Recapitulation. i^OI 



\\c esthnation, than it generally stood in preced- 

 ing ages. Every object loses something of its 

 value in the public esteem, in consequence of 

 being cheap and common. Thus it has fared 

 with the dignity of authorship. Persons of this 

 profession h-ave become so numerous in society, 

 many of those who engage in it discover such a 

 selfish and mercenary spirit, and it is found so 

 easy a task to compile a book, that their im- 

 portance has suffered a diminution in some de- 

 gree corresponding with the number and worth* 

 lessness of their literary labours. 



Another signal revolution in the literary cha- 

 racter of the eighteenth century, and closely con- 

 nected with the multiplication of books, is, that 

 Booksellers h^LYe become the great patrons of lite- 

 rature. In ancient times, authors having no hope 

 of finding a remuneration for their labour in the 

 general sale of their works, were under the ne- 

 cessity of attaching themselves to some private 

 patron, Avho, to great wealth, united a fondness 

 for literature and literary men. Some of the most 

 accomplished writers of antiquity would have 

 been unable to pursue their studies, or to com- 

 plete those works which have so long instructed 

 and delighted the world, had they not enjoyed the 

 smiles of certain individuals of opulence and taste, 

 who made it their pride and pleasure to foster 

 literary merit. The same state of things existed, 

 in a certain degree, for nearly two centuries after 

 the art of printing was discovered. The number ot' 

 publications and of readers was comparatively so 

 small, that booksellers were few ; and those who 

 engaged in this employment had little business, 



