DIBDIN'S LIBRARY COMPANION.
A few days since the writer was musing over the treasures of one of the most amiable of the bibliographical brotherhood, when his eye rested on a document endorsed with the following mysterious notification: "A Squib for Dibdin, to be let off on the next Fifth of November." What in the name of Guido Fawkes have we here! Thinking that the explosion in "Notes and Queries" would do no harm, but perhaps some good, a note was kindly permitted to be taken of it for that publication. It was evidently written soon after the appearance of the Library Companion.
"Sundry Errors discovered in the Library Companion, recently put forth by the Rev. T. F. Dibdin, F.R.S., A.S. This work exhibits the most extraordinary instance of gross negligence that has appeared since the discovery of the profitable art of book-making. In two notes (pp. 37, 38.), comprised in twelve lines, occur fifteen remarkable blunders, such as any intelligent bookseller could, without much trouble, have corrected for the Rev. and learned author.
"Henry's Exposition of the Old and New Testaments first appeared collectively in 1710[[2]], five[[3]] vols. folio; but the recent edition of 1810[[4]], in six vols. 4to., is the best[[5]], as the last volume contains[[6]] additional matter from the author's MSS. left at his decease.—Dr. Gill's Exposition of the New Testament was published in 1746, &c., three vols. folio; of the Old, in 1748[[7]], &c., nine[[8]] vols. folio; but the work advancing in reputation and price, became rare, so as to induce Mr. Bagster[[9]] to put forth a new edition of the whole, in ten[[10]] vols. 4to. I recommend the annotations of Gill to every theological collector, and those who have the quarto edition will probably feel disposed to purchase Gill's Body of Practical[[11]] Divinity, containing[[12]] some account of his life, writings, and character, in two[[13]] volumes 4to. 1773.[[14]] These two[[15]] volumes are worth about 1l. 15s.[[16]]"
Footnote 2:[(return)]
Instead of 1710, read 1707.
This edition is in six volumes.
It bears the date of 1811.
The best edition of Henry's Commentary was elegantly printed by Knapton, in 5 vols. folio, 1761, known as the fifth edition.
This new edition is respectable, except the plates, which had been well worn in Bowyer's Cabinet Bible. The Commentary is printed verbatim from the former editions, and has no additional matter from the author's MSS. left at his decease; no mention of anything of the kind is made in the title, preface, or advertisement, until Mr. Dibdin so marvellously brought it to light: upon what authority he makes the assertion remains a mystery. A very considerable number of sets remain unsold in the warehouse of a certain great bookseller. Query. Was the Rev. gentleman's pen dipped in gold when he wrote this puff direct?
Not 1748, &c.: it first appeared in 1763, &c.
Nine volumes folio should be six volumes folio.
It was not Mr. Bagster, but Messrs. Mathews and Leigh of the Strand, who put forth the new edition of Dr. Gill's Exposition.
It was completed in nine vols. 4to.
The title is A Body of Doctrinal Divinity.
Dr. Gill's Body of Divinity was published by himself, and has no account of his life, writings, and character.
It was in three vols. 4to, not in two.
Instead of 1773, it was published in 1769-70; nor did any new edition appear for many years, until those recently printed in 3 vols. 8vo., and 1 vol. 4to.
These two vols. should be three vols.
Dr. Gill's Body of Divinity is introduced under the head of "English Bibles!"
"These glaring errors are made with regard to
modern books, and may seriously mislead the bibliomaniacs of the next generation; but what can be expected from an author who, in giving directions for the selection of Hebrew Bibles, forgets the beautiful and correct editions of Vanderhooght and Jablonski; who tells us that Frey republished Jahn's[[17]] edition of the Hebrew Bible in 1812; and who calls Boothroyd's incorrect and ugly double-columned 4to. 'admirable.'[[18]]
"The Rev. gentleman fully proves, in the compilation of his volume, that he can dip his pen in gall, as well as allow it to be guided by gold. Dr. Warton's History of English Poetry, a very beautiful and correct edition, greatly enlarged from most interesting materials at a very considerable expense, has just issued from the press in 3 vols. 8vo. But 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?' It was not published by any of the favoured houses; hence the following ominous notice of it: 'Clouds and darkness rest upon it!'[[19]] Gentle reader, they are the clouds and darkness of Cheapside. It may be possible that some propitious golden breeze had driven all the clouds and darkness from Cornhill, Paternoster Row, the Strand, Pall-Mall, and Bedford Street."
J. Y.
Hoxton.
Footnote 17:[(return)]
Frey republished Vanderhooght's Hebrew Bible in 1811.
Note on page 24.
Note on page 667.