
imports that no Person is to advance less than a shilling
after twenty shillings is bid for any book. Now you will
find a pretty many Books which I have valued at more than
twenty shillings marked at an Odd Sixpence; in all which
Cases, I would have the Bidder add Sixpence more to the
Price I have fixed, in order to make it Even Money, &
conformable to the Conditions of the Auction. And now, Dear
Sir, another Person would make a thousand Apologies for
giving you all this trouble; all which superfluous
tediousness I shall spare you, being persuaded I shall do
you a great pleasure in giving you an Opportunity of being
serviceable to me, as I am sure it would be a very sensible
one to me, if I ever had it in my power to be of any use to
you. Mine and my Wive's humble respects wait upon Mrs. Mann,
and you will be so good to present my hearty services to all
our Friends.

I am most sincerely,

Dear Sir,

Your Faithful & Affectionate
humble Servt.

Benj Heath]

£ _s._ _d._

Octavo 5 Pet. Angeli Bargæi Poemata 0 5 6
40 Hieron. Fracastorij Poemata 0 7 6
47 or 455, or 1546, Joan. Leonis
Africæ Desc. 0 3 6
68 Christ. Longolij Orationes et
Epistolæ 0 6 6
78 Pierij Valeriani Hexametri 0 4 6
Quarto 46 Diogenes Laertius 1 12 6
Octavo 164 or 624, Scaligerana 0 2 6
201 or 1280, Car. Ogerij Iter
Danicum 0 3 0
Quarto 66 Plautus Taubmanni 0 11 6
Octavo 282 Hen. Lornenij Itinerarium 0 3 0
Quarto 132 Marcus Antonius de Dominis 0 2 6
143 Hen. Stephani Dialogus 0 4 6
157 Ausonii Opera 0 9 6
178 Anacreon and Sappho 0 8 6
180 Excerpta ex Polybio 0 8 6
181 Sophocles and Eschylus 1 2 6
------------
Carried Forward £6 16 0

£ _s._ _d._

Brought Forward 6 16 0

Octavo 405 or 2413, or 2953, Historia Gothorum 0 6 6
435 or 1488, or 1688, Lucretius Gifanij 0 5 6
436 Is Casaubon de Satyrica Poesi 0 3 6
Quarto 198 or 344, Iamblicus de Vita Pythag. 0 11 6
275 Aulus Gellius Gronovij 0 18 6
280 Statij quæ Extant Barthij 0 18 6
Octavo 700 or 1093, Martial Scriverij 0 6 6
Quarto 302 Juvenal Henninij 0 18 6
314 Manilij Astronomicon 0 11 6
316 Poetriarum Octo 0 6 6
Folio 170 Fam. Strada da Bello Belgico 1 13 6
Octavo 739 Virgilius Illustratus 0 3 6
752 Paulli Manutij Epistolæ 0 3 0
Folio 206 or 235, or 590, Io. Leunclavij
Annales 1 2 6
Octavo 989 Senecæ Tragediæ Scriverij 0 4 6
9191 1088 Pontani Opera 0 8 6
Folio 264 Demosthenis et Æschinis Opera 2 17 6
301 Thucydides Wasse 2 9 6
306 Platonis Opera 4 5 6
308 Herodoti Historia 1 7 6
Quarto 503 Pauli Collomesij Opera 0 9 0
543 566 Bern. Pensini Vita Baronij 0 3 0
Octavo 1239 or 2831, Poesis Philosophica 0 3 6
Folio 270 Philostrati Opera 1 7 6
376 Historiæ Romanæ Scriptores 1 11 6
386 Plutarchi Opera 5 7 6
Octavo 1519 Caninij Hellenismus 0 2 6
1608 or 2705, Virgilius Hiensij 0 3 6
Folio 426 Geo. Buchanani Opera 1 11 6
443 Plautus Lambini 0 13 6
448 Horatius Turnebi et Lambini 0 18 6
Octavo 1650 Dom. Baudij Amores 0 3 0
Folio 476 Æschyli Tragediæ 0 16 6
Octavo 1814 Lud. Kusterus de vero Usu, &c. 0 3 6
Quarto 871 Gab. Faerni Fabulæ Centum 0 6 6
Folio 477 Luciani Opera 1 7 6
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Carried Forward £42 7 0

