France has produced many able writers on this science beside Naudé, the following have distinguished themselves, viz. MM. Gallois, Baillet, Girard, Martin, Barrois and De Bure, booksellers; MM. Formey, Bruzen de la Martiniere, Ameilhon, Camús, Cailleau, Peignot, &c. Germany presents but few writers on this subject', except the learned Abbé Denis, who has given a method of arranging books in his Introduction to the Knowledge of Books,' and the compiler of the Encyclopedical Table for classifying the works noticed in the celebrated Literary Gazette of Jena, which was suppressed a few years since. The following sections of this chapter will comprise a brief indication of the principal treatises on the arrangement of libraries, together with a concise notice of the methods adopted in some of the principal public libraries of Europe, and also incidental accounts of the libraries themselves.

'Morhof perhaps ought to be mentioned, who has given three chapters to the subject of forming, ornamenting and classifying libraries. Polyhistor, tom. i. lib. 1. cc. iv.-vi. In c. iv. § 29. he complains bitterly of the vile paper and typographical execution of German books: unfortunately, the censures of this industrious writer are but too applicable to most of the editions which in our time issue from the German presses. Volumina, si ad chartam spectes, sterquilinio videantur effossa; si typos, non impressa, sed atro colore oblita credas!

SECTION I.

General Treatises on Libraries, and Systems for classifying Books.

A CRITICAL and Historical Account of all the celebrated Libraries in foreign Countries, as well antient as modern. With general reflections upon the choice of books and the method of furnishing libraries. A work of great use to all men of letters. By a Gentleman of the Temple. London, 1739, 12mo.

A very concise account of the principal libraries, antient and modern. The reflexions on the choice of books are very meagre. The book is now rarely to be met with. A copy of it is in the library of the London Institution.

AMEILHON.-Projet sur quelques Changemens à faire anx Catalogues des Bibliothèques, par M. Ameilhon. This plan is in the second volume of Memoires de l'Institut National (Class. Littérature et Beaux Arts,) pp. 477, et seq. The author proposes to remove theological works from the first rank, which they have hitherto held in catalogues of libraries, and to substitute grammatical books in their place: he admits, however, that theological treatises may be classed among religious opinions. Grammar he considers as the key of all knowledge: to this succeed logic, morality and jurisprudence; from which last he excludes canon law, removing this to the class of ecclesiastical discipline. The next grand division is metaphysics: and under this class he proposes to place theology, including the scriptures, which pass (he observes) for the most antient historical documents with which we are acquainted! This singular disposition of the sacred volume may be satisfactorily accounted for, when it is recollected that, no very long time before M. Ameilhon wrote,

the then existing government of France had in its wisdom banished the ministers of the altar, substituted their philosophistical decades for the sabbath day, and had endeavoured to extinguish the hope-of all others the most consolatoryof a future state, by decreeing that death was nothing but an eternal sleep. The author, however, apologises satisfactorily for wishing to preserve the works of the Fathers, in opposition to the infidel principles then prevalent in France. In the divisions of physics, arts, belles lettres, or history, nothing is to be altered; except that civil is to take precedence of ecclesiastical history. The memoir is terminated by a series of appropriate reflexions on the qualifications of a librarian. Achard has copied this project entire, (Cours de Bibliogr. tom. i. pp. 197-215) and it is abridged by Peignot, (Dict, de Bibliol. tom. ii. pp. 202, 203.)

BARTHOLINI (THOME) de Bibliothecarum incendio, Dissertatio ad filios. Hafnia, 1670, 12mo.

An account of the burning of his own library at Hogestatt, in which all his MSS. were consumed: to alleviate his loss on this occasion, Christian V. king of Denmark, gave this illustrious anatomist the title and emoluments of royal physician, and exempted his estate of Hogestatt from all taxes; the University of Copenhagen also appointed him inspector of their library. Bartholin wrote numerous works on medical, physical and philological subjects: he died in 1680.

