Chapter III: Part I: The Evening Walk (2)

The reign of Queen Anne was not exempt from the influence of this disease; for during this period, Maittaire[31] began to lay the foundation of his extensive library, and to publish some bibliographical works which may be thought to have rather increased, than diminished, its force. Meanwhile, Harley[32] Earl of Oxford watched its progress with an anxious eye; and although he might have learnt experience from the fatal examples of R. Smith,[33] and T. Baker,[34] and the more recent ones of Thomas Rawlinson,[35] Bridges,[36] and Collins,[37] yet he seemed resolved to brave and to baffle it; but, like his predecessors, he was suddenly crushed within the gripe of the demon, and fell one of the most splendid of his victims. Even the unrivalled medical skill of Mead[38] could save neither his friend nor himself. The Doctor survived his Lordship about twelve years; dying of the complaint called the BIBLIOMANIA! He left behind an illustrious character; sufficient to flatter and soothe those who may tread in his footsteps, and fall victims to a similar disorder.

[Footnote 31: Of MICHAEL MAITTAIRE I have given a brief
sketch in my Introduction to the _Greek and Latin Classics_,
vol. I, 148. Mr. Beloe, in the 3rd vol. of his _Anecdotes of
Literature_, p. ix., has described his merits with justice.
The principal value of Maittaire's _Annales Typographici_
consists in a great deal of curious matter detailed in the
notes; but the absence of the "lucidus ordo" renders the
perusal of these fatiguing and dissatisfactory. The author
brought a full and well-informed mind to the task he
undertook--but he wanted taste and precision in the
arrangement of his materials. The eye wanders over a vast
indigested mass; and information, when it is to be acquired
with excessive toil, is, comparatively, seldom acquired.
Panzer has adopted an infinitely better plan, on the model
of Orlandi; and, if his materials had been _printed_ with
the same beauty with which they appear to have been
composed, and his annals had descended to as late a period
as those of Maittaire, his work must have made us,
eventually, forget that of his predecessor. The
bibliographer is, no doubt, aware that of Maittaire's first
volume there are two editions. Why the author did not
reprint, in the second edition (1733), the facsimile of the
epigram and epistle of LASCAR prefixed to the edition of the
Anthology 1496, and the disquisition concerning the ancient
editions of Quintilian (both of which were in the first
edition of 1719), is absolutely inexplicable. Maittaire was
sharply attacked for this absurdity, in the "Catalogus
Auctorum," of the "_Annus Tertius Sæcularis Inv. Art.
Topog._" Harlem, 1741, 8vo. p. 11. "Rara certe Librum
augendi methodus (exclaims the author)! Satis patet auctorem
hoc eo fecisse consilio, ut et primæ et secundæ Libri sive
editioni pretium suum constaret, et una æque ac altera
Lectoribus necessaria esset."

The catalogue of Maittaire's library [1748, 2 parts, 8vo.],
which affords ample proof of the BIBLIOMANIA of its
collector, is exceedingly scarce. A good copy of it, even
unpriced, is worth a guinea: it was originally sold for 4
shillings; and was drawn up by Maittaire himself.]

[Footnote 32: In a periodical publication called "_The
Director_," to which I contributed under the article of
"_Bibliographiana_" (and of which the printer of this work,
Mr. William Savage, is now the sole publisher), there was
rather a minute analysis of the famous library of HARLEY,
EARL OF OXFORD: a library which seems not only to have
revived, but eclipsed, the splendour of the Roman one formed
by Lucullus. The following is an abridgement of this
analysis:

VOLUMES.

1. Divinity: _Greek, Latin, French and Italian_--about 2000
---- _English_ 2500
2. History and Antiquities 4000
3. Books of Prints, Sculpture, and Drawings--
_Twenty Thousand Drawings and Prints._
_Ten Thousand Portraits._
4. Philosophy, Chemistry, Medicine, &c. 2500
5. Geography, Chronology, General History 600
6. Voyages and Travels 800
7. Law 800
8. Sculpture and Architecture 900
9. Greek and Latin Classics 2400
10. Books printed UPON VELLUM 220
11. English Poetry, Romances, &c. 1000
12. French and Spanish do. 700
13. Parliamentary Affairs 400
14. Trade and Commerce 300
15. Miscellaneous Subjects 4000
16. Pamphlets--_Four Hundred Thousand_!

Mr. Gough says, these books "filled thirteen handsome
chambers, and two long galleries." Osborne the bookseller
purchased them for £13,000: a sum little more than two
thirds of the price of the binding, as paid by Lord Oxford.
The bookseller was accused of injustice and parsimony; but
the low prices which he afterwards affixed to the articles,
and the tardiness of their sale, are sufficient refutations
of this charge. Osborne opened his shop for the inspection
of the books on Tuesday the 14th of February, 1744; for fear
"of the curiosity of the spectators, before the sale,
producing disorder in the disposition of the books." The
dispersion of the HARLEIAN COLLECTION is a blot in the
literary annals of our country: had there then been such a
Speaker, and such a spirit in the House of Commons, as we
now possess, the volumes of Harley would have been reposing
with the MARBLES OF TOWNLEY!]

[Footnote 33: "BIBLIOTHECA SMITHIANA: sive Catalogus
Librorum in quavis facultate insigniorum, quos in usum suum
et Bibliothecæ ornamentum multo ære sibi comparavit vir
clarissimus doctissimusque D. RICHARDUS SMITH, &c., Londini,
1682," 4to. I recommend the collector of curious and
valuable catalogues to lay hold upon the present one (of
which a more particular description will be given in another
work) whenever it comes in his way. The address "To the
Reader," in which we are told that "this so much celebrated,
so often desired, so long expected, library is now exposed
to sale," gives a very interesting account of the owner.
Inter alia, we are informed that Mr. Smith "was as
constantly known every day to walk his rounds through the
shops, as to sit down to his meals, &c.;" and that "while
others were forming arms, and new-modelling kingdoms, _his_
great ambition was to become master of a good book."

The catalogue itself justifies every thing said in
commendation of the collector of the library. The
arrangement is good; the books, in almost all departments of
literature, foreign and domestic, valuable and curious; and
among the English ones I have found some of the rarest
Caxtons to refer to in my edition of Ames. What would Mr.
Bindley, or Mr. Malone, or Mr. Douce, give to have the
_creaming_ of such a collection of "Bundles of Stitcht Books
and Pamphlets," as extends from page 370 to 395 of this
catalogue! But alas! while the Bibliographer exults in, or
hopes for, the possession of such treasures, the
physiologist discovers therein fresh causes of disease, and
the philanthropist mourns over the ravages of the
BIBLIOMANIA!]

