España: (and by) Sr. Don Pedro Jose De Fonte, Arzobispo de está Metrópoli, Oct. 20, Nov. 30, 1816. Mexico.

The text follows, pp. 1-540, beginning: Abad (P. Diego José), and ending with: Funes (D. Geronimo) and F. V. Fin Del Tomo Io.-O. S. C. S. M. E. C. A. R. There is also a fly-tille, running thus: Bibliotheca || HispanoAmericana || Septemtrional. (sic) || Tomo I. || Que Contiene Las Letras || A. B. C. D. E. F.

Fly-title to Vol. II.-Bibliotheca || Hispano-Americana || Septentrional. || Tome II°. Que Contiene Las Letras || G. H. I. J. K. L. M. || N. O. P. Q. R. || On the reverse: Nota. || El Editor de la presente Obra que lo es desde || el pliego quarenta y Siete del primer Tomo, no || ha hecho otra cosa ni hará, que procurar la fiel || Correspondencia en un todo, de lo impreso con || lo manuscrito; de suerte, que el Publico tendrá || la Obra, tal qual su Autor la escribio.||

From this notice it is seen that the author died before the publication of the second volume. His manuscript was, however, placed in the hands of his nephew, whose name appears on the general title as editor.

The title to the second volume accords with that of the first, to the word Mexico, after which is added: y La Publica || DON JOSE RAFAEL ENRIQUEZ TRESPALACIOS BERISTAIN, || Sobrino del Autor. [The figure of Gemini.] En Mexico: || Oficina De D. Alexandro Valdés, Calle De Santo Domingo, Año De 1819.

The text follows, pp. 1–525, beginning : Gabalda (Fr. José), and ending with: Quiros y Camposagrado (D. Manuel), after which: Fin Del Tomo II.-O. S. C. S. M. E. C. A. R.

Fly-title to Vol. III. Bibliotheca || Hispano-Americana || Septentrionalis. || Tomo III. || que Contiene Las Letras || R. S. T. V. U. X. Y. Z.

The title to the third volume varies from that of the second only in the date being 1821, instead of 1819. The text follows, pp. 1-366, beginning: Rabago (D. Andrés Diez), and ending with: Zurricaldai (D. Santiago), after which: Fin De La Obra.

As a specimen of the author's style and method of treating the subject, the following articles may be acceptable to the reader, particularly as one of them relates to the compiler himself.

ACAXITLI (D. Francisco) Indio Megicano, Cacique y Señor de Tlalmanalco. Escribió:

De la entrada del Virey, D. Antonio de Mendoza, en las tierras de los Chichimecas: Manuscrito que existe en el Archivo de la provincia de P. P. Franciscanos de la Provincia de Santo Evangelio de Mégico.

ACCILA (Mosen N.). Presbitero Aragones ó Valenciano, Doctor en Teologia, residente en Megico a mediados del Siglo 17. Dió á luz un librito ascetico, intitulado: Tesoro de Devociones, etc., etc.

y

BERISTAIN Y MARTIN DE SOUZA (Don José Mariano). Nacio en la ciudad de la Puebla de los Angeles, Provincia de Tlaxcala en la N. E. á 22 de Mayo de 1756 y vistió alli successivamente las Becas de los Colegios de S. Geronimo, de P. P. Jesuitas y de San Juan, llamado el Palafoxiano, Bachiller ya en Filosofia por la Universidad de Megico, pasó á España en la familia del Sr. Obispo de la Puebla, Fabian y Fuero, electó Arzobispo de Valencia, y en aquella escuela recibió el grado de Dr. Teologo, fue Regente de Academia de Filosofia,

e hizo oposicion a sus Catedras y Pavordias. En la Universidad mayor de Valladolid fue Catetratico en propriedad y Perpetuo de Teologia, nombrado por el Señor D. Carlos III. á Consulta de su supremo Consigo de Castilia. Despues de varias oposiciones á las Canongias de Oficio de las Catedrales de España entre ellas á la Magistral de Toledo ya Canonigo Lectoral de la de Victoria, regresó á la America, 1790. Con el empleo de Secretario del Reverendo Obispo de la Puebla Don Salvador Buenpica y con el objeto de hacer oposicion escolastica á la canongia Lectoral vacante en dicha Iglesia como lo executo. Pero no habiendo merecido á aquel cabildo que le consultase para ella, al dia siguiente al de la votacion salió para Vera Cruz, donde se embarcó para España, con el correo. En el Canal de Bahama padeció un terrible naufragio, despues del qual y de trabajos inumerables arribó á la Coruña á las once meses. El Rey le premio con una Canongia de la Metropolitana de Megico, y con la Cruz de la Real y Distinguida Orden Española de Carlos III. y volvió á su patria. En 1811 acendió á la Dignidad de Arcadiano, en 1813 á la de Dean de la misma Metropolitana. Desde 1780, la Real Sociedad Bascongada le expedió el Titulo de Socio Benemerito y en el de 1798, le concedió el de Leterato. La Academia de los Apolistas de Verona le nombro en 1780 su individuo reciproco: La Real Academia Geografico-Historica de los Caballeros de Valladolid le dió en 1782 el titulo de Academico Actual, la de las tres nobles artes de la misma ciudad el de Honorario y Conciliario; y la de S. Carlos de Valencia el de Academico de honor. En Valladolid fue uno de los fundadores de la Sociedad Economica de aquella provincia y su censor, y en la misma Capital fundó por si solo la Academia de Jovenes Ciruganos, declarandose la el titulo de Protector de ella hasta que el Rey la elevó á la clase de Real; y en Megico fue Secretario del Gobierno sede vacante el año de 1800 y Presidente de dicho Gobierno Arzobispal en la Vacante del año 1809. Superintende del Hospital General de S. Andres, Rector del Colegio de San Pedro, Preposito de la Real Congregacion de Oblatos, Juez Visitador del Real Colegio de San Ildefonso, Abad de la congregacion de S. Pedro, Presidente de la Junta Provincial de Consultacion de libros, comisionado por el superior Gobierno para negocios muy graves, y Visitador extraordinario del Arzobispado. Como esta es una noticia meramente historica, no la he creido agena de mi pluma la qual se ha empleado en escribir esta biblioteca.

