DR. DIBDIN'S BIBLIOGRAPHICAL TOUR IN FRANCE AND GERMANY.*
Tins is a republication of Dr. DIBDIN'S Bibliographical Tour, pub- lished some years ago : we confess we did not expect to see it, more particularly in its present form. It will be remembered that the first edition was a costly work, adorned with numerous exquisite en- gravings, partly of antiquities from illuminated MSS. from churches and other remains, together with some very charming landscapes, drawn by LEWIS, the author's companion, and beautifully engraved. We have in the second edition but a small part of the plates which, it must be owned, gave the chief if not the only vakte to the work. A part of these em,Travings are, however, retained ; and the work is executed altogether with that luxurious elegance which distinguishes all the publications from the hands of Mr. MAJOR; to whom we are indebted for his beautiful WALTON, and his no less beautiful and more splendid work of WALPOLE, as edited by Mr. DA LL AWAY. Dr. DIBDIN is not a writer after our taste : nevertheless it may be said he has given the only animation to a dry subject which it was
* Second edition. 3 vole.thro. London, 1829. Major.
capable of receiving. In order to do this, he frequently forces a gaiety and affects an enthusiasm he is far from really feeling : this is pain- ful to a reader of taste, but we see no reason to conclude that biblio- graphers in general belong to that class. There is no writer who corn- ants so many gross sins against good taste as Dr. DIBDIN, neverthe- less he is perhaps the only bibliographical tourist whose writings would attract the attention of the public for a moment.
Previous page
