74 LEAVES THEY HAVE TOUCHED. 



temperament, but hints of tlie mood or frame of mind at tlie date 

 and moment of composition — evidences as to whether these were 

 calm and collected, or agitated by some dominant passion or feeling. 

 Men whose names, after the lapse of a generation or two, had become 

 simply abstract terms as it were, or mere shadows, thns live again 

 in our imaginations by means of signs traced with their own hands 

 when here in the flesh. No production of theirs coming under our 

 eye in print could affect us in the same lively way. — Sometimes the 

 character of one long defunct may be shrewdly divined from his 

 e&gj, his coimterfeit presentment, on a well-preserved ancient 

 coin or medal ; but a surer idea of him would be gained by the 

 study of an autograph fragment, were it possible to have access to 

 such a waif from the past. — And what is now said of the manuscript 

 relics of eminent men is true also, though perhaps not so strikingly, 

 of books which exhibit their autogi'aphs and other evidences of former 

 ownership. Here, we say to ourselves, as we are turning over the 

 leaves of the volume — here are pages which their eyes have carefully 

 scanned: here is matter which has engaged their special attention. 

 Here and there perhaps we discern their underscorings : here and 

 there we have their marginal annotations. To the cursory review 

 then of the MS. collection which I propose to make, I may conve- 

 niently add brief notices of some volumes distinguished in the manner 

 now spoken of, which are in my possession. 



My first paper will consist of specimens of Canadian historical 

 autographs. I trust that its effect will be to foster an interest amongst 

 us in early Canadian history. To this paper I subjoin a few 

 examples of autographs connected with the history of the adjoining 

 United States. My second paper will be a review of a number of 

 specimens which will, in theii* way, illustrate Old "World history, civil 

 and literary and in their way also, stimulate the study of Old World 

 history amongst us. And in my third paper I shall treat of some 

 MS. relics in my collection which specially relate to personages for- , 

 merly or at present eminent in the universities of Cambridge and 

 Oxford. 



My matter, I must premise, will be of a very miscellaneous char- 

 acter — a mosaic made up of irregular pieces. The autograph collector 

 cannot always possess himself of what he would desire. He must be 

 content with what chance throws in his way. The fragments selected 

 for my purpose in these papers will be, as far as practicable, charac-; 



