]

LIS. I will set his works down among my literary desiderata. But proceed.

LYSAND. With what? Am I to talk for ever?

BELIN. While you discourse so much to the purpose, you may surely not object to a continuance of this conversation. I wish only to be informed whether bibliomaniacs are indisputably known by the prevalence of all, or of any, of the symptoms which you have just described.

ALMAN. Is there any other passion, or fancy, in the book-way, from which we may judge of Bibliomaniacism?

LYSAND. Let me consider. Yes; there is one other characteristic of the book-madman that may as well be noticed. It is an ardent desire to collect ALL THE EDITIONS of a work which have been published. Not only the FIRST—whether uncut, upon large paper, in the black-letter, unique, tall, or illustrated—but ALL the editions.[459]

[Footnote 459: I frankly confess that I was, myself, once desperately afflicted with this eleventh symptom of The Bibliomania; having collected not fewer than seventy-five editions of the GREEK TESTAMENT—but time has cooled my ardour, and mended my judgment. I have discarded seventy, and retain only five: which are R. Steevens's of 1550, The Elzevir of 1624, Mill's of 1707, Westein's of 1751, and Griesbach's of 1810—as beautifully and accurately reprinted at Oxford.]

BELIN. Strange—but true, I warrant!

LYSAND. Most true; but, in my humble opinion, most ridiculous; for what can a sensible man desire beyond the earliest and best editions of a work?

Be it also noticed that these works are sometimes very capricious and extroardinary [Transcriber's Note: extraordinary]. Thus, BAPTISTA is wretched unless he possess every edition of our early grammarians, Holt, Stanbridge, and Whittinton: a reimpression, or a new edition, is a matter of almost equal indifference: for his slumbers are broken and oppressive unless all the dear Wynkyns and Pynsons are found within his closet!—Up starts FLORIZEL, and blows his bugle, at the annunciation of any work, new or old, upon the diversions of Hawking, Hunting, or Fishing![460] Carry him through CAMILLO'S cabinet of Dutch pictures, and you will see how instinctively, as it were, his eyes are fixed upon a sporting piece by Wouvermans. The hooded hawk, in his estimation, hath more charms than Guido's Madonna:—how he envies every rider upon his white horse!—how he burns to bestride the foremost steed, and to mingle in the fair throng, who turn their blue eyes to the scarcely bluer expanse of heaven! Here he recognises Gervase Markham, spurring his courser; and there he fancies himself lifting Dame Juliana from her horse! Happy deception! dear fiction! says Florizel—while he throws his eyes in an opposite direction, and views every printed book upon the subject, from Barnes to Thornton.

[Footnote 460: Some superficial notes, accompanied by an interesting wood-cut of a man carrying hawks for sale, in my edition of Robinson's translation of More's Utopia, kindled, in the breast of Mr. Joseph Haslewood, a prodigious ardour to pursue the subjects above-mentioned to their farthest possible limits. Not Eolus himself excited greater commotion in the Mediterranean waves than did my bibliomaniacal friend in agitating the black-letter ocean—'a sedibus imis'—for the discovering of every volume which had been published upon these delectable pursuits. Accordingly there appeared in due time—'[post] magni procedere menses'—some very ingenious and elaborate disquisitions upon Hunting and Hawking and Fishing, in the ninth and tenth volumes of The Censura Literaria; which, with such additions as his enlarged experience has subsequently obtained, might be thought an interesting work if reprinted in a duodecimo volume. But Mr. Haslewood's mind, as was to be expected, could not rest satisfied with what he considered as mere nuclei productions: accordingly, it became clothed with larger wings, and meditated a bolder flight; and after soaring in a hawk-like manner, to mark the object of its prey, it pounced upon the book of Hawking, Hunting, Fishing, &c., which had been reprinted by W. de Worde, from the original edition published in the abbey of St. Albans. Prefixed to the republication of this curious volume, the reader will discover a great deal of laborious and successful research connected with the book and its author. And yet I question whether, in the midst of all the wood-cuts with which it abounds, there be found any thing more suitable to the 'high and mounting spirit' (see Braithwait's amusing discourse upon Hawking, in his English Gentleman, p. 200-1.) of the editor's taste, than the ensuing representation of a pilgrim Hawker?!—taken from one of the frontispieces of L'Acadamia Peregrina del Doni; 1552, 4to., fol. 73.



We will conclude this Hawking note with the following excerpt from one of the earliest editions of the abridgment of our statutes:—'nul home pringe les oves dascu[n] faucon, goshawke, lan, ou swan hors de le nyst sur peyn de inprison p[our] vn an et vn iour et de faire fyn all volunte le roy et que nul home puis le fest de paque p[ro]chyn auenpart ascun hawke de le brode dengl' appell vne nyesse, goshawke, lan, ou laneret sur sa mayn, sur peyn de forfaiture son hawke, et que null enchasse ascun hawke hors de c[ou]uerte sur peyne de forfaiture x li. lun moyte al roy et lauter a celuy que voet sur.' Anno xi. H. vij. ca. xvij. Abbreviamentum Statutorum; printed by Pynson, 1499, 8vo., fol. lxxvij.]

There are other tastes of an equally strange, but more sombre, character. DION will possess every work which has any connexion, intimate or remote, with Latimer and Swedenborg;[461] while ANTIGONUS is resolved upon securing every lucubration of Withers or Warburton; whether grave or gay, lively or severe.

[Footnote 461: As I could not consistently give EMANUEL SWEDENBORG a niche among the bibliomaniacal heroes noticed towards the conclusion of Part V. of this work, I have reserved, for the present place, a few extracts of the titles of his works, from a catalogue of the same, published in 1785; which I strenuously advise the curious to get possession of—and for two reasons: first, if he be a Swedenborgian, his happiness will be nearly complete, and he will thank me for having pointed out such a source of comfort to him: secondly, if he be not a disciple of the same master, he may be amused by meditating upon the strange whims and fancies which possess certain individuals, and which have sufficient attractions yet to make proselytes and converts!! Written March 10, A.D. 1811. Now for the extracts. 'A Catalogue of the printed and unprinted Works of the HON. EMANUEL SWEDENBORG, in chronological order. To which are added some observations, recommending the perusal of his Theological Writings. Together with a compendious view of the Faith of a new Heaven and a new Church, in its Universal and Particular Forms. London, printed by Robert Hindmarsh, No. 32, Clerkenwell Close, MDCCLXXXV. Those marked thus (*) are translated into English.'

NO. 18. Regnum Animale, or the Animal Kingdom in three parts. The first treats of the Viscera of the Abdomen, or the lower Region. The second, of the Viscera of the Breast, or of the Organs of the superior Region. The third, of the Skin, the Touch, and the Taste, and of organical forms in general. Part printed at the Hague, and part in London, 1744, 1745, in 4to.

19. De Cultu et Amore Dei, or of the Worship and Love of God. The first part treats of the Origin of the Earth, of Paradise, of the Birth, Infancy, and Love of the first Man, or Adam. London, 1744, in 4to. The second part treats of the Marriage of the first man, of the Soul, of the intellectual Spirit, of the State of Integrity, and of the Image of God. London, 1745, 4to.

20. Arcana Coelestia, or Heavenly Mysteries contained in the Sacred Scriptures or Word of the Lord, manifested and laid open, in an Explanation of the Books of Genesis and Exodus, interspersed with relations of wonderful things seen in the World of Spirits, and the Heaven of Angels. London, from 1747 to 1758, in eight volumes, 4to. "In this work the reader is taught to regard the letter of the Scriptures as the Repository of Holy and Divine Things within; as a Cabinet containing the infinite Treasures and bright Gems of spiritual and celestial Wisdom; &c."(*)....

21. De Coelo et Inferno; or A Treatise concerning Heaven and Hell, and of the wonderful Things therein heard and seen. London, 1758, 4to. "By this work the reader may attain to some conception of the heavenly kingdom, and may learn therein that all social virtues, and all the tender affections that give consistence and harmony to society, and do honour to humanity, find place and exercise in the utmost purity in those delectable abodes; where every thing that can delight the eye, or rejoice the heart, entertain the imagination, or exalt the understanding, conspire with Innocence, Love, Joy, and Peace, to bless the spirits of just men made perfect, and to make glad the city of our God," &c.(*)]

LOREN. I suspect that, like many dashing artists, you are painting for effect?

PHIL. On the part of Lysander, I may safely affirm that the preceding has been no caricatured description. I know more than one Baptista, and Florizel, and Dion, and Antigonus.

LIS. I hope I shall shortly add to the number of such an enthusiastic class of book-collectors—I'm for Natural History; and, in this department, for birds and beasts—Gesner and Bewick![462]

[Footnote 462: The works upon Natural History by Gesner, and especially the large tomes published about the middle of the sixteenth century, are, some of them, well worth procuring; on account of the fidelity and execution of the wood-cuts of birds and animals. Bewick's earliest editions of Birds and Beasts should be in the cabinet of every choice collector.]

PHIL. Restrain your wild feelings—listen to the sober satire of Lysander. Have you nothing else, in closing this symptomatic subject, to discourse upon?

LYSAND. There is certainly another point not very remotely connected with the two preceding; and it is this: a passion to possess large and voluminous works, and to estimate the treasures of our libraries rather by their extent and splendour than by their intrinsic worth: forgetting how prettily Ronsard[463] has illustrated this subject by the utility and beauty of small rivers in comparison with those which overflow their banks and spread destruction around. "Oh combien (says Cailleau, in his Roman Bibliographique) un petit livre bien pense, bein [Transcriber's Note: bien] plein, et bein [Transcriber's Note: bien] ecrit, est plus agreable, plus utile a lire, que ces vastes compilations a la formation desquelles l'interet a preside plus souvent que le bon-gout!"

[Footnote 463:

Ie te confesse bien que le fleuve de Seine A le cours grand et long, mais tousiours il attraine Avec soy de la fange, et ses plis recourbrez, Sans estre iamais nets, sont tousiours embourbez: Vn petit ruisselet a tousiours l'onde nette, Aussi le papillon et la gentille auette Y vont puiser de l'eau, et non en ces torrens Qui tonnent d'vn grand bruit pas les roches courant: Petit Sonnets bien faits, belles chansons petites, Petits discourds gentils, sont les fleurs des Charites, Des Soeurs et d'Apollon, qui ne daignent aymer Ceux qui chantent une oeuvre aussi grand que la mer, Sans riue ny sans fond, de tempestes armee Et qui iamais ne dort tranquille ny calmee.

Poems de Ronsard; fol. 171. Paris 1660. 12mo.

