MISCELLANEOUS
Reading edition
NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.
Little as public attention has of late years been devoted to commentating upon Pope, his writings and literary history, there are no doubt many able and zealous illustrators of them among lovers of literature for its own sake: and many a curious note upon the Bard of Twickenham and his works will probably be evoked by the announcement, that now is the moment when they may be produced with most advantage, when Mr. Murray is about to bring forth a new edition of Pope, under the able and experienced editorship of Mr. Croker. Besides numerous original inedited letters, Mr. Croker's edition will have the advantage of some curious books bought at the Brockley Hall sale, including four volumes of Libels upon Pope, and a copy of Ruffhead's Life of him, with Warburton's manuscript notes.
No one has rendered better service to the study of Gothic architecture in this country than Mr. J.H. Parker, of Oxford. The value of his admirable Glossary of Terms used in Architecture, is attested by the fact, that it has already reached a fourth edition, and that another will soon be called for. But we doubt whether he has done any thing better calculated to promote this interesting branch of Archæology than by the production of his Introduction to the Study of Gothic Architecture, which—originally written as part of a series of elementary lectures recommended by the Committee of the Oxford Architectural Society to be delivered to the junior members, and considered useful and interesting by those who heard them— is now published at the request of the Society. A more interesting volume on the subject, or one better calculated to give such a knowledge of it, as is essential to any thing like a just appreciation of the peculiar characteristics of our church architecture, could scarcely have been produced, while its compact size and numerous illustrations fit it to become a tourist's travelling companion.
We have great pleasure in directing attention to the advertisement inserted in another column respecting some improvements about to be introduced into the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE. This venerable periodical has maintained its station uninterruptedly in our literature from the year 1731. From the times of Johnson and Cowper it has been the medium by which many men of the greatest eminence have communicated with the public. At all times it has been the sole depository of much valuable information of a great variety of kinds. We are confident that under the new management it will put forth fresh claims to the favour of the public. Many writers of high reputation in historical and antiquarian literature are henceforth to be enlisted in its service. We shall look for the forthcoming number with great interest.
Scheible, of Stuttgart, who is doubtless known to our readers as the publisher of some very curious works illustrative of the popular literature of Germany of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, has just commenced a new Library of Magic, &c., or Bibliothek der Zanber-Geheimnisse-und Offenbarungs-Bucher. The first volume of it is devoted to a work ascribed to that prince of magicians, our old familiar, Dr. Faustus, and bears the imposing title Doktor Johannes Faust's Magia Naturalis et Innaturalis, oder Dreifacher Höllenzwang, leiztes Testament und Siegelkunst. It is taken from a MS. of the last century, filled with magical drawings and devices enough to summon back again from the Red Sea all the spirits that ever were laid in it. It is certainly a curious book to publish in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Messrs. Sotheby and Co. will sell the extensive and valuable Collection of MSS. in all languages formed by the late Mr. Rodd, on Monday the 4th of February, and five following days. The catalogue deserves the attention of all collectors of manuscripts, as it is, as far as circumstances will admit, a classified one. There are upwards of one thousand lots in the sale—many of a very curious and interesting character. There are Greek and Latin versions of the Scriptures, manuscripts of the 13th century, Ruding's original collections for his History of the Coinage of Great Britain; which work, it is stated, contains only a very small portion of the materials he had brought together. One lot consists of a mass of documents and papers contained in eight large packing cases, and weighing from ten to fifteen hundred weight, of the families of Eyre, of Derbyshire and Berkshire, and their intermarriages from the reign of Henry II. to the present time. Well may Mr. Sotheby talk of their proving a source of amusement to any person having room to sort them, and time to devote to their arrangement.
Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, of Piccadilly, commence their sales on Monday next, with a four days' miscellaneous sale of works on theology, history, classics, voyages and travels, and standard works in foreign and English general literature. They have some important sales coming on, of which our readers shall have due notice.
We have received the following new Catalogues:—
"Catalogue of valuable second-hand Books in Divinity, the Classics, Law, and Miscellaneous, on sale by William Heath, 29 1/2. Lincoln's Inn Fields."
"Catalogue of curious and rare Books, all recently purchased, now on sale by George Bumstead, No. 205. High Holborn."
