In Fine Art there are several notable books. Mr. Gray has almost complete sets of the beautiful works of M. Lacroix, Philip Gilbert Hamerton, and John Ruskin. The Ruskinian books include not only nearly everything written by the great art critic, but also some of the works referred to by him. Hogarth's Works, atlas folio, London, 1822, containing 119 proof plates, all on India paper, with biographical essay and explanations by Nicholls, is a very valuable volume. The same may be said of Alex. Deuchar's British Crests, 2 volumes, 1817; David Deuchar's Etchings, 3 vols., 1803; and Strutt's Sports and Pastimes of the English People, with coloured illustrations. Other artistic books are Blake's works, Stirling-Maxwell's works, Meyrick's Ancient Armour, Mrs. Jameson's works, A Beckitt's comic histories, etc. Rare and curious, and possessing a Glasgow interest, is the Expert Swordsman's Companion, or, the true art of self-defence, with an account of the author's life, etc., by Donald M'Bane, published at Glasgow in 1728. It has some quaint cuts. Of books illustrated by Bewick, Mr. Gray has the Quadrupeds, Esop's and Select Fables, and Birds-all first editions. Some of Dibdin's bibliographical works are also in the library.

Enough has been written to show the prominent features of Mr. Gray's library, but many a page might be penned upon so fertile a text, and, indeed, nothing short of an entire catalogue would be necessary to adequately portray a collection where special subjects have been so successfully cultivated.

CHAPTER XV.

LIBRARY OF JAMES WYLLIE GUILD, ESQ., PARK TERRACE, GLASGOW.

Beauty of the Library-Its Extent-Books of Hours-Shakespeare-Curious History of a Copy of the Second Folio-Shakespeariana-Spenser's "Faerie Queen"-First Editions of Byron, Shelley, and Keats -A Book from the Queen's Library-Songs and Ballads-Scottish Poetry, Biography, and HistoryExtensive and valuable Collection of Works on Marie Stuart-Three Hundred and Fifteen Portraits of the Queen of Scots-Some of the Rare Works-A Volume which belonged to the Queen; Songs on her Marriage with the Dauphin-Vindication of Elizabeth-Glasgow Books-Rare and highly-interesting Copy of Boyd's" Last Battell of the Soule," printed before the hitherto supposed First Edition-Fine Art: Ruskin, Bewick-Bibliography—Splendid Collection of Autograph Letters.

A FEELING of dismay was our first sensation on entering Mr. Wyllie Guild's library. The sight was at once delightful and embarrassing. So large, so varied, so rich, and so beautiful, how was it possible to do justice to it in a necessarily brief sketch and from a few visits? To treat it adequately one would require to own it, or live in it, and to have as large an interest in, and possess as wide a knowledge of, the many subjects which it specially illustrates, as the owner himself.

Two beautiful and spacious rooms leading from the drawing-room contain the major portion of the collection. They are fitted with elegant open bookcases of

oak, curiously carved and richly ornamented. In exquisite carving on the doors beneath are scenes from sacred history. The subjects of some of these are-David's Victory over Goliath, The Prodigal's Return, Thomas's Incredulity, The Widow's Mite, Nathan reproving David, Joseph Sold to the Ishmaelites, Boaz and Ruth, Joseph Entertaining his Brethren, Pharoah and his Host in the Red Sea, Elijah taken up into Heaven. Two of the panels contain very clever representations of Comedy and Tragedy. The most valuable, however, are three in the inner room of sixteenth century French work, depicting the Adoration of the Magi, the Ascension, and the Angel appearing unto Mary. They are very fine examples of wood carving. The panels were procured from many places and at various times. Of varying dimensions, they have been skilfully set in their present places. The rooms are adorned with many beautiful things - portraits, miniatures, medals, ivory carvings, enamels, and interesting and curious historical nick-nacks.

Mr. Guild's enthusiasm for everything relating to Marie Stuart is well known, and his unrivalled collection of Stuart literature will be spoken of in its proper place. Meanwhile we may note a beautiful wrought ivory helmet and horn which belonged to Marie's first husband, the Dauphin of France; a silver commemorative medal, struck in Paris on the occasion of the marriage of the Dauphin and Marie in 1558, and a bottle, which was presented to her, of old French glasswork, bearing the Scottish thistle and her monogram and portrait.