These are pretty lines, and have a melodious flow; but Ronsard, in his 8 and 9 feet metres, is one of the most fascinating of the old French poets. The subject, above alluded to by Lysander, may be yet more strongly illustrated: for thus speaks Spizelius upon it. 'Solent viri multijugae lectionis, qui avide, quos possunt versant libros, ut in mentis ventrem trajicere eos velle, totosque devorare videantur, elegantis proverbii saliva LIBRORUM HELLUONES nuncupari; ipso quidem Tullio praelucente, qui avidos lectores librorum, ac propemodum insiatiables Helluones dixit, siquidem vastissima volumina percurrant, et quicquid boni succi exprimere possunt, propriis et alienis impendant emolumentis." Again: "Maxima cum sit eorum Literarum stoliditas, qui, quod nocte somniarunt, continuo edunt in lucem, neque ipsa virium imbecillitate suarum, ab arduo scribendi munere et onere, sese revocari patiuntur," &c. Infelix Literatus; pp. 295, 447. Morof is worth our notice upon this subject: "Veniamus ad Bibliothecas ipsas, quales vel privatae sunt, vel publicae. Illae, quanquam in molem tantam non excrescant ut publicae; sunt tamen etiam inter privatos viri illustres et opulenti qui in libris omnis generis coemendis nullis parcunt sumptibus. Quorum [Greek: bibliomanian] reprehendit Seneca Ep. 2. 45, et de Tranquil. animi c. 9, ridet Lucianus in libello [Greek: pros apaideuton kai polla biblia onoumenon]; et Auson. epigr. 43. Sunt ita animati nonnulli, ut

magno de flumine malint Quam de fonticulo tantundem sumere;

cum vastioris Bibliothecae minor interdum usus sit, quam ejus quae selectis paucioribus libris constat." Polyhist. Literar. vol. i., p. 21. He goes on in a very amusing manner; but this note may be thought already too long.]

BELIN. Well; we live in a marvellous book-collecting and book-reading age—yet a word more:

ALMAN. I crave your pardon, Belinda; but I have a thought which must be now imparted, or the consequence may be serious.

LYSAND. I wait both your commands.

ALMAN. My thought—or rather the subject which now occupies my mind—is this: You have told us of the symptoms of the Disease of Book-Madness, now pray inform us, as a tender-hearted physician, what are the means of its cure?

BELIN. The very question I was about to put to our bibliomaniacal physician. Pray inform us what are the means of cure in this disorder?

LYSAND. You should say PROBABLE MEANS OF CURE, as I verily believe there are no certain and correct remedies.

BELIN. Well, Sir, probable means—if it must be so. Discourse largely and distinctly upon these.

LYSAND. Briefly and perspicuously, if you please: and thus we begin.

In the first place, the disease of the Bibliomania is materially softened, or rendered mild, by directing our studies to useful and profitable works; whether these be printed upon small or large paper, in the gothic, roman, or italic type. To consider merely the intrinsic excellence, and not the exterior splendour, or adventitious value, of any production will keep us perhaps wholly free from this disease. Let the midnight lamp be burnt to illuminate the stores of antiquity—whether they be romances, or chronicles, or legends, and whether they be printed by ALDUS or CAXTON—if a brighter lustre can thence be thrown upon the pages of modern learning! To trace genius to its source, or to see how she has been influenced or modified by the lore of past times, is both a pleasing and profitable pursuit. To see how Shakspeare, here and there, has plucked a flower from some old ballad or popular tale, to enrich his own unperishable garland;—to follow Spenser and Milton in their delightful labyrinths 'midst the splendour of Italian literature; are studies which stamp a dignity upon our intellectual characters! But, in such a pursuit, let us not overlook the wisdom of modern times, nor fancy that what is only ancient can be excellent. We must remember that Bacon, Boyle, Locke, Taylor, Chillingworth, Robertson, Hume, Gibbon, and Paley, are names which always command attention from the wise, and remind us of the improved state of reason and acquired knowledge during the two last centuries.

ALMAN. There seems at least sound sense, with the prospect of much future good, in this first recipe. What is your second.

LYSAND. In the second place, the reprinting of scarce and intrinsically valuable works is another means of preventing the propagation of this disorder. Amidst all our present sufferings under the BIBLIOMANIA, it is some consolation to find discerning and spirited booksellers republishing the ancient Chroniclers; and the collections known by the names of "The Harleian Miscellany" and "Lord Somers' Tracts," and "The Voyages of Hakluyt."[464] These are noble efforts, and richly deserve the public patronage.

[Footnote 464: In the Quarterly Review for August, 1810, this my second remedy for curing the disease of the Bibliomania is considered as inefficient. I have a great respect for this Review, but I understand neither the premises nor conclusions therein laid down concerning the subject in discussion. If "those who cannot afford to purchase original publications must be content with entire reprints of them" (I give the very words, though not the entire sentence), it surely tends to lessen the degree of competition for "the original publication." A sober reader, or an economical book-buyer, wants a certain tract on the ground of its utility:—but take my own case—who have very few hundreds per annum to procure food for the body as well as the mind. I wish to consult Roy's tract of "Rede me and be not wroth," (vide p. 226, ante)—or the "Expedition into Scotland" of 1544 (see Mr. Beloe's Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, vol. ii., p. 345), because these are really interesting, as well as rare, volumes. There is at present no reprint of either; and can I afford to bid ten or twelve guineas for each of them at a public book-sale? But—let them be faithfully reprinted, and even a golden guinea (if such a coin be now in the pocket of a poor bibliomaniac like myself) would be considered by me as dear terms upon which to purchase the original edition! The reviewer has illustrated his position by a model of the Pigot diamond; and intimates that this model does not "lessen the public desire to possess the original." Lord Mansfield once observed that nothing more frequently tended to perplex an argument than a simile—(the remark is somewhere in Burrows's Reports); and the judge's dictum seems here a little verified. If the glass or crystal model could reflect all the lustre of the original, it would be of equal utility; but it cannot. Now the reprint does impart all the intelligence and intrinsic worth of the original (for "the ugliness of the types" cannot be thought worthy of aiding the argument one way or another) therefore the reprint of Roy's poetical tract is not illustrated by the model of the Pigot diamond: which latter cannot impart the intrinsic value of the original. Let us now say a word about the Reprints above commended by Lysander. When Mr. Harding went to press with the first volume of the Harleian Miscellany, his zeal struggled with his prudence about the number of copies to be printed of so voluminous a work. Accordingly, he ventured upon only 250 copies. As the work advanced, (and, I would hope, as the recommendation of it, in the last edition of the Bibliomania, promoted its sale) he took courage, and struck off another 250 copies of the earlier volumes: and thus this magnificent reprint (which will be followed up by two volumes of additional matter collected by Mr. Park, its editor) may be pronounced a profitable, as well as generally serviceable, publication to the cause of Literature. The original edition of Lord Somers' Tracts having become exceedingly scarce, and the arrangement of them being equally confused, three spirited booksellers, under the editorial inspection of Mr. Walter Scott, are putting forth a correct, well arranged, and beautiful reprint of the same invaluable work. Five volumes are already published. The Voyages of Hakluyt are republishing by Mr. Evans, of Pall Mall. Four volumes are already before the public; of which only 250 copies of the small, and 75 of the large, are printed. The reprint will contain the whole of Hakluyt, with the addition of several scarce voyages and travels.]

LOREN. I fully coincide with these sentiments; and, as a proof of it, regularly order my London bookseller to transmit to me every volume of the reprint of these excellent works as it is published.

BELIN. Can you find it in your heart, dear brother, to part with your black-letter Chronicles, and Hakluyt's Voyages, for these new publications?

LOREN. I keep the best editions of the ancient Chronicles; but the new Fabian, the Harleian Miscellany, Lord Somers' Tracts, and the Voyages, are unquestionably to be preferred; since they are more full and complete. But proceed with your other probable means of cure.

LYSAND. In the third place, the editing of our best ancient authors, whether in prose or poetry,[465] is another means of effectually counteracting the mischievous effects arising from the bibliomaniacal disease; and, on this score, I do think this country stands pre-eminently conspicuous; for we are indefatigable in our attentions towards restoring the corrupted texts of our poets.

[Footnote 465: The last new editions of our standard belles-lettres writers are the following: which should be found in every gentleman's library. Shakspeare, 1793, 15 vols., or 1803, 21 vols. (vide p. 427, ante); Pope, by Jos. Warton; 1795, 8 vols. 8vo.; or by Lisle Bowles, 1806, 9 vols. 8vo.; Spenser, by H.J. Todd, 1805, 8 vols. 8vo.; Milton, by the Same, 7 vols., 8vo.; Massinger, by W. Gifford, 1806, 4 vols. 8vo.; Sir David Lyndsay, by George Chalmers, 1806, 3 vols. 8vo.; Dryden, by Walter Scott, 1808, 18 vols. 8vo.; Churchill, by ——, 1805, 2 vols. 8vo.; Hudibras, by Dr. Grey, 1744, or 1809, 2 vols. 8vo.; Ben. Jonson, by W. Gifford (sub prelo); and Bishop Corbett's Poems, by Octavius Gilchrist, 1807, 8vo.]

PHIL. Yet forgive me if I avow that this same country, whose editorial labours you are thus commending, is shamefully deficient in the cultivation of Ancient English History! I speak my sentiments roundly upon this subject: because you know, Lysander, how vigilantly I have cultivated it, and how long and keenly I have expressed my regret at the almost total apathy which prevails respecting it. There is no country upon earth which has a more plentiful or faithful stock of historians than our own; and if it were only to discover how superficially some of our recent and popular historians have written upon it, it were surely worth the labour of investigation to examine the yet existing records of past ages.

LOREN. To effect this completely, you should have a NATIONAL PRESS.

LIS. And why not? Have we here no patriotic spirit similar to that which influenced the Francises, Richlieus, Colberts, and Louises of France?

ALMAN. You are getting into bibliographical politics! Proceed, good Lysander, with your other probable means of cure.

LYSAND. In the fourth place, the erection of PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS[466] is of great service in diffusing a love of books for their intrinsic utility, and is of very general advantage to scholars and authors who cannot purchase every book which they find it necessary to consult.

[Footnote 466: The ROYAL, LONDON, SURREY, AND RUSSEL INSTITUTIONS, have been the means of concentrating, in divers parts of the metropolis, large libraries of useful books; which, it is to be hoped, will eventually bring into disgrace and contempt what are called Circulating Libraries—vehicles, too often, of insufferable nonsense, and irremediable mischief!]

PHIL. You are right. These Institutions are of recent growth, but of general utility. They are a sort of intellectual Hospitals—according to your mode of treating the Bibliomania. Yet I dare venture to affirm that the News-Paper Room is always better attended than the Library!

LYSAND. Let us have no sarcasms. I will now give you the fifth and last probable means of cure of the Bibliomania; and that is the Study of Bibliography.[467]

[Footnote 467: "UNNE [Transcriber's Note: UNE] BONNE BIBLIOGRAPHIE," says Marchand, "soit generale soit particuliere, soit profane soit ecclesiastique, soit nationale, provinciale, ou locale, soit simplement personelle, en un mot de quelque autre genre que ce puisse etre, n'est pas un ouvrage aussi facile que beaucoup de gens se le pourroient imaginer; mais, elles ne doivent neanmoins nullement prevenir contre celle-ci. Telle qu'elle est, elle ne laisse pas d'etre bonne, utile, et digne d'etre recherchee par les amateurs de l'Histoire Litteraire." Diction. Historique, vol. i. p. 109.

