For an interesting account of the engravings of the Devonshire Gems—the rival publication of those from the Marlborough collection—the reader may consult Mr. Beloe's Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books; vol. i. 182-6. The entire collection of Mr. Woodhouse's prints produced 3595l. 17s. 6d.

We will now make handsome mention of the Bibliotheca Woodhousiana. A Catalogue of the entire, elegant, and valuable Library of John Woodhouse, Esq., comprising a rich and extensive collection of books, &c. Sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby, December, 1803. 8vo. The collection was rather choice and rich, than extensive: having only 861 articles. Some of the rarest editions in old English Literature were vigorously contended for by well-known collectors: nor did the Library want beautiful and useful works of a different description. The following specimens will enable the reader to form a pretty correct estimate of the general value of this collection.

no. £s.d.
8.Antonie (the Tragedie of) doone into English by the Countesse of Pembroke, R.M. g.l. Lond. 1595. 12mo.550
24.Barnabee's Journal, with Bessie Bell, First Edit. B.M. g.l. 1648. 12mo.2100
30.Bastard's (Thomas) Chrestoleros, seven Bookes of Epigrammes, G.M. g.l. 1598. 12mo.5156
76.Chaucer, by Tyrwhitt, with the Glossary, G.M. g.l. 5 vol. 1775. 8vo.600
82.Cokain's (Sir Aston) Poems and Plays, with head, R.M. g.l. 2 vol. 1662. 8vo.400
97.A Paire of Turtle Doves, or the History of Bellora and Fidelio, bl. l. 4to. see MS. note by Steevens, 1606.550
160.Burnet's History of his own Times, large paper, R.M. g.l. 2 vol. 1724. 4to.5156
198.Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays, large paper, 12 vols. 1780. 8vo. Only six copies printed in this manner.14140
313.Latham's General Synopsis of Birds, with Index, 9 vols. with reverse plates, elegantly painted by Miss Stone, now Mrs. Smith: R.M. g.m.l. 4to. 'N.B. Of the above set of books, there are only 6 copies.'4000
314.Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, with his Life, large paper, 4 vols. boards, uncut, 1707, 1750, fol.15150
350.Heath's Chronicle, frontispiece and heads, R.M. g.l. 1663. 2 vols. 8vo.550
394.Knight's Life of Colet, large paper; plates, elegant, in light brown calf, g.l.m. 1724, 8vo.5100
395.Knight's Life of Erasmus, large paper, plates, elegant, in light brown calf, g.l.m. 1726, 8vo.990
431.Lewin's Birds of Great Britain, with the Eggs accurately figured, elegantly painted with back ground, 7 vols. in 3. A superb copy, in g.m. g.m.l. 1789, 4to.2870
473.Martyn's Universal Conchologist; English Entomologist: and Aranei, or Natural History of Spiders, 4 vols. elegantly coloured. A superb copy, in R.M. g.m.l. 1789, 92, and 93, 4to.33120
490.Harrison's Seven Triumphal Arches, in honor of James I., all the [seven] parts complete; curious and very rare, R.M. g.l. 1604. folio.2760
493.Hearne and Bryne's Antiquities and Views in Great Britain, proof impressions, M. g.l. 1786, oblong folio.1600
586.Skelton's (Mayster) Poems: Colyn Clout, Lond. by John Whygte. Whi come ye not to Courte; Lond. by John Whygte. Phillyp Sparow; Speak Parot; Death of the Noble Prynce, &c. See note. Lond. by John Kynge and Thomas Marshe. Merie Tales; unique, see note. Lond. by Thomas Colwell, 5 vol. bl. l. R.M. g.l. 12mo. 2300
624.Monument of Matrons, containing seven severall lamps of Virginitie, by Thomas Bentley; bl. l. R. 3 vols. 1582, 4to.1656
632.Nychodemus Gospell, wood-cuts, bl. l. g.l. R.M. Lond. Wynkyn de Worde, 1511, 4to.6166
640.Pennant's History of Quadrupeds, boards, uncut, large paper, proof plates, 1793, 4to.660
692.The late Expedition in Scotlande, made by the Kinges Hyhnys Armye, under the conduit of the Ryht Honourable the Earl of Hertforde, the yere of our Lorde God, 1544. bl. l. R.M. g.l. Lond. by Reynolde Wolfe, 1554, 8vo.16160
762.Sommers's (Lord) Collection of scarce and valuable Tracts, 19 vols. R. g.l. 1748, 50, 51, 52, folio.8510
780.Temple of Glas, bl. l. See notes by G. Mason. Wynkyn de Worde, no date, 4to.880
795.Tour (A) through the South of England, Wales, and part of Ireland, in 1791, large paper, proof plates, coloured, 1793. N.B. "Of the above book only six copies were printed."880
806.Vicar's England's Parliamentary Chronicle, R. g.l. complete, 4 parts, 3 vols. 1646, 4to.1200
829.Speed's Theatre of Great Britain, maps, R. g.l. m.l. A remarkable fine copy, 1611.11110
836.The Myrrour and Dyscrypcyon of the Worlde, with many Mervaylles, wood-cuts, B.M. g.l. Emprynted by me Lawrence Andrewe, 1527, folio.2600
837.The Recuile of the Histories of Troie, translated into English by William Caxton, very fair, B.M. g.l. Imprynted at London by W. Copland, 1553, fol.2300
852.The Myrroure of Golde for the Synfull Soule, bl. l. wood-cuts. Imprynted at Lond. in the Fleete-strete, at the sygne of the Sun, by Wynkyn de Worde, 1526, 4to.1216
856.Barclay's (Alexander) Egloges, out of a Boke named in Latin, Miserie Curialium, compyled by Eneas Sylvius, Poete and Oratour, bl. l. woodcuts, five parts, and complete, G.M. Imprynted by Wynkyn de Worde, 4to.2500
859.Holy Life and History of Saynt Werburge, very frutefull for all Christian People to rede. Poems, bl. l. G.M. Imp. by Richard Pynson, 1521, 4to.31100

Amount of the sale, 3135l. 4s.

