desiring to be master of more than he knew how to use. He
lived to a very great age, and spent a good part of it
almost entirely in the search of books. Being as constantly
known every day to walk his rounds through the shops as he
sat down to meals, where his great skill and experience
enabled him to make choice of what was not obvious to every
vulgar eye. He lived in times which ministered peculiar
opportunities of meeting with books that are not every day
brought into publick light; and few eminent libraries were
bought where he had not the liberty to pick and choose. And
while others were forming arms, and new-modelling kingdoms,
_his_ great ambition was to become master of a good BOOK.
Hence arose, as that vast number of his books, so the
choiceness and rarity of the greatest part of them; and that
of all kinds, and in all sorts of learning," &c. "Nor was
the owner of them a meer idle possessor of so great a
treasure: for as he generally _collated_ his books upon the
buying of them (upon which account the buyer may rest pretty
secure of their being perfect) so he did not barely turn
over the leaves, but observed the defects of impressions,
and the ill arts used by many; compared the differences of
editions; concerning which, and the like cases, he has
entered memorable, and very useful, remarks upon very many
of the books under his own hand: Observations wherein,
certainly, never man was more diligent and industrious. Thus
much was thought fit to be communicated to publick notice,
by a gentleman who was intimately acquainted both with Mr.
Smith and his books. _This excellent library will be exposed
by auction, and the sale will begin on Monday the 15th day
of May next, at the auction house, known by the name of_ THE
SWAN, _in Great St. Bartholomew's Close, and there continue,
day by day, the five first days of every week, till all the
books be sold._" In this catalogue of Richard Smith's books,
the sharp-eyed bibliomaniac will discover twelve volumes
printed by CAXTON; which collectively, produced only the sum
of 3_l._ 7_s._ 5_d._ The price of each of these volumes has
been already given to the public (_Typog. Antiq._, vol i.,
p. cxxxii.) I suppose a thousand guineas would _now_ barely
secure perfect copies of them! The catalo