£ _s._ _d._

Brought Forward 42 7 0

479 Dionis Cassij Historia 1 12 6
485 Diodorus Siculus 2 18 6
490 Appiani Historia 0 11 6
491 Palladius de Gentibus Indiæ 0 5 6
498 Isocratij Orationes 1 3 6
Quarto 908 Papin. Statij Opera 0 9 6
921 Claudian Cum Animad. Barthij 0 11 6
Folio 529 Maffæi Historia Indica 0 8 6
509 546 Saxonis Grammatici Historia 0 17 6
Octavo 2101 Huntingtoni Epistolæ 0 3 6
Quarto 1018 And. Nangerij Opera 0 9 6
1023 Tho. Hyde Historia Relig. Vett.
Pers. 0 18 6
1047 Claud. Salmasij Epistolæ 0 3 6
1088 Theocriti Moschi Bionis 0 16 6
1089 Hesiodus Græce 0 18 6
Folio 627 Rerum Moscoviticarum Coment. 0 11 6
638 Angeli Politiani Opera 0 18 6
Octavo 2354 Ausonius 0 7 6
2362 Mythographi Latini 0 6 6
Quarto 1139 Aristotelis Opera 3 4 6
Octavo 2481 Fabricij Bibliotheca Latina 0 11 6
Quarto 1192 Sannazarij Poemata 0 11 6
Octavo 2526 Meursij Elegantiæ 0 5 6
2559 Statij Opera 0 4 6
2578 Is Casauboni Comment. 0 3 0
2597 Maximi Tyrij Dissertationes 0 4 0
Folio 698 Nic. Antonij Bibliotheca Hispan. 2 4 6
Octavo 2712 Ovidij Opera 0 15 6
Folio 765 Nic. Antonij Bibliotheca Hisp. Vetus 1 7 6
Octavo 2891 Pet. Dan. Huetij Comentarius 0 2 6
3098 Sir John Suckling's Plays, &c. 0 3 6
3099 Dr. Downe's Poems 0 4 0
Quarto 1498 Lord's Discovery of the Banian
Religion 0 5 6
Folio 857 or 896, Burnet's Theory of ye Earth 0 9 6
Octavo 3364 Milton's Poems 0 2 0
3374 King's British Merchant 0 12 6
-------------
Carried Forward £68 11 0

£ _s._ _d._

Brought Forward 68 11 0

3379 Milton's Paradise Regained 0 2 6
Folio 912 Wheeler's Journey into Greece 0 13 0
Octavo 3463 or 3473, Grevil's Life Of Sir
P. Sidney 0 3 0
3466 Jobson Debes's Description of Feroe 0 2 0
3529 Terry's Voyage to the East Indies 0 3 6
Quarto 1672 Description de l'Egypte 0 13 6
1692 Apologie de M. Castar 0 4 0
1694 Replique de M. Girac 0 3 6
Octavo 3538 Geddes's History of the Church, &c. 0 3 0
3600 Songs by the Earl Of Surrey 0 3 6
3741 or 4112, Oeuvres de Sarasin 0 4 0
3854 or 3859, Scaligerana 0 2 6
Quarto 1873 Viaggi di Pietro della Valli 1 5 0
1875 Opera di Annibale Caro 0 8 0
1876 Orlando Inamorato 0 12 6
1879 or 2070, Pastor Fido 0 12 6
1884 or 1977, Morgante Maggiore 0 9 0
1920 or 1965, La Gerusalemme Liberata 1 2 6
1928 Il Verato 0 3 6
1953 Orlando Inamorato 0 9 6
1957 Historia della Guerre Civili 0 17 6
1967 Scritti nella Causa Veniziana 0 4 6
1980 Historia della Sacra Inquisitione 0 5 6
1983 Examinatione sopra la Rhetorica 0 5 6
1990 or 2037, Istoria Diplomatica 0 11 6
1995 Fasti Consolari di Salvini 0 9 6
1998 Satire del Menzini 0 7 6
Folio 1109 Bibliotheca Napolitana di Toppi 1 1 6
1123 Orlando Furioso 1 2 6
Quarto 2005 or 2039, Dialoghi del Speroni 0 7 6
2015 Poetica di Aristotele Volgarizzata 0 6 6
2024 Poetica di Aristotele di Piccolomini 0 4 6
2031 Della Difesa della Comedia di Dante 0 13 0
2033 Squittinio della Liberta Veneta 0 5 6
2049 Il Goffredo col. Comento di Beni 0 9 6
2050 Dante di Daniello 0 9 6
-------------
Carried Forward £84 13 0

