in Will Painter's PALACE OF PLEA

SURE*.

Ir may be

be asked, whether there is a

by Mr. Herbert to be the only work of the printer which has escaped the devastations of time.' On casting my eye over the catalogue of Mr. Steevens's books, I find that his fac simile of the first edition of 1576, finished with the greatest neatness,' was sold for £.5 15s. See Bibl. Steevens. No. 995-6-7.

* PALACE of PLEASURE, conteyning store of goodly histories, tragical matters, and other morall argument, very requisite for delighte and profit. Chosen and selected out of diuers good and commendable authors; by William Painter, clerke of the ordinance and armarie. In two volumes, quarto, 1566, 67; printed by Marshe and Bynneman; and dedicated, by the latter, to Sir George Howarde, Knighte, master of the quene's maiesties armorie, 'from his poore house besides the Toure of London.'

A VERY fine copy of this first edition of an extremely rare work, was sold at Dr. Farmer's sale for £15 15s. Judge, gentle reader, what would such a copy produce at the sale of your own books! Bynneman printed a second edition in 1575. See Herbert's Ames, vol. ii. 856, 967, 976. An imperfect copy of the first edition was purchased by the late Sir G. Shuckburgh, at Mr. Steevens's sale, for £8. 83. See Bibl. Steevens, No. 1165.

M

probability of rendering this pursuit popular; or whether the birth, parentage, and history of an old poem, romance, or play, in a gothic or roman dress, be worth submitting to the public notice? I answer, without hesitation, Yes! Upon the same principle that gentlemen like to know the fate of their comrades in the Army or Navy List, and sportsmen the pedigree of horses in the Racing Calendar, will a niche in my paper, devoted to bibliographical memoranda, afford some little amusement to a certain ingenious class of individuals, who haunt every bookish recess, and explore every literary institution: to whom the dusty stalls in the purlieus of Moorfields, or the splendid repositories in the vicinity of St. James's, are alike objects of curiosity and gratification.

BUT, in truth, the passion for collecting curious, scarce, and extraordinary publications, is, at this moment, pretty generally increasing. The book-mania

1

(I hear the frozen-hearted stoic exclaim) is now violently raging*: the bibliogra pher's pulse, which, in the days of Lord Oxford, Dr. Mead, Dr. Askew, Dr. Farmer, and Mr. Cracherode beat only at 72, has now an increased volition of 99-and before many years of the present century elapse, who shall say whether it may not beat 110 to the minute! Every body knows that these figures on the thermometer denote fever heat-But a truce to such malevolent remark, such 'toothless satire !'

* He would have said, (but it luckily escaped him) The dog-star rages! nay, 'tis past a doubt, All Bedlam, or Parnassus, is let out!

Pope's Prolog. to Satires, v. 3, 4.

I subjoin my authority for this somewhat unusual expression. The famous Bishop Hall, whose satires were considered by Pope among the very best in our language, and whose 'Contemplations' yet afford solace to the pious, published in the year 1597, "Three Bookes of toothlesse Satyres,' printed by T. Creede, for R. Dexter, in a duodecimo volume. In the year 1598-9, these toothless satires were joined with three books of byting satyres, under the general title of Virgidemarium. T. Warton, in his History of

REVERTING to the principle on which the present article is proposed to be conducted, I deem it necessary solemnly to announce to all classes of my readers, male and female, that there will be nothing found in my Bibliographiana' to sadden the cheerful, offend the grave, disgust the wise, or shock the good. I set out by professing a sincere regard for all those curious, erudite, and industrious men, by whose labours a love of books has been kindled, and, in consequence, a general love of knowledge promoted. Typography has given keys to science; and by pointing out where these keys are lodged, we shall be enabled to unlock those treasures of genius and instruction, which for ages have been accumulating, and of which a considerable part has yet escaped the researches of

man.

English Poetry, and in his remarks on Spenser's Faery Queen, (referred to by Mr. Todd, in the prolegomena of his edition of Spenser) particularly notices these toothless and biting satires! For the more immediate convenience of the reader, I refer to Bibl. West, No. 1047, and Bibl. Steevens, No. 1038,

I VENERATE, in our own country, the names of De Bury*, Leland, Bale, Pits, Tanner, Wood, Hearne, Oldys, Ames, Herbert, Steevens, and Reed+: nor shall

* RICHARD DE BURY was the principal tutor of Edward the Third, and was promoted by that monarch to the Bishopric of Durham. He was the friend and correspondent of Petrarch, by whom he is called 'Virum ardentis ingenii!' his love of knowledge, and passion for collecting books, were extreme. He published a bibliographical work, called 'Philobiblion', which Maichelius and Morhof have both commended. The Frankfort edition of 1610, and the Leipsic edition of 1674, are sometimes to be met with. This great man left his fine collection of books to Durham, now Trinity, College, Oxford. The most entertaining account of him is to be found in Hutchinson's History of the See of Durham. Cave and Godwin (from Bale and Wharton) have given but a meagre biographical detail of his life and labours. It has been doubted whether there does not yet exist a MS. history of his life.

+ ISAAC REED, Esq. recently deceased. The talents of this eminent English critic are too well known to stand in need of my humble commendation. He was the principal editor of the last edi tion of Shakspeare, in 21 volumes, octavo. His curious library, if ever it should be sold by auction, will afford many a rare bijoux (I borrow a current phrase) to the black letter collector. There were a few mezzotint impressions of his portrait struck off, but not, I believe, for sale.