Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye," the first book printed in the English language, once belonged to Elizabeth Grey, wife of King Edward IV, as attested in a contemporary manuscript. In this volume is a Flemish copperplate engraving, believed unique, possibly from the workshop of Colard Mansion, Caxton's early partner. By this purchase the Huntington Library entered the front rank of dramatic libraries. Already its collection of Shakespeare Folios and Quartos rivalled, and in some cases surpassed, those in the British Museum and Bodleian Libraries, previously recognized as the best in existence. In 1915 Mr. Huntington purchased the library of Mr. Frederic R. Halsey, consisting of about 20,000 volumes, of the finest condition in size and binding, collected during a period of thirty-five years. In addition to further Shakespeare items, this library contained the original editions of Dickens, with complete sets of nearly all the plates issued by well-known artists as extra illustrations. In Americana and works by American authors the Halsey library was especially rich, and its collection of French literature was regarded as unrivalled in this country.

Less than a year later Mr. Huntington

secured in London from the Britwell Court Library an unusual collection of rare Americana. Among the "Voyages" of De Bry, already represented in the Church set, were several volumes of the Latin edition of the "Small Voyages" that had been censored by Rome. A search in London finally resulted in the discovery of some 175 such obliterated leaves, which now add a unique feature to the Huntington set of De Bry.

THE BRIDGEWATER LIBRARY

Best known of the great collections acquired by Mr. Huntington is the Bridgewater library, founded by Sir Thomas Egerton, Baron Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley, Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth and to King James I, and augmented by his son and grandson, the first and second Earls of Bridgewater and by other descendants, especially Francis Egerton, first Earl of Ellesmere, who died in 1857. The founders of the library were great lovers of literature, and many of the books seem to have been presented to them by their authors and by other notable men of the period. A striking feature of the collection is the travelling library of the Lord Chancellor (1579

The greatest riches of the library are the English manuscripts from the thirteenth century onward. One of the most notable of these is the well-known Ellesmere Chaucer, finest of all Chaucer manuscripts, the source book of the "Canterbury Tales," written shortly after the poet's death. Its magnificent illuminations include the only known equestrian picture of the author. Other manuscripts hardly inferior in interest are Gower's "Confessio Amantis," Lydgate's "Translation of La Danse Macabre," and "De Regimine Principum," of the fourteenth century.

The printed books include extensive series of plays by Shakespeare, his predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Among the rare Shakespeare Folios and Quartos is the very scarce "Titus Andronicus," 1600, of which only one other copy is known. Of interest to the student of Shakespeare are the numerous

the Larpent collection of plays in manuscript.

John Larpent in 1778 became Inspector of Plays under the Lord Chamberlain of England. His collection of over 2,000 separate plays comprises in most cases the original drafts sent to the Lord Chamberlain from 1737 to 1824 for inspection before the "license to play" should be granted. Among the 120 authors represented are David Garrick, the Sheridans, James Lacy, the Kembles, Thomas Dibdin, H. Siddons, G. Colman and his son, and John Dryden. Not the least interesting items of the collection are the autograph letters, signed by the authors, sent with the plays to state when and where they were to be produced. Many of the manuscripts have on the fly-leaf such inscriptions as this: "Designed to be produced at Drury Lane if it meets with approval of the Lord Chamberlain," (signed) D. Garrick and

Lang, Robert Buchanan, William Black, Bret Harte, Richard Le Gallienne, and others.

Of more recent purchases I have not space to write, as a brief description of the books obtained in the Christie-Miller sales would alone occupy the rest of this article. I cannot close this very inadequate sketch of the Huntington collection, however, without mention of some other interesting material.

AMERICANA

The Americana include a large collection of early maps and works referring to America; six original editions of the letters of Columbus; Carvajal's "Oratio ad Alexander VI," delivered June 19, 1493, containing the first official announcement of the discovery of America; many original manuscripts of Spanish discoverers and pioneers, including the Pizarro-La Gasca collection (1537 to 1580) of 3,000 MS. pages, with signed letters of Almagro, the Pizarros, etc., and of Charles V and Philip II, the latter signing as King of England; the manuscript (322 folio pages, 1571) of Pizarro's description of his cousin's discovery and conquest of Peru; the Venegas-Burriel (27 volumes), and many other original manuscripts relating to explorations in California; the secret report (1820) to the Spanish Cortes on the cession of Florida, etc.

Passing over other periods of American exploration which are also represented by much original material, some mention should be made of the large collection of books and manuscripts relating to the Revolution, such as the Destouches papers, containing many unpublished. letters and documents signed by Washington, Lafayette, Rochambeau, De Grasse, and La Perouse; original letters and secret state documents of King George III on peace with the American Colonies, including one in which the King disclaims all responsibility for their loss; Benedict Arnold's original manuscript letter to Lord North giving an account of his treason; the manuscript journals of John André and Aaron Burr; and a large amount of original material relating to George Washington. The Rufus King collection of about 600 letters and documents, 1796 to 1802, contains many let

ters of John Quincy Adams, Timothy Pickering, James Madison, etc. Another collection of autograph letters relates to the American war on the Great Lakes, 1812-14.

