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MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

RECORD COMMISSION.-The recent publications and proceedings of the Commissioners of Records, indicate such an increase of exertion, and the presence of such a new spirit amongst them, that we think it right to call the attention of our readers to the subject, and shall do so in an article in our next Magazine. We are also conscious of being in arrear with our Criticisms of Topography, and hope very shortly to pay attention to Tierney's History of Arundel, Trollope's History of Christ's Hospital, and Steinman's History of Croydon.

CROSBY HALL.

Mr. Willement, F.S.A. has very liberally offered to present Painted Glass for the Oriel window at Crosby Hall; and it is proposed to admit into each window six or eight shields of arms of the Subscribers to the restoration; a species of decoration very appropriate to the style of the 15th century.

Mr. J. CURLING, of Hitchen, observes, "As in the restoration of Crosby Hall it is intended to make use of stained glass for the principal window, I am anxious to call the attention of that Committee to the very beautiful and genuine collection of that material in my possession, containing, more or less, 240 square feet, which I brought from Germany at considerable expense, for the Church of Hetchin, Herts; but which was declined for want of funds equal to the expense of putting it up. It has received the highest praise from a considerable number of our first-rate antiquaries and artists, and a general opinion prevails, that it is to be attributed to Albert Durer. There can be no question then as to merit. Should the whole world be ransacked, nothing of the sort could be found more appropriate for Crosby Hall. The difficulty of procuring any quantity of genuine old glass has brought into fashion modern, but how miserable is the best of the latter, compared with the old." In our Magazines for November and December 1832, we gave a full acount of this beautiful glass, and it would give us pleasure to see it preserved in so appropriate a place as Crosby Hall.

H. H. views the oppressive tax upon Literature of eleven copies in its right light; but we do not perceive anything new in his remarks. The books composed chiefly of prints, or expensively illustrated by engravings and colours, are those in which the demand has always been most grievously felt. We look forward with hope to the time when a vigorous effort may be made to relieve the

Arts,-for the Arts suffer as much or more than Literature, from this unjustifiable burden and discouragement.

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J. T. in his further remarks on the right of Colonial Bishops to the title of My Lord," wanders from the point first discussed. He has sent us some extended remarks on the respect due to the Fathers of the Church, and the terms of respect by which they have been addressed in all ages. We believe these were never denied, or intended to be withheld, by any writer in our pages; the question was, whether there should not be some distinction in style between Lord Bishops, who are Peers of Parliament, per Baroniam; and Colonial Bishops, who are not members of the House of Lords. would make that a subject of religious sentiment, which was merely a question of worldly precedence.

He

Mr. JAMES LOGAN requests us to make the following statement relative to the Catalogue which he is preparing of documents relative to Cambrian History (announced in our last number), "I am employed by the Royal Cymmrodorion Welsh Society, to form a descriptive Catalogue of all MSS. in the Cumraeg language relating to Wales, or written by Welshmen, preserved in our grand National depository, where I have found a rich and highly interesting store of documents. The Society, who possess a Library of unique MSS. and have already published a valuable series of Transactions, will, I believe, also publish this collection, which must be highly useful to the general and monastic Historian, the Topographical writer, and the Biographer. The utility of such works of reference is great, and I cannot but think that other national Societies might, with much credit, appropriate a portion of their funds to the same patriotic and beneficial purpose."

Mr. STEINMAN remarks," It appears, from Dod's Church History, vol. iii. p. 57, that Sir Arthur Aston (of whom I have supplied a memoir in your last number), on tendering his services to Charles, at the first breaking out of the Rebellion, met with a refusal, his Majesty alleging that the cry of Popery already ran so high against him, that it would certainly inflame matters if he admitted so many persons of that communion.' Whereupon Aston immediately, by way of trying the King's disposition, made the same tender to Sir Thomas Fairfax, who at once embraced it. This second offer had the desired effect, and through it Sir Arthur obtained a royal commission."

