study at Paris, all the Dauphine editions of the classics with gold dolphins on the back of them. Num vesceris ista, quam laudas pluma? was frequently at my tongue's end; but good-breeding restrained me from taking the liberty of a too familiar expostulation.

"We now sat down at the table, and my lord having ordered the tea-water, begged the favour of me to reach out my hand to the window-seat behind me, and give him one of the books, which lay flat one upon another, the backs and leaves alternately. I did so; and endeavouring to take the uppermost, I found that they all clung together. His lordship seeing my surprise, laughed very heartily, saying it was only a tea-chest, and that I was not the first by many whom he had played the same trick upon. On examining it, I found that the upper book opened as a lid, and the hinges and key-hole of the lock were concealed so artfully, as they might easily escape common observation. But it was with great concern that I beheld the backs of these seeming books lettered Pope's works. Poor Pope! with what indignation would he have swelled, had he lived to see but the mere phantom of his works become the vehicle of grocery! His lordship, observing my eyes fixed with attention on the lettering, gave me the reason of it; 'What could I do?' said he; the credit of my library required the presence of the poet; but where to place him was the difficulty; for my shelves were all full, long before the last publication of him, and would have lost much of their beauty by any derangement; so to get clear of the embarras, I thought it might be as well to have Mr. Hallet's edition as Mr. Knapton's.' I perfectly agreed with his lordship, reserving to myself my meaning as to his own particular. Mr. Cash

the banker being now introduced, after hearing a joke or two upon Mr. Cash's books, which his lordship was pleased to call a more valuable library than his own, I left them to their private business.

"And now, Mr. Fitz-Adam, for the sake of many, who, like Lord Finical, have a fine taste in books, and not the least relish for learning, and for the convenience of many more, who are fond of the appearance of learning, and can give no other proof of it, than that of possessing so many books, which are like globes to a cunning man; I desire you will give a hint to Mr. Bromwich to form a paper-hanging, representing classes of books, which may be cailed for at his shop by the name of learned, or library-paper, as he pleases. That ingenious gentleman, whose gains and reputation have risen equally with our paper-madness, will exert his fancy in so many pretty designs of book-cases, or pieces of ornamental architecture, accommodated to the size of all rooms, in such richness of gilding, lettering, and colouring, that I doubt whether the Chinese paper, so much in fashion in most of our great houses, must not, to his great emolument, give place to the learned: I think the library-paper will look as pretty, may be made as costly, and I am sure will have more meaning. The books for a lady's closet must be on a smaller scale, and may be thrown into Chinese-Houses; and here and there blank spaces may be left for brackets to hold real China ware and Dresden figures. It is to be observed that the lettering should not be put on till the paper is hung up: for every customer ought to have the choosing and the marshalling his own books by this means he may have those of the newest fashion immediately after their publication; and besides, if he should grow tired of one author or one science, he may be furnished with others

at reasonable rates, by the mere alteration of the lettering.

"I make no apology to Mr. Dodsley on this occasion, as I do not think he will lose a single customer by this compendious, yet comprehensive method of performing libraries.

"Yours, &c.

END OF VOL. XXII.

G. Woodfall, Printer,

Angel Court, Skinner Street, London.

"L. A."