Phil. I attended the sale of Woodhouse's prints and books; and discovered at it as strong symptoms of the madness of which we are discoursing as ever were exhibited on a like occasion. I have the catalogue upon fine paper, which, however, is poorly printed; but I consider it rather a curious bibliographical morçeau.

Lysand. Make the most of it, for it will soon become scarce. And now—notwithstanding my former boast to do justice to the remaining bibliomaniacal characters of respectability—as I find my oral powers almost exhausted, I shall barely mention the sales, by auction, of the collections of Wilkes, Ritson, and Boucher[412]—although I ought to mention the Bibliotheca Boucheriana with more respect than its two immediate predecessors; as the collector was a man endowed with etymological acumen and patience; and I sincerely wish the public were now receiving the benefit of the continuation of his Dictionary; of which the author published so excellent a specimen, comprehending only the letter A. Dr. Jamieson has, to be sure, in a great measure done away the melancholy impression which lexicographical readers would otherwise have experienced—by the publication of his own unrivalled "Scottish Dictionary;" yet there is still room enough in the literary world for a continuation of Boucher.

[412] It did not, perhaps, suit Lysander's notions to make mention of book-sales to which no collectors' names were affixed; but, as it has been my office, during the whole of the above conversation, to sit in a corner and take notes of what our book-orator has said, as well to correct as to enlarge the narrative, I purpose, gentle reader, prefacing the account of the above noticed three collections by the following bibliomaniacal specimen: 'A Catalogue of a capital and truly valuable Library, the genuine property of a Gentleman of Fashion, highly distinguished for his fine taste,' &c.: sold by auction by Mr. Christie, May, 1800, 8vo. 326 articles: amount of the sale, 1828l. 18s.; being nearly 6l. an article. Now for the beloved specimens:

NO. £s.d.
35.Baptistæ Portæ de Humanâ Physiognomia, with wood-cuts. Hanoviæ, 1593, et Johannis Physiophili Opuscula. Aug. Vin. 1784, 8vo.0190
38.Officium Beatæ Virginis. This unique Manuscript on vellum of the 14th century, is enriched with highly finished Miniature Paintings, and is one of the most perfect and best preserved missals known in England.2096
40.A complete set of the Barbou Classics, 68 vols. elegantly bound in green (French) morocco, with gilt leaves, 8vo.35140
94.Gesta et Vestigia Danorum extra Daniam, 3 v. large paper, with a portrait in satin of the Prince to whom it is dedicated, Lips: et Hafn: 1740, 4to. Black morocco, gilt leaves. N.B. 'It is supposed that the Rolliad was taken from this work.'10100
133.Brittania, Lathmon, et villa Bromhamensis, poëmatia; Bodoni, Parma, 1792, red morocco, folio.9196
211.Contes des Fées; Paris, 1781, 8vo. 4 vols. imprimée sur velin. This unique copy is ornamented with nineteen original drawings, and was made for the late Madame Royale: elegantly bound in blue morocco and enclosed in a morocco case.35140
237.Memoires du Comte de Grammont. Edition printed for the Comte d'Artois. Par. 1781. 8vo. This beautiful small work, from the text of which Harding's edition was copied, is adorned with several high finished portraits in miniature, painted by a celebrated artist, and is elegantly bound in green morocco, with morocco case.15153
317.L'antiquité Expliquée, par Montfaucon, with fine plates; large paper copy, 15 vol. red (French) morocco, with gilt leaves; and Monarchie Françoise, 5, v. l. p. correspondently bound, folio.6300
318.Anacreontis Carmina, Gr. et Lat. from a MS. in the Vatican of the tenth century: with beautiful coloured miniatures by Piale, appropriate to each ode, in rich morocco binding. Romæ, 1781. folio.56140

Early in the year in which this collection was disposed of, the very beautiful choice, and truly desirable library of George Galway Mills, Esq. was sold by auction by Mr. Jeffery, in February, 1800. My copy of this well-executed catalogue is upon large paper; but it has not the prices subjoined. Meanwhile let the sharp-sighted bibliomaniac look at no. 28, 68, 85, 106, 181, 412, 438, only. Thus it will be seen that the year 1800 was most singularly distinguished for Book-Auction Bibliomaniacism!

We now proceed to notice the sales of the libraries of those bibliomaniacs above mentioned by Lysander. A catalogue of the very valuable Library of the late John Wilkes, Esq., M.P., &c., sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby, in November, 1802, 8vo.: 1478 articles. There are few articles, except the following deserving of being extracted.