et labore Anicetti Mellot). Paris, e Typog. Reg._, 1739,
folio, four vols.----DU ROI. _Des Livres imprimes de la meme
Bibliotheque Royale. (Dispose par Messrs. les Abbes Sallier
et Boudot, &c.) Paris, De L'Imprim. Royale_, 1739-53, folio,
six vols. The most beautiful and carefully executed
catalogue in the world: reflecting a truly solid lustre upon
the literary reputation of France! The first four volumes,
written in Latin, comprehend an account of MSS.: the six
last, written in French, of printed works in THEOLOGY,
JURISPRUDENCE, and BELLES-LETTRES; the departments of
HISTORY and the ARTS AND SCIENCES still remaining to be
executed. De Bure told us, half a century ago, that the
"Gens de Lettres" were working hard at the completion of it;
but the then complaints of bibliographers at its imperfect
state are even yet continued in Fournier's last edition of
his _Dictionnaire Portatif de Bibliographie_, p. 468. So
easy it is to talk; so difficult to execute! I believe,
however, that M. Van-Praet, one of the principal librarians,
is now putting all engines to work to do away the further
disgrace of such unaccountably protracted negligence. My
copy of this magnificent set of books is bound in red
Morocco, gilt leaves, and was a presentation one from the
King "au Comte de Neny, comme une marque de son estime,
1770." I should add that the first volume of "Theology"
contains a history of the rise and progress of the royal
library, which was reprinted in 8vo., 1782.----DU ROI.
_Notices et Extraits des Manuscrits de la Bibliotheque du
Roi, Paris. De l'Imprim. Roy._ 1787, 4to., seven vols. It
will be obvious to the candid reader that this work could
not be better introduced than in the present place; and a
most interesting and valuable one it is! My copy of it,
which is only in six volumes [but a seventh is mentioned in
_Cat. de Boutourlin_, no. 3845, and in Caillot's _Roman
Bibliographique_, p. 195], was purchased by me of Mr. Evans
of Pall-Mall, who had shewn it to several lovers of
bibliography, but none of whom had courage or curiosity
enough to become master of the volumes. How I have profited
by them, the Supplement to my first volume of the
"Typographical Antiquities of Great Britain," may in part
shew. The public shall be m