£ _s._ _d._

Brought Forward 84 13 0

Folio 1129 Historia del Regno di Napoli 0 14 6
1132 Historia del Consilio Tridentino 2 13 6
1137 Vocabularia della Crusca 8 4 6
Octavo 4268 Voyage de Bachanmont, &c. 0 2 6
4295 or 4330, or 4339, or 4511,
Ragionamenti del Aretino 0 11 6
4305 Prose Fiorentine 0 3 6
4309 Lettre Volgari 0 3 6
4321 Gravina della Ragione Poetica 0 5 6
4322 Battaglie di Mugio 0 3 6
4331 or 4527, La Comedia di Dante 0 11 6
Quarto 2053 Degli Raguagli di Parnaso 0 8 6
2067 Il Decameron di Boccaccio 2 5 6
2076 or 2168, Lezioni di Varchi 0 8 6
2098 L'Amadigi di Tasso 0 8 6
Folio 1154 L'Adone del Marino 0 11 6
1154 Il Libro del Cortegiano 0 13 6
1162 Istoria del Concilio di Trento 2 4 6
1164 La Historia di Italia di
Guicciardini 0 17 6
Octavo 4354 Rime Diverse del Mutio 0 4 6
4363 L'Amorosa Fiametta 0 4 6
4371 Compendio del Historie di Nap. 0 5 6
4379 Opere di Guilio Cammillo 0 4 6
4384 L'Aminta di Tasso 0 6 6
4385 L'Opere Poetiche di Guarin 0 5 6
4387 Comedie di M. Agnolo Firenz. 0 5 6
4415 Notize de Libri Rari 0 4 6
4416 Satire e Rime di Aristo 0 5 6
4417 Delle Eloquenza Italiana 0 6 6
4423 Comedie Varie 0 3 6
4438 Labarinto d'Amore di Boccac. 0 4 6
4443 Opere di Redi 1 1 0
Quarto 2100 Lettere di Vincenzio Martelli 0 8 6
2103 or 2154, Ameto di Boccaccio 0 4 6
2104 or 2161, Le Rime di Petrarca 0 8 6
2114 Ragionamento dell' Academico 0 8 6
--------------
Carried Forward £111 17 0

£ _s._ _d._

Brought Forward 111 17 0

2124 Poesie Liriche del Testi 0 8 6
Octavo 4452 Il Petrarca 0 11 6
4456 or 4550, Lettre di Paolo Sarpi 0 3 6
4460 Opere Burleschi di Berni 0 6 6
4464 or 4485, Prose di M. Agnolo
Firenz. 0 3 6
4471 Commento di Ser Agresto 0 3 6
4475 L'Aminta di Tasso 0 6 6
4483 La Secchia Rapita 0 5 6
4486 or 4627, Comedie di Aretino 0 5 6
4496 Trattato delle Materie Benef. 0 4 6
4531 Il 2do Libro delle Opere
Burlesch. 0 6 6
Quarto 2149 Annotationi e Discorsi 0 16 6
2159 Gyrone il Cortese 0 9 6
2164 Il Decamerone di Boccaccio 0 14 6
2169 Historia della Cose passate 0 5 6
2171 Apologia degli Academia 0 9 6
2176 Della Guerra di Fiandra 2 2 6
2178 Rime e Prose di Maffei 0 13 6
2182 Discorsi Poetichi 0 5 6
Octavo 4561 La Libreria del Doni 0 4 6
4591 La Cassaria 0 2 6
4592 Teatro Italiano 1 1 6
4614 La Divina Comedia di Dante 1 1 6
4615 La Rime di Angelo di Cestanzo 0 7 6
4625 Tutte le Opere di Bernia 0 6 6
--------------
£124 3 6
--------------]

* * * * *

Lysander concluded; when Lorenzo rose from his seat, and begged of us to walk round his grounds. It was now high noon; and, after a pleasant stroll, we retreated again to THE ALCOVE, where we found a cold collation prepared for our reception. The same day we all dined at Lisardo's; and a discussion upon the pleasures and comparative excellences of _Music_ and _Painting_ succeeded to the conversation which the foregoing pages have detailed. A small concert in the evening recreated the exhausted state of Lysander's mimd [Transcriber's Note: mind].

The next day, my friends left me for their respective places of destination. Lorenzo and his sisters were gathered round my outer gate; and Lisardo leapt into the chaise with Lysander and Philemon; resolved to equal, if not eclipse, his bibliographical tutor in the ardour of book researches. "Adieu," said Lysander, putting his hand out of the chaise--"remember, in defence of my bibliomaniacal gossipping, that SIMILIS never knew happiness _till he became acquainted with_ BOOKS."[471] The postillion smacked his whip; and the chaise, following the direction of the road to the left, quickly disappeared. The servant of Lysander followed gently after, with his Master's and Philemon's horses: taking a near direction towards Lysander's home.