[Footnote 34: Consult Masters's "_Memoirs of the Life and
Writings of the late Rev._ THOMAS BAKER," Camb. 1864, 8vo.
Let any person examine the catalogue of _Forty-two_ folio
volumes of "MS. collections by Mr. Baker," (as given at the
end of this piece of biography) and reconcile himself, if he
can, to the supposition that the said Mr. Baker did not fall
a victim to the _Book-disease_! For some cause, I do not now
recollect what, Baker took his name off the books of St.
John's College, Cambridge, to which he belonged; but such
was his attachment to the place, and more especially to the
library, that he spent a great portion of the ensuing twenty
years of his life within the precincts of the same:
frequently comforted and refreshed, no doubt, by the sight
of the magnificent LARGE PAPER copies of Walton and Castell,
and of Cranmer's Bible UPON VELLUM!]

[Footnote 35: This THOMAS RAWLINSON, who is introduced in
the Tatler under the name _Tom Folio_, was a very
extraordinary character, and most desperately addicted to
book-hunting. Because his own house was not large enough, he
hired _London House_, in Aldersgate Street, for the
reception of his library; and here he used to regale himself
with the sight and the scent of innumerable black letter
volumes, arranged in "sable garb," and stowed perhaps "three
deep," from the bottom to the top of his house. He died in
1725; and Catalogues of his books for sale continued, for
nine succeeding years, to meet the public eye. The following
is a list of all the parts which I have ever met with; taken
from copies in Mr. Heber's possession.

_Part_ 1. _A Catalogue of choice and valuable Books in most
Faculties and Languages_: being the sixth part of the
collection made by THOS. RAWLINSON, Esq., &c., to be sold on
Thursday, the 2d day of March, 1726; beginning every evening
at 5 of the clock, by Charles Davis, Bookseller. Qui non
credit, eras credat. Ex Autog. T.R.

2. _Bibliotheca Rawlinsoniana_; sive Delectus Librorum in
omni ferè Linguâ et Facultate præstantium--to be sold on
Wednesday 26th April, [1726] by Charles Davis, Bookseller.
2600 Numbers.

3. _The Same_: January 1727-8. By Thomas Ballard,
Bookseller, 3520 Numbers.

4. _The Same_: March, 1727-8. By the same. 3840 Numbers.

5. _The Same_: October, 1728. By the same. 3200 Numbers.

6. _The Same_: November, 1728. By the same. 3520 Numbers.

7. _The Same_: April, 1729. By the same. 4161 Numbers.

8. _The Same_: November, 1729. By the same. 2700 Numbers.

9. _The Same_: [Of Rawlinson's MANUSCRIPTS] By the same.
March 1733-4. 800 Numbers.

10. _Picturæ Rawlinsonianæ._ April, 1734. 117 Articles.

At the end, it would seem that a catalogue of his prints,
and MSS. missing in the last sale, were to be published the
ensuing winter.

N.B. The black-letter books are catalogued in the Gothic
letter.]

[Footnote 36: "BIBLIOTHECÆ BRIDGESIANÆ CATALOGUS: or, A
Catalogue of the Entire Library of JOHN BRIDGES, late of
_Lincoln's Inn_, Esq., &c., which will begin to be sold, by
Auction, on Monday the seventh day of February, 1725-6, at
his chambers in _Lincoln's Inn_, No. 6."

From a priced copy of this sale catalogue, in my possession,
once belonging to Nourse, the bookseller in the Strand, I
find that the following was the produce of the sale:

The Amount of the books £3730 0 0
Prints and books of Prints 394 17 6
-----------
Total Amount of the Sale £4124 17 6

Two different catalogues of this valuable collection of
books were printed. The one was analysed, or a _catalogue
raisonné_; to which was prefixed a print of a Grecian
portico, &c., with ornaments and statues: the other
(expressly for the sale) was an indigested and extremely
confused one--to which was prefixed a print, designed and
engraved by A. Motte, of an oak felled, with a number of men
cutting down and carrying away its branches; illustrative of
the following Greek motto inscribed on a scroll
above--[Greek: Dryos pesousês pas anêr xyleuetai]: "An
affecting memento (says Mr. Nichols, very justly, in his
_Anecdotes of Bowyer_, p. 557) to the collectors of great
libraries, who cannot, or do not, leave them to some public
accessible repository."]

[Footnote 37: In the year 1730-1, there was sold by auction,
at St. Paul's Coffee-house, in St. Paul's Church-yard
(beginning every evening at five o'clock), the library of
the celebrated Free-Thinker,

ANTHONY COLLINS, ESQ.

"Containing a collection of several thousand volumes in
Greek, Latin, English, French, and Spanish; in divinity,
history, antiquity, philosophy, husbandry, and all polite
literature: and especially many curious travels and voyages;
and many rare and valuable pamphlets." This collection,
which is divided into _two parts_ (the first containing 3451
articles, the second 3442), is well worthy of being
consulted by the theologian, who is writing upon any
controverted point of divinity: there are articles in it of
the rarest occurrence. The singular character of its owner
and of his works is well known: he was at once the friend
and the opponent of Locke and Clarke, who were both anxious
for the conversion of a character of such strong, but
misguided, talents. The former, on his death-bed, wrote
Collins a letter to be delivered to him, after his decease,
which was full of affection and good advice.]

[Footnote 38: It is almost impossible to dwell on the memory
of this GREAT MAN without emotions of delight--whether we
consider him as an eminent physician, a friend to
literature, or a collector of books, pictures, and coins.
Benevolence, magnanimity, and erudition were the striking
features of his character: his house was the general
receptacle of men of genius and talent, and of every thing
beautiful, precious, or rare. His curiosities, whether
books, or coins, or pictures, were freely laid open to the
public; and the enterprising student, and experienced
antiquary, alike found amusement and a courteous reception.
He was known to all foreigners of intellectual distinction,
and corresponded both with the artisan and the potentate.
The great patron of literature, and the leader of his
profession (which he practised with a success unknown
before), it was hardly possible for unbefriended merit, if
properly introduced to him, to depart unrewarded. The
clergy, and in general, all men of learning, received his
advice _gratuitously_: and his doors were open every morning
to the _most indigent_, whom he frequently assisted with
money. Although his income, from his professional practice,
was very considerable, he died by no means a rich man--so
large were the sums which he devoted to the encouragement of
literature and the fine arts!

