Literary Journa/s. 299 



In the conclusion of the preface we find the following judici- 

 ous observations. " The spirit of partiality is a dangerous 

 rock, on which many Journalists have been lost. We conceive 

 it to be the duty of a Journalist to give a faithful account of 

 the books which come into his hands. When he affects the air 

 and language of a censor, he invades the undoubted right of the 

 Public, which is tlie only sovereign judge of the reputation of 

 an Author, and the merit of his compositions. To the same 

 judge we must submit the present performance ; with a fix'd 

 resolution of neither offending those from whom we may chance 

 to differ in opinion, nor misrepresenting, nor disguising the 

 sentiments of authors, when contrary to our own. We shall be 

 particularly careful to insert nothing, which has not some ten- 

 dency to improve the mind, form the judgment, or entertain the 

 reasonable and commendable curiosity, of our readers." 



XXVIII. 1737. The " British Librarian : Exhibiting a 

 compendious Review or Abstract of cur most scarce, useful, 

 and valuable Books in all Sciences, as well in Manuscript as in 

 Print: with many Characters, Historical and Critical, of the 

 Authors, their Antagonists, i!) c. In a manner never before at- 

 tempted, and useful to all Readers. With a complete Index to 

 the volume. Multa renascentur qucB jam cecidere." London, 

 printed for T. Osborne, in Gray's-Inn, 1738. 



Although this was an anonymous publication it is well known 

 that the Author of it was the celebrated Bibliographer William 

 Oldys, Librarian to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, and one of 

 the compilers of the Harleian Miscellany. As only six num- 

 bers of this Journal were ever published, the work is complete 

 in one volume. For several years, this curious Journal was en- 

 tirely neglected by the Book Collectors, but it is now valued as 

 it deserves. It is a thin volume of 418 pages, and inTriphook's 

 Catalogue for 1816 it stands valued at a Guinea, but since that 

 time a copy was sold at Mr. Evans's sale in Pall-Mall for 

 \l lis. 6rf. 



It is observable that the British Librarian is chiefly a re- 

 view of very scarce old books, and it is highly valuable because 



