120 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2'"J S. VI. 136., Aug. 7. '58. 



NOTES ON BOOKS AND BOOK SALES. 



The late Mr. Hill, of tlie Royal Society of Literature, 

 had long busied himself with collecting materials for a 

 history of those works which, resembling in their character 

 the world-renowned masterpiece of John Bunj'an, had 

 anticipated, and, as he seemed inclined to believe, had 

 suggested. The Pilgrim's Progress. The papers which he 

 left behind him at his death have fallen into most con- 

 scientious and painstaking hands: the result is a volume 

 full of deep interest to the admirers of .John Bunj-an, and 

 of no small value in illustrating the histor3' of religious 

 allegories. The Ancient Poem of Guillaume de Gui/eviUe, 

 entitled Le Pelerinage de V Homme compared ivith the Pil- 

 grim,'s Progress of John Bunyan, edited from Notes collected 

 iy the late Mr. Nathaniel Hill of the Royal Society of 

 IMerature, jvith Illustrations and an Appendix, is a literary 

 curiosity, produced with all the elegance of the Chis- 

 wick Press : .and containing much information not only 

 respecting De Guileville and his curious poem, but also 

 respecting his early translators — Chaucer and Lidgate. 

 The book, indeed, is a pleasant discourse touching the 

 prevalence of allegorical literature in the Middle Ages — 

 the popularity of De Guileville in England — the paral- 

 lelisms between De Guileville and Bunyan — and con- 

 tains notices also of other early predecessors of our great 

 allegorist. The work, let us add, is illustrated with fac- 

 similes of old woodcuts and illuminations ; and is alto- 

 gether a quaint, pleasant, and instructive volume. 



We have before us another proof of the benefits which 

 are destined to accrue to historical literature from the 

 admirable scheme of Sir John Romillj'. The Rev. C. F. 

 Hingeston, the learned editor of Jchannis Capgrave Liber 

 de Illustrious Ilenricis, has just puhlished a translation of 

 that work, thus placing the historical information to be 

 found in it within the reach of the mere English reader. The 

 Book of the Illustrious Henries, thanks to Mr. liingeston's 

 tact, preserves throughout very much the character of 

 Capgrave's own book ; and we trust will be received with 

 so much favour by (he reading world as to justif}' the 

 publishers in producing a series of translations of the 

 more important of the Collection of Early Chronicles now 

 appearing under the authoritj' of the Master of the Rolls. 



The Quarterly sustains its character for pleasant as well 

 as instructive reading. The opening article on Admiral 

 Blake, founded on Hepworth Dixon's admirable biogra- 

 phy, is a paper to be read with especial interest at the 

 present moment, when our navy engages so much atten- 

 tion. Two other articles of a biographical character give 

 value to the present number; namely, one on VVyclifle, 

 and one on Professor Blunt and his works. A paper on 

 Iron Bridges and one on Shipwrecks form its utilitarian 

 portion. To these, perhaps, we should add the paper on 

 the British Museum, in which the necessity for the re- 

 moval of the Natural History Department is strongly 

 insisted upon. Mr. Buckle's History of Civilisation forms 

 the subject of a thorough Quarterly article ; and the small 

 halfpennyworth of politics to be found within the drab 

 wrapper of the great Conservative Review, is the closing 

 one, " On the Condition and Future of India." 



A collection of autograph letters, and some important 

 manuscripts, the propertj' of S. W. Singer, Esq., was sold 

 by Messrs. Sothebj- and Wilkinson on August 3, 1858. 

 A letter of John Dryden to his cousin Mrs. Stewart, 1698, 

 printed in his Prose Works, lOl. Another, not printed, 

 conta'ining a remonstrance to Dr. Busby respecting his 

 conduct to Dryden's son, 71. — Oliver Goldsmith's letter 

 to Sir Joshua Reynolds, 8/. 6s. — Dr. Johnson's letter of 

 condolence to Lady Southwell, 5/. 15s. — Mary Queen of 

 Scots to the Cardinal of Loraine and the Duke of Guise, 

 1559, 11/. 15s. — A Convej'ance from John Milton of the 



City of Westminster of a bond for 400/. from the Com- 

 missioners of Excise to Cyriack Skinner of Lincoln's Inn, 

 with the autograph signature of the poet, and his seal 

 attached, 19/. i9s. — A most interesting, and probably 

 unique letter, from " Pretty Nelly Gwynne " to Mr. Lau- 

 rence Hj'de, the second son of Lord Chancellor Clarendon. 

