BOOK 111. Chapter II. Classificatory Systems. แ catalogued. If, for example, the Library be especially rich in historical works, it may be expedient, not only to give a series of divisions and sections under the class "HISTORY" far more numerous than those assigned to any other class, but also to insert in that class many works which in ordinary cases would have a better claim to appear elsewhere. Thus, in a collection the main strength of which lies in British history, it may be well to catalogue the "Statutes at Large," (the merits of which as an historical text-book have been well enforced by Mr. Froude in the Oxford Essays,) in that class rather than in the class "Jurisprudence," giving in the latter a mere reference or guide-mark; and to take precisely the same course with many works which are poetical in form but historical in substance; as, for instance, the Alliterative Poem on the deposition of King Richard II., or the collection of Political Songs from the reign of John to that of Edward II., published by the Camden Society. This plan was adopted by John Michael Francke, in his catalogue of the Library of Count Bunau (now incorporated with the Royal Library at Dresden), and it is not the least useful characteristic of that admirable though unfinished work. During the latter half of the eighteenth century several new bibliographical systems were proposed—that of Leclerc de Montlinot, published in the Journal Encyclopédique for September, 1760, and critically dissected by Mercier, in the same Journal, three months afterwards, being perhaps the most fantastically symmetrical of them all. But I pass them over without further mention, and hasten to the description of some, AMEILHON'S AND CAMUS' SCHEMES. 785 BOOK III. Chapter II. Systems. more important for our present purpose, which form a portion of the fruits of that intellectual activity to Classificatory which the revolution of 1789 gave so vigorous an impulse. Of these the most noticeable seem to be the schemes proposed respectively by Ameilhon, by Camus, by Butenschoen, and by Daunou. Camus' Schemes. The prominent place assigned in preceding systems Ameilhon's and to Theology was of course offensive to men imbued with the revolutionary principles of the day. M. Ameilhon, therefore, proposed to displace Theology in favour of Grammar, to retrench from Jurisprudence its section of Canon Law, (inserting the latter as a sort of appendix to Church History,) and to separate the Physical Sciences from the Arts. He makes nine chief classes, and arranges them thus:-I. Grammar; II. Logic; III. Morals; IV. Jurisprudence; V. Metaphysics; VI. Physics; VII. Arts; VIII. Literature; IX. History: and he is especially careful to disclaim all idea of grouping these classes according to any scheme of the faculties of the human mind, or of establishing by their sequence any theory of the growth of human knowledge.1 M. Camus, on the other hand, is far more ambitious. Like so many of his predecessors nothing less will content him than to take a man "in a state of nature," and then to class his Library in the order in which this man of nature forms his impressions of the universe about him. His attention, says the worthy academician, is first directed to the heavens, and to the stars which embel 1 Projet sur quelques changemens à faire aux catalogues des bibliothèques. (Mémoires de l'Institut National, etc., ii, 477). Vol. II. 50 BOOK III. Chapter II. Systems. lish them, and then to the earth on which he dwells. Classificatory And after having made the tour of the universe he comes back upon himself, studies his own mind, takes the measure of his own capacities, and begins to collect all that has been written on the nature of man, his education, the formation of languages, and so on. The reader will scarcely need further proof that the elaborate essay of M. Camus (although it has been printed more than once) has done small service to bibliography; but if further proof were desired, it will surely be afforded by the statement that the author gravely proposes to remove the eulogies of dead men from the shelf of Biography (where he admits common sense might be tempted to place them), and to transfer them to that of Oratory, because "eloquence is their chief object."1 M. Butenschoen, who at the beginning of this century was Professor of History, and Librarian, at Colmar, on the Upper Rhine, followed much in the same track, but with somewhat greater direction. Peignot has described his system at great length. Here, however, I can but enumerate his principal classes, which run thus: I. Works introductory to the Sciences, Literature and the Arts; II. Literature and Fine Arts; III. Historical Sciences; IV. Philosophical Sciences; V. Mathematical and Physical Sciences; VI. Economical and Medical Sciences; VII. Arts and Trades; VIII. Positive Sciences (1. Jurisprudence, 2. Theology); IX. Miscellanies, Col 1 Mémoires de l'Institut, an IV, 64, seqq. Peignot characterises this paper as "profound and judicious." Dictionnaire de Bibliologie, ii, 220. Achard has reprinted it in extenso, (Cours de Bibliographie, i, 252-278) lections, and Polygraphy; X. Manuscripts, Literary Curiosities, Typographical Memorials.2 Of all those innovating Schemes which have a connection somewhat more than synchronical with the great French revolution, that which bears the distinguished name of Daunou is unquestionably the best. We have still, indeed, some attempt at symmetry, but it is to a certain degree, restrained under the grasp of a vigorous and practical mind. Like Camus and Butenschoen he must begin at the beginning; but instead of putting, in imitation of the former, a fallen Adam into an unfenced Eden, he is content to put a well-conducted pupil into a well-endowed college. The student, he says, begins with grammar, goes through a course of literature, accompanied by some lectures on geography and history. A course of philosophy completes the routine of general instruction, and is followed by the special study of medicine, of law, or of theology, according to the profession for which he is intended. M. Daunou's classification, therefore, (after an introductory section devoted to Bibliography), shapes itself thus: I. Literature (Grammarians, Orators and Rhetoricians, Poets, Critics, Literary Miscellanies); II. History (Geography, Chronology, History proper, Works supplementary to History); III. Sciences (Philosophy, Metaphysics, Logic, Morals, Politics, Social Science, Political Economy, Physics, Mathematics, Natural History); IV. Arts (Agriculture, Mechanical Arts, Arts of Design, Music); V. Medicine; VI. Jurisprudence; VII. Theology; VIII. Poly Peignot, Dictionnaire de Bibliologie, ut supra, ii, 213-218. BOOK III. Chapter II. Classificatory Systems. Daunou's Scheme. BOOK III. Chapter II. Classificatory Systems Parent's Scheme. graphy or Encyclopædical Collections. In criticising this Scheme, M. Brunet has very justly remarked, that however suitable it might be for mere educational collections, consisting in great part of elementary works, the attempt to treat all the other classes of a vast Library, as though they formed a ladder by which to get into a pulpit or into a professional chair of law or medicine, would prove to be a failure. Another scheme of this date that of M. Parentmay, perhaps, deserve a word of remark in passing on. It proposes these thirteen chief divisions: 1. Agriculture and Commerce; 2. Languages and Grammar; 3. Mechanical Arts; 4. Liberal Arts; 5. Mathematics; 6. Polite Literature; 7. Cosmography; 8. Natural History; 9. Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine; 10. History of Nations; 11. Legislation; 12. Morals; 13. Periodical Publications. Not the least curious thing connected with this essay is, that it includes a separate scheme for dividing literary history into fourteen great epochs, each of them connected with a predominating name. Its own epoch is sufficiently marked by the last three of these: "12th Epoch: Voltaire sketching on the walls of the Bastille the rough draft of the Henriade. 13th Epoch: Voltaire crowned at Paris. 14th Epoch: Bonaparte, the friend of the arts and of learning, consolidating the French Republic, and giving peace to Europe.1 Essai sur la bibliographie et sur les talens du bibliothécaire, 1801. |