Library of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.

This ancient and extensive Collection of Books is preserved in a room over the cloisters adjoining the time-honoured fabric of Westminster Abbey.

The true lover of the typographic art must here feel the full influence of the “Religio Loci,” recollecting that within these sacred precincts, William Caxton erected his Press, and bestowed on benighted England the benefits of the Art of Printing. It may be remarked that the only specimen of our earliest printer here preserved is a single leaf inserted at the end of Pynson’s Dives and Pauper, 1493, whose authenticity has been thus attested, “This appears to be a leaf from Caxton’s Chronicle, 1480. T. F. Dibdin.”

But to give the general reader some idea of the locale of this Library, I must borrow the descriptive pages of a transatlantic pen. “There are certain half-dreaming moods of mind, in which we naturally steal away from noise, and glare, and seek some quiet haunt, where we may indulge our reveries, and build our air-castles undisturbed. ‘In such a mood,’ says Washington Irving,⁠[59] ‘I was loitering about the old gray cloisters of Westminster Abbey, enjoying that luxury of wandering thought which we are apt to dignify by the name of reflection; when suddenly an irruption of madcap boys from Westminster School, playing at foot-ball, broke in upon the monastic stillness of the place, making the vaulted passages, and mouldering tombs echo with their merriments. I sought to take refuge from their noise by penetrating still deeper into the solitudes of the pile, and applied to one of the vergers for admission to the Library. He conducted me through a portal rich with the crumbling sculpture of former ages, which opened upon a gloomy passage leading to the Chapter House, and the chamber in which Doomsday Book is deposited. Just within the passage is a small door on the left. To this the verger applied a key; it was double locked, and opened with some difficulty as if seldom used. We now ascended a dark narrow staircase, and passing through a second door, entered the library.

“‘I found myself in a lofty antique hall, the roof supported by massive joists of old English oak. It was soberly lighted by a row of gothic windows at a considerable height from the floor, and which apparently opened upon the roofs of the cloisters. An ancient picture of some reverend dignitary of the Church in his robes hung over the fire place. Around the hall, and in a small gallery were the books, arranged in carved oaken cases. They consisted principally of old polemical writers, and were much more worn by time than use. In the centre of the library was a solitary table, with two or three books on it, an inkstand without ink, and a few pens parched by long disuse. The place seemed fitted for quiet study and profound meditation. It was buried deep among the massive walls of the abbey, and shut up from the tumult of the world. I could only hear now and then the shouts of the school boys faintly swelling from the cloisters, and the sound of a bell tolling for prayers, that echoed soberly along the roofs of the abbey. By degrees the shouts of merriment grew fainter and fainter, and at length died away. The bell ceased to toll, and a profound silence reigned through the dusky hall.’”

I will not follow the lively American in his day dream among the dusty tomes, inasmuch as it is somewhat “lengthy,” and not sufficiently entertaining to warrant its transcription.

I must here, too, venture a protest against the ungrateful sentiment of our author, who “could not but consider the library a kind of literary catacomb, where authors, like mummies, are piously entombed, and left to blacken and moulder in dusty oblivion.”

Dropping the pencil of Geoffrey Crayon, I proceed with great satisfaction to examine the venerable remains enshrined within the “literary catacomb” of Westminster Abbey.

The Library of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster at present consists of eleven thousand volumes, but was formerly much more extensive, as many works, which appear in the old Catalogue, and are not found in the new, lamentably attests.

The old Catalogue of this Collection, arranged in alphabetical order, with titles, places, and dates, and with references to the shelves, bears the following title: “Catalogus Librorum in hac Bibliothecâ Westmonasteriensi. Octob. 22mo. 1726,” folio. It is bound in vellum, and has the armorial bearings of the Deanery stamped upon the cover. The new Catalogue was compiled by Dr. Dakin, the precentor, and contains the titles, places, dates, and sizes of the books, with reference to the shelves on which they are placed, very carefully arranged in alphabetical order, and clearly written by Mr. Marquet, in a large folio volume, secured by clasps. For this labour, completed in the year 1798, the Dean and Chapter, with a most commendable zeal for the preservation of their treasures of ancient learning, paid the sum of one hundred pounds.

The Library was originally deposited in one of the chapels, within the Abbey, but was removed to its present situation by the celebrated Williams, Archbishop of York, in the time of James the First.

Within the deep recesses of this venerable pile, “where all the air a solemn stillness holds,” the mind is naturally inclined to religious contemplation, and turns instinctively to the Book of Life.

Here too the Bibliographer may point with satisfaction to a very fine sound copy of the famous Complutensian Polyglott, 1515, in 6 volumes, folio, which though slightly stained, retains its original binding of stamped calf, and nearly its pristine dimensions, measuring fifteen and a quarter by ten and a half inches.

Meet companions of the first Polyglott Bible are,

The Biblia Polyglotta, Montani. Antverpiæ, apud Plantin, 1572, in 8 vols. folio, &

The Biblia Polyglotta, Waltoni. Londini, 1657, in 6 vols. folio, accompanied by the indispensable adjunct of Castell’s Lexicon, in 2 similar volumes.

To these may be added,

The Biblia Sacra Quadrilingue, Wolderi. Hamburgi, 1596, folio.

Biblia Hebraica et Latina, Munsteri. Basileæ, 1546, in 2 volumes, folio.

Biblia Hebraica, Leusdenii. Amstelod. 1667, folio.

Biblia Hebraica, Houbigantii. Paris. 1753, 4 vols. folio.

Biblia Hebraica, Stephani. Paris. 1565, 7 vols. 24to.

Biblia Hebraica, Kennicottii. Oxonii, 1776, 2 vols. folio.

The Bomberg Hebrew Bible, printed at Venice, but without date, in 3 volumes, folio; and another Impression of the Scriptures in the Hebrew tongue, in 10 volumes, folio.

This Library also contains,

The first edition of the Scripture, in the Greek language, being the Biblia Græca, Venetiis, in ædibus Aldi, 1518, folio.

The Biblia Græca, Hervagii. Basileæ, 1545, folio, &

The Biblia Græca. Francofurti, 1597, folio.

Among the Latin Bibles, may be noticed the

Biblia Latina, Castalionis. Basileæ, 1556, folio.

Biblia Latina, Stephani. Parisiis, 1557, folio.

Biblia Latina, Vulgata. Parisiis, 1558, folio.

Biblia Latina, Vatabli. Parisiis, 1584, folio.

Biblia Latina, Vatabli. Romæ, 1592, folio.

Biblia Latina, Vatabli. Antverpiæ, 1605, folio.

Biblia Latina, Tremellii et Junii. Genevæ, 1630.

Biblia Latina. Antverpiæ, 1645, 8vo.

Biblia Latina. Londini, 1653, 12mo.

Biblia Latina, Theod. Bezæ. Amstelod. 1669, 12mo.

To which may be added,

Grabe’s Septuagint, printed at Oxford, 1707, fol. and the Septuagint, edited by Holmes and Parsons at Oxford, 1798, &c. in 10 vols. folio.

The Biblia Sacra, Diodati. Genevæ, 1641.

The Biblia Arabica. Romæ, 1593, 4to. &

The Biblia Francois. Amsterdam, 1516, folio.

Of English Bibles, I noticed more particularly

Cranmer’s Bible of 1540, in folio.

The first and second editions of Parker’s, or the Bishop’s Bible. London, by Richard Jugge, 1568, and 1572, folio.

