It now remains only to exhibit the "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 sinall 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 barnt 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 lure of past times, is both a pleasing and profitable pursuit. To see how Shakspeare, bere and there, has plucked a flower from some old ballad or popular

"probable means of cure."

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 antient 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. 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

antient

6

antient Chroniclers; and the collections known by the names of The Harleian Miscellany and Lord Somers's Tracts,' and The Voyages of Hakluyt.' These are noble efforts, and richly deserve the public patronage."

To the Republications here noticed may now be added, "Fuller's Worthies;" and among "the last new Editions of our standard belles lettres works," might have been added "Swift, by J. Nichols, 1906, 19 vols.” The blank after Churchill's name may be filled with "W. Tooke."

And now we bid a cordial Adieu to this Prince of Bibliomaniacal Writers; hoping speedily to meet him again in the tented field, armed at all points, to discuss the second" Battle of the Books" in St. James's Square. Our opinion of the Volume he has already published has been sufficiently testified by the copious extracts we have taken from it, and the occasional remarks we have en passant made on them.-Vivat Bibliomania!

16. Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century; comprizing Biographical Memoirs of William Bowyer, Printer, F. S. A. and many of his Learned Friends; an incidental View of the Progress and Advancement of Literature in this Kingdom during the Last Century; and Biographical Anecdotes of a considerable Number of eminent Writers and ingenious Artists; with a very copious Index. By John Nichols, F. S. A. In Six Volumes. London: printed for the Author, by Nichols, Son, and Bentley; pp. 4400.

IT might, perhaps, not be strictly proper to enter largely on the merits or the defects of these Volumes; but it would be still more improper to pass them by in total silence.

Of the former Edition, some account was given in our Vol. LIJ. pp. 348,582; and we now congratulate our industrious Colleague, on having brought to a conclusion this new and improved Edition of the Memoirs of his Friend and early Patron; a work, which private feeling in the first place, and a laudable desire to make so considerable an addition to the mass of English Literature in the next, had made to him an object of great expectation and anxiety; and we doubt not but he will receive the due reward of his labour and expence.

In the Author's Preface, which we shall transcribe, he has forestalled, it

is hoped, any reasonable objection that could be offered; and we trust that public approbation will attend on his endeavours.

During an interval of Thirty Years, amidst the cares and anxieties attendant on an unremitted application to a great variety of professional duties, it has been one of my amusements to revise occasionally the former Edition of these "Anecdotes;" and to avail myself of the several hints for improving it, which the kindness of my friends, or the criticism of various writers who have honoured it with their notice, have from time to time thrown out. My stock of intelligence having thus imperceptibly increased, I have ventured on a new Edition; but. had an inclination, in the year 1790, to was diverted from that intention by the accumulated toil of a County History, which demanded no small portion of the

time I was able to allot to the amusements of Literature. Still, however, having persevered in filling the margins of my interleaved copy, and in reducing the chaotic form of my original volume 'to somewhat of a more regular consistence, in May 1802 I once more began to print; and, by slow degrees, had got through nearly half the Work, when my progress was suddenly retarded, by a calamity which had well nigh disheartened me from again resuming the task either of Editor or Printer. But, on a serious conviction that despair was equally useless and criminal, I determined to begin my labour anew; the fruits of which, such as they are, after being four years longer in the press, are again submitted to the publick. To use the words of a learned Critic, The fire which destroyed the first part of the impression has given an opportunity of increasing the materials, and of improving the Work: thus it may be truly said, that

