more than he, to purchase it for the tailors, and make a profit by its sale for their ignoble purposes. The bookseller of this same anti-bibliomaniac negotiated for him an exchange, by which he obtained the same work on paper "bound in russia,' and a copy of Brian Walton's Polyglot to boot. This little history may serve book collectors of all ages, as a hint to beware of determining the real value of a "very choice, curious, or supposed unique article."

"FATHERS AND COMMENTATORS. Nor let human aid be wanting to give effect to divine wisdom. Let there be a choice edition or two (!) of the FATHERS, and of the more celebrated ancient COMMENTATORS." As Mr. Dibdin has here no comforting or guiding note, we will just add, secundum artem, that in Messrs. Rivington and Cochrane's Catalogue is the following item. "A COLLECTION OF ALL THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH CONTAINED IN DR. HARWOOD'S LIST. Best edition of each Author, fine copies, many of them bound uniformly in calf extra, m. l. (from sheets) altogether 137 volumes, viz. 126 vols. folio, 4 vols. 4to. and 7 vols. 8vo. 315 1." Must we then have two editions? or even two sets, to speak more properly?

The names of a few OLD ENGLISH DIVINES are mentioned, and such notes as this subjoined:

"And I beseech the theological collector not to let a fine copy of good old Matthew Poole's Synopsis Criticorum, Lond. 1669, folio, five volumes; especially if it is such a (an) one as Mr. Payne now possesses-Utr. 1684. ed. opt.-slip through his fingers without becoming master of it; for it is obtainable at a reasonable price."

As it is impossible to abbreviate Mr. Dibdin's observations on our old Divines with justice to either party, we pass on to the head of "SERMONS," under which we find about eight closely printed pages of curious extracts from the works of Latimer, Fox, Drant, and Edgeworth, a Roman Catholic divine.

"MODERN SERMONS. In coming at once to the notice of Sermons in the eighteenth century, I shall not be accused," says our author, "of an unhappy choice in the recommendation of those of Clarke, Seed, South, Sherlock, Jortin, Porteus, Horsley, Paley, and Gisborne. I admit there are some shades of difference, both doctrinal and practical, in these excellent performances; but I am sure there is enough of CHRIST in all of them to make us better men, and to bring us nearer to salvation."

The whole of the "Summary of FOREIGN DIVINES" is contained in this single paragraph.

"In foreign schools of divinity the same (similar) great lights have appeared to check the fury of human rashness, and to shew forth' the

cause of Christian redemption. Who does not love the amenity of Erasmus, and the philanthropy of Melancthon? each of whom in turn seemed to hold the scales of moderation and Christian charity, in order to prevent Luther and Eckius from engaging in more than a

6

war of

Under the separate title, however, of "FRENCH DIVINES," the well-known works of Fenelon, Bossuet, Massillon, Bourdaloue, and Saurin are praised; no others mentioned.

Among the observations on " ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY" the reader may be startled by reading such as this:

"I will be free to say that that collector, be he young, or be he old, may thank his happy stars who shall possess the fifty-three folios of which that still unfinished and gigantic work (the ACTA SANCTORUM) is composed, at the price of so many sovereigns."

The last chapter but one, just out of the department of Divinity, though very short, we hold to be by many degrees the best; but we prefer on this, and on all occasions, to let Mr. Dibdin speak for himself.

"I am fully sensible," says he, "that this notice of authors who have enriched the literature and promoted the religion of our country is abundantly jejune (copiously empty, Ash.) and incomplete; and that a very limited knowledge of this portion of divinity may readily supply more ample and more valuable details. But not only must there be limits sunt certi denique fines,' but a recollection that this work is not an EXCLUSIVE performance, either devoted entirely to theology, or to such as have made great progress in their biblical studies and collections."

We shall only take leave to apply this to all the preceding chapters, and express our entire concurrence with Mr. Dibdin in his estimate of his own labours.

Under the next and last head, that of" MANUALS OF DEVOTION," (which seems misplaced, or to have been an after thought,) there is a very curious and interesting notice of a work entitled the "Monument of Matrons, containing seven several Lamps of Divinity," and published "in the year 1582, when our VIRGIN QUEEN was in the very zenith of her glory.'

Having thus given as good an account as we could of the Text of the "Library Companion," we shall not offer any more specimens of the notes than those which have already been incidentally referred to. The notes are, in truth, with few exceptions, little more than extracts from the Catalogues of Messrs. Payne and Foss; Longman and Co.; J. and A. Arch; Rivington and Cochrane; Ogle, Duncan and Ogle; Triphook, Thorpe,

and Bohn. It is enough for us to enumerate these respectable booksellers, and to say, what every body knows, that their catalogues are at all times accessible to the book buyer.

We have said before that a mixture of heterogeneous matter is not pleasing to our taste: we therefore cannot admire the serio-comic style in which the "Divinity" department of Mr. Dibdin's work is put together. Such incongruities as strike the eye on the first opening of this volume, produce a very disagreeable effect upon a sober mind.