The Bible of 1551, folio.

The Bible of 1617, folio.

The Bible of 1706, 4to.; together with

King James’s Bible of 1640, folio.

The Welch Bible, printed at London in 1588, folio; and in 1600; at Oxford in 1723; and at London in 1746, 8vo. here claim a passing notice.

Of editions of the New Testaments in English it may suffice to allude to those printed at London in 1706, 1708, 1711, 8vo.; and at Oxford in 1770, 8vo.; The Novum Testamentum Arabicum, 4to; the Novum Testamentum Syriacum, per Leusden. Lugd. Bat. 1717; the Novum Testamentum Græcum, per Fell, Oxonii, 1675, 8vo.; et Millii, Oxonii, 1707, folio; together with Kipling’s facsimile of the Codex Bezæ, Cambridge, 1793, folio; and the editions of Beza, Erasmus, Wetstein, and Stephens, 1549; the Coptic Version of Wilkins; and several French translations by Beausobre and others; Fulke’s New Testament, London, by the deputies of Chr. Barker, 1589; and the same, printed at London, by Augustine Matthews, 1633, both in folio.

I may add to the above the Evangelia IV. Græcè Theophylacti, Romæ, 1542; Evangelia Gothica Junii, 4to.; Wilkins’ Pentateuchus Copticus, Lond. 1731, 4to.; Psalterium Monasticum, Samueli, 1616, folio; Psalterium Quintuplex; Psalterium Antverpiæ, Plantin, 1608; Psalterium Hebraicum Græcum et è Codice Alexandrina, Oxonii, 1678, 12mo.; and many other editions of the Psalms of David.

Of Rituals and Forms of Prayers, I noticed the Welch Prayer Book of 1664, in folio; the Scotch Prayer Books of 1637 and 1661; and the English Prayer Books of 1549, 1552, 1616, 1661, 1683, and 1702; with Wheatley on the Common Prayer; and the Offices of the Church of England, Cambridge, 1751, 8vo.; Liturgia Latina Anglicana, Londini, 1574, 1688, and 1727, 12mo.; Liturgia Græca per Pinellum, Venetiis, 1603-1628, in 14 volumes, 4to.; Missale Romanum, Lugd. Bat. 1625; and Antverpiæ, 1625, 8vo.; several Roman Breviaries; a Parisian edition of the Horæ B. M. V. without date; and the Pontificale Romanum, 1611, folio.

Among the earlier Theological writers may be enumerated the Works of S.S. Ambrose, Anselm, Athanasius, Augustine, Basilius, Bernard, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Cyril, Epiphanius, Episcopius, Gregorius Eusebius, Byzantinus Nazianzenus, et Nyssenus, &c. Jerome, Hilary, Ignatius, Irenæus, Isidore, Lactantius, Tertullian, Theodoret, Theophylact, and others too numerous to mention.

It may be permitted me, however, to specify the Works of Alexander de Ales, Arnobius, Bede, Bellarmine, Bessarion, Beausobre, Bonaventura, Bossuet, Bourdaloue, Theodore Beza, Bochart, Bullinger, Calvin, Clemens Alexandrinus, Chytræus, Dallæus, Drusius, Le Clerc, and Duns Scotus; of Erasmus, Fulgentius, John Gerson, Grotius, Hospinianus, Justin Martyr, Lanfranc, Luther, Melancthon, Peter Martyr, Origen, Socinus, Suarez, Turretinus, Turrianus, and Zanchius.

To which may be properly added, Cassiodorus in Psalmos, Basileæ, 1491, folio; Nicolai de Lyra Commentarii, editio antiqua, sine loco aut anno. liber mancus, and another edition printed at Venice in 1603, folio; Bythneri Lyra Prophetica; Damasceni Opera Theologica; Lactantii Opera, Cantabrigiæ, 1686, 12mo.; Lutheri Opera, Wittebergæ, 1557-83, in 7 vols. folio; and those of Melancthon.

Among the Works of English Divines, I think it right to record those of Bishop Andrews, Atterbury, Barrow, Baxter, Bennet, Beveridge, Bingham, Bickerstaff, Bramhall, Bull, Calamy, Chillingworth, Claggett, Clarke, Conybeare, Bishop Cosin, Dodwell, Edwards, Fisher, Hall, Hammond, Hoadly, Hooper, Hopkins, Jeremy Taylor, Jackson, Jebb, Jenkins, Jewel, Jortin, Kennicott, Kennett, Lardner, Leslie, Lightfoot, Lowth, Bp. Ostervald, Outram, Pearce, Pierce, Perkins, Pococke, Prideaux, Archbp. Potter, Reynolds, J. Rogers, Secker, Sherlock, South, Stanhope, Stillingfleet, Sykes, Venn, Waterland, Whiston, Whitaker, White, Wilson, and others of minor note.

Here too may be noticed, Cave’s Primitive Christianity; and Lives of the Apostolic Fathers; Bowyer on the New Testament; Butler’s Analogy; Burnet on the thirty-nine Articles; Collier’s Sacred Interpreter; Conybeare on Revealed Religion; Cudworth’s Intellectual System; Cruden’s Concordance; Derham’s Astro- and Physico-Theology; Davenant on the Psalms; Drelincourt on Death; Fiddes’ Body of Divinity; Field of the Church; Duncan Forbes on Incredulity; Fulke on the New Testament; Gale’s Court of the Gentiles; Edwards on the Old and New Testament; Gastrell’s Institutes; Hall’s Meditations; Horne’s Introduction to the Scriptures; Jebb’s Theological Lectures, Cambridge, 1772; Ireland’s Popery and Paganism compared, London, 1809, and 1825; also his Nuptiæ Sacræ, 1821, 8vo.; Ken’s Manual; Leland on Deism; Lloyd on Church Government; Macknight’s Harmony of the Gospels; Mede on the Altar; Newman’s Concordance; Patrick’s, Pococke’s and Whitby’s Commentaries; Pearson on the Creed; Prideaux and Shuckford’s Connection; Scott’s Christian Life, and other Works; Secker’s Lectures, Sermons, and Charges; Tenison on Idolatry; Tillotson’s Works, London, 1707-20, and 35, in folio; Woolston on Miracles; Trapp’s Theological Works; Tyndale, Frith, and Barnes’ Works, London, 1573, fol.; Usher’s Annals, 1658, folio; Wake’s Genuine Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers; and his Work on the State of the Church; Wall on Infant Baptism; Warburton’s Works by Hurd, 1788, 4to.; West and Littleton on the Resurrection; Whiston’s Primitive Christianity, and other Works; Venn’s Whole Duty of Man; Wilkins on Natural Religion.

This Collection also embraces a variety of Sermons by different authors; among the most noticeable of whom are Bishops Gibson, Fleetwood, Hoadly, Atterbury, and Sharpe; Waterland, Wilkins, Gataker, Vincents, Conybeare, Stanhope, and Sanderson.

