fome Time doubted whether it be neceffary to explain the Things implied by particular Words; as under the Term Baronet, whether, instead of this Explanation, a Title of Honour next in Degree to that of Baron, it would be better to mention more particularly the Creation, Privileges, and Rank of Baronets; and whether, under the Word Barometer, instead of being fatisfied with obferving that it is an Inftrument to discover the Weight of the Air, it would be fit to spend a few Lines upon its Invention, Conftruction, and Principles. It is not to be expected, that with the Explanation of the one the Herald fhould be fatisfied, or the Philofopher with that of the other; but fince it will be required by common Readers, that the Explications fhould be fufficient. for common Ufe; and fince, without fome Attention to fuch Demands, the Dictionary cannot be-. come generally valuable, I have determined to confult the best Writers, for Explanations real, as well as verbal; and perhaps I may at last have Reason to fay, after one of the Augmenters of Furetier, that my Book is more learned than its Author.

In explaining the general and popular Language, it feems neceffary to fort the feveral Senfes of each Word, and to exhibit first its natural and primitive Siguification; as,

To arrive, to reach the Shore in a Voyage: He arrived at a fafe Harbour.

Then to give its confequential Meaning, to arrive, to reach any Place, whether by Land or Sea; as, He arrived at his Country-Seat.

Then its metaphorical Sense, to obtain any Thing defired; as, He arrived at a Peerage.

Then to mention any Observation that arises from the Comparison of one Meaning with another; as, it may be remarked of the Word arrive, that, in confequence of its original and etymological Senfe, it cannot be properly applied but to Words fignify

[ 10 ]

AN ACCOUNT OF THE

HARLEIAN LIBRARY,

T

O folicit a Subfcription for a Catalogue of Books expofed to Sale, is an Attempt for which fome Apology cannot but be neceffary; for few would willingly contribute to the Expence of Volumes, by which neither Inftruction nor Entertainment could be afforded, from which only the Bookfeller could expect Advantage, and of which the only Use must cease, at the Difperfion of the Library.

Nor could the Reasonableness of an univerfal Rejection of our Proposal be denied, if this Catalogue were to be compiled with no other View, than that of promoting the Sale of the Books which it enumerates, and drewn up with that Innacuracy and Confufion which may be found in those that are daily published.

But our Defign, like our Proposal, is uncommon, and to be profecuted at a very uncommon Expence; it being intended, that the Books fhall be diftributed into their diftinct Claffes, and every Clafs ranged with fome Regard to the Age of the Writers; that every Book fhall be accurately defcribed; that the Peculiarities of Editions fhall be remarked, and Obfervations from the Authors of Literary Hiftory occafionally interspersed; that, by this Catalogue, we may inform Pofterity of the Excellence and Value of this great Collection, and promote the Knowledge of fcarce Books, and elegant Editions. For this Purpose Men of Letters are engaged, who cannot

even

the Writing tant Parts Chance, Rubbish of

a

tories of from every Learning

It will b thofe, that clined by i Proprietors

tion to the and exalted fant Search dedicated th which man

fait of cont

of guilty P fiders Lear the Comm public Ben

us Author the Literat

even be supplied with Amanuenfes, but at an Expence above that of a common Catalogue.

To fhew that this Collection deferves a particular, Degree of Regard from the Learned and the Studious, that it excels any Library that was ever yet offered to public Sale in the Value as well as Number of the Volumes which it contains; and that therefore this Catalogue will not be of lefs Ufe to Men of Letters, than those of the Thuanian, Heinfian, or Barberinian Libraries, it may not be improper to exhibit a general Account of the different Claffes, as they are naturally divided by the feveral Sciences.

By this Method we can indeed exhibit only a general Idea, at once magnificent and confufed; an Idea of the Writings of many Nations, collected from dif tant Parts of the World, difcovered fometimes by Chance, and fometimes by Curiosity, amidst the Rubbish of forfaken Monafteries, and the Repofitories of ancient Families, and brought hither from every Part, as to the univerfal Receptacle of Learning.

