a list or enumeration of the names of several books, men, or other things, disposed according to a certain order.

Catalogues of books are digested in different manners, some according to the order of the times when the books were printed, as that of Mattaire; others according to their form and size, as the common bookellers catalogues; others according to the alphabetical order of the authors' names, as Hyde's catalogue of the Bodleian library; others according to the alphabetical order of matters or subjects, which are called real or classical catalogues, as those of Lipanius and Draudius; lastly, others are digested in a mixed method, partaking of several of the former, as De Seine's catalogue of Cardinal Stuñus's library, which is first divided according to the subjects or sciences, and afterwards the books in each are recited alphabetically.

The most applauded of all catalogues is that of Thuanus's library, in which are united the advantages of all the rest. It was first drawn up by the two Puteani in the alphabetical order, then digested according to the sciences and subjects by Ifhm. Bulliadius, and published by F. Quesnel at Paris in 1679; and reprinted, though incorrectly, at Hamburgh, in 1704. The Catalogue books are here ranged with justness under their several sciences and subjects, regard being still had to the nation, feet, age, &c. of every writer. Add, that only the best and choicest books on every subject are found here, and the most valuable editions. Yet the catalogue of M. le Telliers archbishop of Rheims's library, made by M. Clement, is not inferior to any published in our age, either on account of the number and choice of the books, or the method of its disposition. One advantage peculiar to this catalogue is, the multitude of anonymous and pseudonymous authors detected in it, scarce to be met with elsewhere. Some even prefer it to Thuanus's catalogue, as containing a greater variety of classes and books on particular subjects.

The conditions required in a catalogue are, that it indicate at the same time the order of the authors and of the matters, the form of the book, the number of volumes, the chronological order of the editions, the language it is written in, and its place in the library; so that all these circumstances may appear at once in the shortest, clearest, and easiest manner possible. In this view all the catalogues yet made will be found to be defective.

An anonymous French writer has laid down a new plan of a catalogue, which shall unite all the advantages and avoid all the inconveniences of the rest.

The Jesuits of Antwerp have given us a catalogue of the popes; which makes what they call their Pro-pileum.