Withyam, Sussex.
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.