soins que l'on apporte à la composition d'un ouvrage bibliographique, il est encore presque impossible de ne pas laisser dans sa première publication une multitude d'erreurs, de lacunes, de suppositions, de mensonges involuntaires." 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, Ecclesiastic and Civil History, more particularly of Great Britain, Biogra Voyages and Travels, Antiquities, Heraldry, Jurispr Sciences, the Arts and Belles Lettres, &c.

It was stated in the prospectus that these notices twenty thousand; but as the Editor proceeded, b compelled to extend

self; and the ▾

fifty thousand Britain and ] sent time. F a sufficient : originally co First. A

he had r

exceed .nsensibly bed to him

of upwards of

lating to, Great

ad, from the invention of printing to the preeceives himself, if this fact will not be deemed gy for the work having exceeded what was plated. To these notices are annexed,

ise 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 published 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's, Churchill's, the Harleian and other Collections:-in a word, all the 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 such 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 on the erudition, judgment, and taste of the possessor, than his wealth or liberality.

title

loubt can be entertained of the utility of attaching to the book the opinion entertained of its merits by those who have unde ken to pronounce a critical opinion upon them, either in reference the collector or to the student: to both they But with resno. the various criticisms

serve as a qu which will be

k, the Editor

when no aut.

wishes to be unde
states the general character of the works, rat
opinion of his own. In the case of works of ɛ
the criticism will of course be understood as ex
mation in which the work is held by the particu
the author belonged.

is given, he han offers an gious nature,

ing the estiect to which

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 a 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 greatthey 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 ed tion, 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 every edition of every work, which renders it

i

ative that it should be carefully referred to by an editor of

such 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 a 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 work or one intended for general circulation, for example-are points by which the credibility of a writer may, possibly, be impugned or confirmed.

By the Collations the buyer and seller are alike enabled to judge whether a book is perfect; hence disputes may, with slight trouble, be avoided; and although at first sight this may seem but a very trifling recommendation to a bibliographical work, where they are for the first time given, those who have collated even a single volume will at once believe that much time has been consumed in this object; and it is hoped they will agree with the Editor in thinking that it has not been thrown away.

The utility of stating the prices at which books have sold at public auctions, and thereby to give the public the means of judging of their value, must be sufficiently obvious. Although no conclusion can be safely drawn from those prices, nor can they by any means be depended upon as a certain guide, still, the sums which books have produced at public sales will be referred to as authorities, and the variations in their value must prove a source of amusement from their indicating the changes which have taken place in caprice or taste.

It not unfrequently happens, that for some literary purpose, a person wishes to consult a particular book of great rarity, but is wholly at a loss to discover where a copy is to be found. In the instances of uncommon works, the editor has stated if it is in the British Museum, in the Bodleian, or other public Library; and

should a copy have been sold by auction within the present century, a reference is usually given to the number in the catalogue in which it is mentioned, thus affording a clue to its present possessor.

It is due to his own labours that the Editor should state that this is the first attempt in England to supply these various points. of Bibliographical information in one work; and though the celebrated "Manuel du Libraire" of Brunet has served as his model, that valuable compilation is extremely imperfect in relation to British literature.

The Editor is aware of an objection to which his work is liable from the circumstance of many books, which may be considered worthless, being noticed, merely because they have occasionally brought large prices at public sales; but, as he might have incurred still greater blame, had he omitted them, he has preferred admitting a few whose claim to a place might be disputed, than leaving out any work to which an ideal value has been attached, remembering the remark of Johnson, "that no book is so worth. less as not to contain something good." It is also to be remembered, that scarcely any two persons agree in their estimation of a book, and that their taste and judgment are influenced by their attachment to particular pursuits. On the other hand, he is sensible that he may unconsciously have omitted articles of importance, more especially very recent publications, from the difficulty of keeping pace with the daily productions of the press. For these, and all other omissions, he trusts to the candour of his readers : all who have had occasion to search for information on a particular subject, must be aware that much valuable matter has escaped them, notwithstanding the most careful inquiries.

It would be a waste of time to name the particular sources which have been consulted. A single glance will, the Editor flatters himself, ensure credence to his statement, that many hundreds of volumes have been constantly referred to, and that, in numerous instances, the books noticed have been carefully examined. The merit of indefatigable industry will not, he hopes, be denied him; and though his labours have not required either genius or splendid talents, he, nevertheless, trusts that he may be deemed a safe and useful pioneer to the present and future e-rers of the inexhaustible mines of British Literature. Tho