In D'Israeli's recent Work, the Amenities of Literature, there is an excellent article upon Skelton, which contains many acute and original observations. Speaking of the Skeltonical Verse, D'Israeli says, "In the quick-returning rhymes, the playfulness of the diction, and the pungency of New Words, usually ludicrous, often expressive, and sometimes felicitous, there is a stirring spirit, which will be best felt in an audible reading. The velocity of his verse has a carol of its own. The chimes ring in the ear, and the thoughts are flung about like wild Coruscations." See vol. 2, p. 69 to 82. Octavo.

Mr. Heber had written in his Copy, "Mr. Malone has a copy bought at Dr. Farmer's Sale, (now in the Bodleian Library,) but I know of no other." We may add, those two copies, and the present, are the only perfect copies known.

"Foure Sonnets written by Henrie Constable to Sir Philip Sidneys Soule" are prefixed. These have not been reprinted in the subsequent editions. Only three other copies of the first edition of this elegant and valuable Treatise are known. One of which is in the British Museum, and one in the Bridgewater Library.

The Third Part of Mr. Chalmers's library—abundantly rich in Scotch literature, and containing much valuable illustration of the History of Printing in Scotland, will probably quickly succeed the publication of this Work. Mr. Chalmers had frequently expressed to me his intention as well as inclination to give a complete History of the Scotish Press; and if the materials collected by him find their way into his native country, it is to be hoped that some enterprising spirit, like that which animates the present Librarian of the Signet Library, will find sufficient encouragement to bring them before the public. I bargain for a Quarto.

Menalcas (whose fame expands more largely in the Bibliographical Decameron and Reminiscences) was my old and "very singular good friend" the Rev. Henry Joseph Thomas Drury, Rector of Fingest, and Second Master of Harrow School; second, because he declined to become the first. His library, so rich and rare in classical lore—manuscript as well as printed—was sold by Mr. Evans in 1827. The catalogue contained not fewer than 4729 articles. The bindings, chiefly in Lewisian calf and morocco, were "de toute beauté;" and the "oblong cabinet" sparkled as the setting sun shot its slanting rays down the backs of the tomes. Of this catalogue there were 35 copies only printed upon writing paper, for presents.

This library was strikingly illustrative of the character of its late owner; for it is little more than a twelvemonth since he has been called away from that numerous and endearing circle, in the midst of which I saw him sitting, about a twelvemonth before his departure—the happiest of the happy—on the day of the nuptials of his youngest daughter but one, with Captain Beavan. His books were in fine condition throughout—gaily attired in appropriate bindings of calf or morocco, as the character and condition might be. His love of old classical Manuscripts was properly and greatly beyond that of printed books: but each class was so marked and identified by his calligraphical MS. notes, that you were in a moment convinced his books were not purchased for the mere sake of gorgeous furniture. So entirely were his classical feelings mixed up with his Library, that he prefixed, over the entrance door of his oblong cabinet, in printed letters of gold, the following lines—of which the version is supplied from the "Arundines Cami," edited by his eldest son, the Rev. Henry Drury.

IN MUSEI MEI ADITU.

OVER THE THRESHOLD OF MY LIBRARY.

They were part and parcel of the Owner himself. His mind was traceable in many a fly leaf. His latinity was perspicuity and accuracy itself. He was, in all respects, a ripe and a good scholar; and the late Provost of Eton (The Rev. Dr. Goodall) told me, on an occasion which has been, perhaps, too emphasised in certain bibliographical pages,[476] that "England could not then produce a better Greek metrical scholar than his friend Henry Drury." What was remarkable, he never assumed an ex Cathedrâ position in society. In bringing forward or pressing quotations, whatever fell from him, came easily and naturally, but rarely. Accustomed for many years to be the favourite of the Harrovians, he never affected the airs of the pedagogue. How he could criticise, sufficiently appears in an article on the Musæ Edinburgenses in an early number of the Quarterly Review.

