This magnificent collection, uniformly bound in 102 large folio volumes, contained a series of heads of illustrious and remarkable characters, to the amount of nearly 10,000 in number. It is said, in the catalogue, to be "perhaps the largest collection of heads ever exposed to sale." We are also informed that it "was thought proper, for the accommodation of the curious, to separate the volumes."

Eheu! Eheu!

5. _Philosophy, Chemistry, Medicine, &c._

Under this head, comprehending anatomy, astronomy, mathematics, and alchemy, there appear to have been not fewer than 2500 volumes in the foreign languages, and about 600 in the English: some of them of the most curious kind, and of the rarest occurrence.

6. _Geography, Chronology, and General History._

There were about 290 volumes on these subjects, written in the Latin, French, Italian, and Spanish languages: and about 300 volumes in our own language. Some of the scarcest books printed by Caxton were among the latter.

7. _Voyages and Histories relating to the East and West Indies._

About 800 volumes:--nearly equally divided into the English and foreign languages. Among the English, were Caxton's "Recuyell of the historys of Troye," 1471 (supposed to be the first book printed in this country;) and his "Siege and conquest of Jherusalem," 1481.

8. _Civil, Canon, and Statute Law._

At least 800 volumes: 300 in the foreign languages, and the remaining in English.

9. _Books of Sculpture, Architecture, &c._

Not fewer than 900 volumes, comprehending every thing published up to that period which was valuable or rare. Of these, more than 700 were written in Latin, Italian, French, or Spanish--and embellished with every beauty of graphic illustration.

10. _Greek and Latin Classics; Grammars and Lexicons._

This very valuable body of Grecian and Roman literature could not have included fewer than 2400 volumes--and, among these, almost every work of rarity and excellence. In the article of "Cicero" alone, there were 115 volumes printed in the _fifteenth century_; every subsequent edition of that and other authors, then distinguished for its accuracy or erudition, may also, I believe, be discovered in the catalogue. Most book-collectors know the sumptuous manner in which the Harleian copies are bound.

11. _Books printed upon Vellum._

In this interesting department of typography, there were about 220 volumes--upwards of 70 in folio, 40 in quarto, and 100 in octavo. Of the former, the most curious and rare articles were the Mentz bible of 1462, 2 vols., and the travels of Breydenbachus, printed at Mentz in 1486. "This book is an uncommon object of curiosity, as it is, perhaps, the first book of travels that was ever printed, and is adorned with maps and pictures very remarkable. The view of _Venice_ is more than five feet long, and the map of the _Holy Land_ more than three; there are views of many other cities. It is printed in the Gothic character." See _Bibl.

Harl._, vol. iii., no. 3213. The octavos were chiefly "Heures a l'usage," so common at the beginning of the 16th century: but, if the catalogue be correctly published, there appears to have been one of these books printed at Paris, as early as the year 1466, "extremely beautiful cuts." See the _Bibl. Harl._, vol. iv., no. 18406. Now, if this were true, it would make known a curious fact in Parisian typography--for the usually received opinion among bibliographers is that no printed book appeared in France before the year 1467, when the art was first introduced at _Tours_; and none at _Paris_ before the year 1469-70--when Crantz and Friburger were engaged to print there.

12. _English Poetry, Romances, and Novels._

There could not have been fewer than 900 volumes in this amusing department; and among them some editions of the rarest occurrence. Every thing printed by Caxton on these subjects, including a complete and magnificent copy of _Morte d'Arthur_, was in the collection--and, in respect to other curious works, it will be sufficient to mention only the following, as a specimen. "Kynge-Richarde Cuer du Lyon, W. de Worde, 1528: Gascoigne's Poesies, 1575--Spenser's Shepheardes Calenders, 1586: Webbe's Discourse of English Poetrie, 1586: Nash's Art of English Poesie, 1589." Some of these volumes were afterwards marked by Osborne, in his catalogues, at 3 or 4 shillings!

13. _Livres Francois, Ital., et Hispan._

There might have been 700 volumes in these foreign languages, of which nearly 500 related to _poetry_ (exclusively of others in the foregoing and following departments).

14. _Parliamentary Affairs and Trials._

Upwards of 400 volumes.

15. _Trade and Commerce._

About 300 volumes.

It will be seen from the preceding divisions, and from the gradual diminution of the number of volumes in each, that I have gone through the principal departments of the Harleian collection of books: and yet there remain _fifty departments_ to be enumerated! These are the following: 16.

_Critici et Opera collecta._ 17. _Vultus et Imagines Illust.

Virorum._ 18. _Pompae, Ceremoniae, et Exequiae._ 19. _De re Militari, de Arte Equestri, et de re Navali._ 20.

_Heraldica._ 21. _Epistolae, Panegyrici, et Orationes._ 22.

_Bibliothecarii et Miscellanei._ 23. _Tractatus Pacis et Politici._ 24. _Traductions des Auteurs Gr. et Latin._ 25.

