North Wales Gazette

BTBLIOGU-APUY. Observations on Bibliography, in a Review of the Manual of a Bookseller, and un Amateur in Books, translated from the Journal des JJfbatn. WE have not yet attained to the seventy thousand volumes of the Alexandrian library which comprehended ueaviy the half of all kntmn books. The invention of printing lias facilitated the multiplication of copies, so as to excite a fear k-ast the habitable part of the world will bè wholly filled with printed pa- per a revolution, strange, no doubt, yet in- evitable, whose era is approaching rapidly, by reason of the progress daily made by the pre valent passion for writing. It would, never- theless, be still worse if our authors possessed the iuexhaustible prolixity of the ancient writers, and above all, of those who occupied whole libraries with their works: such as were Apianus and Chrysippus. Diogewes Laerlitis speaks of a philosopher who left six hundred volumes on grammar, although this study en gaged him only in his moments of relaxation, I and as a rdief from his other studies. It is true, that these volumes, as the etymology of the word testifies, were merely rolls, written on one side only, and often formed of a single z!1 sheet, but which occupied much room in pro- portion to the quantity of matter "they con- tained. The same cannot be said of many modern collections. However this may be, I I approve highly of the ingenious Booksellers [ who have reversed this process, and have suc- ceeded in confining all the classics of the French language, lor instance, within the compass of a small box, in octavo. Since the human imagination is never exhausted, and books accumulated on books in a progression so formidable, it is necessary to restrain them to libraries m miniature. The writers of our days appear to be con- vinced, that there is no need of being encum- bered with an immense heap of baggage on the road to immortality and every thing tends to confirm them in their own conviction. Not a week passes, in which we do not see great reputations built on petty poems, and I trifling essays rewarded by magnificent ho, nours. The laborious compilation of solid masterpieces which denaapd the exertion of every faculty, and the sacrifice of an entire life, would be a crying abuse of time and la- bour, when a dozen of antithesis, decked out in brilliant rhymes, or a few periods, enriched with splendid epithets, are sufficient fo(secill.- ing the good opinion of the talkers, and for acquiring crowns and celebrity. Posterity will not be much embarrassed with the titles of I honour of the greater part of our cotempora l ies, particulai ly if they descend to them in {he contracted form I have just now recom- mended, freed from the prolixity of auxiliary notes, and the ucless abundance of margin: but the bibliographer gains nothing by it, and the heavy grammarian of Diogenes I.aer- tius, may occupy as much room in the manual of a Bookseller and an Amateur of Books, as the feeble or bashful poet, who confides his reputation to a pamphlet of a single sheet. The ancients possessed a singular advantage over us in this respect, of which we have been deprived by the nobie invention already spoken of. The productions of mediocrity, and more particularly, those of folly, existed wiUlthem but for a single generation at the utmost, and ridicule, alone, procured the meed of immortality to their authors.— A worthless book ceased to be copied, when the author or his friends, had ceased to pay the transcriber: those literary productions alone survived which were found to merit preservation. Now, it is altogether different. A rhapsody, he it ever so execrable, may be multiplied by thousands, defended by a good binding of Russia leather from the assaults of worms, and recommended to the curiosity of bookfanciers by the luxury of engravings, or the beauty of the paper, so that the lowest of these scribblers, who disgrace the art of writ- ing, may justly apply to his embryo effusions, iu prose or verse, the exalted boast of Horace— Exegi monumcntum cere perennius. It must, however, be remarked, that there i-s no advantage which is not balanced by some inconvenience, whether less or greater; and that, from a want of the kuowledge *>f print- ing, the Romans have left us to regret the loss of six comic poets, each superior to Te- rence. Posterity will certainly have little cause to reproach us with a similar fault for, with the help of God, we will bequeath them six hundred comic writers, who are nut worthy of the uoticeof a ja-ck-,pudding. Thus, Bibliography, whose very name was unknown to the ancients, because they con founded it with literary criticism, has crept into modern literature, under cover of this in- extricable labyrinth of books, with which the Gotteuburg discovery has plagued these latter ages. It has never been much regarded in France, and from the treatment it has as yet met with, it appears very probable, that it will never be a favourite, in truth, but little talent is requisite for the composition ot a catalogue, and still less of the spirit of ana- lysis is needed, in order to collect those de i formcd and mutilated extracts of which it is worked up, out ot all the former catalogues that have preceded it—neither does it require i milch dearness or depth of judgment, to ar- range some thousands of authors' names in al- phabeticat order, the worst and easiest of all arrangements, nor very profound erudition, to annex here and there, right or wrong, to one or other of (.lie innumerable articles of which it is composed, a little note of its scarcity—a note which, with respect to the book, often serves to indicate solely, the con- tempt into which it has justly fallen. With the exception of two works, that. appear worthy of distinction in this species of writng that ot M. de Bure, which was very imperfect even at the time he wrote, and consequently is now more so than ever, and that of M Brunei, of which the present essay proposes to treat the remarks just now made apply to this entire class ot writings; yet, though the study of Bibliography, resls at this point in our days and, while all the sciences, reduced to sciences of uomenc lature, for the use of fools, make such a rapid progress, it is not through a want of admirers, who make it the ,sole object of their enthusiasm, or of com- pilers, who have reduced it to a profitable trade-it is, perhaps, caused even by their multiplicity; for nothing so effectually op- poses perfection, as the facility of success.