The sale of Dr. Mead's _books_ commenced on the 18th of
November, 1754, and again on the 7th of April, 1755: lasting
together 57 days. The sale of the _prints_ and _drawings_
continued 14 nights. The _gems_, _bronzes_, _busts_, and
_antiquities_, 8 days.

His books produced £5496 15 0
Pictures 3417 11 0
Prints and drawings 1908 14 0
Coins and medals 1977 17 0
Antiquities 3246 15 0
--------------
Amount of all the sales £16,047 12 0

It would be difficult to mention, within a moderate compass,
all the rare and curious articles which his library
contained--but the following are too conspicuous to be
passed over. The _Spira Virgil_ of 1470, _Pfintzing's
Tewrkdrancs_, 1527, _Brandt's Stultifera Navis_, 1498, and
the _Aldine Petrarch_ of 1501, ALL UPON VELLUM. The large
paper _Olivet's Cicero_ was purchased by Dr. Askew for £14
14_s._ and was sold again at his sale for £36 15_s._ The
King of France bought the editio princeps of _Pliny Senr._
for £11 11_s._; and Mr. Willock, a bookseller, bought the
magnificently illuminated _Pliny by Jenson_ of 1472, for £18
18_s._: of which Maittaire has said so many fine things. The
_French_ books, and all the works upon the _Fine Arts_, were
of the first rarity, and value, and bound in a sumptuous
manner. Winstanley's _Prospects of Audley End_ brought £50.
An amusing account of some of the pictures will be found in
Mr. Beloe's "_Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books_,"
vol. i. 166. 71. But consult also _Nichol's Anecdotes of
Bowyer_, p. 225, &c. Of the catalogue of Dr. Mead's books
there were only six copies printed on LARGE PAPER. See Bibl.
Lort, no. 1149.]

The years 1755-6 were singularly remarkable for the mortality excited by the BIBLIOMANIA; and the well known names of Folkes,[39] and Rawlinson,[40] might have supplied a modern Holbein a hint for the introduction of a new subject in the "_Dance of Death_." The close of George the Second's reign witnessed another instance of the fatality of this disease. Henley[41] "bawled till he was hoarse" against the cruelty of its attack; while his library has informed posterity how severely and how mortally he suffered from it.

[Footnote 39: "A Catalogue of the entire and valuable
library of MARTIN FOLKES, ESQ., President of the Royal
Society, and member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at
Paris, lately deceased; which will be sold by auction by
Samuel Baker, at his house, in York Street, Covent Garden.
To begin on Monday, February 2, 1756, and to continue for
forty days successively (Sundays excepted). Catalogues to be
had at most of the considerable places in Europe, and all
the booksellers of Great Britain and Ireland, Price
Sixpence."

This collection was an exceedingly fine one; enriched with
many books of the choicest description, which Mr. Folkes had
acquired in his travels in Italy and Germany. The works on
natural history, coins, medals, and inscriptions, and on the
fine arts in general, formed the most valuable
department--those in the Greek, Latin and English classics,
were comparatively of inferior importance. It is a great
pity the catalogue was not better digested; or the books
classed according to the nature of their contents.

The following prices, for some of the more rare and
interesting articles, will amuse a bibliographer of the
present day. The chronicles of Fabian, Hall, and Grafton,
did not altogether bring quite £2: though the copies are
described as perfect and fair. There seems to have been a
fine set of Sir Wm. Dugdale's Works (Nos. 3074-81) in 13
vols. which, collectively, produced about 30 guineas.

In _Spanish literature_, the history of South America, By
Don Juan and Ant. di Ulloa, Madr. fol. in 5 vols., was sold
for £5: a fine large paper copy of the description of the
Monastery of St. Lorenzo, and the Escorial, Madr. 1657,
brought £1 2_s._: de Lastanosa's Spanish Medals, Huesca,
fol. 1645, £2 2_s._

In _English_, the first edition of Shakespeare, 1623, which
is now what a French bibliographer would say "presque
introuvable," produced the sum of £3 3_s._; and Fuller's
Worthies, 18_s._!

_Fine Arts, Antiquities, and Voyages._ Sandrart's works, in
9 folio volumes (of which a fine perfect copy is now rarely
to be met with, and of very great value) were sold for £13
13_s._ only: Desgodetz Roman edifices, Paris, 1682, £4
10_s._: Galleria Giustiniano, 2 vols., fol. £13 13_s._ Le
Brun's Voyages in Muscovy, &c., in large paper, £4 4_s._ De
Rossi's Raccolta de Statue, &c. Rom. 1704, £6 10_s._
Medailles du Regne de Louis le Grand, de l'imp. Roy. 1. p.
fol. 1702, £5 15_s._ 6_d._

The works on _Natural History_ brought still higher prices;
but the whole, from the present depreciation of specie, and
increased rarity of the articles, would now bring thrice the
sums then given.

Of the _Greek and Latin Classics_, the Pliny of 1469 and
1472 were sold to Dr. Askew for £11 11_s._ and £7 17_s._
6_d._ At the Doctor's sale they brought £43 and £23:
although the first was lately sold (A.D. 1805) among some
duplicates of books belonging to the British Museum, at a
much lower price: the copy was, in fact, neither large nor
beautiful. Those in the Hunter and Cracherode collections
are greatly superior, and would each bring more than double
the price.

From a priced copy of the sale catalogue, in my possession,
I find that the amount of the sale, consisting of 5126
articles, was £3091 5_s._

The _Prints and Drawings_ of Mr. Folkes occupied a sale of 8
days; and his _pictures_, _gems_, _coins_, and _mathematical
instruments_, of five days.

Mr. MARTIN FOLKES may justly be ranked among the most
useful, as well as splendid, literary characters of which
this country can boast. He appears to have imbibed, at a
very early age, an extreme passion for science and
literature; and to have distinguished himself so much at the
University of Cambridge, under the able tuition of Dr.
Laughton, that, in his 23rd year, he was admitted a Fellow
of the Royal Society. About two years afterwards he was
chosen one of the council, and rose, in gradual succession,
to the chair of the presidentship, which he filled with a
credit and celebrity that has since never been surpassed. On
this occasion he was told by Dr. Jurin, the Secretary, who
dedicated to him the 34th vol. of the Transactions, that
"the greatest man that ever lived (Sir Isaac Newton) singled
him out to fill the chair, and to preside in the society,
when he himself was so frequently prevented by
indisposition: and that it was sufficient to say of him that
he was _Sir Isaac's friend_."

