148 ^Messrs. Parker, Jones, and Brady on 



grapliia,' and subsequent references to them are made in this 

 relation, we need not dwell further upon it. 



The book with which wc are at present concerned, the 

 magnum opus of the author, is the ' Testaceographia.' This 

 monument of patient labour and accurate observation con- 

 sists of two folio volumes*, illustrated by 228 plates en- 

 graved on copper t- It was published at >Sienna between the 

 years 1789 and 1798, and is now extremely rare. We have 

 heard that a considerable portion of the edition was burnt as 

 unsaleable, but we cannot vouch for the truth of the statement. 

 Of its scarcity at the present day, however, there can be no 

 doubt. Eight or ten years ago, the late Dr. Falconer purchased 

 in Italy the copy now in the library of the Royal Society ; 

 and more recently the Literary and Philosophical Society of 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne has obtained from a German source a 

 fine copy that appears to have been presented by Soldani to 

 one of his friends. These are the only perfect examples J of 

 the work which we know of in this country ; and we would 

 here express oiu- thanks to the Council of the Royal Society 

 and to the Committee of the Literary and Philosophical 

 Society of Newcastle for the protracted loan we have enjoyed 

 of their respective copies during the prepai-ation of the present 

 pa])er. 



The following is a brief summary of the contents of this 



• Usually found in four volumes, the Jirst having been issued in tbree 

 parts, separate, but consecutively paped. 



t Tbe elegance of the engraved dedications and subsidiary titlepages 

 deserves remark; and we must draw attention to the vignettes No. 1 ( by 

 Cyrus Sauctius) at page 1 of vol. i. ; No. 2, on the titlepage of part 2. vol. i. 

 (repeated in part 3J ; and No. 3, on the titlepage of vol. ii., not only 03 

 pictures of the reverend naturalist and some of his friends and acquaint- 

 ances, and as illustrations of the costumes and magnify ing-ghisses of the 

 last centm'v, and of the internal an-angements of Soldani's OAvn cabinet, 

 with the artist at work and congenial fi-iends around (in No. 1), but also 

 as depicting characters and habits of far greater persistence than the in- 

 dividuals and furniture surrounding the enthusia.*tic microscopist of 

 Sienna. In No. 2 especially has the artist tixed with the strongest lines 

 of satire the earnest patience of the enlightened and willing teacher, — 

 the dullness of the would-be learner, clever by nature, but blunted by 

 years of respectable ignorance of every thing but diplomacy or trade. — the 

 "politely masked but almost utter insouciance of the well-to-do nobody. — 

 and the self-satisfied, contemptuous, blank ignorance of the ecclesi;istic. 

 No. 3 illustrates a group of gentlemen more or les-* interested in the 

 minuti:^ shown them in the microscope by perliaps Soldani himself. 

 Their interest in the matter varies much : one is willingly attentive ; one 

 almost repents of his having come ; and the thin! is making his adieux 

 with real or feigned admiration of the little curiosities he leaves upon the 

 table. 



\ Two parts only (vol. i. parts 1 vt 2) are in the British Museum. 



