the most accurate likewife and beautiful of Colinaus, the Junta, Plantin, Aldus, the Stephens, and Elzvir, with the Commentaries and Obfervations of the most learned Editors.

Nor are they accompanied only with the Illuftrations of thofe who have confined their Attempts to particular Writers, but of thofe likewife who have treated on any Part of the Greek, or Roman Antiquities, their Laws, their Cuftoms, their Drefs, their Buildings, their Wars, their Revenues, or the Rites and Ceremonies of their Worship, and those that have endeavoured to explain any of their Authors from their Statues or their Coins.

Next to the Ancients, thofe Writers deserve to be mentioned, who, at the Restoration of Literature, imitated their Language and their Stile with fo great Succefs, or who laboured with fo much Induftry to make them understood: Such were Philelphus and Politian, Scaliger and Buchanan, and the Poets of the Age of Leo the Tenth; these are likewife to be found in this Library, together with the Delicia, or Collections of all Nations.

Painting is so nearly allied to Poetry, that it cannot be wondered that those who have so much esteemed the one, have paid an equal Regard to the other; and therefore it may be easily imagined, that the Collection of Prints is numerous in an uncommon Degree; but furely, the Expectation of every Man will be exceeded, when he his informed that there are more than forty thousand engraven from Raphael, Titian, Guide, the Carraches, and a thousand others by Nauteuil, Hollar, Callet, Edelinck, and Dorigny, and other Engravers of equal Reputation.

There is also a great Collection of original Drawings, of which three feem to deferve a particular Mention; the firft exhibits a Representation of the Infide of St. Peter's Church at Rome; the fecond, of that of St. John Lateran; and the third, of the high Altar

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20

ACCOUNT, &c.

Altar of St. Ignatius; all painted with the utmost
Accuracy, in their proper Colours.

As the Value of this great Collection may be conceived from this Account, however imperfect, as the Variety of Subjects must engage the Curiofity of Men of different Studies, Inclinations, and Employments, it may be thought of very little Ufe to mention any flighter Advantages, or to dwell on the Decorations and Embellishments which the Generofity of the Proprietors has beftowed upon it; yet, fince the Compiler of the Thuanian Catalogue thought not even that Species of Elegance below his Obfervation, it may not be improper to obferve, that the Harleian Library, perhaps, excels all others, not more in the Number and Excellence, than in the Splendor of its Volumes.

We may now furely be allowed to hope, that our Catalogue will not be thought unworthy of the public Curiofity; that it will be purchased as a Record of this great Collection, and preferved as one of the Memorials of Learning.

The Patrons of Literature will forgive the Purchafer of this Library, if he presumes to affert fome Claim to their Protection and Encouragement, as he may have been inftrumental in continuing to this Nation the Advantage of it. The Sale of Voffius's Collection into a foreign Country, is, to this Day, regretted by Men of Letters; and if this Effort for the Prevention of another Lofs of the fame Kind fhould be disadvantageous to him, no Man will hereafter willingly rifque his Fortune in the Cause of Learning.

A DIS

Exactness,
Particulars, 2

as

an

cording to th
Nature of T
can be taken,
Bleffings,
fcarcely an I
immediately
they are chie
and tranfmi
learns, by t
in his Senti

If Letter
fure, it mi
Eftimation
referred to

It foon app

,,

A DISSERTATION ON AUTHORS.

Seire velim quare toties mihi, Nævole, triftis
Occuris fronte obductâ, ceu Marfya victus. Juv.

TH

1

WHERE is no Gift of Nature, or Effect of Art, however beneficial to Mankind, which, either by cafual Deviations, or foolish Perverfions, is not fometimes mifchievous. Whatever may be the Caufe of Happiness, may be made likewise the Caufe of Mifery. The Medicine, which rightly ap plied, has Power to cure, has, when Rafhnefs or Ignorance prescribes it, the fame Power to destroy.

