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النشر الإلكتروني

AN

ACCOUNT

OF THE

HARLΕΙΑΝ

LIBRARY.

T

O folicit a subscription for a catalogue of books exposed to fale, is an attempt for which fome apology cannot but be neceffary; for few would willingly contribute to the expence of volumes, by which neither inftruction nor entertainment could be afforded, from which only the bookfeller could expect advantage, and of which the only use must cease, at the dispersion of the library.

Nor could the reasonableness of an univerfal rejection of our propofal be denied, if this catalogue were to be compiled with no other view, than that of promoting the fale of the books which it enumerates, and drawn up with that inaccuracy and confufion which may be found in those that are daily published.

But our defign, like our propofal, is uncommon, and to be profecuted at a very uncommon expence; it being intended, that the books fhall be diftributed into their diftinct claffes, and every clafs ranged with fome regard to the age of the writers; that every book fhall be accurately defcribed; that the VOL. IX.

pecu

peculiarities of editions fhall be remarked, and obfervations from the authors of literary history occafionally interfperfed; that, by this catalogue, we may inform pofterity of the excellence and value of this great collection, and promote the knowledge of fcarce books, and elegant editions. For this purpose men of letters are engaged, who cannot even be fupplied with amanuenfes, but at an expence above that of a common catalogue.

To fhew that this collection deferves a particular degree of regard from the learned and the ftudious, that it excels any library that was ever yet offered to publick sale in the value as well as number of the volumes which it contains; and that therefore this catalogue will not be of less use to men of letters, than thofe of the Thuanian, Heinfian, or Barberinian libraries, it may not be improper to exhibit a general account of the different claffes, as they are naturally divided by the several sciences.

By this method we can indeed exhibit only a general idea, at once magnificent and confufed; an idea of the writings of many nations, collected from diftant parts of the world, difcovered fometimes by chance, and fometimes by curiofity, amidst the rubbifh of forfaken monafteries, and the repofitories of ancient families, and brought hither from every part, as to the univerfal receptacle of learning.

It will be no unpleafing effect of this account, if thofe, that fhall happen to perufe it, fhould be inclined by it to reflect on the character of the late proprietors, and to pay fome tribute of veneration to their ardour for literature, to that generous and exalted curiofity which they gratified with inceffant

fearches

fearches and immenfe expence, and to which they dedicated that time, and that fuperfluity of fortune, which many others of their rank employ in the purfuit of contemptible amusements, or the gratification of guilty paffions. And, furely, every man, who confiders learning as ornamental and advantageous to the community, muft allow them the honour of publick benefactors, who have introduced amongst us authors not hitherto well known, and added to the literary treasures of their native country.

That our catalogue will excite any other man to emulate the collectors.of this library, to prefer books and manuscripts to equipage and luxury, and to forfake noife and diverfion for the conversation of the learned, and the fatisfaction of extenfive knowledge, we are very far from prefuming to hope; but shall make no fcruple to affert, that, if any man fhould happen to be feized with fuch laudable ambition, he may find in this catalogue hints and informations which are not eafily to be met with; he will discover, that the boafted Bodleian library is very far from a perfect model, and that even the learned Fabricius cannot completely inftruct him in the early editions of the claffic writers.

But the collectors of libraries cannot be numerous; and, therefore, catalogues cannot very properly be recommended to the publick, if they had not a more general and frequent ufe, an ufe which every student has experienced, or neglected to his lofs. By the means of catalogues only can it be known, what has been written on every part of learning, and the hazard avoided of encountering difficulties which have already been cleared, difcuffing questions which have already

Z 2

already been decided, and digging in mines of literature which former ages have exhausted.

How often this has been the fate of ftudents, every man of letters can declare; and, perhaps, there are very few who have not fometimes valued as new discoveries, made by themselves, thofe obfervations, which have long fince been publifhed, and of which the world therefore will refuse them the praife; nor can the refufal be cenfured as any enormous violation of justice; for, why fhould they not forfeit by their ignorance, what they might claim by their fagacity.

To illuftrate this remark, by the mention of obfcure names, would not much confirm it; and to vilify for this purpofe the memory of men truly great, would be to deny them the reverence which they may justly claim from thofe whom their writings have inftructed. May the fhade at leaft, of one great English critick reft without difturbance; and may no man prefume to infult his memory, who wants his learning, his reafon, or his wit.

From the vexatious difappointment of meeting reproach, where praife is expected, every man will certainly defire to be fecured; and therefore that book will have fome claim to his regard, from which he may receive informations of the labours of his predeceffors, fuch as a catalogue of the Harleian library will copioufly afford him.

Nor is the ufe of catalogues of lefs importance to thofe whom curiofity has engaged in the study of literary hiftory, and who think the intellectual revolutions of the world more worthy of their attention, than the ravages of tyrants, the defolation

of

of kingdoms, the rout of armies, and the fall of empires. Those who are pleased with obferving the first birth of new opinions, their struggles against oppofition, their filent progrefs under perfecution, their general reception, and their gradual decline, or fudden extinction; thofe that amufe themfelves with remarking the different periods of human knowledge, and obferve how darkness and light fucceed each other; by what accident the most gloomy nights of ignorance have given way in the dawn of fcience, and how learning has languished and decayed, for want of patronage and regard, or been overborne by the prevalence of fashionable ignorance, or loft amidst the tumults of invafion, and the storms of violence. All thofe who defire any knowledge of the literary tranfactions of paft ages, may find in catalogues, like this at leaft, fuch an account as is given by annalists, and chronologers of civil hiftory.

How the knowledge of the facred writings has been diffused, will be obferved from the catalogue of the various editions of the bible, from the firft impreffion by Fuft, in 1462, to the present time in which will be contained the polyglot editions of Spain, France, and England, thofe of the original Hebrew, the Greek Septuagint, and the Latin Vulgate; with the verfions which are now ufed in the remoteft parts of Europe, in the country of the Grifons, in Lithuania, Bobemia, Finland, and Iceland.

With regard to the attempts of the fame kind made in our own country, there are few whofe expectations will not be exceeded by the number of English bibles, of which not one is forgotten, whe

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