icular.

If ever you should be disposed to form a bibliographical collection,
do not omit securing, when it comes across you, the best edition of Du
Fresnoy's[137] _Methode pour etudier l'Histoire_: it is rare, and
sought after in this country. And now--softly approach, and gently
strew the flowers upon, the tomb of worthy NICERON:[138] Low lies the
head, and quiescent has become the pen, of this most excellent and
learned man!--whose productions have furnished biographers with some
of their choicest materials, and whose devotion to literature and
history has been a general theme of admiration and praise. The mention
of this illustrious name, in such a manner, has excited in my mind a
particular train of ideas. Let me, therefore, in imagination, conduct
you both to yonder dark avenue of trees--and, descending a small
flight of steps, near the bottom of which gushes out a salient
stream--let us enter a spacious grotto, where every thing is cool and
silent; and where small alabaster busts, of the greater number of
those bibliographers I am about to mention, decorate the niches on
each side of it. How tranquil and how congenial is such a resting
place!--But let us pursue our inquires. Yonder sharp and well turned
countenances, at the entrance of the grotto, are fixed there as
representations of CARDINAL QUIRINI[139] and GOUJET; the _Bibliotheque
Francoise_ of the latter of whom--with which I could wish book
collectors, in general, to have a more intimate acquaintance--has
obtained universal reputation.[140] Next to him, you may mark the
amiable and expressive features of DAVID CLEMENT:[141] who, in his
_Bibliotheque Curieuse_, has shown us how he could rove, like a bee,
from flower to flower; sip what was sweet; and bring home his
gleanings to a well-furnished hive. The principal fault of this bee
(if I must keep up the simile) is that he was not sufficiently choice
in the flowers which he visited; and, of course, did not always
extract the purest honey. Nearly allied to Clement in sprightliness,
and an equally gossipping bibliographer, was PROSPER MARCHAND;[142]
whose works present us with some things no where else to be found,
and who had examined many curious and rare volumes; as well as made
himself thoroughly acquainted with the state of bibliography previous
to his own times.

[Footnote 137: The last edition of this work is the one
which was printed in fifteen volumes, crown 8vo., at Paris,
1772: wi