(This was the Lincoln-Chapter copy.)
The entire produce of the sale was £3019.
Ulpian, the associate of Hortensius, was, and is (I rejoice to add) a Barrister-at-Law, and one of the six Clerks in Chancery. In the Decameron, vol. iii. p. —, he appears under the more euphonous as well as genial name of Palmerin: but the "hermitage" there described has been long deserted by its master and mistress—who have transferred their treasures and curiosities to the sea-girt village, or rather town, of Ryde and its vicinity: where stained-glass windows and velvet bound tomes are seen to yet greater advantage. Leontes, mentioned at page 133, was the late James Bindley, Esq.—of whom a few interesting particulars will be found in the third volume of my Bibliographical Decameron. He died before the publication of this latter work. Sir Tristrem was the late Sir Walter Scott—then in the effulgence of poetical renown! Prospero was the late Francis Douce, Esq. My Reminiscences make copious mention of these celebrated characters.
Aurelius was intended as the representative of the late George Chalmers, Esq.—the most learned and the most celebrated of all the Antiquarians and Historians of Scotland. His Caledonia is a triumphant proof of his giant-powers. Never before did an author encounter such vast and various difficulties: never was such thick darkness so satisfactorily dispersed. It is a marvellous work, in four large quarto volumes; but so indifferently printed, and upon such wretched paper, that within the next century, perhaps, not six copies of it will be found entire. The less laborious works of Mr. Chalmers were statistical and philological. Of the latter, his tracts relating to Shakspeare, and his Life of Mary Queen of Scots may be considered the principal.
On the death of Mr. George Chalmers in 1823, his nephew became possessed of his library; and on the death of the nephew, in 1841, it was placed by the executors in the hands of Mr. Evans, who brought the first part to sale on the 27th of September, 1841. It consisted of 2292 articles, and produced the sum of £2190. The Second Part was brought to the same hammer, on February 27, 1842, and produced the sum of £1918 2s. 6d. It is on the latter part that I am disposed to dwell more particularly, because it was so eminently rich in Shakspearian lore; and because, at this present moment, the name of our immortal dramatist seems to be invested with a fresh halo of incomparable lustre. The first edition of his smaller works has acquired most extraordinary worth in the book-market. The second part of Mr. Chalmers's collection shews that the Sonnets of 1595 produced a hundred guineas; while the Rape of Lucrece (which, perhaps, no human being has ever had the perseverance to read through) produced £105 in a preceding sale: see page 591. The Venus and Adonis has kept close pace with its companions.
We may now revel among the rarities of the first part of this extraordinary collection—
| No. | £ | s. | d. | |
| 123 | Bale's Comedy concernynge thre Lawes of Nature, Moses and Christ, corrupted by the Sodomytes, Pharisees and Papystes most wicked, wants the title, first edition, curious portrait of the Author, excessively rare. Inprented per Nicholaum Bamburgensem, 1538 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 488 | Wilkins' Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ et Hiberniæ, 4 vols. 1737. Folio | 25 | 0 | 0 |
[Such a price is one among the few harmless fruits of the Puseian Controversy!]
| 958 | Churchyard's Worthiness of Wales, first edition, very rare, 1587. Quarto | 24 | 0 | 0 |
[In my earlier days of Book-collecting, I obtained a copy of this most rare volume, in an uncut state, from a Mr. Keene, of Hammersmith, who asked me "if I thought half-a-guinea an extravagant price for it?" I unhesitatingly replied in the negative. Not long after, the late Mr. Sancho, who succeeded Mr. Payne, at the Mews Gate, went on his knees to me, to purchase it for two guineas! His attitude was too humble and the tone of his voice too supplicatory to be resisted. He disposed of it to his patron-friend, the Hon. S. Elliott, for five pounds five shillings. Mr. Elliott had a very choice library; and was himself a most amiable and incomparable man. It is some twenty-five years since I first saw him at the late Earl Spencer's, at Althorp.]