$

It will be no unpleafing Effect of this Account, if thofe, that shall happen to perufe it, fhould be inclined by it to reflect on the Character of the late Proprietors, and to pay fome Tribute of Veneration to their Ardor for Literature, to that generous and exalted Curiofity which they gratified with inceffant Searches and immenfe Expence,and to which they dedicated that Time, and that Superfluity of Fortune, which many others of their Rank employ in the Purfuit of contemptible Amusements, or the Gratification. of guilty Paffions. And, furely, every Man, who confiders Learning as ornamental and advantageous to the Community, muft allow them the Honour of public Benefactors, who have introduced amongst us Authors not hitherto well known, and added to the Literary Treafures of their native Country.

That

HAR

ACCOUNT OF THE

That our Catalogue will excite any other Man to emulate the Collectors of this Library, to prefer Books and Manufcripts to Equipage and Luxury," and to forfake Noife and Diverfron for the Conver fation of the Learned, and the Satisfaction of extenfive Knowledge, we are very far from prefuming to hope; but fhall make no Scruple to affert, that, if any Man fhould happen to be feized with fuch laud-; able Ambition, he may find in this Catalogue Hints and Informations which are not easily to be met with; he will difcover, that the boafted Bodleian Library is very far from a perfect Model, and that even the learned Fabricius cannot completely inftruct him in the early Editions of the, Claffic Writers.

But the Collectors of Libraries cannot be numerous; and, therefore, Catalogues cannot very properly be recommended to the Public, if they had not a more general and frequent Ufe, an Ufe which every Student has experienced, or neglected to his Lofs. By the Means of Catalogues only can it be known, what has been written on every Part of Learning, and the Hazard avoided of encountering Difficulties which have already been cleared, difcuffing Questions which have already been decided, and digging in Mines of Literature which former Ages have exhausted.

How often this has been the Fate of Students, every Man of Letters can declare; and, perhaps, there are very few who have not fometimes valued as new Discoveries, made by themfelves, thofe Obfervations, which have long fince been published, and of which the World therefore will refuse them the Praise; nor can the Refufal be cenfured as any enormous Violation of Juftice; for, why should they not for. feit by their Ignorance, what they might claim by their Sagacity.

To illuftrate this Remark, by the Mention of ob. fcure Names, would not much confirm it; and to vilify for this Purpofe the Memory of Men truly

great,

great, would be to deny them the Reverence which they may juftly claim from thofe whom their Writ ings have inftructed. May the Shade at leaft, of one great English Critic reft without Difturbance; and may no Man prefume to infult his Memory, who wants his Learning, his Reafon, or his Wit.

From the vexatious Disappointment of meeting Reproach, where Praife is expected, every Man wil certainly defire to be fecured; and therefore that Book will have fome Claim to his Regard, from which he may receive Informations of the Labours of his Predeceffors, fuch as a Catalogue of the Harleian Library will copiously afford him.

Nor is the Ufe of Catalogues of lefs Importance to those whom Curiofity has engaged in the Study of Literary Hiftory, and who think the intellectual Revolutions of the World more worthy of their Attention, than the Ravages of Tyrants, the Defolation of Kingdoms, the Rout of Armies, and the Fall of Empires. Those who are pleased with obferving the first Birth of new Opinions, their Struggles againft Oppofition, their filent Progrefs under Perfecution, their general Reception, and their gradual Decline, or fudden Extinction; thofe that amuse themselves with remarking the different Periods of human Knowledge, and obferve how Darkness and Light fucceed each other; by what Accident the moft gloomy Nights of Ignorance have given Way in the Dawn of Science, and how Learning has languished and decayed, for Want of Patronage and Regard, or been overborne by the Prevalence of fashionable Ignorance, or loft amidft the Tumults of Invafion, and the Storms of Violence. All thofe who defire any Knowledge of the literary Tranf, actions of paft Ages, may find in Catalogues, like this at least, such an Account as is given by Annalists, and Chronologers of Civil History.

How

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