Chapter XXXIV: Part I: Late the property of ALEX. DALRYMPLE, Esq. F.R.S.,

_deceased_. Hydrographer to the Board of Admiralty, and the
Hon. East India Company, &c., sold by auction by King and
Lochée, May 29, 1809, 8vo.--7190 articles: _A Catalogue,
&c., Part II. of the same: sold by auction by the same_:
Nov. 1809.--8897 articles. I should add that there is a
stippled engraving of Dalrymple, with fac-simile of his
hand-writing, which faces the title page to _Part First_ of
this extraordinary and numerous collection; of books of
Geography, Voyages, and Travels. I strongly recommend copies
of these catalogues to be in every library of extent and
utility. We are now to notice: _A Catalogue of Part of the
Library of the late Richard Porson, A.M., Greek Professor of
the University of Cambridge_, &c.: sold by auction by Leigh
and Sotheby, June 16th, 1809, 8vo.--1391 articles: amount of
the books, 1254_l._ 18_s._ 6_d._ The subjoined is rather a
rich, though brief, specimen of some of the valuable books
contained in the library of this profound Greek scholar; in
whom the acuteness of Bentley, and the erudition of
Hemsterhusius, were more than revived.

NO. 116. Biblia Græca, et Novum Testamentum Græce,
lectionibus D.J.J. Griesbach, 2 vols., boards, uncut, MS.
notes at the beginning of each vol. Hal. Sax. 1796-1806,
8vo. £8 15_s._ 0_d._

The notes amounted to the correction of 9 typographical
errors and 1 addition to a note of Griesbach's, consisting
of authorities he ought to have added.

182. Athenæus, Gr. Lat., cum animadversionibus I. Casauboni,
2 vols., MS. notes, Lugduni, 1612, folio. 7 10 0

330. Chariton de Amor. Chaeræ et Callirrhoe, Gr. Lat. cum
animadversionibus, J.P. d'Orville--Amst. 1750, 4to. 2 5 0

Porson's note in the beginning. 'Opus plenum eruditionis,
judicii et sagacitatis non item.'

559. Homeri Ilias et Odyssea (the Grenville edition) boards,
uncut, with the original portrait. Oxoniæ, 4to., _large
paper_: 4 vols. 87 3 0