[Footnote 471: 'It is reported that a certain man, of the
name of SIMILIS, who fought under the Emperor Hadrian,
became so wearied and disgusted with the number of
troublesome events which he met with in that mode of life,
that he retired and devoted himself wholly to leisure and
_reading_, and to meditations upon divine and human affairs,
after the manner of Pythagoras. In this retirement, Similis
was wont frequently to exclaim that '_now_ he began to
_live_:' at his death, he desired the following inscription
to be placed upon his tomb.

[Greek: SIMILIS
EN TAUTHA KEITAI
BIOUE MEN ETÊ EBDOMÊKONTA
ZÊSAS DE ETÊ EPTA]

_Here lies Similis;
In the seventieth year of his age
But only the seventh of his Life._

This story is related by Dion Cassius; and from him told by
Spizelius in his _Infelix Literarius_; p. 167.]

Lorenzo and his sisters returned with me to the Cabinet. A gloom was visible upon all our countenances; and the Ladies confessed that the company and conversation of my departed guests, especially of Lysander, were such as to leave a void which could not easily be supplied. For my part, from some little warmth each sister betrayed in balancing the solid instruction of Lysander and the humorous vivacity of Lisardo, against each other, I thought the former had made a powerful impression upon the mind of Belinda, and the latter upon that of Almansa: for when the probability of a speedy revisit from both of them was mentioned the sisters betrayed unusual marks of sensibility; and upon Lorenzo's frankly confessing, though in a playful mood, that such brothers-in-law would make him "as happy as the day was long"--they both turned their faces towards the garden, and appeared as awkward as it was possible for well-bred ladies to appear.

It was in vain that I turned to my library and opened a large paper, illustrated, copy of Daulby's _Catalogue of Rembrandt's Prints_, or Mr. Miller's new edition of the _Memoirs of Count Grammont_, or even the _Roman de la Rose_, printed by Galliot du Pré, UPON VELLUM.... Nothing produced a kind look or a gracious word from them. Silence, sorrow, and indifference, succeeded to loquacity, joy, and enthusiasm. I clearly perceived that some _other_ symptom, wholly different from any thing connected with the Bibliomania, had taken possession of their gentle minds.

But what has a BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ROMANCE to do with _Love_ and _Marriage_? Reader Adieu!--When thou hast nothing better deserving of perusal before thee, take up these pages; and class the author of them, if thou wilt, with the BOSTONS, or SMITHS, or NORTHS, of "other times;" with those who have never wished to disturb the peaceful haunts of intellectual retirement; and whose estate, moreover, like Joseph Scaliger's, lies chiefly under his hat.

* * * * *

p. 57. To the list of useful bibliographical works, published about the period here designated, I might have added the _Lexicon Literarium_ of THEOPHILUS GEORGIUS; _cum Suppl. ad an._ 1750. _Leips._ 1742-50, folio; two thick and closely printed volumes, with an excellent chronological arrangement. It is not common in this country.

p. 69. The Abbé Rive was also the author of--1. _Notice d'un Roman d'Artus Comte de Bretagne_: Paris, 1779, 4to. _pp._ 20. 2. _Etrennes aux Joueurs de cartes, ou Eclaircissemens historiques et critiques sur l'invention des cartes à jouer; Paris_, 1780, 12mo. _pp._ 43. These works are slightly commended in the "Advertissement" to the Vallière Catalogue, 1783, pp. xxv-vj. They are reviewed by a rival author.

p. 216. Since writing the first note, concerning the "_Assertio Septem Sacramentorum_," &c., I have seen a magnificent copy of the same, printed UPON VELLUM, in the library of Earl Spencer; which redeems the coldness of my opinion in regard to books printed by Pynson upon vellum. The painted ornaments, in Lord Spencer's copy, were, in all probability, executed abroad. The art, in our own country, was then too rude for such elegance of decoration.

p. 404. I was right in my prediction about these _Garlands_ being swallowed up by some "hungry book-fish!" I saw them, a few days after, in the well-furnished library of ATTICUS: who exhibited them to me in triumph--grasping the whole of them between his finger and thumb! They are marvellous well-looking little volumes--clean, bright, and "rejoicing to the eye!"--many of them, moreover, are first editions! The severest winter cannot tarnish the foliage of such "Garlands!"

p. 328. Among the ILLUSTRATED GRANGERS I forgot to notice the ample and magnificent copies belonging to the Marquis of Bute and Mr. John Towneley.

SUPPLEMENT.

THE SUPPLEMENT.