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studying, had expressed his approbation of the manner in which the books were kept and arranged.

The Rev. William Webb, D. D. (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.)

Dr Webb confirmed Dr Clarke's statement as to the mode in which the selection of the books was made. Where the University had subscribed before 1814, they continued their subscription, and put aside the books received under the act. Mr Ackermann had got some returned, and Mr Lodge might, on application, receive back his " Illustrious Portraits." The only means which the University possesses of buying books, is the Ruslat fund, which does not exceed 380l. They are thus often unable to buy even valuable works. They had till very lately neither Heiderick's nor Schreve lius's Greek Lexicon; the works of Dr Paley, though a member of the University, were not in the library till last year. He thinks Mr Lysons would have sold more than 25 copies of his work, if he had sent it down to the University. The number of students had increased 500 since the passing of the act; they were now 3100.

The Rev. Thomas Gaisford, (professor of Greek at Oxford.)

Mr Gaisford is a curator of the Bodleian Library, generally believed to be the most extensive in the kingdom. Almost all the books claimed under the act are deposited in the library. Not one in a hundred, perhaps, is rejected, chiefly school books, such as Joyce's Arithmetic. The University had attempted to make distinctions in their demand of works, but found it impossible to judge of a work by the title. The annual revenue applicable to the purchase of books or manuscripts is about 1000l. It is employed chiefly in the purchase of fo. reign works or manuscripts; within the last ten years they had expended

between 8000l. and 90002. in MSS. and had thus incurred a debt of 4000/. chiefly in the purchase of a collection from Venice. The lately obtained MSS. consisted chiefly of some Greek classics, Greek and Latin ecclesiastical MSS., Latin classics, and Italian literature, with some not reducible to any general head. He would not, as a curator, advise more than 100l. to be applied to the purchase of English books. The Bodleian MSS. were about fourteen thousand in number, perhaps more. Unluckily Sir Thomas Bodley excluded dramatic works, so that they had not the first and second editions of Shakespeare. It was important to have all books, good and bad, placed in the library for future reference.

Thus, Thomas Paine's works might be useful hereafter to an historian of George III. Green's "Art of Coney Catching," is referred to in Johnson and Steevens's Shakespeare; and a foreign editor of Xenophon de Venatione has made use of an English Treatise on Hunting. The library is open to all graduates of a certain rank, and every facility is given to persons engaged in works of science and literature. The University never subscribes for works; they would pro. bably have purchased Dugdale's Monasticon and Stephens's Thesaurus, when completed; but they would not have taken them in. It is impossible to obtain complete lists of new works, or to judge of them without seeing them. Being asked if he does not conceive that the delivery of eleven copies of Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, which sell at 90 guineas, would not be a grievance, he observed, that a new edition could not be published without the University's permission, as they have the plates. Hickes's Thesaurus was printed at the University press; he does not think it would be a heavy grievance on the author to deliver eleven copies.

Joseph Phillimore, Esq. (Regius Professor of Civil Law, and a curator of the Bodleian Library.)

Mr Phillimore confirmed the statement, that the funds of the Bodleian Library did not exceed 1000l. chiefly raised by a tax on the University, which had been lately doubled. He believes mathematics to be the branch in which the library is most deficient. It is peculiarly rich in topography; and he conceived that even common guides to watering places should be placed there, as they may be of use hereafter. It being remarked, that Mrs More's Sacred Dramas were among the rejected books, he could not answer as to every book.

The Rev. Bulkeley Bandinell, (librarian to the University.)

The library is always made as open as possible to authors, and even to booksellers. Mr Lysons, in his Britannia, made frequent references to it. Mr Ruding, in his Coinage, received assistance, which he had handsomely acknowledged. The editor of the new edition of Wood's Athenæ received most material aid, without which Mr Bandinell does not think that work could have gone on. Mr Gifford made acknowledgments in his late edition of Ben Jonson; and many of Mr Lodge's Illustrious Portraits were copied from the Bodleian; the artists were admitted at all hours. Mr Lowe, who projected a continuation of Macdiarmid's Lives of British Statesmen, was admitted into the library, with two amanuenses, whom he kept constantly copying. It would scarcely be believed, but this gentleman often had down a hundred books in the day. Mr Triphook and Dr Nott had been enabled, from the Bodleian, to complete their reprints of Anthony Baird's "Book of Knowledge," and of the "Gull's Hornbook;" the latter a very curious work, not corresponding with its frivolous title. There were some

books, such as one entitled "A Pat from the Lion's Paw," which had been at first rejected, but were afterwards thought likely to become curious at some future time, in a political point of view. This had not been demanded, in consequence of merely judging by the title, without seeing the book. Rev. Launcelot Sharpe, (a governor of Sion College.)

