Sit mihi, quod nunc est, etiam minus; ut mihi vivam
Quod superest ævi, si quid superesse volunt Dí.
Sit bona librorum et provisæ frugis in annum
Copia, ne fluitem dubiæ spe pendulus horæ.
Epist. Lib. i.: Epist. xviii. v., 107.

Sir M.M. Sykes, Bart., has a copy of the edition of 1784 [which is in every respect the better one], printed upon fine vellum paper. A similar copy of the edition of 1794 is noticed in the Cat. de Caillard,(1808) no. 2572. At the sale of M. Meon's books, in 1804, a copy of the first edition, charged with MS. notes of the celebrated Mercier St. Leger, was sold for 30 livres.——Rive. Catalogue de la Bibliothéque de l'Abbé Rive, par Archard, Marseille, 1793, 8vo. A catalogue of the books of so sharp-sighted a bibliographer as was the Abbé Rive cannot fail to be interesting to the collector.——Du Roi [Louis XV.] Catalogus Codicum Manuscriptorum Bibliothecæ Regiæ (studio et labore Anicetti Mellot). Paris, e Typog. Reg., 1739, folio, four vols.——Du Roi. Des Livres imprimés de la même Bibliothéque Royale. (Disposè par Messrs. les Abbés Sallier et Boudot, &c.) Paris, De L'Imprim. Royale, 1739-53, folio, six vols. The most beautiful and carefully executed catalogue in the world: reflecting a truly solid lustre upon the literary reputation of France! The first four volumes, written in Latin, comprehend an account of MSS.: the six last, written in French, of printed works in Theology, Jurisprudence, and Belles-Lettres; the departments of History and the Arts and Sciences still remaining to be executed. De Bure told us, half a century ago, that the "Gens de Lettres" were working hard at the completion of it; but the then complaints of bibliographers at its imperfect state are even yet continued in Fournier's last edition of his Dictionnaire Portatif de Bibliographie, p. 468. So easy it is to talk; so difficult to execute! I believe, however, that M. Van-Praet, one of the principal librarians, is now putting all engines to work to do away the further disgrace of such unaccountably protracted negligence. My copy of this magnificent set of books is bound in red Morocco, gilt leaves, and was a presentation one from the King "au Comte de Neny, comme une marque de son estime, 1770." I should add that the first volume of "Theology" contains a history of the rise and progress of the royal library, which was reprinted in 8vo., 1782.——Du Roi. Notices et Extraits des Manuscrits de la Bibliothéque du Roi, Paris. De l'Imprim. Roy. 1787, 4to., seven vols. It will be obvious to the candid reader that this work could not be better introduced than in the present place; and a most interesting and valuable one it is! My copy of it, which is only in six volumes [but a seventh is mentioned in Cat. de Boutourlin, no. 3845, and in Caillot's Roman Bibliographique, p. 195], was purchased by me of Mr. Evans of Pall-Mall, who had shewn it to several lovers of bibliography, but none of whom had courage or curiosity enough to become master of the volumes. How I have profited by them, the Supplement to my first volume of the "Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain," may in part shew. The public shall be made acquainted with still more curious excerpts. In my humble judgment the present work is a model of extraction of the marrow of old MSS. It may be worth adding, the plates in the sixth volume are singular, curious and beautiful.——Du Roi. Accounts and Extracts of the Manuscripts in the Library of the King of France. Translated from the French, London, 1789, 8vo., two vols. "The French Monarch [Louis XVI.], in the publication now before us, has set an example to all Europe, well worthy to be followed"—says the opening of the translator's preface. The present volumes contain a translation of only twenty-two articles from the preceding work; and very strongly may they be recommended to the curious philologist, as well as to the thorough-bred bibliomaniac.——Röver. Bibliotheca Röveriana, sive Catalogus Librorum qui studiis inservierunt Matthiæ Röveri. Lug. Bat. 1806, 8vo., two parts. From the elegant and pleasing Latin preface to this most carefully compiled catalogue, we learn that the owner of the books lived to his 82d year—and [what must be a peculiar gratification to Bibliomaniacs] that he beat Pomponius Atticus in the length of time during which he never had occasion to take physic; namely, 50 years! Röver's life seemed to glide away in rational tranquillity, and in total seclusion from the world; except that he professed and always shewed the greatest kindness to his numerous, and many of them helpless, relatives—"vix in publicum prodiit, nisi cultus Divini externi aut propinquorum caussâ," p. xv. His piety was unshaken. Like the venerable Jacob Bryant, his death was hastened in consequence of a contusion in his leg from a fall in endeavouring to reach a book.——Rothelin. Catalogue des livres de feu M'L. Abbé D'Orleans de Rothelin. Par G. Martin, Paris, 1746, 8vo. This catalogue of the library of the amiable and learned Abbé Rothelin, "known (says Camus) for his fine taste for beautiful books," is judiciously drawn up by Martin, who was the De Bure of his day. A portrait of its owner faces the title-page. It was the Abbé Rothelin who presented De Boze with the celebrated 'Guirlande de Julie'—a work which afterwards came into the Valliere collection, and was sold for 14,510 livres,—"the highest price (says Peignot) ever given for a modern book." Consult his Curiosités Bibliographiques, pp. 62, 67; and Bibl. Curieuse, p. 61.