Within a few years after this, he was elected President of
the Society of Antiquaries. Two situations, the filling of
which may be considered as the _ne plus ultra_ of literary
distinction. Mr. Folkes travelled abroad, with his family,
about two years and a half, visiting the cities of Rome,
Florence, and Venice--where he was noticed by almost every
person of rank and reputation, and whence he brought away
many a valuable article to enrich his own collection. He was
born in the year 1690, and died of a second stroke of the
palsy, under which he languished for three years, in 1754.
Dr. Birch has drawn a very just and interesting character of
this eminent man, which may be found in Nichol's _Anecdotes
of Bowyer_, 562. 7. Mr. Edwards, the late ornithologist, has
described him in a simple, but appropriate, manner. "He
seemed," says he, "to have attained to universal knowledge;
for, in the many opportunities I have had of being in his
company, almost every part of science has happened to be the
subject of discourse, all of which he handled as an adept.
He was a man of great politeness in his manners, free from
all pedantry and pride, and, in every respect, the real
unaffected fine gentleman."]

[Footnote 40: "BIBLIOTHECA RAWLINSONIANA, sive Catalogus
Librorum Richardi Rawlinson, LL.D. Qui prostabunt Venales
sub hasta, Apud Samuelem Baker. In Vico dicto _York Street,
Covent Garden Londini, Die Lunæ_, 22 Martii MDCCLVI."

This valuable library must have contained about 20,000
volumes; for the number of Articles amounted to 9405. On
examining a priced catalogue of it, which now lies before
me, I have not found any higher sum offered for a work than
£4 1_s._ for a collection of fine prints, by Aldegrave (No.
9405). The Greek and Latin classics, of which there were few
_Editiones Principes_, or on _large paper_, brought the
usual sums given at that period. The old English
black-lettered books, which were pretty thickly scattered
throughout the collection, were sold for exceedingly low
prices--if the copies were perfect. Witness the following:

£ _s._ _d._

The Newe Testament in English, 1530 0 2 9
The Ymage of both Churches, after the Revelation
of St. John, by Bale, 1550 0 1 6
The boke called the Pype or Tonne of Perfection,
by Richard Whytforde, 1532 0 1 9
The Visions of Pierce Plowman, 1561 0 2 0
The Creede of Pierce Plowman, 1553 0 1 6
The Bookes of Moses, in English, 1530 0 3 9
Bale's Actes of Englishe Votaryes, 1550 0 1 3
The Boke of Chivalrie, by Caxton 0 11 0
The Boke of St. Albans, by W. de Worde 1 1 0

These are only very few of the rare articles in English
literature, of the whole of which (perhaps upwards of 200 in
number) I believe, the 'Boke of St. Albans,' brought the
highest sum. Hence it will be seen that this was not the age
of curious research into the productions of our ancestors.
Shakspeare had not then appeared in a proper _Variorum
edition_. Theobald, and Pope, and Warburton, had not
investigated the black-letter lore of ancient English
writers, for the illustration of their favourite author.
This was reserved for Farmer, for Steevens, for Malone, for
Chalmers, Reed and Douce: and it is expressly to these
latter gentlemen (for Johnson and Hanmer were very sparing,
or very shy, of the black letter), that we are indebted for
the present spirit of research into the works of our
ancestors.

The sale of the books lasted 50 days. There was a second
sale of pamphlets, books of prints, &c., in the following
year, which lasted 10 days; and this was immediately
succeeded by a sale of the Doctor's single prints and
drawings, which continued 8 days.]

[Footnote 41: This gentleman's library, not so remarkable
for the black letter as for whimsical publications, was sold
by auction, by Samuel Paterson, [the earliest sale in which
I find this well known book-auctioneer engaged] in June,
1759, and the three ensuing evenings. The title of the Sale
Catalogue is as follows:

"A Catalogue of the original MSS. and manuscript collections
of the late Reverend Mr. JOHN HENLEY, A.M., Independent
Minister of the Oratory, &c., in which are included sundry
collections of the late Mons. des Maizeaux, the learned
editor of Bayle, &c., Mr. Lowndes, author of the Report for
the Amendment of Silver Coins, &c., Dr. Patrick Blair,
Physician at Boston, and F.R.S. &c., together with original
letters and papers of State, addressed to Henry d'Avenant,
Esq., her Britannic Majesty's Envoy at Francfort, from 1703
to 1708 inclusive."

Few libraries have contained more curious and remarkable
publications than did this. The following articles, given as
notable specimens, remind us somewhat of Addison's Memoranda
for the Spectator, which the waiter at the coffee-house
picked up and read aloud for the amusement of the company.

No. 166. God's Manifestation by a Star to the Dutch. A
mortifying Fast Diet at Court. On the Birth Day of the first
and oldest young gentleman. All corrupt: none good: no not
one.

No. 168. General Thumbissimo. The Spring reversed, or the
Flanderkin's Opera and Dutch Pickle Herrings. The Creolean
Fillip, or Royal Mishap. A Martial Telescope, &c., England's
Passion Sunday, and April Changelings.

No. 170. Speech upon Speech. A Telescope for Tournay. No
Battle, but worse, and the True Meaning of it. An Army
Beaten and interred.

No. 174. Signs when the P. will come. Was Captain Sw----n a
Prisoner on Parole, to be catechised? David's Opinion of
like Times. The Seeds of the plot may rise, though the
leaves fall. A Perspective, from the Blair of Athol, the
Pretender's Popery. Murder! Fire! Where! Where!

No. 178. Taking Carlisle, catching an eel by the tail.
Address of a Bishop, Dean and Clergy. Swearing to the
P----r, &c., Anathema denounced against those Parents,
Masters, and Magistrates, that do not punish the Sin at
Stokesley. A Speech, &c. A parallel between the Rebels to K.
Charles I. and those to his Successor. _Jane Cameron_ looked
killing at _Falkirk_.

No. 179. Let stocks be knighted, write, Sir Banks, &c. the
Ramhead Month. A Proof that the Writers against Popery fear
it will be established in this Kingdom. A Scheme, wisely
blabbed to root and branch the Highlanders. Let St. Patrick
have fair play, &c.

Of ORATOR HENLEY I have not been able to collect any
biographical details more interesting than those which are
to be found in Warburton's notes to Pope's Dunciad.]