This collation of Beristain's important work on all that appertains to the progress of Literature and Science in Mexico and the adjacent countries, subject at the date of its compilation to the crown of Spain, has been made by me from one of the few copies known to exist. Indeed the rarity of the work is such, that it may be said to be almost unknown in Europe; nor need this excite any wonder, when it is considered that in the revolutions which followed one another so rapidly in the Spanish provinces of America, immediately after the date of its publication, books in sheets may have served to supply the want of paper for cartridges, or have been consumed in the many conflagrations attendant upon civil war. As already stated, it consists of 3687 literary notices, both biographical and bibliographical, not always, it is true, critically correct, yet sufficiently so as to render it the fullest storehouse to which the future literary historian of New Spain can resort for information.

MDCCCXX.

BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA-SEPTENTRIONALIS; being a choice collection of books in various languages, relating to the History, Climate, Geography, Produce, Population, Agriculture, Commerce, Arts, Sciences, etc., of North America, from its first discovery to its present existing government, among which are many valuable articles and rare; together with all the important official documents published from time to time by the authority of Congress. (The same title also in French.)-(Compiled by CONSUL WARDEN.) Paris, 1820. 8vo, pp. 147.

This catalogue was printed for private distribution, by Mr. Warden, U. S. Consul at Paris, and contains an account of the first collection of books relating to America formed by that gentleman, who parted with it to Mr. S. E. Eliot, Mayor of Boston, Mass., for 5000 dollars. Mr. Warden, however, was indefatigable, and in 1831 produced another catalogue of a second Collection, under the following title :*-*

MDCCCXXXI.

BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA; being a choice collection of books relating to North and South America, and the West Indies; including voyages to the Southern Hemisphere, maps, engravings, and medals. (By CONSUL Warden.) 8vo. Paris, 1831. 140 pp.

Reprinted nine years afterwards, under the same title, excepting in the alteration of the date, to Paris, 1840, in 8vo, 3 leaves and 124 pp. These three catalogues of Mr. Warden's two collections are enriched with valuable notes. The second collection, represented by the catalogues of 1831 and 1840, was secured for the State Library, Albany, by the payment of 4000 dollars. From the report it appears to have consisted of 2155 vols., 12 atlasses, 121 maps, 9 medals, and 2 engravings.

MDCCCXXXII.

A CATALOGUE OF Books relating principally to America, arranged under the years in which they were printed, from 1500 to 1700. London, O. RICH, 12, Red Lion Square, 1832. 8vo, pp. 129.

Mr. Rich limits this list to books printed before the year 1700, and he has the merit of being one of the first who described each article sufficiently at length to be of use to those who are interested in the investigation of the history of America. Mr. Rich was, we believe, a native of New England, a member of several learned societies of America, as mentioned at page xvi., and resided for some years in Spain, before he established himself in London as a bookseller, commencing in that capital with a stock of books, chiefly relating to his native country and to Spanish America, which the troubled state of Spain, at the period of his sojourn in the Peninsula, had enabled him to amass at very moderate prices. Indeed, had there been no buyer for them on the spot, at the moment of the dispersion of many old libraries, both ecclesiastical and civil, during the progress of the Revolution, it is probable that many volumes of the greatest rarity and interest would have perished altogether as waste-paper. To Mr. Rich belongs the merit of having awakened the attention of other European booksellers to the importance of the subject of the earlier American

History, beyond the limits of the American continent; and the principal London booksellers, who dealt in rare and valuable books at that period, became his great competitors in the book-market. Amongst those whose catalogues deserve particular mention, were Messrs. Salva, Rodd,* Thorpe, Bohn, Payne, and Foss, from whom the late Mr. Grenville chiefly derived those rare works on America, which makes the Bibliotheca Grenvilliana almost indispensable to the collector of similar publications. The late Mr. Asher, of Berlin, also became a successful competitor, and supplied some few rare books on the subject to the British Museum, and other public and private collections. As his trade increased, Mr. Rich did not confine his speculations to Spain and to England. He sought throughout the continent of Europe for French, Dutch, and German editions and translations of early voyages and travels, connected with the Western hemisphere, and devoted much attention to the pamphlets and other ephemeral publications connected with New England and Virginia, which form one of the chief sources of information on all matters appertaining to the colonial portion of the history of the present United States. Mr. Fr. Müller, of Amsterdam, deserves prominent mention, also, amongst those booksellers who have devoted themselves to rescue these fragile records of American history from obscurity, which is more fully noticed in calling attention to his catalogue, at p. xix.

