y the viith and viiith, Philip and
Mary, Q. Elizabeth, K. James, and Charles I., collected by
Mr. H. Dyson: out of whose library was gathered, by Mr.
Smith, a great part of the rarities of this catalogue." A
catalogue of the books sold in the reign of Hen. VII. would
be invaluable to a bibliographer! Let me add, for the sake
of pleasing, or rather, perhaps, tantalising my good friend
Mr. Haleswood, that this article is immediately under one
which describes "_An Ancient MS. of Hunting_, IN VELLUM
(wanting something) _quarto_." I hear him exclaim--"Where is
this treasure now to be found?" Perhaps, upon the cover of a
book of Devotion!]

I have incidentally mentioned the name of RICHARD SMITH.[357] Such a
bibliomaniac deserves ample notice, and the warmest commendation. Ah,
my Lisardo! had you lived in the latter days of Charles II.--had you,
by accident, fallen into the society of this indefatigable
book-forager, while he pursued his book-rounds in _Little
Britain_--could you have listened to his instructive conversation, and
returned home with him to the congenial quiet and avocations of his
book-room--would you, however caressed St. James's, or even smiled
upon by the first Duchess in the land--have cared a rush for the
splendours of a Court, or concentrated your best comforts in a coach
drawn by six cream-coloured horses? Would you not, on the contrary,
have thought with this illustrious bibliomaniac, and with the sages of
Greece and Rome before him, that "in books is wisdom, and in wisdom is
happiness."

[Footnote 357: From the address To the Reader, prefixed to
the Catalogue of RICHARD SMITH'S books, which was put forth
by Chiswel the bookseller, in May 1682, 4to.--the
bibliomaniac is presented with the following interesting but
cramply written, particulars relating to the owner of them:
"Though it be needless to recommend what to all intelligent
persons sufficiently commend itself, yet, perhaps, it may
not be unacceptable to the ingenious to have some short
account concerning _This so much celebrated, so often
desired, so long expected, Library_, now exposed to sale.
The gentleman that collected it was a person infinitely
curious and inquisitive after books; and who suffered
nothing considerable to escape him, that fell within the
compass of his learning; for he had not the vanity of