— I have, however, no doubt, that the science of catalogucs will encrcase prodigiously in esti mation, in proportion to the encrease of the number of boobs. The reason is very clear it will be otherwise impossible to become ac- quainted with the immense crowd of authors, who exist solely in these compilations of titles, at this day so mnch despised. Memory will then be the essential merit of a literary cha- racter. and wit and icieuce will be gaiucd by alphabetical arrangement. This is already the extent of the science and genius of many a student. There will then be but one certain method of sinplifying this bibliogrophical chaos, which is every day growing more obscure and L4 whose obscurity will encrease proportionally from age to age. It has already been effected in Italy, in a very ingenious manner, by the learned M. Gampa, who has confined the Bi- bliograghy ofhis country, to the history of the editiuns ot all the distinguished writers, that have supplied the Academy de la Crnsca with examples and authorities for the composition of its Dictionary. There is no one, in fact, who does not wish to become acquainted with the classics of his own country, and to be able to distinguish their most correct editions. It is the taste of a well-informed lover of books —of a refined amateurV while the whims of a man, carried away by passion, for scarce books, or large paper, in morocco and gitding, is a mental disease that cannot he heid up too publicly to ridicule. But. the failings of the heart are so common, that indulgence, I might almost sav, respect, is due to its extravagan- cies. It would be really an unfortunate circum- stance, if tile project of finally restraining the descriptive part of Bihiiography to editions of the Classics, and of applying literary criticism to its study, as far as can he done, after the manner of Fabricius, or even of Boyle, he not admitted in France. I ;;m acquainted with many men of learning, who unite to a correct taste, to a delicacy of tar I, which this under- taking requires, the stiii more uncommon ta- lent of enlivening subjects, in themselves little capable of ornament, and who would be fully qualified to raise a monument, such as it me- rits, to tiie genuis of our language. They would even have, in this respect, a superiority over M. Carnba, Utat would redound to the honour of their geuius. The Italian Biblio- grapher found his nomenclature of authors ready for his use in the I)ictiotiary de la Crus- ca whereas the French author, who must, of necessity, undertake the initiatory part of this important selection, would, on the contrary, present to future lexicographers, s/hether aca- deiiiical or not., a new and unique tablet ot the wealth to which they should have recourse, in order to give to their country a vocabulary. worthy of the language. Nor do I think that sitch an attempt will everhe successful, unless the definitions, and various meanings of the words in the Dictionary, be confirmed by classical authorities. But, I profess, in order to clear my literary conscience, that I refer myself blindly, as to this point, to the cete. brated society, which has been expressly form- ed, for the purpose of compiling a good Die tionary of the French lauguage, and which has heen engaged in this process with more patience than success, for an hundred and fitty years at least. This, however, does not pre- vent it from accomplishing its purpose -some time or other. With immortality for its de- vice, \ind elernily before it, time is but of lit- tie importance. Besides the Academy has cut out much new work for itself, and during sixty years, it has produced inimitable master- pieces, which have diverted it from its princi- pal occupation, without any inconvenience to -us but it now begins to have abundance of leisure. The science of Bibliography is so intimately united with other branches of erudition, that 1 have suffered myself to be led away from the object of my thoughts, yet not without the intention of recurring {<> it in another article a mark of attention on my part', which Mr, Brunct's work well deserves.. However, as the anxieties of a precarious existence have accustomed me to look forward to the morrow with distrust, both for myself and for others, 1 do not wish, by an offensive silence, to leave my sentiments undecided at the close of this long preamble. I therefore declare, previ. ously to entering into a more particular detail, that the Manual of a Bookseller and Lover of Books, is worthy of its title that I know of no work of general Bibliography so satis- factory and so complete and that, with the exception of some errors in matters of fact, of dates and arrangement, impossibleto be avoid- ed in so extensive a compilation, we may safely adhere to this, until a second edition appears, whifh will, in all probability, happen more speedily for the desires of the purchasers, than those of the bookseller. C. MODIER.

