Bickley, Augustus Charies Bibliographical Notes A Classified Collection of the Chief Contents Edited by London Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row 5-25-34 MFF Libror. krant 11-10-31 24729 PREFACE. ERHAPS the best introduction to this book is that prefixed to the PERHAPS last volume of the "Gentleman's Magazine Library," for the present volume is practically little more than a continuation of its predecessor. But whilst that chiefly dealt with book-making, selling and storing, this endeavours to bring together particulars of the books themselves, and, in addition, to collect together information on a variety of literary subjects which has only existed previously in the disconnected form unavoidable in periodical publications-in a more disconnected form even than the matter printed in any previous volume of this series, for, either from the careless method employed, or perhaps even from the difficulties the subjects presented, few of the books and notices garnered here are mentioned in the indexes to the magazines at all. Possibly these omissions were not without advantage in the days when the Gentleman's Magazine was young and in all likelihood the only periodical many of its readers ever possessed, for the reader would have ample leisure to linger over the treasures each number contained, and even if his memory were poor, would have little difficulty in unearthing any article he might want to refer to again. How lovingly the magazine was of old time studied is shown in many of the older copies by the minute cross references which occupy the margins; but this amusement, though pleasant, is tabooed in a hurrying age. The magazine has long passed into a work of reference, and now few, if any, read its yellow pages save for informa |