THE

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THE ROYAL LIBRARY IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

ENOUGH has been said in the Magazine for January respecting the encadrement of one of the most precious jewels ever attached to the Crown of England. But interesting to the general reader as that minute and accurate account of the noble structure built expressly to contain the Georgian Library must have been, it must be confessed that public curiosity has been rather stimulated than satisfied with respect to its contents. Partial as is the interest felt in bibliographical researches, I cannot resist the temptation of affording to the few who may desire it, such a glimpse of the literary treasures of this great national collection, as may induce those hitherto indifferent, to enter the temple of knowledge, and explore its penetralia themselves. To such may be repeated the comfortable assurance, that within the walls of that noble apartment so accurately represented in the preceding number,* is contained "the valuable library formed by his Majesty King George the Third, to the number of more than seventy thousand volumes, comprising a judicious selection of the best authors in all departments of literature and science, particularly in history; and including a rich collection of the earliest and rarest productions of the press, together with an extensive series of maps, plans, and drawings, chiefly illustrative of the topography of the British dominions." This splendid library is said to have cost King George the Third the sum of 300,000l. An alphabetical catalogue of its contents, compiled with considerable diligence by Sir Frederick Barnard, the late King's librarian, was printed at the expense of his Majesty King George the Fourth, in the most sumptuous manner, in five volumes folio. To this was subsequently added another correspondent volume in folio, containing a catalogue of the maps and prints annexed to the same collection.

* Reference having been made in that article to Clarke's Repertorium Bibliographicum, p. 179, I think it right to apprise those who may have been led to search for information in that quarter, that of the following works, which are all mentioned as being printed upon vellum in the King's Library, not one executed in that manner is to be found in the Royal collection. The works mentioned so fallaciously are these, which I transcribe as a beacon to the unwary. Apollonius Rhodius, Lit. Cap. Florent. 1496, 4to. Augustinus de Civitate Dei. Ven. Spira, 1470, fol. Biblia Hispanica, Ferrara, 1553, fol. Petrarcha, Sonetti, &c. Venet. V. Spira, 1470, fol. Sallustius. Venet V. Spira, 1470, fol. Neither do the Soncaino Hebrew Bible of 1488, or the Parvus Cato, by Caxton, mentioned by Clarke, appear in the Royal Collection. + Returns to Parliament in 1833, p. 4.

The British Museum has been frequently indebted to Royal munificence for the augmentation of its literary treasures. In the year 1757, it received a royal grant from King George the Second, of a Library of Books and MSS. collected by the Kings of England from Henry VII. to William III. since whose time it has been continued, and is still annually increasing by the privilege annexed to it of being supplied with a copy of every publication entered at Stationers' Hall. This invaluable collection, at the time when the Museum Act passed, consisted of about 2000 MSS. and upwards of 9000 printed books. Among the former is the Alexandrian Codex of the Bible, the printing of which, according to the Parliamentary Report for 1828, has

This library was formed with every advantage which the command of unlimited resources could bestow. Indeed, the facilities afforded by the then unransacked treasures of the Continent, were such as may never again concur to enable any individual to form so magnificent a collection. To the library of Consul Smith, formed at Venice of many rare and early printed books, were added literary treasures of a similar nature from all parts of Europe; while in our own country the dispersion of various private libraries all contributed to the same purpose. With opportunities such as these, the Royal Library became a fit appendage to the Crown of England; and there are those, and good judges too, who still lament their separation. The gratitude of the Nation is however most justly due to the munificent Sovereign, whose rich gift is now enclosed in a proper receptacle, for the use and advantage of every educated Briton. The peculiar character of this Library is, that it partakes of the nature of both a public and private collection, containing all the books of reference and standard works which are essential to the former, without any indications of that inconsiderate selection too often characteristic of the latter. It possessed also those rare and beautiful specimens of the art of printing, which instructively demonstrated its rise and progress, and those valuable illustrated works, which are usually confined to the cabinets of the curious and the mansions of the rich.

In all these rich and rare literary treasures, every Englishman possesses a legitimate interest, and must feel perfect satisfaction in the knowledge that he is indebted for the accumulation of such treasures, and for his participation in their advantages, to the literary taste and generous spirit of the most enlightened Monarchs of his country, In the midst of this national gratulation, it is necessary to remind the reader that certain books were retained by his late Majesty, and, although enumerated in the Catalogue, do not form part of his gift to the Nation. Of these volumes, two only in all probability were selected for their intrinsic worth; and of the rest, those which had belonged to Jacob Bryant most likely owed their retention to that circumstance. Upon no other principle can I account for so miscellaneous a selection as the following, which, as accurately as I am able to ascertain, comprehends all the books which were kept back by his late Majesty, and are now probably deposited in some one or other of the Royal palaces.

