[231] "Edinburgh Review," vol. xxxiv, 384.
[232] Will this writer pardon me for ranking him, for a moment,
among those "generalisers" of the age who excel in what a critical
friend has happily discriminated as _ambitious writing_? that is,
writing on any topic, and not least strikingly on that of which they
know least; men otherwise of fine taste, and who excel in every
charm of composition.
[233] The late Wm. Upcott possessed, in a large degree, a similar
taste for miscellaneous collections. He never threw an old hat away,
but used it as a receptacle for certain "cuttings" from books and
periodicals on some peculiar subjects. He had filled a room with
hats and trunks thus crammed; but they were sacrificed at his death
for want of necessary arrangement.
[234] Gessner--Simler--Bellarmin--L'Abbe--Mabillon--Montfaucon--Moreri--
Bayle--Baillet--Niceron--Dupin--Cave--Warton--Casimir Oudin--Le
Long--Goujet--Wolfius--John Albert Fabricius--Argelati--Tiraboschi--
Nicholas Antonio--Walchius--Struvius--Brucker--Scheuchzer--Linnaeus--
Seguier--Haller--Adamson--Manget--Kestner--Eloy--Douglas--Weidler--
Hailbronner--Montucla--Lalande--Bailly--Quadrio--Morhoff--Stollius--
Funccius--Schelhorn--Engles--Beyer--Gerdesius--Vogts--Freytag--David
Clement--Chevillier--Maittaire--Orlandi--Prosper Marchand--Schoeplin--
De Boze--Abbe Sallier--and de Saint Leger.
[235] The British Museum Library now numbers more than 500,000 volumes.
The catalogue alone forms a small library.