Denis says, in the preface to his
_Catalog. Cod. MSS. Bibl. Palat. Vindob._ (of which see p.
65, ante) is very just; "media incedendum via; neque nudis
codicum titulis, ut quibusdam bibliothecis placuit, in
chartam conjectis provehi multum studia, neque _doctis, quae
superioris seculi fuit intemperantia, ambagibus et
excursibus_."--This is certainly descriptive of the OLD
SCHOOL of bibliography.]

LIS. Let me ask you, at this stage of our inquiries, what you mean by
bibliographical publications?--and whether the works of those authors
which you have enumerated are sufficient to enable a novice, like
myself, to have pretty accurate notions about the rarity and intrinsic
value of certain works?

LYSAND. By bibliographical publications, I mean such works as give us
some knowledge of the literary productions, as well as of the life,
of certain learned men; which state the various and the best editions
of their lucubrations; and which stimulate us to get possession of
these editions. Every biographical narrative which is enriched with
the mention of curious and rare editions of certain works is, to a
great extent, a bibliographical publication. Those works which treat
professedly upon books are, of course, immediately within the pale of
bibliography.

LIS. But am I to be satisfied with the possession of those works
already recommended?

PHIL. I suppose Lisardo has heard of certain valuable CATALOGUES, and
he wishes to know how far the possession of these may be requisite in
order to make him a bibliographer?

LYSAND. At present I will say nothing about the catalogues of the
collections of our own countrymen. As we have been travelling
principally abroad, we may direct our attention to those which relate
to foreign collections.

And first, let us pay a due tribute of praise to the published
Catalogues of Libraries collected by the JESUITS: men of shrewd
talents and unabating research, and in derogation of whose merits
Voltaire and D'Alembert disgraced themselves by scribbling the most
contemptible lampoons. The downfall of this society led, not very
indirectly, to the destruction of the ancient French monarchy. Men
seemed to forget that while the most shameless depredations were
committed within the libraries of the Jesuits, the cause of learning,
as well as of liberty, suffered,--and the spoils which have glittered
before our eyes, as the precious relics of these collections, serve