"Catalogue of Choice, Useful and Interesting Books, in fine condition, on sale at the low Prices affixed, by W. Waller and Son, 188. Fleet Street."
Messrs. Waller have also forwarded to us a Catalogue recently published by them, which contains some curious "Manuscripts, Historical Documents, and Autograph Letters."
BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES
WANTED TO PURCHASE.
(In continuation of Lists in former Nos.)
PROPOSITIONES GEOMETRICÆ, MORE VETERUM DEMONSTRATÆ, AUCTORE MATTHÆO STEWART, S.T.D. Edinburgi. 1763.
HUDDESFORD'S WYCCAMICAL CHAPLET. 8vo. London, 1801.
Odd Volumes.
NARES' LIFE OF LORD BURLEIGH. 4to. Vol. III. (In boards.) DODD'S CHURCH HISTORY. Small folio, 1739. Vol. II. (Or Vol. III. would be given for it.)
KNIGHT'S ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF ARABIAN NIGHTS. (Last part.)
LEYBOURN'S MATHEMATICAL REPOSITORY. New Series. Vols. IV. V. VI. London. 1819, 1830, 1835.
THE LIVERPOOL APOLLONIUS. No. I. by J.H. SWALE. 1823.
Letters stating particulars and lowest price, carriage free, to be sent to Mr. BELL, publisher of "NOTES AND QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street.
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.
T. will find every information upon the Bibliography of Proverbs in M.G. Duplessis' Bibliographie Parè miologique, 8vo., Paris, 1847.
MR. HICKSON'S interesting Paper upon "Marlowe," in our next number.
The Sale Catalogue of Dr. Graham's Library reached us too late for notice.
COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.—K.M.P.—P.H.F. —Gomer.—B.—A.D.M.—E.L.N.— D.—A Templar.—D. Stevens.—L.R.— J.E.B.M.—S.D.—Archæus.—Norris.— F.D.—Melanion.—A Cornishman.—R.J.S. —J.S.—V.—A.F.H.—Seleucus.—B. —M.—R.G.—Nathan.—J.M.— W.D.B.
We have again to explain to correspondents who inquire as to the mode of procuring "NOTES AND QUERIES," that every bookseller and newsman will supply it, if ordered, and that gentlemen residing in the country may be supplied regularly with the Stamped Edition, by giving their orders direct to the publisher, Mr. GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street, accompanied by a Post-Office order for a Quarter (4s. 4d.).
A neat Case for holding the Numbers of "NOTES AND QUERIES" until the completion of each volume, is now ready, price 1s. 6d., and may be had, by Order, of all Booksellers and Newsmen.
We are again compelled to omit many Notes, Queries, and answers to Queries, as well as Answers to Correspondents.
Illustrated by the Etching Club. In One Volume, square crown 8vo. 21s. cloth; or, 36s. bound in morocco, by Hayday.
GOLDSMITH'S POETICAL WORKS. Edited by BOLTON CORNEY. With engravings on wood, from Designs by Members of the Etching Club.
"That edition of the Poetical Works which had the benefit of Mr. Bolton Corney's care and judgment in its preparation; and which, apart from the grace and beauty of the Illustrations contributed to it by the Etching Club, is by far the most correct and careful of the existing editions of Goldsmith's poetry."—Forster's Life of Goldsmith, p. 699.
London: LONGMAN, BROWN, BREEN, AND LONGMANS;
Of whom may be had, uniform with the above in size and price,
THOMSON'S SEASONS. Edited by BOLTON CORNEY. With Wood Engravings, by Members of the Etching Club.
Just published, a New Edition, Three Vols., crown 8vo., 1l. 11s. 9d., of
THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF KIT MARLOWE, with some Account of his Life and Writings by the Rev. ALEXANDER DYCE.
WILLIAM PICKERING, 177. Piccadilly.
Just published, Part I. of
THE DECORATIVE ARTS of the MIDDLE AGES. By HENRY SHAW, F.S.A. The object of the present publication is to exhibit, by means of a series of carefully executed Engravings (taken from some of the best authorities now remaining) the peculiar features, and general characteristics of Decorative Art, as applied to the various materials on which it was employed, whether for sacred or domestic purposes, from the Byzantine, or early Christian period, to the decline of that termed the Renaissance.
