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seal, however, is in perfect condition-as large as a saucer, and as thick as one's little finger."

of Gray's Elegy and

Dickens's 'Christmas Carol.'

The Athenæum of the 5th of June states: "The original manuscript of Gray's Elegy Sale of MSS. written in a Country Churchyard' was sold last week by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge. It is entirely in the autograph of the poet, and contains alterations, erasures, and corrections, which show the anxious care bestowed upon its composition. In this manu

script the names of 'Cæsar' and 'Tully' are erased, and those of 'Cromwell' and 'Milton' substituted. It was to the taste of Mason that Gray was indebted for this alteration, as well as for the suggestion of the title of the poem, which Gray originally simply styled 'Stanzas,' as this MS. is inscribed. It was purchased by Sir William Fraser for 230/., nearly double what it fetched when sold by the same auctioneers in the Penn Collection, some twenty years ago." In the same sale was the manuscript of Dickens's 'Christmas Carol,' entirely in his autograph. This was sold for 557

Robertson.

The death of Mr. John Robertson, of Mr. John Brighton, on the 1st of June, is announced on the 12th. "He was editor of the London and Westminster Review 'in its palmiest days,' to quote from a letter of Thackeray's on the subject, when it was the property of John

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Mr. Bullen.

The Royal Company of Archers.

Stuart Mill. He also rendered the philosopher assistance in the publication of many of his works, to which fact Mr. Mill has himself borne testimony in his 'Autobiography.""

On the 24th of July it is stated that "Mr. Bullen's merits have met with their appropriate reward, and that he has been appointed to the Keepership of the Printed Books, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Rye. Mr. Bullen entered the Museum January 22nd, 1838, Mr. Rye in June of the same year. Mr. Garnett, the wellknown Shellcian, has been made the Superintendent of the Reading-Room."

In anticipation of the two hundredth anniversary of the Royal Company of Archers, founded by the Marquess of Atholl in 1676, Mr. James Balfour Paul wrote 'The History of the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland,' a review of which appears in the Athenæum of the 7th of August, 1875. "It is not a warlike company; it was founded for sport, and it still pulls the bow and eats good dinners. 'It has accomplished,' says Mr. Paul, 'with the greatest success, the object for which it was formed,—namely, to keep up the practice of archery in Scotland, and to prevent falling into disuse a healthful and manly exercise, in which our forefathers so much excelled.' The last arrow that was ever drawn in

fight, in England, is said to have been in some provincial fray during our great Civil War."

The Free Library of the Corporation of the The Guildhall City of London is the subject of an article Free Library. on the same date. "The Corporation of the City of London has been exceedingly fortunate, both in the choice of site and the character of building, which is perpendicular Gothic, in accordance with the Guildhall itself. It has cost altogether 50,000l., besides the price of the land, amounting to 25,000l. The work was commenced in 1870, and the whole was completed and opened to a portion of the public in November, 1872......On Monday, the 10th of March, 1873, the Library was thrown open to readers as a free library to any one that chose to enter, upon signing his name and address in a book kept for the purpose......But even this formality is not required to gain admission to another room on the same floor, furnished with dictionaries in all languages, directories of all parts of the world, atlases, maps, guide-books, encyclopædias, works on commercial subjects, legal and otherwise, periodical publications relating to agriculture, industry, commerce, and the applied sciences. Here you enter, take your seat, and ask for what you require, which is instantly handed to you by an obliging attendant. By such an institution as this the

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Mr. W. H.
Overall.

John Churchill.

stain has been removed from the Corporation of London of not possessing a Library to be compared with the free institutions of the Continent. It is the free-est, we venture to say, of any in the universe...... Lastly, we congratulate the Corporation upon possessing the services of so able a librarian as Mr. W. H. Overall, and we thank that gentleman ourselves for the kindness with which he has aided us in drawing up this account of the Guildhall Library."

The number for August 28th contains an obituary notice of John Churchill, the wellknown publisher. He was the son of a Dissenting minister, and was educated at the old Grammar School of Henley-on-Thames. He was brought to London at the age of fifteen and apprenticed to Mr. Cox, the engraver of the plates of some of Sir Astley Cooper's works. Cox had established a publishing and bookselling house in the vicinity of Guy's Hospital. At the expiration of the term of his indentures Churchill was employed in the establishment of Messrs. Longman, and afterwards Purchases purchased John Callow's business in Princes John Callow's business. Street, Leicester Square. Then, as his business extended, he removed to the house at present Removes to occupied by the firm in New Burlington Street. Burlington The Athenæum says: "It is no small test of his natural abilities and personal demeanour

New

Street.

that wherever he went he seems to have made friends. Very early in life he formed an intimacy with such persons as Jane and Anna Maria Porter, and their brother, Sir Robert Ker Porter. Fifty years ago the sisters Jane and Anna Maria Porter were in the enjoyment of fame and popularity, such as have befallen few novelists before or since. At their house Churchill became intimate with other authors whose fame is now somewhat dimmed by envious Time Agnes Strickland, Letitia E. Landon, better known as L. E. L., Miss Benyon, and others."

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Smith Williams.

On the same date mention is made of the death of Mr. William Smith Williams, for many Mr. William years the literary member of the staff of Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. To readers of Mrs. Gaskell's 'Life of Charlotte Brontë' "his name will be familiar, and they will call to mind that it was owing to his discernment that the famous story, 'Jane Eyre,' appeared with the imprint of Smith, Elder & Co.' They will also

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remember how Mr. Williams's genuine courtesy and kindly attention endeared him to the Brontë family, as is shown by the numerous Friendship of letters which Mrs. Gaskell included in her memoir, from which it is clear that the gifted author of 'Jane Eyre' placed herself much under the advice of Mr. Williams."

sisters.

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