Yet this may be considered secondary matter; and I hasten to record the qualities of his heart and disposition. They were truly Christian-like; inasmuch as a fond and large spirit of benevolence was always beating in his bosom, and mantling over a countenance of singular friendliness of expression. He had the power of saying sharp and caustic things, but he used his "giant-strength" with the gentleness of a child. His letters, of which many hundreds have fallen to my lot, are a perfect reflex of his joyous and elastic mind. There was not a pupil under his care who looked forward to a holiday with more unqualified delight than he; and when we strayed together beneath, or upon the heights of, the Dover Cliffs (where I last saw him, in the summer of 1840) he would expatiate, with equal warmth and felicity, upon the Abbey of St. Rhadagund, and the Keep of Dover Castle. Our visit to Barfreston Church, in the neighbourhood, can never be effaced from my mind. His mental enthusiasm and bodily activity could not have been exceeded by that of the Captain of Harrow School. He took up my meditated "History of the Dover" as if it were his own work; and his success, in cause of subscription, in most instances, was complete.

And now, after an intimacy (minutely recorded in my Reminiscences) of thirty-three years, it has pleased God to deprive me of his genial and heart-stirring society. His last moments were of those of a Christian—"rooted and built up" in that belief, which alone sustains us in the struggle of parting from those whom we cherish as the most idolised objects upon earth! It was towards sun-set that I first paused upon his tomb, in the church-yard, near the summit of Harrow Hill. For a few moments I was breathless—but not from the steepness of the ascent. The inscription, I would submit, is too much in the "minor key." It was the production of his eldest son, who preferred to err from under-rating, rather than over-rating, the good qualities of his parent. For myself—

On the death of Mr. Drury, his small library, the remains of his former one, was sold by auction; and those classical books, interleaved, and enriched with his manuscript notes, brought large prices. One manuscript, of especial celebrity—Childe Harold—given him by the Author, his pupil, Lord Byron—became the property of its publisher, Mr. Murray; who purchased it upon terms at once marking his high sense of the talents of the author, and his respect for the family where it had been placed. It may be doubtful whether the autograph of any poem, since Paradise Lost, would have obtained a larger sum—had it been submitted to public sale.

Rinaldo.—Rinaldo was the late Mr. Edwards; of the sale of whose library an extended account will be found in my Decameron. It remains, briefly, but emphatically, to remark, that of all the book heroes, whose valorous achievements are here recorded, two only have survived the lapse of thirty years. Let half of another similar course of time roll on, and where will the Survivors be? If not at rest in their graves, they will in all probability be "sans teeth, sans eyes, sans everything:"—at least, very far beyond "the lean and slippered pantaloon." Leaving my surviving friends to fight their own battles, I think I may here venture to say, in quiet simplicity and singleness of heart, that books, book-sales, and book-men, will then—if I am spared—pass before me as the faint reflex of "the light of other days!" ... when literary enterprise and literary fame found a proportionate reward; and when the sickly sentimentality of the novelist had not usurped the post of the instructive philologist. But enough of Rosicrusis.

PART IV.

THE LIBRARY.

This Part embraces the History of Literature, in the formation of Libraries, from the Conquest to the commencement of the reign of Henry VIII., and undoubtedly contains much that is curious and instructive. Two new characters only are introduced: Lorenzo and Narcottus. The former was intended to represent the late Sir Masterman Mark Sykes, Bart.: the latter, a William Templeman, Esq., of Hare Hatch, Berkshire. Sir Mark Sykes was not less known than respected for the suavity of his manners, the kindness of his disposition, and the liberality of his conduct on all matters connected with books and prints. A long and particular account of his library, and of many of his book-purchases, will be seen in the third volume of the Bibliographical Decameron; and at pages 321, 373 of my Literary Reminiscences. His library and his prints brought, each, pretty much the same sum: together, £60,000—an astounding result! Sir Mark is the last great bibliomaniacal Sun that has shed its golden, as well as parting, rays, upon a terribly chap-fallen British public! Mr. Templeman, represented as Narcottus, was a great Chess-player: and although Caxton's "Game at Chess" is a mere dull morality, having nothing to do with the game strictly so called, yet he would have everything in his library where the word "Chess" was introduced. In the words of the old catch, he would "add the night unto the day" in the prosecution of his darling recreation, and boasted of having once given a signal defeat to the Rev. Mr. Bowdler, after having been defeated himself by Lord Henry Seymour, the renowned chess-champions of the Isle of Wight. He said he once sat upon Phillidor's knee, who patted his cheek, and told him "there was nothing like Chess and English roast beef."