——Sarraz. Bibliotheca Sarraziana. Hag. Com., 1715, 8vo. This catalogue, which is frequently referred to by bibliographers, should not escape the collector when he can obtain it for a few shillings. A tolerably good preface or diatribe is prefixed, upon the causes of the rarity of Books, but the volume itself is not deserving of all the fine things in commendation of it which are said in the Bibl. Reiman, pt. ii., p. 671, &c.——Sartori. Catalogus Bibliographicus Librorum Latinorum et Germanicorum in Bibliotheca Cæsar. reg. et equestris Academiæ Theresianæ extantium, cum accessionibus originum typographicarum. Vindobonensium, et duobus supplementis necnon, indice triplici, systematico, bibliographico, et typographico; auctore Josepho de Sartori. Vindobonæ, 1801-3, 4to. Vol. i., ii., iii. Of this very curious and greatly-to-be-desired catalogue, which is to be completed in eight volumes, it is said that only one hundred copies are struck off. Peignot has a long and interesting notice of it in his Bibliographie Curieuse, p. 64.——Schalbruck. Bibliotheca Schalbruchiana; sive Catalogus exquisitissimorum rarissimorumque librorum, quos collegit Joh. Theod. Schalbruch. Amst. 1723, 8vo. A very fine collection of rare and curious books. From a priced copy of the catalogue, accidentally seen, I find that some of them produced rather large sums.——Schwartz. Catalogus Librorum continens codd. MSS. et libros sæculo xv. impressos, quos possedit et notis recensuit A.G. Schwarzius, Altorf. 1769, 8vo. The name of Schwartz is so respectable in the annals of bibliography that one cannot help giving the present catalogue a place in one's collection. According to Bibl. Solger., vol. iii., no. 1459, a first part (there said to be printed upon large paper) was published in 1753. Schwartz's treatise, "De Orig. Typog. Document. Primar." Altorf, 1740, 4to., should have been noticed at [p. 41], ante.——Scriverius. Bibliothecæ Scriverianæ Catalogus, Amst., 1663, 4to.—"exquisitissimus est: constat enim selectissimus omnium facultatum et artium autoribus." This is the strong recommendatory language of Morhof: Polyhist. Literar., vol. i., 212.——Serna Santander. Catalogue des livres de la Bibliothéque de M.C. De La Serna Santander; redigé et mis en ordre par lui même; avec des notes bibliographiques et littèraires, &c. Bruxelles, 1803, 8vo., five volumes. An extensive collection of interesting works; with a sufficiently copious index at the end of the fourth volume. The fifth volume contains a curious disquisition upon the antiquity of signatures, catchwords, and numerals; and is enriched with a number of plates of watermarks of the paper in ancient books. This catalogue, which is rarely seen in our own country, is well worth a place in any library. It is a pity the typographical execution of it is so very indifferent. For the credit of a bibliographical taste, I hope there were a few copies struck off upon large paper.——Sion College. Catalogus universalis librorum omnium in Bibliotheca Collegii Sionii apud Londinenses; Londini, 1650, 4to. Ejusdem Collegii librorum Catalogus, &c., Cura Reading, Lond., 1724, fol. As the first of these catalogues (of a collection which contains some very curious and generally unknown volumes) was published before the great fire of London happened, there will be found some books in it which were afterwards consumed, and therefore not described in the subsequent impression of 1724. This latter, which Tom Osborne, the bookseller, would have called a "pompous volume," is absolutely requisite to the bibliographer: but both impressions should be procured, if possible. The folio edition is common and cheap.——Smith [Consul]. Bibliotheca Smithiana, seu Catalogus Librorum D.J. Smithii Angli, per cognomina Authorum dispositus. Venetiis, 1755, 4to. A Catalogue of the curious, elegant, and very valuable library of Joseph Smith, Esq., His Britannic Majesty's Consul at Venice, lately deceased, 1773, 8vo. These are the catalogues of the collections of books occasionally formed at Venice, by Mr. Joseph Smith, during his consulship there. The quarto impression contains a description of the books which were purchased "en masse" by his present majesty. It is singularly well executed by Paschali, comprehending, by way of an appendix, the prefaces to those volumes in the collection which were printed in the fifteenth century. I possess a brochûre of 71 pages, containing a catalogue of books printed in the fifteenth century, which has Consul Smith's arms at the beginning, and, at the end, this subscription, "Pretiosissima hæc librorum collectio, cujusvis magni principis Bibliotheca dignissima, constat voluminibus ccxlviii." The title-page has no date. I suspect it to be the same catalogue of books which is noticed at [p. 77], ante, and which probably the Consul bought: forming the greater part of his own library of early printed books. See too the Bibliogr. Miscellany, vol. ii., 72. The collection of 1773 was sold by auction, for Mr. Robson, by Messrs. Baker and Leigh—and a fine one it was. Among these books, the Spira Virgil of 1470, printed upon vellum, was purchased for only twenty-five guineas!