The court of governors of this college consist of the rectors, vicars, corates, and lecturers of the city of London. It was opened for use in the year 1631. It is accessible every day of the week, except Sundays, Good Friday, and Christmas day, and a month in the year for arranging it. Three-fourths of the books received from the stationers' company are put in the shelves, and the rest kept in an adjacent room, where they are easy of access. Many authors of eminence have resorted to the library. The late Drs Vincent and Goddard, Mr Nicholls, Mr Malcolm; it would be a waste of time to name all. The library has no funds for purchasing books, except one of 201., and the other of 61. Being asked if novels were put into a library established for the benefit of clergymen, he answered, he did not conceive it at all derogatory to a clergyman, after having laboured through the day, to amuse himself with reading a good novel. This library is not, of course, so much frequented as the Museum; one reason is, that the books are lent out. Any fellow may have any number he chooses. Books which, at one time, appeared trash, have proved afterwards valuable; thus one, entitled "Greene's Groat's Worth of Wit," is now worth six guineas. The library could hold 20,000 volumes.

Mr Henry Hervey Baker, (of the British Museum.)

The British Museum has not been regularly supplied with books since 1814. The Messrs Rivingtons were

served with a writ, but terms were made with them. There are two writs out at present, one against Mr Murray, the other against Mr Baynes. There was a general notice circulated through the trade soon after the act passed, which Mr Murray received very ungraciously, and used very intemperate language to Mr Baker upon the occasion; he did not, therefore, think it necessary to give a second notice. Messrs Longman and Company always delivered their books regularly. Some doubt arose as to the liability of two collections of tracts, the Archaica and Heliconica, but the publishers ultimately judged it expedient to deliver

them.

Mr Baker lamented that the British Museum was not so accessible to the public as it ought to be. Admissions were formerly given to any person bringing a proper recommendation with him; but, in consequence of the misbehaviour of one individual, it had been ordered that none should be admitted unless known to a trustee or librarian. This rule was not very rigidly adhered to; the librarians found it painful to refuse, and often took the responsibility on themselves. Persons sometimes applied for information as to the works they wanted to consult; a good deal of the time of the librarians was spent in giving such information. He la mented also that there was not suffi. cient accommodation in the rooms for the numbers who came there. This number fluctuated from 10 to 30 in the day, and the room was sometimes over-crowded. About 50 or 60 dictionaries are placed in the sitting-room, so as to be consulted without an application to the librarians; it might be desirable that more books were so placed. The Museum is now engaged in publishing a fac-simile of the Alexandrian Manuscript; the delivery of eleven copies will not be any burden on that work. There are others on

which it might be a burden, such as the "Public Records," and the "Body of English Historians;" but no individual would in any case undertake such works. He never knew an instance in which a very expensive work had a large sale, or was reprinted.

REPORT

Of Committee appointed to inquire into the propriety of purchasing Dr Burney's Library for the British Museum.

The Committee have directed their attention, in the first place, to inquiring into the component parts or principal classes of literature, of which this library consists; secondly, into their value; and thirdly, as to the importance of purchasing the whole, at the public charge, for the purpose of adding it to the collection now existing in the British Museum, having ascer tained, that Dr Burney's executor was unwilling to separate one portion from the rest, or to treat for the sale of the collection otherwise than as entire and undivided.

One of the large classes consists of manuscripts of classical and other ancient authors; among which that of Homer's Iliad, formerly belonging to Mr Towneley, holds the first place in the estimation of all the very competent judges, who were examined by your Committee; although not supposed to be older than the latter part of the thirteenth or beginning of the fourteenth century, it is considered as being of the earliest date of the MSS. of Homer's Iliad known to scholars, and may be rated as superior to any other which now exists, at least in England; it is also extremely rich in scholia, which have been hitherto but partially explored.

There are two copies of the series of Greek Orators, probably written in the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries, of which that upon vellum was brought to this country by Mr Cripps and Dr Clarke, and is esteemed as extremely valuable: an account of the Orations contained in it was drawn up by Dr Raine, late Master of the Charterhouse, and of the collations, which he had made in comparing it with the Aldine edition.

This manuscript of the Rhetoricians is indeed one of the most important manuscripts ever introduced into this country, because it supplies more lucanæ than any other manuscript; there is contained in it a portion of Isæus, which has never been printed: there is only one printed oration of Lycurgus in existence, which is imperfect, and this manuscript completes it; there is also an oration of Dinarchus, which may be completed from this manuscript.

