rd. Even yet I scarcely know how to handle this subject, or to
expatiate upon a theme so extraordinary, and so provocative of the
most contradictory feelings. But it were better to be brief; as, in
fact, a very long account of Mr. Heber's later life will be found in
my _Reminiscences_, and there is little to add to what those pages
contain. It may be here only necessary to make mention of the sale of
his wonderful library; wonderful in all respects--not less from the
variety and importance of its contents, than from the unparalleled
number of _duplicate volumes_--even of works of the first degree of
rarity. Of the latter, it may suffice to observe that, of the editio
princeps of _Plato_, there were not fewer than _ten_ copies; and of
that of _Aristotle_, five or six copies: each the production of the
Aldine Press. Several of these Platonic copies were, to my knowledge,
beautiful ones; and what more than _one_ such "beautiful copy" need
mortal man desire to possess? I believe the copy of the Plato bought
at the sale of Dr. Heath's library in 1810 was, upon the whole, the
most desirable.[474] Both works are from the press of the elder Aldus.

[Footnote 474: The Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville possesses a
copy of this first edition (from the library of the Rev.
Theodore Williams) in an _uncut_ state. It may defy all
competition. There is, however, in the Spencer library, at
Althorp, described by me in the second volume of the
Bibliotheca _Spenceriana_, a very beautiful copy, delicately
ruled with red lines, which may be pronounced as almost in
its primitive state. The leaves "discourse most eloquently"
as you turn them over: and what sound, to the ears of a
thorough bred bibliomaniac, can be more "musical?"]

It may be observed, as mere preliminary matter, that it was once in
contemplation to publish the literary life of Mr. Heber; and an
impression comes across my mind that I had tendered my services for
the labour in question. The plan was however abandoned--and perhaps
wisely. There was also to have been a portrait prefixed, from the
pencil of Mr. Masquerier, the _only_ portrait of him--in later
life--but the strangest whims and vagaries attended the surrendering,
or rather the _not_ surrendering, of the portrait in question. I am in
possession of a correspondence upon this subject which is perfectly
_sui generis_. The library of Mr. Heber was consigned to the care and
discr