The Doctrinal of Sapience, printed upon vellum by William Caxton at Westminster, in 1489, folio. This unique volume contains the chapter upon the Negligencies of the Mass, which is omitted in the copies upon paper.*

The Fables of Æsop, printed by Caxton, folio. The only copy as yet known to exist, and probably retained upon that account alone.

Psalterium, Latinè, Moguntiæ, 1457, folio. This noble copy of the first Psalter was obtained from the University of Gottingen, and subsequently attired in purple velvet, with gold clasps, the royal arms worked also in gold, being attached to the sides.

The Plays of Shakespeare. London, 1632, folio. The second edition, with the well-known autograph of King Charles the First. This book was probably retained in preference to the more valuable first edition of the great dramatist, as being so interesting and authentic a memorial of the martyr-King.

cost the nation 9,2867. To George the Third also the Museum is indebted for a numerous collection of Pamphlets and Periodical Papers, published between 1640 and 1660, containing 30,000 articles; which donation was made in the year 1762. A complete set of the Journals of the Lords and Commons was subsequently given by the same royal hand.

* See Dibdin's Typographical Antiquities, vol. i.

Boccaccio, de Mulieribus claris, folio. Ulmæ, Joannes Zainer, 1473. Editio princeps.

Dialogus creaturarum Moralizatus. Folio. Gouda, Gerardus de Leeu. 1482
Falcon a, Proba, Excerptum è Maronis Carminibus, &c. S. R. D. A. 4to.
Glanvilla, de Proprietatibus Rerum, in folio maximo.
Horatii Opera, Landini, Venetiis, 1483. Folio.

Josephus de Bello Judaico, Latinè. Folio. Romæ, per Arnoldum Pannartz. 1475.

Lactantius, folio. Romæ, per Conradum Sweynheym, et Arnoldum Panantz. Romæ.

1468.

Missale ad usum Ecclesiæ Sarisburiensis. Folio. Rothomagi, Martin Morin, 1497.

In Membranis.

Plutarchi Apothegmata Latine, quarto. Sine loci, anni, aut typographi indicatione, charactere eodem Latino quo Florus, Horatius, et Lucanus impressi sunt.

Sabellicus, Eneades. Folio. Venetiis, 1498.

Sabellicus, Rerum Venetarum. Folio. Venetiis, Andrea de Asula. 1487. In Membranis.

Senecæ Tragœdiæ, Ferrariæ, Andreas Gallicus, c. 1484. Folio.

Terentii Comœdiæ. Folio. Tarvisii. 1477.

Valerius Maximus. Venetiis per Joannem de Colonia. 1474. Folio.
Virgilius. Venetiis, Aldus. 1505. 8vo.

Having thus briefly enumerated the works which the curious stranger will look for in vain upon the well-furnished shelves of the Royal Library in the British Museum, I proceed to give some account of the books actually contained therein.

To begin with the beginning, that is, with the invention of the art of printing, I may mention the following xylographic productions, so well described by Baron Heinecken, in his admirable Idée générale d'une Collection Complette des Estampes.

The Biblia Pauperum, consisting of forty tablets, fortunately uncoloured, but pasted upon sheets of coarse paper, is preserved in a coverture of red

morocco.

The Historia Sancti Joannis, Latinè; is represented upon fifty tablets, being, according to Heinecken, the fifth edition of that work. These cuts are also uncoloured, and pasted upon coarse paper, and the volume itself is also bound in red morocco.

There is also a German version of the same work with the cuts coloured, which circumstance, in the estimation of all true bibliographical antiquaries, tends to diminish their value.

These rude efforts of the infant art were the adumbration, so to speak, of the perfect art of printing, and as such, have always been regarded with especial reverence by all true bibliographers.

Next in order to be noticed, are the books printed with moveable types. Among the very first, although destitute of date, place, or name of printer, I may, upon the authority of the Cremerian inscription at Paris, name the famous Mazarine Bible, in two volumes, folio. The present copy is in excellent preservation, upon paper, having the first page of each volume decorated, and all the initials filled in by the rubricator. It measures 15 by 114, and is sumptuously bound in blue morocco, with linings of blue silk. Both volumes being enclosed in blue morocco cases.

