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Santius, is one of the rarest books in existence.

It eost Dr. Askew four guineas and a half, and at his own sale fetched 261.” He gave three guineas for “ Silius Italicus, Editio Princeps, 1471,” which cost the British Museum 131. 12s. 6d.; Mr. Knight purchased it at the Pinelli sale for 481.!

“ Biblia Sacra Latina Moguntiæ per Johannem Fust et Petrum Schoyffer," &c. 2 vols. fol. A copy of this beautiful book ön vellum, at the sale of Count Hoym's library, who was the Polish Ambassador at the court of France, sold for 2000 livres; it was afterwards bought for 3200; at the sale of the Duke de la Valliere's collection, it produced 4020 livres; and the late Mr. Cracherode gave 250 guineas for his copy. “ Froissart's Chronicle, Englished by Bouchier," obtained at Dr. Mead's sale 21. 15s., and the late Colonel Johnes, M. P. to procure a beautiful copy of it, printed at Paris by Eustace, in 4 vols. folio, expended the prodigious sum of 1491. 2s. He also gave 108l. 3s. for a large paper copy of “ Buffon's Natural History of Birds,” finely coloured ; and for “ Paintings of various Subjects in Natural History, by Agricola,” fol. 1731. 5s.

The following anecdotes relative to the 2d folio edition of Shakspeare are curious : “Dr. Askew had a fine copy of this work, with the autograph of Charles I. Mr. Steevens purchased it at Dr. Askew's sale for 51. 10s. In this book Charles I. has written these words, “ Dum SPIRO SPERO, C. R.;" and Sir Henry Herbert, to whom the King presented it the night before his execution, has also written, “ Ex dono serenissimi Regis Car. Servo suo Humiliss. T. Herbert.”

Mr. Steevens has been guilty of an error concerning Sir Thomas Herbert, which could hardly have been expected from so accurate an enquirer. He affirms, that this Sir Thomas Herbert was Master of the Revels, the following words being copied from his own hand-writing: “Sir Thomas Herbert was Master of the Revels to King Charles the First.” Whereas it was a Sir Henry Herbert who held that office. This mistake was immediately detected, and rectified by His present

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Majesty, in his own hand-writing, by which circumstance this book possesses the autographs of two sovereigns of England.

Beneath the above words of Mr. Steevens, His present Majesty has written thus :

“ This is a mistake, he (Sir Thomas Herbert) having been Groom of the Bedchamber to King Charles I.; but Sir Henry Herbert was Master of the Revels."

“ Dr. Askew,” adds Mr. Beloe, “purchased this identical copy at Dr. Mead's sale for two guineas and a half. For this book, says Steevens, I gave the enormous sum of 51. 10s. It was purchased for the King's library for eighteen guineas : I wonder what, under its present circumstances, it would produce at this time?"

There is a curious account of the Coptic manuscript drawn up by Mr. Combe. This ancient Egyptian manuscript on papyrus was taken from a mummy at Thebes, and brought into England by William Hamilton, Esq. by whom it was presented to the British Museum. The characters are those which were in common use among the Egyptians, and are evidently written from right to left. It is divided into five columns, the first of which is imperfect, and each column is accompanied by a drawing, which represents one or more objects of Egyptian adoration. The ink, which retains its colour in a surprising manner, seems to be composed of lamp or charcoal black, suspended in some animal matter. The letters are formed by a reed, and not a brush.

Before the expedition of the French into Egypt, no manuscripts of this kind have ever been noticed. They are unquestionably by far the most ancient monuments which have reached our times; and the mummies of distinguished persons are said to be seldom without one of these rolls; and no mummy has been known to contain more than two.

ÆDES WALPOLIANÆ. We are informed under this title, that the Houghton collection of pictures was sold to the Empress of Russia for the sum of 40,555l., after having been separately valued by West and Cipriani.

Cipriani. Mr. Horace

Walpole told Mr. Bull, that the whole cost his father something short of 40,000l.; but it ought to be remembered, that several were presented to him, - one in particular by Vanderwerffe, from the Duke of Chandos, estimated at 700l. The immaculate Conception by Guido, considered the finest in the whole collection, was supposed to be worth 35001. The busts, bronzes, and most of the family portraits, were preserved.

The remainder of this volume is chiefly occupied with anecdotes illustrative of Granger, extracted from Sir William Musgrave's copy-inscriptions selected from rare portraits in the Cracherode collection; an account of a curious and scarce work on Stenography, printed at London in 1588; extracts from rare and uncommon treatises on English poetry, furnished by Messrs. Douce and Reid; an account of scarce tragedies and comedies, from the Garrick collection, &c. &c.