Excidat ille dies ævo—ne postera credant
Sæcula—!

——Solger. Bibliotheca sive Supellex Librorum Impressorum, &c., et Codicum Manuscriptorum, quos per plurimos annos collegit, &c., Adamus Rudolphus Solger. Norimb., 1760, 8vo., three parts or vols. I should almost call this publication "facile princeps Catalogorum"—in its way. The bibliographical notices are frequent and full; and saving that the words "rarus, rarior, et rarissimus," are sometimes too profusely bestowed, nothing seems to be wanting to render this a very first rate acquisition to the collector's library. I am indebted to the bibliomanical spirit of honest Mr. Manson, of Gerard-street, the bookseller, for this really useful publication.——Soubise. Catalogue des livres imprimés et manuscrits, &c., de feu Monseigneur Le Prince de Soubise (par feu Le Clerc), Paris, 1788, 8vo. A short history of this collection will be the best inducement to purchase the present catalogue, whenever it comes in the way of the collector. The foundation of this splendid library was that of the famous De Thou's [vide Art. [Thuanus], post], which was purchased by the Cardinal de Rohan, who added it to his own grand collection—"the fruit of a fine taste and a fine fortune." It continued to be augmented and enriched 'till, and after, it came into the possession of the Prince de Soubise—the last nobleman of his name—who dying in January, 1789, the entire collection was dispersed by public auction: after it had been offered for the purchase of one or two eminent London booksellers, who have repented, and will repent to their dying day, their declining the offer. This catalogue is most unostentatiously executed upon very indifferent paper; and, while an excellent index enables us to discover any work of which we may be in want, the beautiful copies from this collection which are in the Cracherode library in the British Museum, give unquestionable proof of the splendour of the books. For the credit of French bibliography, I hope there are some few copies upon large paper.——Tellier. Bibliotheca Tellereana, sive Catalogus Librorum Bibliotheca Caroli Mauritii Le Tellier, Archiepiscopi Ducis Remensis. Parisiis, e Typographia Regia, 1693, fol. A finely engraved portrait of Tellier faces the title-page. This is a handsome volume, containing a numerous and well-chosen collection of books.——Thuanus. [de Thou] Bibliothecæ Thuanæ Catalogus, Parisiis, 1679, 8vo. "Three particular reasons," says Baillet, "should induce us to get possession of this catalogue; first, the immortal glory acquired by De Thou in writing his history, and in forming the most perfect and select library of his age: and secondly, the abundance and excellence of the books herein specified; and, thirdly, the great credit of the bibliographers Du Puys and Quesnel, by whom the catalogue was compiled." Jugemens des Savans, vol. ii., p. 144, &c. Morhof is equally lavish in commendation of this collection. See his Polyhist. Literar., vol. i., 36, 211. The Books of De Thou, whose fame will live as long as a book shall be read, were generally in beautiful condition, with his arms stamped upon the exterior of the binding, which was usually of Morocco; and, from some bibliographical work (I think it is Santander's catalogue), I learn that this binding cost the worthy president not less than 20,000 crowns. De Thou's copy of the editio princeps of Homer is now in the British Museum; having been presented to this national institution by the Rev. Dr. Cyril Jackson, who has lately resigned the deanery of Christ Church College, Oxford,—"and who is now wisely gone to enjoy the evening of life in repose, sweetened by the remembrance of having spent the day in useful and strenuous exertion." For an account of the posterior fate of De Thou's library, consult the article "[Soubise]," ante. I should add that, according to the Bibl. Solgeriana, vol. iii., p. 243, no. 1431, there are copies of this catalogue upon large paper.——Uffenbach. Catalogus universalis Bibliothecæ Uffenbachinæ librorum tam typis quam manu exaratorum. Francof. ad Mœn, 1729, 8vo., 4 vols. This catalogue is no mean acquisition to the bibliographer's library. It rarely occurs in a perfect and clean condition.——Valliere (duc de la). Catalogue des Livres provenans de la Bibliothéque de M.L.D.D.L.V., (M. le Duc de la Valliere) disposé et mis en ordre par Guill. Franc. De Bure le Jeune. Paris, 1767, 8vo., 2 vols.—Des Livres de la même Bibliothéque. Paris, 1772, 8vo.—Des Livres et Manuscrits de la même Bibliothéque, Paris, 1783, 8vo., 3 vols.