Peignot, in his Dictionnaire de Bibliologie, vol. i. 50, has given a very pompous account of what ought to be the talents and duties of a bibliographer. It would be difficult indeed to find such qualifications, as he describes, united in one person! De Bure, in the eighth volume of his Bibliographie Instructive, has prefixed a "Discourse upon the Science of Bibliography, and the Duties of a Bibliographer," which is worth consulting: but I know of nothing which better describes, in few words, such a character, than the following: "In eo sit multijuga materiarum librorumque notitia, ut saltem potiores eligat et inquirat: fida et sedula apud exteras gentes procuratio, ut eos arcessat; summa patientia ut rare venalis expectet; peculium semper praesens et paratum, ne, si quando occurrunt, emendi, occasio intercidat: prudens denique auri argentique contemptus, ut pecuniis sponte careat quae in bibliothecam formandam et nutriendam sunt insumendae. Si forte vir literatus eo felicitatis pervenit ut talem thesaurum coacervaverit, nec solus illo invidiose fruatur, sed usam cum eruditis qui virgilias suas utilitati publicae devoverunt, liberaliter communicet;" &c.—Bibliotheca Hulsiana, vol. i. Praefat. p. 3, 4. Morhof abounds with sagacious reflections upon this important subject: but are there fifty men in Great Britain who love to read the Polyhistor Literarius? The observations of Ameilhon and Camus, in the Memoires de l'Institut, are also well worth consultation; as are those of Le Long, and his editor, prefixed to the last edition of the Bibliotheca Sacra.]

LIS. Excellent!—Treat copiously upon this my darling subject.

BELIN. You speak with the enthusiasm of a young convert; but I should think the study of Bibliography a sure means of increasing the violence of the book-disease.

LYSAND. The encouragement of the Study of Bibliography, in its legitimate sense, and towards its true object, may be numbered among the most efficacious cures for this destructive malady. To place competent Librarians over the several departments of a large public Library; or to submit a library, on a more confined scale, to one diligent, enthusiastic, well-informed, and well-bred Bibliographer or Librarian (of which in this metropolis we have so many examples), is doing a vast deal towards directing the channels of literature to flow in their proper courses. And thus I close the account of my recipes for the cure of the Bibliomania. A few words more and I have done.

It is, my friends, in the erection of Libraries as in literary compositions, the task is difficult, and will generally meet with opposition from some fastidious quarter,[468] which is always betraying a fretful anxiety to bring every thing to its own ideal standard of perfection. To counteract the unpleasant effect which such an impression must necessarily produce, be diligent and faithful, to your utmost ability, in whatsoever you undertake. You need not evince the fecundity of a German[469] author; but only exert your best endeavours, and leave the issue to a future generation. Posterity will weigh, in even scales, your merits and demerits, when all present animosities and personal prejudices shall have subsided; and when the utility of our labours, whether in promoting wisdom or virtue, shall be unreservedly acknowledged. You may sleep in peace before this decision take place; but YOUR CHILDREN may live to witness it; and your name, in consequence, become a passport for them into circles of learning and worth. Let us now retreat; or, rather, walk round Lorenzo's grounds. We have had Book-Discussion enough to last us to the end of the year.[470] I begin to be wearied of conversing.

[Footnote 468: My favourite author, Morhof, has spoken 'comme un brave homme' upon the difficulty of literary enterprizes, and the facility and venom of detraction: I support his assertion 'totis viribus'; and to beg to speak in the same person with himself. 'Non ignotum mihi est, quantae molis opus humeris meis incumbat. Oceanum enim ingressus sum, in quo portum invenire difficile est, naufragii periculum a syrtibus et scopulis imminet. Quis enim in tanta multitudine rerum et librorum omnia exhauriret? Quis non alicubi impingeret? Quis salvum ab invidia caput retraheret, ac malignitatis dentes in liberiore censura evitaret? Praeterea ut palato et gustu differunt convivae, ita judiciis dissident lectores, neque omnium idem de rebus sensus est, hoc praesertim tempore, quo plures sunt librorum judices, quam lectores, et e lectoribus in lictores, ubique virgas et secures expedituros, multi degenerant.' Praef. Morhof.—Even the great Lambecius (of whom see p. 41, ante) was compelled to deliver his sentiments thus:—'laborem hunc meum non periculosum minus et maglignis liventium Zoilorum dentibus obnoxium, quam prolixum foro et difficilem.' Prod. Hist. Lit. Proleg. One of the Roman philosophers (I think it was Seneca) said, in his last moments, 'Whether or not the Gods will be pleased with what I have done, I cannot take upon me to pronounce: but, this I know—it has been my invariable object to please them.' For 'the Gods' read 'the Public'—and then I beg leave, in a literary point of view, to repeat the words of Seneca.]

[Footnote 469: 'From the last catalogue of the fair of Lepisic [Transcriber's Note: Leipsic], it would appear that there are now in Germany ten thousand two hundred and forty three authors, full of health and spirit, and each of whom publishes at least once a year!' American Review, Jan. 1811, p. 172.]

[Footnote 470: Through the favour of Dr. Drury, the Editor is enabled to present the reader with an original letter, enclosing a list of books directed to be purchased by BENJAMIN HEATH, Esq.; also his portrait. This document would have been better inserted, in point of chronological order, in part V., but, as the Editor did not receive it till long after that part was printed, he trusts it will be thought better late than never.

THE DIRECTION.



To Mr John Mann at the Hand in Hand Fire Office in Angel Court on Snow Hill [illegible] in London]

Exeter, 21st March, 1738.

Dear Sir,

I take the liberty presuming upon the Intimacy of our Acquaintance to employ you in a pretty troublesome Affair. Fletcher Gyles, Bookseller in Holbourn, with whom I had some Dealings about two years ago, has lately sent me Down a Catalogue of a Library which will begin to be sold by Auction at his house next Monday Evening. As I have scarce laid out any Money in Books for these two years past, the great number of Valuable Books contained in this Collection, together with the tempting prospect of getting them cheaper in an Auction than they are to be had in a Sale, or in any other way whatsoever, has induced me to lay out a Sum of mony this way, at present, which will probably content my Curiosity in this kind, for several years to come. Mr. Gyles has offered himself to act for me, but as I think 'tis too great a Trial of his Honesty to make him at the same time both Buyer & Seller, & as Books are quite out of my Brother's Way, I have been able to think of no Friend I could throw this trouble upon but you. I propose to lay out about L60 or L70, and have drawn up a List of the Books I am inclined to, which you have in the First Leaf, with the Price to each Book, which I would by no means exceed, but as far as which, with respect to each single Book, I would venture to go; though I am persuaded upon the whole they are vastly overvalued. For my Valuation is founded in proportion upon what I have been charged for Books of this kind, when I have sent for them on purpose from London, and I have had too many proofs that the Booksellers make it a Rule to charge near double for an uncommon Book, when sent for on purpose, of what they would take for it in their own Shops, or at a Sale. So that, though the Amount of the Inclosed List is above L120, yet, when Deductions are made for the Savings by the Chance of the Auction, & for the full rate of such Books as I may be over bid in, I am satisfied it will come within the sum I propose. Now, Sir, the Favour which I would beg of you is to get some Trusty Person (& if you should not be able readily to think of a proper Person yourself, Mr. Hinchcliffe or Mr. Peele may probably be able to recommend one) to attend this Auction, in my behalf, from the beginning to the end, & to bid for me agreeably to the inclosed List & (as the Additional Trouble of it over and above the Attendance would not be great) to mark in the Catalogue, which you may have of Mr. Gyles for a shilling, the price Every Book contained in the Catalogue is sold at, for my future Direction in these Matters. For this Service I would willingly allow 3 Guineas, which, the Auction continuing 24 Days, is 3 shillings over and above half a Crown a Day; or, if that is not sufficient, whatever more shall be thought necessary to get my Commission well Executed. It may be necessary to observe to you that the Auction requires the Attendance of the whole day, beginning at Eleven in the Morning, and ending at two and at five in the Afternoon, and Ending at Eight. It may also be proper to inform the Person you shall Employ that he is not to govern his first bidding by the valuation in my list for many of the Books will very probably be sold for less than half what I have marked them at; he is therefore, in every Instance, to bid Low at first, and afterwards to continue advancing just beyond the other Bidders, till he has either bought the Book, or the price I have fixed it at is exceeded. There are many Books in the List which have several numbers before them; the meaning of which is that the very same Book is in several places of the Catalogue; and in that Case, I would have the first of them bought, if it be in very good condition, otherwise let the person Employed wait till the other comes up. I would desire him also not to buy any book at all that is both Dirty & ragged; but, though the Binding should not be in very good Order, that would be no Objection with me, provided the Book was clean. I would also desire him not to bid for any Number in the Catalogue that is not expressly mentioned in my List, upon a supposition that it may be the same Book with some that are mentioned in it; nor to omitt any Book that is actually upon the List, upon an Imagination, from the Title, that it may be there more than once; for I have drawn it up upon an Exact consideration of the Editions of the Books, insomuch that there is no Book twice upon the List, but where there is a very great difference in the Editions; nor is any of the Books in my List oftener in the Catalogue than is expressly specified in it. By the Conditions of Sale, the Auction is constantly adjourned from Fryday night to Monday Morning, the Saturday being appointed for fetching away, at the Expence of the buyer, the Books bought the week before, & for payment of the Mony. This part of the trouble I must beg you to charge yourself with; &, in order to enable you, as to the payment, I shall send you up, either by the next Post, or, however, time enough for the Saturday following, Fifty Pounds. I would beg the Favour of you to let me hear from you, if possible, by the Return of the Post; & also to give me an Account by every Saturday night's post what Books are bought for me, and at what price. As to which you need only mention the Numbers without the Titles, since I have a Catalogue by me. When the Auction is Ended, I shall take the Liberty of giving you farther Directions about Packing up the Books, & the way I would have them sent down. When I drew up my List, I had not observed one of the Conditions of Sale, which imports that no Person is to advance less than a shilling after twenty shillings is bid for any book. Now you will find a pretty many Books which I have valued at more than twenty shillings marked at an Odd Sixpence; in all which Cases, I would have the Bidder add Sixpence more to the Price I have fixed, in order to make it Even Money, & conformable to the Conditions of the Auction. And now, Dear Sir, another Person would make a thousand Apologies for giving you all this trouble; all which superfluous tediousness I shall spare you, being persuaded I shall do you a great pleasure in giving you an Opportunity of being serviceable to me, as I am sure it would be a very sensible one to me, if I ever had it in my power to be of any use to you. Mine and my Wive's humble respects wait upon Mrs. Mann, and you will be so good to present my hearty services to all our Friends.

I am most sincerely,

Dear Sir,

Your Faithful & Affectionate humble Servt.

Benj Heath]



L s. d.

