ABOUT nine years ago there were disposed of by auction in Norwich a quantity of books, many of which had belonged to SIR CHRISTOPHER HATTON; who, as Sir Harris Nicolas, in his Memoirs of him, says, was "Gentleman Pensioner, Captain of the Guard, Vice-Chamberlain, and Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth, and distinguished personal Favourite, of whom less was known than of almost any other statesman of that period. This neglect of a very remarkable person," Sir Harris further says, "probably arose from the notion that he was a mere Courtier, whose life presented no incidents to instruct, and few to amuse mankind;" and further, "so far from being a vain, idle 'scapegrace,' with few acquirements and less talents, and the mere ornament of a Court, HATTON took a prominent part in all state affairs; and his opinion on public transactions received great consideration from Lord BURGHLEY, LEICESTER, WALSINGHAM, and all the other ministers. He was for many years what is now termed the Leader of the House of Commons; and if he did not adorn the woolsack, to which he was unexpectedly raised, by great legal learning, he had the modesty and good sense to consult eminent lawyers in cases of magnitude, and obtained the respect of the public by the equity and impartiality of his decisions." This extract I have transcribed as it proves my case, as regards the books formerly possessed by Sir Christopher Hatton. One of them, No. 32 in the Catalogue, has his AUTOGRAPH; and a great many the INITIALS of his name, C. H., stamped in gold outside the covers: one of the old law books has the name of DR. SWABEY, an eminent civilian, in it, whom it is known Sir Christopher consulted; and the old Italian books, of which there are a great many rare and uncommon ones, prove that he studied the elegant literature of that day-in which language, as well as many others, Queen Elizabeth was a proficient-it was reasonable, therefore, that her very handsome favourite (for the Queen is recorded to have had a partiality for handsome men) should obtain a knowledge of a fashionable language, if only in compliment to his mistress.

There are other books in this Catalogue which should have a passing remark-for besides many black letter volumes which illustrate Elizabeth's period, there are a great many others which are equally singular, relating to more recent history. For instance, in the reign of Charles the First there are the very broadsides (see Nos. 985 and 6) put forth

iv

by the Parliament, complaining of the "arrest of the five Members," about which Mr. Forster has re-written "a Chapter of English History." Under the head of both the Charles's are many extremely curious things; but, perhaps, more singular than all are those lampoons under Queen Anne's reign, (collected by Sir Edmund Bacon, M.P. for Norwich in 1710,) the titles of which, referring to the great Duke of Marlborough, explain themselves, and which would have afforded Lord Macaulay, had he been still amongst us, infinite pleasure to have turned over. His lordship, Mr. Hallam, Mr. Prescott, and Washington Irving, all great men, but recently departed, would have thoroughly appreciated such curiosities as these.

Further, let those who are fond of the history of France look to those little ephemeral things of four pages each, here collected into volumes, relating to the murder of Henry IV. of France, by Ravaillac, and say if they are not of much interest; and altogether, I think I may venture to say, that for the number of books, there are more curious articles in this Catalogue than are ordinarily to be found in the same number of pages. This arises from the circumstance of the books having been treasured, if I may so say, for a number of years, and they are now offered to the public; when once dispersed, it will be difficult to put them together again.

And, in conclusion, I have but to say, that inasmuch as I have had much pleasure in compiling the Catalogue, which I think it will be conceded to me is done with some care; so I trust the public will partake liberally of its contents. My end will then be answered. If it does, I promise that public-always bountiful where it sees a good object in view-that if it helps me to the means, I will endeavour to cull for its future contentation a more rich and a more varied collection. My aspirations being to a hundred thousand instead of ten thousand volumes; and thus "I humbly take my leave;" and with regard to books, will say with Horace Walpole :

'Visions, you know, have always been my pasture; and so far from growing old enough to quarrel with their emptiness, I almost think there is no wisdom comparable with that of exchanging what is called the realities of life for dreams. Old castles, old pictures, old histories, and the babble of old people, make one live back into centuries that cannot disappoint one. One holds fast and surely what is past. The dead have exhausted their power of deceiving."

1 ABANO (Pierre dict Conciliateur) Traicté des Venims, ensemble un traicté de Theophraste, Paracelsus des Vertus et proprietez merveilleuses des Serpents, Arraignes, Crapaux et Cancres, le tout trad. en François par L. Boet, 16mo. old binding, curious, 58 Lyon, 1593 2 ABBOTSFORD LIBRARY: a Catalogue of Sir Walter Scott's Library there, drawn up by Mr. Cochrane, and published with the sanction of Mr. Lockhart, Sir Walter's Son-in-law, 4to. boards, VERY SCARCE, £3 38 Edinburgh, 1838

I have always esteemed this volume (one of the Bannatyne Club Books) as a very valuable acquisition to Literature, and shews more than anything else the peculiar bent of Sir Walter Scott's reading. There is an immense collection of very curious Tracts on Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Magic. Old Tracts on the Civil Wars, Antiquarian Tracts, History, Poetry, the Drama, Fiction, &c., &c. extending over 464 pages.

