The National Register. — London, England, 1817-12-29 00:00:00

M. Llrtitie ascended the tribune, and spoke against the I :w. The Court adjourned. In the sitting of the Pith, M. de la Boutaye supported the law in a speech which the French paper, ili- , cribe a. elm - root and liiminomi, hut which they were unable to give for want of room. He proposed the following amendment : " The present law as well, as of the f.).lst Oct. 1914. on ti police of the press, and the enactments of the law of the utli of Nov. 1815, relating to the crimes and offences of the press, shall 'seise to have effect at the end of the session lats." The Minister of the Interior.—" Since the King's Ministers arc abound of deciding according to caprice or fantasy, of following the course of what is called the imperious opinion of this Chamber whether majority or minority, we shall be forgiven for announcing in the King's name that his Majesty has determined that the amend ment cannot be proposal Agitation in me assembly.l I explain the motive. It is said in the Chamber—The King proposes the taw. I: may he ameliorated afterwards, but the amendment must not change both the nature of thu law and the greater part of the criminal legis lation." . . IM. Truncheon approved of the chief articles of the law, trot contended that the journals should be entirely tree. He demanded the closing of the discussion. Several voices ap approved this, observing, that the assembly was not midi. viently numerous to deliberate upon a question of this impor tance, Other members insisted upon it. M. Morrie et.—" I demand to be heard. You have lennl with ex treme patience a number of orators who were inscribed in favour of the project, but who, nevertheless, have attacked it in speeches of from three quarters of an hour to an hour and half in length. demand the adjournment till to morrow, that there may be at least ono Member heard who frankly declares his intention ot speaking in favour of the project." The President.—." The Asssemhlr appear to be of this opinion : Med the discussion is therefore adjourned till to-morrow at noon." In the sittitte uftite 'nth, a most stormy discussion arose in which M. de Clianvelin bore a primly:ll part. After re peated attenipis on the part of several members to prolong she i lehatr, it was elosed by the consent of a large majority. Ou the following day the Reporter delivered in the Report on the law, and, at considerable length, supported the conch'. sions of the Committee on all the points that had been under the discussion of the Chamber. The President briefly %m -imed u p the veactments of the proposed Law, and recited the substance of the several amendments that hail been proposed. The limpet of the Seals then signified the king's assent to the separation of the Projet into two distinct laws, as hail been suggested by the Committee ; and also to the proposi tion for limiting to the termination of the present Session the operation or the law relative to the Journals. The Pre sident annotineed that he was about to put the question on the division of the Projet. Benoist opposed this course of proceeding on a !mint of order. The Chamber, be said, had been the das nefore mid that the King would not eonseei to such an amendment, as inteinging the Royal littiative; and it had been justly observed by M.'Cliativelin, that the Bins; could not signify his assent to, or his dissent from, any amend anent until atter the Chamber had declared its opinian in that respect. The new proposition thereto' e was either a Projet of law in itself; and as Such ought to be referred to the Ito lean for examination ; or it was an amendment on the 27th Article of the Projet, in which case it would stand fur dis cussion in its regular order, when the Chamber had gone through the whole of the previous Artieles• He therefore Insisted that the Project should be pot to the vote, Ai tiele by Article. This course was opposed by M. de Courvoiser, chiefly that the existing law relative to the Journals would expire on the Ist of January, thin ; that a new law was abso lutely necessary, and that only 10 days remained for cat it through both Chambers. Having alluded to the " rash expressions" of some of the opponents of the measure, he was liateritptcill by violent murmurs when. in explanation, he said he meant " bold assertions." After some farther this. cussion, the question was put on dividing the Project, which was carried it; the affirmative by a decided majority. A ballot took place on the adoption of the amendment of the