After these imperfect observations on the utility and difficulties of Bibliography, the Editor will proceed to allude, in as few words as possible, to the plan and contents of Watt's "Bibliotheca Britannica," to show in what points these volumes supply information which is not contained in that valuable compilation. In speaking of the Bibliotheca Britannica, no praise can be too high; for, notwithstanding its imperfections, it contains a mass of most valuable matter, disposed in such form as to be of great assistance to persons desirous of ascertaining what works have been written on a particular subject, or by a particular author. It is obvious, however, that, from the very extensive plan adopted by Watt, his work must necessarily be incomplete in various points, which, though of minor detail, are of great importance. Thus, for instance, he gives neither the collation. nor prices of books; nor does he afford a guide to the best authors on any particular subject, or to the best editions-information of the highest value to foreigners and students.

THE BIBLIOGRAPHER'S MANUAL was undertaken to supply a desideratum in English Literature, by presenting the Collector, the Author, and the Bookseller with a notice, in alphabetical order, under the names of their respective authors, of the principal works in the various departments of Divinity, Ecclesiastical and Civil History, more particularly of Great Britain, Biography, Voyages and Travels, Antiquities, Heraldry, Jurisprudence, Sciences, the Arts and Belles Lettres, &c.

It was stated in the prospectus that these notices would exceed twenty thousand; but as the Editor proceeded, he was insensibly compelled to extend the limits which he had prescribed to himself; and the work does, in fact, contain notices of upwards of fifty thousand distinct books, published in, or relating to, Great Britain and Ireland, from the invention of printing to the present time. He deceives himself, if this fact will not be deemed a sufficient apology for the work having exceeded what was originally contemplated. To these notices are annexed,

First, A concise account of the merits of the work, taken occasionally from Reviews, but more generally from writers of established reputation.

Secondly, Its peculiar bibliographical character, such as the mode in which it was originally published, its contents, limited number printed, rarity, whether the name of the author was real or fictitious, and occasionally supplying the name of the author of a work pub

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lished anonymously; if an early work, to whom dedicated; the merits and variations of the different editions; where and when printed; also notices of reprints of rare works, and of tracts, whether in the Somers and Harleian Miscellanies, or similar publications, and likewise of those early Voyages and Travels which appear in Pinkerton, Churchill, Harleian and other Collections:-in a word, all those points which belong to the "history" of a book are stated. Thirdly, Collations of the contents of the rarer and more important articles, including a list of the plates.

Fourthly, References to the number in the catalogues of celebrated sales, specifying the price for which the work was sold.

Upon the utility of this information it is scarcely necessary to insist: without a Manual of this nature the collector may indeed, as is happily remarked by a French Bibliographer, form a collection, but not a library, since the one consists simply of a mass of books purchased without knowledge or discrimination of subjects or editions; but a library, by which is meant a selection of the best writers, and of the best editions, depends more upon the erudition, judgment, and taste of the possessor, than upon his wealth or liberality.

No doubt can be entertained of the utility of attaching to the title of a book the opinion entertained of its merits by those who have undertaken to pronounce a critical opinion upon them, either in reference to the collector or to the student: to both they serve as a guide. But with respect to the various criticisms which will be found scattered throughout the work, the Editor wishes to be understood, that when no authority is given, he states the general character of the works, rather than offer an opinion of his own. In the case of works of a religious nature, the criticism will of course be understood as expressing the estimation in which the work is held by the particular sect to which the author belonged.

The importance of knowing the exact character of, and the difference between, the editions of any work, is well understood by authors and literary persons; but to more general readers it may be necessary to remark, that in each edition an author is presumed to have availed himself of the additional information, and to have corrected the errors, which the suggestions of critical journals, or of his friends, or his own studies, may have supplied. It is not, perhaps, too much to say, with respect to works on history, or consisting of a condensation of, or criticisms founded upon, mere facts, that no first edition is so perfect as its author is capable of rendering it. Until

his labours are before him in print, and time has cooled the fervour of mind incidental to composition, he is scarcely competent to estimate, calmly and dispassionately, the value and bearing of the materials of which history is composed. A single additional fact, derived possibly from an obscure volume, or manuscript, which escaped his researches when his work was written, may overturn or confirm his most ingenious hypotheses. To works of imagination, novels, poetry, and the drama, the value of revision is almost as great-they supply as it were the last touches of the master; and in the second edition the author introduces those improvements which, (in an age when the Horatian precept has ceased to apply either in principle or practice) are rarely to be found in the first impression; whilst every subsequent reprint affords him the opportunity of imparting greater accuracy, more abundant information, and more elaborate polish to his lucubrations. Hence arises the immense superiority of a second edition over the first, of a third over a second, and thus in numerical progression of each over its predecessor. The claims which a first sometimes possesses over a later edition of a work consists chiefly of remarks which prudence or justice may have induced an author to cancel. A reference to the first edition of an early writer is however often essential in restoring the correct reading of a line or passage. If a typographical error is made in the second edition, it is almost certain to be perpetuated in succeeding impressions, from its being the practice to print each edition from the one which immediately preceded it. Moreover, there is a peculiarity about each edition of every work, which renders it imperative that it should be carefully referred to by an editor of the work: it may also happen that a first edition contains valuable extraneous matter, which a desire to impart more consistency to his labours, caused the author afterwards to omit. To those who write books, a knowledge of such peculiarities in editions is indispensable; and by those who only read them, but who are interested in the curiosities and technicalities of literature, the information will not be despised.

It is the duty of an author to know the history of the work which he consults: by making the statements it contains his authority, he, in some measure, adopts them as his own; and a Manual, which enables him to form an idea of the degree of credit that ought to be attached to the book before him, cannot fail to facilitate and benefit his labours. A critical examiner of his authorities, knows that the slightest fact-the date, the dedication, whether a private

In common with most persons interested in literary pursuits, the Editor is under many obligations to PHILIP AUGUSTUS HANROTT, Esq. to whose late curious and extensive library liberal access was always afforded him.

To Messrs. PAYNE and Foss, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. PICKERING, and especially Mr. RODD, for their constant advice and most useful suggestions, he is eminently obliged.

To Mr. R. H. EVANS he is particularly indebted for many valuable hints, and for the loan of the sale catalogues of the numerous important libraries which have passed through his hands, which exhibit a profound knowledge of his profession.-To Messrs. SOTHEBY he begs to return his thanks for access to their extensive series of catalogues.

Gratitude demands a strong acknowledgment to the late WILLIAM MEREDITH, Esq., under whose hospitable roof this Manual was commenced in the year 1820. By the late RICHARD HEBER, Esq., (who, as a collector, united the judgment of a Cotton with the princely munificence of a Harley,) he was honoured with approbation and encouragement, and with the offer of access to his immense literary treasures.

1st January, 1834.

W. T. L.

FOREIGN LITERATURE.

Dr. Dibdin, in the seventh volume of the Catalogue of the magnificent Library of Earl Spencer, quotes the following remarks of M. Ebert, the celebrated German Bibliographer: 'Let us be told what real advantage has accrued to learning from the SPENCER LIBRARY, which has been extolled to satiety, .... or the collections of other [English] Bibliomanes ? Not so much as to enable the Nation, otherwise so mercantile, to produce a Manuel du Libraire of its own, of which, from their constant buying, they are hourly in need,' &c. This reproach is, to some extent, it is to be hoped, removed by the BIBLIOGRAPHER'S MANUAL, and the Editor begs to announce his intention of publishing a similar work on Foreign Literature.

THE

Bibliographer's Manual.