o
felicitatis pervenit ut talem thesaurum coaceraverit, nec
solus illo invidios fruatur, sed usum cum eruditis qui
vigilias suas utilitati publicae devoverunt, liberaliter
communicet; &c."--_Bibliotheca Hulsiana_, vol. i. Praefat. p.
3, 4.]

Thus briefly and guardedly have I thrown out a few suggestions, which
may enable us to avoid, or mitigate the severity of, the disease
called THE BIBLIOMANIA. Happy indeed shall I deem myself, if, in the
description of its symptoms, and in the recommendation of the means of
cure, I may have snatched any one from a premature grave, or lightened
the load of years that are yet to cone [Transcriber's Note: come]!

You, my dear Sir, who, in your observations upon society, as well as
in your knowledge of ancient times, must have met with numerous
instances of the miseries which "flesh is heir to," may be disposed
perhaps to confess that, of all species of afflictions, _the present
one_ under consideration has the least moral turpitude attached to it.
True, it may be so: for, in the examples which have been adduced,
there will be found neither Suicides, nor Gamesters, nor Profligates.
No woman's heart has been broken from midnight debaucheries: no
marriage vow has been violated: no child has been compelled to pine in
poverty or neglect: no patrimony has been wasted, and no ancestor's
fame tarnished! If men have erred under the influence of this disease,
their aberrations have been marked with an excess arising from
intellectual fevour, and not from a desire of baser gratifications.

If, therefore, in the wide survey which a philosopher may take of the
"Miseries of Human life"[74] the prevalence of this disorder may
appear to be less mischievous than that of others, and, if some of the
most amiable and learned of mortals seemed to have been both
unwilling, as well as unable, to avoid its contagion, you will
probably feel the less alarmed if symptoms of it should appear within
the sequestered abode of Hodnet![75] Recollecting that even in remoter
situations its influence has been felt--and that neither the pure
atmosphere of Hafod nor of Sledmere[76] has completely subdued its
power--you will be disposed to exclaim with violence, at the intrusion
of Bibliomaniacs--

What walls can guard me, or what shades can hide?
They pierce my thickets, through my grot they glide!
By land, by water, they renew the charge,
They stop the chariot, and they b