302 Recapitulation. 



and of course occupied a humble station in so- 

 ciety. The eighteenth century exhibited this 

 class of tradesmen under an aspect entirely new. 

 The great increase in the number of readers and 

 purchasers of books, and the corresponding in- 

 crease in the number of publications, and in the 

 extent of the editions, both of old and new works, 

 have raised the booksciiling business to a very 

 important and lucrative employment. The num- 

 ber of those who engage in this business is pro- 

 bably increased, taking the literary world at 

 large, more than a liundred fold*. The extent 

 and profits of their trade have grown in a still 

 greater proportion. These circumstances have 

 enabled them to become the patrons of learnings 

 to pay generously for literary labours ; and to 

 put it in the power of authors to appear more 

 speedily and advantageously at the bar of the 

 public. Hence the ease of publication. And 

 hence the countless number of volumes, which 

 could never have found their way to the press in 

 a different state of society. 



8. The eighteenth century is distinguished for 

 the UNPRECEDENTED DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE. 

 Not only has a greater number of books issued 



* The increase in the number of Printers and 'Booksellers rn 

 America, during the period in question, was at least in this pro- 

 portion. And there can be no doubt, that a similar increase has 

 taken place in most other parts of the literary world. In the 

 city of Paris, there are said to be four hundred and fifty-five 

 'Booksellers, and three hundred and forty Printers. In London, 

 the number, though not so large, is very great. In Ger?nany 

 the tradesmen of these classes are probably more numerous, but 

 more scattered through the empire. . .; 