The notice of poor George Faulkner at page 199—one of the more celebrated book-binders of the day, is amplified at page 524 of the second volume of the Decameron; where the painful circumstances attending his death are slightly mentioned. He yet lives, and lives strongly, in my remembrance. Since then, indeed within a very few years, the famous Charles Lewis—of whose bibliopegistic renown the Decameronic pages have expatiated fully—has ceased to be. He was carried off suddenly by an apoplectic seizure. His eldest son—a sort of "spes altera Romæ," in his way—very quickly followed the fate of his father. The name of Lewis will be always held high in the estimation of bibliopegistic Virtuosi. But the art of Book-binding is not deteriorating: and I am not sure whether John Clarke, of Frith Street, Soho, be not as "mighty a man" in his way as any of his predecessors. There is a solidity, strength, and squareness of workmanship about his books, which seem to convince you that they may be tossed from the summit of Snowdon to that of Cader Idris without detriment or serious injury. His gilding is first rate; both for choice of ornament and splendour of gold. Nor is his coadjutor, William Bedford, of less potent renown. He was the great adjunct of the late Charles Lewis—and imbibes the same taste and the same spirit of perseverance. Accident brought me one morning in contact with a set of the New Dugdale's Monasticon, bound in blue morocco, and most gorgeously bound and gilded, lying upon the table of Mr. James Bohn—a mountain of bibliopegistic grandeur! A sort of irrepressible awe kept you back even from turning over the coats or covers! And what a Work—deserving of pearls and precious stones in its outward garniture! "Who was the happy man to accomplish such a piece of binding?"[477] observed I. "Who but John Clarke?"—replied the Bibliopole.

PART V.

THE DRAWING-ROOM.

This Part is a copious continuation of the History of Book Collectors and Collections up to the year 1810. There is nothing to add in the way of character; and the subject itself is amply continued in the tenth day of the Bibliographical Decameron. In both works will be found, it is presumed, a fund of information and amusement, so that the Reader will scarcely demand an extension of the subject. Indeed, a little volume would hardly suffice to render it the justice which it merits; but I am bound to make special mention of the untameable perseverance, and highly refined taste, of B.G. Windus, Esq., one of my earliest and steadiest supporters; and yet, doth he not rather take up a sitting in the Alcove—amongst Illustrators of fine Works?

PART VI.

THE ALCOVE.

A word only:—and that respecting Illustrated Copies. Leaving Mr. Windus in full possession of his Raphael Morghens, William Woollets, William Sharpes, &c.—and allowing him the undisturbed relish of gazing upon, and pressing to his heart's core, his grey Turners—let me only introduce to the reader's critical attention and admiration the opposite subject, executed by the late Mr. Branston, and exhibiting The Cave of Despair from Spenser's Fairy Queen. The figures were drawn on the blocks by the late J. Thurston, Esq.

Illustrated Copies.

Under the Illustration-Symptom of Bibliomania, a fund of amusing anecdote, as well as of instructive detail, presents itself. We may travel in a carriage and four—from morn 'till night—and sweep county after county, in pursuit of all that is exquisite, and rare, and precious, and unattainable in other quarters: but I doubt if our horses' heads can be turned in a direction better calculated to answer all the ends in view than in front of