To the above I may add, Blackwall’s Sacred Classics; various Concordances by Schmidius, Kircher, & Buxtorf; Barwick’s Life of Dean Barwick; Birch’s Life of Tillotson; Calmet’s Dictionary of the Bible; Stackhouse’s History of the Bible, and his other Works; Barclay’s Apology; Osterwald’s Arguments, in French; and Pyle on the Epistles; Ioannis de Turrecremata, Summa Theologiæ, Lugduni, 1496, 8vo.; Limborch, Theologia Christiana; Leigh’s Critica Sacra; Junii Opera Theologica; Vincentii Speculum Doctrinale, Venetiis, 1494, folio; Sixti Senensis Bibliotheca Sancta; Hulderici Zuinglii Opera; Zonaræ Canones et Annales; Petri Blesensis Opera Omnia; Thomæ Aquinatis Opera, Antverpiæ, 1612, folio; Stapletoni Opera, & Whitakeri Opera, Genevæ, 1610, folio; the Bibliotheca Veterum Patrum, Colon. Agrip. 1618, in 14 volumes, folio; the Bibliotheca, S.S. Patrum, Col. Agr. 1622, in 15 folio volumes; Cotelerii Patres Apostolici; Dacherii Spicelegium; the Critici Sacri; Pole’s Synopsis; Eusebii Præparatio et Demonstratio Evangelica; Boethii Opera, Basileæ, 1570, folio; Martin Bucer, Scriptores Anglicani; the Works of Buchanan; Lyndewoode’s Provinciale of 1557, & Oxonii, 1679; Outram de Sacrificiis; and other Works of the earlier ecclesiastics, of which the selection I have made may serve as very fair specimens of the whole.

I may here notice Day’s Service Book, 1565, with music; the Tenor, Morning and Evening Prayer, imperfect, but of which only three or four copies are known; Barnard’s Cathedral Music, only found elsewhere at Berlin; and several English Music Books of great rarity; Boyce and Arnold’s Cathedral Music; also that of Arne, Bassani, Corelli, Fiocco, Gasparini, Handel, Pergolesi, and Scarletti; Madrigals by Colonna, Foggia, Gratiano, and Marenzio, forming a very valuable Collection of Church Music; here also is preserved the Missal of Nicolas Litlington, Abbot of Westminster in 1362; together with the Pupilla Oculi of John de Burgh, a work of which every priest possessed a copy.

There are also in this Library a Collection of Tracts, formed about the year 1760, so numerous that the brief enumeration of them occupies ninety-one pages and a half of the great folio Catalogue, compiled in 1798. Of these fugitive pieces very many relate to the Controversial Divinity of the early part of the last century; others treat of Popery, the Muggletonians, the Test Acts, and the Miracles of the Gospel; Warburton on the Alliance between Church and State; with his Remarks on Pope’s Essay on Man; Whitfield’s Journals, 1740; Westley’s Appeal, 1745; Bentley on the State of Trinity College, Cambridge, 1710; Addison’s Cato, and the Publisher, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, 1745, 8vo. also form part of this Series of Tracts.

Here also are many Political Pieces, especially some relating to the last Rebellion, such as German Politicks, 1744; the Highlander delineated, 1745; the complicated Guilt of Rebellion, 1745; and the History of two imposters, Lambert Linne and Perkin Warbeck, 1745; to which I may add the Iter Surriense et Sussexiense, 1752, 8vo.; and other Tracts much too insignificant for notice.

The mention of the preceding articles leads us at once into the interesting region of History, and directs our observation to those works which in this Collection are found to illustrate the History of England.

Among these the most remarkable are, Bacon’s History of King Henry VII, London, 1622, folio; the Lives of William the Third, London, 1703, 8vo.; and of Queen Anne, London, 1707, 8vo.; Baker’s Chronicle; Bates’ Elenchus Motuum Nuperorum in Anglia, which Warburton thought deserving of perusal; Bucks’ Richard the Third, London, 1647; Burnet’s History of his own Time; Eadmeri Historia Novorum, 1623; Camden’s Britannia, Annals, and Remains; Chamberlayne, Angliæ Notitiæ, 1716; Clarendon’s History of the Great Rebellion; Daniel’s History of England; Davies’ Athenæ Britannicæ; Echard’s History of England; Jovii Descriptio Britanniæ; Madox’s Formulare Anglicanum; Gibson’s Saxon Chronicle; Grafton’s Chronicle, 1569, folio; Gutch’s Collectanea Curiosa; Heylyn’s Help to English History, and his Life of Laud; Histoire d’Angleterre, 1706, 12mo.; Holinshed’s Chronicles of 1587 and 1523, in folio; Hobbes on the Civil Wars, 1679, 12mo.; Fabian’s Chronicle, London, 1559, folio; a fine and perfect copy of Higden’s Polycronycon by Peter Treveris, 1527, folio; Martin’s History of England, from William the Conqueror to Henry the Eighth, 1638, folio; May’s Historiæ Parliamentaris Breviarium, 1651, 12mo.; the Mercurius Politicus, published during the Civil Wars; Oclandi Anglorum Prælia; Rushworth’s Historical Collections, London, 1659, in 6 volumes, folio; Rapin’s History of England, 1731, 8vo.; and Tindal’s valuable edition of that Work, London, 1733, in 3 vols. folio; the original edition of Rymer’s Fœdera, printed at London in 1704, &c. in 20 folio volumes; Lediard’s Life of the Great Duke of Marlborough; an Account of Sacheverell’s Tryal; Smith, de Rêpublicâ Anglorum, Lugd. Bat. 1625, 12mo.; Speed’s History of Great Britain, London, 1623, folio; Spelman’s Life of Alfred the Great, Oxford, 1678, folio; Stow’s Annals, London, 1614, folio; Strutt’s Antiquities, 1773, &c. 4to.; Stukeley’s Medallic History of Carausius, 1759, 4to.; Whitelocke’s Memorials of English Affairs, London, 1682, 8vo.; State Trials, 1730, folio; The Trial of the Earl of Strafford, 1680, folio; Thurloe’s State Papers, and Welwood’s Memoirs, 1718, 12mo.; the Biographia Britannica, by Kippis, London, 1747, folio; Holland’s Heroologia Anglica; and Wood’s Athenæ Oxoniensis; together with Boethius Historia Scotorum, Paris, 1575, folio; Stanihurst de Rebus Hibernicis; Stafforde’s Wars in Ireland; Sir James Ware’s Works concerning Ireland, Dublin, 1739, in 2 volumes, folio; Carte’s Life of Ormonde; Lhuyd’s Description of Cambria, London, 1584; and Davies’ Celtic Researches; augment the stores of this department.

The Records of the Kingdom, published under the authority and Superintendence of the Parliamentary Commissioners; and the Population Returns; the Scriptores post Bedam, edited by Savile; the valuable collection of the Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores, edited by Gale and Fell at Oxford, in 3 volumes, folio; the Anglica Normannica, &c. à VI Veteribus scripta, edita, à Camdeno, Francof. 1603, folio; Historiæ Anglicanæ Scriptores Decem, edente Twysden, Londini, 1652, folio; Rerum Britannicarum Scriptores VI Vetustiores, Heidelb. 1587, folio; Matthæi Paris Historia Anglicana, edente Wats, Londini, 1640, folio; Matthæi Westmonasteriensis Flores Historiarum, Francofurti, 1601, folio; Nennii Historia Britonum, edente Bertramo, Hafniæ, 1757, 8vo.; Viti Basinstochii Historia Britonum; Pontici Virunnii Historia Britonum, Lond. 1585; Polydori Vergilii Historia Anglicana, Basileæ, 1555, folio, and 1570, also in folio; and the Normannorum et Francorum Scriptores Coetanei, edited by Duchesne, 1619; tend greatly to increase the value of this Library. Tanner’s Bibliotheca Britannico-Hibernica, 1748; Balei Scriptorum Illustrium Majoris Britanniæ Catalogus, Basileæ, 1559, folio; Pitseus, Scriptores de Rebus Anglicis, 4to.; and Nicholson’s Historical Libraries, in one volume, folio, here deserve to be recorded.