The manuscript material dealing with the Civil War, most of it unpublished, is equally rich. It includes many Lincoln manuscripts, among which is the wellknown letter to the Ellsworth family on the death of their son, and a little notebook containing portions of his speeches; some remarkable letters of Robert E. Lee; and a large collection of unstudied docu- ' ments.

Turning back to the "monuments of printing" which appeared before 1501, suffice it to say that the Library includes 5,300 incunabula from 794 different presses, more than all the libraries of Paris contained in 1910. Some 80 or 90 of these are the only known copies. Many of the incunabula are of great importance in the history of art and also in the history of medicine, astronomy, geography, and other branches of science. In this field also are a thirteenth-century manuscript of Ptolemy's "Almagest"; a remarkably fine pair of terrestrial and celestial globes by Jodocus Hondius, 1600; a copy of Gilbert's rare work "De Magnete," 1600, in which he first showed the earth to be a magnet; and other scientific books of various periods. Many of these are among the books by English authors before 1641, of which Mr. Huntington has over 10,000, more than one-third of the total number printed. In this field the library is surpassed only by the British Museum and the Bodleian.

It is difficult to attempt to select other rare books for special mention, as in more than 750 cases the Library possesses the only known copy. But readers who care for exceptional books will recognize the difficulty of passing in silence first editions of Dante's "Divine Comedy," 1472; Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," 1478; and Spenser's "Faerie Queen," 1590. These are typical samples of thousands of first editions, some of which are as rare as the "Hamlet" of 1603, of which only one other copy exists.

One of the greatest treasures of the Library consists of the archives of the Earls of Huntingdon (the family of Hast

ings), comprising over 40,000 pieces. The collection of charters and royal grants from A. D. 1105 to 1688 includes the first known seal of the Knights Templar, the great seals of nineteen English kings and queens, and of scores of other leaders of church and state. The historical correspondence includes hundreds of royal letters and state documents. Among these are a letter from Henry VIII informing the Earl of Huntingdon that he is about to invade France and requesting him to furnish footmen and archers; a letter from Queen Mary appealing for troops to be sent to the relief of Calais; many letters from Queen Elizabeth, one appointing the then Earl of Huntingdon jailer of Mary Queen of Scots; and others of equal interest.

The Huntingdon family early turned its attention to America, and Captain Edward Hastings, brother of the fifth Earl, accompanied Sir Walter Raleigh on his disastrous expedition to Guiana in 1617. His letters and many others describe this expedition and the colonization of Virginia, 1610–25. One member of the family, who fought in the battle of Bunker Hill, wrote long letters that give a vivid picture of the Revolution.

The Stowe archives, including more than a million papers, are quite comparable in interest and importance with the Huntingdon papers.

The Art Gallery contains a remarkable collection of more than forty British portraits, by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Romney, Lawrence, Raeburn, and Hoppner, formerly in the possession of Earl Spencer, William Beckford, Lord Petre, the Duke of Westminster, the Earl of Harrington, the Earl of Crewe, and other English families, which is certainly unrivalled. The landscape group, small at present, includes fine examples of Constable and Turner. Passing over the

statuary and the Beauvais tapestries after Boucher, mention should be made of many illuminated manuscripts, missals, and books of hours, countless engravings and prints, and a collection of English seals dating from the twelfth century, equalled only by the British Museum. At present Mr. Huntington is preparing an art collection in memory of Mrs. Huntington, including nineteen Italian primitives formerly in her possession.

It can hardly be denied that Mr. Huntington has amply repaid his indebtedness to the rich resources of England. The masterpieces of the period of Reynolds and Gainsborough, previously seen only by the guests of titled families, will ultimately be accessible to public view and will inspire the work of artists competent to profit by them. Manuscripts that have reposed in private coffers and books that have escaped the scholar in the safe retreat of country houses will soon serve for the production of new chapters in the history of literature, art, and science. Moreover, those of us who regard with affection the land of our ancestors will hope that the Huntington collections, in the process of time, may serve to increase American appreciation of our debt to the past and aid in uniting the Englishspeaking peoples. The American critic who talks glibly of the "decadence" of the English should study the history of science and learn that it now stands in England at a level never before attained. And the Briton who honestly believes that American civilization is still in the frontier stage might do well, for example, to make a comparative study of modern British and American architecture. Careful inquiry and the dissemination of sound knowledge will heighten mutual respect and help to accomplish that unity of purpose which is so necessary to the stability of the modern world.