nished with an exact catalogue, containing the title and giving a short account of the subject of each volume. Theology (including the Koran and commentators thereon, as well as the oral laws of the Prophet), jurisprudence, philosophy, metaphysics, medicine, ethics and history are the sciences chiefly cultivated by the followers of Mohammed. The books are all written with the greatest care, on the finest vellum; the text of each page is enclosed in a highly ornamented and gilt frame-work; the beginning of each chapter or section is splendidly illuminated with golden letters. Hence the value of the manuscripts is greatly enhanced; and their prices vary in proportion to the beauty of the characters. (D'Ohsson, tom. ii. pp. 488, 489. Toderini, tom. ii. p. 32, et seq. who have enumerated the principal public libraries attached to the imperial mosques.)

XII. LIBRARIES OF NORTH AMERICA.

Cambridge (New England).—Catalogus Bibliothecæ Harvardianæ, Cantabrigiæ Nov.-Anglorum. Bostoniæ, 1790, 8vo.

The library of Harvard College was begun soon after the Institution was founded; and in 1764 it consisted of about 5000 volumes. In the winter of that year, the greater part of this library was destroyed by fire. By the donations of various benefactors, it was restored, and now comprizes between 13 and 14,000 volumes. The books are classed alphabetically under various heads, which are also arranged in alphabetical order. A copy of this catalogue is in the library of the Surry Institution.

Philadelphia.-Catalogue of Books belonging to the Library Company of Philadelphia; with their charter, laws, and regulations. Philadelphia, 1807, 8vo. The foundation of this library was laid in the year 1731, by a number of subscribers who had formed a little capital of £100: in 1742 the association was incorporated by the name

of the "Library Company of Philadelphia." This Institution, being greatly encouraged by the friends of literature in Great Britain and America, has received numerous valuable contributions; and now, in conjunction with the Loganian Library, forms the largest and best collection of books in the United States. The whole amounts to about 15,000 volumes. The Loganian Library was founded by the late James Logan, and endowed with a salary for a librarian, &c. It chiefly consists of rare works in classical literature; and in 1791 it was, by an Act of the American Legislature, annexed to the Philadelphia Public Library. A copy of the above noticed catalogue is in the libraries of the Royal and London Institu

tions.

SECTION III.

Catalogues of British Public Libraries.

Catalogi Librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ, in unum collecti, (cum indice alphabetico), edente Edwardo Bernardo. Oxonii, 1696, 97, 2 parts in one vol. folio.

Though this catalogue (a copy of which is in the Royal and London Institutions) is attributed to Dr. Bernard, he had rather the oversight than the drudgery of making it. The very copious index prefixed to it was executed by him, with a learned preface in this index he mentions a great number of valuable Greek MSS. then to be found in our own as well as in several foreign libraries, in order to facilitate the researches of learned men.

Humphredi Wanleii librorum veterum septentriona→ lium, qui in Angliæ bibliothecis extant, necnon multorum veterum codicum septentrionalium qui in Angliæ

bibliothecis extant, necnon multorum veterum codicum septentrionalium, alibi extantium, catalogus historicocriticus. Oxoniæ, 1705, folio.

This catalogue forms the third volume of Dr. Hickes's celebrated Thesaurus Linguarum veterum septentrionalium, printed at Oxford in 3 vols. folio. Wanley was librarian to the two first Earls of Oxford, whose noble collection of MSS. was purchased for £10,000 and is now deposited in the British Museum. See an account of them, infra, p. 616. Several anecdotes and extracts from Wanley's Correspondence and Journals, occur in Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vol. i. p. 84, et seq.

f. 1. Libraries in London.

