Hehadfirstmadehiscorrectionsinpencilandinamodernhand，andthenhehadcopiedthemoverinink，andinaforgedancienthand。Thesamewordsometimesrecurredinbothhandwritings。Theink，whichlookedold，wasreallynoEnglishinkatall，notevenIreland\'smixture。Itseemedtobesepia，sometimesmixedwithalittleIndianink。Mr。Hamiltonmademanyothersaddiscoveries。
HepointedoutthatMr。Collierhadpublished，fromaDulwichMS。，aletterofMrs。Alleyne\'s（theactor\'swife），referringtoShakespeareas\"Mr。ShakespeareoftheGlobe。\"NowtheDulwichMS。
wasmutilatedandblankintheveryplacewherethisinterestingreferenceshouldhaveoccurred。Suchisaskeletonhistoryoftheoldcorrector，hisworksandways。Itisprobablethat——thankstohisassiduities——newShakespeariandocumentswillinfuturebereceivedwithextremescepticism；andthisisallthefruit，exceptacresofnewspapercorrespondence，whichtheworldhasderivedfromMr。Collier\'sgreasyandimperfectbutunique\"correctedfolio。\"
Therecencyand（toaShakespeariancritic）theimportanceoftheseforgeriesobscuresthehumblemeritofSurtees，withhisballadsofthe\'SlayingofAntonyFeatherstonhaugh，\'andof\'Bartram\'sDirge。\'
Surteesleftcleverlacunaeinthesesongs，\'collectedfromoraltradition，\'andfurnishednotessolearnedthattheytookinSirWalterScott。TherearemomentswhenIhalfsuspect\"theShirrahimsel\"（whoblamelesslyforgedsomanyextractsfrom\'OldPlays\'）
ofhavingcomposed\'KinmontWillie。\'TocompareoldScottofSatchell\'saccountofKinmontWilliewiththeballadistofeeluncomfortabledoubts。Butthisisarankimpiety。ThelastballadforgeryofmuchnotewasthesetofshamMacedonianepicsandpopularsongs（allaboutAlexandertheGreat，andotherheroes）
whichaschoolmasterintheRhodopeimposedonM。Verkovitch。Thetrickwasnotbadlydone，andtheimitationof\"balladslang\"wasexcellent。The\'OeraLinda\'book，too，wassuccessfulenoughtobetranslatedintoEnglish。Withthislatesteffortofthetenthmuse，thecraftymuseofLiteraryForgery，wemayleaveatopicwhichcouldnotbeexhaustedinaponderousvolume。WehavenotroomevenfortheforgedlettersofShelley，towhichMr。Browning，beingtakeninthereby，wroteapreface，norfortheforgedlettersofMr。
Ruskin，whichoccasionallyhoaxallthenewspapers。
BIBLIOMANIAINFRANCE
Theloveofbooksfortheirownsake，fortheirpaper，print，binding，andfortheirassociations，asdistinctfromtheloveofliterature，isastrongerandmoreuniversalpassioninFrancethanelsewhereinEurope。InEnglandpublishersaremenofbusiness；inFrancetheyaspiretobeartists。InEnglandpeopleborrowwhattheyreadfromthelibraries，andtakewhatgaudycloth-bindingchancechoosestosendthem。InFrancepeoplebuybooks，andbindthemtotheirheart\'sdesirewithquaintanddaintydevicesonthemoroccocovers。Booksarelifelongfriendsinthatcountry；inEnglandtheyaretheguestsofaweekorofafortnight。ThegreatestFrenchwritershavebeencollectorsofcuriouseditions；
theyhavedevotedwholetreatisestotheloveofbooks。TheliteratureandhistoryofFrancearefullofanecdotesofthegoodandbadfortunesofbibliophiles，oftheirbargains，discoveries，disappointments。Thereliesbeforeusatthismomentasmalllibraryofbooksaboutbooks，——the\'BibliophileFrancais，\'insevenlargevolumes，\'LesSonnetsd\'unBibliophile，\'\'LaBibliomanieen1878，\'\'LaBibliothequed\'unBibliophile\'（1885）andadozenotherworksofJanin，Nodier，Beraldi，Pieters，Didot，greatcollectorswhohavewrittenfortheinstructionofbeginnersandthepleasureofeveryonewhotakesdelightinprintedpaper。
Thepassionforbooks，likeotherformsofdesire，hasitschangesoffashion。Itisnotalwayseasytojustifythecapricesoftaste。
Thepresenceorabsenceofhalfaninchofpaperinthe\"uncut\"
marginofabookmakesadifferenceofvaluethatrangesfromfiveshillingstoahundredpounds。Somebooksarerunafterbecausetheyarebeautifullybound；somearecompetedforwithequaleagernessbecausetheyneverhavebeenboundatall。Theuninitiatedoftenmakeabsurdmistakesaboutthesedistinctions。
SometimeagotheDailyTelegraphreproachedacollectorbecausehisbookswere\"uncut，\"whence，arguedthejournalist，itwasclearthathehadneverreadthem。\"Uncut，\"ofcourse，onlymeansthatthemarginshavenotbeencurtailedbythebinders\'plough。Itisapointofsentimenttolikebooksjustastheyleftthehandsoftheoldprinters，——ofEstienne，Aldus，orLouisElzevir。
Itisbecausethepassionforbooksisasentimentalpassionthatpeoplewhohavenotfeltitalwaysfailtounderstandit。Sentimentisnotaneasythingtoexplain。Englishmenespeciallyfinditimpossibletounderstandtastesandemotionsthatarenottheirown，——thewrongsofIreland，（tillquiterecently）theaspirationsofEasternRoumelia，thedemandsofGreece。Ifwearetounderstandthebook-hunter，wemustneverforgetthattohimbooksare，inthefirstplace，RELICS。Helikestothinkthatthegreatwriterswhomheadmireshandledjustsuchpagesandsawsuchanarrangementoftypeashenowbeholds。Moliere，forexample，correctedtheproofsforthiseditionofthe\'PrecieusesRidicules，\'whenhefirstdiscovered\"whatalabouritistopublishabook，andhowGREEN
（NEUF）anauthoristhefirsttimetheyprinthim。\"OritmaybethatCampanellaturnedover，withhandsunstrung，andstillbrokenbythetorture，theseleavesthatcontainhispassionatesonnets。
HereagainisthecopyofTheocritusfromwhichsomeprettypagemayhavereadaloudtocharmthepaganandpontificalleisureofLeoX。