 Nelly was no scribe, and could with difficulty scrawl her 

 initials ; she therefore here employs the pen of one of her 

 merry companions, but evidently insists upon her very 

 words being written down, although she cannot make her 

 write all she wishes. It sold for 13/. — Popiana. Notes 

 and Collections respecting Pope and his Works, consist- 

 ing of Remarks on Ruffliead's Life ; notes of various in- 

 quiries made bj' Warton, Malone, Isaac Reid, and others, 

 71. 2s. 6d. — Chaucer. Troilus and Creseid, written in 

 five Books by the most famous Prince of Poets, Geofrey 

 Chaucer, done into Lattine, with y° Comments by Sir 

 Era. Kynaston, knt., fol. 1639. This MS. formerly be- 

 longed to Dean Aldrich. 27/. 10s. — Promptorium Par- 

 vulorum, on vellum, a MS. of the 14th centurj', 12/. — 

 Speculum Vitm : the Myrrour of Life, a translation from 

 the Latin of John of Waldby, by William of Nassyngton, 

 on vellum, of the 14th centur3', 84/. Another copy of an 

 earlier date, but imperfect, 31/. — Then followed the MS. 

 collections of Joseph Spence, consisting of 21 Lots : the 

 first was the original MS. of his Anecdotes of Boohs and 

 Men, inquired after in " N. & Q." (2"* S. iv. 452. ; v. 17.) 

 A note in the Catalogue states that " in regard to the 

 authenticity of these papers it may be important to state, 

 that the whole of Mr. .Spence's papers came into the j 

 hands of Bishop Lowth, who, with the Rev. Mr. RoUe, I 

 was one of his executors. They were given by the bishop ' 

 to a Mr. Foster, who had been in his service as Secretary, 

 or some confidential capacity, and became at that gentle- 

 man's decease the property of his nephew, from whom 

 they were obtained by Mr. William Carpenter, who 

 placed them in Mr. Singer's hands for publication, and 

 b3' subsequent arrangement they became the property of 

 Mr. Singer." This interesting lot was knocked down to 

 the lucky purchaser for 10s. ! — In Lot 200., among other 

 miscellaneous papers relating to Poetical History, by Mr. 

 Spence, is a valuable MS. evidently prepared for the 

 press, entitled " Collections relating to the Lives of some 

 of the Greek, Latin, Provincial, Italian, French, and 

 English Poets, arranged in alphabetical order." It sold 

 (or' 10s. Grf. 



BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES 



WANTED TO rUBCHASE. 



GiusEppiNo; an Occidental Story. Loudon. 1821. 



W. Avebfll's D/all foh Daintv Darlings. Blacklettcr. 1531. 



*»* Letters, statina: particulars and lo\re3t price, carnaf/e/ree, to be 



sent to Messhs. liELL & Dalov, Fubliahers of " NOTES AND 



QUERIES," 186. Fleet Street. 



Particulars of Price, &c., of the following Books to be sent direct to 

 the gentlemen by whom they are required, and whose names and ad- 

 dresses are given for that purpose. 



Canonicarum Horarum Liber Secundum Ordinem Novjb Rubrics 

 Impehialis Ecci.Esi.« Babrnbekuensis. John Seusenschmidl et 

 Henricii9 Petzensteiner. H84. An imperfect or poor copy will do. 

 Wanted by Rev. J. C Jackson^ 17. Sutton Place, Hackney. 



Suckling's History of Suffolk. Vol. I. -ito. 



Wanted by Thos. MiUard, 70. Newgate Street. 



Jacob. TVie latter gentleman wh(mi you have named, maJces a corre- 

 sponding objection. 



*' Notes and Quebiks*' is puhlishcd at noon on Friday, and is also 

 ismied in Monthly Parts. T/te subscription for Stamped Copies for 

 .\hr. Months forwarded direct from the Pt/ljiishers (includitlij the Half- 

 ycfirhi Index) is lis. 'If/., ivhich niai/ he paid 6;^ Post Office Order in 

 favour of Messrs. Bell and Daldv,1H6. Fleet Street, E,C.; to lohvm 

 all Communications for the Editor should be addressed. 



