genial name of PALMERIN: but the "hermitage" there described
has been long deserted by its master and mistress--who have
transferred their treasures and curiosities to the sea-girt village,
or rather town, of Ryde and its vicinity: where stained-glass windows
and velvet bound tomes are seen to yet greater advantage. LEONTES,
mentioned at page 133, was the late JAMES BINDLEY, Esq.--of whom a few
interesting particulars will be found in the third volume of my
_Bibliographical Decameron_. He died before the publication of this
latter work. Sir TRISTREM was the late Sir WALTER SCOTT--then in the
effulgence of poetical renown! PROSPERO was the late FRANCIS DOUCE,
Esq. My Reminiscences make copious mention of these celebrated
characters.

AURELIUS was intended as the representative of the late GEORGE
CHALMERS, Esq.--the most learned and the most celebrated of all the
Antiquarians and Historians of Scotland. His CALEDONIA is a triumphant
proof of his giant-powers. Never before did an author encounter such
vast and various difficulties: never was such thick darkness so
satisfactorily dispersed. It is a marvellous work, in four large
quarto volumes; but so indifferently printed, and upon such wretched
paper, that within the next century, perhaps, not six copies of it
will be found entire. The less laborious works of Mr. Chalmers were
statistical and philological. Of the latter, his tracts relating to
_Shakspeare_, and his Life of _Mary Queen of Scots_ may be considered
the principal.

On the death of Mr. George Chalmers in 1823, his nephew became
possessed of his library; and on the death of the nephew, in 1841, it
was placed by the executors in the hands of Mr. Evans, who brought
the first part to sale on the 27th of September, 1841. It consisted
of 2292 articles, and produced the sum of L2190. The Second Part was
brought to the same hammer, on February 27, 1842, and produced the sum
of L1918 2_s._ 6_d._ It is on the _latter_ part that I am disposed to
dwell more particularly, because it was so eminently rich in
Shakspearian lore; and because, at this present moment, the name of
our immortal dramatist seems to be invested with a fresh halo of
incomparable lustre. The first edition of his smaller works has
acquired most extraordinary worth in the book-market. The second part
of Mr. Chalmers's collection shews that the _Sonnets_ of 1595 produced
a hundred guineas; while the _Rape of Lucrece_ (which, perhaps, no
human being has