In addition to the want of taste, if that be the proper term, which we have ventured to point out, there is also a want of accuracy in the writing which cannot but cause some surprise. In the quotations we have made, several inaccuracies have occurred, and there are many more, which, if it were necessary, we could adduce. Now, as book making in all its branches was the subject of the author, we had every reason to expect a fair specimen of the art. Attention to the rules of Syntax and the graces of rhetoric would not, we think, have diminished the value of a work recommending to us the delicacies of typography and all the varied charms of bibliopoietical skill. We are not among those who would quarrel for a comma's sake, when there is a single redeeming excellence to note; we shall therefore only hint, that if Mr. Dibdin desire to see his book generally "clad in goodly calf or russia," a fly leaf of errata and emendata would perhaps accelerate the accomplishment of his wish.

If we must assume the office of the "Young Man's Guide" to the "Library Companion," we should say, 'pass over our boundaries as quickly as you can; peep into History, Voyages and Travels, Biography, Philology, Belles Lettres, Poetry, the Drama, you will be much amused.' If we are to contribute to the "Old Man's Comfort," we shall tell him that this is not a work to occupy many of his precious moments.'

Bibliotheca Biblica: a Select List of Books on Sacred Literature; with Notices Biographical, Critical, and Bibliographical. By WILLIAM ORME, Author of Memoirs of John Owen, D.D. 8vo. 492. pp. 12s. Longman. 1824.

ALTHOUGH We should not choose to affirm that Mr. Orme's biblical catalogue is either unexceptionable or sufficient, we do not hesitate to say that it is likely to be useful to lovers of sacred

literature. That it is imperfect must be admitted; but imperfection is to be expected from the extensive nature of the subject. In fact, works of this description must be estimated comparatively. The present one is, we think, making some allowances, well executed as far as it goes. A few extracts from the preface will best convey the author's intentions, and enable the reader to judge of its utility.

"The following work is designed," says the author, "to furnish the means of easy reference to the most useful books in the important department of biblical literature. Under this head are included Polyglots, and editions of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures; Concordances, Lexicons, and Introductions to the Bible; works relating to its geography, chronology, and antiquities; translations and commentaries; books which treat of the principles of sacred criticism, hermeneutics, and philology; and numerous productions of a miscellaneous nature, which furnish illustrations of the sacred writings."-" The biographical notices, which stand at the head of each article, seldom extend further than to the name and profession of the author, his age and country. They will, in most cases, enable the reader to form some idea of his religious sentiments and circumstances, and of what may be expected from his writings."-" As the Bibliotheca is necessarily and avowedly but a selection, it may be proper to mention the principles on which it has been made. The list of editions of the original Scriptures is comparatively limited, and confined to the principal critical editions."-" In the selection of foreign works, there will be found many of the most valuable of the early continental critics and commentators, and a considerable number of the more modern writers of Holland and Germany. In general, the merits of the former class, and the sentiments which mark the latter, are pointed out. It would have been easy to enlarge this list, especially of the older authors; but as utility, not curiosity, or display, has been studied, many books have been omitted, which are now only to be found in the cabinets of the curious, or reposing in the public receptacles of the lumber of past ages. Those who desire to follow out the inquiry, have only to procure the Bibliotheca Theologica Selecta of Walch, a work full of valuable information respecting books in every department of theology, which had appeared previous to its publication in 1765. In British works the author has endeavoured to make the list as complete as possible; and it is expected that few works of real importance will be found to be omitted. General theology, systematic, practical, and polemical divinity, it must however be observed, are not included in the plan*.

"Many more of the puritanical expositors could have been inserted; but there is so great a sameness in their manner and sentiments, that

Such a work as this is not, would be very acceptable to the theological student; and we hope some pen will be found competent to undertake the task.

what is said of those who have been introduced, will generally apply to the whole class. Several of the leading theological works in English, though not bearing directly on the exposition of the Bible, have been inserted on account of their importance; and a few of the standard works on ecclesiastical history, are mentioned. Many books on the Socinian controversy are also introduced, as that debate involves so much that belongs to the criticism and interpretation of the Scriptures. As Scotland, notwithstanding its religious character and advantages, has been thought not to have produced many works of a biblical nature, considerable pains have been taken to furnish an account of those productions, which in earlier or later times have proceeded from the pen of Scotchmen."

*

After mentioning certain publications as having been composed more or less upon the plan of the present work, the author refers to his arranged index, by consulting which the reader may easily find the different writers who treat of particular subjects, and the commentators on the several books of Scripture, Of this index the following extracts are given as specimens.

We shall close our notice of Mr. Orme's labours with a selection of a few well-known Divines of various persuasions and pursuits, which will, we hope, fully enable the reader to form an opinion upon the plan and execution of the work.

*"Treatise on Religion and Learning, &c. by Edward Leigh, 1656. Ecclesiastes, or Discourse on the Gift of Preaching, by Bishop Wilkins,

1640.

Catalogue of English Writers on the Scriptures, 1663.

Elenchus Scripturam, in Sacrum Scriptorum, by William Crowe, 1672.
Bibliotheca Britannica, by Dr. Watt.

English Translation of Calmet Dic. 3d. Volume, 1732."