roof of the
truth of this remark: for the disease rather increased, and the work
of death yet went on. In the following year (1776) died JOHN
RATCLIFFE;[392] a bibliomaniac of a very peculiar character. If he
had contented himself with his former occupation, and frequented the
butter and cheese, instead of the book, market--if he could have
fancied himself in a brown peruke, and Russian apron, instead of an
embroidered waistcoat, velvet breeches, and flowing periwig, he might,
perhaps, have enjoyed greater longevity; but, infatuated by the
_Caxtons_ and _Wynkyn de Wordes_ of the West and Fletewode
collections, he fell into the snare; and the more he struggled to
disentangle himself, the more certainly did he become a victim to the
disease.

[Footnote 392: BIBLIOTHECA RATCLIFFIANA; or, "_A Catalogue
of the elegant and truly valuable Library of_ JOHN
RATCLIFFE, _Esq., late of Bermondsey, deceased_. The whole
collected with great judgment and expense, during the last
thirty years of his life: comprehending a large and most
choice collection of the rare old English _black-letter_, in
fine preservation, and in elegant bindings, printed by
Caxton, Lettou, Machlinia, the anonymous St. Alban's
Schoolmaster, Wynkyn de Worde, Pynson, Berthelet, Grafton,
Day, Newberie, Marshe, Jugge, Whytchurch, Wyer, Rastell,
Coplande, and the rest of the _Old English Typographers_:
several missals and MSS., and two pedigrees on vellum,
finely illuminated." The title-page then sets forth a
specimen of these black-letter gems; among which our eyes
are dazzled with a galaxy of Caxtons, Wynkyn de Wordes,
Pynsons, &c., &c. The sale took place on March 27, 1776;
although the _year_ is unaccountably omitted by that
renowned auctioneer, the late Mr. Christie, who disposed of
them. If ever there was a _unique_ collection, this was
one--the very essence of Old Divinity, Poetry, Romances, and
Chronicles! The articles were only 1675 in number; but their
intrinsic value amply compensated for their paucity. The
following is but an inadequate specimen:

NO. 1315. Horace's Arte of Poetrie, Pistles, and Satyres, by
Durant, 1567. _First English. Edition_ L0 16_s._ 0_d._

1321. The Shepard's Calendar, 1579. Whetstone's Castle of
Delight, 1576 1 2 0

1392. The Pastyme of People, _printed_ by Rastell. Curious
wood-c