'incendia lumen

Eillo!' Præbebant, aliquisque malo fuit usus in

66

Many imperfections, I am sensible, may be discovered in these volumes, by those who open a book to search only for its faults; but from the very favourable reception which the first Edition experienced, not only from the partiality of Friends, but from the Editors of every periodical publication without exception; I cannot but confidently hope for that indulgence which the peculiar nature of the Work induces me to expect. Unremittingly employed in ushering into the world the works of others, my own have been laid aside, and resumed, again and again, to suit the convenience of Authors anxious for dispatch. Hence

delay

delay has unavoidably arisen; and hence I have still, as in the former Edition, to apologize for anachronism; the Fourth and Fifth Volumes, having been printed earlier than the Second and Third. In winding up the volumes, additions have been largely made to each of them; but I would rather incur the chance of being censured for being too minute, than suffer errors to remain which I had myself detected. The Additions, I hope, will more than atone for the Errors; and a reference to the Index will settle any apparent inconsistency... I have not attempted elegance of style. The communications of Correspondents being in general given in their own language, uniformity in that respect was impracticable: nor was it needful; clearness and conciseness being much more material than ornament.-In two or three instances, I am aware that a small article has been repeated; not, the Reader may be assured, for the purpose of swelling the size, as materials in plenty were at hand; but, in a work so miscellaneous and so extended-arranged amidst the thousand distractions of business, the interruptions of illness, and sometimes of an occasional excursion in the country-a lapse of memory, at sixty-seven, it is hoped, will be forgiven. In several eases, I have made the amende honoraWe and punished myself by the additional labour and expence of canceling the leaves, and substituting new articles in their stead.--May I shelter myself under the same excuse for the insertion of a few passages, which in a young man would be imputed to egotism or vanity?

"If, in any of these pages, I may appear to have borrowed largely from others, let it be recollected that others have borrowed largely from me; and that I frequently am only reclaiming my own. "One of the most melancholy retrospects I have to notice is, the loss of numberless Friends, who were literary contributors to the former Edition, and by whom the present volumes have been considerably benefited. Among these, the most prominent are, Dr. Johnson, Mr. Steevens, Mr. Cole, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Reed, and, above all, my steady and indefatigable coadjutor Mr. Gough, who many years ago, speaking of a collection of Original Letters which I had communicated to him, says, I shall stick as many of them as relate to Mr. Bowyer into his Anecdotes.' I most heartily wish you had the inclination to print a second edition, while you have opportunity to improve them by living information. I shall bequeath to you my

interleaved copy-if you do not call for it sooner, and enlarge it with a second volume, to be intituled Anecdotes of J. N. and give the world two volumes of utile dulci.'-Mr. Gough closed his communications with the specific bequest which he had promised, enriched by his own notes, and filled with the epistolary correspondence of many eminent persons, selected for the illustration of these Anecdotes.'-Previously to the entering seriously on the task of re-publication, I threw out the following request for as sistance, in the Gentleman's Magazine. [See the Letter in our vol. LXXII. p. 8.] "I had some thoughts of continuing the Work to a later period. But 1 hear the Cock's crow proclaiming the dawning day, being now come within the ken of many alive; and when men's memories do arise, it is time for History to haste to bed.'-To enumerate the names of Friends by whom I have been assisted in the present Volumes, would be an endless, though a pleasing task. Yet there, is one Gentleman to whom I am under so many and peculiar obligations, for intelligence which his matchless collection of scarce books, and his intimate knowledge of the treasures he possesses, have enabled him to communicate, that I could not content myself without inscribing the present Edition to my kindhearted and respectable Friend Mr. Bindley; who, in a green old age, happily retains his bibliomaniacal spirit, and is as ready to impart knowledge, as he is liberal in the purchase of literary curiosities. I must also particularly acknowledge the variety of information received, on frequent application, from Mr. Alexander Chalmers. By the Rev. William Baker, LL.B. Rector of Lyndon and of South Luffenham in the county of Rutland, I have been favoured with some very important additions to the article of his grandfather, Mr. Henry Baker, one of the earliest Members, and one of the most active in the Institution of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. Mr. Malone, the Rev. James Stanier Clarke, the Rev. Robert Watts, the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, Mr. Henry Ellis, Mr. J.H. Markland, Mr. D'Israeli, Mr. Stephen Jones, and a hundred other Gentlemen, will accept my general acknowledgments. I cannot, however, deny myself the satisfaction of publicly thanking my only Son, not merely for greatly facilitating the toil of correction, but for not unfrequently having prevented my falling into material mistakes. In addition to similar assistance from my Nephew, Mr. Samuel Bentley, it is to him that I

am

E

from the well-known talents of the Preacher; who, from Isaiah Iviì. 1. "The Righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart," after many excellent general observations, applies them more particularly to the muchlamented Statesman, whose loss a sympathizing Nation deplores; and, without attempting indiscriminate panegyric, confines himself to