ThisGargantuaisthecounterpartofthatwhichthemartyredDoletprintedfor（orpiratedfrom，alas！）MaitreFrancoisRabelais。Thiswoefulballade，withthewoodcutofthreethieveshangingfromonegallows，camenearbeingthe\"LastDyingSpeechandConfessionofFrancoisVillon。\"Thisshabbycopyof\'TheEveofSt。Agnes\'ispreciselylikethatwhichShelleydoubledupandthrustintohispocketwhentheprowofthepiraticalfeluccacrashedintothetimbersoftheDonJuan。Somerarebookshavetheseassociations，andtheybringyounearertotheauthorsthandothemodernreprints。BibliophileswilltellyouthatitistheearlyREADINGS
theycarefor，——theauthor\'sfirstfancies，andthosemorehurriedexpressionswhichheafterwardscorrected。TheseREADINGShavetheirliteraryvalue，especiallyinthemasterpiecesofthegreat；
butthesentimentafterallisthemainthing。
Otherbookscometoberelicsinanotherway。Theyarethecopieswhichbelongedtoillustriouspeople，——tothefamouscollectorswhomakeakindofcatena（agoldenchainofbibliophiles）throughthecenturiessinceprintingwasinvented。ThereareGrolier（1479-
1565），——notabookbinder，asanEnglishnewspapersupposed（probablywhenMr。Salawasonhistravels），——DeThou（1553-1617），thegreatColbert，theDucdelaValliere（1708-1780），CharlesNodier，amanofyesterday，M。Didot，andtherest，toonumeroustoname。Again，therearethebooksofkings，likeFrancisI。，HenriIII。，andLouisXIV。Theseprinceshadtheirfavouritedevices。NicolasEve，Padeloup，Derome，andotherartistsarrayedtheirbooksinmorocco，——
tooledwithskulls，cross-bones，andcrucifixionsforthevoluptuouspietistHenriIII。，withthesalamanderforFrancisI。，andpowderedwithfleursdelysforthemonarchwho\"wastheState。\"
Therearerelicsalsoofnoblebeauties。ThevolumesofMarguerited\'Angoulemearecoveredwithgoldendaisies。ThecipherofMarieAntoinetteadornstoomanybooksthatMadameduBarrymighthavewelcomedtoherhastilyimprovisedlibrary。ThethreedaughtersofLouisXV。hadtheirfavouritecoloursofmorocco，citron，red，andolive，andtheirbooksarevaluedasmuchasiftheyborethebeesofDeThou，ortheintertwinedC\'softheillustriousandridiculousAbbeCotin，theTrissotinofthecomedy。Surelyinallthesethingsthereisahumaninterest，andourfingersarefaintlythrilled，aswetouchthesebooks，withthefar-offcontactofthehandsofkingsandcardinals，scholarsandcoquettes，pedants，poets，andprecieuses，thepeoplewhoareunforgotteninthemobthatinhabiteddeadcenturies。
SouniversalandardenthastheloveofmagnificentbooksbeeninFrance，thatitwouldbepossibletowriteakindofbibliomaniachistoryofthatcountry。Allherrulers，kings，cardinals，andladieshavehadtimetospareforcollecting。Withoutgoingtoofarback，tothetimewhenBerthaspanandCharlemagnewasanamateur，wemaygiveafewspecimensofananecdoticalhistoryofFrenchbibliolatry，beginning，asiscourteous，withalady。\"Canawomanbeabibliophile？\"isaquestionwhichwasoncediscussedattheweeklybreakfastpartyofGuilbertdePixerecourt，thefamousbook-
loverandplaywright，the\"CorneilleoftheBoulevards。\"Thecontroversyglidedintoadiscussionasto\"howmanybooksamancanloveatatime；\"buthistoricalexamplesprovethatFrenchwomen（andItalian，witnessthePrincessd\'Este）maybebibliophilesofthetruestrain。DianedePoictierswastheirillustriouspatroness。ThemistressofHenriII。possessed，intheChateaud\'Anet，alibraryofthefirsttriumphsoftypography。Hertastewaswideinrange，includingsongs，plays，romances，divinity；hercopiesoftheFatherswereboundincitronmorocco，stampedwithherarmsanddevices，andclosedwithclaspsofsilver。Intheloveofbooks，asineverythingelse，DianeandHenriII。wereinseparable。
TheinterlacedHandDarescatteredoverthecoversoftheirvolumes；thelilyofFranceistwinedroundthecrescentsofDiane，orroundthequiver，thearrows，andthebowwhichsheadoptedashercognisance，inhonourofthemaidengoddess。ThebooksofHenriandofDianeremainedintheChateaud\'AnettillthedeathofthePrincessedeCondein1723，whentheyweredispersed。ThesonofthefamousMadamedeGuyonboughtthegreaterpartofthelibrary，whichhassincebeenscatteredagainandagain。M。LeopoldDouble，awell-knownbibliophile，possessedseveralexamples。{15}
HenryIII。scarcelydeserves，perhaps，thenameofabook-lover，forheprobablyneverreadtheworkswhichwereboundforhiminthemostelaborateway。Butthatgreathistorian，AlexandreDumas，takesafarmorefriendlyviewoftheking\'sstudies，and，in\'LaDamedeMonsoreau，\'introducesustoalearnedmonarch。Whetherhecaredforthecontentsofhisbooksornot，hisbooksareamongthemostsingularrelicsofacharacterwhichexcitesevenmorbidcuriosity。Nomoredebauchedandworthlesswretcheverfilledathrone；but，likethebadmaninAristotle，HenriIII。was\"fullofrepentance。\"Whenhewasnotdancinginanunseemlyrevel，hewasonhiskneesinhischapel。Theboardofoneofhisbooks，ofwhichanengravingliesbeforeme，bearshiscipherandcrowninthecorners；butthecentreisoccupiedinfrontwithapictureoftheAnnunciation，whileonthebackisthecrucifixionandthebreedingheartthroughwhichtheswordshavepierced。Hisfavouritedevicewasthedeath\'s-head，withthemottoMementoMori，orSpesmeaDeus。
WhilehewasstillonlyDucd\'Anjou，HenrilovedMariedeCleves，PrincessedeConde。Onhersuddendeathheexpressedhisgrief，ashehaddonehispiety，byaidofthepetitsfersofthebookbinder。
Marie\'sinitialswerestampedonhisbook-coversinachapletoflaurels。Inonecorneraskullandcross-boneswerefigured；intheotherthemottoMortm\'estvie；whiletwocurlyobjects，whichdiddutyfortears，filledupthelowercorners。ThebooksofHenriIII。，evenwhentheyareabsolutelyworthlessasliterature，sellforhighprices；andaninanetreatiseontheology，decoratedwithhissacredemblems，latelybroughtabout120poundsinaLondonsale。
