MEMOIR OP ARISTOTLE. 
61 
rious, would hardly deserve to be noticed, did they 
not serve to shew a mind free and unencumbered 
amidst the abstrusest studies, and a readiness of wit 
which never failed to check arrogance, and repel the 
sneers of the impertinent. 
His unwearied application to study has been al- 
ready noticed, and he took great pains that his dis- 
ciples should follow his example. In the Lycaeum 
their industry was remarkable. An archon, or re- 
gent, was chosen from amongst themselves every ten 
days, to superintend their progress and enforce the 
due observance of the stated rules of the school. 
Scientific lectures were given, and exercises pre- 
scribed to the students, both in the dialectical and 
rhetorical form. To assist them in the acquisition 
of every kind of learning, their master had taken 
care to collect a variety of books, which were con- 
stantly open to their perusal. Strabo, indeed, says 
that he was the first who formed a regular library ; 
and that Ptolemy Pbiladelphus received directions 
from him as to the proper method of arranging the 
celebrated one which he founded. That he might 
have given suggestions as to the collecting and dis- 
posing of literary works, may be fairly admitted ; 
but that no considerable libraries existed before his 
time, is neither probable nor consistent with history 
which mentions several, both princes and private 
persons, anterior to that age, who had made collec- 
tions, and possessed repositories of books. His con- 
duct towards the writers that preceded him, has 