The 129 pp. of which this catalogue of 1832 is composed, present us with a bookseller's price-list of 486 works, printed from 1493 to 1700. Of these, 90 are printed prior to the year 1600, and 396 in the seventeenth century. It is compiled with enough of accuracy for the purpose for which it was intendeda dealer's description sufficiently full to enable him to vend his wares; and Mr. Rich's notes are, on the whole, entitled to much consideration, though now and then such slips occur as this "the existence of any publication on New England," for instance," anterior to 1670, is very doubtful; " though Dr. Asher, in his Bibliographical Essay, noticed at page xx., as will be seen, confines himself almost exclusively to books printed anterior to that date. To some copies of the catalogue Mr. Rich added, A LIST OF BOOKS relating to America, 1493 to 1700, 16 pp. 8vo, which was afterwards reprinted in 4to, in double columns, 4 pp. The latter was "printed by J. S. Hodson, 15, Cross Street, Hatton Garden;" but bears no date.

These lists furnished the first general outline of what had been published, respecting both North and South America and the Islands, throughout Europe, prior to 1700. Previously no one had attempted to do more than to provide particulars of those books which serve to illustrate such separate portions of America as it was the compiler's object to bring more prominently forward. Great bibliographical accuracy is not attempted, beyond that which regards dates and places of publication; and the titles themselves are not given at length. Of these Mr. Rich enumerates 486, a number which might have been considerably increased had he made more diligent reference to historical works, to booksellers' and sale catalogues, and to the larger bibliographical

• A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS, consisting of a Collection of Voyages and Travels in various parts of the world; including an extensive series relating to the several countries of America. On sale. . . . by Thomas Rodd. 8vo. 1843. pp. 115. (Nos. 1426-2328, consist of Books relating to America.)

productions appertaining to general literature. The value of these lists is seen in the rapid rise in the prices of many of the rarer articles enumerated in them; whilst such as up to that period were precious chiefly as book-rarities, but which did, nevertheless, occasionally find their way into the market, are now scarcely ever seen, excepting in large public libraries, or in private cabinets, which are not likely to be dispersed. As a companion, there appeared in

MDCCCXXXV.

BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA, or a Catalogue of Books in various languages, relating to America, printed since the year 1700. Compiled principally from the works themselves, by O. RICH, Member of the Massachusetts Historical Society; of the Albany Institute; of the Pennsylvania and New England Linnean Societies; Honorary Member of the American Antiquarian Society, etc. London: O. Rich, 12, Red Lion Square. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1835. 8vo, 424 pp.

MDCCCXLVI.

BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA NOVA. A Catalogue of Books relating to America, in various languages; including Voyages to the Pacific and round the World, and Collections of Voyages and Travels, printed since the year 1700; compiled principally from the works themselves, by O. RICH, London (1835), 1846. 2 vols. 8vo. Vol. I. pp. 517. Vol. II. pp. 412, and 16, and 8 pp.

Mr. Rich published a specimen of this important work with his catalogue of ancient and modern books, in 1834, at which time he contemplated that it would extend to some 600 pp. There are two "Notices" prefixed to the volume; the first, dated 1 December, 1834, states that "the compiler being unable to publish the complete Bibliotheca Nova Americana at once, had confined himself" (in the first volume) "to books printed in the eighteenth century." In the other he informs us, that "only 250 copies are printed; 150 for sale in America, and 100 for sale in Europe." This small impression has now become exhausted, the work is consequently very scarce and seldom attainable, excepting the second volume, which contains a list of Books, extending up to those published in 1844. A Supplement to the first volume appeared under the title:

SUPPLEMENT TO THE BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA NOVA. Part I.

Additions

and Corrections, 1701 to 1800. London: O. RICH, 12, Red Lion Square, 1841. 8vo, pp. 425-517.

Mr. Rich did not avail himself of the labours of his predecessors to the extent he probably would have done, had his object been less one of trade and more of a literary character, which we gather from the introduction, in which he states, that "he possesses most of the books, with a few additions, here and there," clearly indicating that these additions were to be found in his stock, though omitted in the Bibliotheca Nova. Indeed, with the exception of Meusel's improved edition of the Bibliotheca Historica of Struve, he appears to have made no use of foreign bibliographical works; and several valuable sources of information, furnished even by English writers, have also been left unexplored.

He has adopted a chronological arrangement, and the number of publications