th year, may be deemed miraculous;
considering upon what a tempestuous sea his vessel of life seemed to
be embarked. Latterly, he took to politics; when--"farewell the
tranquil mind!"

PART II.

THE CABINET.

This portion of the "Bibliomania," embracing about fourscore pages,
contains a _Precis_, or review of the more popular works, then extant,
upon BIBLIOGRAPHY. It forms an immense mass of materials; which, if
expanded in the ordinary form of publication, would alone make a
volume. I have well nigh forgotten the names of some of the more
ancient heroes of bibliographical renown, but still seem to cling with
a natural fondness to those of Gesner, Morhof, Maittaire, and
Fabricius: while Labbe, Lambecius, and Montfaucon, Le Long, and
Baillet, even yet retain all their ancient respect and popularity. As
no _fresh characters_ are introduced in this second part of the
Bibliomania, it may be permitted me to say a word or two upon the
substance of the materials which it contains.

The immense note upon the "_Catalogue of Libraries_," alphabetically
arranged, from page 72 to page 99, is now, necessarily, imperfect;
from the number of libraries which have been subsequently sold or
described. Among the _latter_, I hope I may naturally, and
justifiably, make mention of the BIBLIOTHECA SPENCERIANA; or, A
descriptive Catalogue of the early printed Books of the late George
John Earl Spencer, K.G.; comprising, in the whole, seven volumes; with
the addition of the Cassano Library, or books purchased of the Duke of
Cassano, by the noble Earl, when at Naples, in the year 1819. In the
"_Reminiscences of my Literary Life_," I have given a sort of graphic
description of this extensive work, and of the circumstances attending
its publication. _That_ work now rests upon its own particular, and, I
will fearlessly add, solid, basis. For accuracy, learning, splendour,
and almost interminable embellishment, it may seem at once to command
the attention, and to challenge the commendation, of the most
fastidious: but it is a flower which blooms more kindly in a foreign,
than in its native, soil. It has obtained for me the notice and the
applause of learned _foreigners_; and when I travelled abroad I
received but too substantial proofs that what was slighted _here_ was
appreciated in _foreign_ parts. Our more popular Reviews, which seem
to thrive and fatten best upon lean fare, passed this magnificent work
over in a sort of sly or sull