Note 136 — The Cabinet.

Let us go gently over this British ground, which Lysander depictures in rather a flowery manner. The first edition of Bishop Nicolson's English Historical Library was published in the years 1696, 1697, and 1699—comprehending the entire three parts. In 1702, came forth the Scottish Historical library; and in 1724, the Irish Historical Library. These three libraries, with the author's letter to Bishop Kennet in defence of the same, are usually published in one volume; and the last and best editions of the same are those of 1736, fol., and 1776, 4to. Mr. John Nichols has recently published an entertaining posthumous work of the bishop's Epistolary Correspondence, in two octavo volumes, 1809. Some of these letters throw light and interest upon the literature of the times. As to the authority of Bishop Nicolson, in his historical matters, I fear the sharp things which are said of his libraries by Tyrrell (Pref. to Hist. Engl., vol. ii., p. 5.), and Wood (Athen. Brit., vol. ii., col. 980, ed. 1721), all which authorities are referred to by Mr. Nichols, are sufficiently founded upon truth. He was a violent and wrong-headed writer in many respects; but he had acumen, strength, and fancy. The Bibliotheca Literaria of Wasse (although his name does not appear as the professed editor) is a truly solid and valuable publication; worthy of the reputation of the learned editor of Sallust. The work was published in numbers, which were sold at one shilling each; but, I suppose from the paucity of classical readers, it could not be supported beyond the 10th number (1724); when it ceased to be published. Some of the dissertations are very interesting as well as erudite. Oldys's British Librarian was published in six numbers, during the first six months of the year 1737; forming, with the index, an octavo volume of 402 pages. It is difficult to say, from the conclusion (p. 373-4), whether the work was dropped for want of encouragement, or from the capriciousness or indolence of the author: but I suspect that the ground was suffered "to lie fallow" (to use his own words) till it was suffocated with weeds—owing to the former cause: as Oldys never suffered his pen to lie idle while he could "put money in his purse" from his lucubrations. We shall speak of him more particularly in Part v. Meanwhile, the reader is informed that the British Librarian is a work of no common occurrence, or mean value. It is rigidly correct, if not very learned, in bibliographical information. I once sent three guineas to procure a copy of it, according to its description, upon large paper; but, on its arrival, I found it to be not quite so large as my own tolerably amply-margined copy. Bishop Tanner's Bibliotheca Britanico-Hibernica, which cost the author forty years' labour, was published in 1748, folio; with a preface by Dr. Wilkins. We must receive it with many thanks, imperfect and erroneous as many parts of it are; but I hope the period is not very remote when a literary friend, living, as he constantly is, in an inexhaustible stock of British literature of all kinds, will give us a new edition, with copious additions and corrections, translated into our native tongue. The History of the Art of Printing by Watson, Edit., 1713, 8vo., is at best but a meagre performance. It happens to be rare, and, therefore, bibliomaniacs hunt after it. My copy of it, upon large paper, cost me 1l. 8s. It was formerly Paton's, of Edinburgh, a knowing antiquary in Scottish printing. The History of Printing, by Palmer, 1733, 4to., and Dr. Middleton's Dissertations upon the same, 1735, 4to., have been particularly treated by me, as well as the similar works of Ames and Herbert, in the first volume of my new edition of Herbert's British Typographical Antiquities; and the public is too well acquainted with the merits and demerits of each to require their being pointed out in the present place. I will close this note by observing that the Censuria Literaria, in ten volumes octavo; and the British Bibliographer (now publishing) which grew out of it; Mr. Beloe's Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, six volumes, 8vo.; and Mr. Savage's continuation of The British Librarian; are works which render the list of English publications, relating to typography and curious books, almost complete. I believe I may safely affirm that the period is not very distant when some of these latter publications, from the comparatively few copies which were struck off, will become very rare.