601. Eustathius in Homerum, 4 vols., morocco, gilt leaves,
Par. 1550, fol. 55 0 0

1078. Shakspeare's (William) Plays by Johnson and Steevens,
15 vols., boards, uncut, 1793, 8vo. 12 15 0

Anecdotes and Memoirs of RICHARD PORSON are strewn, like
spring flowers in an extensive pasture, in almost every
newspaper, magazine, and journal. Among the latter, there is
an interesting one by Dr. Adam Clarke in the _Classical
Journal_, no. IV., p. 720. The _hand-writing_ of Porson
is a theme of general admiration, and justly so; but his
_Greek_ characters have always struck me as being more stiff
and cramped than his Roman and Italic. I well remember when
he shewed me, and expatiated eloquently upon, the famous MS.
of Plato, of the 10th century. Poor Fillingham was of the
party. Little did I then expect that three years only would
deprive the world of its great classical ornament, and
myself of a well-informed and gentle-hearted friend! We will
now close our account of the book-ravages in the year 1809,
by noticing the dispersion of a few minor corps of
bibliomaniacal troops, in the shape of printed volumes.
_Bibliotheca Maddisoniana: A Catalogue of the extensive and
valuable library of the late_ JOHN MADDISON, _Esq., of the
foreign department in the Post Office, &c._: sold by auction
by King and Lochée, March, 1809, 8vo. A judicious and
elegant collection. 5239 articles. II. _A Catalogue of a
curious, valuable, and rare collection of Books in
Typography, History, Voyages, Early English Poetvy
[Transcriber's Note: Poetry], Romances, Classics_, &c.: the
property of a Collector well known for his literary taste,
&c. Sold by auction by Mr. Stewart, April, 1809, 8vo. Some
curious volumes were in these 1858 articles or lots. III. _A
Catalogue of the very valuable and elegant Library of_
EMPEROR JOHN ALEXANDER WOODFORD, Esq., sold by auction by
Leigh and Sotheby, May, 1809, 8vo.--1773 articles. This was
a sumptuous collection; and the books, in general, brought
large prices, from being sharply contended for. IV. _A
Catalogue of the interesting and curious historical and
biographical part of the_ LIBRARY OF A GENTLEMAN,
particularly interesting, during the reign of Elizabeth, the
grand rebellion, the usurpation, restoration, and
abdication, &c., sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby, in
May, 1809, 8vo. Only 806 articles; but a singularly curious
and elegant collection; the catalogue of which I strongly
recommend to all 'curious, prying, and inquisitive'
bibliomaniacs. The first half of the ensuing year, 1810, was
yet more distinguished for the zeal and energy--shall I say
MADNESS?--displayed at BOOK-AUCTIONS. The sale of Mr.
Gough's books excited an unusual ferment among English
antiquaries: but the sale of a more extensive, and truly
beautifully classical, collection in Pall Mall, excited
still stronger sensations. As the _prices_ for some of the
articles sold in the Gough collection have already been
printed in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, vol. lxxx., pt. ii.,
and as those for which some of the _latter_ collection were
sold, appeared in the 4th number of _The Classical Journal_,
it only remains for me to subjoin the following account. I.
_A Catalogue of the entire and valuable Library (with the
exception of the department of Topography, bequeathed to the
Bodleian Library) of that eminent antiquary_, RICHARD GOUGH,
Esq., deceased, &c., sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby,
April, 1810, 8vo.--4082 articles. The MANUSCRIPTS conclude
the catalogue, at no. 4373. Prefixed to the printed
books, there is an account of the collector, Mr. Gough,
executed by the faithful pen of Mr. Nichols. My own humble
opinion of this celebrated antiquary has already been before
the public: _Typog. Antiquit._, vol. I., 21. II. _A
Catalogue of books containing all the rare, useful, and
valuable publications in every department of Literature,
from the first invention of Printing to the present time,
all of which are in the most perfect condition, &c._: sold
by auction by Mr. Jeffery, May, 1810, 8vo.--4809 articles.
Another Catalogue of the same collection, elegantly printed
in royal octavo, but omitting the auctioneer's notices of
the relative value of certain editions, was published by Mr.
Constable of Edinburgh, bookseller: with the prices and
purchasers' names subjoined: and of which it is said only
250 copies are printed. The REV. MR. HEATH is reported to
have been the owner of this truly select and sumptuous
classical library: the sale of which produced 9000_l._ Never
did the bibliomaniac's eye alight upon 'sweeter copies'--as
the phrase is; and never did the bibliomaniacal barometer
rise higher than at this sale! The most marked phrensy
characterized it. A copy of the Editio Princeps of Homer (by
no means a first-rate one) brought 92_l._: and all the
ALDINE CLASSICS produced such an electricity of sensation
that buyers stuck at nothing to embrace them! Do not let it
hence be said that _black-letter lore_ is the only
fashionable pursuit of the present age of book-collectors.
This sale may be hailed as the omen of better and brighter
prospects in Literature in general: and many a useful
philological work, although printed in the Latin or Italian
language--and which had been sleeping, unmolested, upon a
bookseller's shelf these dozen years--will now start up from
its slumber, and walk abroad in a new atmosphere, and be
noticed and 'made much of.'

Here I terminate my _annotation labours_ relating to
ANECDOTES OF BOOK-COLLECTORS, and ACCOUNTS OF BOOK-AUCTIONS.
Unless I am greatly deceived, these labours have not been
thrown away. They may serve, as well to awaken curiosity in
regard to yet further interesting memoranda respecting
scholars, as to shew the progressive value of books, and the
increase of the disease called the BIBLIOMANIA. Some of the
most curious volumes in English literature have in these
notes, been duly recorded; nor can I conclude such a
laborious, though humble, task, without indulging a fond
hope that this account will be consulted by all those who
make book-collecting their amusement. But it is now time to
rise up, with the company described in the text, and to put
on my hat and great-coat. So I make my bow, wishing, with
_L'Envoy_ at the close of MARMION,

To all, to each, a fair good night,
And pleasing dreams, and slumbers light.]

LOREN. Do you mean to have it inferred that there were no collections, of value or importance, which were sold in the mean time?

LYSAND. I thank you for stopping me: for I am hoarse as well as stupid: I consider the foregoing only as the greater stars or constellations in the bibliographical hemisphere. Others were less observed from their supposed comparative insignificancy; although, if you had attended the auctions, you would have found in them many very useful, and even rare and splendid, productions. But we are all

'Tickled with the whistling of a name!'

LOREN. Ay, and naturally enough too. If I look at my Stubbes's _Anatomy of Abuses_, which has received _your abuse_ this evening, and fancy that the leaves have been turned over by the scientific hand of Pearson, Farmer, or Steevens, I experience, by association of ideas, a degree of happiness which I never could have enjoyed had I obtained the volume from an unknown collector's library.

LIS. Very true; and yet you have only Master Stubbes's work after all!

LOREN. Even so. But this _fictitious_ happiness, as you would call it, is, in effect, _real_ happiness; inasmuch as it produces positive sensations of delight.

LIS. Well, there is no arguing with such a bibliomaniac as yourself, Lorenzo.

BELIN. But allow, brother, that this degree of happiness, of which you boast, is not quite so exquisite as to justify the very high terms of purchase upon which it is often times procured.

