ter Rembrandt and Paul
Potter, which M. Denon assured me were the production of _his_ burin! I
could scarcely believe it. Whatever be the merits of Denon, as a critical
judge of art, ancient or modern, there is no person, not wholly blinded by
prejudice, or soured by national antipathies, that can deny him great zeal,
great talent, and great feeling ... in the several pursuits of art, of
which his apartments furnish such splendid evidence.

But, you may be disposed to add, "has this celebrated man no collection of
Books?--no LIBRARY? At least he must have a _missal_ or two?" 'Tis even so,
my friend. Library, he has none: for as "one swallow does not make a
summer," so three or four pretty little illuminated volumes do not
constitute a library. However, what he has of this kind, has been freely
exhibited to me; and I here send you a transscript of some notes taken upon
the spot.

I was first shewn a small missal, prettily executed in a gothic type, of
the Italian form, after the models of those of Jenson and Hailbrun. The
calendar has the paintings injured. On the reverse of the last leaf of the
Calendar, we read, in roman capitals, the following impressive annotation:
DEUM TIME, PAUPERES SUSTINE, MEMENTO FINIS. On the reverse of the ensuing
leaf, is a large head of Christ, highly coloured: but with the lower part
of the face disproportionately short: not unlike a figure of a similar
kind, in the Duke of Devonshire's Missal, described on a former
occasion.[176] The crucifixon, on the next leaf but one, is full of spirit
and effect. Then commence the _Drolleries_: or a series of subjects most
whimsically conceived, but most sweetly touched and finished. You cannot
imagine any thing more perfect of their kind and for their size, than are
the beasts, birds, insects, fruits, and flowers. The vellum harmonises
admirably, from its colour and quality. There are several comparatively
large illuminations: some with very small figures; and two (one of St. John
the Baptist, and the other of Christ mocked) are of great beauty in respect
to force of colour. The initial capitals are executed with equal attention
to taste in composition, and delicacy in colouring. This diminutive volume
is only four inches high, by about two inches and three quarters wide. It
is bound in red velvet, and mounted with silver knobs, with heads of
cherubim upon them. It is fastened by a silver clasp; upon which is
painted, and glazed, a head of Christ--of