OF LIBRARIES; From the European Magazine of March, 1816. IT is a remarkable circumstance in the history' of mankind, that nothing has contributed more to carry a name down to posterity, than collecting a library, from the time of the Ptolomies down to John Duke of Roxburghe-and what is equally remarkable, the fame of the collector does not seem to depend upon the fate of the library. Whether it may have been burnt at Alexandria, or dispersed by public sale in London, it equally serves to record the possessor's name in the annals of Fame. we have had some singular instances of a similar nature. The Harley library, though dispersed during the last century, in the worst possible manner, will, in the records of literature, for ever commemorate the name of the collector. The library of Mr. Harley will be long remembered, when the administration of Lord Oxford is forgotten. This strong predilection in favour of those who form libraries, when it is considered, may reasonably be accounted for. The trumpet of Fame, it is well known, is always in the hands of literary men; and they, in general, not being men of fortune, feel themselves much indebted to those who em store of literary food, and who, at the same time, permit them to partake of it. Even when the circumstances of families occasion the dispersion of such collections, the original possessor is remem On the continent, we have had very extraordinary instances of this circumstance, in our own times. Who would have ever heard of Mons. Gaignat, or the Duke deploy their affluence in providing a Valiere, if it had not been for their curious libraries? both of which were sold by that intelligent bookseller, Mons. Debure, of Paris They both, indeed, had the advantage of excellent catalogues made of their libraries, by that gentle-bered by the literati with gratiman, which will continue to be consulted, and quoted, till literature shall cease to exist; while the name of the collectors and possessors will be recorded in the literary calendar. Even the name of the "Grand Colbert," as the French call him, will be longer remembered by his excellent library, than by his administration of the French finances, which he managed so well. His books were so well chosen, that his arms—a serpent-is till now a sure passport into the first libraries in Europe. Indeed, in our own country, tude; insomuch, that it may be truly said, that there is no road so certain to future fame, as forming a large library-and assuredly, for the collector himself, there is no road to rational pleasure equal to possessing, under his own roof, all the knowledge that human talents have hitherto communicated to mankind; which at all times may be consulted with convenience; and that convenience possesses this superiority over the most communicative friend, however intelligent, that the oracle is never out of humour; whereas the friend is liable to all the vicissitudes of health and temper "that flesh is heir to." These circumstances taken into consideration, it is certainly remarkable, that in this country, distinguished as it is, among all the nations of the earth, both for its riches and knowledge, there should be so few fine libraries. It is true, we have some brilliant exceptions to this observation. The Earl Spencer undoubtedly stands first in the class of all collectors, in this and every other country. His lordship's library will be an everlasting monument of his taste, knowledge, and liberality. A very magnificent descriptive catalogue of the early printed books in this library has been lately published, by Mr. Dibdin, which is, itself, a fine example of typography; and so full, that it renders any further description of it unnecessary: indeed, for first editions of the classical authors, and beautiful early specimens of that most important of all human arts, the art of printing, this library is unequalled by any library in Europe, either public or private. It is greatly to the credit of the Duke of Devonshire, to say, that, as a collector, his grace only stands second to his noble relation, Lord Spencer; but as his grace is very young, he may eventually be second to none, for his grace possesses at present the finest foundation for a capital library that exists in Europe. There are, in this country, numerous collections of books, for the private use of the proprietors, but very few for the use of the learned, at the same time. There are some individuals of moderate fortune, but of great taste, who have made beautiful collections of books, and who have entered into the true spirit of the luxury of literature, by collecting matchless copies of the best books. Of this class of collectors, the hon. Mr. Thomas Grenville stands pre-eminent, as a gentleman who unites exquisite taste with profound knowledge. But the man of all others, in this country, who, with limited means, has made the most wonderful exertion to collect books of learning, is the Rev. Dr. Charles Burney: his collection of Greek literature, and early MSS. of classical authors, exceeds any private library. It is delightful to see such treasures in the possession of so eminent a scholar.