Of this rare and valuable work, the following copies are known to exist upon paper in the Libraries of Eton College, Earl Spencer, Sir John Thorold, Mr. J. Lloyd, Mr. Perkins, and Mr. Hibbert's copy now probably at Dublin. Of the still

Lamenting the absence of the first printed book with a date subjoined, next in order of time I may enumerate the second edition of the Latin Psalter, printed by Fust and Schoiffer at Mentz, in 1459, folio. The present copy is upon vellum, measuring 16 by 124, and bound in blue morocco. After the well-known colophon upon the last page of this volume, certain musical notes have been added by some ancient hand, corresponding with the following words there also inserted. "Fortem virili pectore laudemus, omnes feminam quæ sanctitatis gloria ubique fulget inclyta.” The copy under description contains only 130 leaves, whereof the first 118 include the Psalter, and the remaining twelve the Vespers and other Hymns, &c. But of these Vespers there are 18 leaves, both in the Royal copy at Paris and in that of Earl Spencer," therefore it is clear that six of these are wanting in the present copy. The total number of leaves in a perfect copy being 136. This copy is also remarkable as containing an unusual number of manuscript alterations in the text of the Psalter. In many instances several lines of the printed characters have been erased, and manuscript letters inserted in their stead. The work probably of some pious monk, desirous of adapting the old ritual to the use of the Monastery in which this copy happened to be placed. Instances of these alterations are particularly obvious in pages 38, 95, 194, 226, 245, 246, 247, 248, and 249. They may also be remarked in pages 5, 8, 11, 13, 18, 21, 36, 39, 50, 60, 68, 75, 76, 82, 86, 91, 113, 114, 115, 128, 134, 135, 144, 154, 157, 159, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 175, 177, 179, 180, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 190, 193, 199, 202, 225, 227, 234, 236, 243, 250, 251, 252, 255, 257, 258, 259, 260. Erasures have also been made at pages 22, 113, 128, 144, 173, 185, 225, 227, 235, 255, and 256, which have not been supplied at all. An entire verse has been added in manuscript, to page 223, and all the musical notes are as usual filled in by the hand.

Following the order of time, I may next mention the noble copy of Durandi Rationale Divinorum Officiorum, printed at Mentz in 1459, folio, being the third book with a date. It measures 164 by 12 inches, and is bound in old calf.

A legitimate production of the press of Gutenberg next claims our attention, being no less than a very fine copy of the Catholicon Januense, printed at Mentz in 1460. This portly folio measures 15‡ by 11 inches, and is clothed in blue morocco.

Next in order of time comes that famous Bible printed by Pfister, previous to the year 1461, at Bamberg, in two noble folio volumes. The present copy is very beautiful, and the texture of the paper very fine. It is sumptuously bound in blue morocco, richly gilt, with silk linings, and enclosed in blue morocco cases. Vol. I. measures 15 inches by 10, and Vol. II. 144 by 11 inches. This is commonly called the Bible of Schelhorn.

Reverting to the early efforts of the press of Mentz, we arrive at "magnificentissima, et famigeratissima illa Biblia Latina," in the enthusiastic language of

more precious copies of this work upon vellum, that accurate and excellent bibliographer M. Van Praet enumerates only five. In the Royal Libraries of Paris and Berlin, in a monastery in the Black Forest, and in the libraries of the Hon. Thomas Grenville and Mr. Perkins. See his invaluable Catalogue des Livres sur Vélin.

In the Bibliotheca Spenceriana, however, Dr. Dibdin has stated the number of leaves in this volume to be 151, being the number inscribed in manuscript upon the last leaf. Some ancient hand having so numbered the leaves up to folio 118, and afterwards in like manner numbered the pages, which circumstance escaped the cursory observation of that bibliographer. Far be it from me to undertake the endless and unprofitable task of pointing out the errors of Dr. Dibdin; but in reference to the work in question, he has so authoritatively remarked (B. S. i. 118) that this edition may derive additional interest from containing the first printed text of the Athanasian Creed, unless a dateless impression of Bamberg may dispute the precedence, that I think it my duty to apprise the reader that the Creed of Saint Athanasius occurs in the Psalter of 1457, occupying nearly the whole of the 26th and 27th leaves of that volume, and consequently was printed for the first time in that place. This oversight is the more unaccountable, as a long article is devoted to this very book in the Bibliotheca Spenceriana, Dr. Dibdin having both editions sub oculis at the time.

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