Octavo 5 Pet. Angeli Bargaei Poemata 0 5 6 40 Hieron. Fracastorij Poemata 0 7 6 47 or 455, or 1546, Joan. Leonis Africae Desc. 0 3 6 68 Christ. Longolij Orationes et Epistolae 0 6 6 78 Pierij Valeriani Hexametri 0 4 6 Quarto 46 Diogenes Laertius 1 12 6 Octavo 164 or 624, Scaligerana 0 2 6 201 or 1280, Car. Ogerij Iter Danicum 0 3 0 Quarto 66 Plautus Taubmanni 0 11 6 Octavo 282 Hen. Lornenij Itinerarium 0 3 0 Quarto 132 Marcus Antonius de Dominis 0 2 6 143 Hen. Stephani Dialogus 0 4 6 157 Ausonii Opera 0 9 6 178 Anacreon and Sappho 0 8 6 180 Excerpta ex Polybio 0 8 6 181 Sophocles and Eschylus 1 2 6 —————— Carried Forward L6 16 0

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Octavo 405 or 2413, or 2953, Historia Gothorum 0 6 6 435 or 1488, or 1688, Lucretius Gifanij 0 5 6 436 Is Casaubon de Satyrica Poesi 0 3 6 Quarto 198 or 344, Iamblicus de Vita Pythag. 0 11 6 275 Aulus Gellius Gronovij 0 18 6 280 Statij quae Extant Barthij 0 18 6 Octavo 700 or 1093, Martial Scriverij 0 6 6 Quarto 302 Juvenal Henninij 0 18 6 314 Manilij Astronomicon 0 11 6 316 Poetriarum Octo 0 6 6 Folio 170 Fam. Strada da Bello Belgico 1 13 6 Octavo 739 Virgilius Illustratus 0 3 6 752 Paulli Manutij Epistolae 0 3 0 Folio 206 or 235, or 590, Io. Leunclavij Annales 1 2 6 Octavo 989 Senecae Tragediae Scriverij 0 4 6 9191 1088 Pontani Opera 0 8 6 Folio 264 Demosthenis et Aeschinis Opera 2 17 6 301 Thucydides Wasse 2 9 6 306 Platonis Opera 4 5 6 308 Herodoti Historia 1 7 6 Quarto 503 Pauli Collomesij Opera 0 9 0 543 566 Bern. Pensini Vita Baronij 0 3 0 Octavo 1239 or 2831, Poesis Philosophica 0 3 6 Folio 270 Philostrati Opera 1 7 6 376 Historiae Romanae Scriptores 1 11 6 386 Plutarchi Opera 5 7 6 Octavo 1519 Caninij Hellenismus 0 2 6 1608 or 2705, Virgilius Hiensij 0 3 6 Folio 426 Geo. Buchanani Opera 1 11 6 443 Plautus Lambini 0 13 6 448 Horatius Turnebi et Lambini 0 18 6 Octavo 1650 Dom. Baudij Amores 0 3 0 Folio 476 Aeschyli Tragediae 0 16 6 Octavo 1814 Lud. Kusterus de vero Usu, &c. 0 3 6 Quarto 871 Gab. Faerni Fabulae Centum 0 6 6 Folio 477 Luciani Opera 1 7 6 ——————- Carried Forward L42 7 0

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479 Dionis Cassij Historia 1 12 6 485 Diodorus Siculus 2 18 6 490 Appiani Historia 0 11 6 491 Palladius de Gentibus Indiae 0 5 6 498 Isocratij Orationes 1 3 6 Quarto 908 Papin. Statij Opera 0 9 6 921 Claudian Cum Animad. Barthij 0 11 6 Folio 529 Maffaei Historia Indica 0 8 6 509 546 Saxonis Grammatici Historia 0 17 6 Octavo 2101 Huntingtoni Epistolae 0 3 6 Quarto 1018 And. Nangerij Opera 0 9 6 1023 Tho. Hyde Historia Relig. Vett. Pers. 0 18 6 1047 Claud. Salmasij Epistolae 0 3 6 1088 Theocriti Moschi Bionis 0 16 6 1089 Hesiodus Graece 0 18 6 Folio 627 Rerum Moscoviticarum Coment. 0 11 6 638 Angeli Politiani Opera 0 18 6 Octavo 2354 Ausonius 0 7 6 2362 Mythographi Latini 0 6 6 Quarto 1139 Aristotelis Opera 3 4 6 Octavo 2481 Fabricij Bibliotheca Latina 0 11 6 Quarto 1192 Sannazarij Poemata 0 11 6 Octavo 2526 Meursij Elegantiae 0 5 6 2559 Statij Opera 0 4 6 2578 Is Casauboni Comment. 0 3 0 2597 Maximi Tyrij Dissertationes 0 4 0 Folio 698 Nic. Antonij Bibliotheca Hispan. 2 4 6 Octavo 2712 Ovidij Opera 0 15 6 Folio 765 Nic. Antonij Bibliotheca Hisp. Vetus 1 7 6 Octavo 2891 Pet. Dan. Huetij Comentarius 0 2 6 3098 Sir John Suckling's Plays, &c. 0 3 6 3099 Dr. Downe's Poems 0 4 0 Quarto 1498 Lord's Discovery of the Banian Religion 0 5 6 Folio 857 or 896, Burnet's Theory of ye Earth 0 9 6 Octavo 3364 Milton's Poems 0 2 0 3374 King's British Merchant 0 12 6 ——————- Carried Forward L68 11 0

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3379 Milton's Paradise Regained 0 2 6 Folio 912 Wheeler's Journey into Greece 0 13 0 Octavo 3463 or 3473, Grevil's Life Of Sir P. Sidney 0 3 0 3466 Jobson Debes's Description of Feroe 0 2 0 3529 Terry's Voyage to the East Indies 0 3 6 Quarto 1672 Description de l'Egypte 0 13 6 1692 Apologie de M. Castar 0 4 0 1694 Replique de M. Girac 0 3 6 Octavo 3538 Geddes's History of the Church, &c. 0 3 0 3600 Songs by the Earl Of Surrey 0 3 6 3741 or 4112, Oeuvres de Sarasin 0 4 0 3854 or 3859, Scaligerana 0 2 6 Quarto 1873 Viaggi di Pietro della Valli 1 5 0 1875 Opera di Annibale Caro 0 8 0 1876 Orlando Inamorato 0 12 6 1879 or 2070, Pastor Fido 0 12 6 1884 or 1977, Morgante Maggiore 0 9 0 1920 or 1965, La Gerusalemme Liberata 1 2 6 1928 Il Verato 0 3 6 1953 Orlando Inamorato 0 9 6 1957 Historia della Guerre Civili 0 17 6 1967 Scritti nella Causa Veniziana 0 4 6 1980 Historia della Sacra Inquisitione 0 5 6 1983 Examinatione sopra la Rhetorica 0 5 6 1990 or 2037, Istoria Diplomatica 0 11 6 1995 Fasti Consolari di Salvini 0 9 6 1998 Satire del Menzini 0 7 6 Folio 1109 Bibliotheca Napolitana di Toppi 1 1 6 1123 Orlando Furioso 1 2 6 Quarto 2005 or 2039, Dialoghi del Speroni 0 7 6 2015 Poetica di Aristotele Volgarizzata 0 6 6 2024 Poetica di Aristotele di Piccolomini 0 4 6 2031 Della Difesa della Comedia di Dante 0 13 0 2033 Squittinio della Liberta Veneta 0 5 6 2049 Il Goffredo col. Comento di Beni 0 9 6 2050 Dante di Daniello 0 9 6 ——————- Carried Forward L84 13 0

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Folio 1129 Historia del Regno di Napoli 0 14 6 1132 Historia del Consilio Tridentino 2 13 6 1137 Vocabularia della Crusca 8 4 6 Octavo 4268 Voyage de Bachanmont, &c. 0 2 6 4295 or 4330, or 4339, or 4511, Ragionamenti del Aretino 0 11 6 4305 Prose Fiorentine 0 3 6 4309 Lettre Volgari 0 3 6 4321 Gravina della Ragione Poetica 0 5 6 4322 Battaglie di Mugio 0 3 6 4331 or 4527, La Comedia di Dante 0 11 6 Quarto 2053 Degli Raguagli di Parnaso 0 8 6 2067 Il Decameron di Boccaccio 2 5 6 2076 or 2168, Lezioni di Varchi 0 8 6 2098 L'Amadigi di Tasso 0 8 6 Folio 1154 L'Adone del Marino 0 11 6 1154 Il Libro del Cortegiano 0 13 6 1162 Istoria del Concilio di Trento 2 4 6 1164 La Historia di Italia di Guicciardini 0 17 6 Octavo 4354 Rime Diverse del Mutio 0 4 6 4363 L'Amorosa Fiametta 0 4 6 4371 Compendio del Historie di Nap. 0 5 6 4379 Opere di Guilio Cammillo 0 4 6 4384 L'Aminta di Tasso 0 6 6 4385 L'Opere Poetiche di Guarin 0 5 6 4387 Comedie di M. Agnolo Firenz. 0 5 6 4415 Notize de Libri Rari 0 4 6 4416 Satire e Rime di Aristo 0 5 6 4417 Delle Eloquenza Italiana 0 6 6 4423 Comedie Varie 0 3 6 4438 Labarinto d'Amore di Boccac. 0 4 6 4443 Opere di Redi 1 1 0 Quarto 2100 Lettere di Vincenzio Martelli 0 8 6 2103 or 2154, Ameto di Boccaccio 0 4 6 2104 or 2161, Le Rime di Petrarca 0 8 6 2114 Ragionamento dell' Academico 0 8 6 ——————— Carried Forward L111 17 0

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2124 Poesie Liriche del Testi 0 8 6 Octavo 4452 Il Petrarca 0 11 6 4456 or 4550, Lettre di Paolo Sarpi 0 3 6 4460 Opere Burleschi di Berni 0 6 6 4464 or 4485, Prose di M. Agnolo Firenz. 0 3 6 4471 Commento di Ser Agresto 0 3 6 4475 L'Aminta di Tasso 0 6 6 4483 La Secchia Rapita 0 5 6 4486 or 4627, Comedie di Aretino 0 5 6 4496 Trattato delle Materie Benef. 0 4 6 4531 Il 2do Libro delle Opere Burlesch. 0 6 6 Quarto 2149 Annotationi e Discorsi 0 16 6 2159 Gyrone il Cortese 0 9 6 2164 Il Decamerone di Boccaccio 0 14 6 2169 Historia della Cose passate 0 5 6 2171 Apologia degli Academia 0 9 6 2176 Della Guerra di Fiandra 2 2 6 2178 Rime e Prose di Maffei 0 13 6 2182 Discorsi Poetichi 0 5 6 Octavo 4561 La Libreria del Doni 0 4 6 4591 La Cassaria 0 2 6 4592 Teatro Italiano 1 1 6 4614 La Divina Comedia di Dante 1 1 6 4615 La Rime di Angelo di Cestanzo 0 7 6 4625 Tutte le Opere di Bernia 0 6 6 ——————— L124 3 6 ———————]

* * * * *

Lysander concluded; when Lorenzo rose from his seat, and begged of us to walk round his grounds. It was now high noon; and, after a pleasant stroll, we retreated again to THE ALCOVE, where we found a cold collation prepared for our reception. The same day we all dined at Lisardo's; and a discussion upon the pleasures and comparative excellences of Music and Painting succeeded to the conversation which the foregoing pages have detailed. A small concert in the evening recreated the exhausted state of Lysander's mimd [Transcriber's Note: mind].

