uts 4 7 0

1393. The Chronicles of Englande, _printed by Caxton_, fine
copy, 1480 5 5 0

1394. Ditto, _printed at St. Albans_, 1483. Purchased by Dr.
Hunter, and now in his Museum (which copy I have seen) 7 7 0

1403. Barclay's Shyp of Folys, printed by Pynson, 1508,
_first edit._, a fine copy 2 10 0

1426. The Doctrinal of Sapyence, _printed by Caxton_, 1489 8
8 0

1427. The Boke called Cathon, _ditto_, 1483. Purchased by
Dr. Hunter, and now in his Museum 5 5 0

1428. The Polytyque Boke, named Tullius de Senectute, in
Englyshe, _printed by Caxton_, 1481 14 0 0

1429. The Game of Chesse Playe. No date. _Printed by Caxton_
16 0 0

1665. The Boke of Jason, _printed by Caxton_ 5 10 0

1669. The Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden, translated by
Trevisa, 1482. _Printed by the same_, and purchased by Dr.
Hunter 5 15 6

1670. Legenda Aurea, or the Golden Legende. _Printed by the
same_, 1483 9 15 0

1674. Mr. Ratcliffe's MS. Catalogue of the _rare old
black-letter and other curious and uncommon books_, 4 vols.
7 15 0

[This would have been the most delicious article to _my_
palate. If the present owner of it were disposed to part
with it, I could not find it in my heart to refuse him
_compound interest_ for his money. As is the wooden
frame-work to the bricklayer, in the construction of his
arch, so might Mr. Ratcliffe's MS. Catalogues be to me in
the compilation of a certain _magnum opus_!]

I beg pardon of the _manes_ of "John Ratcliffe, Esq.," for
the very inadequate manner in which I have brought forward
his collection to public notice. The memory of such a man
ought to be dear to the "_black-letter-dogs_" of the present
day: for he had (mirabile dictu!) _upwards of_ THIRTY
CAXTONS! I take the present opportunity of presenting the
reader with the following engraving of the Ratcliffe
Library, Oxon.

[Illustration]

If I might hazard a comparison between Mr. James West's and
Mr. John Ratcliffe's collections, I should say that the
former was more extensive; the latter more curious. Mr.
West's, like a magnificent _champagne_, executed by the hand
of Claude or Both, and enclosing mountains, meadows, and
streams, presented to the eye of the beholder a scene at
once luxuriant and frui