the lady Grace Pierrepoint, to acquaint her that the College of Physicians have lately made a fair library, in which the Ld. Marquesse of Dorchester's books, given by her honour, are placed; and to desire her ladyship to do the College the honour to take a view of it." This noble addition to our library was valued at the time at upwards of four thousand pounds, and is said by Dr. Goodall to have been the choicest collection of books in physics, mathematics, civil law, and philology in any private hand in England. From the catalogue made in 1664, now before me, I see that it then comprised over 3,200 volumes, of which 1,547 were folios, 1,230 quartos, and 432 octavos.

With the view of making the library more generally useful, a new code of regulations was framed in 1708, by which it was directed that the library should be open on all Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings, from ten to twelve o'clock, and on all Tuesday and Friday afternoons, from four to six o'clock, from Ladyday to Michaelmas; and from two to four o'clock from Michaelmas to Lady-day; that no candles were to be used, and the smoking of tobacco was prohibited. The library was to be free to all members of the College, but before admission into it, each person was to deposit half-a-crown with the under librarian, as caution money, and give his faith to the observance of the Harveian Statute, with such alterations as should be thought proper

This Statute was framed in 1656, and is one of the "Statuta Museo Harveiano propria."

"Formula fidei dandæ, antequam quispiam in Museum admittatur. Dabis fidem, te librum nullum clam surrepturum; imò nec lacerando, aut maculando, locumve aliquem signando, folio conduplicando, eademve exscindendo, aut verbum aliquod, literasve, vel apicem eximendo, aut commutando, librum ullum deformaturum; sed quemque mox, ubi usus fueris, integrum suo loco repositurum. Idemque similiter de rebus aliis citra fraudem malusve artes relinquendis, polliceberis. Neminem tecum in Museum, vel librorum evolvendorum vel rerum quarumcunque illic inspiciendarum gratiâ adduces; pro quo te vadem sistere nobis, omnia cum ex æquo bonoque facturum, et qui cum toto tempore non permaneas. Et si quem sublestæ fidei deprehenderis, Musæi custodem protinùs ejus rei certiorem facies." "Si quisquam dolo malo, lubens, sciens, datam fidem fefellerit; is in posterum libertate ingrediendi Museum privator."

vte Ka Vo vinea, too, the test stinen and a note wit was even My Made Latifi, a 1787, vy Ln. Brocklesby; and in 1772 the komaty having fun was pet derler, it was re-arranged by Vyby bullen In Laksam, and in a manner so satisfactory to his collonguem that, he was unanimously voted one hundred pounds for Finservices De Thomas Giabome, who died in 1806, bequeathed many valuable books to the College, and Dr. Baillie, by his will, bequeathed to the College all his medical, chemical, and anatomend books, and three hundred pounds, the interest or annual produce of which was directed to be applied in keeping the

Opern Agricolationum: Columella, Varronis, Catonisq: nec non Palladii cum exscriptionibus et commetariis D. Philippi Beroaldi. Improom Hopii MCCCCLXXXXVI.

Hibliotherm Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinensis Catalogus. Hoyal Hvo, MoCOLVIL

said books in proper preservation, and in augmenting the library of the College.

Immediately before the opening of the College in Pall Mall East, the whole of the library was classified, and arranged with great judgment, in the splendid room prepared for its reception, by Mr. Hunter, the bedel and sub-librarian.

Among the many rare and curious works contained in the College library may be mentioned,―The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye, translated into Englisshe by Willyam Caxton, printed by William Caxton 1471,' being the first book printed in the English language; the Cronycle of Englonde, printed by Wynkyn de Worde. Folio, Lond. 1502;2 and Chaucer's works. Folio. Lond. 1540.3

The College copy consists of 350 leaves. It is without pagination, signatures, or catchwords. The initial letters are inserted in colour. In this copy, the first leaf containing the title page, in red ink, and a portion of Caxton's preface is deficient, and a part of the 6th leaf is torn out. It is otherwise in fine and perfect condition. Its size is 11 inches by 7.

The following are prices at which copies have been sold :

1812. The duke of Roxburgh's copy 10601. 18s. This copy was in very fine condition, and had formerly belonged to Elizabeth Gray, queen of Edward IV. It wanted one leaf.

1829. Hibbert's sale (10 leaves in MSS.) 1577. 10s.

1847. Wilke's sale (6 leaves wanting) 1657.

1852. Utterson's sale (50 leaves wanting) 1551.

2 The Chronycle of Englonde with the Frute of Tymes. The Descripcyon of Englonde, Wayls, Scotland, and Irlond: speaking of the noblesse and worthynesse of the same. Enprynted in Fletestrete, in the syne of the Sonne, by me, Wynkyn de Worde, the yere of our lorde a MCCCCC and II.