The next day, my friends left me for their respective places of destination. Lorenzo and his sisters were gathered round my outer gate; and Lisardo leapt into the chaise with Lysander and Philemon; resolved to equal, if not eclipse, his bibliographical tutor in the ardour of book researches. "Adieu," said Lysander, putting his hand out of the chaise—"remember, in defence of my bibliomaniacal gossipping, that SIMILIS never knew happiness till he became acquainted with BOOKS."[471] The postillion smacked his whip; and the chaise, following the direction of the road to the left, quickly disappeared. The servant of Lysander followed gently after, with his Master's and Philemon's horses: taking a near direction towards Lysander's home.

[Footnote 471: 'It is reported that a certain man, of the name of SIMILIS, who fought under the Emperor Hadrian, became so wearied and disgusted with the number of troublesome events which he met with in that mode of life, that he retired and devoted himself wholly to leisure and reading, and to meditations upon divine and human affairs, after the manner of Pythagoras. In this retirement, Similis was wont frequently to exclaim that 'now he began to live:' at his death, he desired the following inscription to be placed upon his tomb.

[Greek: SIMILIS EN TAUTHA KEITAI BIOUE MEN ETE EBDOMEKONTA ZESAS DE ETE EPTA]

Here lies Similis; In the seventieth year of his age But only the seventh of his Life.

This story is related by Dion Cassius; and from him told by Spizelius in his Infelix Literarius; p. 167.]

Lorenzo and his sisters returned with me to the Cabinet. A gloom was visible upon all our countenances; and the Ladies confessed that the company and conversation of my departed guests, especially of Lysander, were such as to leave a void which could not easily be supplied. For my part, from some little warmth each sister betrayed in balancing the solid instruction of Lysander and the humorous vivacity of Lisardo, against each other, I thought the former had made a powerful impression upon the mind of Belinda, and the latter upon that of Almansa: for when the probability of a speedy revisit from both of them was mentioned the sisters betrayed unusual marks of sensibility; and upon Lorenzo's frankly confessing, though in a playful mood, that such brothers-in-law would make him "as happy as the day was long"—they both turned their faces towards the garden, and appeared as awkward as it was possible for well-bred ladies to appear.

It was in vain that I turned to my library and opened a large paper, illustrated, copy of Daulby's Catalogue of Rembrandt's Prints, or Mr. Miller's new edition of the Memoirs of Count Grammont, or even the Roman de la Rose, printed by Galliot du Pre, UPON VELLUM.... Nothing produced a kind look or a gracious word from them. Silence, sorrow, and indifference, succeeded to loquacity, joy, and enthusiasm. I clearly perceived that some other symptom, wholly different from any thing connected with the Bibliomania, had taken possession of their gentle minds.

But what has a BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ROMANCE to do with Love and Marriage? Reader Adieu!—When thou hast nothing better deserving of perusal before thee, take up these pages; and class the author of them, if thou wilt, with the BOSTONS, or SMITHS, or NORTHS, of "other times;" with those who have never wished to disturb the peaceful haunts of intellectual retirement; and whose estate, moreover, like Joseph Scaliger's, lies chiefly under his hat.



* * * * *

p. 57. To the list of useful bibliographical works, published about the period here designated, I might have added the Lexicon Literarium of THEOPHILUS GEORGIUS; cum Suppl. ad an. 1750. Leips. 1742-50, folio; two thick and closely printed volumes, with an excellent chronological arrangement. It is not common in this country.

p. 69. The Abbe Rive was also the author of—1. Notice d'un Roman d'Artus Comte de Bretagne: Paris, 1779, 4to. pp. 20. 2. Etrennes aux Joueurs de cartes, ou Eclaircissemens historiques et critiques sur l'invention des cartes a jouer; Paris, 1780, 12mo. pp. 43. These works are slightly commended in the "Advertissement" to the Valliere Catalogue, 1783, pp. xxv-vj. They are reviewed by a rival author.

p. 216. Since writing the first note, concerning the "Assertio Septem Sacramentorum," &c., I have seen a magnificent copy of the same, printed UPON VELLUM, in the library of Earl Spencer; which redeems the coldness of my opinion in regard to books printed by Pynson upon vellum. The painted ornaments, in Lord Spencer's copy, were, in all probability, executed abroad. The art, in our own country, was then too rude for such elegance of decoration.

p. 404. I was right in my prediction about these Garlands being swallowed up by some "hungry book-fish!" I saw them, a few days after, in the well-furnished library of ATTICUS: who exhibited them to me in triumph—grasping the whole of them between his finger and thumb! They are marvellous well-looking little volumes—clean, bright, and "rejoicing to the eye!"—many of them, moreover, are first editions! The severest winter cannot tarnish the foliage of such "Garlands!"

p. 328. Among the ILLUSTRATED GRANGERS I forgot to notice the ample and magnificent copies belonging to the Marquis of Bute and Mr. John Towneley.



SUPPLEMENT.



THE SUPPLEMENT.

PART I.

THE EVENING WALK.

The scenery and the dialogue of this Part are more especially Waltonian. The characters are few; but LYSANDER must of necessity be the Author—as he is the principal actor in the scene, and throughout the entire work the principal intelligence is derived from his lips. The scene itself is not absolutely ideal. At the little village of ——, upon the upper grounds, near Marlow, and necessarily commanding a sweep of the Thames in one of its most richly wooded windings, there lived a Mr. Jacobs, the friend of the adjoining Rector, whose table was as bounteous as his heart was hospitable; and whose frequent custom it was, in summer months, to elicit sweet discourse from his guests, as they sauntered, after an early supper, to inhale the fragrance of "dewy eve," and to witness the ascendancy of the moon in a cool and cloudless sky. I have partaken more than once of these "Tusculan" discussions; and have heard sounds, and witnessed happiness, such as is not likely to be my lot again. PHILEMON is at rest in his grave, as well as MENANDER and SICORAX. The two latter, it is well known, were Tom Warton and Joseph Ritson. "The husband of poor Lavinia" was a most amiable gentleman, but timid to a morbid excess. Without strong powers of intellect, he was tenacious of every thing which he advanced, and yet the farthest possible from dogmatic rudeness. There are cankers that eat into the heart as well as the cheek; and because Mr. Shacklewell (the NICAS of my text) happened to discover a few unimportant errors in that husband's last performance, the latter not only thought much and often about it, but seemed to take it seriously to heart, and scarcely survived it a twelvemonth.

GONZALO, mentioned at page 12, was a Mr. Jessop; an exceedingly lively, inoffensive, but not over wise gentleman; a coxcomb to excess in every thing; but not without vivacious parts, which occasionally pleased, from the manner in which they were exhibited. Of handsome person and fluent speech, he was generally acceptable to the fair sex; but he made no strong individual impression, as he was known to use the same current phrases and current compliments to all. Just possible it was that his personal attractions and ready utterance were beginning to strike a root or two in some one female bosom; but it was impossible for these roots to penetrate deeply, and take an exclusive hold. I believe Mr. Jessop quitted the neighbourhood of Marlow shortly after the publication of the Bibliomania, to return thither no more. ALFONSO was a Mr. Morell; a name well known in Oxfordshire. He was always in the same false position, from the beginning to the end; but I am not sure whether this be not better than a perpetually shifting false position. Disguise it as you may, an obstinate man is preferable to a trimmer; be he a common man, or an uncommon man; a layman or a clergyman; "in crape," or "in lawn."

The compliment paid by Lysander (at pages 18, 19) to Dr. VINCENT, late Dean of Westminster, and head master of Westminster School, were acknowledged by that venerable and most worthy, as well as erudite, character, in a letter to me, which I deemed it but an act of justice to its author to publish in the Bibliographical Decameron, vol. iii. p. 353. Poor Mr. BARKER (Edmund Henry), who is handsomely mentioned in the Dean's letter, has very lately taken his departure from us, for that quiet which he could not find upon earth. "Take him for all in all" he was a very extraordinary man. Irritable to excess; but ardent and ambitious in his literary career. His industry, when, as in former days, it was at its height, would have killed half the scholars of the time. How he attained his fiftieth year, may be deemed miraculous; considering upon what a tempestuous sea his vessel of life seemed to be embarked. Latterly, he took to politics; when—"farewell the tranquil mind!"



PART II.

THE CABINET.

This portion of the "Bibliomania," embracing about fourscore pages, contains a Precis, or review of the more popular works, then extant, upon BIBLIOGRAPHY. It forms an immense mass of materials; which, if expanded in the ordinary form of publication, would alone make a volume. I have well nigh forgotten the names of some of the more ancient heroes of bibliographical renown, but still seem to cling with a natural fondness to those of Gesner, Morhof, Maittaire, and Fabricius: while Labbe, Lambecius, and Montfaucon, Le Long, and Baillet, even yet retain all their ancient respect and popularity. As no fresh characters are introduced in this second part of the Bibliomania, it may be permitted me to say a word or two upon the substance of the materials which it contains.

The immense note upon the "Catalogue of Libraries," alphabetically arranged, from page 72 to page 99, is now, necessarily, imperfect; from the number of libraries which have been subsequently sold or described. Among the latter, I hope I may naturally, and justifiably, make mention of the BIBLIOTHECA SPENCERIANA; or, A descriptive Catalogue of the early printed Books of the late George John Earl Spencer, K.G.; comprising, in the whole, seven volumes; with the addition of the Cassano Library, or books purchased of the Duke of Cassano, by the noble Earl, when at Naples, in the year 1819. In the "Reminiscences of my Literary Life," I have given a sort of graphic description of this extensive work, and of the circumstances attending its publication. That work now rests upon its own particular, and, I will fearlessly add, solid, basis. For accuracy, learning, splendour, and almost interminable embellishment, it may seem at once to command the attention, and to challenge the commendation, of the most fastidious: but it is a flower which blooms more kindly in a foreign, than in its native, soil. It has obtained for me the notice and the applause of learned foreigners; and when I travelled abroad I received but too substantial proofs that what was slighted here was appreciated in foreign parts. Our more popular Reviews, which seem to thrive and fatten best upon lean fare, passed this magnificent work over in a sort of sly or sullen silence; and there is no record of its existence in those of our Journals which affect to strike the key-note only of what is valuable in science, literature, and the fine arts. Painful as it must ever be to my feelings to contrast the avidity of former purchasers to become possessed of it with the caprice and non-chalance which have marked the conduct of those possessors themselves, I will yet hope that, in the bosom of the SUCCESSOR to this matchless Library—as well as to the name and fortunes of its late owner—there will ever remain but one feeling, such as no misconception and no casualty will serve to efface. It is pleasing, yea, soothing, 'midst the buffetting surges of later life, to be able to keep the anchor of one's vessel well bit in the interstices of granite.