LYSAND. There is no such thing as the 'golden mediocrity' of Horace in book pursuits. Certain men set their hearts upon certain copies, and '_coûte qu'il coûte_' they must secure them. Undoubtedly, I would give not a little for Parker's own copy of the Book of _Common Prayer_, and Shakspeare's own copy of both parts of his _Henry the Fourth_.

ALMAN. Well, Lisardo, we stand no chance of stemming the torrent against two such lusty and opiniated bibliomaniacs as my brother and Lysander: although I should speak with deference of, and acknowledge with grateful respect, the extraordinary exertions of the latter, this evening, to amuse and instruct us.

LIS. This evening?----say, this day:--this live-long day--and yesterday also! But have you quite done, dear Lysander?

LYSAND. Have you the conscience to ask for more? I have brought you down to the year of our Lord _One thousand eight hundred and eleven_; and without touching upon the collections of LIVING BIBLIOMANIACS, or foretelling what may be the future ravages of the Bibliomania in the course of only the next dozen years, I think it proper to put an end to my BOOK-COLLECTING HISTORY, and more especially to this long trial of your auricular patience.

LOREN. A thousand thanks for your exertions! Although your friend, with whom you are on a visit, knows pretty well the extent of my bibliographical capacity, and that there have been many parts in your narrative which were somewhat familiar to me, yet, upon the whole, there has been a great deal more of novelty, and, in this novelty, of solid instruction. Sincerely, therefore Lysander, I here offer you my heart-felt thanks.

LYSAND. I receive them as cordially: from an assurance that my digressions have been overlooked; or, if noticed, forgiven. It would be gross vanity, and grosser falsehood, to affirm that the discourse of this day, on my part, has given anything like a full and explicit history of all the most eminent book-collectors and patrons of Learning which have reflected such lustre upon the literary annals of our country:--No, Lorenzo: a complete account, or a perfect description, of these illustrious characters would engage a conversation, not for one day--but one week. Yet I have made the most of the transient hour, and, by my enthusiasm, have perhaps atoned for my deficiency of information.

LIS. But cannot you resume this conversation on the morrow?

LYSAND. My stay with our friend is short, and I know not how he means to dispose of me to-morrow. But I have done--certainly done--with _Personal History_!

LOREN. That may be. Yet there are other departments of the Bibliomania which may be successfully discussed. The weather will probably be fine, and let us enjoy a morning _conversazione_ in THE ALCOVE?

BELIN. Surely, Lysander may find something in the fruitful pigeon-holes of his imagination--as the Abbè Sieyes used to do--from which he may draw forth some system or other?

ALMAN. You have all talked loudly and learnedly of the BOOK-DISEASE; but I wish to know whether a _mere collector_ of books be a bibliomaniac?

LYSAND. Certainly not. There are SYMPTOMS of this disease _within the very books themselves_ of a bibliomaniac.

ALMAN. And pray what are these?

LYSAND. Alas, madam!--why are you so unreasonable? And how, after knowing that I have harrangued for more than 'seven hours by Westminster clock'--how can you have the conscience to call upon me to protract the oration? The night has already melted into morning; and I suppose grey twilight is discoverable upon the summit of the hills. I am exhausted; and long for repose. Indeed, I must wish you all a good night.

BELIN. But you promise to commence your _symptomatic_ harangue on the morrow?

LYSAND. If my slumbers are sound, lady fair, and I rise tolerably recruited in strength, I will surely make good my promise. Again, good night!

BELIN. Sir, a very good night: and let our best thanks follow you to your pillow.

ALMAN. Remember, as you sink to repose, what a quantity of good you have done, by having imparted such useful information.

LYSAND. I shall carry your best wishes, and grateful mention of my poor labours, with me to my orisons. Adieu!--'tis very late.

* * * * *

Here the company broke up. Lisardo slept at Lorenzo's. Philemon and Lysander accompanied me to my home; and as we past Lorenzo's outer gate, and looked backward upon the highest piece of rising ground, we fancied we saw the twilight of morning. Never was a mortal more heartily thanked for his colloquial exertions than was Lysander. On reaching home, as we separated for our respective chambers, we shook hands most cordially; and my eloquent guest returned the squeeze, in a manner which seemed to tell that he had no greater happiness at heart than that of finding a reciprocity of sentiment among those whom he tenderly esteemed. At this moment, we could have given to each other the choicest volume in our libraries; and I regretted that I had not contrived to put my black-morocco copy of the small _Aldine Petrarch, printed upon_ VELLUM, under Lysander's pillow, as a 'Pignus Amicitiæ.'--But we were all to assemble together in Lorenzo's ALCOVE on the morrow; and this thought gave me such lively pleasure that I did not close my eyes 'till the clock had struck five. Such are the bed-luxuries of a Bibliomaniac!