research. HIS MAJESTY was a purchaser, says Mr. J. Nichols,
to the amount of about 300_l._; Dr. Hunter, to the amount of
500_l._; and De Bure (who had commissions from the King of
France and many foreign collectors, to the amount of
1500_l._) made purchases to the same amount; Dr. Maty was
solicited by the trustees of the British Museum not to be
unmindful of _that repository_; and accordingly he became a
purchaser to a considerable amount. The late worthy and
learned Mr. M. CRACHERODE, whose library now forms one of
the most splendid acquisitions of the British Museum, and
whose _bequest_ of it will immortalize his memory, was also
among the "Emptores literarii" at this renowned sale. He had
enriched his collection with many an "_Exemplar
Askevianum_;" and, in his latter days, used to elevate his
hands and eyes, and exclaim against the prices _now_ offered
for EDITIONES PRINCIPES. The fact is, Dr. Askew's sale has
been considered a sort of _era_ in bibliography. Since that
period, rare and curious books in Greek and Latin literature
have been greedily sought after, and obtained (as a recent
sale abundantly testifies) at most extravagant prices. It is
very well for a veteran in bibliographical literature, as
was Mr. Cracherode, or as are Mr. Wodhull, and Dr.
Gosset--whose collections were, in part, formed in the days
of De Bure, Gaignat, Askew, Duke de la Valliere, and
Lamoignon--it is very well for such gentlemen to declaim
against _modern prices_! But what is to be done? Classical
books grow scarcer every day, and the love of literature,
and of possessing rare and interesting works, increases in
an equal ratio. Hungry bibliographers meet, at sales, with
well-furnished purses, and are resolved upon sumptuous fare!
Thus the hammer _vibrates_, after a bidding of FORTY POUNDS,
where formerly it used regularly to _fall_ at FOUR! But we
lose sight of Dr. Askew's _rare editions_, and _large paper
copies_. The following, gentle reader, is but an imperfect
specimen!

NO. 168. Chaucer's Works, by _Pynson_, no date L7 17_s._
6_d._

172. Cicero of Old Age, by Caxton, 1481 13 13 0

518. Gilles (Nicole) Annales, &c., de France. Paris, fol.
1520, 2 tom. SUR VELIN 31 10 6

647. Aeginetae (Pauli) Praecepta Salubria; Paris, qua