Much later than the publication last alluded to, were the sale catalogues of the Libraries of Sir MARK MASTERMAN SYKES, Bart., deceased; the Rev. HENRY DRURY; GEORGE HIBBERT, Esq., deceased; and Sir FRANCIS FREELING, Bart., deceased. They were all sold by Mr. Evans, of Pall Mall; as well indeed as was the Library of the late Duke of Marlborough, when Marquis of Blandford. What books! And what prices! It should seem that "there were giants," both in purse and magnitude of metal, "in those days!" But a mighty "man in valour" has recently sprung up amongst us; who, spurning the acquisition of solitary lots, darts down upon a whole Library, and bears it off "at one fell swoop." Long life to the spirit which possesses him! It is almost a national redemption.



PART III.

THE AUCTION-ROOM.

We are here introduced into one of the most bustling and spirit-stirring portions of the whole Work. It is full of characters—alas! now, with only two exceptions, mouldering in their coffins! Philemon (who was one of my earliest and steadiest friends) introduces us to a character, which, under the name of ORLANDO, made some impression upon the public, as it was thought to represent MICHAEL WODHULL, Esq., of Thenford Hall, near Banbury; an admirable Greek scholar (the translator of Euripides), and perhaps the most learned bibliographer of his age. The conjecture of Orlando being the representative of Mr. Wodhull was not a vain conjecture; although there were, necessarily (I will not say why), parts that slightly varied from the original. Mr. Wodhull re-appears, in his natural person, in the Bibliographical Decameron, vol. iii. p. 363-6. Since the publication of that work, a curious history attaches to his memory. Within a twelvemonth of the expiration of the statute of limitation, an action at law, in the shape of an ejectment, was set on foot by a neighbouring family, to dispossess the present rightful occupant, S.A. SEVERNE, Esq., of the beautiful domain of Thenford; to ransack the Library; to scatter abroad pictures and curiosities of every description; on the alleged ground of insanity, or incompetency to make a will, on the part of Mr. Wodhull. As I had been very minute in the account of Mr. Wodhull's person, in the work just alluded to, I became a witness in the cause; and, as it was brought into Chancery, my deposition was accordingly taken. I could have neither reluctance nor disinclination to meet the call of my excellent friend, Mr. Severne; as I was abundantly confident that the charge of "incompetency to make a will" could not rest upon the slightest foundation. It was insinuated, indeed, that the sister-in-law, Miss Ingram, had forged Mr. Wodhull's name to the will.

Such a conspiracy, to defraud an honourable man and legitimate descendant of his property, is hardly upon record; for, waiting the accidents that might occur by death, or otherwise, in the lapse of twenty years, the cause was brought into the Vice Chancellor's Court with the most sanguine hope of success. I was present during one of the days of argument, and heard my own letter read, of which I had (contrary to my usual habits) taken a copy. The plaintiffs had written to me (suppressing the fact of the intended action), requesting to have my opinion as to Mr. Wodhull's capability. I returned such an answer as truth dictated. The Counsel for the plaintiffs (ut mos est) showered down upon the defendant every epithet connected with base fraud and low cunning, of which the contents of the brief seemed to warrant the avowal. In due course, Sir Knight Bruce, now one of the supernumerary Vice Chancellors, rose to reply. His speech was one undisturbed stream of unclouded narrative and irresistible reasoning. The Vice Chancellor (Shadwell) gave judgment; and my amiable and excellent friend, Mr. Severne, was not only to return in triumph to the mansion and to the groves which had been built and planted by his venerable ancestor, Mr. Wodhull, but he was strongly advised, by the incorruptible judge on the bench, to bring an action against the plaintiffs for one of the foulest conspiracies that had ever been developed in a court of justice. The defendant might have transported the whole kit of them. But the giving advice, and the following it when given, are two essentially different things. A THOUSAND GUINEAS had been already expended on the part of Mr. Severne! When does my Lord Brougham really mean to reform the law? A recent publication ("Cranmer, a Novel") has said, "that he applies sedatives, when he should have recourse to operations."

But the reader must now hurry with me into "The Auction Room." Of the whole group there represented, full of life and of action, TWO ONLY remain to talk of the conquests achieved![472] And Mr. Hamper, too—whose note, at p. 117, is beyond all price—has been lately "gathered to his fathers." "Ibimus, ibimus!" But for our book-heroes in the Auction Room.

[Footnote 472: Before mention made of the Auction Room, there is a long and particular account of the "Lectionum Memorabilium et Reconditarum Centenarii XVI." by John Wolf, in 1600, folio; with a fac simile, by myself, of the portrait of the Author. It had a great effect, at the time, in causing copies of this work to be sedulously sought for and sold at extravagant prices. I have known a fine copy of this ugly book bring L8 8s.]

The first in years, as well as in celebrity, is LEPIDUS; the representative of the late Rev. Dr. GOSSET. In the Bibliographical Decameron, vol. iii. p. 5, ample mention is made of him; and here it is, to me, an equally grateful and delightful task to record the worth, as well as the existence, of his two sons, Isaac and Thomas, each a minister of the Church of England. The former is covered with olive branches as well as with reputation; while the latter, declining the "branches" in question, rests upon the stem of his own inflexible worth, and solid scholastic attainments. Mrs. Gardiner, the wife of a Major Gardiner, is the only daughter of Dr. Gosset; a wife, but not a mother. The second in the ranks is MUSTAPHA. Every body quickly found out the original in Mr. Gardiner, a bookseller in Pall Mall; who quickly set about repelling the attack here made upon him, by a long note appended to the article "Bibliomania," in one of his catalogues. Gardiner never lacked courage; but, poor man! his brains were under no controul. We met after this reply, and, to the best of my recollection, we exchanged ... smiles. The catalogue in question, not otherwise worth a stiver, has been sold as high as 15s., in consequence of the Dibdinian flagellation. Poor Gardiner! his end was most deplorable.

We approach BERNARDO, who was intended to represent the late Mr. JOSEPH HASLEWOOD; and of whose book-fame a very particular, and I would hope impartial, account will be found in the "Literary Reminiscences of my Literary Life." There is no one portion of that work which affords me more lively satisfaction on a re-perusal. The cause of the individual was merged in the cause of truth. The strangest compound of the strangest materials that ever haunted a human brain, poor Bernardo was, in spite of himself, a man of note towards his latter days. Every body wondered what was in him; but something, certainly worth the perusal; oozed out of him in his various motley performances; and especially in his edition of Drunken Barnaby's Tour, which exhibited the rare spectacle of an accurate Latin (as well as English) text, by an individual who did not know the dative singular from the dative plural of hic, haec, hoc! Haslewood, however, "hit the right nail upon the head" when he found out the real author Barnaby, in Richard Brathwait; from the unvarying designation of "On the Errata," at the end of Brathwait's pieces, which is observable in that of his "Drunken Barnaby's Tour." It was an [Greek: eurecha] [Transcriber's Note: [Greek: eureka]] in its way; and the late Mr. Heber used to shout aloud, "stick to that, Haslewood, and your fame is fixed!" He was always proud of it; but lost sight of it sadly, as well as of almost every thing else, when he composed "The Roxburghe Revels." Yet what could justify the cruelty of dragging this piece of private absurdity before the public tribunal, on the death of its author? Even in the grave our best friends may be our worst foes.

At page 196 we are introduced to QUISQUILIUS, the then intended representative of Mr. George Baker, of St. Paul's Churchyard; whose prints and graphic curiosities were sold after his death for several thousand pounds. Mr. Baker did not survive the publication of the Bibliomania; but it is said he got scent of his delineated character, which ruffled every feather of his plumage. He was thin-skinned to excess; and, as far as that went, a Heautontomorumenos! Will this word "re-animate his clay?"

The "short gentleman," called ROSICRUSIUS, at page 127, must necessarily be the author of the work. He has not grown taller since its publication, and his coffers continue to retain the same stinted condition as his person. Yet what has he not produced since that representation of his person? How has it pleased a gracious Providence to endow him with mental and bodily health and stamina, to prosecute labours, and to surmount difficulties, which might have broken the hearts, as well as the backs, of many a wight "from five to ten inches taller than himself!" I desire to be grateful for this prolongation of labour as well as of life; and it will be my heart-felt consolation, even to my dying hour, that such "labour" will be acceptable to the latest posterity.

Yet a word or two by way of epilogue. The "Reminiscences" contain a catalogue raisonne of such works as were published up to the year 1836. Since then the author has not been idle. The "Tour into the North of England and Scotland," in two super-royal octavos, studded with graphic gems of a variety of description—and dedicated to the most illustrious female in Europe, for the magnificence of a library, the fruit chiefly of her own enterprise and liberality—has at least proved and maintained the spirit by which he has been long actuated. To re-animate a slumbering taste, to bring back the gay and gallant feelings of past times, to make men feel as gentlemen in the substitution of guineas for shillings, still to uphold the beauty of the press, and the splendour of marginal magnitude, were, alone, objects worthy an experiment to accomplish. But this work had other and stronger claims to public notice and patronage; and it did not fail to receive them. Six hundred copies were irrevocably fixed in the course of the first eighteen months from the day of publication, and the price of the large paper has attained the sum of L12. 12s. Strange circumstances have, however, here and there, thrown dark shadows across the progress of the sale.

If it were pleasing to the Author, in the course of his Journey, to receive attentions, and to acknowledge hospitalities, from the gay and the great, it were yet more pleasing to hope and to believe that such attentions and hospitalities had been acknowledged with feelings and expressions becoming the character of a gentleman. They have been so; as the pages of the work abundantly testify. But English courtesy is too frequently located. It is a coin with a feeble impress, and seems subject to woful attrition in its circulation. The countenance, which beams with complacency on receiving a guest to enliven a dull residence, in a desolate neighbourhood, is oftentimes overcharged with sadness, or collapses into rigidity, if the same guest should come under recognizance in a populous city. When I write "Instructions for an Author on his travels," I will advise a measured civility and a constrained homage:—to criticise fearlessly, and to praise sparingly. There are hearts too obtuse for the operations of gratitude. The Scotch have behaved worthy of the inhabitants of the "land of cakes." In spirit I am ever present with them, and rambling 'midst their mountains and passes. If an Author may criticise his own works, I should say that the preface to the Scotch Tour is the best piece of composition of which I have been ever guilty.

How little are people aware of the pleasure they sometimes unconsciously afford! When Mr. James Bohn, the publisher of the Scotch Tour, placed me, one day, accidentally, opposite a long list of splendidly bound books, and asked me "if I were acquainted with their author?" I could not help inwardly exclaiming ... "NON OMNIS MORIAR!"[473] I am too poor to present them to my "Sovereign Mistress, the Queen Victoria;" but I did present her Majesty, in person, with a magnificently bound copy of the Scotch Tour; of which the acceptance was never acknowledged from the royal quarter; simply because, according to an etiquette which seems to me to be utterly incomprehensible, books presented in person are not acknowledged by the Donee. I will not presume to quarrel with what I do not exactly understand; but I will be free to confess that, had I been aware of this mystery, I should have told her Majesty, on presenting the volume, that "I had the greater pleasure in making the offering, as her illustrious Father had been among the earliest and warmest patrons of my book-career; and that the work in question contained no faithless account of one of the most interesting portions of her dominions." This copy for the Queen had a special vellum page, on which the Dedication, or Inscription, was printed in letters of gold.

[Footnote 473: This magnificent set of books, not all upon large paper, was valued at L84. It has been since sold to Lord Bradford.]