In vol. ii. we have more extracts from the Garrick collection; these consist of << Old Songs;" but although scarce perhaps, none of them are very exquisite.

“ Johannis Parkhursti Ludicra sive Epigrammata Juvenilia.” Of this rare book, there is no copy in the British Museum, and the editor is indebted to his friend Mr. Douce for the use of one. The author was born at Guilford in Surrey, and sent at a very early age to Oxford, where he became a probationary fellow of Morton college in 1529. He was afterwards rector of Cleve in Gloucestershire. On the death of Edward VI. being actuated by conscientious motives, he left his preferment, and retired to Zurich, where he continued till the decease of Queen Mary. At the accession of Elizabeth he returned to his native country, and was made Bishop of Norwich. He translated part of the Apocrypha, and wrote many Epigrammata, &c. His death occurred in 1574.

Another name is added to the catalogue of English poets, in that of “ Rowlande Broughton.” Of the work of “ Jo. Davers,” entitled the “ Secrets of Angling,” it is observed, “that there does not exist in the circle of English literature a rarer book.” It has been ascribed to the pen of the celebrated Dr. Donne.

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A Poetical Tract, lent by Mr. George Chalmers, called “ A Godly Dream, by Elizabeth Melvill, Lady Culross Younger." was the first production of the press at Aberdeen. It was “ imprinted by E. Raban, Laird of Letters," 1644. for Momus,” London, 1595, and inscribed “ to the Right Honourable and thrice renowned Lord William, Earle of Darbie,” is the first collection of Satires “ so named and intended in the English language.” The extraordinary ease and melody of the verse, at so early a period, are truly surprising

“ Euphues Golden Legacie” deserves notice and commemoration, not only for its great rarity, but also as by the acknowledgment of all the commentators, it furnished the plot of Shakspeare's “ As You Like It.” Many specimens of the prose' works of Thomas Lodge are here given; all of which are said to be of the “ extremest rarity.”

The Roxburgh collection of course occupies a distinguished place in this volume. Of the rare dramatic pieces, the first is unique : it is called “ Common Condycions;" a copy of this tract was purchased by the Duke of Roxburgh for 6l. 10s. at the sale of Mr. Steevens's books. The 6 Nice Wanton” is in black letter. His Grace gave 121. for the “ Old Wife's Tale."

We find the following account annexed to “ Dido :” “I have before mentioned,” observes Mr. Beloe, “ the extreme rarity of this piece, of which a third copy is unknown. This copy was purchased at the sale of Steevens's books, by the Duke of Roxburgh, for the enormous sum of 171. In the beginning is the following note by Mr. Steevens:

“ This copy was given me by Mr. Reed. Such liberality in a collector of old plays is at least as rare as the rarest of our dramatic pieces. G. S.”

“ Mr. Steevens had before experienced, however,” adds our author, “ at least an equal degree of liberality from a collector of Hogarth's works. The unique print of “ Loyalty, Episcopacy, and Law,” was the property of Mr. Bedford, and by that gentleman's kindness added to the collection of

Mr. Steevens. Mr. S. made large promises of compensation, which terminated, I believe, in a few early flowers and a pine

a apple.

6 Il Decamerone di Messer Giovanni Bocaccio, Editio Primaria, &c. Venetiis, Anno 1471, in fol.” This edition was to be found no where but in the Roxburgh collection, and here follows an account of the manner in which it was obtained :

“ The great collectors of books, and competitors for rare publications in their time, were Lord Oxford and Lord Sunderland. This copy of Boccace came into the hands of a London bookseller, who showed it to the above noble Lords, and demanded a hundred guineas as the price of it. This sum must at that time have appeared enormously extravagant, nor can we wonder that they severally hesitated about it. Whilst they were deliberating, an ancestor of the Duke of Roxburgh saw and purchased the volume. The two noble collectors were invited to dinner, and the subject of Boccace being purposely introduced, Lord Oxford and Lord Sunderland began to talk of this particular copy. The Duke of Roxburgh told them, that he thought he could show them a copy of this edition; which they defied him to exhibit. To their mortification and chagrin he produced the book in question.

“ If there should happen to be a public auction of the late Duke of Roxburgh's most valuable library, I think I may venture to foretell, that this Boccace will produce not much less than 5001." It produced more than four times as much (22601.), and is now in the collection of the present Duke of Marlborough.

Under the head of rural sports, of which there is a volume in the British Museum, there exists a very rare tract, entitled " A Jewell for Gentrie," the title-page of which conveys a true idea of the manner in which the nobility and gentry of that day were employed: “Being an exact dictionary, or true method to make any man understand all the art, secrets, and worthy knowledges belonging to hawking, hunting, fowling,