These two rooms contain about two score of presses, and comprise about two-thirds of the entire library. Downstairs is a room which Mr. Guild terms his workshop. There are his Shakespeares, his grandest folios, and his collection of autographs. Altogether, there will not be fewer than 12,000 volumes in the library. Mr. Guild has the good, or some may think it bad,

fortune to be afflicted with nearly every one of the ordinary varieties of bibliomania, and has even the honour of being the creator of some fresh forms of the malady. He has not one hobby, but many, and he has striven to excel in each of them.

In the press devoted to sacred literature are two beautiful Books of Hours. The earlier of the two, entitled "Les Heures a L'Usage de Tournay, avec le Calendrier et l'Almanach," is printed on vellum, and is ascribed to the printing-press of the Parisian typographer Simon Vostre, with the date of 1502. It has nineteen remarkably fine full-page woodcuts, representing scenes in the life of our Saviour, the Last Judgment, and other sacred events; and beautiful wood-cut borders round every page, containing as many as 650 scenes of a sacred, pastoral, and hunting nature. The volume is further decorated with several hundred small capital letters, illuminated in gold and colours. A note by a former owner, a member of the Society of Antiquaries, contains the suggestion that the book is a manuscript used to print from for ecclesiastical publications at Paris, some few printed ones, evidently copies, being in the writer's possession. The other volume is also beautifully illuminated; its date is

1518.

In juxtaposition to these fine volumes is a manuscript on vellum, entitled "Gebert Buch," with titlepage and initial letters, illuminated in colour. It is supposed to belong to the year 1460, about ten years after the invention of printing. Three Bibles stand by the "Immaculate," printed by Sir D. Hunter Blair & J. Bruce, Edin., 1811; Fittler's Illustrated Bible, 1798; and one printed at Basle, 1505, by Rapegolis. Two copies of the Confession of Faith, Glasgow, 1755, 1756, have some local interest; and the imprint is also the most interesting thing to bibliographers about Dickson's Short Explanation of the Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, which was printed at

Aberdeen by Edward Raban, the first Aberdeen printer, in 1635. Side by side with Spiritual Songs, or Holy Poems, Edinburgh, 1685; The Religious Stoic by Sir George Mackenzie, Edinburgh, 1665, are -The Psalmes in Prose and Meeter, with Godly Prayers, and Kalendar, Edin., 1635, known as Knox's Liturgy, or Knox's Psalter (Laing's copy brought £15 15s.); and Buchanan's Paraphrasis Psalmorum Davidis Poetica, 1572, profusely ornamented. Mr. Guild has a number of editions of the Pilgrim's Progress, and a copy of the Bible illustrated by Doré, published at Tours in 1866.

The

In Poetry the collection is rich indeed. It contains 48 editions of Shakespeare's works. First comes the second folio, London, 1632. Mr. Guild has two copies. The better of the two is a perfect copy, bound in old crimson morocco, extra, with the autograph of Janet, Countess of Kincardine. It was purchased for Mr. Guild at the Williamson sale, Glasgow, 1865. other copy is imperfect, but is gradually being completed. It has a curious history. On the first blank page is the following note by Clara Reeve, the novelist, who was born at Ipswich in 1738, and died in 1803" This book has been in the Reeve family about one hundred years. My grandfather, the Rev. Thomas Reeve, of Ipswich, set a very high value upon it. My father, the Rev. William Reeve, was a great admirer of Shakespeare, but preferred the modern editions. The book remained in the hands of his sister, where it suffered by being lent about to those who abused it. . . . In the year 1773, my aunt, Maria Reeve, gave it me, and I hope it will never go out of the family. Clara Reeve, 1773."

Alas alas! How futile are the strongest wishes when measured against time. The volume came into the possession of a nephew of Miss Reeve's who lived near Bothwell. He was accidentally killed on the railway, and his effects being sold, the precious volume