Note 436 — The Alcove.

Granger's Biographical History of England was first published, I believe, in 1769, 4to., 2 vols. It has since undergone four impressions; the last being in 1804, 8vo., 4 vols. A Continuation of the same, by the Rev. Mark Noble, was published in 1807, 8vo., 3 vols.: so that if the lover of rare and curious prints get possession of these volumes, with Ames's Catalogue of English Heads, 1748, 8vo.; and Walpole's Catalogue of Engravers, 1775, 8vo.; Bromley's Catalogue of Engraved Portraits, 1793, 4to.; together with Catalogues of English Portraits, being the collections of Mr. Barnard, Sir W. Musgrave, Mr. Tyssen, Sir James-Winter Lake; and many other similar catalogues put forth by Mr. Richardson and Mr. Grave; he may be said to be in a fair way to become master of the whole arcana of Print-collecting. But let him take heed to the severe warning-voice uttered by Rowe Mores, in his criticism upon the Catalogue of English Heads, published by Ames: 'This performance (says the splenetic and too prophetic critic) is not to be despised: judiciously executed, a work of this sort would be an appendage entertaining and useful to the readers of English biography; and it ought to be done at the common labour, expense, and charges of these Iconoclasts—because their depredations are a grand impediment to another who should attempt it: and if this goût for prints and thieving continues, let private owners and public libraries look well to their books, for there will not remain a valuable book ungarbled by their connoisseuring villany: for neither honesty nor oaths restrain them. Yet these fanciers, if prints themselves are to be collected, instead of being injurious to every body, might make themselves serviceable to posterity, and become a kind of medalists (who, by the bye, are almost as great thieves as themselves, though the hurt they do is not so extensive, as it lies chiefly among themselves, who all hold this doctrine, that "exchange is no robbery;" but, if they could filch without exchanging, no scruple of conscience would prevent them): we say they might render themselves useful to posterity, by gathering together the historical, political, satyrical, anecdotal and temporal pieces, with which the age abounds; adding an explanation of the intent and meaning for the instruction and amusement of times to come. The misfortune is, they must buy the one, but they can steal the other; and steal they will, although watched with the eyes of Argus: unless the valuables, like some other jocalia, are shewn to them through a grate; and even then, the keeper must be vigilant!' Of English Founders and Foundries; p. 85. This extract is curious on account of the tart, but just, sentiments which prevail in it; but, to the bibliomaniac, it is doubly curious, when he is informed that only eighty copies of this Typographical Treatise (of 100 pages—including the Appendix) were printed. The author was a testy, but sagacious, bibliomaniac, and should have been introduced among his brethren in Part V. It is not, however, too late to subjoin the following: Bibliotheca Moresiana. A Catalogue of the Large and Valuable Library of Printed Books, rare old tracts, Manuscripts, Prints, and Drawings, Copper Plates, sundry Antiquities, Philosophical Instruments, and other Curiosities, of that eminent British Antiquary, the late Rev. and learned Edward Rowe Mores, F.A.S., deceased, &c. Sold by auction by Mr. Patterson, August 1779. This collection exhibited, like its owner, a strange mixture of what was curious, whimsical, and ingenious in human nature. There were 2838 lots of printed books. The rare old black-letter books and tracts, begin at p. 52.