The formation of a Society, having for its object any special literary
service, is a matter so closely connected with the very purpose for
which this paper was established, that we shall only be carrying out
that purpose by calling the attention of our readers to a small pamphlet
in which our valued correspondent DR. MAITLAND offers a few suggestions
to all who may be interested in the formation of a "CHURCH-HISTORY
SOCIETY, and willing to co-operate in such a design."
DR. MAITLAND'S suggestions are:
1. The collection of a library containing the books particularly
required for the objects of the proposed society: and those who have not
paid attention to the subject will perhaps be surprised to learn that in
DR. MAITLAND'S opinion (and few higher authorities can be found on this
point), "A moderate-sized room would hold such a library, and a very few
hundred pounds would pay for it." On the advantage of this plan to the
editors of the works to be published by the Society, it can scarcely be
necessary to insist; but other benefits would result from the formation
of such a library, for which we may refer, however, to the pamphlet
itself.
The next points treated of are the works to be undertaken by the
Society; which may briefly be described as
2. New and corrected editions of works already known and esteemed;
critical editions, for instance, of such well-known writers as Fox,
Fuller, Burnet, and Strype: and the completion, by way of "posting up,"
of such as have become defective through lapse of time, like Le Neve's
_Fasti_, Godwin's _De Presulibus_, &c.
3. The compilation of such original works as may be considered
desiderata. A General Church-History on such a scale, and so far
entering into details as to interest a reader, is not to be found in our
language; nor has the Church of England any thing like the _Gallia
Christiana_ or _Italia Sacra_. We mention these merely as instances,
referring, of course, for further illustration to the pamphlet itself,
merely quoting the following paragraph:--
"But on the subject of publication, I must add one thing more,
which appeals to me to be of vital importance to the
respectability and efficiency of such a Society. It must not
build its hopes, and stake its existence, on the cupidity of
subscribers--it must not live on appeals to their
covetousness--it must not be, nor act as if it were, a
joint-stock company formed to undersell the trade. It must not
rest on the chance of getting subscribers who will shut their
eyes, and open their mouths, and take what is given them, on a
mere assurance that it shall be more in quantity for the money,
than a bookseller can afford to offer."
DR. MAITLAND's fourth section, on the _Discovery of Materials_, tempts
us to further extracts. After remarking that
"It would be a most important and valuable part of the Society's
work to discover in various ways--chiefly by the employing fit
persons to look for, inspect, and make known--such materials for
Church-History as remain unpublished."