EUBULUS.

("The peacock is admired on account of its rarity.")

This valuable library must have contained nearly 25,000
volumes, multiplying the number of articles (9405) by 3--the
usual mode of calculation. Unfortunately, as was the case
with Dr. Mead's and Mr. Folkes's, the books were not
arranged according to any particular classification. Old
black-letter English were mixed with modern Italian, French,
and Latin; and novels and romances interspersed with
theology and mathematics. An _alphabetical_ arrangement, be
the books of whatever kind they may, will in general obviate
the inconvenience felt from such an undigested plan; and it
were "devoutly to be wished," by all true bibliographers,
that an act of parliament should pass for the due observance
of this alphabetical order. We all know our A, B, C, but
have not all analytical heads; or we may differ in our ideas
of analysis. The scientific and alphabetical _united_ is
certainly better; like Mr. Harris's excellent catalogue,
noticed at p. 99, ante. The "_Methode pour dresser une
bibliotheque_," about which De Bure, Formey, and Peignot
have so solemnly argued, is not worth a moment's discussion.
Every man likes to be his own librarian, as well as "his own
broker." But to return to Dr. Rawlinson's collection. On
examining a priced catalogue of it, which now lies before
me, I have not found any higher sum offered for a work than
4_l._ 1_s._ for a collection of fine prints, by Aldegrever.
(No. 9405.) The Greek and Latin Classics, of which there
were few _Editiones Principes_, or on _large paper_, brought
the usual sums given at that period. The old English
black-letter books, which were pretty thickly scattered
throughout the collection, were sold for exceedingly low
prices--if the copies were perfect. Witness the following:

L _s._ _d._
The Newe Testament in English, 1500 0 2 9
The Ymage of both Churches, after the Revelation
of St. John, by Bale, 1550 0 1 6
The boke called the Pype or Tonne of Perfection,
by Richard Whytforde, 1553 0 1 9
The Visions of Pierce Plowman, 1561 0 2 0
The Creede of Pierce Plowman, 1532