CAMUS.-Observations sur la Distribution et le Classement des Livres d'une Bibliothéque. Par M. Camus, (Mem. de l'Institut.) tom. i. p. 643, et seq.

To the late M. Camus the lovers of bibliography owe many obligations for his valuable contributions to the diffusion of that science of his system it were unnecessary to offer any details, as it proceeds on a principle which is utterly erroneous. He supposes the student to enter a library totally ignorant, which, in the present state of society, is morally

impossible. Achard has given this memoir (vol. I. p. 252, et seq.) and Peignot has also abridged it. (Dict. de Bibl. tom. ii. pp. 218-220.)

CLEMENTIS (P. CLAUD.) Musei sivè Bibliothecæ tam privatæ quam publicæ extructio, instructio, cura, usus, libris iv. Accessit accurata descriptio regia bibliothecæ S. Laurentii Escurialis, etc. etc. Lugduni, 1635.

4to.

This work of Father Clement, amidst many valuable ideas, contains many things which are superfluous. The order recommended by him is too extensive to admit of being detailed here it is given at length by Peignot. (Dict. de Bibliol. tom. ii. pp. 220-230.)

DESSESSARTS.-Nouveau Dictionnaire Bibliographique Portatif, ou Essai de Bibliographie Universelle; contenant l'indication des meilleurs ouvrages qui ont paru dans tous les genres, etc. précédé d'une nouvelle edition des Conseils pour former une bibliothéque peu nombreuse mais choisie. Par N. L. M. Dessessarts. Paris, an viii. (1799) 8vo.

This work consists of two parts: 1. The Conseils, &c. of the learned and laborious Formey (noticed infru, p. 557) and 2. Lists of books proper for the libraries of a statesman, a magistrate, a lawyer, a military man, and a minister of religion. These lists were drawn up by M. Barbier.

DUREY.-Dissertation sur les Bibliothéques, avec une table alphabetique, tant des œuvres publiés sous le titre de bibliothéques, que des catalogues imprimés de plusieurs cabinets de France et des pays étrangers. (Par le President Durey de Noinville.) Paris, 1758, 8vo. This work I have not been fortunate enough to meet with. Peignot states the dissertation on libraries to be not devoid

of interest, though incomplete, and in many places erroneous. To this volume is usually added, by the same author, a Table alphabetique des Dictionnaires en toutes sortes des langues et sur toutes sortes des sciences et arts. Paris, 8vo, 1758. It is very incomplete and incorrect.

DUTENS.-Bibliothéque complette et choisie dans toutes les classes, et dans la plupart des langues. Par M. L. Dutens. 8vo, Londres, 1812.

A general Catalogue of the most approved works in various departments of literature and science, and in different languages. It comprises about 1860 volumes, the cost of which is estimated by the late learned editor at about £800, or by omitting certain articles which are marked in this list, the collection would cost about £600.

FORMEY.-Conseils pour former une bibliothéque peu nombreuse mais choisie. Nouvelle edition corrigée et augmentée. (Par M. Formey.) Suivie de l'Introduction générale à l'etude des Sciences et Belles Lettres, M. de la Martiniere. Berlin, 1756, 8vo.

par M. Formey was for many years secretary to the Royal Academy of Sciences at Berlin, where he died in 1797, at the age of nearly eighty-six years. During this long life his publications were very numerous: the list appended to the above (the 4th) edition of his Conseils amounts to 58; and he continued writing till the year 1786. The present work, though adapted to French readers and the formation of a French library, contains many hints deserving of notice. At the end of the author's advertisement is a letter of La Mothe Le Vayer (extracted from his works, vol. ii. pp. 452-458) on the method of forming a library, to consist of 100 volumes only: it is curious, as indicating the works which were most esteemed in the former part of the 17th century.

GARNERII (JOHANNIS) Systema Bibliothecæ collegii Parisiensis, societatis Jesu. Paris, 1678, 4to.