—Des Livres de la même Bibliothéque, Paris, 1783, 6 vols. 8vo. These twelve volumes of catalogues of this nobleman's library impress us with a grand notion of its extent and value—perhaps never exceeded by that of any private collection! It would seem that the Duke de la Valliere had two sales of part of his books (of which the two first catalogues are notifications) during his life-time: the two latter catalogues of sales having been put forth after his decease. Of these latter (for the former contain nothing remarkable in them, except that there are copies of the first on large paper, in 4to.), the impression of 1783, which was compiled by Van Praet and De Bure, is the most distinguished for its notices of MSS. and early printed books: and in these departments it is truly precious, being enriched with some of the choicest books in the Gaignat Collection. Those printed upon vellum alone would form a little library! Of the impression of 1783, which has a portrait of the owner prefixed, there were fifty copies printed upon large paper, in 4to., to harmonize with the Bibliographie Instructive, and Gaignat's Catalogue. See Bibliographical Miscell., vol. ii., 66. Twelve copies were also printed in royal 8vo., upon fine stout vellum paper; of which the Rt. Hon. T. Grenville has a beautiful uncut copy in six volumes. See also Cat. de Loménie [1797], no. 2666. The last publication of 1788 was put forth by Nyon l'aîné; and although the bibliographical observations are but few in comparison with those in the preceding catalogue, and no index is subjoined, yet it is most carefully executed; and presents us with such a copious collection of French topography, and old French and Italian poetry and romances, as never has been, and perhaps never will be, equalled. It contains 26,537 articles. The Count D'Artois purchased this collection "en masse;" and it is now deposited in the "bibliothéque de l'Arsenal." See Dictionn. Bibliographique, vol. iv., p. 133. It was once offered for purchase to a gentleman of this country—highly distinguished for his love of Virtû. Mr. Grenville has also a similar large paper copy of this latter edition, of the date of 1784.——Vienna. Codices Manuscripti Theologici. Bibl. Palat. Vindob. Latini aliarumque Occidentis Linguarum, vol. i. (in tribus partibus.) Recens., &c., Michael Denis. Vindob. 1793, folio. Some mention of this work has been made at [page 65], ante. It may be here necessary to remark that, from the preface, it would appear to contain a ninth additional book to Lambecius's well-known Commentaries (vide, [p. 41], ante) which Kollarius had left unpublished at his death. The preface is well worth perusal, as it evinces the great pains which Denis has taken; and the noble, if not matchless, munificence of his patron—"qui præter augustam Bibliothecæ fabricam in ipsos libros centenis plura Rhenensium expendit millia."—This catalogue is confined to a description of Latin, with some few notices of Oriental Manuscripts; as the preceding work of Lambecius and Kollarius contained an account of the Greek MSS. These three parts, forming one volume, are closed by an excellent index. The second volume was published in 1801. Upon the whole, it is a noble and highly useful publication; and places its author in the foremost rank of bibliographers.——Volpi. Catalogo della Libreria de Volpi, &c. Opera di Don Gaetano Volpi. Padova, 1756, 8vo. The Crevenna library was enriched with a great number of valuable books which came from the library of the celebrated Vulpii; of which the present is a well-arranged and uncommon catalogue. Annexed to it there is an account of the press of the Comini, which belonged to the owners of this collection. The reader may consult Bibl. Crevenn., vol. v., pp. 302-3; and Dr. Clarke's Bibliogr. Miscell., vol. ii., 72.——Voyage de deux Français dans le nord de l'Europe, en 1790-92, (par M. de Fortia) Paris, 1796, 8vo., 5 vols. That the collector of catalogues may not scold me for this apparent deviation from the subject discussed in this note, I must inform him, upon the authority of Peignot, that these interesting volumes contain "some account of the most beautiful and curious books contained in the Libraries of the North, and in those of Italy, Spain, Holland, &c." Curiosités Bibliographiques, p. lviii.——De Witt. Catalogus Bibliothecæ Joannis De Witt, Dordraci, 1701, 12mo. The preface to this catalogue, (from which an extract was given in the first edition of my "Introduction to the Editions of the Greek and Latin Classics," 1802, 8vo.,) gives us a pleasing account of an ardent and elegant young man in the pursuit of every thing connected with Virtû. De Witt seems to have been, in books and statues, &c., what his great ancestor was in politics—"paucis comparandus." A catalogue of the library of a collector of the same name was published at Brussels, in 1752, by De Vos. See Cat. de Santander, vol. iv., no. 6334.——Zurich. Catalogus librorum Bibliothecæ Tigurinæ. Tiguri, 1744, 8vo., 4 vols. Although the last, this is not the most despicable, catalogue of collections here enumerated. A reading man, who happens to winter in Switzerland, may know, upon throwing his eyes over this catalogue, that he can have access to good books at Zurich—the native place of many an illustrious author! The following, which had escaped me, may probably be thought worthy of forming an

