gue itself is most
barbarously printed, and the arrangement and description of
the volumes such as to damn the compiler "to everlasting
fame." A number of the most curious, rare, and intrinsically
valuable books--the very insertion of which in a
bookseller's catalogue would probably now make a hundred
bibliomaniacs start from their homes by star-light, in order
to come in for the _first pickings_--a number of volumes of
this description are huddled together in one lot, and all
these classed under the provoking running title of "_Bundles
of Books_," or "_Bundles of sticht Books_!" But it is time
to bid adieu to this matchless collection. Leaving the
virtuoso "to toil, from rise to set of sun" after W.
Sherwin's "extra rare and fine" portrait of the collector,
which will cost him hard upon ten pounds (see _Sir William
Musgrave's Catalogue of English Portraits_, p. 92, no.
82), and to seize, if it be in his power, a copy of the
catalogue itself, "with the prices and purchasers' names"
(vide _Bibl. Lort._, no. 1354). I proceed to attend upon
Lysander: not, however, without informing him that Strype
(_Life of Cranmer_, p. 368), as well as Hearne (_Liber Niger
Scaccarii_, vol. ii., p. 542), has condescended to notice
the famous library of this famous collector of books,
RICHARD SMITH!]

LIS. In truth I should have done even more than what your barren
imagination has here depicted. Smith's figure, his address, his
conversation, his library--

LOREN. Enough--peace! There is no end to Lisardo's _fruitful_
imagination. We are surfeited with the richness of it. Go on, dear
Lysander; but first, satisfy a desire which I just now feel to be
informed of the period when _Sales of Books, by Auction_, were
introduced into this country.

LYSAND. You take _that_ for granted which remains [Transcriber's Note:
missing 'to' in original] be _proved_: namely, my ability to gratify
you in this particular. Of the precise period when this memorable
revolution in the sale of books took place I have no means of being
accurately informed: but I should think not anterior to the year 1673,
or 1674; for, in the year 1676, to the best of my recollection, the
catalogue of the Library of Dr. SEAMAN was put forth; to which is
prefixed an address to the reader, wherein the custom of selling books
by auction is mentioned as having been but