FrancisI。，asapatronofallthearts，wasnaturallyanamateurofbindings。ThefatesofbookswerecuriouslyillustratedbythestoryofthecopyofHomer，onlargepaper，whichAldus，thegreatVenetianprinter，presentedtoFrancisI。AfterthedeathofthelateMarquisofHastings，betterknownasanownerofhorsesthanofbooks，hispossessionswerebroughttothehammer。Withtheinstinct，theflair，astheFrenchsay，ofthebibliophile，M。
AmbroiseFirminDidot，thebiographerofAldus，guessedthatthemarquismighthaveownedsomethinginhisline。HesenthisagentovertoEngland，tothecountrytownwherethesalewastobeheld。
M。Didothadhisreward。Amongthebookswhichweredraggedoutofsomemouldystore-roomwastheveryAldineHomerofFrancisI。，withpartoftheoriginalbindingstillclingingtotheleaves。M。Didotpurchasedthepreciousrelic，andsentittowhatM。Fertiault（whohaswrittenacenturyofsonnetsonbibliomania）callsthehospitalforbooks。
Ledoshumide，jel\'eponge；
Oumanqueuncoin，viteuneallonge，Pourtousj\'aimaisondesante。
M。Didot，ofcourse，didnotpractisethisamateursurgeryhimself，buthadthearmsanddevicesofFrancisI。restoredbyoneofthosefamousbinderswhoonlyworkfordukes，millionnaires，andRothschilds。
DuringthereligiouswarsandthetroublesoftheFronde，itisprobablethatfewpeoplegavemuchtimetothecollectionofbooks。
TheillustriousexceptionsareRichelieuandCardinalMazarin，whopossesseda\"snuffyDavy\"ofhisown，anindefatigableprowleramongbook-stallsanddingypurlieus，inGabrielNaude。In1664，Naude，whowasalearnedandingeniouswriter，theapologistfor\"greatmensuspectedofmagic，\"publishedthesecondeditionofhis\'AvispourdresseruneBibliotheque，\'andprovedhimselftobeatrueloverofthechase，amightyhunter（ofbooks）beforetheLord。Naude\'sadvicetothecollectorisratheramusing。Hepretendsnottocaremuchforbindings，andquotesSeneca\'srebukeoftheRomanbibliomaniacs，Quosvoluminumsuorumfrontesmaximeplacenttitulique，——whochieflycareforthebacksandletteringoftheirvolumes。ThefactisthatNaudehadthewealthofMazarinathisback，andweknowverywell，fromtheremainsoftheCardinal\'slibrarywhichexist，thathelikedaswellasanymantoseehiscardinal\'shatglitteringonredorolivemoroccointhemidstofthebeautifultoolingoftheearlyseventeenthcentury。Whenoncehegotabook，hewouldnotsparetogiveitaworthyjacket。
Naude\'sideasaboutbuyingwerepeculiar。PerhapshesailedrathernearerthewindthanevenMonkbarnswouldhavecaredtodo。Hisfavouriteplanwastobuyupwholelibrariesinthegross，\"speculativelots\"asthedealerscallthem。Inthesecondplace，headvisedthebook-lovertohaunttheretreatsofLibrairesfripiers，etlesvieuxfondsetmagasins。Herehetrulyobservesthatyoumayfindrarebooks，broches，——thatis，unboundanduncut，——
justasMr。Symondsboughttwouncutcopiesof\'LaonandCythna\'inaBristolstallforacrown。\"Youmaygetthingsforfourorfivecrownsthatwouldcostyoufortyorfiftyelsewhere，\"saysNaude。
ThusafewyearsagoM。PaulLacroixboughtfortwofrancs，inaParisshop，theverycopyof\'Tartuffe\'whichhadbelongedtoLouisXIV。Theexamplemaynowbeworthperhaps200pounds。Butwearedigressingintothepleasuresofthemodernsportsman。
Itwasnotonlyinsecond-handbookshopsthatNaudehunted，butamongthedealersinwastepaper。\"ThusdidPoggiofindQuintilianonthecounterofawood-merchant，andMassonpickedup\'Agobardus\'
attheshopofabinder，whowasgoingtousetheMS。topatchhisbookswithal。\"Rossi，whomayhaveseenNaudeatwork，tellsushowhewouldenterashopwithayard-measureinhishand，buyingbooks，wearesorrytosay，bytheell。\"ThestallswherehehadpassedwerelikethetownsthroughwhichAttilaortheTartarshadswept，withruinintheirtrain，——utnonhominisuniussedulitas，sedcalamitasquaedamperomnesbibliopolarumtabernaspervasissevideatur！\"Naudehadsorrowsofhisown。In1652theParliamentdecreedtheconfiscationofthesplendidlibraryofMazarin，whichwasperhapsthefirstfreelibraryinEurope，——thefirstthatwasopentoallwhowereworthyofrightofentrance。Thereisapainfuldescriptionofthesale，fromwhichthebook-loverwillaverthiseyes。OnMazarin\'sreturntopowerhemanagedtocollectagainandenrichhisstores，whichformthegermoftheexistingBibliothequeMazarine。
Amongprincesandpopesitispleasanttomeetonemanofletters，andhethegreatestofthegreatage，whowasabibliophile。TheenemiesandrivalsofMoliere——DeVise，DeVilliers，andtherest——
arealwaysreproachinghim——withhisloveofbouquins。Thereissomedifferenceofopinionamongphilologistsaboutthederivationofbouquin，butallbook-huntersknowthemeaningoftheword。Thebouquinisthe\"small，rarevolume，blackwithtarnishedgold，\"
whichliesamongthewaresofthestall-keeper，patientinrainanddust，tillthehuntercomeswhocanappreciatethequarry。WeliketothinkofMoliereloungingthroughthenarrowstreetsintheevening，returning，perhaps，fromsomenoblehousewherehehasbeenreadingtheproscribed\'Tartuffe，\'orgivinganimitationoftherivalactorsattheHotelBourgogne。Absentasthecontemplateuris，adingybook-stallwakenshimfromhisreverie。Hislacerufflesaresoiledinamomentwiththelearneddustofancientvolumes。Perhapshepicksuptheonlyworkoutofallhislibrarythatisknowntoexist，——unravissantpetitElzevir，\'DeImperioMagniMogolis\'（Lugd。Bat。1651）。Onthetitle-pageofthistinyvolume，oneoftheminuteseriesof\'Republics\'whichtheElzevirspublished，thepoethaswrittenhisraresignature，\"J。B。P。
Moliere，\"withthepricethebookcosthim，\"1livre，10sols。\"\"Iln\'estpasdebouquinquis\'echappedesesmains，\"saystheauthorof\'LaGuerreComique，\'thelastofthepamphletswhichflewaboutduringthegreatliteraryquarrelabout\"L\'EcoledesFemmes。\"
