KING JAMES'S WORKS. Among the curious books in the Public Library, is a copy of the Latin edition of King James's Works. It is bound in velvet and gold, and was presented by the monarch himself to the University. On the binding, the King has written, Jacobus R. D. D. This Latin edition, published in 1619, is a translation of the English edition, first published in 1616, by Henry Montacute, Bishop of Winchester, and Dean of the King's Chapel. Both editions have portraits of the monarch from the same painting, but the inscriptions are different. The Latin edition is accompanied with these lines: In Carlo, Rex magne, tuam Natura figuram, Under the portrait prefixed to the English edition, are the following lines: Crownes have their compasse, length of days their date; Triumphs their tombs, felicity its fate; Of more than earth can earth make none partaker, But knowledge makes the KING most like his Maker. LORD BACON'S WORKS. In the Public Library are also some of the works of a much greater man than James, presented too by himself to his alma mater: these are two volumes, bound in velvet and silver, of the great restorer of philosophy, Lord Bacon; the first containing his nine books, De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum; the second, his Novum Organum. Opposite to the title-page are these words, in Lord Bacon's hand: Franciscus de Verulamio Vicecomes St. Albani, almæ matri Incl. Academic Cantabrigiensi. S. Debita filii, quam possum, persolvo. Quod vero facio, idem et vos hortor, ut augmentis scientiarum strenue incumbatis, et in animi modestia libertatem ingenii retineatis, neque talentum a veteribus concreditum in sudario reponatis. Affuerit proculdubio et affulserit divini luminis gratia, si humiliata et submissâ religioni philosophiâ, clavibus sensus legitime et dextre utamini, et amoto omni contradictionis studio quisque cum alio, ac si ipse secum, disputetis. The EDITIO PRINCEPS of LIVY. I have already given an account of a few curious books, and some of the oldest printed, in the Public Library: under that head may also be placed a beautiful and valuable copy of Livy, an Editio Princeps, (perhaps) or first edition, put forth after the invention of printing. It is in two volumes, folio. At the beginning, Dr. Farmer, late librarian to the Public Library, has written the following notice: "This edition was not in the collection of Dr. Mead or Dr. Askew, nor is it in the King's Library, or any known library in England. The two volumes are worth at least 501. "Oct. 22, 1784. R. FARMER.” These two volumes are certainly fellows, but had been separated for many years, at what time, or by what means, is unknown; but the history of their re-union is rather curious, and will be explained in the following extract of a letter to Dr. Farmer, from Mr. G. Nicol. "I have herewith, agreeably to my promise, sent the volume of Livy; and, if it turns out what I hope it is, the first volume of the book in your public library, I shall be happy, through your means, to have placed it there. I bought it, as I believe I told you, at Hoblyn's sale, and since that have put, as you see, a new coat on its back. Printing types are so very much alike, that it is not easy to carry them in the eye, but you will easily discover by comparison. If I judge right, both the volume in the Public Library, and this now sent, are printed by Vindelin, of Spire (who was the first, with his brother John, who printed at Venice) notwithstanding the volumes of nonsense that have been written about the Decor Puellarum of Nic. Jenson, 1461. This will be seen by looking at the end of your volume, where you will find the bare date 1470, with a long copy of verses, the seventh line of which runs thus:— Et Vindelino debebis tu quoq, formas, &c. But, whether the volume now sent is by the same printer, can be known, as I have already said, by comparison only. It is a book of such rarity, that I have never seen it, and indeed I know of no copy, but one in the Public Library at Lyons*. It is assuredly the first volume of Livy, with a date; for that of the Bishop of Aleria, printed by Sweynheym and Pannartz †, and that of Campanus, printed by Udalricus Gallus, have neither of them a date, and therefore the printing of them can only be ascertained by circumstances, which at this distance are often fallacious. "Believe me your obedient servant, "GEORGE NICOL.