"Register"; he presided at its birth, nursed its puny life; protected it from the malice of some, the indifference of others. His name appears as editor upon the title-leaf of six volumes; though he actually edited it for nine and a half of the thirteen years he was publisher.

These labors in behalf of the "Register," were performed between the years 1847 and 1861, while Mr. Drake was engaged upon some of his most arduous literary tasks. It will readily be imagined that his hours for leisure were few; yet like Southey, he was never quite happy unless engrossed with some appalling undertaking.

Through the possession of some important manuscripts, such as the original "Examination of Hugh Parsons," in 1651; Increase Mather's "Cases of Conscience," with other documents relative to the Salem outbreak, Mr. Drake's attention was directed quite early to the development of witchcraft phenomena in New England. In 1866, he brought out carefully annotated editions of Mather's "Wonders of the Invisible World," and Calef's "More Wonders." In 1869, he added the "Annals of Witchcraft," in which were enumerated the cases in New England from the beginning. These, with the work of Mr. Upham, constitute a group of standard authorities on the subject.

As it is impracticable to continue here the detail of our author's undertakings, the reader is referred to the nearly complete list which is comprised in the catalogue. He maintained an extensive correspondence, and kept a daily journal in which were jotted down events of personal or public interest. He had carved out new tasks, which were destined never to be accomplished.

It is not too much to say that he, with a few other men, created an active sympathy in antiquarian research, of which scores of town histories, family memorials, and genealogies are the fruit. It was, at first, like laying down a railway in a country destitute of population; but these pioneers lived to see a numerous and intelligent class arise to push the spirit of inquiry into the deepest and darkest recesses of the past; to witness a growing veneration for its visible relics, a sympathy with its invisible influence, to which the greatest disciples of literary art have been most susceptible.

The writer feels the task of arranging and exhibiting as merchandise what have so long been regarded as old and trusty friends, much as he would a sale of human chattels. The books had become so familiar to their late owner that he knew them by their outward dress. Many had been exchanged three and four times for better editions, broader margins, or firmer bindings. Many a time-stained tract had been restored from a bundle of tattered rags to be a decent and useful member of society. Only a genuine bibliophile can realize the solicitude he feels for a rare edition or scarce legible manuscript. His touch is more a caress than a touch, and he at last acquires a degree of affection for his treasures according to the virtues, merits, or traits of their authors.

At the time of his death Mr. Drake possessed fifteen thousand volumes and thirty thousand pamphlets directly or collaterally relevant to American History, Biography, Genealogy, Poetry, Theology, or Education. The detail of voyages and travels to or within the American Continents, geographical or topographical descriptions of the territory, archæological researches, the annals of aboriginal tribes, newspapers, almanacs, portraits, autographs, and manuscripts reinforce the collection in its serviceable departments, as different branches constitute an effective army.

That this was no idle hoard is perhaps already evident in the enumeration of the works that the owner's pen called into being. The thousand fly-leaf notes, in his hand, attest careful perusal and mature judgment. Was a book skulking under a false title or fictitious imprint, it was cast out of the collection, with its character legibly written upon its face; did an author err in stating a fact or a date the lapse was instantly noted. Much information valuable or curious, respecting the books or their subjects, often appears in a few words, for which some future owner will thank the antiquary's care.

Except a choice number of valuable tracts, the nucleus of the collection was formed during Mr. Drake's absence abroad. He brought from England books to the value of about £400, and for nearly twenty years has been adding book upon book from every available resource. There are titles in nearly every civilized tongue, imprints from a thousand presses. A collection thus formed may be said to resemble a monument to which all the world has contributed. And its dissolution may well excite the regret of men of literary tastes.

Many rare titles were picked up in the bookstalls of London, Edinburgh, Paris, and the provincial cities and towns of England, that are now hardly attainable; others cost years of patient waiting to secure. Numerous autographs add especial interest to the volumes themselves. One likes to read from the book which Cotton Mather, John Wheelwright or Southey perused. Elegant and costly bindings by Riviere, Bedford, Matthews and Low appeal to a taste for the beautiful in the binding art. As a rule the books have Mr. Drake's signature.

In American History, general or local, and in Genealogy, the collection is believed to be unmatched. Besides more than five hundred bound volumes, there are eight thousand tracts under the heads of Local History and Genealogy; and about two thousand under that of Biography. The list of scarce American histories is too long for repetition. It embraces original editions of Hubbard, Mather and Penhallow's "Indian Wars," the folio "Magnalia," Prince's "Chronology," a Hutchinson of 1764, Morton's "Memorial," Trumbull's “Connecticut," Smith's "New York," Beverley's "Virginia," Backus's "Church History," etc. It is full and compact in whatever relates to the Colonial or Revolutionary wars, or to those of 1812 and 1861.