ThankstoM。SouliethecatalogueofMoliere\'slibraryhasbeenfound，thoughthebooksthemselveshavepassedoutofview。Thereareaboutthreehundredandfiftyvolumesintheinventory，butMoliere\'swidowmayhaveomittedasvalueless（itisthefoibleofhersex）manyrustybouquins，nowworthfarmorethantheirweightingold。MoliereownednofewerthantwohundredandfortyvolumesofFrenchandItaliancomedies。Fromthesehetookwhatsuitedhimwhereverhefoundit。Hehadplentyofclassics，histories，philosophictreatises，theessaysofMontaigne，aPlutarch，andaBible。
Weknownothing，totheregretofbibliophiles，ofMoliere\'stasteinbindings。Didhehaveacomicmaskstampedontheleather（thatdevicewaschasedonhisplate），ordidhedisplayhiscognizanceandarms，thetwoapesthatsupportashieldchargedwiththreemirrorsofTruth？Itiscertain——LaBruyeretellsusasmuch——thatthesilliersortofbook-loverintheseventeenthcenturywasmuchthesamesortofpersonashissuccessorinourowntime。\"Amantellsmehehasalibrary，\"saysLaBruyere（DelaMode）；\"Iaskpermissiontoseeit。Igotovisitmyfriend，andhereceivesmeinahousewhere，evenonthestairs，thesmelloftheblackmoroccowithwhichhisbooksarecoveredissostrongthatInearlyfaint。
Hedoeshisbesttoreviveme；shoutsinmyearthatthevolumes\'havegiltedges，\'thattheyare\'elegantlytooled，\'thattheyare\'ofthegoodedition，\'……andinformsmethat\'heneverreads，\'
that\'heneversetsfootinthispartofhishouse，\'thathe\'willcometoobligeme！\'Ithankhimforallhiskindness，andhavenomoredesirethanhimselftoseethetanner\'sshopthathecallshislibrary。\"
Colbert，thegreatministerofLouisXIV。，wasabibliophileatwhomperhapsLaBruyerewouldhavesneered。Hewasacollectorwhodidnotread，butwhoamassedbeautifulbooks，andlookedforward，asbusinessmendo，tothedaywhenhewouldhavetimetostudythem。
AfterGrolier，DeThou，andMazarin，ColbertpossessedprobablytherichestprivatelibraryinEurope。TheambassadorsofFrancewerechargedtoprocurehimrarebooksandmanuscripts，anditissaidthatinacommercialtreatywiththePorteheinsertedaclausedemandingacertainquantityofLevantmoroccofortheuseoftheroyalbookbinders。England，inthosedays，hadnoliteraturewithwhichFrancedeignedtobeacquainted。EvenintoEngland，however，valuablebookshadbeenimported；andwefindColbertpressingtheFrenchambassadoratSt。James\'stobidforhimatacertainsaleofrarehereticalwritings。Peoplewhowantedtogainhisfavourapproachedhimwithpresentsofbooks，andthecityofMetzgavehimtworealcuriosities——thefamous\"MetzBible\"andtheMissalofCharlestheBald。TheElzevirssenthimtheirbestexamples，andthoughColbertprobablysawmoreofthegiltcoversofhisbooksthanoftheircontents，atleasthepreservedandhandeddownmanyvaluableworks。AsmuchmaybesaidforthereprobateCardinalDubois，who，withallhisfaults，wasacollector。Bossuet，ontheotherhand，leftlittleornothingofinterestexceptacopyofthe1682editionofMoliere，whomhedetestedandcondemnedto\"thepunishmentofthosewholaugh。\"Eventhisbook，whichhasacuriousinterest，hasslippedoutofsight，andmayhaveceasedtoexist。
IfColbertandDuboispreservedbooksfromdestruction，therearecollectorsenoughwhohavebeenrescuedfromoblivionbybooks。ThediplomacyofD\'Hoymisforgotten；theplaysofLongepierre，andhisquarrelswithJ。B。Rousseau，areknownonlytotheliteraryhistorian。Thesegreatamateurshavesecuredaneternityofgiltedges，animmortalityofmorocco。Absurdpricesaregivenforanytrashthatbelongedtothem，andthewriterofthisnoticehasboughtforfourshillingsanElzevirclassic，whichwhenitbearsthegoldenfleeceofLongepierreisworthabout100pounds。
Longepierre，D\'Hoym，McCarthy，andtheDucdelaValliere，withalltheirtreasures，arelessinterestingtousthanGraille，CocheandLoque，theneglecteddaughtersofLouisXV。Theyfoundsomepaleconsolationintheirlittlecabinetsofbooks，intheirvariousliveriesofolive，citron，andredmorocco。
Aladyamateurofhigh（book-collecting）reputation，theComtessedeVerrue，wasrepresentedintheBeckfordsalebyoneofthreecopiesof\'L\'HistoiredeMelusine，\'ofMelusine，thetwy-formedfairy，andancestressofthehouseofLusignan。TheComtessedeVerrue，oneofthefewwomenwhohavereallyunderstoodbook-collecting，{16}wasbornJanuary18，1670，anddiedNovember18，1736。ShewasthedaughterofCharlesdeLuynesandofhissecondwife，AnnedeRohan。
WhenonlythirteenshemarriedtheComtedeVerrue，whosomewhatinjudiciouslypresentedher，afleurdequinzeans，asRonsardsays，atthecourtofVictorAmadeusofSavoy。ItisthoughtthatthecountesswaslesscruelthanthefleurAngevineofRonsard。ForsomereasontheyoungmatronfledfromthecourtofTurinandreturnedtoParis，whereshebuiltamagnificenthotel，andreceivedthemostdistinguishedcompany。Accordingtoherbiographer，thecountesslovedscienceandartjusqu\'audelire，andshecollectedthefurnitureoftheperiod，withoutneglectingthebluechinaoftheglowingOrient。Inebonybookcasesshepossessedabouteighteenthousandvolumes，boundbythegreatestartistsoftheday。
\"Withoutcareforthepresent，withoutfearofthefuture，doinggood，pursuingthebeautiful，protectingthearts，withatenderheartandopenhand，thecountesspassedthroughlife，calm，happy，beloved，andadmired。\"Sheleftanepitaphonherself，thusrudelytranslated：-
Herelies，insleepsecure，Adameinclinedtomirth，Who，bywayofmakingsure，ChoseherParadiseonearth。