We are now, my dear Sir, descending rapidly to our own times; and, in a manner sufficiently rough, have traced the _History of the Bibliomania_ to the commencement of the present illustrious reign: when we discover, among its victims, a General, who had probably faced many a cannon, and stormed many a rampart, uninjured. The name of Dormer[42] will remind you of the small but choice library which affords such a melancholy proof of its owners' fate; while the more splendid examples of Smith[43] and West[44] serve to shew the increased ravages of a disease, which seemed to threaten the lives of all, into whose ears (like those of "Visto,") some demon had "whispered" the sound of "TASTE." These three striking instances of the fatality of the Bibliomania occurred--the first in the year 1764; and the latter in 1773. The following year witnessed the sale of the Fletewode[45] library; so that nothing but despair and havoc appeared to move in the train of this pestiferous malady. In the year 1775 died the famous Dr. Anthony Askew, another illustrious victim to the Bibliomania. Those who recollect the zeal and scholarship of this great book-collector, and the precious gems with which his library[46] was stored from the cabinets of De Boze and Gaignat, as well as of Mead and Folkes, cannot but sigh with grief of heart on the thought of such a victim! How ardently, and how kindly [as I remember to have heard his friend Dr. Burges say], would Askew unfold his glittering stores--open the magnificent folio, or the shining duodecimo, UPON VELLUM, embossed and fast held together with golden knobs and silver clasps! How carefully would he unroll the curious MS.--decipher the half effaced characters--and then, casting an eye of ecstacy over the shelves upon which similar treasures were lodged, exult in the glittering prospect before him! But death--who, as Horace tells us, raps equally at the palaces of kings and cottages of peasants, made no scruple to exercise the knocker of the Doctor's door, and sent, as his avant-courier, THIS DEPLORABLE MANIA! It appeared; and even Askew, with all his skill in medicine and books, fell lifeless before it--bewailed, as he was beloved and respected!

[Footnote 42: "A Catalogue of the genuine and elegant
Library of the late Sir C.C. DORMER, collected by
Lieutenant-General James Dormer, which will be sold, &c., by
Samuel Baker, at his house in York Street, Covent Garden; to
begin on Monday, February the 20th, 1764, and to continue
the nineteen following evenings." At the end of the
catalogue we are told that the books were "in general of the
best editions, and in the finest condition, many of them in
_large paper_, bound in morocco, gilt leaves, &c."

This was a very choice collection of books, consisting
almost entirely of Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish and
French. The number of articles did not exceed 3082, and of
volumes, probably not 7000. The catalogue is neatly printed,
and copies of it on _large paper_ are exceedingly scarce.
Among the most curious and valuable articles were those
numbered 599, 604, 2249, 2590; from no. 2680, to the end,
was a choice collection of Italian and Spanish books.]

[Footnote 43: In the year 1755 was published at Venice,
printed by J.B. Pasquali, a catalogue of the books of JOSEPH
SMITH, Esq., Consul at Venice.

The catalogue was published under the following Latin title:
"Bibliotheca Smitheana, seu Catalogus Librorum D. Josephi
Smithii, Angli, per Cognomina Authorum dispositus, Venetiis,
typis Jo. Baptistæ Pasquali, M,DCCLV.;" in quarto; with the
arms of Consul Smith. The title page is succeeded by a Latin
preface of Pasquali, and an alphabetical list of 43 pages of
the authors mentioned in the catalogue: then follow the
books arranged alphabetically, without any regard to size,
language, or subject. These occupy 519 pages, marked with
the Roman numerals; after which are 66 pages, numbered in
the same manner, of "addenda et corrigenda." The most
valuable part of the volume is "The Prefaces and Epistles
prefixed to those works in the Library which were printed in
the 15th century:" these occupy 348 pages. A Catalogue, (in
three pages) of the Names of the illustrious Men mentioned
in these prefaces, &c., closes the book.

It would be superfluous to mention to bibliographers the
rare articles contained in this collection, which are so
generally known and so justly appreciated. They consist
chiefly of early editions of _Italian_, _Greek_, and _Latin
classics_; and of many copies of both printed UPON VELLUM.
The library, so rich in these articles, was, however,
defective in English Literature and Antiquities. There was
scarcely any thing of Shakspeare or Dugdale.

On the death of Mr. Smith in 1772, his collection was sold
in 1773, 8vo., by Baker and Leigh; and the books were
announced to the public, as being "in the finest
preservation, and consisting of the very best and scarcest
editions of the Latin, Italian, and French authors, from the
invention of printing; with manuscripts and missals, upon
vellum, finely illuminated." A glance upon the prices for
which most of these fine books were sold made Mr. Cuthell
exclaim, in my hearing, that "_they were given away_." On
these occasions, one cannot help now and then wishing, with
father Evander,

"O mihi præteritos referat si Jupiter annos!"

On comparing Pasquali's, with the sale, catalogue, it will
be obvious that a great number of rare and valuable articles
was disposed of before the books came to public auction.
Indeed it is known that his present MAJESTY enriched his
magnificent collection with many of the Consul's _first
editions_, and _vellum copies_, during the life of the
latter. The sale continued thirteen days only; and on the
last day were sold all the English books in the
_black-letter_. Some of these are rather curious.

Of CONSUL SMITH I am unable to present the lover of VIRTU
with any particulars more acceptable than the following.
Pasquali (whose Latin preface is curious enough--abounding
with as many interrogatories as Hamlet's soliloquies) has
told us that "as the Consul himself was distinguished for
his politeness, talents, and prudence, so was his house for
splendid and elegant decorations. You might there view, says
he, the most beautifully painted pictures, and exquisite
ornaments, whether gems, vases, or engravings. In short, the
whole furniture was so brilliant and classical that you
admired at once the magnificence and judgment of the owner."
He tells us, a little further, that he had frequently
solicited the Consul to print a catalogue of his books;
which proposition his modesty at first induced him to
reject; but, afterwards, his liberality, to comply with. He
then observes that, "in the compilation of the catalogue, he
has studied brevity as much as it was consistent with
perspicuity; and that he was once desirous of stating the
_value_ and _price_ of the books, but was dissuaded from it
by the advice of the more experienced, and by the singular
modesty of the Collector."

It must be confessed that Pasquali has executed his task
well, and that the catalogue ranks among the most valuable,
as well as rare, books of the kind.]

[Footnote 44: "BIBLIOTHECA WESTIANA; A catalogue of the
curious and truly valuable library of the late James West,
Esq., President of the Royal Society, deceased, &c.
Including the works of CAXTON, LETTOU, MACHLINIA, the
anonymous ST. ALBANS SCHOOLMASTE [Transcriber's Note:
Schoolmaster], WYNKYN DE WORDE, PYNSON, and the rest of the
old English typographers. Digested by Samuel Paterson,"
1773, 8vo.

