"The library of Henri II. and
Diane de Poictiers was sold by public auction in 1724, after the death
of Madame La Princesse Marie de Bourbon, wife of Louis-Joseph, Duc de
Vendome, who became Proprietor of the Chateau d'Anet. The Library, was
composed of a great number of MSS. and Printed Books, exceedingly
precious. The sale catalogue of the Library, which is a small
duodecimo of 50 pages, including the addenda, is become very scarce."
CRAPELET; vol. iii. 347.

My friend M. GAIL published a very interesting brochure, about ten
years ago, entitled _Lettres Inedites de Henri II. Diane de Poitiers,
Marie Stuart, Francois, Roi Dauphin &c_. Amongst these letters, there
was only ONE specimen which the author could obtain of the _united_
scription, or rather signatures, of Henry and Diana. Of these
signatures he has given a fac-simile; for which the Reader, in common
with myself, is here indebted to him. Below this _united_ signature,
is one of Diana HERSELF--from a letter entirely written in her own
hand. It must be confessed that she was no Calligraphist.

[Autographs: Henri II, Diane de Poitiers]

[86] [My friend Mr. Drury possessed a similar copy.]

[87] It may not be generally known that one of the most minute and
interesting accounts of this assassination is given in _Howell's
Familiar Letters_. The author had it from a friend who was an
eye-witness of the transaction.

[88] As for the "_singeing_."--or the reputed story of the greater
part of them having been _burnt_--my opinion still continues to be as
implied above: I will only now say that FORTUNATE is that _Vendor_ who
can obtain _25l._ for a copy--be that copy brown or fair.

[89] [My friend, the late Robert Lang, Esq. whose extraordinary Collection
of Romances was sold at the close of the preceding year, often told
me, that THE ABOVE was the _only_ Romance which he wanted to complete
his Collection.]

[90] Page 164, ante.

_LETTER VII._

LIBRARY OF STE. GENEVIEVE. THE ABBE MERCIER ST. LEGER. LIBRARY OF THE
MAZARINE COLLEGE, OR INSTITUTE. PRIVATE LIBRARY OF THE KING. MONS. BARBIER,
LIBRARIAN.

It is just possible that you may not have forgotten, in a previous letter,
the mention of STE. GENEVIEVE--situated in the old quarter of Paris, on the
other side of the Seine; and that, in opposition to the _ancient_ place or
church, so called, there wa