NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.
What the Laureate of the day, inspired by the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, sang in 1748,—
"Th' Almighty hand, which first her shores secured
With rolling oceans, and with rocks immured,
Which spread her plains, and bade her flocks increase,
Designed Britannia for the Land of Peace;
Where Commerce only should exert her sway,
And musing Science trim th' unfading bay"—
was in 1851 recognised by the whole civilised world, not as a poetical fiction, but as a practical, we had almost said a political, truth. Hence the Crystal Palace, that glorious Temple of Concord, which those potent genii Fox and Henderson, at the bidding of the arch-magician Paxton, raised before our eyes, to put to shame the visionary glories of the Arabian Nights;—and hence the avidity with which, like ministering sprites, all the great manufacturers and producers, artists and artizans, vied with each other in assembling beneath its fairy dome the masterpieces of their respective skill, ingenuity, and science. Hence, too, the unfading interest with which, day after day, from May until October, did thousands upon thousands press forward to gaze upon a scene unparalleled in the world's history, whether for costliness of display or moral grandeur.
Of such an event—of such a scene, which it was acknowledged fairly represented the productive genius of the whole world, all may well desire to preserve some remembrance; and whatever may be the fate of the Crystal Palace, the great gathering of the nations which assembled under its roof has found an imperishable monument in the three handsome octavo volumes which form The Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition, 1851. In this great and useful record—the raw materials for which were furnished by no fewer than fifteen thousand authors—we have not only an account of every article exhibited, accompanied in many instances by valuable notes from the ablest scientific pens, pointing out the leading features of interest in the objects described—which annotations again are rendered still more valuable by the twelve hundred woodcut illustrations which are scattered through these pages,—but we have also Mr. Cole's valuable Historical Introduction, illustrating the Rise of the Exhibition, its Progress and Completion; Mr. Digby Wyatt's able account of the Construction of the Building and of the mechanical applications employed; and Mr. Ellis' interesting description of the Revision and Preparation of the Catalogue; when we add that it contains, moreover, all sorts of Indices and Lists for facilitating references—our readers will, we think, agree with us that this most complete, instructive, and extraordinary Catalogue may fairly be regarded as An Encyclopædia of the Industry of all Nations in 1851, and as such should find a place not only in every factory and workshop, but in every study and educational establishment within the realm. To meet the requirements of those who cannot purchase the Illustrated Catalogue, Messrs. Spicer have issued a corrected and improved edition of the Official Catalogue, with Alphabetical Indices of Names and Subjects, and British and Foreign Priced Lists: while to enable the non-scientific reader to understand, and to furnish the scientific reader with the results, or, as we might term it, a summing-up of the details to be found in the works already described, they commissioned Mr. Robert Hunt to prepare a Handbook to the Official Catalogues; an Explanatory Guide to the Natural Productions and Manufactures of the Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, 1851; and that gentleman has so ably executed his task, that, though some who may only wish for general views and impressions may content themselves with his Handbook, the majority of the purchasers of the larger Catalogues must secure Mr. Hunt's interesting volume as an indispensable companion to them.
When we read the announcement that Mr. Planché was about to publish The Pursuivant of Arms; or Heraldry founded upon Facts, we looked for a work in which good common sense and sound antiquarian knowledge would be found applied to an important branch of historical learning, which has been too often followed by men whose disregard of the former, and want of the latter gift, have done much to justify Voltaire's biting sarcasm upon heraldry. Nor have we been disappointed. The work is one of facts rather than of inferences; and although the accomplished gentleman now at the head of the College of Arms, to whom, "as an able antiquary and worthy man," the work is most appropriately dedicated, may probably dissent from some of Mr. Planché's views, he will, we are sure, admit that they are cautiously advanced, and maintained with learning and ability; and that the Pursuivant of Arms, with its numerous woodcut illustrations drawn from old seals, monuments, &c., is a valuable contribution towards a more perfect knowledge of heraldic antiquities.
Few books of travels in the East have excited greater attention, on their first appearance, or maintained their popularity for a longer period, than the lively volume entitled Eothen. In selecting it, therefore, for the Eleventh and Twelfth Parts of The Traveller's Library, Messrs. Longman have shown their determination to maintain the interest of that excellent series of cheap books.
CATALOGUES RECEIVED.—C. Skeet's (21. King William Street, Strand) Catalogue No. 3. of Old and New Books; W. Lumley's (56. Chancery Lane) Bibliographical Advertiser No. 9., Ninth Series; E. Stibbs's (331. Strand) Select Catalogue of a Collection of Books; W. S. Lincoln's (Cheltenham House, Westminster Road) Seventy-fifth Catalogue of English, Foreign, Classical and Miscellaneous Cheap Second-hand Books; and Supplementary Catalogue of Italian Books.
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.
MITFORD'S HISTORY OF GREECE. Vol. VI. Cadell, 1822. 8vo.
WILLIS'S ARCHITECTURE OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 15s. will be given for a copy.
FLUDD (ROBERT, M.D.) alias DE FLUCTIBUS, called the Searcher. Any of his works.
BEHMEN'S (JACOB) GENESIS.
LAW'S APPEAL, &c.
LAW'S APPEAL CASE OF REASON.
HUNTER'S DEANERY OF DONCASTER. Vol. I. Large or small paper.
CLARE'S RURAL MUSE.
CHRISTIAN PIETY FREED FROM THE DELUSIONS OF MODERN ENTHUSIASTS. A.D. 1756 or 1757.
AN ANSWER TO FATHER HUDDLESTONE'S SHORT AND PLAIN WAY TO THE FAITH AND CHURCH. By Samuel Grascombe. London, 1703. 8vo.
REASONS FOR ABROGATING THE TEST IMPOSED UPON ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. by Samuel Parker, Lord Bishop of Oxon. 1688. 4to.
LEWIS'S LIFE OF CAXTON. 8vo. 1737.
CATALOGUE OF JOSEPH AMES'S LIBRARY. 8vo. 1760.
TRAPP'S COMMENTARY. Folio. Vol. I.
WHITLAY'S PARAPHRASE ON THE NEW TESTAMENT. Folio. Vol. I. 1706.
LONG'S ASTRONOMY. 4to. 1742.
ADAMS' MORAL TALES.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF DR. JOHNSON. 1805.
*** . Letters, stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to MR. BELL, Publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.