“Col Wild, Malta
Servᵗ Name John Bacchens”
“William Chambers
Born Anno Domini
Sepᵗ 13ᵗʰ 1782”
————
“Mary Chambers
her Book April 19 1809”
Robert Chambers has cut the printed name off the foot of his bookplate and pasted it above, so as not to cover the earlier inscription: “Wᵐ Chambers his Book, Gibralter Octʳ 24ᵗʰ 1806.” I have just bought this relic of Corunna—where Sir John Moore ended his glorious life amid the fires of victory—from Mr. William Harper, a second-hand bookseller of the true old-fashioned type, a man to whom a book is an object of reverence. He catalogued the late Edward Solly’s interesting library. His old chief, Andrew Clark, bought it at the sale, of which I quote the catalogue title in full, from good Andrew Clark’s own marked copy: “removed from Gray’s Inn. A catalogue of the valuable Library of 3000 vols. containing several excellent works on Topography, Theology, Law, History, and Miscellanies; many of the best editions of the classics, a very curious collection of old Bibles, In nearly all languages, illuminated missals, breviaries, and old MSS. in good preservation, And various works, in nearly all classes of Literature, many being exceedingly curious and scarce, Which will be sold by Auction by Mr. Geo. Berry at the auction rooms, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, on Thursday, June 29th, 1854, and Following Day, at 11 for 12 oclock, each day, without reserve, By direction of the Executors of the late Robert Chambers Esq. Barrister at Law. May be viewed the day prior and Morning of Sale; and Catalogues had at the place of Sale; And of the Auctioneer, no. 8a, Motcomb Street, Belgrave Square. H. D. Pite, Printer, 37 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea.”
“Q. F. F. Q. S.
Hunc librum pro summo suo in Tyrones apud eum Literas discentes studio, D Robertus Spence Ludimagister in Schola illustri Edinburgensi Jacobi Regis Scotorum ejus nominis Sexti, Gulielmo Binning discipulo suo, hoc anno Syntaxi Latine operam navanti, tanquam latæ a condiscipulis victoriæ palmarium, & futuræ diligentiæ & industriæ incitamentum, dono dedit.
Prid: Id: Ian:
MDCCXXVIII”
is inscribed at the beginning of a copy of phrases “linguae latinæ, ab aldo manutio p.f, conscriptæ: ... londini excusum pro Societate Stationariorum. 1636.”
“M.DC.VIII
Illustrissimo Northamtoniæ Comiti Dno Henrico Howarde
regiæ Maiestati a secretis et sanctiaribus consiliis.
Quinque Portuum præfecto vigilantissimo
in noui formosissimi ineuntis Anni
auspitium Perceuillas Harte
LL: MM. DD:”
This inscription was in a book in splendid English sixteenth-century binding, which belonged then to the Royal Society, and has the well-known old bookplate of the Royal Society. Nothing now remains but one cover and three fly-leaves.
The Henry Howard of this interesting inscription was born at Shottesham, in Norfolk, on February 25th, 1539, being the second son of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and the younger brother of Thomas Howard, fourth Duke of Norfolk. His father dying when he was but seven years old, he was left to the care of his aunt, the Duchess of Richmond, and lived at Reigate, a manor of the Duke of Norfolk’s, under the tutorship of John Foxe, the martyrologist. On Queen Mary’s accession the Duke of Norfolk, the grandfather, was released from prison, and he dismissed Foxe. Howard was now put under the care of a zealous Catholic, John White, Bishop first of Lincoln and then of Winchester. Soon came another turn of the wheel—Mary died! Elizabeth turned White out of his bishopric, herself took charge of Howard’s education and sent him to King’s College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1564.