3 The Workes of Geffray Chaucer, newly printed, with dyvers workes which were never in print before: as in the table more playnly dothe appere. Cum privilegio. Imprynted at London, by Thomas Petit, dwellyng in Paules churche yarde, at the sygne of the Maydens heed. 1540. Folio..

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This form of promise was to be entered in a book, and subscribed by every person before he was admitted to the library.

A complete catalogue of the College library was made by Dr. Middleton Massey, in 1727, but was not printed; and in the following year the collection was largely augmented by the bequest of Dr. Richard Hale, of five hundred pounds, for buying books, to be chosen by his nephew, Dr. Richard Tyson, and by him placed in the library. The amount was very judiciously expended by Dr. Tyson, and some of the best books in the library are the produce of Dr. Hale's bequest.

In 1733 Dr. Woodford, a fellow of the College, and regius professor of physic at Oxford, presented a copy of the Opera Agricolationum,' impressa Regii, 1496, which had once belonged to our first president, Linacre, and is rendered especially valuable to us by his signature, the only one the College possesses of its founder.

In 1751 Dr. Crow, a fellow of the College, and a wealthy man, the possessor of a large and well selected library, left to the College all his Greek and Latin books, which included a very choice collection of classical works.

A good catalogue of the library was printed in 1757, and from it I find that the library then comprised over 6,650 volumes. The Thesaurus Antiquitatum Romanum et Græcorum, in 25 volumes, folio, the best edition and a noble work, was given to the College, in 1787, by Dr. Brocklesby; and in 1792, the library having fallen into great disorder, it was re-arranged by the elder Dr. Latham, and in a manner so satisfactory to his colleagues that he was unanimously voted one hundred pounds for his services. Dr. Thomas Gisborne, who died in 1806, bequeathed many valuable books to the College, and Dr. Baillie, by his will, bequeathed to the College all his medical, chemical, and anatomical books, and three hundred pounds, the interest or annual produce of which was directed to be applied in keeping the

1 Opera Agricolationum: Columellæ, Varronis, Catonisq: nec non Palladii cum exscriptionibus et commētariis D. Philippi Beroaldi. Impressa Regii MCCCCLXXXXVI.

Bibliothecæ Collegii Regalis Medicorum Londinensis Catalogus. Royal 8vo. MDCCLVII.

said books in proper preservation, and in augmenting the library of the College.

Immediately before the opening of the College in Pall Mall East, the whole of the library was classified, and arranged with great judgment, in the splendid room prepared for its reception, by Mr. Hunter, the bedel and sub-librarian.

Among the many rare and curious works contained in the College library may be mentioned,-The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye, translated into Englisshe by Willyam Caxton, printed by William Caxton 1471,' being the first book printed in the English language; the Cronycle of Englonde, printed by Wynkyn de Worde. Folio, Lond. 1502; and Chaucer's works. Folio. Lond. 1540.3

The College copy consists of 350 leaves. It is without pagination, signatures, or catchwords. The initial letters are inserted in colour. In this copy, the first leaf containing the title page, in red ink, and a portion of Caxton's preface is deficient, and a part of the 6th leaf is torn out. It is otherwise in fine and perfect condition. size is 11 inches by 7.

Its

The following are prices at which copies have been sold :1812. The duke of Roxburgh's copy 10601. 188. This copy was in very fine condition, and had formerly belonged to Elizabeth Gray, queen of Edward IV. It wanted one leaf.

1829. Hibbert's sale (10 leaves in MSS.) 1577. 10s.

1847. Wilke's sale (6 leaves wanting) 1657.

1852. Utterson's sale (50 leaves wanting) 155l.

2 The Chronycle of Englonde with the Frute of Tymes. The Descripcyon of Englonde, Wayls, Scotland, and Irlond: speaking of the noblesse and worthynesse of the same. Enprynted in Fletestrete, in the syne of the Sonne, by me, Wynkyn de Worde, the of our lorde a MCCCCC and II.

yere

3 The Workes of Geffray Chaucer, newly printed, with dyvers workes which were never in print before: as in the table more playnly dothe appere. Cum privilegio. Imprynted at London, by Thomas Petit, dwellyng in Paules churche yarde, at the sygne of the Maydens heed. 1540. Folio.

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