Of Works relating more particularly to the Ecclesiastical Affairs of Britain, this Collection embraces the Legenda Nova Angliæ, Londini, per Winandum de Worde, 1516, folio; Bedæ Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum; Bray’s Bibliotheca Parochialis; Brent’s Council of Trent; Parker de Antiquitate Ecclesiæ Britannicæ, Londini, 1562, folio, being the original edition of this scarce and valuable Work. The present copy is happily complete, though it wants the Portrait of the Archbishop; containing the Title, Preface, and Plate of Arms, with the index preceded by three blank leaves. It is however in very tender condition, and its leaves measure eleven inches and a quarter by seven inches and five-eighths. It still retains its original binding of wood, covered with stamped calf, to which clasps were originally attached.

This Library also contains two other editions of this Work, that printed at Hanover in 1608, folio, and that edited by Drake, London, 1725, folio; together with Burnet’s History of the Reformation; Ecton’s Thesaurus; Fox’s Martyrs of 1596, 1641, and 1684, in folio; Godwyn, Præsules Anglicani in 2 volumes, folio; Harpsfeld’s Historia Anglicana Ecclesiastica, Duaci, 1622, folio; Inett’s Origines Anglicani; Le Neve’s Fasti Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ; Newcourt’s Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Londinense; Oughton, Ordo Judiciorum, 2 vols. 4to.; Reyneri Apostolatus Ordinis Benedictinorum in Angliâ, Duaci, 1626, folio; Spelmanni Concilia, Londini, 1639, folio; Spotswode’s Church of Scotland, 1677, folio; Statuta Ecclesiæ Christi, Cantuariensis, Londini, 1703; Walker’s History of Independency; the original editions of Strype’s valuable Lives, Annals, and Ecclesiastical Memorials; Synodi Anglicani; Tovey’s Anglia Judaica, Oxonii, 1738, 4to.; Usserii Britannicæ Ecclesiæ Antiquitates, Dublin, 1639, 4to. and London, 1687, folio; Wharton’s Anglia Sacra; and Wilkins’ Concilia Magnæ Britanniæ, Londini, 1733, in 4 volumes, folio.

Here also are deposited the editions of Dugdale’s Monasticon Anglicanum of 1655, and of 1693; and of Tanner’s Notitia Monastica of 1744, and that edited by Nasmith, both in folio; works which form a connecting link between the Ecclesiastical History and Antiquities of our country.

Of Works relating to, or illustrative of English Topography, this Library contains several here deserving of notice.

These are, the Histories of Westminster Abbey, of the Colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, and of the Public Schools of England, published with abundant illustrations by the late Rudolph Ackermann, in 7 vols. 4to.; Battely, Antiquitates Rutupinæ; Blore’s Monumental Remains; Carew’s Survey of Cornwall; Carter’s Cambridgeshire; Bray’s Bibliotheca Parochialis; Britton’s Architectural Antiquities, one of the most valuable and interesting Works of that enterprising archæologist; Burton’s Leicestershire; Dodsworth’s Salisbury Cathedral, 1814, 4to.; Hoare’s Giraldus Cambrensis’ Itinerary of Bishop Baldwin through Wales, London, 1806, 4to.; Dugdale’s Warwickshire, and St. Paul’s; Dart’s Antiquities of Canterbury Cathedral, 1703, folio; Gostling’s Walks through Canterbury, 1777, 8vo.; Hasted’s History of Kent, 1788, folio, in 4 volumes; Heath’s Account of the Scilly Islands, 1750, 8vo.; the History of Rochester, 1782, 12mo.; Hoare’s Ancient Wiltshire, folio; Howel’s Perlustration of London, 1657, folio; Hutchins’s History of Dorset, London, 1784, folio; Isaacke’s Exeter, 1724, 8vo.; A Journey through England, 1724, 8vo.; Lambeth Palace Illustrated, London, 1806, 4to.; the London Guide, 1752, 12mo.; Nash’s Worcestershire, in 2 volumes, folio; Newcourt’s Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Londinense; Nicholson and Burn’s Histories of Cumberland and Westmoreland, in 4to.; Ogilby’s Britannia, 1675, folio, with Maps of the roads; Parker de Antiquitate Universitatis Cantabrigiensis, 1721; Paterson’s Pietas Londinensis, 1714, 12mo.; Peck’s Annals of Stanford; Plott’s Natural Histories of Oxfordshire and Staffordshire; Rawlinson’s English Topographer; the Roads of England delineated, 1756, 12mo.; Salmon’s Natural History of Hertfordshire, 8vo.; Stow’s London, 1633, folio; Thorpe’s Registrum Roffense; Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire; Twyne de Antiquitate Academiæ Oxoniensis; Villare Anglicanum, by Adams, London, 1736, folio; Willis’ Cathedrals, 1721-30, with his Parochiale Anglicanum, 1733, 4to.; some Account of Winchester Cathedral, in 12mo.; Verstegan’s Restitution of decayed Intelligence relating to English Antiquities; and Wright’s History of Rutland, in folio.

Of Works illustrative of the venerable fabric under whose roof these books are sheltered, we here find Harding’s Westminster Abbey, London, 1825, folio; Dart’s Antiquities of the Abbey of Westminster, London, 1711, folio; Keepe’s Monuments of Westminster Abbey, London, 1683, 8vo.; Widmore’s Westminster Abbey, London, 1751; and Smith’s Antiquities of Westminster, London, 1807, 4to.; besides the Work of Ackermann already mentioned. To which may be added the Portraits of the Deans of Westminster, London, 1823, folio, and the various Ceremonials of Coronation.

The Coronation Books of George III. in 1761, of George IV. in 1821, and of William IV. in 1831, quarto, form a peculiar feature in this Collection, which also contains Ogilby’s Coronation of Charles II. 1662, with an Account of his Entertainment and Progress through the City of London, to the place of that Ceremony; and Sandford’s Coronation of James II. 1687, 8vo.

Maps of England, by Speed, folio, by Philip Lea, 1695, 4to. by Morden, 4to. with a Chart of St. George’s Channel, by Morris, 1748, may be here noticed as natural accessories to the Topography of England.

Of Works upon the Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws of England, and of other Nations, it may suffice to notice in this place, Bracton de Legibus; Puffendorf’s Law of Nations; Burn’s Ecclesiastical Laws; Coke’s Institutes; and Hammond’s Criminal Code, 1825-29; the Acta Generalia; the Statutes at large; the Concilia Generalia et Hispanica; Bracton de Legibus Angliæ; Gothofredi Corpus Juris Civilis; Gibson’s Codex Juris Ecclesiastici et Civilis; Howel’s Synopsis Canonum; various editions of the Codex and Institutiones Justiniani; the Codex Theodosianus, Parisiis, 1586; Law Cases, from 17th Edward III. to Henry VII. London, 1576; Beverigii Pandectæ Canonum et Juris Civilis; Reformatio Legum ab Henrico VIII. inchoata, Londini, 1641, 4to.; Woottoni Leges Wallicæ, 1730, folio; Wilkins, Leges Anglo-Saxonicæ, 1721, folio; together with the Synodus Dordracensis, Ephesina, Græca, Anglica, & Florentina.