APPENDIX TO THE PRECEDING NOTE.

Bern. Cat. Codd. MSS. Bibl. Bernensis. Cum annotationibus, &c. Curante Sinner. Bernæ, 1760, 8vo. A very curious and elegantly printed Catalogue with three plates of fac-similes.——Parker [abp.] Catalog. Libror. MSS. in Bibl. Coll. Corporis Christi in Cantab., quos legavit M. Parkerus Archiepiscop. Cant. Lond., 1722, fol.; Eorundem Libror. MSS. Catalogus. Edidit J. Nasmith. Cantab., 1777, 4to. Of these catalogues of the curious and valuable MSS. which were bequeathed to Corpus College (or Bennet College, as it is sometimes called) by the immortal Archbishop Parker, the first is the more elegantly printed, but the latter is the more copious and correct impression. My copy of it has a fac-simile etching prefixed, by Tyson, of the rare print of the Archbishop, which will be noticed in [Part V.], post.——Royal Institution. A Catalogue of the Library of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, &c. By William Harris, Keeper of the Library. Lond., 1809, 8vo. If a lucid order, minute and correct description of the volumes of an admirably chosen library, accompanied with a copious and faithful alphabetical index, be recommendations with the bibliographer, the present volume will not be found wanting upon his shelf. It is the most useful book of its kind ever published in this country. Let the bibliomaniac hasten to seize one of the five remaining copies only (out of the fifty which were printed) upon large paper!——Wood (Anthony). A Catalogue of Antony-a-Wood's Manuscripts in the Ashmolean Museum; by W. Huddesford, Oxon, 1761, 8vo. The very name of old Anthony (as it delights some facetious book-collectors yet to call him!) will secure respect for this volume. It is not of common occurrence.

[C] In [Part VI.] of this work will be found a List of Books printed here. The armorial bearings of Lord Orford are placed at [p. 100].

Lis. You have so thoroughly animated my feelings, and excited my curiosity, in regard to Bibliography, that I can no longer dissemble the eagerness which I feel to make myself master of the several books which you have recommended.

Lysand. Alas, your zeal will most egregiously deceive you! Where will you look for such books? At what bookseller's shop, or at what auction, are they to be procured? In this country, my friend, few are the private collections, however choice, which contain two third parts of the excellent works before mentioned. Patience, vigilance, and personal activity, are your best friends in such a dilemma.

Lis. But I will no longer attend the sale of Malvolio's busts and statues, and gaudy books. I will fly to the Strand, or King-street: peradventure—