DuringtheRevolution，tolikewell-boundbookswasasmuchastoproclaimoneanaristocrat。CondorcetmighthaveescapedthescaffoldifhehadonlythrownawaytheneatlittleHoracefromtheroyalpress，whichbetrayedhimfornotrueRepublican，butaneducatedman。Thegreatlibrariesfromthechateauxofthenobleswerescatteredamongallthebook-stalls。Truesonsoffreedomtoreoffthebindings，withtheirgildedcrestsandscutcheons。Onerevolutionarywriterdeclared，andperhapshewasnotfarwrong，thattheartofbindingwastheworstenemyofreading。Healwaysbeganhisstudiesbybreakingthebacksofthevolumeshewasabouttoattack。TheartofbookbindinginthesesadyearstookflighttoEngland，andwaskeptalivebyartistsrobustratherthanrefined，likeThompsonandRogerPayne。Thesewereevildays，whenthebinderhadtocutthearistocraticcoatofarmsoutofabookcover，andglueinagiltcapofliberty，asinavolumeinanOxfordamateur\'scollection。
WhenNapoleonbecameEmperor，hestroveinvaintomakethetroubledandfeverishyearsofhispowerproducealiterature。Hehimselfwasoneofthemostvoraciousreadersofnovelsthateverlived。Hewasalwaysaskingforthenewestofthenew，andunfortunatelyeventhenewromancesofhisperiodwerehopelesslybad。Barbier，hislibrarian，hadorderstosendparcelsoffreshfictiontohismajestywhereverhemighthappentobe，andgreatloadsofnovelsfollowedNapoleontoGermany，Spain，Italy，Russia。Theconquerorwasveryhardtoplease。Hereadinhistravellingcarriage，andafterskimmingafewpageswouldthrowavolumethatboredhimoutofthewindowintothehighway。Hemighthavebeentrackedbyhistrailofromances，aswasHop-o\'-my-Thumb，inthefairytale，bythewhitestoneshedroppedbehindhim。PoorBarbier，whoministeredtoapassionfornovelsthatdemandedtwentyvolumesaday，wasathiswit\'send。HetriedtofoistontheEmperortheromancesoftheyearbeforelast；buttheseNapoleonhadgenerallyread，andherefused，withimperialscorn，tolookatthemagain。Heorderedatravellinglibraryofthreethousandvolumestobemadeforhim，butitwasprovedthatthetaskcouldnotbeaccomplishedinlessthansixyears。Theexpense，ifonlyfiftycopiesofeachexamplehadbeenprinted，wouldhaveamountedtomorethansixmillionfrancs。
ARomanemperorwouldnothaveallowedtheseconsiderationstostandinhisway；butNapoleon，afterall，wasamodern。Hecontentedhimselfwithaselectionofbooksconvenientlysmallinshape，andpackedinsumptuouscases。TheclassicalwritersofFrancecouldnevercontentNapoleon，andevenfromMoscowin1812，hewrotetoBarbierclamorousfornewbooks，andgoodones。LongbeforetheycouldhavereachedMoscow，NapoleonwasflyinghomewardbeforeKotousoffandBenningsen。
Napoleonwasthelastofthebook-loverswhogovernedFrance。TheDucd\'Aumale，afamousbibliophile，hasnever\"cometohisown，\"andofM。Gambettaitisonlyknownthathisdevotionallibrary，atleast，hasfounditswayintothemarket。Wehavereachedtheeraofprivatebook-fanciers：ofNodier，whohadthreelibrariesinhistime，butneveraVirgil；andofPixerecourt，thedramatist，whofoundedtheSocietedesBibliophilesFrancais。TheRomanticmovementinFrenchliteraturebroughtinsomenewfashionsinbook-
hunting。TheoriginaleditionsofRonsard，DesPortes，Belleau，andDuBellaybecameinvaluable；whilethewritingsofGautier，PetrusBorel，andothersexcitedthepassionofcollectors。PixerecourtwasabelieverintheworksoftheElzevirs。Ononeoccasion，whenhewasoutbidbyafriendatanauction，hecriedpassionately，\"I
shallhavethatbookatyoursale！\"and，theotherpoorbibliophilesoonfallingintoadeclineanddying，Pixerecourtgotthevolumewhichhesomuchdesired。Thesuperstitiousmighthavebeenexcusedforcreditinghimwiththegiftofjettatura，——oftheevileye。OnPixerecourthimselftheevileyefellatlast；histheatre，theGaiete，wasburneddownin1835，andhiscreditorsintendedtoimpoundhisbelovedbooks。Thebibliophilehastilypackedtheminboxes，andconveyedthemintwocabsandundercoverofnighttothehouseofM。PaulLacroix。Theretheylanguishedinexiletilltheaffairsofthemanagerweresettled。
PixerecourtandNodier，themostrecklessofmen，weretheleadersoftheolderschoolofbibliomaniacs。Theformerwasnotarichman；thesecondwaspoor，butheneverhesitatedinfaceofapricethathecouldnotafford。Hewouldliterallyruinhimselfintheaccumulationofalibrary，andthenwouldrecoverhisfortunesbysellinghisbooks。NodierpassedthroughlifewithoutaVirgil，becauseheneversucceededinfindingtheidealVirgilofhisdreams，——aclean，uncutcopyoftherightElzeviredition，withthemisprint，andthetwopassagesinredletters。PerhapsthisfailurewasajudgmentonhimforthetrickbywhichhebeguiledacertaincollectorofBibles。HeINVENTEDanedition，andputthecollectoronthescent，whichhefollowedvainly，tillhediedofthesicknessofhopedeferred。
OnehasmoresympathywiththeeccentricitiesofNodierthanwiththemereextravaganceofthenewhauteecoleofbibliomaniacs，theschoolofmillionnaires，royaldukes，andRothschilds。Theseamateursarerecklessofprices，andbytheircompetitionhavemadeitalmostimpossibleforapoormantobuyapreciousbook。Thedukes，theAmericans，thepubliclibraries，snapthemallupintheauctions。AglanceatM。GustaveBrunet\'slittlevolume，\'LaBibliomanieen1878，\'willprovetheexcesseswhichthesepeoplecommit。ThefuneralorationofBossuetoverHenrietteMarieofFrance（1669），andHenrietteAnneofEngland（1670），quarto，intheoriginalbinding，aresoldfor200pounds。ItistruethatthiscopyhadpossiblybelongedtoBossuethimself，andcertainlytohisnephew。Thereisanexample，aswehaveseen，ofthe1682editionofMoliere，——ofMolierewhomBossuetdetested，——whichalsobelongedtotheeagleofMeaux。Themanuscriptnotesofthedivineontheworkofthepoorplayermustbeedifying，andintheinterestsofscienceitistobehopedthatthisbookmaysooncomeintothemarket。WhilepamphletsofBossuetaresoldsodear，thefirsteditionofHomer——thebeautifuleditionof1488，whichthethreeyoungFlorentinegentlemenpublished——maybehadfor100pounds。