"The points of character which raise a man above his fellows, and bring him nearest to the pattern of Christian perfection-Piety, Benevolence, and SelfControl, corresponding to the three • great divisions of duty, toGod, our neighbour, and ourselves."

made to

For the Piety and Benevolence of Mr. Perceval, an appeal is confidently an enlightened Audience, who were fully competent to appre ciate the merits of the deceased, and the oratory of the Eulogist.

"In the same unaffected and unassuming manner, was exercised that most difficult, perhaps, of all Christian attainments, Self-Control: that mastery over the turbulent and unruly affections of the mind, which forms another conspicuous feature in his character. Daily engaged in public business; perpetually called into conflict with keen and powerful opponents; ever at his post of duty; shrinking not from personal toil or personal obloquy; we yet find his very assailants acknowledging his candour, his gentleness, his never-failing equanimity, under every provocation."

One more sentence must suffice: "Nothing, in this instance, could equal the atrocity of the crime itself, but the subsequent conduct of the criminal; whom we find acknowledging the offence to be a direct violation of God's law, yet glorying in the deed; hardening himself against all attempts to awaken him to penitence or remorse; visited by no compunction of conscience; and challenging the justice of the Almighty, even of Him, who hath emphatically declared, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay."

18. The Substance of a Conversation with John Bellingham, the Assassin of the late Right Hon. Spencer Perceval, on Sunday, May 17, 1812, the Day previous to his Execution; together with some general Remarks. By Daniel Wilson, Minister of St. John's Chapel, Bedford-Row; and Vice-principal of St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford; pp. 60. Hatebard and Rivingtons.

A PIOUS and well-meant attempt to draw the attention of a wretched offender to a proper sense of the awful precipice on which he was standing; and we will charitably hope, notwithstanding the apparently callous conduct of Bellingham, that it made some impression on his flinty heart. We recommend this pamphlet, which is really a great curiosity.

19. An Elegy on the Death of the Right Honourable Spencer Perceval. By H. Hughes; 4to. pp. 12. Printed for. Burnham, Northampton.

"THOUGH abler Pens will probably do greater justice to the Memory of so great and good a man as Mr. Perceval, the Author is encouraged to publish this

little effusion, from the consideration that any tribute of respect comes with peculiar propriety from an Inhabitant of this Town [Northampton], which the lamented subject of these pages so long and so uprightly represented in Parliament."

who writes from the heart, and whose Thus speaks the modest Author Poetry is creditable to his feelings: "No succour I from fancy'd Muse require,

Lamented Perceval! thy praise to tell; No! let the voice of Truth alone inspire The mournful tribute you deserve so well: [views,

True sorrow speaks with no fictitious Claims no assistance from Apollo's beams, Asks no refreshment from Castalian dews,

Nor seeks repose by Heliconian streams. To Virtue's feelings Nature ever true, The pompous aid of ornament disdains; But when her sighs and tears are justly due, [strains."

Pours forth her grief in unaffected

20. A Few Verses, English and Latin.

Small 8vo. pp. 66. Cawthorne. IN a short Preface to this elegant little volume, the Editor, speaking of "his deceased Friend," says,

"They were not many whom he knew; and, from the bottom of my heart, I do not think any body, but myself, KNEW him. Not that he shunned society, or affected reserve; but there was about him a certain constitutional waywardness and irregularity, which distanced common sense as effectually as solitude or artifice could have done. From the time he was fifteen, the wise shook their heads, and declared that no good would ever come of him.' He died too early to verify their kind opinion, but perhaps he