-Strand." These two volumes, therefore, are now, it is to be * I have perused two copies of this very edition, one lately imported by Messrs. Longman, Hurst, and Co. booksellers, from the celebrated Library of Gasparoli, Antwerp; the other from the Collection of Firmen Didot, of Paris. There is also one now in the King's Collection, another in Lord Spencer's. + Fabricius had not seen this (Editio princeps, he calls it), yet gives it a date, 1470. Biblioth. Lat. Ed, 1721. In the Library of Lord Spencer there is a copy, but without a date. Audiffridi firmly maintains this (printed by Sweynheym and Pannartz) to be the Edit. princeps. Edit. Rom. p. 25. Fabricius, too, gives dates to Udalricus Gallus's editions (1471, 1472), which yet have none. In the text, I say, perhaps, that of 1470, may be the Edit. princeps; but most probably it is not. hoped, brought to their proper and last home-Pace quies cant. MR. TYRWHITT'S GRACE for the REMOVAL of SUBSCRIPTION at the TIME of taking DEgrees. "Placeat vobis, ut illi, qui munia scholastica in regiis statutis contenta expleverint, in posterum sibi concessam habeant gratiam pro gradu in aliqua facultate suscipienda, etsi tribus articulis in canone tricesimo sexto comprehensis non subscripserint ;" that is-May it please you, that those, who have discharged the school-exercises contained in the royal statutes, may in future have a grace granted to them for taking a degree in any faculty, although they shall not have subscribed the three articles in the thirty-sixth canon. THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY, MAGDALEN COLLEGE. This collection was made by a gentleman, who was among the first collectors of rare books in this country, Samuel Pepys Esq. Secretary of the Admiralty, in the reigns of Charles II. and James II. He died in 1702, and bequeathed his collection to Magdalen College, where, according to his will, a new building was erected to receive them. Among many other valuable articles here, may be reckoned the following: some choice prints, the most curious of which are the twelve Cæsars and their wives, taken from an original painting by Titian; fac-similes of the hand-writing of distinguished persons, who corresponded with Mr. Pepys; and various fragments of hand-writing of different persons, for several hundred years back; various MSS. of Mr. Pepys's writing, relating principally to the maritime affairs of Scotland; a collection of old English ballads, to the amount of 2000, in five folio volumes, begun by Mr. Selden, finished by Mr. Pepys, and brought down to the year 1700; two volumes of Scottish poetry, one in folio, the other in quarto, called the Maitland Collections, the former in the hand-writing of Sir Richard Maitland, the latter of Miss Mary Maitland, a daughter of Sir Richard's. The folio was begun in 1555, and finished in 1585; the quarto was begun in 1585, and completed in 1587. It comprehends Poems written from about 1420 to 1586. From the collection of old English ballads, Bishop Percy enriched his three volumes of Ancient English Poetry; and from the Maitland collection, Mr. Pinkerton entirely composed his two volumes of Ancient Scottish Poems. The latter gentleman, who diligently examined this library, and who is well-read in ancient writings, says of it, speaking in reference to old English books, " that it is undoubtedly the most curious in England, those of the British Museum excepted." 1 TRINITY AUDIT-ALE. A person more distinguished for drinking copiously of the liquor of Helicon, than of the fermentations of Sir John Barleycorn, was extremely disgusted, on hearing mention made of Trinity Audit-Ale. "Odious!" exclaimed the learned gentleman; "can any associations be more offensive than a literary society and a brewery? What can Trinity Audit-Ale mean?" A person in company, accustomed to feel about for analogies, began to set his wits at work, to trace the connexion, and, if necessary, to frame an apology for Trinity Audit-Ale. He proceeded thus: "Have not the Muses in all ages had their favourite beverage, their water of Helicon, their fountain of Aganippe, their Pegasean streams, their Fons Caballinus? And why may not a learned society have its ale? Have not Poets, likewise, in all ages, and in all countries, celebrated Bacchus, the genialis consitor uvæ, the planter of the genial vine? And why should not a learned society ascribe due honours to Sir |