MISCELLANEOUS. < Nearly three thousand Midshipmen, who have served their lime, and passed for Lieute- nants, are now ou the Admiralty list, of which numher one thousand, who have roost merit- ed distinction, are immediately to be made, and placed upon the half-pay. Messrs. John Cross and Co. of the Golden- cross, Chsuing-cross, the Grand Crosses of the Bath Night Coach, admit f'our Commanders and nine Companions, upon payment of their fees -I)rovideki, nevertheless, that the same be first duty registered by — the Book-keeper. lion Ilot-Aii old officer, who has seen much service, said the other day, that the country was b-iig,hicd-iliere was iiotlilii,, buL stili's to be seen. A not having any halfpence, told a beggar that he would remember him on his return. Please- your honour," says the fellow, it is unknown the credit I give in this way," A Brewer having lately assumed great airs of importance, a Foreigner asked, whether he was one of the new Knights? No, said a pun- ster; he's a Knight of Malt-a. Beggar my N eighbour is said to be the fa- vourite game of cards at the Court I'arties at Vienna. At the date of the last report is was come to Lord Castlereagh's turn to shuffle or cut. Near 40 sail of vessels were lost in the late gales in the Irish Seas, and of ten of them, we lament to add, the crews met a watery grave. On Friday last, a Ball was given at the Bowling Green Inn, Overton, by Col. Fletcher, of Gwernhyled. It was splendidly attended by all the gentry in the neighbourhood; nearly 200 persons. Orders have been sent to the Lords Lieutenant to disembody forthwith the Bedford, Cumber- land, Dorset, and Oxford regiments of iiiilitia. Several sheep were lately drowned, as they were feeding on the mountains of Lowefwater, in Cumberland, from a water spout bursting ovcr their heads. Meetings have been recently held in the counties of Berks and Bucks, for the purpose of forming schools for the instruction of the Adult Poor to enable them to read the Scrip- tures. Mr. Coke introduced the new Staffordshire mode of hacking, instead of reaping wheat, in a field at Holkham, last harvest, which an- so much to his satisfaction, that be intends to cut the whole of his wheat crop next year in the same manner. A turnip cutter has lately been invented at Thurso in Scotland, which promises to be of great utility to turnip feeders. It is so con- structed, that it can easily be managed by a child of twelve years of age, and the cutters may be placed so as to slice the turnips to any thickness. It is said that the daughter of an English Baronet, deceased, (she who was considered as the most beautiful woman in England when the Potentates were here) and who accompa- nied her mother and father-in-law to Vienna, is married a -la main gauche to Prince Augustus of Prussia. On opening one of the graves in St. Peter's church, in Chester last week, the body of a young woman, which had been buried up wards of eighty years, was found quite perfect her long auburn tresses, and placid counte- nance, presented a most interesting spectacle. We presume some antiseptic process must have been had recourse to, previous to interment, and which has preserved the body for so great j a length of liiiie.-Chester Paper. j On Monday T. Devall, a workman at Mr, Barker's Acid Manufactory in Rugeley, was left at the factory to attend to the fire (ruler the furnace, which was to he kept in all night. On the foreman's going to the factory the next morning, he found the fire out, and De- vall lying dead on some dnder, about two 11 t t (y yards from the fire, with his clothes nearly aii consumed. | Italian Punishment for Drunkenness.—" The | day on which we arrived at Rome, (says a | traveller, who recently visited that city,) five I men, who had got drunk the night before, un- I derwentthe punishment of dislocation of their | shoulders. In the Corso their is an enormous gibbet, with a a rope run through a pulley at the top of it, by which the punishment is in I flit ted. Those who undergo it never after- wards have the perfect use of their arms." Friday the 6th insl. one of the Portsmouth « night coaches was overturned near Guildford, and most of the passengers materially injured. A sailor, on the outside was thrown through the window of a house, into a room in which a man and his wife were sleeping and in his fall dislocated his shoulder. One of the horses vras killed. The coachman was the only per- son who escaped injury. Longevity in the Feathered Tribe.