of some
of the scarcer works of Du Chesne in Vogt's _Catalog.
Libror. Rarior._, p. 248, &c., and of the life and literary
labours of this illustrious man in the 7th volume of
Niceron's _Memoires des Hommes Illustres_.]

LIS. But what becomes of the English, Spanish, and Italian
bibliographers all this while?

LYSAND. The reproach of Morhof is I fear too just; namely that,
although we had produced some of the most learned, ingenious, and able
men in Europe--lovers and patrons of literature--yet our librarians,
or university scholars, were too lazy to acquaint the world with the
treasures which were contained in the several libraries around
them.[113] You cannot expect a field-marshal, or a statesman in
office, or a nobleman, or a rich man of extensive connections,
immersed in occupations both pressing and unavoidable--doggedly to set
down to a _Catalogue Raisonne_ of his books, or to an analysis of the
different branches of literature--while his presence is demanded in
the field, in the cabinet, or in the senate--or while all his bells,
at home, from the massive outer gate to the retired boudoir, are torn
to pieces with ringing and jingling at the annunciation of
visitors--you cannot, I say, my good Lisardo, call upon a person, thus
occupied, to produce--or expect from him, in a situation thus
harassed, the production of--any solid bibliographical publication;
but you have surely a right to expect that librarians, or scholars,
who spend the greater part of their time in public libraries, will
vouchsafe to apply their talents in a way which may be an honour to
their patrons, and of service to their country.[114] Not to walk with
folded arms from one extremity of a long room (of 120 feet) to
another, and stop at every window to gaze on an industrious gardener,
or watch the slow progress of a melancholy crow "making wing to the
rooky wood," nor yet, in winter, to sit or stand inflexibly before the
fire, with a duodecimo jest book or novel in their hands--but to look
around and catch, from the sight of so much wisdom and so much worth,
a portion of that laudable emulation with which the Gesners, the
Baillets, and the Le Longs were inspired; to hold intimate
acquaintance with the illustrious dead; to speak to them without the
fear of contradiction; to exclaim over their beauties without the
dread of ridicule, or of censure; to thank them for what they have
done in transporting us to other times, and int