ford. Of these the first is William Caxton, and this is, in all probability, the original from which the head in Ames's History of Printing was taken, 2d edition, by Herbert. There is, however, another head of Caxton in Ames's first edition, and in Lewis's Life of Caxton, as different as possible from that abovementioned. In these two latter books, Caxton is represented as a Turk, with a turban and a long beard. It would be worth while for those who have leisure to prosecute the enquiry, to know from which picture of Caxton these two heads were severally taken. I am inclined to believe, that the head by Faithorn in Mr. Bagford's Collection, was taken from the original picture, which, as Caxton was a Citizen and Mercer, is probably possessed by one or other of the city companies. The Mr. Bagford here alluded to, was so very singular a character, that a little farther notice of him will not, I presume, be unamusing. "John Bagford, the Antiquary and great "collector of old English books, prints, &cc. was born in London. He had been, in his 66 younger days, a shoemaker, afterwards a bookseller, and lastly, for the many curiosities. * Quere, Is not this turban of the same fashion with that in the famous picture of Henry the Fourth, as it is called, at Hampton Court? See Houbraken's Ileads. with which he enriched the famous library of "Dr. John Moore, Bishop of Ely, his Lordship "got him admitted into the Charter House, "He was several times in Holland and in other "foreign parts, where he procured many valu"able old books, prints, &cc. some of which "he disposed of to the late Earl of Oxford, "who, after his death, purchased all his col"lections, papers, &cc. for his library. In 1707, were published in the Philosophical Trans"actions, his Proposals for a General History of Printing. He died at Islington, a little before "six in the morning, May 15, 1716, aged 65 years, and was buried the Monday following "in the Church Yard belonging to the Charter "House. In 1728, a print was engraved of him, "from a painting of Mr. Howard by George "Vertue. See an account of his Entries, which แ 66 was designed for a General History of Print"ing, in the Catalogue of the Harleian Col"lection of MSS. vol. ii. fol. London. 1759, "from No. 5892 to No. 5910. His мss. may "be of use to such as will take pains to extract good matter from a bad hand, and worse orthography, This may be easily forgiven to "his education far from learned, and all his "improvements owing to the strength of genius, "seconded by unusual diligence and industry. "A number of his letters to Humphrey Wanley may be seen in the British Museum; and a 66 "large "large part of his collections in the public 66 library at Cambridge." Nichols's Anecdotes of Bowyer, p. 505. In page 612 is this addition: Bagford's Collections are locked up in a "large cubical deal box, and probably have "never been opened since they have been at Cambridge," "T. F." It is worth remembering, that Bagford and Humphry Wanley were among the first Founders of the present Antiquarian Society, EGYPTIAN MANUSCRIPT. FOR the following account of the Coptic Manuscript, lately presented to the British Museum, I am indebted to my friend Mr. Combe. This ancient Egyptian Manuscript on papyrus, was taken from a mummy at Thebes, and brought into England by William Hamilton, Esq. by whom it was presented to the British Mu seum. The papyrus, before it was expanded in the manner in which it is now seen, was closely rolled up, the roll having a flattish appearance, as if it had been very considerably compressed on the sides. The The characters are those which were in cómmon use among the Egyptians. They are evidently written from right to left, a mode of writing which was remarked by Herodotus to prevail among that people. The Egyptians not only differed from the Greeks in this mode of writing, but they differed also in the mode of rolling their manuscripts; the Egyptians beginning their rolls from the left, and the Greeks from the right. In their different practices, however, both had the same object in contemplation, that when a manuscript was unrolled, that part of it, which contained the beginning of the writing, should first present itself. It will be perceived, that the manuscript is divided into five columns, the first of which is imperfect, and that each column is accompanied by a drawing, which represents one or more objects of Egyptian adoration. The ink, which has retained its colour in a surprising manner, seems to be composed of lamp, or charcoal black, suspended in some animal matter. In some few parts, indeed, of the Ms. the ink, at first sight, seems to have lost its blackness, but these passages, upon a close inspection, are found to have been originally written with red ink. Lib. II. c. 36. With With respect to the instrument by which the letters were formed, there can be little doubt, but that it was a reed, and not a brush, it being a matter of great uncertainty, whether the Egyptians ever used the latter in their writings, although Count Caylus is of opinion that they employed it in their writings on cloth. Among the numerous paintings, which yet adorn the walls of almost all the Temples in Upper Egypt, a remarkable figure has been more than once observed, which will serve to throw considerable light upon the present inquiry. This figure, says Ripaud †, in his Report on the Antiquities of that part of the Country, is engaged in writ ing on a volumen or roll, with the calamus, or pen made of reed. To this circumstance may be added, the authority of Apuleius, a writer eminently learned in the manner and customs of the Egyptians: Modo si papyrum, Egyptiâ argutia Nilotici calami inscriptam non spreveris It is worth while to remark, that every roll consisted of an indefinite number of sheets, which were fastened together by glue, care being taken always to place the best sheets of papyrus first, • Recueil D'Antiquités, Tom. 5. p. 77. Metam. Lib. 1. that |