desirable object, an accurate General History of
Printing. In my edition of _Ames's Typographical
Antiquities_, I shall give an analysis of Bagford's papers,
with a specimen or two of his composition.]

[Footnote 16: For an eloquent account of this disorder
consult the letters of Dr. Mosely inserted in the Morning
Herald of last year. I have always been surprised, and a
little vexed, that these animated pieces of composition
should be relished and praised by every one--but _the
Faculty_!]

Let us enquire, therefore, into the origin and tendency of the
BIBLIOMANIA.

In this enquiry I purpose considering the subject under three points
of view: I. THE HISTORY OF THE DISEASE; or an account of the eminent
men who have fallen victims to it: II. THE NATURE, OR SYMPTOMS OF THE
DISEASE: and III. THE PROBABLE MEANS OF ITS CURE. We are to consider,
then,

1. THE HISTORY OF THE DISEASE. In treating of the history of this
disease, it will be found to have been attended with this remarkable
circumstance; namely, that it has almost uniformly confined its
attacks to the _male_ sex, and, among these, to people in the higher
and middling classes of society, while the artificer, labourer, and
peasant have escaped wholly uninjured. It has raged chiefly in
palaces, castles, halls, and gay mansions; and those things which in
general are supposed not to be inimical to health, such as
cleanliness, spaciousness, and splendour, are only so many inducements
towards the introduction and propagation of the BIBLIOMANIA! What
renders it particularly formidable is that it rages in all seasons of
the year, and at all periods of human existence. The emotions of
friendship or of love are weakened or subdued as old age advances; but
the influence of this passion, or rather disease, admits of no
mitigation: "it grows with our growth, and strengthens with our
strength;" and is oft-times

----The ruling passion strong in death.[17]

[Footnote 17: The writings of the Roman philologers seem to
bear evidence of this fact. Seneca, when an old man, says
that, "if you are fond of books, you will escape the ennui
of life; you will neither sigh for evening, disgusted with
the occupations of the day--nor will you live dissatisfied
with yourself, or unprofitable to others." _De
Tranquilitate_, ch. 3. Cicero has positively told us that
"study is the food of youth, and t