* Of smaller collections for private use it would be endless to speak: of public libraries in London we have none worth mentioning, except the British Museum; the library of which is undoubtedly a huge collection of books, brought together without plan or arrange. ment. This is indeed the very nature of heterogeneous contributions, where bad editions and waste paper books stand next to those of the greatest rarity, and of the first utility; and, of course, the tasteful collection of that eminent literary connoisseur, Mr. Cracherode, is lost in such a mass. But utility alone should be the great object of such a library. If the gentlemen who have the care of it are well acquainted with the chain of hu man knowledge, they will see, by consulting their catalogue, what links they still want; and these only ought to be looked for. It is *There has lately appeared a gentleman and a scholar, Mr. Heber, who pal purchaser of books; and if he proat all public sales has been the princiceeds, he will soon possess one of the most extensive private libraries in the kingdom. by that means alone that an useful library can be collected, which does not depend upon a number of volumes, but upon a judicious selection of the best books upon every subject. This leads me to speak of a library, collected upon this principle, where selection has been the great object of pursuit. It will easily be conjectured I mean the king's library, where that principle seems to have been carried to the height of all possible perfection, insomuch that several professional men, who have consulted this library, have left it, persuaded that their single pursuit had been the principal object of the collection. But notwithstanding the universality of this library, it has certainly some points stronger than others, particularly on the subjects of geography and history. These, no doubt, ought to constitute the principal objects of a royal library. On the first of these subjects, this library surpasses every one in Europe, geography having been a favourite pursuit with his majesty. The happy consequence of that taste has been the wonderful voyages of discovery, undertaken during his majesty's reign, from that of captain Cook to captain Flinders. No doubt the circumstances of the times have favoured those great exertions, in forming this library. The dispersion of several large libraries, particularly those of that learned body the Jesuits, has brought into the market many rare books. Soon after this, the gentleman who has presided over the library ever since it commencement, travelled all over Europe for a considerable time, by his majesty's command, purposely to collect curious books, and his search has not been in vain; of which this VOL I. library will be a long and lasting proof. And it is said, that the gentlemen who have, at present, the care of the king's property, have, with a taste and liberality that do them the highest honour, ordered, that the pursuit his majesty took so much delight in shall not now be neglected-of course, the gentleman who has had the care of it for so long a period, will not neglect to add to that wonderful chain of knowledge such links as time alone can bring forth. I forgot to mention, that there are in this library, not only all the best books on every useful branch of knowledge, but also a proper share of the vertû part of a great library: consisting of the books published in the infancy of printing, particularly the first editions of the classical authors, for the use and consultation of those learned men, who mean to do honour to their country, by publishing more correct editions of those authors. These early printed books also serve to illustrate the history of the most useful of all arts, the art of printing. The other libraries of this kingdom are either in the country, or at the universities. At Cambridge, there is only one that deserves the name of a library, but here their funds does not seem to permit them to keep it up with any degree of spirit; which caused much regret in that eminent scholar, Dr. Richard Farmer, who once had the care of the public library. At Oxford, several of the colleges have collections of books, but none of them can be called libraries. Oxford, however, possesses one library, the fame of which reaches the utmost ends of the earth, and will for eyer sanctify the name of the founder. Perhaps, in the annals of literature, there is not a name 2 S that will go down to posterity with | a greater share of fame, than that of Thomas Bodley, a private gentleman of Exeter. Pity it was, that the queen's meanness, and the rapacity of the Burleigh faction, prevented him from possessing more of what he so emphatically calls, Purse Ability. But by the liberality of several successive contributions, a noble collection has been formed; and it is to be hoped, that every man of fortune, who receives his education at Oxford, will continue to contribute towards the completion of this noble library; while the gentlemen who have the care of it should, by persevering study, enable themselves to point out to the new contributors, all such books as would make the library a complete system of intelligence. In the neighbourhood of Oxford, it is impossible to overlook the Sunderland library at Blenheim. This library was formed in the beginning of the last century, and consists of many beautiful specimens of early typography. The successors of the Marlborough family have added but little to it since its first formation. The present heir, however, the marquis of Blandford, seems to be making the amende honorable for the neglect