ropolis we have so many examples] is doing a vast deal towards
directing the channels of literature to flow in their proper courses.

[Footnote 72: "UNNE BONNE BIBLIOGRAPHIE," says Marchand,
"soit generale soit particuliere, soit profane, soit
ecclesiastique, soit nationale, provinciale, ou locale, soit
simplement personnelle, en un mot de quelque autre genre que
ce puisse etre, n'est pas un ouvrage aussi facile que
beaucoup de gens se le pourroient imaginer; mais, elles ne
doivent neanmoins nulelment [Transcriber's Note: nullement]
prevenir contre celle-ci. Telle qu'elle est, elle ne laisse
pas d'etre bonne, utile, et digne d'etre recherchee par les
amateurs, de l'Histoire Litteraire." _Diction. Historique_,
vol. i. p. 109.

"Our nation," says Mr. Bridgman, "has been too inattentive
to bibliographical criticisms and enquiries; for generally
the English reader is obliged to resort to foreign writers
to satisfy his mind as to the value of authors. It behoves
us to consider that there is not a more useful or a more
desirable branch of education than a _knowledge of books_;
which being correctly ascertained and judiciously exercised,
will prove the touch-stone of intrinsic merit, and have the
effect of saving many spotless pages from prostitution."
_Legal Bibliography_, p. v. vi.]

[Footnote 73: Peignot, in his _Dictionnaire de Bibliologie_,
vol. i. 50, has given a very pompous account of what ought
to be the talents and duties of a Bibliographer. It would be
difficult indeed to find such things united in one person!
De Bure, in the eighth volume of his _Bibliographie
Instructive_, has prefixed a "Discourse upon the Science of
Bibliography and the duties of a Bibliographer" which is
worth consulting: but I know of nothing which better
describes, in few words, such a character, than the
following: "In eo sit multijuga materiarum librorumque
notitia, ut saltem potiores eligat et inquirat: fida et
sedula apud exteras gentes procuratio, ut eos arcessat;
summa patientia ut rare venalis expectet: peculium semper
praesens et paratum, ne, si quando occurrunt, emendi occasio
intercidat; prudens denique auri argentique contemptus, ut
pecuniis sponte careat quae in bibliothecam formandam et
nutriendam sunt insumendae. Si forte vir literatus e