-Oii Wed- nesday the 4th inst. a Goose, which formerly I belonged to the late Mr. John Missing, and lately to R. W. Missing, of Fosbrook-cottage, I Tilchfield, died at the advanced age of sijty- fottr years the year before last she laid five eggs, and hatched five goslins, one of which is preserved as a curiosity, being the offspring of so aged a mother. The parish book at Bowes, in Yorkshire, contains the following notice :_H March 15, 1715. Roger VVrighlson, jun. and Martha Bailton, both of Bowes, buried in one grave. He died in a fever and upon hearing Lhepas- sing bell, she cried out My heart is broke I and expired in a few hours, entirely as is sup- posed, through love-aged about twenty years each." This circumstance gave rise to the well known pathetic tale of u Edwitz and Emma." On the 2d inst. James Hammerslev, servant to Mr. William flickling,of Borrowash, matt- ster, was convicted before R. F. Forester, Esq. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for Derby, in the penalty of SOL. for watering a quantity of barley after the same had been taken out of the steeping cistern, and before the expiration of twelve days after the same had been so emptied, contrary to the Act in that case made and provided; and in conse- quence of his not having forthwith paid the said penalty, he was committed to the House of Correction to be there kept to hard labour for the space of two months. CORK AssizES. —Excommumention. The following are the facts of a cause which was tried before the Hon. Mr. Justice Day, and a Special Jury, at the Cork Assizes:—A baker, of the name of Donovan, brought an action against the Rev. Mr. O'Br'teii, vicar-general to Dr. Coppiuger, titular Bishop of Cork, and Roman Catholic parish priest of Cloiiikilly.- The damages were laid at 500/. It appeared on the trial, that a subscription had been set on foot hy the priest, for the purposeof build iii, a Rotitan Catholic Clitpel. Donovan was ordered to pay, as his aflixed quota, the sum of 16s. 3d. which he accordingly did. He was afterwards called npon to pay 9s,: this sum he likewise paid, but observed," that he was very poor, aud could not afford it. A third de maud was made by the priest,of 16s. which DOllovan refused to comply wilh. On Dono- van's goin to mass the following Sunday, he was asked by tiie priest whether he would pay the 16s. or not? He answered that he was not ahie. The priest rejoined, I will settle Not, Terrified at thisobservalion, Donovan sent by his wife 16s. to the house of the priest, who refused then to lake less than two gui- neas I On the following Sunday, the priest cursed from the altar all these who had not paid their demands towards building the chapel. DOilovan wellt on the next holiday to uijiss, and was formally excommunicated, and the people denounced as cursed and con- taminated if they should deal or hold any communication with hilll. This threat was so effectual, that not one of the country people would sell a sod of turf to Donovan to heat his oven and he could not even sell in his own name, such flour or stock as lav on his hands. Reduced almost to despair, the baker went in a white sheet to the chapel, as a vo- luntary penance, and asked pardon of God and the priest for his disobedience; and was there bv the priest, desired to attend him to his house, where he again demanded from him the two guineas wbich Douovan assured him he could not make up. The excommunica- tion was, therefore, continued in full force against him, and he was consequently obliged to shut up his house The above facts were incontrovertibly proved ly two unwilling wit- nesses. The Jury, after a very able charge from the learned Judge, found a verdict for r, the plaiuliff, with 501. damages. The Tobacco market has already felt the effect of the peace with America, that article having already fallen nearly 20 per cent. j HUMAN CREDULITY,—Another extraordi. f nary instance in reI/put to Joanna Southcolt.—• 1 A deed, bearing date January 5, 1815, was yesterday (the 12th) presented at the Stamp Office, to be duly stamped, and for which the sum of 16s. was paid. It bore the declaration of the Rev. J. H-Iey A—he, purporting, that unless Joanna Southcott had a child born, and sucking at her breast, on or before the 12th instant, he should be solemnly bound never to preach or do duty in C-ne Church, So- mersetshire (or in any other clitircii again), but would allow, and duly authorise auy Cler- gyman, chosen by the parish, or appointed by the Bishop, and for him to receive all profit and emolument attending the same. As James Elliot, ayouUi ahout 17 was tra- velling over Dibdon Moor, uear Rothbury, on Monday se'nnight, he fell into a coal-pit about 30 