_Translations from Greek and Latin Authors._ 26. _Laws, Customs, &c., of the City of London._ 27. _Military, Naval affairs, and Horsemanship._ 28. _Heraldry._ 9.

[Transcriber's Note: 29.] _Husbandry, Gardening, Agriculture._ 30. _Magic, Sorcery, Witchcraft._ 31.

_Miraculous, Monstrous, and Supernatural._ 32. _Lives of Eminent Persons._ 33. _Laws and Customs of divers Places._ 34. _Tythes, Sacrilege, and Non-residence, &c._ 35. _Cases of divers Persons._ 36. _Prisons and Prisoners._ 37. _Lives of Murderers, Highwaymen, Pirates, &c._ 38. _Speeches of Persons executed for divers Offences._ 39. _Justices, Juries, and Charges._ 40. _Poor, and Charitable Uses._ 41.

_Matrimony, Divorce, &c._ 42. _Universities._ 43.

_Allegiance, Supremacy, Non Resistance, &c._ 44. _Bank and Bankers._ 45. _Funds, Taxes, Public Credit, Money, Coin, &c._ 46. _War and Standing Armies._ 47. _Admiralty and Navy._ 48. _Letters on various Subjects._ 49. _Treatises of Peace, Royal Prerogative, &c._ 50. _Navigation._ 51.

_Education, Grammar and Schools._ 52. _Ludicrous, Entertaining, Satirical, and Witty._ 53. _English Miscellanies._ 54. _Ecclesiastical and Civil History of Scotland._ 55. _Do. of Ireland._ 56. _Grammars and Dictionnaries._ 57. _Plays, and relating to the Theatre._ 58. _Mathematics._ 59. _Astrology, Astronomy, and Chymistry._ 60. _Horsemanship._ 61. _Cookery._ 62.

_Convocation._ 63. _Sieges, Battles, War, &c._ 64. _Pomp and Ceremony._ 65. _Books relating to Writing and Printing._ 66.

_Essays on various Subjects._ It will probably be no very unreasonable computation to allow to each of these remaining divisions 80 volumes: so that multiplying the whole 50 divisions by 80 there will be the additional number of 4000 volumes to make the library complete. I ought to mention that, in my account of this extensive library, I have not included the _Pamphlets_. Of these alone, according to Mr.

Gough (_Brit. Topog._ v., i., 669), there were computed to be 400,000! We will now say a few words about the private character of Lord Oxford, and conclude with a brief account of Osborne. Every body has heard of the intimacy which subsisted between POPE and the Earl of Oxford. In the year 1721, when the latter was at his country seat, Pope sent him a copy of Parnell's poems (of which he had undertaken the publication on the decease of Parnell), with a letter in poetry and prose. It seems that Pope wished to prefix his own verses to the collection; and thus alludes to them, in his letter to Lord Harley of the date of 1721: "Poor Parnell, before he died, left me the charge of publishing those few remains of his: I have a strong desire to make them, their author, and their publisher, more considerable, by addressing and dedicating them all to you, &c. All I shall say for it is that 'tis the only dedication I ever writ, and shall be the only one, whether you accept it or not: for I will not bow the knee to a less man than my Lord Oxford, and I expect to see no greater in my time."

The following is the latter part of the _Poetical Epistle_ here alluded to:

And sure, if aught below the seats divine Can touch immortals, 'tis a soul like thine: A soul supreme, in each hard instance tried, Above all pain, all passion, and all pride; The rage of power, the blast of public breath, The lust of lucre, and the dread of death.

In vain to deserts thy retreat is made; The muse attends thee to thy silent shade: 'Tis her's the brave man's latest steps to trace, Rejudge his acts, and dignify disgrace.

When int'rest calls off all her sneaking train, And all th' obliged desert, and all the vain; She waits, or to the scaffold, or the cell, When the last lingering friend has bid farewell.

Ev'n now, she shades thy evening walk with bays, (No hireling she, no prostitute of praise) Ev'n now, observant of the parting ray, Eyes the calm sun-set of thy various day; Thro' fortune's cloud ONE truly great can see, Nor fears to tell that MORTIMER is he!

_Pope's Works_, vol. ii., p. 320-3. Bowles's edit.

The following was the reply of the Earl of Oxford to Mr.

Pope.

SIR,

I received your packet, which could not but give me great pleasure to see you preserve an old friend in your memory; for it must needs be very agreeable to be remembered by those we highly value. But then, how much shame did it cause me when I read your very fine verses inclosed! My mind reproached me how far short I came of what your great friendship and delicate pen would partially describe me. You ask my consent to publish it: to what straits doth this reduce me! I look back, indeed, to those evenings I have usefully and pleasantly spent with Mr. Pope, Mr. Parnell, Dean Swift, the Doctor (Arbuthnot), &c. I should be glad the world knew you admitted me to your friendship; and since your affection is too hard for your judgment, I am contented to let the world know how well Mr. Pope can write upon a barren subject. I return you an exact copy of the verses, that I may keep the original, as a testimony of the only error you have been guilty of. I hope, very speedily, to embrace you in London, and to assure you of the particular esteem and friendship wherewith I am your, &c.,

OXFORD.

