July 21. 1855.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



43 



William Shears, at the Bible in the New Rents. 

 This was a reprint from the second or third edi- 

 tions, as it contains only fifty-three characters, 

 omitting that of a herald, which had been given, 

 as before stated, in the first. 



The eighth edition, 1664, printed by R. D. for 

 P. C. Number of characters seventy-eight. 



The ninth edition, 1669, by Thomas Ratcliff 

 and Thomas Daniel, for Philip Chetwynd. Num- 

 ber of characters seventy-eight. 



In 1676 was an edition, London, for Samuel 

 Crouch, at the corner of Pope's Head Alley, next 

 Cornhill : this is not called the tenth in the title- 

 page, nor is it indeed anything more than the 

 remaining copies of the ninth (1669), with a 

 different title. 



The above were all in 12mo. 



The next edition was a small 8vo., Lond., by 

 E. Say, 1732. It professes to be a reprint from 

 the sixth of 1633, and is creditably and carefully 

 executed, with a list, though necessarily incorrect, 

 of former editions, and a brief account of the 

 author. It had another title in 1740, The World 

 Displayed, Sec, London, printed for and sold by 

 C. Ward and R. Chandler, at the Ship without 

 Temple Bar, and at their shops in Coney Street, 

 York, and at Scarborough Spaw. 



In 1786 it was reprinted at Salisbury by E. 

 Easton ; sold also by G. and T. Wilkie, St. Paul's 

 Churchyard, London. This professes to be taken 

 from the edition of 1650, and is of course incom- 

 plete. I have not a copy before me, and cannot 

 specify the number of characters. 



In 1811 the writer of this article published the 

 last edition, with a few notes, and an appendix 

 containing such information as he was then able 

 to collect. It is certainly the most complete of 

 all the impressions, but experience has convinced 

 him that it is capable of great improvement, par- 

 ticularly in the list of characters and books of 

 characters, which in his own interleaved copy is 

 increased fourfold. The book, however, is too 

 common and unimportant to induce any pub- 

 lisher to venture on such an undertaking. 



I may, perhaps, add that the late Mr. Bright 

 had a MS. copy, and clearly a very early one, 

 containing fifty-one characters. Those omitted, 

 and which appear in the first printed edition, are 

 " The World's Wise Man," " A Vulgar Spirited 

 Man," and " A Stayed Man." This MS. was in 

 my hands at the time of Mr. Bright's death, and 

 would have been so still, but for a slight oversight 

 of my old friend Thomas Rodd.* I am bound to 



[* We find in an old number of the Oxford Paper the 

 following brief account of the late Mr. Rodd : many of our 

 readers will be glad to preserve it in the pages of " N. & 

 Q." " April 23, at his house in Great Newport Street, 

 Mr. Thomas Rodd, bookseller. Mr. Rodd had left home 

 in the morning to all appearance as well as usual, and in 

 excellent spirits, in order to make some researches at the 



No. 299.] 



forgive him, since my small library, such as it is, 

 owes nearly all its value to his extensive and ac- 

 curate information, his unwearied research, and 

 his friendly co-operation. Philip Buss. 



"descents en angleteree." 



Your valuable paper has so extensive a circu- 

 lation, and commands the attention of so varied a 

 list of readers, that I hope you will allow the fol- 

 lowing question to be inserted, as by that means 

 it is probable that a fact of some interest, even in 

 an historical view, may be ascertained. Is the 

 Napoleon medal, with the title " Descente en 

 Angleterre," real and genuine ? It is well knowa 

 as struck by Thomason, who issued it as an 

 exact copy from an original medal made at Paris ; 

 but many believe that it was his invention as well 

 as work, Laving taken the " Frappe a Londres " 

 from the Napoleon medal of the entry to Vienna. 

 The copy in the collection at Paris is clearly one 

 of Thomason's, while that in the Museum at 

 Boulogne is stated to be an original, and in the 

 appearance of the metal certainly looks different 

 from those which were struck at Birmingham. 

 Sir Edward Thomason professed that an original 

 had been lent to him by the Duke of Wellington, 



British Museum, and transact business with the libra- 

 rians. Whilst there he was seized with paralysis, losing 

 the power of speech and motion. He was immediately 

 conveyed home, shortly became insensible, and died the 

 same evening ; all endeavours to check the progress of 

 the disorder proving ineffectual. In the death of this 

 amiable man the literarj' world sustains a loss that will 

 not be easily repaired. Mr. Rodd joined to a most ex- 

 tensive knowledge of books, manners the most unpre- 

 tending and obliging. His ready kindness in imparting 

 the stores of information he possessed, will be acknow- 

 ledged by all who have had occasion to apply to him; 

 whilst the strict integrity of his conduct, and the total 

 absence of everything like exorbitance or overreaching 

 in his mode of transacting business, had gained him a 

 high character both in this country and on the Continent, 

 and procured for him a most extensive and important 

 trade. The Bodleian Librarj', as well as the British 

 Museum, owe to Mr. Rodd's exertions the recent acqui- 

 sition of many treasures; and the noble library lately 

 formed at Queen's College by the munificence of the late 

 Dr. Mason, is mainly indebted to his knowledge and 

 personal superintendence for one of the most select col- 

 lections of printed books ever brought together, and 

 from which a just estimate maj' be formed of his good 

 taste and sound judgment as a "bibliographer. We may 

 add that Mr. Rodd numbered among his acquaintance 

 many of the most distinguished literary characters in thie 

 kingdom ; as a proof of which the late Mr. Grenville was 

 in constant communication with him, and Mr. Douce be- 

 queathed him a legacy in token of his regard. In this 

 University, where he was well known and most highly 

 respected, he was received rather as a personal friend 

 than a man of business; and his loss will be felt and ac- 

 knowledged by very many who enjo3'ed the pleasure of 

 his acquaintance, and knew his worth." — Ed. " N. & Q."] 