Yeteventhatseemsexpensive，whenwerememberthatthecopyinthelibraryofGeorgeIII。costonlysevenshillings。ThisexquisiteHomer，sacredtothememoryoflearnedfriendships，thechiefofferingofearlyprintingatthealtarofancientpoetry，isreallyoneofthemostinterestingbooksintheworld。YetthisHomerislessvaluedthanthetinyoctavowhichcontainstheballadesandhuitainsofthescampFrancoisVillon（1533）。\'TheHistoryoftheHolyGrail\'（L\'HystoireduSainctGreaal：Paris，1523），inabindingstampedwiththefourcrownsofLouisXIV。，isvaluedatabout500pounds。Achivalricromanceoftheolddays，whichwastreasuredeveninthetimeofthegrandmonarque，whenoldFrenchliteraturewassomuchdespised，iscertainlyacuriosity。TheRabelaisofMadamedePompadour（inmorocco）seemscomparativelycheapat60pounds。ThereissomethingpiquantintheideaofinheritingfromthatfamousbeautytheworkofthecolossalgeniusofRabelais。{17}
Thenaturalsympathyofcollectors\"tomiddlefortuneborn\"isnotwiththerichmenwhosesportinbook-huntingresemblesthebattue。
Wesidewiththepoorhuntersofthewildgame，whohangoverthefourpennystallsonthequais，anddiveintothedustyboxesafterliterarypearls。Thesedevotedmenrisebetimes，andhurrytothestallsbeforethecommontideofpassengersgoesby。Earlymorningisthebestmomentinthis，asinothersports。Athalfpastseven，insummer，thebouquiniste，thedealerincheapvolumesatsecond-
hand，arraysthebookswhichhepurchasedovernight，thestraypossessionsofruinedfamilies，theoutcastsoflibraries。Theold-
fashionedbooksellerknewlittleofthevalueofhiswares；itwashisobjecttoturnasmallcertainprofitonhisexpenditure。Itisreckonedthatanenergetic，business-likeoldbooksellerwillturnover150，000volumesinayear。InthisvastnumbertheremustbepickingsforthehumblecollectorwhocannotaffordtoencounterthechildrenofIsraelatSotheby\'sorattheHotelDrouot。
Lettheenthusiast，inconclusion，throwahandfulofliliesonthegraveofthemartyroftheloveofbooks，——thepoetAlbertGlatigny。
PoorGlatignywasthesonofagardechampetre；hiseducationwasaccidental，andhispoetictasteandskillextraordinarilyfineanddelicate。Inhislifeofstarvation（hehadoftentosleepinomnibusesandrailwaystations），hefrequentlyspentthepriceofadinneronanewbook。Helivedtoreadandtodream，andifheboughtbookshehadnotthewherewithaltolive。Still，heboughtthem，——andhedied！HisownpoemswerebeautifullyprintedbyLemerre，anditmaybeajoytohim（simentemmortaliatangunt）
thattheyarenowsohighlyvaluedthatthepriceofacopywouldhavekepttheauthoraliveandhappyforamonth。
OLDFRENCHTITLE-PAGES
Nothingcanbeplainer，asarule，thanamodernEnglishtitle-page。
Itsonlybeauty（ifbeautyitpossesses）consistsinthearrangementand\'massing\'oflinesoftypeinvarioussizes。Wehavereturnedalmosttotheprimitivesimplicityoftheoldestprintedbooks，whichhadnotitle-pages，properlyspeaking，atall，ormerelygave，withextremebrevity，thenameofthework，withoutprinter\'smark，ordate，orplace。Thesewerereservedforthecolophon，ifitwasthoughtdesirabletomentionthematall。Thus，intheblack-letterexampleofGuidodeColumna\'s\'HistoryofTroy，\'writtenabout1283，andprintedatStrasburgin1489，thetitle-pageisblank，exceptforthewords，HystoriaTroianaGuidonis，standingaloneatthetopoftheleaf。Thecolophoncontainsalltherestoftheinformation，\'happilycompletedintheCityofStrasburg，intheyearofGraceMcccclxxxix，abouttheFeastofSt。
Urban。\'Theprinterandpublishergivenonameatall。
Thisearlysimplicityissucceeded，inFrenchbooks，from，say，1510，andafterwards，bytheinsertioneitheroftheprinter\'strademark，or，inblack-letterbooks，ofaroughwoodcut，illustrativeofthenatureofthevolume。Thewoodcutshaveoccasionallyarudekindofgrace，withatouchoftheclassicaltasteoftheearlyRenaissancesurvivinginextremedecay。
[Illustrationwithtitlepage：Lesdemandestamoursaueclesrefpofesioyeufes。Demaderefponfe。]
Anexcellentexampleisthetitle-pageof\'LesDemandesd\'amours，aveclesresponsesjoyeuses，\'publishedbyJacquesModerne，atLyon，1540。ThereisacertainPaganbreadthandjoyousnessinthefigureofAmor，andthemaninthehoodresemblestraditionalportraitsofDante。
Thereismorehumour，andagooddealofskill，inthetitle-pageofabookonlatemarriagesandtheirdiscomforts，\'LesdictzetcomplainctesdetropTardmarie\'（JacquesModerne，Lyon，1540），whereweseetheelderlyandcomfortablecouplesittinggravelyundertheirownfig-tree。
[Illustrationof\'Lesdictzetcomplainctes……]
JacquesModernewasaprintercuriousinthesequaintdevices，andusedtheminmostofhisbooks：forexample，in\'HowSatanandtheGodBacchusaccusethePublicansthatspoilthewine，\'BacchusandSatan（exactlylikeeachother，asSirWilfridLawsonwillnotbesurprisedtohear）areencouragingdishonesttavern-keeperstostewintheirownjuiceinacaldronoverahugefire。Fromthesamepopularpublishercamealittletractonvariousmodesofsport，ifthenameofsportcanbeappliedtothenettingoffishandbirds。
Theworkisstyled\'Livretnouveauauquelsontcontenuzxxvreceptesdeprendrepoissonsetoiseaulxaveclesmains。\'Acountrymancladinagoat\'sskinwiththeheadandhornsdrawnoverhisheadasahood，isdraggingashoreanetfulloffishes。Thereisnomorecharacteristicfrontispieceofthisblack-lettersortthanthewoodcutrepresentingagallowswiththreemenhangingonit，whichillustratesVillon\'s\'BalladedesPendus，\'andisreproducedinMr。
JohnPayne\'s\'PoemsofMasterFrancisVillonofParis\'（London，1878）。{18}