RAVENSBURY LODGE, LOWER MITCHAM,

the residence of the late proprietor of this work. There we once beheld such a copy of the best of all existing Encyclopædias—that of the late Dr. Rees—as is no where else to be found. It was upon large and fine paper—bound in fourscore volumes—with separately executed title pages, in a style of pure art—and illustrated with not fewer than ten thousand extra plates. The reader may, and will, naturally enough, judge of the wide, if not boundless, field for illustration—comprehending in fact (as the title of the work denounces) the circle of all knowledge, arts and sciences; but he can have no idea of the manner in which this fertile and illimitable field is filled up, till he gazes upon the copy in question. Here then was not only a reading, but a graphic, Library in itself. Whatever other works profusely dilate upon was here concentrated—and deeply impressed upon the mind by the charm, as well as the intelligence, of graphical ornament. You seemed to want nothing, as, upon the turning over of every leaf, the prodigality of art ennobled, while it adorned, the solidity of the text. You have kept your horses already waiting three hours—and they are neighing and snorting for food: and you must turn them into the stable for suitable provender—for the owner of this production would tell you that you had scarcely traversed through one-third of the contents of the volumes. He orders an additional fowl to be placed on the spit, and an extra flagon of Combe and Delafield's brightest ale to be forth-coming: while his orchard supplies the requisite addenda of mulberries, pears, and apples, to flank the veritable Lafitte. You drink and are merry. Then comes the Argand Lamp; and down with the Encyclopedistic volumes. The plates look brighter and more beautiful. There is no end of them—nor limits to your admiration. Be it summer or winter, there is food for sustenance, and for the gratification of the most exquisite palate. To contemplate such a performance, the thorough-bred book-votary would travel by torch-light through forty-eight hours of successive darkness!...: But the horses are again neighing—for their homes. You must rouse the slumbering post-boy: for "The bell of the church-clock strikes one."

P.S.—The late Mr. Walmsley—who employed me to print this present edition—narrowly watched all our movements, and was much gratified by the appearance of the work, so far as it had gone before his death—frequently urged me to append a short account of the progress of our art during the last thirty years—i.e. since the publication of the former edition of Bibliomania.

The subject is too diffuse for a mere note: and during the life-time of so many able printers as now exercise their calling in the metropolis, it would be invidious to particularize eminence in our profession (whereas among our immediate predecessors it is, perhaps just to say that there were only two printers of great celebrity, the late Mr. Bulmer and my late father). I shall therefore merely mention some events which have had such influence on our art as that the case is now very different to what it was thirty years ago, when the good execution of printing at once testified to the skill and industry of the printer—as he could command neither good presses, types, nor ink, &c.—paper being then almost the only matter to be had in perfection.

We have now excellent and powerful iron presses—Stanhopes, Columbians, Imperials, &c. Then the celebrated specimens of typography were produced by miserable wooden presses. We have now ink of splendid lustre, at a fourth of the cost of fabrication then—for both Mr. Bulmer and my father were perpetually trying expensive experiments—and not always succeeding: our ink is now to be depended on for standing, it works freely, and can be had at reasonable prices at the extensive factory of Messrs. Shackell and Lyons, Clerkenwell, who made the ink used for this work.

There are several eminent engineers who make the best of presses. Our letter may safely be pronounced, if not perfect, as near perfection as it will ever reach—and while the celebrated type-foundries of Messrs. Caslon, Chiswell Street, and Messrs. Figgins, West Street, are within the reach of the metropolitan printers, there can be no excuse for failing to execute good printing on the score of inferior type.

The substitution of the inking roller, instead of the cumbrous and inconvenient old balls, has much eased the labours of the pressman and facilitated the regularity of colour. The inking roller at the hand press was adopted, and offered to the printers generally, by my friend, Mr. Applegath, shortly after steam-printing was introduced by my father—about which so much has been said in periodical publications, &c., that it is needless here to enlarge on the subject—more especially as it is principally applicable to work of inferior character, newspapers, reviews, magazines, &c.; and, further, it is not a very tempting subject to the son of him who was led to devote the energies of the latter years of his active life, and the well-earned fortune which his great typographical celebrity had secured, to the adoption of a mode of printing which, how much soever it may benefit newspaper proprietors and others—certainly has done any thing but benefit his family; and has thus added another instance to the many on record of the ill success attending the patronage of inventors.

B. Bensley.

Woking, Surrey, June 18, 1842.

FINIS.

INDEXES.

CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX.

Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, 165

Benedict, Bishop, Abbot of Weremouth, 165, 166

Venerable Bede, 166

EIGHTH CENTURY.

Ina, King of the West Saxons, 166

Alouin, Abbot of Tours, 167

NINTH CENTURY.

Scotus Erigena, 168

King Alfred, 169, 170

King Athelstan, 170

St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, 171

ELEVENTH CENTURY.

King Canute, 172

Ingulph, Abbot of Croyland, 172

Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, 173

Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, 173, 174

Giraldus, Archbishop of York, 174

TWELFTH CENTURY.

Herman, Bishop of Salisbury, 175

Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, 175-177

THIRTEENTH CENTURY.

