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Book-making must be classed among the fine arts, for indeed it is an art in itself, whether we consider it in its exterior or interior decoration. The English excel all others in the tasty arrangement that is required in a really -exquisite work. They understand it in all its minutise. The very title-page is a mo- el of neatness and elegance ; and of such im-ortance is the superintendence of this labor, hat artists, trained men in their vocation, re employed in most of the large establish-lents to attend to it in all its artistic capa-ilities. The art has been carried to a highde-ree of excellence and finish in France. Many iave acquired great renown there in this de-artment of handicraft. The French books re remarkable for the firmness of their loards, the smoothness of their leather, and he delicacy, the richness of design, and ho sharpness of outline of their gold tooling. ?he designs upon one of Beauxonnet's copies r Lortios' books jseem hardly to be stamped ipon the leather, but rather to be inlaid in it. Jut for pleasure and convenience in use, the fork of the French binders is inferior to that f the English, as books bound by the former .re very stiff—that is, they open with diffi-ulty, and require constant pressure to keep hem open. No nation, however, can compete rith America in the all-important item of cost. ,Ve make our books to sell, and to be read, md not to be laid on the drawing-room table, o have merely their outsides admired and heir contents disregarded.
