Note 413 — The Drawing Room. (continued 5)

For the same reason as has been adduced at p. 427, ante, and from a strong wish to render this List of Book Auctions as perfect as my opportunities will allow, I shall persevere, at the foot of Lysander's narrative, in submitting to the attention of the curious reader a still further account of sales than those above alluded to in the text. As this will be the last note in Part V., I hope, however late the hour, or exhausted his patience, that the reader will also persevere to the close of it, and then wish the author "good night," along with his friends, whose salutations are above so dramatically described. At the very opening of the year in which Mr. Boucher's books were sold, the magnificent collection of the Marquis of Lansdowne was disposed of. I well remember the original destination of this numerous library: I well remember the long, beautiful, and classically ornamented room, in which, embellished and guarded by busts, and statues of gods and heroes, the books were ranged in quiet and unmolested order, adjoining to the noblest mansion in London. If the consideration of external, or out-of-door, objects be put out of the question, this Library-room had not its superior in Great Britain. Let us now come to particulars: "Bibliotheca Lansdowniana. A Catalogue of the entire Library of the late most noble William Marquis of Lansdowne; sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby, &c. January, 1806." 8vo. The following is but a slender specimen of the printed books in the Lansdowne collection.