of recent origin in our
country.[358] It was, however, no sooner introduced than it caught
the attention, and pleased the palates, of bibliomaniacs exceedingly:
and Clavel, a bookseller, who published useful catalogues of books to
be sold in his own warehouse, retorted in sharp terms upon the folly
and extravagance which were exhibited at book auctions. However,
neither Clavel nor his successors, from that period to the present,
have been able to set this custom aside, nor to cool the fury of
book-auction bibliomaniacs--who, to their eternal shame be it said,
will sometimes, from the hot and hasty passions which are stirred up
by the poisonous miasmata floating in the auction-room, give a sum
twice or thrice beyond the real value of the books bidden for! Indeed,
I am frequently amused to see the vehemence and rapture with which a
dirty little volume is contended for and embraced--while a respectable
bookseller, like PORTIUS, coolly observes across the table--"I have a
better copy on sale at one third of the price!"

[Footnote 358: A part of the address "To the Reader," in the
catalogue above-mentioned by Lysander, being somewhat of a
curiosity, is here reprinted in its unadulterated
[Transcriber's Note: remainder of sentence missing in
original]

"Reader,

"It hath not been usual here in England to make _Sale of
Books by way of Auction or who will give most for them_: But
it having been practised in other countreys to the advantage
both of buyers and sellers, it was therefore conceived (for
the encouragement of learning) to publish the sale of these
books this manner of way; and it is hoped that this will not
be unacceptable to schollers: and therefore, methought it
convenient to give an advertisement concerning the manner of
proceeding therein. _First_, That having this catalogue of
the books, and their editions, under their several heads and
numbers, it will be more easie for any person of quality,
gentleman, or others, to depute any one to buy such books
for them as they shall desire, if their occasions will not
permit them to be present at the auction themselves." The
_second_ clause is the usual one about _differences_
arising. The _third_, about discovering the imperfections of
the copies before they are taken away. The _fourth_, that
the buyers are to pay for their purchases within one mont