. 
1807] 
number of copies. The fault is obviously 
therefore in tke luxurious taste of the 
times, which has forced the printers of 
books to enter into a competition to ren- 
der all publications superb, and. conse- 
quently costly, and every shilling in the 
intrinsic value of a copy of a book, adds- 
three to its price, on account of the 
necessary reduction of the edition, and 
on account of the increase in the first 
cost, which adds proportionally to the 
hazard of success. Books, it will be ap- 
parent, are unlike most other articles; a 
weaver may make one, or one hundred 
yards of cloth at the simple cost per 
yard of the labour, and the material, 
whether for one yard, or for one hun- 
dred; 
costs nearly as much to produce one 
copy as one thousand, all the expences 
being the same for one copy as for ene 
thousand, except the intrinsic value of 
the paper and a small expence for press 
work. It follows then as a practical and 
important inference, that the lovers of 
literature ought to consider fine printing, 
superfine paper, maccaroni  embel- 
lishments, and every thing that adds 
uselessly to the cost of books, as destruc- 
tive of literature itself, and that the ja- 
dicious part of the public ought to give 
preference to that style of printing, which 
the most effectually answers the purposes 
of communicating knowledge, or they 
will in time be ‘the means of raising 
printed books to the price of manuscripts. 
Enough has been said to inform the 
public of its dutics, and this paragraph 
has already exceeded its bounds, or the 
writer had intended to prove that books 
have not risen in price more than other 
articles, and that they are much cheaper, 
ceteris paribus, than in any other country 
in Europe, and at half the price at which 
they can be produced in America.~ 
The valuable library of the late profes- 
sor Hensier, of Kiel, in Holstein, has 
been purchased, and lately imported to 
Edinburgh, by Messrs. Constable and 
Company. It consists_of upwards ct 
one thousand five hundred volumes, of 
the most choice descriptions ; comprising 
the rarest and most valuable editions of 
all the best Greek and Roman Classics, 
and was considered to be one of the most 
select private classical collections in 
Germany. 
A Legendary Romance, illustrative of 
the Domestic Manners and Amusements 
ot the Fifteenth C entury, by the late 
Mr. Josrru Srrurt, is nearly ready for 
publication, It is entitled, “ Queen-Tloe- 
Literary and Philosophical Intelligence. 
but in the production of books, it . 
273 
Hale, or a History of Times Past,? 
Mr. Strutt was the author of “Sports and 
Pastimes of the People of England,” and 
other valuable publications of the same 
kind, and his ingenuity and knowledge 
of antiquity has rendered this work ex- 
tremely curious and interesting 
A Work, entitled “ Sir Ralph Sadler’s 
tate Papers,” is preparing m two volumes 
4to. with Portraits, Autographs, and 
other Embellishments, and will conta, 
1. A Republication of theLetters and Nego- 
ciations of Sir Ralph Sadler with King James | 
V. and with the Regency of Scotland, in the 
years 1540 and 1553. 2. A Collection off 
Curious and Important Documents concerning 
Queen Elizabeth’s private negociations with 
the Scottish Reformers, in the year 1559. 
3. Letters and Papers respecting the grand 
Northern Rebellion, in 156°. 4. Documents 
concerning the confinement of Queen Mary 
in England. 
All these State Papers, excepting those 
referring to the earliest of the four periods, 
are now, for the first time, laid before the 
public. They are published from the origi- 
hals, which have been preserved in the fa- 
mily of. Thomas Cliftord, esq. of Tixall, in 
the County of Stafford, whose mother, the 
Honourable Barbara Aston, represented Ger- 
trude Sadler, Lady Aston, one of the xo- 
heiresses of Sir Ralph Sadler. The papers 
are published by Arthur Clifford, esq. and a 
Memoir of the Life of Sir Ralph Sadler, with 
some Historical notes, have been contributed 
by Mr. Walter Scott. 
Mr. Water Scott, has received a 
thousand guineas for his new Poem, en- 
titled, “‘ Marmien, or a Tale of Flodden 
Field.” It is,in the press’ and will 
speedily be published. 
The Rev. Joun BrpraKe, of Ply- 
mouth, has in the press a new volume of 
Sermons. 
Two volumes of collections from the 
Deipno-ophists, or Banquet of the 
Learned, of Athenzus, is in the press. 
The Rev. Mr. Haepbnien has in the 
press, a new edition of the late Dr, 
Barry’s History of the Orkneys, with 
‘considerable additions. 
Dr. Carntwricutr has a volume of 
Poems and Essays, on various miscella- 
neous subjects, in the press. 
Mr. Twiok proposes to publish a 
Translation of the Organon of Aristotle, 
with copious Elucidations from the Com- 
mentaries of Ammouius and Simplicius, 
The seventh number ef the new Series 
of the Mathematical Repository, by 
Tuomas LeEyBourn, is in the press, con- 
taining: 1, Solutions to thirty curious 
Mathematical Questions, proposed ina 
former number: 2, Solutions to some 
: Mechanical 
