l letter,--at the beginning of
the text--are each executed upon a blue ground, shaded in brown and gold,
in the most exquisitely tasteful manner. This initial letter has been
copied "ad amussim" by old Robert Stephen. Upon the whole, this is really
an enchanting book, whether on the score of writing or of ornament.

Farewell, now, therefore--to the Collection of MSS. in the _Bibliotheque du
Roi_ at Paris. Months and years may be spent among them, and the
vicissitudes of seasons (provided fires were occasionally introduced)
hardly felt. I seem, for the last fortnight, to have lived entirely in the
"olden time;" in a succession of ages from that of Charles the Bald to that
of Henri Quatre: and my eyes have scarcely yet recovered from the dazzling
effects of the illuminator's pencil. "II faut se reposer un peu."

[38] Vol. i. p. ccxx-i.

[39] See _Bibl. Spenceriana_, vol. iv p. 421.

[40] The fac-simile drawing of this portrait, by M. Coeure--from which the
print was taken, in the previous edition of this work--is also in the
possession of my friend Mr. Ponton. See note, page 79 ante.

[41] The words "del lac" are in a later hand.

[42] What is rather singular, there is a duplicate of this book: a copy of
every illumination, done towards the beginning of the sixteenth
century; but the text is copied in a smaller hand, so as to compress
the volume into lxviij. leaves. Unluckily, the copies of the
illuminations are not only comparatively coarse, but are absolutely
faithless as to resemblances. There is a letter prefixed, from a
person named _Le Hay_, of the date of 1707, in which the author
tells some gentleman that he was in hopes to procure the volume for
100 crowns; but afterwards, the owner obstinately asking 200, _Le
Hay_ tells his friend to split the difference, and offer 150. This
book once belonged to one "_Hector Le Breton Sievr de la
Doynetrie_"--as the lettering upon the exterior of the binding
implies--and as a letter to his son, of the date of 1660, within the
volume, also shows. This letter is signed by Le Breton.

_LETTER V._

SOME ACCOUNT OF EARLY PRINTED AND RARE BOOKS IN THE ROYAL LIBRARY.

As the ART of PRINTING rather suddenly, than gradually, checked the
progress of that of writing and illuminating--and as the pressman in
consequence pretty speedily tripped up the heels of the scribe--it will be
a natural and necessary result.