Committee, relative to the Journals as a separate law. The voters were 1128; the white balls 131, the black balls 87. The Amendment was consequently adopted, by a maj trity of M. On several of the Articles relative to the repression of the abuses of the press, some amendments were then unsuc cessfully proposed. A long and stormy discussion took place on the second paragraph. of the 7th Article, which the Committee had proposed to suppress. It reins thus, " there will also be a ground of prosecution, if the writing, though a declaration thereof have been made, contains a direct pro vocation to crimes." On a ballot; the number of voters was 211 ; the white balls 110 ; the black 101 ; that paragraph was therefore rejected by a majority of nine. The voting .upon the remaining articles was postponed till Monday. SPAIN. ..C.tnix, Dee. I.—The expedition prepairing in this port, and which is destined for our South American Colonies, is much larger than was at first metioncel, and numerous foreign ships have been purchased, which are to form a part of it. — The Rnssian squadron is every moment expected, and will escort them. The number of troops that arc to embark is double that previously fixed upon, and several battalions from the frontiers will be employed in this service. A vessel bits reached this place from Lima, and two others from the Ilavannah. The first has brought no news of iiimnrtance from Peru, but the others convvy intelligence that the corps of Mina, surrounded by the Royalisis,had been almost entire ly destroyed, so that scarcely 50 men escaped. We are un certain whether Mina be himself taken, but we are sure he was woundcd in the action. -...--.•-••••-... --, REVIEW OF LITERATURE. The Bibliwraphical Decameron, or Ten Days pleasant Discourse upon Illuminated Manuscripts, and Sub jects connected with early En g raving, Typography, and Bibliography. In Three rola. BY TIM IDLY. THOMAS FROGNAL DIBDEN. MR. DIBDEN'iI labours as a Bibliographer are, we believe, well known to the public by his I:ypog,raphical Antiquities, his Bibliontania, and his iiibliotheea Spea ceriana; works of great merit, in this department of literature, and executed in a style of elegance nut often equalled even in these days of typographical excellence: —but in the three volumes which we have now to no tice, the author has fir outg,one all his former produc tions, and given to the world a work which, we can- . didly confess, we think has no equal, either in this yr any other country. The printing is of the most beau tiful and perfect kind imaginable; and the graphic embellishments, particularly many of the portraits, are executed in the very fir-t style of excellence :—but it is not merely on these that our praises must be be stowed; in the work itself Mr. Dibilin has given, in an uninterrupted connection, a history of art, of lite rature, and of books from the earliest times, in a way which reflects the highest credit upon his taste and judgment; his information appears to be derived from the most approved authorities of all countries, and is accompanied with much both original and interesting of his own ; indeed, the immensity and the variety of matter comprised in these three volumes is really sur prising, and proves that their author must be endowed with a spirit of research and enquiry, in his particular pursuits, which knows no limits. The division of the work which treats of ancient Manuscript; is exceedingly curious, and forms a most judicious prelude to the his tory of the invention of printing ; but we have derived the' most pleasure from the perusal of that part which treats of celebrated Bibliographers, Collectors of Books, and Libraries.—We cannot help, however, asking Mr. llibden, why he sometimes translates his authorities, and at others gives theta in the original ?—all the cita tions ought to have been translated without exception : —We shall here make two or three extracts from the biography in the last part of the last volume, which appear interesting from their subjects and originality : —The following account of Topliatn Beauclerk was communicate& Mr. 1). says, by Mr. J. Dalby. of the College at Farnham, who was some years employed by Mr. B. in his library_ " Mr, Beauelerk had arevilar observatory at Afntee 11-hill; hes:des a sei y complete philosophical and optical apparatus ; a laboratory for chemical experiments, Hut from 177 4 to 1779, I did little (• xcept writing the (11talogne ) 1.41 t old book atolls, and booksellers shops, and attend book auctions.' Saell a prelude prepares 111 for the treat which toibms. 