At length we approach the once far-famed ATTICUS: the once illustrious RICHARD HEBER, Esq., the self-ejected member of the University of Oxford. Even yet I scarcely know how to handle this subject, or to expatiate upon a theme so extraordinary, and so provocative of the most contradictory feelings. But it were better to be brief; as, in fact, a very long account of Mr. Heber's later life will be found in my Reminiscences, and there is little to add to what those pages contain. It may be here only necessary to make mention of the sale of his wonderful library; wonderful in all respects—not less from the variety and importance of its contents, than from the unparalleled number of duplicate volumes—even of works of the first degree of rarity. Of the latter, it may suffice to observe that, of the editio princeps of Plato, there were not fewer than ten copies; and of that of Aristotle, five or six copies: each the production of the Aldine Press. Several of these Platonic copies were, to my knowledge, beautiful ones; and what more than one such "beautiful copy" need mortal man desire to possess? I believe the copy of the Plato bought at the sale of Dr. Heath's library in 1810 was, upon the whole, the most desirable.[474] Both works are from the press of the elder Aldus.

[Footnote 474: The Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville possesses a copy of this first edition (from the library of the Rev. Theodore Williams) in an uncut state. It may defy all competition. There is, however, in the Spencer library, at Althorp, described by me in the second volume of the Bibliotheca Spenceriana, a very beautiful copy, delicately ruled with red lines, which may be pronounced as almost in its primitive state. The leaves "discourse most eloquently" as you turn them over: and what sound, to the ears of a thorough bred bibliomaniac, can be more "musical?"]

It may be observed, as mere preliminary matter, that it was once in contemplation to publish the literary life of Mr. Heber; and an impression comes across my mind that I had tendered my services for the labour in question. The plan was however abandoned—and perhaps wisely. There was also to have been a portrait prefixed, from the pencil of Mr. Masquerier, the only portrait of him—in later life—but the strangest whims and vagaries attended the surrendering, or rather the not surrendering, of the portrait in question. I am in possession of a correspondence upon this subject which is perfectly sui generis. The library of Mr. Heber was consigned to the care and discretion of Messrs. Payne and Foss—booksellers of long established eminence and respectability. It was merely intended to be an alphabetical, sale catalogue, with no other bibliographical details than the scarcity or curiosity of the article warranted. It was also of importance to press the sale, or sales, with all convenient dispatch: but the mass of books was so enormous that two years (1834-6) were consumed in the dispersion of them, at home; to say nothing of what was sold in Flanders, at Paris, and at Neuremberg. I have of late been abundantly persuaded that the acquisition of books—anywhere, and of whatever kind—became an ungovernable passion with Mr. Heber; and that he was a BIBLIOMANIAC in its strict as well as enlarged sense. Of his library at Neuremberg he had never seen a volume; but he thought well of it, as it was the identical collection referred to by Panzer, among his other authorities, in his Typographical Annals. Of the amount of its produce, when sold, I am ignorant.

I have said that the Catalogue, which consisted of XII parts (exclusively of a portion of foreign books, which were sold by the late Mr. Wheatley) was intended merely to be a sale catalogue, without bibliographical remarks; but I must except Parts II, IV, and XI: the first of these containing the Drama, the second the English Poetry, and the third the Manuscripts—which, comparatively, luxuriate in copious and apposite description. "Si sic omnia!" but it were impracticable. I believe that the Manuscript Department, comprised in about 1720 articles, produced upwards of L5000. It may not be amiss to subjoin the following programme.

Part. I. 7486 articles; Sold by Sotheby II. 6590 —— Ditto III. 5056 —— Ditto IV. 3067 —— Sold by Evans V. 5693 —— Sold by Wheatley VI. 4666 —— Sold by Evans VII. 6797 —— Ditto VIII. 3170 —— Ditto IX. 3218 —— Sold by Sotheby X. 3490 —— Ditto XI. 1717 —— Sold by Evans XII. 1690 —— Sold by Wheatley

From which it should seem, first that the total number of articles was nearly fifty three thousand—a number that almost staggers belief; and places the collections of Tom Rawlinson and the Earl of Oxford at a very considerable distance behind; although the latter, for condition (with ONE exception), has never been equalled, and perhaps will probably never be surpassed. Secondly, if it be a legitimate mode of computation—taking two books for each article, one with another, throughout the entire catalogue—it will follow that the entire library of Mr. Heber, in England, contained not fewer than one hundred and five thousand volumes. The net amount of the SALE of this unparalleled mass of books is said to have been L55,000: a large sum, when the deductions from commissionship and the government-tax be taken into consideration.[475] Dr. Harwood thought that the sale of Askew Library was a remarkable one, from its bringing a guinea per article—one with another—of the 4015 articles of which the library was composed. The history of the Heber Sale might furnish materials for a little jocund volume, which can have nothing to do here; although there is more than one party, mixed up with the tale, who will find anything but cause of mirth in the recital. That such a MONUMENT, as this library, should have been suffered to crumble to pieces, without a syllable said of its owner, is, of all the marvellous occurrences in this marvellous world, one of the most marvellous: and to be deprecated to the latest hour. Yet, who was surrounded by a larger troop of friends than the Individual who raised the Monument?

[Footnote 475: These deductions, united, are about 17 per cent.: nearly L10,000 to be deducted from the gross proceeds.]

One anecdote may be worth recording. The present venerable and deeply learned President of Magdalen College, Oxford, told me that, on casting up the number of odd—or appendant volumes, (as 2 or 12 more) to the several articles in the catalogue—he found it to amount to four thousand. Now, prima facie, it seems hardly credible that there should have been such a number, in such a library, not deserving of mention as distinct articles: but it must be taken into consideration that Mr. Heber bought many lots for the sake of one particular book: and, considering the enormous extent of his library, it is not a very violent supposition, or inference, that these 4000 volumes were scarcely deserving of a more particular notice.

PONTEVALLO was the late JOHN DENT, Esq., whose library was sold in 1827; and of which library that of the late Robert Heathcote formed the basis. It contained much that was curious, scarce, and delectable; but the sale of it exhibited the first grand melancholy symptoms of the decay of the Bibliomania. The Sweynheym and Pannartz Livy of 1469, UPON VELLUM, was allowed to be knocked down for L262! Mr. Evans, who had twice before sold that identical volume—first, in the sale of Mr. Edwards's library (see Bibliographical Decameron, vol. iii. p.—) and secondly in that of the late Sir M.M. Sykes, Bart, (who had purchased the book for L782)—did all that human powers could do, to obtain a higher bidding—but Messrs. Payne and Foss, with little more than the breathing of competition, became the purchasers at the very moderate sum first mentioned. From them it seemed to glide naturally, as well as necessarily, into the matchless collection of the Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville. I yet seem to hear the echo of the clapping of Sir M.M. Sykes's hands, when I was the herald of the intelligence of his having become the purchaser! These echoes have all died away now: unless indeed they are likely to be revived by a HOLFORD or a BOTTFIELD.

Hortensius was the late Sir WILLIAM BOLLAND, Knt.: and, a few years before his death, one of the Barons of his Majesty's Exchequer. He died in his 68th year. He was an admirable man in all respects. I leave those who composed the domestic circle of which he was the delightful focus, to expatiate upon that worth and excellence of which they were the constant witnesses and participators—

"He best shall paint them who shall feel them most."

To me, the humbler task is assigned of recording what is only more particularly connected with BOOKS and VIRTU. And yet I may, not very inappositely, make a previous remark. On obtaining a seat upon the bench, the first circuit assigned to him was that of "the Oxford." It proved to be heavy in the criminal Calendar: and Mr. Baron Bolland had to pass sentence of death upon three criminals. A maiden circuit is rarely so marked; and I have reason to believe that the humane and warm-hearted feelings of the Judge were never before, or afterwards, subjected to so severe a trial. It was a bitter and severe struggle with all the kindlier feelings of his heart. But our theme is BOOKS. His library was sold by public auction, under Mr. Evans's hammer, in the autumn of 1840. One anecdote, connected with his books, is worth recording. In my Decameron, vol. iii. p. 267, mention will be found of a bundle of poetical tracts, belonging to the Chapter-library at Lincoln, round which, on my second visit to that library, I had, in imitation of Captain Cox (see page — ante), entwined some whip-cord around them—setting them apart for the consideration of the Dean and Chapter, whether a second time, I might not become a purchaser of some of their book-treasures? I had valued them at fourscore guineas. The books in question will be found mentioned in a note at page 267 of the third volume of the Bibliographical Decameron.

I had observed as follows in the work just referred to, "What would Hortensius say to the gathering of such flowers, to add to the previously collected Lincoln Nosegay?" The reader will judge of my mingled pleasure and surprise (dashed however with a few grains of disappointment on not becoming the proprietor of them myself) when the Baron, one day, after dining with him, led me to his book-case, and pointing to these precious tomes, asked me if I had ever seen them before? For a little moment I felt the "Obstupui" of Aeneas. "How is this?" exclaimed I. "The secret is in the vault of the Capulets"—replied my Friend—and it never escaped him. "Those ARE the identical books mentioned in your Decameron." Not many years afterwards I learnt from the late Benjamin Wheatley that he had procured them on a late visit to Lincoln; and that my price, affixed, was taken as their just value. Of these Linclonian [Transcriber's Note: Lincolnian] treasures, one volume alone—the Rape of Lucrece—brought ONE HUNDRED GUINEAS at the sale of the Judge's library, beginning on the 18th of November, 1840. See No. 2187; where it should seem that only four other perfect copies are known.

The library of the late Mr. Baron Bolland, consisting of 2940 articles, brought a trifle more than a guinea per article. It was choice, curious, and instructively miscellaneous. Its owner was a man of taste as well as a scholar; and the crabbed niceties of his profession had neither chilled his heart nor clouded his judgment. He revelled in his small cabinet of English Coins; which he placed, and almost worshipped, among his fire-side lares. They were, the greater part of them, of precious die—in primitive lustre; and he handled them, and expatiated on them, with the enthusiasm of a Snelling, and the science of a Foulkes. His walls were covered with modern pictures, attractive from historical or tasteful associations. There was nothing but what seemed to

"point a moral, or adorn a tale."

His passion for books was of the largest scale and dimensions, and marked by every species of almost enviable enthusiasm. His anecdotes, engrafted on them, were racy and sparkling; and I am not quite sure whether it was not in contemplation by him to build a small "oratoire" to the memories of Caxton and Wynkyn De Worde. He considered the folios of the latter, in the fifteenth century, to be miracles of typographical execution; and, being a poet himself, would have been in veritable ecstacies had he lived to see the UNIQUE CHAUCER of 1498, which it was my good luck to obtain for the library of the Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville. I will add but a few specimens of his library—

No. L s. d.