A Number will appear on the 1st of each month, containing Four Plates, one of which will be coloured. Imperial 8vo., price 3s.; and in imperial 4to., price 6s.; to be completed in Twenty-four Parts.
A more detailed prospectus, and list of Mr. Shaw's other works, may be had of the Publisher, or through any Bookseller.
WILLIAM PICKERING, 177. Piccadilly.
Just published, price 4s. 6d.
PINACOTHECÆ HISTORICÆ SPECIMEN; sive Illvstrivm qvorvundam ingenia, mores, fortvnæ, ad Inscriptionvm formam expressæ. Avctore F. KILVERT, A.M. Pars Secvnda.
"I am struck with the successful endeavour, in each case, to say much in few words.—those words remarkably select, and expressive, and appropriate,—exhibiting the noble characteristics of the Latin language, as compared with every other, ancient or modern. This is a rare excellence, and, therefore, I mention it first. But it is not the greatest merit of your performance. There is a truth in the delineation of character, and a devotion to rectitude and virtue in your moral estimate, quite as remarkable as the felicity of diction by which the varieties of each portrait are denoted. You have also escaped the snare to which brevity (according to Horace's well-known line), is exposed—obscurity."—From a letter of the late Bishop of Llandoff.
London: GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street; of whom Part I., price 3s., may be had.
Just published, price 1s. 8vo. sewed.
PRACTICAL REMARKS ON BELFRIES AND RINGERS. By the Rev. H.F. ELLACOMBE, M.A., Oriel College, Oxford, vicar of Bitton, Gloucestershire.
GEORGE BELL, 186. Fleet Street; RIDLER, Bristol.
THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE AND HISTORICAL REVIEW.
The next number of the "Gentleman's Magazine" (which will be published on the 1st of February, 1850), will exhibit several alterations in the character and arrangement of its contents, which have been determined upon after due consideration of the present state of our literature.
Time was when the whole field of English Literature was before us, and we were its only reapers. At that time the harvest was scarcely rich enough to supply materials for our monthly comment. One hundred and twenty years have produced a marvelous revolution. Our literature has grown and expanded, and been divided and subdivided, and has still gone on growing and increasing, until—such is its wonderful extent and fertility—every separate branch maintains its independent organ, and we ourselves, overpowered by a growth which we were the first to foster, have gradually been compelled, by our limited space, to allow one subject after another to drop from under our notice.
Still, amidst many minor alterations, we have kept an unweakened hold upon certain main subjects. HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, and ARCHÆOLOGY have never been neglected, and our OBITUARY has grown into a record which, even we ourselves may say, has become a permanent and important portion of the literature of our country.
The changes we are now about to introduce have for their design a more strict adherence to what we look upon as our peculiar path. We shall henceforth devote ourselves more particularly—we may say almost exclusively—to the great subjects we have mentioned. Space that has been given to other matters will be curtailed, variations in type and arrangement will afford additional room, and all that can in any way be gained will be devoted to our main and peculiar purpose.
We have made arrangements to secure for our pages, by a liberal outlay, contributions from gentlemen most competent to write upon their respective subjects of study, and shall strive, more than ever, to be a worthy organ and representative of that most valuable and peculiarly interesting branch of literature which has for its object the instruction of mankind by the study and the perpetuation of whatever is now doing, or whatever has been done in times past, which is worthy of being kept in remembrance. We shall endeavour to put forth a miscellany which will be attractive from its variety, and from the skill with which its several subjects are treated, and will be permanently valuable from the importance of the matters to which it relates.
In principles and general tone of management we have nothing to retract, nothing to alter. History is Truth, or it is a mere delusion. The discovery and the establishment of Historical Truth, in all its branches, are our objects, and we shall continue to pursue them, as we have done in times past, faithfully and honestly, but, as we purpose and intend, more diligently and more undividedly.
Contributions should be addressed, post paid, To the Editor of the "Gentleman's Magazine" to the care of Messrs. Nichols and Son, 25. Parliament Street, Westminster.
The "Gentleman's Magazine" is published by Messrs. J.B. Nichols and Son, 25. Parliament Street, Westminster, on the first day of every month, price 2s. 6d. and may be obtained of all booksellers.