ADVERTISEMENT.

"A Catalogue of any eminent author's Library is likely to be prized by persons familiar with his writings. In the present case, undoubtedly, the nature and extent of the Collection throw light, in a remarkable manner, on the history of its founder. The reader has before him a faithful inventory of the materials with which the National Poet and Novelist had stored his mind before he began his public career; and also very striking indications, both of the zeal with which he watched the progress of literary enterprise down to the close of his life, and of the homage paid to his genius and celebrity by his contemporaries.'

To these pertinent and well-expressed remarks of Mr. Lockhart's, on the peculiar species of interest attached to the ABBOTSFORD LIBRARY, the person to whom the charge of preparing this CATALOGUE was entrusted, takes the liberty of adding a few words as to its execution.

The Collection not being formed upon a general plan, embracing all departments of human knowledge, but mainly confined to the two great heads of History and Belles-Lettres, it seemed unnecessary to exhibit its contents in the rigid form of a Catalogue raisonné, drawn up on any of the approved systems of bibliographical classification. The arrangement originally made under SIR WALTER SCOTT's eye, has, therefore, remained unaltered; and the time thereby saved has been employed, it is hoped to greater advantage, in enlarging and perfecting the Index, which it has been the object of the compiler to render as full and comprehensive as possible.