Note 407 — The Drawing Room. (continued 4)

Lysander is right in noticing "all the parts" of the Masonian Library. I will describe them particularly. Pt. i. A Catalogue of a considerable portion of the Greek and Latin Library of George Mason, Esq., with some articles in the Italian, French, English, and other languages, &c. Sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby, on Wednesday, January 24, 1798, 8vo. 497 articles. Pt. ii. A Catalogue of most of the reserved portion of the Greek and Latin Library of G.M., &c., chiefly classical and bibliographical, with a few miscellaneous articles in French: sold as before, May 16, 1798, &c. 480 articles. Pt. iii. A Catalogue of a considerable portion of the remaining Library of G.M., Esq.—chiefly historical, with some curious theological, and some scientific, articles: sold as before; Nov. 27 to 30; 1798, &c. 547 articles. Pt iv. A Catalogue, &c., of the remaining library of G.M., Esq.—chiefly Belles Lettres, English, French, and Italian, &c., sold as before; April 25, 1799: 338 articles. These four parts, priced, especially the latter one—are uncommon. My copies of all of them are upon large paper. It must have been a little heart-breaking for the collector to have seen his beautiful library, the harvest of many a year's hard reaping, melting away piece-meal, like a snow-ball—before the warmth of some potent cause or other, which now perhaps cannot be rightly ascertained. See here, gentle reader, some of the fruits of this golden Masonian harvest!—gathered almost promiscuously from the several parts. They are thus presented to thy notice, in order, amongst other things, to stimulate thee to be equally choice and careful in the gathering of similar fruits.