another who should attempt it: and if this
_gout_ for prints and thieving continues, let private owners
and public libraries look well to their books, for there
will not remain a valuable book ungarbled by their
connoisseuring villany: for neither honesty nor oaths
restrain them. Yet these _fanciers_, if prints themselves
are to be collected, instead of being injurious to every
body, might make themselves serviceable to posterity, and
become a kind of _medalists_ (who, by the bye, are almost as
great thieves as themselves, though the hurt they do is not
so extensive, as it lies chiefly among themselves, who all
hold this doctrine, that "exchange is no robbery;" but, if
they could filch without exchanging, no scruple of
conscience would prevent them): we say they might render
themselves useful to posterity, by gathering together the
historical, political, satyrical, anecdotal and temporal
pieces, with which the age abounds; adding an explanation of
the intent and meaning for the instruction and amusement of
times to come. The misfortune is, they must buy the one, but
they can steal the other; and steal they will, although
watched with the eyes of Argus: unless the valuables, like
some other _jocalia_, are shewn to them through a grate; and
even _then_, the keeper must be vigilant!' _Of English
Founders and Foundries_; p. 85. This extract is curious on
account of the tart, but just, sentiments which prevail in
it; but, to the bibliomaniac, it is doubly curious, when he
is informed that _only eighty copies_ of this Typographical
Treatise (of 100 pages--including the Appendix) were
printed. The author was a testy, but sagacious,
bibliomaniac, and should have been introduced among his
brethren in PART V. It is not, however, too late to subjoin
the following: _Bibliotheca Moresiana. A Catalogue of the
Large and Valuable Library of Printed Books, rare old
tracts, Manuscripts, Prints, and Drawings, Copper Plates,
sundry Antiquities, Philosophical Instruments, and other
Curiosities, of that eminent British Antiquary_, the late
Rev. and learned EDWARD ROWE MORES, F.A.S., deceased, &c.
Sold by auction by Mr. Patterson, August 1779. This
collection exhibited, like its owner, a strange mixture of
what was curious, whimsical, and ingenious