The nature of the Historical department of this Collection will be best understood by the following selection from its contents.

We may here notice Banduri Imperium Orientale; Bodini Historia Universalis; Carionis Chronicon; Collier’s Historical Dictionary; Cumberland de Origine Gentium; Dousæ Annales Hollandiæ; Froissardi Historia, Hanoviæ, 1606; Historiæ Francorum Scriptores, Francof. 1596; Eusebii Chronicon; Guicciardini’s History of Italy; Hearne’s Ductor Historicus; Antonio de Herrera, Descriptio Indiæ Occidentalis, Amstelod. 1622, folio; Hooke’s Roman History; Josephus, Havercampi, and Basnage’s History of the Jews; Davila’s Civil Wars of France, folio; Knolles’ History of the Turks; Krantzii Chronica Danica et Suecica; Annales Belgici; Leunclavii Annales Sultanorum; Ligon’s Barbadoes; Maffei Historia Indica; Mariana de Rebus Hispanicis; Memoires de Comines, de Cardinal Rohan, de Retz, de Philip du Plessis, Mornay, et de Montmorency; Mezeray Abrégé Chronologique de l’histoire de France; Moreri, Dictionnaire Historique; and the second and third volumes of Monstrelet’s Chronicles, printed at Paris in 1572.

We also find on these shelves several of Byzantine Historians, such as Nicephorus, &c.; Nicetæ Annales, &c.; Naucleri Chronicon; Ockley’s History of the Saracens; Olaus Magnus Historia Gentium Septentrionalium; Orme’s Indostan; Pontoppidan’s Norway; Raleigh’s History of the World; Reineccii Chronicon Sclavorum; and his Origines Brandenburgicæ; Reuberi Rerum Germanicarum Scriptores; Sir Thomas Roe’s Embassy to Turkey, 1740; Sandys’ Europæ Speculum, with his Travels; Salmon’s Chronological Historian; Scheffer’s Lapland; Shaw’s Travels in Barbary and the Levant; Spon’s History of Geneva, 1687, folio; the Memoirs of Sully; Symson’s Chronicon Catholicum; Saxonis Grammatici Historia Danica, Francofurti, 1576; Thuani Historia sui Temporis, Paris, 1606 and 1620; Tillet, Recueil des Rois de France, leurs Couronnes, &c. Paris, 1586, folio; Vertot’s Histoire de l’Ordre de Malte; Tursellini Epitome Historiæ Romanæ; and the Universal History of 1736, in folio.

Of Works relating to Ecclesiastical affairs in general, independently of the Councils, Synods, and Decretals of various periods, this Library comprehends Baronii Annales Ecclesiastici; Tornielli Annales Sacri; Baronii Martyrologium Romanum; Cedreni Annales; the Concilia Generalia, compiled by Labbe and Kuster; Brent’s History of the Council of Trent; Bower’s Lives of the Popes, in 4to.; Platina de Vitis Pontificum, in folio; Brandt’s History of the Reformation; Collier’s Ecclesiastical History; Cressy’s Church History of Brittany; Du Pin’s and Fleury’s Ecclesiastical History; the Centuriatores Magdeburgenses; Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ Scriptores Generales, Valerii, Parisiis, 1668-78, in 3 vols. folio, and Basileæ apud Oporinum, 1564-70, in 8 vols. folio; Suiceri Thesaurus Ecclesiasticus; Echard’s Ecclesiastical History; Hooker’s Ecclesiastical Polity; Hyde’s Religio Veterum Persarum; Jortin’s Ecclesiastical History; Gratiani Decretalia; Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History; Nicephori Historia Ecclesiastica; Quick’s Synodicon in Galliâ Reformatâ; Relandi Antiquitates Hebræorum; Sigonius de Republicâ Hebræorum; two copies of Spencer de Legibus Hebræorum, Cantabrigiæ, 1685, folio; Schlusselburgii Hæreticorum Catalogus, Francofurti, 1597, 8vo.; Sleidan’s Reformation, à la Haye, 1767, 4to.; Tillemont, Ecclesiastical Memorials; and Bingham’s Antiquities of the Christian Church.

Among the helps to History are Chronology and Geography, of which the former presents us with Blair, Behm, Newton, Isaacson, and Jackson’s Chronological labours; Helvici Chronologia; Marsham, Chronicon Canon Egyptiacus; Petavii Rationale temporum; Straucii Breviarium Chronologicum; Relandi Fasti Consulares; and Clinton’s Fasti Hellenici; and the latter with Baudrand’s Lexicon Geographicum; the Geographical Works of Cellarius and Cluvier; Spanheim’s Geographia Sacra; Heylyn’s Cosmography; Ortelii Geographia; and Relandi Palestina Illustrata, which is esteemed by Mr. Orme, as one of the most elaborate Works on Biblical Geography ever published, together with the General Atlas, by Senex, London, 1721, folio.

In this place I may appropriately introduce, Archbishop Williams’s own copy of Purchas’ Pilgrimes, London, 1613-24, in 5 vols. folio; in the original calf with his arms on the sides; Hakluyt’s Voyages, 1599, folio; Harris’ Collection of Voyages and Travels; Pococke’s Description of the East; Vincent’s Voyage of Nearchus, London, 1807, 4to.; with another copy corrected by the author, with additions by that learned Dean of Westminster.

Of Works relating to Antiquities, this Library can boast the valuable Collections of Grævius and Gronovius, relating to those of Greece and Rome; Gruteri Corpus Inscriptionum & Thesaurus Criticus; Montfaucon, Palæographia Græca; Mabillon, Diarium Italicum; Prideaux’s Marmora Oxoniensia; and Taylor’s Marmor Sandvicense, Cantabrigiæ, 1743, 4to.

Of the Antiquities of Rome, we here find Boissardi Urbis Romæ Topographia, 1597-1602, with figures by De Bry; Rosini Antiquitates Romanæ, Amstelodami, 1685, 4to.; and Rossi Teatro delle Fabriche di Roma, 1665, 4to.; to which I may add the History of Palmyra, 1696, 8vo.

The Heraldic Works in this Collection occupy very little space, being only Brooke’s Heraldry; Gwillim’s Heraldry of 1632, and 1724, folio; Edmondson’s Heraldry; Ashmole’s Order of the Garter, 1726, folio; Selden’s Titles of Honor, London, 1672, folio.

The Numismatic Works occupy a space equally inconsiderable, being, Arbuthnot’s Coins; Clarke’s Connection of Coins; Fleetwood’s Chronicon Preciosum; Steuart’s Bengal Coins, 1772, 4to.; Bræi Numismata Imperatorum Romanorum; and Stukeley’s Medallic History of Carausius.

From these minute monuments of ancient time, we pass to those equally enduring Records of Antiquity, which are familiar to every one under the common appellation of the Classic Authors.

In Classical Literature we meet in this Collection with different editions of the Works of either Ælian, Anacreon, Antoninus, Appianus, Apuleius, Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius, Quintus Curtius, Sidonius Apollinaris, Petronius Arbiter, Dictys Cretensis, Diodorus Siculus, Diogenes Laertius, Dionysius Periegetes, Epictetus, Eutropius, Herodian, Hierocles; Iamblichus, Juvenal and Persius, Macrobius, Nicander, Oppian, Ovid, Sallust, Statius, Maximus Tyrius, Æneas Sylvius, Synesius, Valerius Maximus, and Aurelius Victor, together with the Anthologia, and the Historiæ Augustæ Scriptores.

