icles_, and _Topography_, it would be
difficult to pitch upon the rarest volumes. The collection,
including very few MSS., contained probably about 7000
volumes. The catalogue, in a clean condition, is somewhat
uncommon.]

You will imagine that the BOOK-DISEASE now began to be more active and
fatal than ever; for the ensuing year (namely, in 1775) died the
famous ANTHONY ASKEW, M.D. Those who recollect the zeal and
scholarship of this illustrious bibliomaniac,[391] and the precious
volumes with which his library was stored, from the choice
collections of De Boze, Gaignat, Mead, and Folkes, cannot but sigh,
with grief of heart, on reflecting upon such a victim! How ardently,
and how kindly (as I remember to have heard one of his intimate friend
[Transcriber's Note: friends] say) would Askew unlock the stores of
his glittering book-treasures!--open the magnificent folio, or the
shining duodecimo, _printed upon vellum_, and embossed with golden
knobs, or held fast with silver clasps! How carefully would he unrol
the curious _manuscript_, decipher the half effaced characters--and
then, casting an eye of ecstacy over the shelves upon which similar
treasures were lodged, exult in the glorious prospect before him! But
death--who, as Horace tells us, equally exercises the knocker of the
palace and cottage-door, made no scruple to rap at that of our
renowned Doctor--when Askew, with all his skill in medicine and
knowledge of books, yielded to the summons of the grim tyrant--and
died lamented, as he lived beloved!

[Footnote 391: Lysander is now arrived, pursuing his
chronological order, at a very important period in the
annals of book-sales. The name and collection of Dr. ASKEW
are so well known in the bibliographical world that the
reader need not be detained with laboured commendations on
either: in the present place, however, it would be a cruel
disappointment not to say a word or two by way of preface or
prologue. Dr. ANTHONY ASKEW had eminently distinguished
himself by a refined taste, a sound knowledge, and an
indefatigable research, relating to every thing connected
with Grecian and Roman literature. It was to be expected,
even during his life, as he was possessed of sufficient
means to gratify himself with what was rare, curious, and
beautiful, in literature and the fine arts, that the public
would one day be benefited by s