26 Armony of Byrdes, printed by Wyght. 12mo., a poem, in six line stanzas. Mr. Heber's copy. A little volume of indescribable rarity 12 15 0

221 Arnold's Chronicle, 4to., printed at Antwerp, by Doesborch (1502)? 9 2 6

406 Boccus and Sydracke, printed by Godfray, at the wits and charge of Robert Saltousde, Monke of Canterbury, 4to. 5 8 6

1092 Cicero de Officiis, Ulric Zel 11 11 0

1156 Chaucer's Troylus and Cresseyde, printed by Pynson. (1526.) Folio. This volume had been successively in the libraries of Hubert, the Duke of Roxburghe, and Mr. Herbert. It was in parts imperfect 25 0 0

1255 Marston's Scourge of Villanie. (1598.) 12mo. First edition: of terrific rarity 18 5 0

1624 Glanville, de Proprietatibus Rerum. Printed by W. de Worde. Folio 17 0 0

1848 Holland's Heroologia Anglica. (1620.) Folio. So tall a copy that it had the appearance of large paper 8 2 6

2138 Shakspeare's Venus and Adonis. (1596.) 12mo. Third edition 91 0 0

2187 Shakspeare's Lucrece. First edition. 1594. Quarto 105 0 0

(This was the Lincoln-Chapter copy.)

The entire produce of the sale was L3019.

ULPIAN, the associate of Hortensius, was, and is (I rejoice to add) a Barrister-at-Law, and one of the six Clerks in Chancery. In the Decameron, vol. iii. p. —, he appears under the more euphonous as well as genial name of PALMERIN: but the "hermitage" there described has been long deserted by its master and mistress—who have transferred their treasures and curiosities to the sea-girt village, or rather town, of Ryde and its vicinity: where stained-glass windows and velvet bound tomes are seen to yet greater advantage. LEONTES, mentioned at page 133, was the late JAMES BINDLEY, Esq.—of whom a few interesting particulars will be found in the third volume of my Bibliographical Decameron. He died before the publication of this latter work. Sir TRISTREM was the late Sir WALTER SCOTT—then in the effulgence of poetical renown! PROSPERO was the late FRANCIS DOUCE, Esq. My Reminiscences make copious mention of these celebrated characters.

AURELIUS was intended as the representative of the late GEORGE CHALMERS, Esq.—the most learned and the most celebrated of all the Antiquarians and Historians of Scotland. His CALEDONIA is a triumphant proof of his giant-powers. Never before did an author encounter such vast and various difficulties: never was such thick darkness so satisfactorily dispersed. It is a marvellous work, in four large quarto volumes; but so indifferently printed, and upon such wretched paper, that within the next century, perhaps, not six copies of it will be found entire. The less laborious works of Mr. Chalmers were statistical and philological. Of the latter, his tracts relating to Shakspeare, and his Life of Mary Queen of Scots may be considered the principal.

On the death of Mr. George Chalmers in 1823, his nephew became possessed of his library; and on the death of the nephew, in 1841, it was placed by the executors in the hands of Mr. Evans, who brought the first part to sale on the 27th of September, 1841. It consisted of 2292 articles, and produced the sum of L2190. The Second Part was brought to the same hammer, on February 27, 1842, and produced the sum of L1918 2s. 6d. It is on the latter part that I am disposed to dwell more particularly, because it was so eminently rich in Shakspearian lore; and because, at this present moment, the name of our immortal dramatist seems to be invested with a fresh halo of incomparable lustre. The first edition of his smaller works has acquired most extraordinary worth in the book-market. The second part of Mr. Chalmers's collection shews that the Sonnets of 1595 produced a hundred guineas; while the Rape of Lucrece (which, perhaps, no human being has ever had the perseverance to read through) produced L105 in a preceding sale: see page 591. The Venus and Adonis has kept close pace with its companions.

We may now revel among the rarities of the FIRST PART of this extraordinary collection—

No. L s. d.

123 Bale's Comedy concernynge thre Lawes of Nature, Moses and Christ, corrupted by the Sodomytes, Pharisees and Papystes most wicked, wants the title, first edition, curious portrait of the Author, excessively rare. Inprented per Nicholaum Bamburgensem, 1538 10 0 0

488 Wilkins' Concilia Magnae Britanniae et Hiberniae, 4 vols. 1737. Folio 25 0 0

[Such a price is one among the few harmless fruits of the Puseian Controversy!]

958 Churchyard's Worthiness of Wales, first edition, very rare, 1587. Quarto 24 0 0

[In my earlier days of Book-collecting, I obtained a copy of this most rare volume, in an uncut state, from a Mr. Keene, of Hammersmith, who asked me "if I thought half-a-guinea an extravagant price for it?" I unhesitatingly replied in the negative. Not long after, the late Mr. Sancho, who succeeded Mr. Payne, at the Mews Gate, went on his knees to me, to purchase it for two guineas! His attitude was too humble and the tone of his voice too supplicatory to be resisted. He disposed of it to his patron-friend, the Hon. S. Elliott, for five pounds five shillings. Mr. Elliott had a very choice library; and was himself a most amiable and incomparable man. It is some twenty-five years since I first saw him at the late Earl Spencer's, at Althorp.]

960 Churchyard. The Firste of Churchyardes Chippes, containinge Twelue seuerall Labours, green morocco, gilt leaves, 1578 0 0 0

The Second Part of Churchyard's Chips was never published.

961 Churchyard's Generall Rehearsall of Warres, called Churchyardes Choise, imprinted by White, 1579 7 7 0

The latter part of this Work is in Verse, and some have supposed that Churchyard intended it to form the Second Part of his Chips.

1146 Gascoyne's Delicate Diet for Daintie Mouthde Droonkardes, excessively rare; only one other copy known, namely, that which was in the Libraries of G. Steevens and R. Heber.—See Heber's Catalogue, part iv. no. 771. Imprinted by Johnes, 1576 11 11 0

1182 —— Wolsey's Grammar. Rudimenta Grammatices et Docendi Methodus Scholae Gypsuichianae per Thomam Cardinalem Ebor, institutam, &c., rare, Antv. 1536 4 19 0

The Preface, containing directions for the Conduct of the School, is written by Cardinal Wolsey. The Grammar is by Dean Colet and Lilly.

1295 The Complete History of Cornwall, Part II., being the Parochial History, (by William Hals,) extremely rare 15 0 0

This is one of the rarest books in the class of British Topography. The first part was never printed, it has therefore no general title. A copy is in the library of the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

1314 Patrick Hannay's Nightingale, Sheretine, Happy Husband, Songs, Sonnets, &c., with the frontispiece, including the extremely rare Portrait of Patrick Hannay, an excessively rare volume when perfect, 1622 13 5 0

We believe only one other perfect copy is known, that which was successively in the Libraries of Bindley, Perry, Sykes, and Rice. No poetical volume in the libraries of these celebrated collectors excited a more lively interest, or a keener competition. This was obtained by Mr. Chalmers at Pinkerton's sale in 1812. The Portrait of Hannay is a great desideratum to the Granger Collectors.

1436 Hutton's (Henry Dunelmensis) Follic's Anatomie, or Satyrs and Satyricall Epigrams, 1629. 12mo. 11 11 0

1461 De Foe. Review of the Affairs of France and of all Europe, as influenced by that Nation, with Historical Observations on Public Affairs, and an entertaining part in every sheet (by Defoe), 8 vols., excessively rare. The most perfect copy known, 1705 41 0 0

This is the great desideratum of all the collectors of De Foe's works. It is the most perfect copy known; that which approaches it the nearest is the copy in the British Museum; but that only extends to 6 vols.

1508 Cronycle of Englonde wyth the Frute of Tymes, compyled by one somtyme Mayster of Saynt Albons. Newly enprynted by Wynkyn de Worde, 1497. The Descrypcyon of Englonde (in Prose), also the Descrypcyon of the Londe of Wales, in verse, emprynted by me Wynkyn de Worde, 1498, 2 vols. in 1. The first editions by Wynkyn de Worde, extremely rare 48 0 0

1738 Fulwell's (Ulpian) Flower of Fame, containing the bright renowne and most fortunate raigne of King Henry VIII., wherein is mentioned of matters, by the rest of our Cronographers ouerpassed, in verse and prose, extremely rare, imprinted by Hoskins, 1575 9 2 0

See an account of this very curious work in the Censura Literaria, vol. 5, p. 164 to 168, written by Gilchrist. It was described from the late Mr. Neunberg's Copy, which was sold for L30. 9s.

1739 Fulwell (Ulpian). The First Parte of the Eighth Liberall Science: entituled Ars Adulandi, the Arte of Flatterie, first edition, excessively rare, title mended, a piece wanting in the centre. 4to. Imprinted by Jones, 1579 17 0 0

1877 (Marlowe) the true Tragedie of Richarde Duke of Yorke, and the Death of Good King Henrie the Sixt, with the whole contention betweene the two Houses Lancaster and Yorke, as it was sundrie times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembroke, his servants, first edition, excessively rare, and believed to be unique, very fine copy, printed at London by P.S. 1595. 4to. 131 0 0

[I refer with pleasure to Mr. Evans' long, learned, and satisfactory note upon this most precious volume; which I had the satisfaction of seeing in the Bodleian Library, for which it was purchased by Mr. Rodd, the bookseller.]

1965 Greene in Conceipt. New raised from his grave to write the Tragique History of Faire Valeria of London, by J. D(ickenson), very rare. 4to. 1598 15 15 0

1983 Hake, of Gold's Kingdom, described in sundry poems, 1604, 12mo. 13 0 0

1984 Hakluyt. Divers Voyages touching the Discoverie of America, and the Islands adjacent unto the same, made first of all by our Englishmen, and afterwards by the Frenchmen and Britons, with both the maps, excessively rare, only one other copy known to contain the two maps. Imprinted by Woodcocke, 1582. 4to. 25 0 0

2209 Hogarde (Myles) 19 5 0

"A Mirrour of Loue, Which such light doth giue, That all men may learne, How to loue and liue."

Imprinted by Caly, 1555.

PART II.

163 Fraunce's (Abraham) Lamentations of Amintas for the death of Phillis, a Poem; excessively rare 20 10 0

164 Fyssher's (Jhon, Student of Oxford) Poems written in Dialogue, wants the title and part of a leaf, extremely rare. Imprinted by John Tisdale, 1558 9 9 0

171 Gascoigne's Whole Woorkes, with the Comedy of Supposes and the Steele Glasse, best edition, very fine copy, in Russia. Imprinted by Jesse, 1587 10 15 0

At the end of the Volume there is a Tract by Gascoigne, entitled "Certain Notes of Instruction concerning the Making of verses, or Rimes, in English." The Tract is not mentioned in the list of contents on the title, and the four leaves very rarely occur.

450 Marshall's (George) Compendious Treatise, in Metre, declaring the Firste Originall of Sacrifice, and of the buylding of Aultars and Churches, a Poem, extremely rare. Cawood, 1534 20 10 0

479 Harvey's (Gabriel) Foure Letters and certaine Sonnets, especially touching Robert Greene and other Parties by him abused. Printed by Wolfe, 1592 10 10 0

Gabriel Harvey was the intimate friend of Spenser. The immediate occasion of Harvey's writing these letters was to resent Greene's attack on his Father; but the permanent value of the Volume is the very interesting notices Harvey gives of his literary contemporaries. The work concludes with a Sonnet of Spenser, addressed to Harvey.