Giraldus Cambrensis, Bishop of St. David's, 178, 179

Roger Bacon, 180-183

FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

King Edward the First, 183

King Edward the Third, 184

Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, 185-187

FIFTEENTH CENTURY.

John Boston, 189, 190

John Plantagenet, First Duke of Bedford, 190, 191

Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester, 192

Robert Rede, Bishop of Chichester, 192

Humphrey Plantagenet, First Duke of Gloucester, 193

Sir Walter Sherington, 194

John Tiptoft, Earl of Worcester, 198

George Neville, Archbishop of York, 200

King Henry the Seventh, 202, 205, 206

SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

The Earl of Surrey—Sir Thomas Wyatt, 14

King Henry the Eighth, 215-217

John Colet, Dean of St. Paul's, 14, 218-220

Sir Thomas More, 220-222

Erasmus, 222-224

Cardinal Wolsey, 225-228

Robert Wakefield, 235

John Leland, 242-246

John Bale, Bishop of Ossory, 246, 247

Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, 248, 249

Queen Elizabeth, 249-254

Roger Ascham, 254, 255

William Cecil, First Earl of Burleigh, 256

Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, 257-261

Dr. John Dee, 261, 265

Captain Cox, 266

Sir Robert Cotton, 267-269

Sir Thomas Bodley, 270-278

SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

King James the First, 281

Thomas Coryate, 281

Henry Peacham, 282

Robert Burton, 286

John, Lord Lumley, 287

Henry Hastings, 287-288

John Clungeon, 288

John Ward, 289

The Ferrar Family, 289-292

Elias Ashmole, Windsor Herald, 292-296

William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, 297, 298

Henry Dyson, 302

Richard Smith, 302, 303

Dr. Seaman, 304

Francis North, Lord-Keeper, 309

Hon. and Rev. John North, D.D., 310

Anthony à Wood, 312-315

Francis Bernard, M.D., 316, 317

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

John Fell, Bishop of Oxford, 317, 318

John More, Bishop of Ely, 318

Samuel Pepys, 320

John Churchill, First Duke of Marlborough, 321

Prince Eugene, 322

Narcissus Luttrell, 323

Edward Wynne, 323

Henry Herbert, ninth Earl of Pembroke, 324, 325

John Bagford, 326-331

John Murray, 331

Thomas Britton, 331-333

Thomas Hearne, 333-336

John Anstis, Garter King of Arms, 337

Rev. John Lewis, 338-340

Joseph Ames—William Herbert, 340

Thomas Baker, 341-343

Lewis Theobald, 343

Thomas Rawlinson, 343-346

Humphrey Wanley, 346

Robert Harley, First Earl of Oxford, 347-354

Thomas Osborne, 354, 355

John Bridges, 362

Anthony Collins, 363

Michael Maittaire, 363

Richard Mead, M.P., 364-367

Martin Folkes, 367-369

Richard Rawlinson, 369-371

John (Orator) Henley, 371-373

General James Dormer, 375

James West, 376

Thomas Martin, 384-386

Serjeant William Fleetwood, 386

Anthony Askew, M.D., 387-391

John Ratcliffe, 392, 393

Hon. Topham Beauclerk, 394

Rev. Thomas Crofts, 396-398

Mark Cephas Tutet, 399, 400

Richard Wright, M.D., 401

John Henderson, 402

William Fillingham, 403

Major Thomas Pearson, 403-406

Rev. Michael Lort, D.D., 411-413

Right Hon. Denis Daly, 414, 415

Charles Chauncy, M.D. }
Nathaniel Chauncy, } 416, 417

John Munro, M.D., 417

Rev. Richard Southgate, 419

George Mason, 419-423

Rev. Richard Farmer, D.D., 423-427

George Steevens, 427-440

John Strange, 441

John Woodhouse, 441

George Galway Mills, 447

John Wilkes, 447, 448

Joseph Ritson, 448

Rev. Jonathan Boucher, 450

William Petty, First Marquess of Lansdowne, 450, 451

Rev. John Brand, 452-454

Isaac Reed, 454-456

Alexander Dalrymple, 458

Richard Porson, 458, 459

John Maddison, 459

Emperor John Alexander Woodford, 459

Richard Gough, 460

Rev. Benjamin Heath, 460, 554-561

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.