This Library also comprehends various editions of the separate pieces of Aristotle and Cicero, as well as of their collected works, but none of the fifteenth century; Stanley’s Æschylus; Æsopus, Venetiis, apud Aldum, 1505; Alciati Emblemata, Agathias, Paris, 1660; Aphthonii Commentarii, Venetiis apud Aldum, 1509, folio; Archimedes, Basileæ, 1544, folio; Arrianus, Gronovii; Aristophanes, 1500; Athenæus, Basileæ, 1535; Ausonius, Burdiglæ, 1580, folio; Apicius, 1705; Cæsar, Delphini & Clarkei; Callimachus, Grævii; Ciceronis Opera, Oliveti, and various editions of 1639-59, 12mo.; Claudianus, Heinsii; Demosthenes Wolfii et Taylori; Dion Chrysostomus, Lutetiæ, 1604, folio; Dioscorides, 1598; Dionysius Halicarnassensis, 1546; Epictetus, Wolfii; Euclidis Elementa, Basileæ, 1533; Arabicè, Romæ, 1594; Græcè, Parisiis, 1598; and his Opera Omnia, Oxonii, 1703, folio.

Upon these shelves we also find Euripides Marklandi, Oxonii, 1756, 4to.; and Barnesii, Cantabrigiæ, 1694, folio; Florus, Grævii; Aulus Gellius, Gronovii, and apud Elzeviros; Grammatici Græci, Venetiis, 1495, folio, and 1527, folio; Herodotus, Gronovii: Hesiodus, Robinsoni; Hippocratis Opera Omnia, Venetiis, 1525, folio; Homerus, Clarkei; Eustathius, Commentarii in Homerum, Romæ, 1542, in 4 volumes, folio; Maittaire’s Reprint of the Batrachomyomachia of 1486, London, 1721, 8vo., in red and black letters.

Here also are several editions of Horace, by Bentley, Bond, and the Delphin editors; Iamblichus by Gale; Isocrates, Venetiis, 1513; and the editions of Battie and Wolf; Silius Italicus, Venetiis, 1523; Justinus, Grævii; Libanii Orationes, Paris, 1616; Livius, Aldi, 1555, folio; with Crevier’s and other editions; Longinus by Pearce and Smith; Lucanus, Oudendorpii, Lucian, 1517; Lucretius by Tonson, 1712; Lycophron, Potteri; Manilius, Bentleii; Martialis, Venetiis, 1510; Moguntiæ, 1527; and Farnabii, &c.; Menander, Clerici & Orosius, Havercampi; the Panegyrici Veteres de la Baume; Velleius Paterculus, Delphini; Pausanias, Kuhnii; Phædrus, Burmanni, and Delphini; Pindarus, Stephani, 1586, and Oxonii, 1697, folio; Plato, Ficini, 1602, folio; Plautus, Lambini, Plinii, Hist. Nat. Dalecampii; Plinii Epistolæ; Plotinus, Basileæ, 1580, folio; Plutarchi Opera, Basileæ, 1573-4; Plutarchi Vitæ, Bryani, Londini, 1729, 4to.; Poëtæ Græci Veteres heroici Carminis, Parisiis, apud Stephanum, 1566, folio; Corpus Poetarum Latinorum à Maittaire, Londini, 1725, folio; Polybius, Latinè, Basileæ, 1529; et Græcè, Parisiis, 1609; Pomponius Mela, Venetiis, 1518; Proclus de Sphærâ, Basileæ, 1585; Procopius, Græcè Hœschelii, 1607; Prudentius, Parisiis, 1562, et Amstelodami, 1625; Ptolemæi Geographia, Argentorati, 1622; Quintilianus Burmanni, Sabellici Opera, Basileæ, 1538; Sapphus, Wolfii; Seneca, Farnabii, and various editions besides, but none earlier than 1555; Solini Polyhistor; Sophocles, Stephani, 1603, folio; Cantabrigiæ, 1669; and Londini, 1722, 12mo.; Stephanus de Urbibus, Basileæ, 1568, folio; Stobæus, Gesneri, Tiguri, 1543, folio, with other editions; Strabonis Geographia, Xylandri, Basileæ, 1571, folio, and Casauboni, Amstelod. 1707, folio; Suetonius, Casauboni, & Pitisci, 1714, 4to.; Suidæ Lexicon Græcum, Aldi. 1514, folio; & Kusteri, 1705, in 3 vols. folio; Symmachi Epistolæ, Lugd. Bat. 1653, 8vo.; Achilles Tatius, 1601, 8vo.; Tacitus, Gronovii; Terentius, Bentleii, with many other modern editions; Themistii Opera, Aldi, Venetiis, 1534, folio; Theocritus, Romæ, 1518, and Oxonii, 1699, 8vo.; Theognis, Sylburgii, Heidelbergæ, 1597; Theophrasti Characteres, Camerarii et Heinsii; Thucydides by Hudson and Duker; Virgilii Opera, Venetiis, 1510, folio; Delphini, Parisiis, 1600, 4to.; and several other editions of little note, including the Elzevirian Impression; and the Eclogues printed at Florence in 1504, 12mo.; to which may be added Xenophon, Leunclavii, and Xenophon’s Anabasis by Hutchinson. Such and so numerous are the classical volumes of this venerable Collection, many of which it may be seen are of the best editions, and several of which are from the press of Aldus.

To that eminent printer we are also indebted for the first edition of the Works of Plato, printed at Venice in 1513, folio, of which the present copy is upon vellum. This noble volume has been most cruelly treated, all the leaves following the table and as far as the blank leaf preceding “Platonis Dialogi” have been cut out, and though the concluding part of the book is entire, its leaves have been most foully stained in that part. Its dimensions are eleven and a quarter inches by seven and three eighths; and its original binding of calf, upon whose sides Greek characters were impressed, has been replaced by a covering of dark olive morocco by that eminent bibliopegist Charles Lewis. A perfect copy of this interesting book upon vellum forms one of the highest ornaments of the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow.

I have here also the pleasure of recording the first editions of Aristides, Florentiæ, 1517, folio; and of Lucian, printed at the same place in the same year, and in the same form, by the same printer, Philip Junta, of typographical renown.

Two Classic tomes of olden time next invite our notice; first, a well-preserved copy of Suetonius cum Commento, folio. The Commentary here occupies the margin. The preface of M. Ant. Sabellicus, with his Life of Suetonius follow the title. At the end of the volume is the Register, and this colophon:

“Venetiis per Baptistam de tortis M. cccc lxxxx die xv Februarii.”

beneath which are the initials “B. T.”

This volume measures eleven and three quarter inches by eight, and retains its old vellum covering.

Secondly, the Lexicon of Suidas, in folio, preceded by the editorial preface, and concluding with the verses of Joannes Salandus addressed to D. Demetrius Chalcondylas. At the end of the volume appears the following colophon:

“Anno ab incarnatione M.CCCC lxxxxviiii. die xv Novembris, Impressum Mediolani impensa & dexteritate D. Demetrii Chalcondyli Ioannis Bissoli Benedicti Mangii Carpensium.”

Succeeded by the printer’s mark, with the initials “I. B. B. M.” and the motto, “Sudavit et Alsit.” The present is a very fine, sound and perfect copy, measuring twelve and a quarter inches by eight and three quarters, and bound in old calf.