ANALYSIS OF THE CATALOGUE.

1. _Volumes of Miscellaneous Tracts._

These volumes extend from No. 148 to 200, from 915 to
992, from 1201 to 1330, and from No. 1401 to 1480.

2. _Divinity._

In the whole, 560 articles; probably about 1200 volumes;
some of them exceedingly scarce and valuable.

3. _Education, Languages, Criticism, Classics, Dictionaries,
Catalogues of Libraries, &c._

There were about 700 volumes in these departments. The
catalogues of English books, from that of Maunsell, in 1595,
to the latest before Mr. West's time, were very complete.
The treatises on education and translations of the ancient
classics comprehended a curious and uncommon collection. The
Greek and Latin classics were rather select than rare.

4. _English Poetry, Romance, and Miscellanies._

This interesting part of the collection comprehended about
355 articles, or probably about 750 volumes: and if the
singularly rare and curious books which may be found _under
these heads alone_ were now concentrated in one library, the
owner of them might safely demand 4000 guineas for such a
treasure.

5. _Philosophy, Mathematics, Inventions, Agriculture and
Horticulture, Medicine, Cookery, Surgery, etc._

Two hundred and forty articles, or about 560 volumes.

6. _Chemistry, Natural History, Astrology, Sorcery,
Gigantology._

Probably not more than 100 volumes.

7. _History and Antiquities._

This comprehended a great number of curious and valuable
productions, relating both to foreign and domestic
transactions.

8. _Heraldry and Genealogy._

A great number of curious and scarce articles may be found
under these heads.

9. _Ancient Legends and Chronicles._

To the English antiquary, few departments of literature are
more interesting that these. Mr. West seems to have paid
particular attention to them, and to have enriched his
library with many articles of this description, of the
rarest occurrence. The lovers of Caxton, Fabian, Hardyng,
Hall, Grafton, and Holinshed, may be highly gratified by
inspecting the various editions of these old chroniclers. I
entreat the diligent bibliographer to examine the first
eight articles of page 209 of the catalogue. Alas, when will
all these again come under the hammer at one sale?!

10. _Topography._

Even to a veteran, like the late Mr. GOUGH, such a
collection as may be found from p. 217 to p. 239 of this
catalogue, would be considered a first-rate acquisition. I
am aware that the gothic wainscot, and stained glass
windows, of _Enfield Study_ enshrined a still more exquisite
topographical collection! But we are improved since the days
of Mr. West; and every body knows to _whom_ these
improvements are, in a great measure, to be attributed. When
I call to mind the author of '_British Topography_' and
'_Sepulchral Monuments_,' I am not insensible to the taste,
diligence, and erudition of the "par nobile fratrum," who
have gratified us with the '_Environs of London_,' '_Roman
Remains_,' and the first two volumes of '_Magna Britannia_!'

The preceding is to be considered as a very general, and
therefore superficial, analysis of the catalogue of Mr.
West's library; copies of it, with the sums for which the
books were sold, are now found with difficulty, and bring a
considerable price. I never saw or heard of one on LARGE
PAPER!]

[Footnote 45: "A catalogue of rare books and tracts in
various languages and faculties; including the _Ancient
Conventual Library_ of Missenden-Abbey, in Buckinghamshire;
together with some choice remains of that of the late
eminent Serjeant at law, WILLIAM FLETEWODE, Esq., Recorder
of London, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; among which are
several specimens of the earliest Typography, foreign and
English, including CAXTON, WYNKYN DE WORDE, PYNSON, and
others; a fine collection of English Poetry, some scarce old
law-books, a great number of old English plays, several
choice MSS. upon vellum, and other subjects of literary
curiosity. Also several of the best editions of the
Classics, and modern English and French books. To begin
_December_ 5, 1774, and the 17 following evenings, precisely
at half an hour after five."

I am in possession of a _priced Catalogue_ of this
collection, which once belonged to Herbert, and which
contains all the purchasers' names, as well as the sums
given. The purchasers were principally Herbert, Garrick,
Dodd, Elmsley, T. Payne, Richardson, Chapman, Wagstaff,
Bindley, and Gough. The following is a specimen of some
curious and interesting articles contained in this
celebrated library, and of the prices for which they once
sold!

No. 172. _Bale's brefe Chronycle relating to Syr Johan
Oldecastell_, 1544. The Life off the 70th Archbishopp off
Canterbury presentleye sittinge, 1574, &c. Life of Hen.
Hills, Printer to O. Cromwell, _with the Relation of what
passed between him and the Taylor's Wife in Black Friars_,
1688, _&c._ £0 7_s._ 9_d._

Purchased by Mores.

Nos. 361 to 367. Upwards of thirty _scarce Theological
Tracts_, in Latin and English 1 5 0

Nos. 746 to 784. A fine collection of early English
Translations, in black letter, with some good foreign
editions of the classics. Not exceeding, in the whole 10 10 0

Nos. 837, 838. Two copies of the _first edition_ of Bacon's
Essays, 1597! 0 0 6

The reader will just glance at No. 970, in the catalogue,
en passant, to

Nos. 1082 (£1 2s.) and 1091 (12s.); but more particularly to

No. 1173. Caxton's _Boke of Tulle of olde age_, &c. 1481.
Purchased by the late Mr. T. Payne 8 8 0

No. 1174. CAXTON'S _Boke which is sayd or called Cathon_,
&c. 1483. 5 0 0

Purchased by Alchorn.

No. 1256. CAXTON'S _Doctrinal of Sapyence_, 1489 6 6 0

Purchased by Alchorn.

No. 1257. CAXTON'S _Cordyal_, 1479 6 12 6

No. 1258. WYNKYN DE WORDE'S _Ocharde of Syon_, &c. 1519. 1 13 0

I will, however, only add that there were upwards of 150
articles of _Old Plays_, mostly in quarto. See page 73. Of
_Antiquities_, _Chronicles_, and _Topography_, it would be
difficult to pitch upon the rarest volumes. The collection,
including very few MSS., contained 3641 articles, or
probably nearly 7000 volumes. The Catalogue is uncommon.]

[Footnote 46: I am now arrived, pursuing my chronological
arrangement, at a very important period in the annals of
book-sales. The name and collection of Dr. ASKEW are so well
known in the bibliographical world that the reader need not
be detained with laboured commendations on either: in the
present place, however, it would be a cruel disappointment
not to say a word or two by way of _preface_ or _prologue_.

