made with reference to this object, comprising the most complete series, that probably exists of theatrical Portraits ; beginning in the latter part of Queen Elizabeth's reign, which is the period of our earliest engravers of portraits, such as Geminie, Hogenburgh, Elstracke, and the three Passes, and continued to the present time. The number of these theatrical Engravings is about 5,000, many of which are bound together in ten volumes; besides these, there are about 2,000 other engraved Portraits, principally of Authors, Commentators, and other learned persons.

“ With respect to the Value of the Manuscripts, the Homer is rated by the different witnesses at from 6001. to 8001., and one of them supposed it might even reach so high a price as 10001.; "the Greek Rhetoricians are estimated at from 3401. to 500l. ; the larger copy of the Greek Gospels at 200l. ; the Geography of Ptolemy at 65l., and the copy of Plautus at 501. One witness estimates the whole of the ancient Manuscripts at upwards of 2,5001.; and an eminent Bookseller at 8,0001. The set of Newspapers, from the year 1603 to the present time, is valued at from 900 guineas to 1000.

“ The books with manuscript notes, together with Dr. Burney's Variorum Compilation, including the Fragmenta Scenica Græca, are estimated by one at 1000l., and by another as high as 1,3401,; who likewise computes the Materials for the History of the Stage at 1401.

“ The Prints are judged to be worth the sum of 450l.; and the Bookseller above referred to, who has examined the whole (except the engravings) for the purpose of enabling the present proprietor to set a value upon them, estimates the printed books in the Library at 9000l. some other books in his study adjoining and a great number of tracts at 500l.; and the whole, exclusive of the prints, at 14,5001.

“ A considerable expense would necessarily attend the selling of this, or any other library, by public auction, which usually amounts either to 15 or 17) per cent.

the

gross produce of the sale; but your Committee having questioned the last witness alluded to, Mr. Payne, found it to be his opinion, that the net money-price of the Library in question, after deducting all expenses, might amount to 14,5001.

“ The persons examined by your Committee, as being particularly competent to assist them in forming their judgment, have been Henry Ellis, Esq. the Reverend Henry H. Baber, and Mr. Smith, from the British Museum; Richard Heber, Esq. the Reverend T. F. Dibdin, the Reverend J. Cleaver Banks, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Evans; the substance of whose testimony, your Committee have endeavoured to put the House in possession of.

“ The importance of acquiring for the British Museum, a Library stored with such literary treasures as have been enumerated, is sufficiently apparent from what has been already stated; but it is obvious, that, in purchasing the entire Collection, much more will be bought than it will be necessary to retain ; and that a considerable number of the printed books, being duplicates of those already in the British Museum, must be sold again; and that this cannot be done otherwise than at the expense of 174 per cent. upon the produce of such sales, whatever the amount may be. It is also to be borne in mind, that, even if the purchase should be completed without delay, these duplicates could not be sorted and examined, so as to bring them to sale in the course of the present session.

“ Your Committee therefore suggest, that, for the ensuing year, the net amount of such Sale (which may be estimated at from 30001. to 40001.) should so far be refunded to the Public, as to go in diminution of the annual grant to the British Museum; and also, that, in consideration of so ample and costly an accession being made to the existing stock of Books, it may be proper to suspend or reduce, for a time, the annual grant of 10001, to the Book Fund, with the exception of such parts of that annual sum as are applied in subscriptions to Works now in the progress of publication.

Upon the whole matter, your Committee venture to recommend as the result of the best consideration, which they have bestowed both upon the importance and just value of theæntire Collection, that the Proprietor, being ready to dispose of it for the sum of 13,500l., it will be a very material addition to the public stock of Literature, and purchased at a price, which cannot be deemed unreasonable.

17th April, 1818."

LIST OF THE WORKS

Either composed or edited by the late Rev. Dr. Charles Burney.

1. Appendix ad Lexicon Græco-Latinum, a Joan. Scapula constructum, &c. Lond. 1789.

2. Remarks on the Greek verses of Milton, published at the end of Mr. T. Warton's edition of Milton's Minor Poems, 8vo. 1791.