Among the books printed in the fifteenth century, I also noticed the Medical Works of Avicenna, Lugduni, 1498, folio; Campani Opera, Venetiis, 1495, folio; and Theapoli Academicæ Contemplationes, Venetiis, 1490, 12mo.

In concluding this extended notice of this interesting department of the Library, I may allude to the Anthologia Græca, and Pontani Poemata, and point out the Works of Paulus Egineta, Venetiis apud Aldum, 1528, folio; and of Vitruvius de Architecturâ, printed at Venice in 1567; together with the elegant edition in folio, which issued from the Elzevirian Press at Amsterdam in 1649.

Of Etymological Works elucidating the structure of various languages, this Collection affords, in addition to those already noticed, both the old and the new editions of the inestimable Thesaurus of Stephens; Gaisford’s Edition of Suidas’ Lexicon; Buxtorf, Lexicon Chaldaicum; Castell’s Lexicon Heptaglotton; Pagnini Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Kircheri Œdipus Egyptiacus; Baxter’s Glossarium Archaiologicum Britannicum; Skinner’s Etymologicon Anglicanum, Londini, 1661, folio; Somneri Dictionarium Saxonico-Latino-Anglicum, Oxonii, 1659, folio; Spelman’s Glossary, London, 1626 and 1787, both in folio; Hickes’ Thesaurus Septentrionalis; Junii Etymologicum Anglicanum; Budæi Lexicon Græco-Latinum; Calepini Dictionarium Octolingue; Cooper’s Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ; Curionis Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ; Du Cange’s Glossary; Julii Pollucis Onomasticon; Dufresne’s Hesychii Lexicon; Hoffmanni Lexicon; Pagnini Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ; Porti Lexicon Ionicum; Scapulæ Lexicon; Stephani Thesaurus; Sylburgii Etymologicum Magnum, Heidelbergæ, 1594; and Laurentius Valla de Linguâ Latinâ.

Of Grammatical Works we find one peculiar to this vicinity, the Grammatica Busbeiana, Londini, 1754, and 1762, 8vo. an appropriate memorial of the renowned pedagogue whose name it bears; Lascarii Grammatica Græca, Venetiis, Aldus, 1557, 4to.; Hoogeveen de doctrinâ Particularum; Ruddiman, Institutiones Gr. Lat. Edin. 1740, 8vo.; with some critical pieces by Scaliger, Vossius and Casaubon.

As connected with Classical Literature I may here notice, Bentley’s Phalaris, 1718, 8vo.; Photii Bibliothecâ; Toup, Emendationes in Suidam; Salmasii Exercitationes Plinianæ; Gatakeri Adversaria; and Wolfii Curæ Philologicæ et Criticæ.

Among the translations of the Classics, I may notice Carter’s Epictetus; Creech’s Lucretius; Fawkes’ Anacreon, 1760; Melmoth’s Pliny; Ogilby’s Homer; Rowe’s Lucan; and Trapp’s Virgil.

The Bibliographical Works contained in this Repository, are the Acta Eruditorum of Leipsic; Apollodori Bibliotheca; Gesneri Bibliotheca; Photii Bibliotheca, 1601, folio; Haym’s Notize di libri rari, 1726; Brunet’s Manual; Baillet, Jugemens des Sçavans; Cave’s Historia Literaria; Le Long, Bibliotheca Sacra; Lewis’ Editions of the Bible, and Bibliotheque Historique; Du Pin, Catalogue des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques; Draudii Bibliotheca Classica; Fabricii Bibliotheca Græcæ et Latina; D’Herbélot, Bibliotheque Orientale; Sanderus Bibliotheca Belgica, Insulis, 1641, 4to.; and Teisserii Catalogus Auctorum, qui Librorum Catalogos, Indices, Bibliothecas, &c. scriptis consignarunt, Genevæ, 1705, folio; Morhof. Polyhistor Literarius, Lubecæ, 1689, 4to.; and Watt’s Bibliotheca Britannica.

Of Catalogues of various Libraries these shelves bear several of much interest, such as the Bibliothecæ Regiæ Georgii III. Catalogus, in folio; the Catalogus Bibliothecæ Thuanæ; the Bibliotheca Heinsiana; the Harleian Catalogue; the Catalogue of Dr. Mead’s Library; the Bibliotheca Coisliniana, 1715; Hyde’s Catalogus Librorum Joannis Bridges; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ; Catalogus Bibliothecæ Medii Templi, à Shower, Londini, 1700, 8vo.; Reading’s Catalogue of the Sion College Library, London, 1724, folio; Catalogus Librorum MSS. quos Collegio Christi Cantabrigiæ legavit Matthæus Parker, 1722, 4to.; Bibliothecæ Cottonianæ Librorum MSS. Catalogus à Smithio, Londini, 1696; Lambecii Commentarii de Bibliothecâ Cæsareâ Vindobonensi, 1670, folio; Nesselii Catalogus Codicum MSS. Bibliothecæ Vindobonensis, 1690, folio; Tanner, Catalogus MSS. Angliæ et Hiberniæ; and Wolfii Bibliotheca Aprosiana, Hamburg. 1734, 8vo.

To these works may be added, Mabillon de Rê Diplomaticâ; the Memoirs of Literature, 1722-25, folio; the Bibliotheca Cluniacensis, 1614; and a Catalogue of Books printed in England subsequently to 1666, London, 1700, 12mo.; and Lewis’ History of the English Translations of the Bible, London, 1732, 8vo.

Of Mathematical Works it may suffice to enumerate the Mathematici Veteres, Parisiis, 1693, folio; Maseres’ Scriptores Logarithmici, London, 1796-1807, 4to.; Newton’s Principia; Wallis’ Opera Mathematica, Oxonii, 1699, folio.

Of Medical Works, in addition to the Works of Hippocrates and Dioscorides already mentioned, I may add those of Celsus, 1657; and Galen, Basileæ, 1538; Sennerti Medica Practica; and Mead’s Medical Works.

Of Scientific Works, the number is so small that by mentioning Newton’s Principia; Firmici, Astronomicon, Basileæ, 1551; Keill’s Astronomy; Ray’s Ornithology; Raii Historia Plantarum; Willoughbeius de Piscibus edente Raio, Oxon. 1686, folio; Willoughby’s Ornithology; Lee’s Botany; Dodonæi, Historia Stirpium; Gesneri Historia Animalium; Grew’s Museum of the Royal Society, 1681, folio; and several volumes of the Journaux des Scavans; with the 10th, 13th, 14th, 30th, and 38th volumes of the Philosophical Transactions, I shall convey to the reader the most correct idea of their insignificant and miscellaneous character.

Under the head of Miscellaneous Literature, I may proceed to enumerate the Works of Albertus Magnus, the Epistles of Abelard to Héloise; the Poems of Tasso, Camoens; the Works of Dante and Petrarch, Fontaine and Boileau; the Decameron of Boccaccio, Venice, 1552; Bayle’s Dictionary; Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum, Argentorati, 1505; Gesneri Bibliotheca Universalis; Gruteri Thesaurus Criticus; Fairfax, Godefroy of Bulloigne, 1687; Fenelon’s Telemaque, and Hawkesworth’s Telemachus; the Works of Fontenelle, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Racine, Rabelais, Moliere, Montaigne, and of Montesquieu by Nugent; Juliani Imperatoris Opera; the Poems of Grotius; the Musæ Anglicanæ; Carmina Gratulatoria et Funebria on various occasions; Prioris R. Lusus Westmonasterienses, Westm. 1730, 4to.; Rochefaucault’s Maxims; Sibyllinæ Oracula, Parisiis, 1607, 8vo.; Cuthbert Tonstall de Arte Supputandi; and Vauban on Fortification.

