148 Messrs. Parker, Jones, and Brady on 



graphia,' and subsequent references to tliem are made in this 

 relation, we need not dwell further upon it. 



The book with which we are at present concerned, the 

 magmim opus of the author, is the ' Testaceogeaphia.' This 

 monument of patient labour and accurate observation con- 

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

 graved on copper f. 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 % of 

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

 here express our 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 preparation of the present 

 paper. 



The following is a brief summary of the contents of this 



* Usually found in four volumes, the j^rs< having been issued in three 

 parts, separate, but consecutively paged. 



t The elegance of the engraved dedications and subsidiary titlepages 

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

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

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

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

 ances, and as illustrations of the costxmies and magnifying-glasses of the 

 last century, and of the internal arrangements of Soldani's own cabinet, 

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

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

 dividuals and furniture surrounding the enthusiastic microscopist of 

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

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

 the dullness of the would-be learner, clever by natm-e, 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 ecclesiastic. 

 No. 3 illustrates a gTOup of gentlemen more or less interested in the 

 minutiae shown them in the microscope by perhaps Soldani himself. 

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

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

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

 table. 



X Two parts only (vol. i. parts 1 & 2) are in the British Museum. 



