The British Bibliographer

more effectual impulse to the search and revival of these treasures could not have been given! Some selfish Collector, who wished for his own private ends to obtain the articles he wanted without rivalry, may declaim at the folly and extravagance of that sale. But hence the attention will be drawn to many a rare gem, which, while it was cheap, would have called forth no interest. I care not, if it be only whim and fashion that direct these things: the whim and fashion are directed to very good ends.

How can a young nobleman of illustrious rank, and princely fortune, begin life more innocently, more gene. rously, nay more virtuously, than by entering into these rivalries? And in whose hands is there a probability that these treasures will be more safe or more accessible?

As to Bibliography, it is so idle to suppose that the books of the present day only are wanting, and that all are in use which are worthy of being used, that most liberal inquirers, however book-learned, will be astonished and shocked on looking into any copious and learned catalogues of the last and precedent centuries, more especially the foreign, to observe how much has been done in the most laborious and profound manner, of which they had not even a conception! *

Whatever may be said, Bibliography, so far from being exhausted, is still in a very infant state with us. Much remains to be known of the early printed books; and even the Caxtons have not yet been perfectly investigated. Though Ritson had such confidence in his own researches, that he boldly pronounced the mention of a work, of which he himself could not otherwise ascertain the existence, to be a

* Take for instance Bibliotheca Heinsiana, Lugd. Bat. 1682, 12mo.

forgery;

forgery; yet time has since produced several of which he had never even heard.

It is among the advantages of the progression of such a work as this, that

vires acquirit eundo.

It gradually unlocks the collections, and draws forth the assistance, of those who have been engaged in similar pursuits. How important, nay how necessary such assistance is, scarce any one will be so confident in his own strength as to deny ! Conference and comparison are peculiarly requisite in these inquiries: and the result of much casual information, which would otherwise have perished with the occasion, is thus preserved and embodied!

Whether from the oblivion into which they had formerly fallen, or the very high prices which they have now attained, black-letter books have for perhaps a century been little accessible to the generality of the literati! But that a large portion of them are worthy of attention, and that of many the perusal is positively necessary to the investigations which occupy the various labours of the learned, I shall scorn to endeavour to prove; but take as an admitted truth.

Hence then the obvious use of the contents of the BIBLIOGRAPHER Will follow! Setting aside the mere selfish Collector whose whole view is the possession of an exclusive treasure, all who seek books for their legitimate purposes must be sensible of essential aid from these notices and abstracts, when the originals are not to be procured : while the entire reprints of The Paradise of Dainty Devices and The England's Helicon add most valuable desiderata to their poetical libraries.

Of how much remains to be done every day's experience

continues

continues to enlarge the proof; and so far are the Editors from having exhausted their materials, that they are rather distracted by abundance. Were they inclined to boast, they would boast of the proud aid they have derived from Oxford, the illustrious scene of the studies of Thomas Warton; where the stores of the Bodleian and the Ashmole remain yet rich in the promise of plentiful harvests.

Does the Reader require more? Does he ask any further excitement to these investigations? Will he listen to some superficial, idle, and pert exclaimer, that these are but "dull "and obsolete antiquarian scraps not worth the print and

paper they consume!" Let him rather persevere, and every day will open some interest to him, which at first escaped his attention. His ideas will expand; he will not think all wisdom, all learning, and all eloquence centered in his cotemporaries; Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton; More, and Hooker, and Bacon, will have new charms for him; and he will see before him matters of inexhaustible investigation, and themes for works which ages cannot fill up!

Books