EarlierindatethanthesevignettesofJacquesModerne，butmuchmoreartisticandrefinedindesign，aresomefrontispiecesofsmalloctavosprintedenlettresrondes，about1530。Intheserubricatedlettersareusedwithbrillianteffect。Oneofthebestisthetitle-pageofGalliotduPre\'seditionof\'LeRommantdelaRose\'
（Paris，1529）。{19}GalliotduPre\'sartist，however，surpassedeventhecharmingdeviceoftheLoverpluckingtheRose，inhistitle-page，ofthesamedate，forthesmalloctavoeditionofAlainChartier\'spoems，whichwereproducehere。
[Illustrationoftitlepage]
Thearrangementofletters，andtheuseofred，makeacharmingframe，asitwere，tothedrawingofthemediaevalship，withtheMottoVOGUELAGALEE。
Title-pageslikethese，withdesignsappropriatetothecharacterofthetext，weresupersededpresentlybythefashionofbadges，devices，andmottoes。Ascourtiersandladieshadtheirprivatebadges，nothereditary，likecrests，butpersonal——thecrescentofDiane，thesalamanderofFrancisI。，theskullsandcross-bonesofHenriIII。，themargueritesofMarguerite，withmottoesliketheLeBannydeliesse，Letraverseurdesvoiesperilleuses，ToutparSoulas，andthelike，soprintersandauthorshadtheiremblems，andtheirprivateliteraryslogans。Thesetheychanged，accordinging[Anotherillustrationtitled：LePastissierFrancois，MDCLV，titlepage]
tofancy，orthevicissitudesoftheirlives。ClementMarot\'smottowasLaMortn\'yMord。ItisindicatedbythelettersL。M。N。M。inthecurioustitleofaneditionofMarot\'sworkspublishedatLyonsbyJeandeTournesin1579。Theportraitrepresentsthepoetwhenthetideofyearshadbornehimfarfromhisyouth，farfromL\'AdolescenceClementine。
[Anotherillustrationtitled：LePastissierFrancois，1655，showingakitchenscene]
TheunfortunateEtienneDolet，perhapstheonlypublisherwhowaseverburned，usedanominousdevice，atrunkofatree，withtheaxestruckintoit。Inpublishing\'LesMargueritesdelaMargueritedesPrincesses，tresillustreRoynedeNavarre，\'JeandeTournesemployedaprettyallegoricaldevice。Love，withthebandagethrustbackfromhiseyes，andwiththebowandarrowsinhishand，hasflownuptothesun，whichheseemstotouch；likePrometheusinthemythwhenhestolethefire，ashowerofflowersandflamesfallsaroundhim。Groueleau，ofParis，hadformottoNulnes\'yfrotte，withthethistleforbadge。Thesearebeautifullycombinedinthetitle-pageofhisversionofApuleius，\'L\'AmourdeCupidoetdePsyche\'（Paris，1557）。Thereisprobablynobetterdateforfrontispieces，bothforingenuityofdeviceandforeleganceofarrangementoftitle，thantheyearsbetween1530and1560。By1562，whenthefirsteditionofthefamousFifthBookofRabelaiswaspublished，theprintersappeartohavethoughtdeviceswastedonpopularbooks，andthetitleoftheMaster\'sposthumouschaptersisprintedquitesimply。
In1532-35therewasamoreadventuroustaste——witnessthetitleof\'Gargantua。\'Thisbeautifultitledecoratesthefirstknownedition，withadateoftheFirstBookofRabelais。Itwassold，mostappropriately，devantnostreDamedeConfort。WhyshouldsogloriousarelicoftheMasterhavebeencarriedoutofEngland，attheSunderlandsale？AlltheearlytitlesofFrancoisJuste\'sLyonseditionsofRabelaisareonthismodel。By1542hedroppedtheframeworkofarchitecturaldesign。By1565RichardBreton，inParis，wasprintingRabelaiswithafrontispieceofaclassicaldameholdingahearttothesun，afigurewhichisalmostinthetasteofStothard，orFlaxman。
Thetasteforvignettes，engravedoncopper，notonwood，wasrevivedundertheElzevirs。Theirprettylittletitle-pagesarenotsowellknownbutthatweofferexamples。IntheessayontheElzevirsinthisvolumewillbefoundacopyofthevignetteofthe\'ImitatioChristi，\'andof\'LePastissierFrancois\'areproductionisgivenhere（pp。114，115）。Theartiststheyemployedhadplentyoffancy，notbackedbyveryprofoundskillindesign。
Inthesamegenreasthebig-wiggedclassicismoftheElzevirvignettes，inanagewhenLouisXIV。andMoliere（intragedy）worelaurelwreathsovervastperruques，aretheearlyfrontispiecesofMoliere\'sowncollectedworks。ProbablythemostinterestingofallFrenchtitle-pagesarethosedrawnbyChauveauforthetwovolumes\'LesOeuvresdeM。deMoliere，\'publishedin1666byGuillaumedeLuynes。ThefirstshowsMoliereintwocharacters，asMascarille，andasSganarelle，in\'LeCocuImaginaire。\'Contrastthefull-blownjollityofthefourbumimperator，inhishat，andfeather，andwig，andvastcanons，andtremendousshoe-tie，withtheleanmelancholyofjealousSganarelle。Thesearetwonotableaspectsofthegeniusofthegreatcomedian。Theapesbelowarethesupportersofhisscutcheon。
ThesecondvolumeshowstheMuseofComedycrowningMlle。deMoliere（ArmandeBejart）inthedressofAgnes，whileherhusbandisinthecostume，apparently，ofTartuffe，orofSganarellein\'L\'EcoledesFemmes。\'\'Tartuffe\'hadnotyetbeenlicensedforapublicstage。
Theinterestoftheportraitsandcostumesmakesthesetitle-pagesprecious，theyarehistoricaldocumentsratherthanmerecuriosities。
Thesetitle-pagesofMolierearethehighwatermarkofFrenchtasteinthisbranchofdecoration。IntheoldquartofirsteditionsofCorneille\'searlyplays，suchas\'LeCid\'（Paris1637），theprintersusedlaxandsprawlingcombinationsofflowersandfruit。These，alittlebetterexecuted，werethestapleofRibou，deLuynes，Quinet，andtheotherParisianbooksellerswho，oneafteranother，failedtosatisfyMoliereaspublishers。
