om thy medical skill, may have snatched from a premature
grave--compared with the life, vigour, animation and competition which
thy example infused into the BOOK-WORLD!

[Footnote 381: It is almost impossible to dwell on the
memory of THIS GREAT MAN, without emotions of
delight--whether we consider him as an eminent physician, a
friend to literature, or a collector of books, pictures, and
coins. Benevolence, magnanimity, and erudition were the
striking features of his character. His house was the
general receptacle of men of genius and talent, and of every
thing beautiful, precious, and rare. His curiosities,
whether books, or coins, or pictures, were freely laid open
to the public; and the enterprising student, and experienced
antiquary, alike found amusement and a courteous reception.
He was known to all foreigners of intellectual distinction,
and corresponded both with the artisan and the potentate.
The great patron of literature, and the leader of his
profession, it was hardly possible, as Lysander has well
observed, "for modest merit if properly introduced to him,
to depart unrewarded or ungratified." The clergy, and, in
general, all men of learning, received his advice
gratuitously; and his doors were open every morning to the
most indigent, whom he frequently assisted with money.
Although his income, from his professional practice, was
very considerable, he died by no means a rich man--so large
were the sums which he devoted to the encouragement of
literature and the fine arts! The sale of Dr. Mead's _Books_
commenced on the 18th of November, 1754, and again on the
7th of April, 1755: lasting together 57 days. The sale of
the _prints_ and _drawings_ continued 14 nights. The _gems_,
_bronzes_, _busts_, and _antiquities_, 8 days.

His books produced L5496 15 0
Pictures 3417 11 0
Prints and drawings 1908 14 0
Coins and medals 1977 17 0
Antiquities 3246 15 0
------------
Amount of all the sales L16,047 12 0
------------

It would be difficult to mention, within a moderate compass,
all the rare and curious articles which his library
contained--bu