_But I apprehend the general apathy of Bibliomaniacs to be in a great measure attributable to the vast influx of BOOKS, of every description, from the Continent--owing to the long continuance of peace; and yet, in the appearance of what are called_ English Rarities, _the market seems to be almost as barren as ever. The wounds, inflicted in the HEBERIAN contest, have gradually healed, and are subsiding into forgetfulness; excepting where, from_ collateral _causes, there are too many_ striking _reasons to remember their existence._ _Another motive may be humbly, yet confidently, assigned for the re-appearance of this Work. It was thought, by its late proprietor,--MR. EDWARD WALMSLEY[1]--to whose cost and liberality this edition owes its appearance--to be a volume, in itself, of pleasant and profitable perusal; composed perhaps in a quaint and original style, but in accordance with the characters of the_ Dramatis Personae. _Be this as it may, it is a work divested of all acrimonious feeling--is applicable to all classes of society, to whom harmless enthusiasm cannot be offensive--and is based upon a foundation not likely to be speedily undermined._ _T.F. DIBDIN._ _May_ 1, 1842. [Footnote 1: _Mr. EDWARD WALMSLEY, who died in 1841, at an advanced age, had been long known to me. He had latterly extensive calico-printing works at Mitcham, and devoted much of his time to the production of beautiful patterns in that fabrication; his taste, in almost every thing which he undertook, leant towards the fine arts. His body was in the counting-house; but his spirit was abroad, in the studio of the painter or engraver. Had his natural talents, which were strong and elastic, been cultivated in early life, he would, in all probability, have attained a considerable reputation. How he loved to embellish--almost to satiety--a favourite work, may be seen by consulting a subsequent page towards the end of this volume. He planned and published the_ Physiognomical Portraits, _a performance not divested of interest--but failing in general success, from the prints being, in many instances, a repetition of their precursors. The thought, however, was a good one; and many of the heads are powerfully executed. He took also a lively interest in Mr. Major's splendid edition of Walpole's_ Anecdotes of Painting in England, _a work, which can never want a reader while taste has an abiding-place in one British bosom._ _Mr. Walmsley possessed a brave and generous spirit; and I scarcely knew a man more disposed to bury the remembrance of men's errors in that of their attainments and good qualities._] THE BIBLIOMANIA; OR =Book-Madness;= CONTAINING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY, SYMPTOMS, AND CURE OF THIS FATAL DISEASE. IN AN EPISTLE ADDRESSED TO RICHARD HEBER, ESQ. BY THE REV. THOMAS FROGNALL DIBDIN, F.S.A.