Among the rarer manuscripts in the collection, there are two beautiful copies of the Greek Gospels, of the tenth and twelfth centuries. The Geography of Ptolemy is another of the finest manuscripts, enriched with maps, which, although not older than the fifteenth century, yet, from the circumstance of all the other known copies of this work in the original language being in the collection of different public libraries abroad, the possession of this copy is rendered particularly desirable. There is likewise a valuable Latin manuscript of the comedies of Plautus, written in the fourteenth century, containing twenty plays; which is a much larger number than the copies already in the Museum, or those in foreign libraries in general contain, most of which have only six or eight, and few, comparatively speaking, more than twelve plays. A beautiful and correct manuscript of Callimachus of the fifteenth century;

a very fine copy of Pappas Alexandr nus' collection of Mathematical Trea tises, of similar date; and a manu script of the Asinus Aureus of Ap leius, an author of extreme rarity, del serve also particular notice. The whol number of manuscripts amount to about 385, but those above mentioned ar the most important and valuable.

Exclusive of the manuscripts already noticed, there is a very large number of Memoranda and Criticisms, in Da Burney's own hand, (exclusive of the Fragmenta Scenica Græca, and book with Dr Burney's own notes ;) three or four articles of which seem nearl prepared for the press. In this part of the collection, there are several smal Lexicons of the Greek Dialects, with numerous remarks on ancient authors: the merit of which, though certainly considerable, can only be thoroughly appreciated by patient investigation.

There are also many original letters of Isaac Casaubon, who maintained an extensive correspondence with mary of the learned men of his time, whose letters to Casaubon have never bee published.

Among the printed books, the whole number of which is from 13,000 to 14,000 volumes, the most distinguished branch consists of the collection of Greek dramatic authors, which are arranged so as to present every diversity of text and commentary at one view; each play being bound up singly, and in so complete but expensive a manner, that it has occasioned the sacrifice of two copies of every edition, and in some instances of such editions as are very rare; the same arrangement has also been adopted with regard to Harpocration, and some of the Greek grammarians; and both the editions of, and annotations upon, Terentianus Maurus, are particularly copious and complete. It appears indeed, that this collection contains the first edition of every Greek Classic, and several of the

arcest among the Latins, and that e series of Grammarians, Lexicograers, and Philosophical writers, in oth languages, is unusually complete. he books are represented to be gerally in good, though not in what ay be styled brilliant, condition; the hole being collected by Dr Burney imself, from the different great libraes, which have been of late years rought to sale, beginning chiefly with e Pinelli Collection.

To enable the House to form an pinion upon this branch of the colction, your Committee subjoin the ords of one of the witnesses, whom hey examined; who says, "The great eature of this eminent scholar's libray is that part which relates to Greek Literature, whether ancient or more ecent. In this respect it is probably he most complete ever assembled by ny man, as it comprises all the mateials requisite for classical criticism. In Latin Classics, and in the criticism connected with Roman Literature, it s not so copious as in the Greek; but nevertheless it contains a number of rare and valuable books, which would considerably enrich the stores deposited in the Museum."

The same witness, with reference to the collection of Memoranda above alluded to, further says,

"The books with manuscript notes may be divided into three portions; first, those which have their margins more or less crowded with remarks, collations, &c. in the hand-writing of many very eminent scholars, viz. Bentley, Burmann, Casaubon, &c.; secondly, the books with manuscript notes by Dr Burney. The greater portion of the books thus enriched, are the Greek Tragedians and the ancient Greek Lexicographers. To illustrate the Greek Drama, and to add to the stores of the ancient Lexicographers, Dr Burney seems to have directed the greatest portion of his industry; and to

VOL. XI. PART II.

any future edition these remarks and additions would prove a most interesting acquisition. Another important portion of this collection may be called the Variorum Collection; this is, perhaps, one of the most remarkable series of books in the whole library; in it, Dr Burney has so brought together the comments and notes of many celebrated scholars upon several Greek, and particularly the dramatic writers, that at one view may be seen almost all that has been said in illustration of each author; it extends to about 300 volumes in folio and quarto. One portion of this remarkable collection consists of a regular series of 170 volumes, entitled Fragmenta Scenica, which comprises all the remains of the Greek dramatists, in number not less than 300, wheresoever they could be traced."

The great copiousness of Dr Burney's library in Greek literature may be collected at once from the following comparative statement of the editions of several authors in that collection, and in the library of the British Museum :—

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