In 1762, the fine Library of Joseph SMITH, who had been British Consul at Venice during many years, was bought for the King. It cost about ten thousand pounds. SMITH had ransacked Italy for choice books, much as his contemporary, Sir William HAMILTON, had ransacked that country for choice vases. And he had been not less successful in his quest. In amassing early and choice editions of the classics, and also the curiosities and rarities of fifteenth century printing, he had been especially lucky. From the same source, but at a later date, GEORGE THE THIRD also obtained a fine gallery of pictures and a collection of coins and gems. For these he gave twenty thousand pounds. [Sidenote: _Dactyliotheca Smithiana_; 1767; Lady M. W. Montagu, _Letters_, vol. iii, p. 89.] For seven or eight years the shops and warehouses of English booksellers were also sedulously examined, and large purchases were made from them. In this labour JOHNSON often assisted, actively, as well as by advice. When the suppression of the Jesuits in many parts of Europe made the literary treasures which that busy Society had collected—often upon a princely scale and with admirable taste, so far as their limitations permitted—both the King and his librarian were struck with the idea that another fine opportunity opened itself for book-buying on the Continent. It was resolved that Mr. BARNARD should travel for the purpose of profiting by it. Before he set out on his journey, he betook himself to JOHNSON for counsel as to the best way of setting about the task. JOHNSON’S counsel may be thus abridged: The literature of every country may be best gathered on its native soil. And the studies of the learned are everywhere influenced by peculiarities of government and of religion. In Italy you may, therefore, expect to meet with abundance of the works of the Canonists and the Schoolmen; in Germany with store of writers on the Feudal Laws; in Holland you will find the booksellers’ shops swarming with the works of the Civilians. [Sidenote: SUBSTANCE OF JOHNSON’S ADVICE ON THE COLLECTION OF THE KING’S LIBRARY.] Of Canonists a few of the most eminent will suffice. Of the Schoolmen a liberal supply will be a valuable addition to the King’s Library. The departments of Feudal and Civil Law you can hardly render too complete. In the Feudal Constitutions we see the origin of our property laws. Of the Civil Law it is not too much to say that it is a regal study. In respect to standard books generally, continued JOHNSON, a Royal Library ought to have the earliest or most curious edition, the most sumptuous edition, and also the most useful one, which will commonly be one of the latest impressions of the book. As to the purchase of entire libraries in bulk, the Doctor inclined to think—even a century ago—that the inconvenience would commonly almost overbalance the advantage, on the score of the excessive accumulation of duplicate copies.