Dr. ANTHONY ASKEW had eminently distinguished himself by a
refined taste, a sound knowledge, and an indefatigable
research relating to every thing connected with Grecian and
Roman literature. It was to be expected, even during his
life, as he was possessed of sufficient means to gratify
himself with what was rare, curious, and beautiful in
literature and the fine arts, that the public would, one
day, be benefited by such pursuits: especially as he had
expressed a wish that his treasures might be unreservedly
submitted to sale, after his decease. In this wish the
Doctor was not singular. Many eminent collectors had
indulged it before him: and, to my knowledge, many modern
ones still indulge it. Accordingly on the death of Dr.
Askew, in 1774, appeared, in the ensuing year, a catalogue
of his books for sale, by Messrs. Baker and Leigh, under the
following title:

"BIBLIOTHECA ASKEVIANA, sive Catalogus Librorum Rarissimorum
ANTONII ASKEW, M.D., quorum Auctio fiet apud S. Baker et G.
Leigh, in Vico dicto _York Street, Covent Garden_, Londini.
_Die Lunæ_, 13 _Februarii_, MDCCLXXV, et in undeviginti
sequentes dies." A few copies were struck off on large
paper.

We are told by the compiler of the catalogue that it was
thought unnecessary to say much with respect to this Library
of the late Dr. Anthony Askew, as the Collector and
Collection were so well known in almost all parts of Europe.
Afterwards it is observed that "The books in general are in
very fine condition, many of them bound in morocco, and
Russia leather, with gilt leaves." "To give a particular
account," continues the Compiler, "of the _many scarce
editions_ of books in this Catalogue would be almost
endless, therefore the _first editions_ of the Classics, and
some _extremely rare books_ are chiefly noticed. The
catalogue, without any doubt, contains the best, rarest, and
most valuable collection of GREEK and LATIN BOOKS that were
ever sold in England." This account is not overcharged. The
collection, in regard to Greek and Roman literature, was
_unique_ in its day.

The late worthy and learned Mr. M. CRACHERODE, whose library
now forms one of the most splendid acquisitions of the
British Museum, and whose _bequest_ of it will immortalize
his memory, was also among the "Emptores literarii" at this
renowned sale. He had enriched his collection with many
_Exemplar Askevianum_; and, in his latter days, used to
elevate his hands and eyes, and exclaim against the prices
_now_ offered for EDITIONES PRINCIPES!

The fact is, Dr. Askew's sale has been considered a sort of
_æra_ in bibliography. Since that period, rare and curious
books in Greek and Latin literature have been greedily
sought after, and obtained at most extravagant prices. It is
very well for a veteran in bibliography, as was Mr.
Cracherode, or as are Mr. Wodhull and Dr. Gosset, whose
collections were formed in the days of Gaignat, Askew, Duke
de la Valliere, and Lamoignon--it is very well for such
gentlemen to declaim against _modern prices_! But what is to
be done? Books grow scarcer every day, and the love of
literature, and of possessing rare and interesting works,
increases in an equal ratio. Hungry bibliographers meet, at
sales, with well furnished purses, and are resolved upon
sumptuous fare. Thus the hammer _vibrates_, after a bidding
of _Forty pounds_, where formerly it used regularly to
_fall_ at _Four_!

But we lose sight of Dr. Askew's _rare editions_, and _large
paper copies_. The following, gentle Reader, is but an
imperfect specimen!

No. 168. Chaucer's Works, by PYNSON, no date £7 17_s._ 6_d._

No. 172. Cicero of Old Age, by Caxton, 1481 13 13 0

No. 518. Gilles' (Nicole) Annales, &c. de France. Paris,
fol. 1520. 2 tom. SUR VELIN 31 10 6

No. 647. Æginetæ (Pauli) Præcepta Salubria. Paris, quarto,
1510. ON VELLUM 11 0 0

No. 666. Æsopi Fabulæ. EDIT. PRIN. _circ._ 1480 6 6 0

No. 684. Boccacio, la Teseide _Ferar._ 1475. PRIMA EDIZIONE
85 0 0

No. 1433. Catullus Tibullus, et Propertius, Aldi. 8vo. 1502.
IN MEMBRANA 17 10 0

This copy was purchased by the late Mr. M.C. Cracherode, and
is now, with his library, in the British Museum. It is a
beautiful book, but cannot be compared with Lord Spencer's
Aldine VELLUM Virgil, of the same size.

No. 1576. Durandi Rationale, &c. 1459. IN MEMBRANA 61 0 0

The beginning of the 1st chapter was wanting. Lord Spencer
has a perfect copy of this rare book on spotless VELLUM!

No. 2656. Platonis Opera, apud Aldum. 2 vol. fol. 1513.
_Edit. Prin._ ON VELLUM 55 13 0

Purchased by the late Dr. W. Hunter; and is at this moment,
in his Museum at _Glasgow_. The reader who has not seen them
can have no idea of the beauty of these vellum leaves. The
ink is of the finest lustre, and the whole typographical
arrangement may be considered a master-piece of printing.
Lord Oxford told Dr. Mead that he gave 100 guineas for this
very copy.]

After this melancholy event, one would have thought that future _Virtuosi_ would have barricadoed their doors, and fumigated their chambers, to keep out such a pest;--but how few are they who profit by experience, even when dearly obtained! The subsequent history of the disease is a striking proof of the truth of this remark; for the madness of book-collecting rather increased--and the work of death still went on. In the year 1776 died John Ratcliffe[47] another, and a very singular, instance of the fatality of the BIBLIOMANIA. If he had contented himself with his former occupation, and frequented the butter and cheese, instead of the book, market--if he could have _fancied himself_ in a brown peruke, and Russian apron, instead of an embroidered waistcoat, velvet breeches, and flowing perriwig, he might, perhaps, have enjoyed greater longevity; but, infatuated by the Caxtons and Wynkyn De Wordes of Fletewode and of West, he fell into the snare; and the more he struggled to disentangle himself, the more certainly did he become a prey to the disease.

[Footnote 47: BIBLIOTHECA RATCLIFFIANA; or, "A Catalogue of
the elegant and truly valuable Library of JOHN RATCLIFFE,
Esq. late of Bermondsey, deceased. The whole collected with
great judgment and expense, during the last thirty years of
his life: comprehending a large and most choice collection
of the rare old English _black-letter_, in fine
preservation, and in elegant bindings, printed by CAXTON,
LETTOU, MACHLINIA, the anonymous St. Albans Schoolmaster,
Wynkyn de Worde, Pynson, Berthelet, Grafton, Day, Newberie,
Marshe, Jugge, Whytchurch, Wyer, Rastell, Coplande, and the
rest of the _Old English Typographers_: several missals and
MSS., and two Pedigrees on vellum, finely illuminated." The
title page then sets forth a specimen of these
black-lettered gems; among which our eyes are dazzled with a
galaxy of Caxtons, Wynkyn de Wordes, Pynsons, &c. &c. The
sale took place on March 27, 1776.

