In Germany again, the Loci Communes of Melancthon and the Colloquia Mensalia of Luther, though differing in the character of their contents from the coarser works of the Italians, belong also to the class of Ana. The first is remarkable for the theological learning it displays, and the information it communicates, as to the early state of the reformed church. The second is a most singular record of the conversations of the reformers; in which learning is strangely blended with gross ignorance on some points, clear and acute reasoning with mysticism, and a vigorous and intrepid spirit of inquiry, with the grossest superstition and credulity. But it is to France that we are indebted for the most interesting, instructive, and amusing works of this class. And, accordingly, it is from these sources that the present volume has been principally derived. Of these collections, the earliest, in point of date, is the Scaligerana, which professes to contain the opinions and conversations of Joseph Scaliger, and was published in 1699. But the work is altogether unworthy of that great name, and affords little which is calculated to afford either amusement or instruction. From the remaining collections liberal extracts have been made, particularly from the Menagiana, and the Melanges d' Histoire et de Littérature of Vigneul Marville, and short notices of the authors have been prefixed to the selections from each. English Literature affords but few works of this kind, and it can scarcely be said that any of these possesses distinguished merit. The Table-Talk of Selden derives its chief interest from the learned name with which it is associated. The Walpoliana is the one which approaches nearest to the character of the French Ana. Some of the most striking passages in the conversations of Johnson, extracted from Boswell's Life, are added under the head of Johnsoniana; and a few selections from the valuable, but imperfectly: known Omniana of Southey, close the extracts from the English Ana. EDINBURGH, July 1827. TABLE-TALK. MENAGIANA. [MENAGE was born at Angers, 15th August 1613, and was the son of an advocate in that city. From his earliest youth he was distinguished by his inclination to study, and a prodigious memory, which he retained in perfection to the close of his life. He applied himself to the study of law, and was admitted an advocate before the Parliament of Paris in 1632; he continued for some time to practise with tolerable success, but in consequence of a severe attack of rheumatism, he quitted the bar, and became an ecclesiastic. He seems to have been led to this step principally by the facilities for study, which this profession afforded, for he now directed his whole attention to literature; and having soon afterwards acquired the particular friendship of Cardinal de Retz, he accepted of a situation in the household of that prelate, where he continued to enjoy the sweets of study and retired leisure, with such an admixture of intercourse with the world, and with men of learning, as was most agreeable to his habits. By the death of his father in 1648, he succeeded to a considerable fortune, and shortly afterwards was appointed to the Priory of Montdidier, to the emoluments derived from which, was afterwards added a pension from Cardinal Mazarin. He died in July 1692. The Menagiana, which is the work by which this learned scholar and wit is best known in England, appeared at first in an imperfect shape soon after his death, in 1693, but was afterwards enlarged, corrected, and republished in four volumes, by the celebrated Bertrand de la Monnoie in 1715. It is perhaps the most amusing of all the collections of Ana, from the varied and discursive information which it embodies, and the happy mixture of wit, humour, and comic narrative, with the graver elements of criticism, reasoning, and antiquarian research. The additions by La Monnoie, which are, generally speaking, of a more serious nature, and amount to two volumes, are not the least valuable part of the work, particularly from the corrections which they contain of occasional errors, into which Menage, who perhaps trusted a |