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 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 every edition of every work, which renders it imperative 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.

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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 explorers of the inexhaustible mines of British Literature. The

traveller well knows the importance of a road-book and direction posts; the mariner is equally sensible of the value of charts and beacons ; and the youthful and ardent literary husbandman, on entering the immeasurable fields of knowledge, will soon learn from the assurances of the veteran labourer, as well as from his own experience, that his progress will be painful, his success uncertain, without the assistance which, the Editor humbly hopes, these volumes will supply.

The little that remains to be said is an acknowledgment, the sincerity of which must supply its deficiency in expression, of the Editor's gratitude to the numerous friends by whose kind assistance and advice his labours have been at once cheered and benefited; more particularly

To the Right Honourable THOMAS GRENVILLE, who is no less the master of the contents, than of the property of his books, and who, in the most obliging manner, tendered him the use of his splendid library, as well as of his interesting catalogues, with which, it may be hoped, he may be induced to favour the public.

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.

W. T. L.

BREWER, Thomas. The Weeping Lady; or London like Ninivie in Sack-Cloth. Lond. 1625. 4to.

Contains pp. 24. Bibl. Anglo-Poet. 31. 31. 13s. 6d. Heber, part IV. 10s.

A Knot of Fooles.

1624. 4to. 14 leaves.

Lond.

A copy of this poetical tract is in the British Museum. Roxburghe, 3380. 37. Sotheby, 1856. 61. 6s. An edition 1658. 4to. Heber, part IV., 17. 10s.

BREWER.-The Brewer's Assistant, containing a Variety of Tables, &c. Lond. 1796. 4to. 10s. 6d.

A scientific and curious work. The London and Country Brewer, in three Parts. Lond. 1736-8. 8vo. 4s.

BREWSTER, David, LL.D. Treatise on new Philosophical Instruments, with Experiments on Light and Colours. Edinburgh, 1813. 8vo. 18s.

Contains pp. 442, with 12 plates. A valuable work, containing much novel and curious information. Dr. (now Sir David) Brewster likewise published A Treatise on the Kaleidoscope, Edinb. 1819. 12mo. 6s. Treatise on the Microscope, Lond. 1837, post 8vo. 6s. Natural History of Magic, 5th edition, 1842, 12mo. 3s. 6d.; and other works. Editions of Ferguson's various works, &c. &c.

--

The Edinburgh Encyclopædia. Edinb. 4to. 25 vols. plates, 107. 10s. One of the best encyclopædias extant. Some copies are printed upon LARGE PAPER. Dr. Brewster likewise edited the Edinburgh Quarterly Journal of Science, First Series, 20 nos.; Second Series, 12 nos., in all, 32 nos. complete. Edinb. 1825-32. 8vo.

James. Lectures upon our Lord's Sermon on the Mount. Edinb. and Lond. 1809. 8vo.

A clear, judicious, and discriminating

work.

Thomas. A compendious Register in Metre, conteining the Names and pacient Suffryngs of the Membres of Jesus Christ and the John, M.A. Parochial His- tormented; and cruelly burned tory and Antiquities of Stockton-within England, &c. Lond. by Jhon upon-Tees. Stockton, 1796. 4to. Kyngston, 1559. small 8vo.

Contains pp. 176, besides title, dedicaBlack letter, contains pp. 58. Dedicated tion, list of subscribers and advertisement, to 'Lorde Par, Marques of Northampton.' 4 pp. contents and list of eight plates, 2 pp. Bibl. Anglo-Poet. 79, 107. resold by Saunalso index and errata, 2 pages. Dent, pt. ders in 1818, 17. 11s. 6d. Another edition, i. 616, russia, 11s. LARGE PAPER. Brock-without date, Svo. Again 1599, S. Stafford. ett, 516, russia, 17. 6s. Beckford in 1817, 12mo. Heber, 27. 178. 55, 11. 3s.

- Lectures on the Acts of the Apostles, delivered in the Parish Church of Stockton-upon-Tees, dur

VOL. I.

BRICKELL, John, M.D. Natural History of North Carolina. Dublin 1737. 8vo. 6s.

Heath, 2770, 9s. 6d. Fonthill, 2800. 17.

T