fathoms in depth, the mouth of the pit being without railing to prevent such acci- dents, though within a short distance of the turupike-road. He was discovered the fol- lowing day by his own failler, who, hearing a sound at the bottom of the pit, spoke down < the shaft, when the young man was heard to fi say, I belong to Roth bury, and both my legs are broke." Mr. Scolt, Veterinary Sur- of Alnwick, was travelling the road at the time, and took an active part in assisting to L legs are broke." Mr. Scott, Veterinary Sur- of Alnwick, was travelling the road at the time, and took an active part in assisting to extricate him from his horrible situation hav- < ing prepared rones, &c. a tiiaii was let down his 1 the pit, who made Elliot secure in the rope. e when he was drawn up to the lop by a bose, after having been immersed in water and filth at the bottom of the pit for 19 hours. One '*? of his legs was severely shattered and broken, miktl the !)tiler dislocated. Mr. Scott itumedi- ately replaced the bones in their proper situa- !j¡ tion,bandaging them up, and gave the neces- sary directions for hisconveyanceto Rothbury, i where it was found necessary to amputate one i— ofhislegs. The young man was much bruised C, internally.—(Newcastle Paper.) j

COPPER ORE If Sold at REDRUTH, on Thursday, Jan. 12. Mines. Tons, Purchasers. At per Tors I( Wheal Alfred 181 British Co. 16 0 o ditto 180 Rose Co. 9 16 0 t- ditto 127 Brass Wire Co. 9 14 9 a ditto 101 d: f. solO 17 5 ditto 97 British Co. 7 12 D ditto 87 Birmingham Co. 7 16 0 > ditfo 74 British Co. 5 15 0 Wh.Fi ienpshipl 12 Crown Co. 7 17 0 ditto 92 ditto 1 13 6 ditto 90 English Co. 8 14 6 ditto 86 djtfo 9 4 0 Wheal Neptune 121 ditto 8 16 6 Weeth I Oi) Birmingham Co. 8 4 6 Wheal Ann 98 Cornish Co. 6 3 0 WhealClowance 60 Mmes Royal, Union, and British 6 13 6 Total 1496 tong-Averi,-e Standard 1331.

-us A CHART OF CARNARVON BAR AND HARBOUR. Directions for Ships and Vessels sailing into Car- narvon Harbour, over the Bar, In order to facilitate the navigation of this Har- bour, two Buoys are placed 011 the Bar, iheouier one is painted blnclc, and the inner red; a Perch is also erected on the Bank, called the Muscle Bank. LLANDOWYN Point lies about 2 miles distance from the black Buoy, (which is moored in the en- trance of the Bar, in about 15 feet water, at low water, average spring tides) in a N. by E direc- tion. DIN AS DINI.I<E lie. from three, or from that to three and a half miles distance from the black Buoy, in a S. E. direction. The black Buoy lies about one mile distance from the red Buoy, ill a S.W. by S.direction. The red Buoy lies about two, or from that to two niid a qtiai-I er miles distiiiee frotyi file Perch, in a W. by N. direction. The Perch lies Ilear olle mile distance from Abermenai, in a west direc- tion, where ships and vessels lJIay anchor in safety. Masters of vessels, drawing 12 feet water and upwards, should not (in a gale of wind) approach this Bar until four hours flood. All vessels coming in, should leave the Perch 011 the larboard hand. High water at full and change, at a quarter af- ter niue o'elock-average spriug tides rise and fall on the Bar from 16 to IS feet—neap ditto front 6 to 8 feet. Expert Pilots may always be had on making the proper signal. This Harbour has been lately considerably en. Jarged and improved, a great number of large ves- v sels are built here annually—it is a most con*e- M nient place for repairing of old vessels—there i* an extensive trade carried on in the exportation j- of slates (of the best quality) and other articles,$I to most parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and consists of convenient quays and wharfs, for the reception andsafety of ships and vessels loading and unloading, or lying jk within the limits of this port. The Trustees of this Harbour have expended from four to live hundred pounds in blasting some of the rocks at the Swillies, to low water tnarlf, v which has rendered a most free passage for ship. and vessels of large burthen, coming from the eastward to this Harbour, or sailing through § Straits of Menai.J The north and south banks of this Bar are | subject to shift—when they do shift, or the Buoy* part from their moorings, proper care will be ( taken, to moor Buoys in tfie deep, as at present, v and the true bearings, distances, &c. of them, in- serted in this paper. M t!u. BANGOR: '}' Printed and Published by J. Braster. 1 Orders, for (his paper, are received in London* | by Newton & Co. t(la(e Tayler & Newton), 5* 'le W ar wick-square,Newgate- stre«t,—ftttd J. W lIjte; 33, Fleet-street.