(Vol. ii., pp. 296. 312.)
The sort of defence, explanation, or whatever it may be called, founded
upon usage, and offered by ANOTHER FOREIGN BOOKSELLER, is precisely what I
wanted to get out, if it existed, as I suspected it did.
If your correspondent be accurate as to Engelmann, it appears that no wrong
is done to _him_; it is only the public which is mystified by a variety of
title-pages, all but one containing a suppression of the truth, and the one
of which I speak containing more.
I now ask you to put in parallel columns extracts from the title given by
Engelmann with the substitutes given in that which I received.
"Schriftsteller--welche vom "Classics ... that have
Jahre 1700 bis zu Ende des appeared in Germany and the
Jahres 1846 besonders in adjacent countries up to the
Deutschland gedruckt worden end of 1846."
sind."
I do not think it fair towards Mr. Engelmann, whose own title is so true
and so precise, to take it for certain, on anonymous authority, that he
sanctioned the above paraphrase. According to the German, the catalogue
contains works from 1700 to 1846, published _especially_ in Germany;
meaning, as is the fact, that there are some in it published elsewhere.
According to the English, all classics printed in Germany, and all the
adjacent countries, in all times, are to be found in the catalogue. I pass
over the implied compliment to this country, namely, that while a true
description is required in Germany, a puff both in time and space is wanted
for England. I dwell on the injurious effect of such alterations to
literature, and on the trouble they give to those who wish to be accurate.
It is a system I attack, and not individuals. There is no occasion to say
much, for publicity alone will do what is wanted, especially when given in
a journal which falls under the eyes of those engaged in research. I hope
those of your contributors who think as I do, will furnish you from time to
time with exposures; if, as a point of form, a Query be requisite, they can
always end with, Is this right?