If ever there was a _unique_ collection, this was one--the
very essence of Old Divinity, Poetry, Romances, and
Chronicles! The articles were only 1675 in number, but their
intrinsic value amply compensated for their paucity.

The following is but an inadequate specimen.

No. 1315. Horace's Arte of Poetrie, Pistles and Satyres, by
Drant. 1567, _first English edition_ £0 16_s._ 6_d._

No. 1321. The Sheparde's Calender, 1579. Whetstone's Castle
of Delight, 1576 1 2 0

No. 1392. The Pastyme of the People, printed by Rastell.
Curious wood cuts. A copy of this book is not now to be
procured. I have known £40 offered for it, and rejected with
disdain 7 7 0

No. 1403. Barclay's Shyp of Folys, printed by Pynson, 1508,
_first edit._ fine copy 2 10 0

No. 1426. The Doctrinal of Sapyence, printed by CAXTON, 1489
8 8 0

No. 1427. The Boke, called Cathon, DITTO, 1483. _Purchased
by Dr. Hunter_, and now in his Museum 5 5 0

No. 1428. The Polytyque Boke, named Tullius de Senectute, in
Englishe, by CAXTON, 1481. _Purchased for his Majesty_ 14 0 0

No. 1429. The Game of Chesse Playe. 1474 16 0 0

No. 1665. The Boke of Jason, printed by CAXTON 5 10 0

No. 1669. The Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden, printed by
CAXTON, 1482. _Purchased by Dr. Hunter_ 5 15 6

No. 1670. Legenda Aurea, or the Golden Legende 1483 9 15 0

No. 1674. Mr. Ratcliffe's MS. Catalogues of the _rare old
black letter_, and other curious and uncommon books, 4 vols.
7 15 0

This would have been the most delicious article to _my_
palate. If the present owner of it were disposed to part
with it, I could not find it in my heart to refuse him
_compound interest_ for his money. As is the wooden
frame-work to the bricklayer in the construction of his
arch, so might Mr. Ratcliffe's MS. Catalogues be to me in
the compilation of a certain _magnum opus_!

The memory of such a man ought to be dear to the
"_black-lettered dogs_" of the present day; for he had
[mirabile dictu!] _upwards of_ THIRTY CAXTONS!

If I might hazard a comparison between Mr. James West's and
Mr. John Ratcliffe's collections, I should say that the
former was more extensive, the latter more curious: Mr.
West's, like a magnificent _champagne_, executed by the hand
of Claude or Both, and enclosing mountains, and meadows, and
streams, presented to the eye of the beholder a scene at
once extensive, luxuriant, and fruitful: Mr. Ratcliffe's,
like one of those delicious pieces of scenery, touched by
the pencil of Rysdael or Hobbima, exhibited to the
beholder's eye a spot equally interesting, but less varied
and extensive. The sweeping foliage and rich pasture of the
former could not, perhaps, afford greater gratification than
did the thatched cottage, abrupt declivities, and gushing
streams of the latter. To change the metaphor--Mr. West's
was a magnificent repository, Mr. Ratcliffe's a choice
cabinet of gems.]

Thirty years have been considered by Addison (somewhere in his Spectator) as a pretty accurate period for the passing away of one generation and the coming on of another. We have brought down our researches to within a similar period of the present times; but, as Addison has not made out the proofs of such assertion, and as many of the relatives and friends of those who have fallen victims to the BIBLIOMANIA, since the days of Ratcliffe, may yet be alive; moreover, as it is the part of humanity not to tear open wounds which have been just closed, or awaken painful sensibilities which have been well nigh laid to rest; so, my dear Sir, in giving you a further account of this fatal disorder, I deem it the most prudent method _not to expatiate_ upon the subsequent examples of its mortality. We can only mourn over such names as BEAUCLERK, CROFTS, PEARSON, LORT, MASON, FARMER, STEEVENS, WOODHOUSE, BRAND, and REED! and fondly hope that the list may not be increased by those of living characters!

We are, in the SECOND place, to describe the SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE.

The ingenious Peignot, in the first volume of his 'Dictionnaire Bibliologie,' p. 51, defines the Bibliomania[48] to be "a passion for possessing books; not so much to be instructed by them, as to gratify the eye by looking on them. He who is affected by this mania knows books only by their titles and dates, and is rather seduced by the exterior than interior"! This is, perhaps, too general and vague a definition to be of much benefit in the knowledge, and consequent prevention, of the disease: let us, therefore, describe it more certainly and intelligibly.

[Footnote 48: There is a short, but smart and interesting,
article on this head in Mr. D'Israeli's _Curiosities of
Literature_, vol. 1. 10. "Bruyere has touched on this mania
with humour; of such a collector (one who is fond of superb
bindings only) says he, as soon as I enter his house, I am
ready to faint on the stair-case from a strong smell of
morocco leather. In vain he shows me fine editions, gold
leaves, Etruscan bindings, &c.--naming them one after
another, as if he were showing a gallery of pictures!"
Lucian has composed a biting invective against an ignorant
possessor of a vast library. "One who opens his eyes, with
an hideous stare, at an old book, and, after turning over
the pages, chiefly admires the _date_ of its publication."]

Symptoms of this disease are instantly known by a passion for I. _Large Paper Copies_: II. _Uncut Copies_: III. _Illustrated Copies_: IV. _Unique Copies_: V. _Copies printed upon Vellum_: VI. _First Editions_: VII. _True Editions_: VIII. _A general desire for the Black Letter_. We will describe these symptoms more particularly.

I. _Large Paper Copies._ These are a certain set or limited number of the work printed in a superior manner, both in regard to ink and press work, on paper of a larger size, and better quality, than the ordinary copies. Their price is enhanced in proportion to their beauty and rarity. In the note below[49] are specified a few works which have been published in this manner, that the sober collector may avoid approaching them.

[Footnote 49: 1. _Lord Bacon's Essays_, 1798, 8vo., of which
it is said only five copies were struck off on royal folio.
In Lord Spencer's and the Cracherode, collection I have seen
a copy of this exquisitely printed book; the text of which,
surrounded by such an amplitude of margin, in the language
of Ernesti [see his Critique on Havercamp's Sallust] "natut
velut cymba in oceano."