6 I think a Mr. 'lopliain of Windsor bequeathed his library to Mr. Beduclerk lie haul been eitlare,ing his collection some years b. fore t knew him. Elnisly was his principal bookseller. He sometimes advertised in the newspapers f•or u book—thus he paid 101. for Lord Berner's iroissart. Clarke's Cesar he bought of some lady, for about 201.: t WA*. a pres tttt copy to one of the lady's anc• star►, from John l)iike of :Marlborough. This sold fur 441. to the Duke ol• Gralluu.• Mr. M. paid 10 louis d'art fur Ilia Dripkin Stating to some Abbe in Paris, who stole it from a publie library. This , old for 171.65. hd. He was particularly anxious lu complete his collection of voyages and travels and English plays. The price was no object. And he felt extremely disappointed when lie found that Mr. Garrick's library t did no. come to the hammer. About two years before 'his draw he began collecting old French plays; and some of the early primed ones, which brought next to nothing at his sale, bit which cost hint half a guinea a piece. He made it a rule overt. to lend a book to any person whatever. Mr. Gibbon was the only exception; who, I remember, when he was writing the Roman History, had the Byzantine authors a volume at a time. " In reply to a quxre, which a common friend between us submitted, respecting a portrait of Beauclerk, (that desider. atom, for which Lysander appears so vehemently to hanker after.) Mr. Darby was pleased to write as follows: " ' I never heard of any portrait or drawing of 1•Ir. Beau clerk except a miniature which I happened to ace just after his death. I forget, however, whether it belonged to the lady, or to one of the domestics. But I have heard it re marked a hundred limes, how much Mr. Beanclerk resem bled his aheestor Charles 11. hi tact there is a small en. graving by Vertne, from a painting by Sir P. Lely of that monarch, which (subdocting the wig and whiskers) is a very good likeness of Mr. B. In person, he ails tall and Win, with a dark complexion. 1 believe he inherited a keble con• titution ; but during several years before his death he was gt ievonsly afflicted with a species of gouty rheumati►m, and, by way of alleviation, took large quantities of He did not however, timeavour to restore his health by keep ing what are called good hour*, fur be was a constant attend terabt. . , rv.atihn , ,•Johnson to dill it m effort, 'Ater, asithor. .. by one or the Literary-Club, in which lite author, Hr. Bar. omit, I think ; , selects Mr. BeandPl k as the nieitiber who should teach him ' how to converse.' " Among Mr. Dilxlen's correspondents was the Rev. Daniel M'Neille, .► Protestant Clergyman, near Dub. lip, some of whose letters he has given; the following anecdotes arc from one of these: " In return for the very many book anecdotes which yonr interesting Hibliomania has !Heated sne• with, I can forttish you only with two at this . rnosnent, that deserve notice for their singularity. A geutleman of issy acquaintance, who ilt truth has a most admirable library of rich and rare books, has takep it into his bead to collect csigry map, plan, view, head, and every print relative to every country atilt town in Europe, How many years of a busy life will 'strike to roof this extensive building? Cedite collectores Loudisenses ! 111 r other anecdote u ill serve as a good sell,/ to the foregoing.-- A Mall Worth atm! 00,000 pounds, who tires within 4 miles of Dobbs., went into a secoull-Hand book-shop, and told the bookseller that he st mild give him two 'Minim:a for some pretty book to anoise him in the long of winter. 'lle book. seller told him he had the very book that would please him ; lie Kalil' him iliefinrytisies.a paltry lboto.not worth two pence, which the count s ylllall carried home in triumph, and has often boasted of his bargain : for the book has delighted hint for several years, and u perfectly new to him every time he reads it—fur lie never begins a fresh tale, without forgetting the one he had previonsly ended. In sober sadness, Ido not ett aggerate may College days I have been infected with the book disease, tint have always had an ey e to the useful, as wisely recommended in page 785 of your book. Indeed a limited income, and a heady snit in Chancery, which after I o years litigation, I brought to a favourable issue, prevented almost any indulgence in this fascinating pursuit. In 1798„ my little collection fell mostly in ashes, for my dwelling was the &sat that was burned in the parish where it stood. My folios were inetainorphisseil into tuiddtes, tied on horses backs with ropes. 