I have computed, at fome Hours of Leifure, the Lofs and Gain of Literature, and set the Pain which it produces against the Pleasure. Such Calculations are indeed at a great Distance from mathematical, Exactness, as they arise from the Induction of a few Particulars, and from Obfervations made rather according to the Temper of the Computist, than the Nature of Things. But fuch a narrow Survey as can be taken, will eafily fhew that Letters caufe many Bleffings, and inflict many Calamities; that there is fcarcely an Individual who may not consider them as immediately or mediately influencing his Life, as they are chief Inftruments of conveying Knowledge, and tranfmitting Sentiments; and almost every Man learns, by their Means, all that is right or wrong in his Sentiments and Conduct.

If Letters were confidered only as Means of Pleafure, it might well be doubted in what Degree of Eftimation they should be held; but when they are referred to Neceffity, the Controversy is at an End: It foon appears, that though they may fometimes int

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commode

22

A DISSERTATION

commode us; yet human Life would fcarcely rife, without them, above the common Existence of animal Nature: We might indeed breathe and eat in univerfal Ignorance; but muft want all that gives Pleasure or Security, all the Embellishments and Delights, and most of the Conveniencies and Comforts of our present Condition.

Literature is a Kind of intellectual Light, which, like the Light of the Sun, may sometimes enable us to fee what we do not like; but who would wish to escape unpleafing Objects, by condemning himself to perpetual Darkness?

Since, therefore, Letters are thus indifpenfably neceffary, fince we cannot perfuade ourselves to lofe their Benefits for the Sake of escaping their Mifchiefs, it is worth our ferious Enquiry, how their Benefits may be increased, and their Mifchiefs leffened; by what Means the Harvest of our Studies may afford us more Corn, and lefs Chaff; and how the Rofes of the Gardens of Science may gratify us more with their Fragrance, and prick us less with their Thorns.

I fhall not, at present, mention the more formidable Evils which the Mifapplication of Literature produces; nor fpeak of Churches infected with Herefy, States inflamed with Sedition, or Schools infatuated with hypothetical Fictions. These are Evils which Mankind have always lamented; and which, till Mankind grow wife and modeft, they muft, I am afraid, continue to lament, without Hope of Remedy. I fhall now touch only on fome lighter and less extenfive Evils, yet fuch as are fufficiently heavy to thofe that feel them; and are of late fo widely dif fufed, as to deferve, though perhaps not the Notice of the Legislature, yet the Confideration of thofe whofe Benevolence inclines them to a voluntary Care of public Happiness.

It was long ago observed by Virgil, and I suppose by many before him, that Bees do not make Honey for

their

#heir own Use: The Sweets which they collect in their laborious Excurfions, and ftore up in their Hives with fo much Skill, are feized by thofe who have contributed neither Toil nor Art to the Collection; and the poor Animals are either destroyed by the Invader, or left to fhift without a Supply. The Condition is nearly the fame of the Gatherer of Honey and the Gatherer of Knowledge. The Bee and the Author work alike for others, and often lofe the Profit of their Labour. The Cafe, therefore, of Authors, however hitherto neglected, may claim Regard. Every Body of Men is important according to the joint Proportion of their Ufefulness and their Number. Individuals, however they may excel, cannot hope to be confidered fingly as of great Weight in the political Balance; and Multitudes, though they may, merely by their Bulk, demand fome Notice, are yet not of much Value, unless they contribute to eafe the Burthen of Society, by co-operating to its Profperity.

Of the Men, whofe Condition we are now examining, the Ufefulness never was difputed: They are known to be the great Diffeminators of Knowledge, and Guardians of the Commonwealth; and of late their Numbers have been fo much increased, that they are become a very confpicuous Part of the Nation. It is not now, as in former Times, when Men ftudied long, and passed through the Severities of Difcipline, and the Probation of public Trials, before they prefumed to think themselves qualified for Inftructors of their Countrymen: There is found a nearer Way to Fame and Erudition, and the Inclofures of Literature are thrown open to every Man whom Idleness difpofes to loiter; or whom Pride in clines to fet himfelf to View. The Sailor publishes his Journal; the Farmer writes the Frocefs of his annual Labour: He that fucceeds in his Trade thinks his Wealth a Proof of his Understanding, and boldly

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