1. BRITISH MUSEUM.

The Library of the British Museum is justly regarded as the first public library in the kingdom, whether we consider the number, rarity, or value of the MSS. and printed books. It comprises the great Sloanian, Harleian, Cottonian, Royal, and Lansdowne Collections, together with those of Major Edwards, Dr. Birch, the late Mr. Tyrwhitt, Sir William Musgrave, and particularly of the late Rev. C. M. Cracherode,whose library is particularly rich in early printed books and rare editions of the Classics. Beside these, numerous purchases and valuable donations have from time to time been made :-the natural curiosities, mineral collections, antiquities, coins, &c. preserved in this national repository, it is foreign to our plan to describe.

The Reading-Room of the Museum is open from ten till four every day, except on Saturdays and Sundays, and for one week at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide; also on thanksgiving and fast days. Persons desirous of admission, are to send in their applications in writing (specifying their christian and surnames, rank, or profession, and places of abode) to the principal librarian, with a recommendation from some person

of known and approved character. Permissions are in gene ral granted by the trustees for three, and none for a longer term than six months; and at the expiration of each term, fresh ap plication is to be made for a renewal. Individuals thus having access to the library are readily supplied with whatever books or MSS. they may desire to consult and the intentions of the trustees, that, as far as is consistent with the security of their important charge, every facility be afforded to those who wish to avail themselves of this part of the establishment, are fulfilled with promptness and fidelity.

The following articles describe the various catalogues of this matchless collection of books and MSS.

1. Harleian Library.-A Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts in the British Museum; with Indexes of persons, places, and matters. London, 1808-12, 4 vols. folio.

This collection of MSS. was commenced towards the close of the 17th century, by Robert Harley, first earl of Oxford, and on his decease was continued by his son and successor in the title, at an immense expense. The progress and more im portant articles of this collection being stated in the prefaces to the first volume of the catalogue, it only remains to add that parliament voted £10,000 for purchasing the Harleian MSS. for the public benefit; they form 7639 volumes in every department of literature, and those are particularly important which illustrate our national history and antiquities. The catalogue was begun in 1708, by the learned Humfrey Wanley, who was librarian to Robert and Edward, successively earls of Oxford: and on his death in 1726, after an interval of some years, it was resumed by Mr. Casley, continued by Mr. Hockley, and completed by the succeeding librarians of the British Museum. This catalogue was published in 1759, in 2 vols. folio, and an Index (compiled by the late Mr. Astle) in 1762, with a fine portrait of the founder of the

library. The edition of the catalogue above noticed has received numerous very valuable additions and corrections, from the Rev. Robert Nares; and Messrs. Douce and Planta. It is a noble monument of British literature. The fourth volume, besides Indexes of persons, places, and matters, contains a catalogue of the MSS. systematically classed by the author of this work.

2. Cottonian Library.-A Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Cottonian Library, with a prefatory account by J. Planta, and an alphabetical Index. London, 1802, folio.

This catalogue, as well as the preceding, was printed under the direction of the Commissioners of the Public Records of the realm. Two catalogues of the Cotton Library were previously -published: 1. Catalogus Librorum Bibliotheca Cottoniant. Oxon. 1696, folio: this has a life of Sir Robert Cotton, by the editor, Dr. Smith, together with a history and synopsis of his library. 2. A Catalogue of the Manuscripts in the Cottonian Library. London, 1777, 8vo. This is frequently called Hooper's Catalogue, from the publisher's name: it was executed by the late Mr. Astle, and was designed to supply the deficiencies of the former catalogue, of which it contains numerous emendations and additions. Both these are now rendered superfluous by the elaborate publication of Mr. Planta; whose preface presents some interesting particulars relative to the life of the founder, and the formation, contents, &c. of the Cotnian MSS. These originally consisted of 968 volumes, and after several removals were deposited in a house at Westminster; where many of them were destroyed, and more damaged, by an unfortunate fire in 1731, which reduced their - number to 861. After this accident, they were removed to the Dormitory at Westminster, and in 1753 were finally deposited in the British Museum. Of 185 damaged MSS. 51 have been restored by the persevering diligence of Mr. Planta;