Thebasketoffruitsonthetitle-pageof\'Iphigenie，\'parM。Racine（Barbin，Paris，1675），isalmost，butnotquite，identicalwiththesimilarornamentofDeVise\'s\'LaCocueImaginaire\'（Ribou，Paris1662）。ManyofMoliere\'splaysappearingfirst，separately，insmalloctavo，wereadornedwithfrontispieces，illustrativeofsomesceneinthecomedy。Thus，inthe\'Misanthrope\'（Rihou1667）weseeAlceste，greenribbonsandall，discoursingwithPhilinte，orperhapslisteningtothefamoussonnetofOronte；itisnoteasytobequitecertain，buttheexpressionofAlceste\'sfacelooksratherasifhewerebeingbaitedwithasonnet。Fromthecloseoftheseventeenthcenturyonwards，thetastefortitle-pagesdeclined，exceptwhenMoreauorGravelotdrewvignettesoncopper，withabundanceofcupidsandnymphs。Theseweredesignedforveryluxuriousandexpensivebooks；forothers，mencontentedthemselveswithabaldsimplicity，whichhasprevailedtillourowntime。Inrecentyearstheemploymentofpublishers\'deviceshasbeenlessunusualandmoreagreeable。ThusPouletMalassishadhisarmesparlantes，achickenveryuncomfortablyperchedonarail。InEnglandwehavethecipherandbeesofMessrs。Macmillan，theTreesofLifeandKnowledgeofMessrs。KeganPaulandTrench，theShip，whichwasthesignofMessrs。Longman\'searlyplaceofbusiness，anddoubtlessothersymbols，allcapableofbeingquaintlytreatedinatitle-page。
ABOOKMAN\'SPURGATORY
ThomasBlintonwasabook-hunter。Hehadalwaysbeenabook-hunter，eversince，atanextremelyearlyage，hehadawakenedtotheerrorsofhiswaysasacollectorofstampsandmonograms。Inbook-huntinghesawnoharm；nay，hewouldcontrastitsjoys，inaratherpharisaicalstyle，withthepleasuresofshootingandfishing。Heconstantlydeclinedtobelievethatthedevilcameforthatrenownedamateurofblackletter，G。Steevens。Dibdinhimself，whotellsthestory（withobviousanxietyandalarm），pretendstorefusecredittotheghastlynarrative。\"Hislanguage，\"saysDibdin，inhisaccountofthebook-hunter\'send，\"was，toofrequently，thelanguageofimprecation。\"Thisisrathergood，asifDibdinthoughtagentlemanmightswearprettyoften，butnot\"TOOfrequently。\"\"AlthoughIamnotdisposedtoadmit，\"Dibdingoeson，\"theWHOLEofthetestimonyofthegoodwomanwhowatchedbySteevens\'sbedside，althoughmyprejudices（astheymaybecalled）willnotallowmetobelievethatthewindowsshook，andthatstrangenoisesanddeepgroanswereheardatmidnightinhisroom，yetnocreatureofcommonsense（andthiswomanpossessedthequalityinaneminentdegree）couldmistakeoathsforprayers；\"andsoforth。Inshort，Dibdinclearlyholdsthatthewindowsdidshake\"withoutablast，\"likethebannersinBranxholmeHallwhensomebodycamefortheGoblinPage。
ButThomasBlintonwouldhearofnoneofthesethings。Hesaidthathistastemadehimtakeexercise；thathewalkedfromtheCitytoWestKensingtoneveryday，tobeatthecoversofthebook-stalls，whileothermentravelledintheexpensivecabortheunwholesomeMetropolitanRailway。Weareallapttoholdfavourableviewsofourownamusements，and，formyownpart，Ibelievethattroutandsalmonareincapableoffeelingpain。ButtheflimsinessofBlinton\'stheoriesmustbeapparenttoeveryunbiassedmoralist。
His\"harmlesstaste\"reallyinvolvedmostofthedeadlysins，oratalleventsafairworkingmajorityofthem。Hecovetedhisneighbours\'books。Whenhegotthechanceheboughtbooksinacheapmarketandsoldtheminadearmarket，therebydegradingliteraturetotheleveloftrade。Hetookadvantageoftheignoranceofuneducatedpersonswhokeptbook-stalls。Hewasenvious，andgrudgedthegoodfortuneofothers，whileherejoicedintheirfailures。Heturnedadeafeartotheappealsofpoverty。
Hewasluxurious，andlaidoutmoremoneythanheshouldhavedoneonhisselfishpleasures，oftenadorningavolumewithamoroccobindingwhenMrs。Blintonsighedinvainforsomeoldpointd\'Alenconlace。Greedy，proud，envious，stingy，extravagant，andsharpinhisdealings，BlintonwasguiltyofmostofthesinswhichtheChurchrecognisesas\"deadly。\"
Ontheverydaybeforethatofwhichtheaffectinghistoryisnowtobetold，Blintonhadbeenrunningtheusualroundofcrime。Hehad（asfarasintentionswent）defraudedabooksellerinHolywellStreetbypurchasingfromhim，forthesumoftwoshillings，whathetooktobeaveryrareElzevir。Itistruethatwhenhegothomeandconsulted\'Willems，\'hefoundthathehadgotholdofthewrongcopy，inwhichthefiguresdenotingthenumbersofpagesareprintedright，andwhichisthereforeworthexactly\"nuppence\"tothecollector。Buttheintentionisthething，andBlinton\'sintentionwasdistinctlyfraudulent。Whenhediscoveredhiserror，then\"hislanguage，\"asDibdinsays，\"wasthatofimprecation。\"Worse（ifpossible）thanthis，Blintonhadgonetoasale，beguntobidfor\'LesEssaisdeMichel，SeigneurdeMontaigne\'（Foppens，MDCLIX。），and，carriedawaybyexcitement，had\"plunged\"totheextentof15
pounds，whichwaspreciselytheamountofmoneyheowedhisplumberandgasfitter，aworthymanwithalargefamily。Then，meetingafriend（ifthebook-hunterhasfriends），orratheranaccompliceinlawlessenterprise，Blintonhadremarkedthegleeontheother\'sface。ThepoormanhadpurchasedalittleoldOlausMagnus，withwoodcuts，representingwere-wolves，fire-drakes，andotherfearfulwild-fowl，andwashappyinhisbargain。ButBlinton，withfiendishjoy，pointedouttohimthattheindexwasimperfect，andlefthimsorrowing。
Deedsmorefoulhaveyettobetold。ThomasBlintonhaddiscoveredanewsin，sotospeak，inthecollectingway。Aristophanessaysofoneofhisfavouriteblackguards，\"Notonlyisheavillain，buthehasinventedanoriginalvillainy。\"Blintonwaslikethis。Hemaintainedthateverymanwhocametonotorietyhad，atsomeperiod，publishedavolumeofpoemswhichhehadafterwardsrepentedofandwithdrawn。ItwasBlinton\'shideouspleasuretocollectstraycopiesoftheseunhappyvolumes，these\'PechesdeJeunesse，\'which，alwaysandinvariably，bearagushinginscriptionfromtheauthortoafriend。HehadallLordJohnManners\'spoems，andevenMr。