" THE COTTON I AN LIBRARY: 9 197 



costly new work he found on a friend's table 

 with a knife smeared with butter. 



PISCATOR. Just so ; and the friend, the 

 narrator! How often has the exclamation 

 been made " Oh ! save me from my friends ! " 

 It is possible that the joet may have done 

 what is reported of him ; but who that knew 

 him well would have any hesitation in de- 

 claring that it was done inadvertently. I have 

 been favoured, as a neighbour, with books from 

 his library (he had a goodly collection of books, 

 though they were not his pride, after the manner 

 of Southey), and never did I find one of them 

 in a state otherwise than denoting proper care. 

 Some of them, from their peculiar binding 

 done in the house when under the influence 

 of the res angusta were not a little inte- 

 resting and curious, their covering being 

 printed cotton ; and pleasant were they to look 

 at, and in cold weather, pleasant were they to 

 handle, from their soft feel and absence of chill. 

 They were called by the ladies, whose handy 

 work they were, " The Cottonian Library." 



AMICUS. I suppose, it was from hence that 

 he went forth in the wain with wife and chil- 

 dren, driven by a serving maid, 



o 3 



