t the following are too conspicuous to be
passed over. The _Spira Virgil_, of 1470, _Pfintzing's
Tewrdanchk's_, 1527, _Brandt's Stultifera Navis_, 1498, and
the _Aldine Petrarch_, of 1501, ALL UPON VELLUM. The large
paper _Olivet's Cicero_ was purchased by Dr. Askew, for
14_l._ 14_s._, and was sold again at his sale for 36_l._
15_s._ The King of France bought the editio princeps of
_Pliny Senior_ for 11_l._ 11_s._: and Mr. Wilcock, a
bookseller, bought the magnificently illuminated _Pliny by
Jenson_, of 1472, for 18_l._ 18_s._: of which Maittaire has
said so many fine things. The _French_ books, and all the
works upon the _Fine Arts_, were of the first rarity and
value, and bound in a sumptuous manner. Winstanley's
_Prospects of Audley End_ brought 50_l._ An amusing account
of some of the pictures will be found in Mr. Beloe's
_Anecdotes of Literature and scarce Books_, vol. i., 166,
71. But consult also _Nichols's Anecdotes of Bowyer_, p.
225, &c. Of the catalogue of Dr. Mead's books, there were
only six copies printed upon _large paper_. See _Bibl.
Lort_, no. 1149. I possess one of these copies, uncut and
priced. Dr. MEAD had parted, in his life-time, to the
present king's father, with several miniature pictures of
great value (Walpole Anec., vol. i., 165) by Isaac Oliver
and Holbein, which are now in his majesty's collection. Dr.
Askew had purchased his Greek MSS. for 500_l._ Pope has
admirably well said,

"Rare _monkish manuscripts_ for HEARNE alone,
And _Books_ FOR MEAD, and _butterflies_ for SLOANE."

_Epistle_ iv.

Upon which his commentator, Warburton, thus observes: "These
were two eminent physicians; the one had an excellent
library, the other the finest collection in Europe of
natural curiosities." For nearly half a century did Dr. Mead
pursue an unrivalled career in his profession. He was
(perhaps "thrice") presented with the presidentship of the
College of Physicians, which he ("thrice") refused. One year
it is said he made 7000_l._, a great sum in his time! His
regular emoluments were between 5000_l._ and 6000_l._ per
annum. He died on the 25th of February, 1754, in the 81st
year of his age. On his death, Dr. ASKEW, who seems to have
had a sort of filial veneration for his character, and wh