3 ABBOTT'S (Jacob) Young Christian; or the Principles of Christian Duty, by Cunningham, 12mo. cloth, 28 6d (cost 58)

1833

"I feel it to be truly a fascinating book."-Rev. W. Innes, Edinburgh. Corner Stone; the Principles of Christian Truth; with a Preface by Dr. John Pye Smith, 12mo. cloth, 2s 6d (pub. at 5s)

1834

5 ABERCROMBIE'S (John) Harmony of Christian Faith and Character, 18mo. cloth, 1s

Edinburgh, 1838 6 ABERDEEN'S (George, Earl of) Inquiry into the Principles of Beauty in Grecian Architecture; with an historical view of the rise and progress of the Art in Greece, post 8vo. boards, 5s

"The Travelled Thane, Athenian Aberdeen."

1822

7 ABOUT'S (Edmond) Tolla; a Tale of Modern Rome, translated by L C. C., post 8vo. cloth, 2s 3d (pub. at 38 6d)

1855

8 ACCOMPLISHED Youth: the Principles of Morality and Politeness, frontispiece, 18mo. boards, 1s

1811

9 ADAM'S (Dr. Alexander) Summary of Geography and History, Ancient and Modern, maps, 8vo. neat, 3s 6d

1802

Roman Antiquities; with Notes by Dr. J. Boyd, map and 100 plates, 12mo. cloth, 3s (pub. at 7s)

1842

11 ADAMS'S (George) Description and Use of the Celestial and Terrestrial Globes; with a Comprehensive View of the Solar System, by Dudley Adams, plates, 8vo. boards, 48

1810

12 ADAMS'S (George) Geometrical and Graphical Essays, corrected and enlarged by W. Jones, 34 plates, 2 vols. 8vo. boards, 78 (pub. at 16s)

14

1813

13 ADDISON'S (Hon. Joseph) Christian Poet; a Miscellany of Divine Poems, with Memoirs of his Life and Writings, E. Curll, 1728;— Rapin's Sufferings of Christ, a Poem, E. Curll, 1720;-Doomsday, by William Alexander, Earl of Sterline;-Large Catalogue of Books (16 pages) printed by H. Curll-in 1 vol. 8vo. neat, 4s. v. y. Remarks on Several Parts of Italy in 1701-3, 12mo. neat, 28 1726 Plays: Cato, The Drummer, and Rosamond, 12mo. old calf neat, Glasgow, Foulis, 1748-51 Evidences of the Christian Religion; with Discourses against Atheism and Infidelity, 12mo. calf, gilt, 28 6d Oxford, 1801 Life, by Lucy Aikin, portrait, 2 vols. post 8vo. cloth, 4s 6d (pub. at 188)

15

16

17

28

"A very amusing and instructive book."

1843

18 ADDISON'S (L. Dean of Lichfield) Christian's Manual: 1. The Catechumen; 2. Introduction to the Communion Table; 3. Necessity of Catechising, frontispiece, 12mo. ola calf, scarce, 38

1691

19 ADRIANI (Giovambatista) Istoria de' suoi Tempi, portrait, thick folio, of above 1,000 pages, half bound neat, 258 In Firenze, Giunti, 1583 First edition and rare-Collates by Brunet. The period comprehended is from 1536 to 1574. See also Haym.

20 ADVENTURER, 4 vols. 18mo. calf, neat, 48

1774

21 ADVICE to Young Gentry, by the Author of Youths Grand Concern, by J. G., calf neat, 28 6d

Anecdotes of eminent virtuous persons. Dedicated to Sir John Hobart.

1711

22 ÆLFRICUS ABBAS Saxon Treatise concerning the Old and New Testament, written about the time of King Edgar (seven hundred years ago), published in Anglo-Saxon and English by William Lisle, of Wilburgham, 4to. half morocco, 158 John Haviland, 1623

At the end is "a Testimonie of Antiquitie touching the Sacrament of the Bodie and Bloud of the Lord," by the said Elfricus. A Treatise of Elfrike's out of the Liber Penitentialis, and the Lord's Prayer, Creed, and Commandments, all in Anglo-Saxon and English. 23 ÆLIANI Varia Historia, Gr. et Lat., cum notis variorum et Gronovii, 2 vols. 4to. LARGE PAPER, old calf neat, £1 1s Lugd. Bat., 1731

Fuhrmann calls this a very splendid and excellent edition. Rabelais, who was a man of too much imagination not to be delighted with a gossiping book of legends and prodigies, like the Varia Historia, quotes Elian frequently. This curious and entertaining compilation, contains extracts from Greek authors whose writings are no longer extant.

24 ÆLIAN'S TACTIKS; or, Art of Embattailing an Army after ye Grecian Manner, by Capt. JOHN BINGHAM, engraved title and numerous plates, folio, both parts old calf, rare, £1 18

London, at the Charges of the Author, 1631

"From whence is derived ye military exercise of ye English in ye Lowe Countries set on foote by that great General, Maurice, Prince of Orange."

25 ÆMILIUS PROBUS, see Cornelius Nepos.

26 ÆSCHYLUS, Græcè et Latinè, Stanleii et Butleri notis, 8 vols. 8vo.

"This edition contains the entire of Stanley's folio, besides various collations. It is now entirely out of print and become a scarce book."-See Museum Criticum and Dibdin.