of his forefathers-we heartily wish him success in so laudable a pursuit. In Scotland, there is but one library of any great extent-the Advocates' Library-of which a catalogue is printed in two volumes, folio. It is very full, as indeed it ought to be, on the civil law the law of Scotland being founded on the Roman, or as it is called, the civil law-But a library calculated for the use, and supported by the contributions, of gentlemen of the long robe, should be complete in the laws of every country-even in all local and municipal laws, as the laws of this, and every country, however perfect, may be improved by comparison and analogy. There are at Glasgow some very fine books, which were bequeathed to the university, with the other objects of his museum, by Dr. William Hunter. They were collected by that gentleman for their rarity, without any plan of utility, beyond the books on his profession but they will be a lasting monument of his taste and liberality— and certainly they will form an excellent foundation for the additions of some succeeding members of that university; so that in time, it is to be hoped that Dr. Hunter's library may rival that of sir Thomas Bodley. After saying so much, what the libraries of this country are, how much and how little they are calculated to disseminate general knowledge, perhaps it would be proper to say a few words upon the means of obtaining, in a more certain manner, that great end. It is conceived this may be done, in a great capital like London, at a small expense to the parties, by dividing knowledge into all its numberless ramifications. Every public office, or body of men, ought to have all the books on the subject of their pursuit. For instance: the treasury should have every book that ever was written upon finance-the secretary of state's office every thing diplomatic-the admiralty every thing nautical-the board of trade every thing commercial—the India company every thing on the commerce and history of those countries they trade with, or governthe bank every thing on bullion, paper credit, the course of ex change, &c.-the inns of court every thing on law, from Bracton to Blackstone-the college of phy- | sicians every thing from Galen and Hippocrates downwards-the surgeons' hall every publication on anatomy, surgery, &c. &c. &c. There is, in London, a most eminent example of the success of confining the collection of a library to the pursuit of its proprietor. Sir Joseph Banks's library of voyages and natural history, with all their relative branches, will, of course, occur to every intelligent reader. This library, in those branches of knowledge it professes to possess, is unparalleled; and the catalogue of it so luminously arranged, that any person may, with perfect facility, see, at once, every thing, that has ever been written, on the subject he wishes to consult; and for such consultation, every man of science, both at home and abroad, knows the library is constantly open, with all that liberality and accommodation that so much distinguishes its proprietor. of the great and liberal patronage of a prince, who, during a long reign, has wisely foreseen, that he could not improve the rising generation of his subjects in Hanover more, than by contributing to the library at Gottingen, and supplying it with all the knowledge that books convey., The publications of this country, so celebrated for the sciences, formed a considerable part of his majesty's contributions. Indeed, the universities of Germany are greatly distinguished for teaching the sciences, and their libraries, of course, are well stored with books on such subjects; insomuch, that most of the university libraries possess a copy of that great code of scientific knowledge, The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London at large; which is undoubtedly the most extensive and valuable body of miscellaneous information, on the subject of the sciences, that the talents of mankind have hitherto produced. In the public libraries of France, It is in vain that the expense of there is none of that sound sense libraries is urged against forming in the selection as in those of such a collection. We frequently Germany; and the private collecsee men of fortune giving many tions consist principally in pretty thousand pounds for a single pic-books, and books of prints. It is ture, which, when viewed a few true, indeed, that Didot, and other times, loses its charms, and ceases eminent printers at Paris, have lately published some very magto be acquired from books is inex-nificent books, that enter into all haustible. to amuse; whereas the knowledge The greatest libraries on the continent are, those of the Vatican at Rome, the Imperial Library at Vienna, and the Royal Library at Paris; of which mention will be made hereafter. The libraries for use are principally in Germany, and there they are where they ought to be at the universities. That at Gottingen is among the first, for it has had the advantage their libraries. The royal library at Paris is, however, a wonderful collection of fine books; but then it has been the successive effort of every sovereign, for several centuries past:indeed, under the direction of such men as William Budeus, James Amyot, J. A. de Thou, the Abbés Louvois, Sallier, Bignon, &c. &c. aided with the patronage of all the succeeding sovereigns, it could not |