In the department of English Literature, this Library comprehends the Works of Addison, Ascham, Bacon, Boyle, Locke, Thomas Brown, Thomas Fuller, Davenant, Cowley, Pope, Spenser, Swift, and Sir William Temple.

Here also we find Barclay’s Argenis; Beaumont’s Psyche; Baxter’s Works, with his Reliquiæ; Cartwright’s Comedies; Bolingbroke’s Letters; Chambers’ Dictionary; Chaucer’s Works by Thynne, 1521-47, folio; the London editions of 1602, folio, and 1687; with that edited by Urry, 1721, in folio; Cooper on the Public Records; Cumberland’s Origines Gentium; Donne’s Poems; Hales’ Remains; Grey’s Memoria Technica; Harrington’s Oceana; Helvetius’ History of Man; Hobbes’ Leviathan; Ireland on the Plague of Athens, 1832, 8vo.; the Works of Samuel Johnson; Ben Jonson’s Works, London, 1640, folio; with his Plays, 1611, 12mo.; the Works of King James the First, 1616, folio; and of King Charles the First, 1662, folio; with the Εικων Βασιλικη, 1649; Melmoth’s Life of Cicero, and other Pieces; Milton’s Paradise Lost, 1669, 1674, 12mo.; 1688, folio; and 1732, 4to.; Milton’s Works, edited by Newton, 1749, 4to.; and his Treatise de Doctrinâ Christianâ, edited by Sumner, Cambridge, 1825, 4to.; Sir Thomas More’s Works, London, 1557, folio; & Thomæ Mori Opera Latina, Lovaniæ, 1566, folio; Mrs. Anne Killigrew’s Poems, 1686, 4to.; Prior’s Poems; Randolph’s Poems; Selden’s Works, London, 1726, in 6 volumes, folio; Shakespeare’s Works, edited by Rowe, and by Johnson; Shaftesbury’s Characteristics; Somerville’s Chace; Sprat’s History of the Royal Society, 1702, 4to.; to which may be added the Diplomata et Statuta Regiæ Societatis, 1752, 8vo.; Stanley’s Lives of the Philosophers; Steele’s Christian Hero; Tickell’s Miscellaneous Works, 1726; Toland’s Life of Milton; Ridley’s Life of Ridley; Fitzherbert’s Book of Husbandry; and Tusser’s Husbandry, 1744, 8vo.; together with the original editions of the Tatler, 1710; and numbers 1 to 289 of the Spectator of 1711; and the 8vo. edition of that Work, 1712; to which I may add Ray’s English Proverbs; Richardson’s Pictures in Italy; and a Collection of Poetical Tracts, printed at London, in 1722, folio.

Of the early Monastic Library I can only commemorate a single volume, being a copy of the Works of St. Ambrose, written in a fair gothic hand, in double columns, upon vellum. This venerable manuscript is quite perfect, and retains its original binding of calf, folio.

Though this Library has suffered much from neglect, and many of its choicest treasures have been carried away in troublesome times, it yet retains a volume, which would do honour to any collection, however curious or however vast. This precious book is one of those few printed at Oxford during the fifteenth century, and to the typographical antiquary, possesses the additional recommendation of being printed upon vellum. It is the only copy which has been discovered of this nature, and for a knowledge of its existence in its present situation I am indebted to the excellent Typographical Gazetteer of the Rev. Henry Cotton; a work which will be duly appreciated by every sincere enquirer into the statistics of bibliography.

The Work under description is that of Johannes Latteburius In threnos Jeremie, Capitulis cxv. folio, Oxonii, Anno dn̅i, 1482, ultimâ die mensis Julii.

This book consists of 290 leaves, whereof two are blank. Each page contains two columns, and each column 40 lines. The character is of a rude semi-gothic form, and there are no catch-words or paginary numerals. The signatures run in regular order from a. ii. to O. v. throughout the volume. The numbers of the several chapters are placed on the head line of each page. The commencement of each chapter is distinguished by types larger than those of the body of the work, but spaces of the initial letters are left blank, in order that they might be filled in by the Rubricator, at the pleasure of the owner. In the present instance, however, they remain blank. Some former possessor of this volume, which in its time must have seen as well as suffered some strange mutations, will find no favour in the eyes of the bibliomaniac, when he observes that the margins have in several places been wantonly cut and disfigured. But on the first leaf of the book, which has been left blank by the printer, are some curious memoranda, illustrative of its early history. From these we learn that this volume was formerly

“Liber dn̅s Thomæ Sackomb. 1563.”

“Ex emptione dn̅i Joannis Avyngton Monachi nec no̅ scholaris et baccalaurei Ecclesiæ Cathedralis Sancti St. Wythum Wyntonie, et nunc sacræ theologiæ professor.”

On the first column of the first page of the second leaf, the Work of Lattebury commences thus:

“In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti Amen. Mathei ultimo.”

At the foot of the second column of the second page of the 270th leaf, is the following Colophon:—

A blank leaf follows the conclusion of the Work, which is succeeded by an alphabetical index to the same, consisting of eighteen leaves. At the foot of the second column of the second page of the 290th or last leaf of the book, this table concludes with the following words:

Another blank leaf, not necessarily belonging to it, closes the volume, which measures twelve inches by eight inches and three quarters, and is bound in the calf, which in all probability formed its original monastic attire.

If this particular description of this hitherto imperfectly described and rare volume be esteemed by the reader, as compensating for the dulness of the preceding detail, I can assure him that its actual inspection amply rewarded me for the labour of analysing the contents of this extensive Collection.

In conclusion, I may add that the strict regulations under which access is afforded to this venerable and interesting Library are such as to ensure it from injury either of accident or design; while to ensure the punctuality of return to all volumes taken out by the rightful frequenters of the place, a book for the entry of all works borrowed, is kept upon the Library table, a precaution which should always be taken in every corporate library, since many persons, however unskilled in accounts, may nevertheless become but too good bookkeepers.

St. Peter’s at Westminster was a Benedictine Abbey, founded by Sebert, King of the East Saxons, about A.D. 610, and dedicated by Mellitus the Bishop to St. Peter. It was re-edified by King Edward, A.D. 1066, and endowed at the dissolution with 3471l 2s. per an. Dugd. 3977l. 6s. 4d. Speed. King Henry VIII. made it a Bishop’s See; but it continued so only nine years, and then became a Collegiate Church for a Dean and Secular Canons, who have continued ever since, except for three years in Queen Mary’s reign, during which time there was an Abbot and Benedictine Monks re-established.

The beautiful fabric of the Abbey Church was preserved from destruction under Edward VI; and the Protector Somerset, by the sacrifice of some of its revenues, which “pleaded its cause and purchased its ransome.”

William Benson, Abbot of Westminster at the dissolution, surrendered this Abbey, with seventeen Monks, into Henry VIII’s hands, and was made the first Dean of Westminster. He died in third year of Edward the Sixth.⁠[60]⁠

Independently of these historical claims upon our attention the value and importance of the literary treasures of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster richly deserve to be recorded among the Ecclesiastical Libraries of England.