3. Richardi Bentleii, & Doctorum Virorum, Epistolæ, 4to. 1807.

4. Tentamen de Metris ab Æschylo in choricis cantibus adhibitis, 8vo. 1809.

5. Bishop Pearson's Exposition of the Creed, abridged, 12mo. 1810, 2d edition, 1812.

6. Philemonis Lexicon Græcè e Biblioth. Parisiens. 4to. 1812.

7. A Sermon, preached at the Anniversary Meeting of the Stewards of the Sons of the Clergy, at St. Paul's, May 14th, 1812, 4to. 1813.

8. Several Criticisms on Classical and Learned Works, published occasionally in the Monthly Review.

No. IX.

SIR RICHARD CROFT, BART.

ACCOUCHEUR, &c. &c. &c.

Sir Richard CROFT was descended from a very ancient, opulent, and distinguished family in Herefordshire. Croft Castle was in its possession during the time of the Saxons, and many individuals of this name and lineage are mentioned with great honour in different periods of the English history. It is stated by Holingshed that in the 11th year of Edward IV. after he had gained the battle of Tewksbury, “ Prince Edward was taken, as he fled towards the town, by Sir Richard Crofts, and kept close; after the field was ended, a proclamation was made, that whosoever could bring forth Prince Edward, alive or dead, should have an annuitie of a hundred pounds during his life, and the Prince's life to be saved, if he were brought forth alive. Sir Richard Crofts, nothing mistrusting the King's pro

. mise, brought forth his prisoner, Prince Edward, being a fair and well proportioned young gentleman.” King Edward did not, however, fulfil his pledge, of preserving the life of the Prince, and Sir Richard Crofts, being extremely offended with this base conduct, retired from court in disgust.

Another Sir Richard Crofts is mentioned with honour in the reign of Henry VII., and a Sir James Crofts was made Lord Deputy of Ireland in the time of Edward VI. Some years afterwards, in the reign of Elizabeth, this Sir James Crofts was sent on an expedition against Scotland, under Lord Greie of Wilton, in which he behaved with great gallantry as a soldier, and afterwards acted the part of an able negotiator between the Queen Regent, her French party, and the Scotch nobility.*

• See Holingshed's Chronicles in various parts.

One of the most distinguished representatives of this family in modern times, was Dr. Herbert Croft, Bishop of Hereford in the reign of Charles the Second.* In the year 1671, the title of baronet was conferred on this family, in which Croft Castle still continued; but the entail of that estate was cut off about sixty years ago, the family being then in reduced circumstances.

Herbert Croft the father of the late Sir Richard, being brought up to the profession of the law, became one of the six clerks in the Court of Chancery, and was for some years receiver or treasurer of the Charter-house. He was first married to Miss Young, a lady of considerable fortune, near Midhurst in Sussex, and he had by her six children; Richard, who was the youngest, was born the 9th of January, 1762. For his second wife, he married Miss Mary Chawner, sister of Mr. Chawner, a surgeon and apothecary of respectability at Burton-upon-Trent.

Richard was first sent to a school in the neighbourhood of London, and resided afterwards for several years at Mr. Manlove's academy, at Derby. At a proper age, he was articled as an apprentice to Mr. Chawner; when the period agreed upon had elapsed, he attended anatomical and medical lectures in London for two or three seasons; and while a pupil at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, lived with his father in the Charter-house. When his education was finished, he became the partner of his former master, Mr. Chawner, at Tutbury in Staffordshire, and succeeded him in his business there, on Mr. Chawner removing to Burton-upon-Trent. He continued at Tutbury in considerable practice during four or five years, much respected and beloved by all ranks of people. He afterwards settled for a short time as a surgeon at Oxford, upon thesupposition that Sir Charles Nourse was about to retire from business; but in this idea he was mistaken, and he soon left that city with a view of settling

a

a

• Me. Herbert Croft was educated at the English college of Jesuits at St. Omer; but converted to the Protestant religion by the arguments of his friend Dr. Morton, Bishop of Durham. He appears to have greatly increased the patrimonial estates of the family : and his only son, Herbert, who served in parliament as knight of the shine for the county of Hereford, was created a baronet in 1671. Eo.