Of TOM OSBORNE I have in vain endeavoured to collect some interesting biographical details. What I know of him shall be briefly stated. He was the most celebrated bookseller of his day; and appears, from a series of his catalogues in my possession, to have carried on a successful trade from the year 1738 to 1768. What fortune he amassed, is not, I believe, very well known: his collections were truly valuable, for they consisted of the purchased libraries of the most eminent men of those times. In his stature he was short and thick; and, to his inferiors, generally spoke in an authoritative and insolent manner. "It has been confidently related," says Boswell, "that Johnson, one day, knocked Osborne down in his shop with a folio, and put his foot upon his neck. The simple truth I had from Johnson himself. 'Sir, he was impertinent to me, and I beat him. But it was not in his shop: it was in my own chamber.'" 4to.

edit., i., 81. Of Osborne's philological attainments, the meanest opinion must be formed, if we judge from his advertisements, which were sometimes inserted in the London Gazette, and drawn up in the most ridiculously vain and ostentatious style. He used to tell the public that he possessed "all the pompous editions of Classicks and Lexicons." I insert the two following advertisements, prefixed, the one to his catalogue of 1748, the other to that of 1753, for the amusement of my bibliographical readers, and as a model for Messrs. Payne, White, Miller, Evans, Priestley, and Cuthell. "This catalogue being very large, and of consequence very expensive to the proprietor, he humbly requests that, if it falls into the hands of any gentleman _gratis_, who chooses not himself to be a purchaser of any of the books contained in it, that such gentleman will be pleased to recommend it to any other whom he thinks may be so, or to return it." To his catalogue of 1753 was the following: "To the Nobility and Gentry who please to favour me with their commands. It is hoped, as I intend to give no offence to any nobleman or gentleman, that do me the honour of being my customer, by putting a price on my catalogue, by which means they may not receive it as usual--it is desired that such nobleman or gentleman as have not received it, would be pleased to send for it; and it's likewise requested of such gentleman who do receive it, that, if they chuse not to purchase any of the books themselves, _they would recommend it to any bookish gentleman of their acquaintance, or to return it_, and the favour shall be acknowledged by, their most obedient and obliged,

T. OSBORNE."

I shall conclude with the following curious story told of him, in Mr. Nichols's _Anecdotes of Bowyer_ the Printer.

"Mr. David Papillon, a gentleman of fortune and literary taste, as well as a good antiquary (who died in 1762) contracted with Osborne to furnish him with an 100_l._ worth of books, at _threepence a piece_. The only conditions were, that they should be perfect, and that there should be no duplicate. Osborne was highly pleased with his bargain, and the first great purchase he made, he sent Mr. P. a large quantity; but in the next purchase, he found he could send but few, and the next, still fewer. Not willing, however, to give up, he sent books worth _five shillings_ a piece; and, at last, was forced to go and beg to be let off the contract. Eight thousand books would have been wanted!"--See p. 101-2, note [symbol: double dagger].]

LIS. Let us rise to pay him homage!

PHIL. Lisardo is now fairly bewitched. He believes in the existence of the group!--Help, ho! Fetters and warder for--

LOREN. Philemon loves to indulge his wit at his friend's expense. Is't not so, Lisardo?

LIS. I forgive him. 'Twas a "glorious fault." But, indeed, I would strip to the skin, if this said nobleman longed for my coat, waistcoat, small clothes, and shirt, to form him a cushion to sit upon! I have heard such wonderful things said of his library!--

LYSAND. And not more wonderful than its reputation justifies. Well might Pope be enamoured of such a noble friend--and well might even Dr. Mead bow to the superior splendour of such a book-competitor!

While the higher order of bibliomaniacs, reposing upon satin sofas, were quaffing burgundy out of Harley's curiously cut goblets, and listening to the captivating tale of Mead or Folkes, respecting a VELLUM _Editio Princeps_--the lower order, with Bagford at their head, were boisterously regaling themselves below, drinking ale round an oaken table, and toasting their patron, till the eye could no longer discover the glass, nor the tongue utter his name. Aloft, in mid air, sat the soothed spirits of Smith and North; pointing, with their thin, transparent fingers, to the apotheosis of CAXTON and ALDUS! Suddenly, a crowd of pipy fragrance involves the room: these aerial forms cease to be visible; and broken sounds, like the retiring tide beneath Dover cliff, die away into utter silence. Sleep succeeds: but short is the slumber of enthusiastic bibliomaniacs! The watchman rouses them from repose: and the annunciation of the hour of "two o'clock, and a moonlight morning," reminds them of their cotton night-caps and flock mattrasses. They start up, and sally forwards; chaunting, midst the deserted streets, and with eyes turned sapiently towards the moon, "Long life to the King of Book-Collectors, HARLEY, EARL OF OXFORD!"