'the smaller tonics ted the flames. Owe book only, I recoveted : Meade's ‘Vorks.llt bears the marks of I sword fire and water ; a pike was driven through Ow cover and 1154 pages: it was scorched by the dames, and was ,muted with water. My church was burnt to the gr 0000 id. and it was intended to have put me into the pulpit, the rarishioners into the pews, and to•have set tire to us ; but God delivered us out of their merciless hands ! except twelve, who were taken, and perished by tire at Sciallakogne, about three miles from the church. One poor woman, who yet lives, lost her husband and three grown sons. 0%1! But the fate of my poor books (some ten animas( them) El:airs! has drawn me insensibly into this horrible subject. We translate the following bitter attack upon the guardians of the Bodleian Library, in the middle of the last century ; the original is from the pen of a foreigner of the name of Uffenbach ; with which, and nn twee• dote of Tom Hearne, we shall conclude our remaiks on Mr. Dibdin's book. " Conceive, with me, my most learned friend, what a treasure might be derived from the manuscripts in the Bodleian Library alone, were it not for the obstacles presented in the negligence and pertina city of ul osmi, the head librarian ; for he thieks he has sufficiently eolfined rbe duns, of his office, nay, he a ould have it helloed that he has echievel a mighty work indeed, in labouring for so many years aver one single author, Thecyclide:, I think, all care of the Library completely east aside ; while it would have been more fitting to have attended to what I before mentioned. I cannot sufficiently deplore the horrible fate (forgive my just indignation) of this excel lent libraly ,* it is in total molest, nobody makes use of its immense treasures. I frequented it every day for three months, and es I hey, for salsatinn.l never in all that time saw nine, no, not even seven per sons in it all at once ! I mean scholars, for I make no account oldie crowds of boys, gossips, and rustics that were wandering about, and ga • ing through the lattices at die immense ranges of volumes. What shall I say of the Guardians ! Of die carelessness of the head.librarian I have already spoken : on his portentous ignorance of literary history. and of libraries, especially of those abroad, 1 shall be silent. The under-Librarian, named Crab, is a senseless mortal, though a plea sant and worthy man, to use a ridiculous term, but which however. many confer on men of great parts: he is honoured with the appellation ofa 1 fella°, but noon hooks, butof presents, which 1w greedily accepts of such etrangers as visit the Library, and straight pays away to the Vint ner for liquor to rinse his throat and wash down the dust, that, like a cloud, or a shadow, accompanies the handling of every volume,— ' though these perquisites are not his right, but that of the lowest Librarian, whose place it is to clean the books, replace them when done with, and keep the whole in order. There was, and still is here. a scholar, as they love to speak, of the name of Hearne, who }lath given an earnest of his diligence above his fellows, not only by his writings but by his forming a New Catalogue of the Library, shortly to be put to the press; hut, what I regret, like the first, which was sufficieotly meagre, it is Without order, and abounding in lima. miracles." . . The diligence and zeal of Hearne in his pursuits may be estimated by the following pious ejaculation extracted from his Diary most gracious and merciful Lord God, wonderful in tlfy providence, I return all possible thanks to thee for the care-thou but always taken of me. I continually meet With most signal instances of this thy providence, and one act y esterday, when I ancrpretals, THREF. ten seas. for which, in a particular manner, I return my thanks, beseeching thee to continue the sonic protection to me, a pour helpless sinner, and that for Jesus Christ, his sake.' " Hearne is not, however, the only one who manifesta gratitude on such an occasion. Gronovius says, he never failed in his private devotions to remember with gra. titude the day in which he beheld the Florentine ma nuscript of Hcrodotus. ANECDOTE of His MAJEFTN.