In American magazines, almanacs, and newspapers; in the collections of historical societies; in works on Theology, -including sermons and controversial tracts, from the Mathers, Whitefield, Chauncy, Mayhew, and Jona. Edwards, to Channing and Theodore Parker, on Baptism, Swedenborgianism, and Quakerism, - Mr. Drake made special efforts to render his authorities complete. Masonic literature is another specialty; and in American poetry five hundred bound volumes and many tracts, embrace the scarce editions of Mather Byles, Freneau, R. T. Paine, Barlow, Trumbull, Humphreys, Theo. Dwight, etc., with such later favorites as Macdonald Clarke, Halleck, Poe, Bryant, Longfellow, etc.

The library is singularly rich in English books, grouped in the same general divisions with the American. There are thirteen editions of Hudibras, inclusive of the first; with fine copies of Spenser, Milton, Cowley and Prior. English History is represented in legitimate succession from Stow, Speed and Rapin, to Macaulay and Froude. Sammes, Ogilby, Camden, Raleigh, are represented by superb folios; as are Fuller, Baxter, Fox, Bishop Burnet, etc. In voyages, the Collections of Hakluyt (editions of 1585 and 1600), of Purchas, Van Linschoten, Lord Oxford, Drake, Ulloa, Anson, Sir Robert Mansell (Algiers voyage, 1621), Dampier and Cook, are a formidable group; while Nares' splendid quarto of Lord Burghley, Phillips' "World of Words," Bailey's English "Dictionary," Le Neve's "Fasti," are supplemented with a goodly following of local histories and tracts, having early imprints. A small library is comprised in the 175 volumes of the "London" and "Gentleman's" Magazines, the depositories of much history relative to America. Samuel Clarke, Nathaniel Crouch, Bishop Berkeley, George Whitefield, John Dunton, and William Cobbett, have many titles. There are fine editions of "Acosta," of Lewes Robert's "Mappe of Commerce," Hondy's "History of the World" (1635), etc.; also valuable tracts relative to the Civil Wars.

Since its owner's decease this Library has remained wholly intact. It is believed to be the most perfect and compact collection ever offered for sale in the United States. It is not a miscellaneous gathering in which a few rare works find place; but one in which every book has an ascertained value. The information necessary to organize such a mass of literary materials is of slow acquisition, and bears no small proportion to their intrinsic worth. There, are, doubtless, books that may not soon again be seen outside the collection of some virtuoso. This army of authors, which might be wielded with great effect as a unit, is now to be disbanded.

Mr. Drake last visited his library on the eighth of June. The writer parted with him at about four o'clock in the afternoon. He appeared much fatigued, but if sensible of approaching illness did not mention it. The malady with which he was attacked, pneumonia, terminated fatally on the fourteenth.

He had received many honors from learned bodies, and was a member of the Society of Northern Antiquaries of Copenhagen. He was at different times president of the N. E. Historic, Genealogical, and Prince Societies, both of which he helped to originate. In 1843, the honorary degree of A. M. was conferred on him by Union College. It is but just to say, that he neither undervalued nor courted public distinction. His stores of information were freely imparted, even when some careless visitor has asked for the result of long and toilsome research. Many younger men were his pupils who have since made names. He loved his studies and his friends. In the midst of his family he often indulged in playful raillery, and no man more keenly relished a witticism. The past did not engross him to the exclusion of the present. He closely followed the drift of events and the careers of public men. Having exceeded his three-score and ten, he laid down the pen which for half a century had seldom been idle, and passed away with a composure that forbids regret:

"Yet leaving here a name I trust
That shall not perish in the dust."

BOSTON, Feb. 22, 1876.

S. A. D.

4

THE books are arranged alphabetically under authors' names, if known, and when unknown under their titles. This method is adhered to throughout, except in the special collections of pamphlets, as BioGRAPHIES, GENEALOGIES, POETRY, INDIAN AND LOCAL HISTORY, etc. when for convenient reference each subject is placed in a group. Mr. Drake's Catalogue has been adopted, except where judicious pruning might be necessary to reduce its bulk.

The magnitude of the whole collection has rendered it impracticable to prepare a Catalogue of the Manuscripts, Autographs, and Portraits, or of about 15,000 pamphlets, in time for the sales of May and June. They will, however, form the subject of a special sale, of which seasonable notice will be given.

No reference is made to bindings, although many specimens of exquisite workmanship are in the library; the whole number which might deserve especial mention on this account is so great, that it has been thought inexpedient to encumber the Catalogue with their description.

The unusually excellent condition of the books has attracted the favorable notice of librarians and collectors who have examined them'; it was an object of great care with the late owner. Imperfections have been noted wherever they are known to occur.

In mentioning books as "scarce," or "very scarce," the uninstructed collector is reminded that the oldest are not always the most uncommon; many titles printed within the century are more difficult to obtain than very old books. It has been considered unnecessary to draw special attention to titles of which the great rarity is of common notoriety; such are the Mather publications, early Election Sermons,

etc.

The portrait is inserted by the courtesy of W. H. Whitmore, Esq. The library will remain on exhibition at 17 Bromfield Street (Boston), until April 1st.