—triv Majesty tiding from Windsor one d.y in the month of July, 1773, was overtaken by a violent storm of rain, and being separated from his con. pauv, he made towards a cottage belonging to a man named Styles, near Stoke. Here he alighted, and going into the house, found a girl tinning a goose w hich was hanging before the tire wth a string. The King desired the girl to put his horse in the shed, which she cmisented to do, at the same time requesting him to mind the goose. While she was gone the farmer entered, and great was lug Silfriae to Pre :hr King ormpinyrd. He, however, had the pa esvuee of wind to rilieve his Majesty, who, with his wonted good natarr, eon on this mode of cookery, and the advantage of a jack, after which he went away. when he was gone, the farmer perceived a paper on the Olen*, and having opened it, Maud flee guineas, with these words written in pencil s 4! lb buy a jack." AO - HE ATIONAL ItVAISTFAI. Tync ng snag. • How have you defended us?' Thry would reply. We a great part of the inhabitants, concurred in this; and the ant at W ' hile 's, and usually turned day i n to n i g ht yet h e " hen spoken anhour against you, but we finished in your favour. I Turki.it soldiers, ninintlnneil by their seniors, trimmed to found time for much reading, and had accumulated very should an sw e r, • you lave spoken in well, that I tbink it my ditty their barracks, Tv') of the habt mutinous were straliolcd considerable knowledge of sariouvianda 4 He e ‘ce p e d i n to send you to my adversaries to receive the whit -W s y ou deserve." there. Ali does not leave the tort, 111 it re , lie is well armed, conversatibit ; and Dr. •Johnson somewhere has reniarke‘ A Lust laughl , This state of terror does not seem likely to finish *uu. that he did it without etort, 'Riese is aialiort copy of verse s . et.- •.:!,...,. moul cnis k e. awainst tne liv rm.. la 11. m I.it.•rthrsr,Vl..l% in ..Link 11...,N....• 11. 11,.. ALGIERS. The Gazette of Genoa, of December 10, contains a letter from Algiers, of November 8, to the following effect :—" The yew Dey, informed of the ill disposition of the Turkish soldiery, quitted his palace, in the night of the Yd and 3d, and retired with all his Ministers, carrying with him all his trea 'lures, into the fort of Kas-l'a, a post which commands the town, and is defended by 50 pieces of heavy artiilery. This town, and is defended Uy su pieces in Heavy artillery. 1 • This •At the sale of the Duke of Gmfton's Library, this very copy Styles, near Stoke. Here he alighted, and going into the residence, chosen by Ali, was that of his predecessors, down produced the sum of fell . Is. Monte, found a girl tinning a goose NS hieh was hanging before to the 16th century. On the 3d, at day break, the Turks, t What a tale might be told about • Mr. Garrick ' s Library! ' tin. tire with a string. The King desil'eft the girl to put his i n f orme d of this change, allowed their discontent , so as to Alas, p our Edward Alien! And Midst thou. honest Ben. (Jonsoa's h orse i n t h e s h e d, w hi c h s h e consente d to d o, at t h e same t h r e a t e n an immediate revolt. Nevertheless, it did not break W o rk * , edit. 1816. vo l. v iii, p. 199) fiireseen the pillage of those due. t i me re/riesl i ng hi m to m i n d t h e goose . Whil e she was gone out Blithe next morning, when ell the soldiery isited armed matic treasures of which The Library of the • skilful Roscius' was from the barracks, marching in a menarcing manner. towards Kas•Pa. The Dts, informed of their approach, cause' the eldestof the Turks to be called to hint. and invited them to composed. what indignation would have marked the numbers of thy Muse I In few words, Garrick had free access to the library of , Dulwich College t• of which Allen was the munificent and pious founder") n and . i ti iillaged without scruple remo . r*.L... lie did pretty the „ farmer entered, and CIT.It was his surprise to Pe,.. !he King so • mployed. He, however, had the pi eseuce of mind to rillelit his Nlajests whim, with his wonted good natuire, con- til.l%e.l on this mode ' of cookery, and the advantage of a jack, ileclara openly the motives of their discontent. This unrx- pected 4a illness reduced them to silence i and time Dey, pro. tieigefahat circumstance, invited them to join with him. in _tarly_the same ung with Sir Thomas . anints s torary, No . won- der, therefore, that the Garrick lollection, now deposited in the 4 . , ; oi t i after p which lie went away. %hen lie was gone, the f r ler erceived a paper on the shelf, and having opened it, British Museum, presents at once an object of vexation, envy and round hoe guineas, wills these words written in pencil s r! lb otdat 1 a se-ostaKisb ordcr , Not ugly tbus Turks, but also 1 d esra i r r s to t h e v s aw l HA of t h e t i e s buy a jack."