those which were before dispersed over the library, but now gathered together, and marked N. E. In the gallery on the left hand are the manuscripts given by Archbishop Laud, at four or five donations: they are above 1300 in number, and written in above twenty languages; all these well bound, except those he gave at his last donation, which was in haste, by reason of the great troubles of those times. The remaining part of that new side of the library is mostly taken up with the excellent study of the learned John Selden, Esq. late of the Inner-Temple, London: though it is to be lamented that his whole library was not given by his executors according to his intention once; for the fire of the Temple destroyed in one of their chambers eight chests full of the registers of abbeys, and other manuscripts relating to the history of England; though most of his law books are still safe in Lincoln's-Inn.'

"It will be too tedious here to reckon up all the great benefactors to this place, though one more I will not pass by: Sir Thomas Fairfax, afterwards Lord Fairfax, the general to the parliament's forces, who, amongst other manuscripts, presented 160, written by the hand of Mr. Roger Dodsworth, and relating to our English history, as may be guessed by the first volume of the Monasticon, which was chiefly taken from them. These books stand in one of the new galleries

lately

lately set up in the middle part of the library; next to them on the right hand stands that noble parcel of Oriental manuscripts bought by the University of the late Dr. Huntington, who collected them in the East; and on the left hand stand the manuscripts of the Lord Hatton, and those which the University bought of Mr. Greaves; in the other gallery stand the Oriental manuscripts brought from the East by Dr. Pocock, and purchased by the University; together with two other parcels of books, written and printed, those of Dr. Marshall, late rector of Lincoln College, and those of Dr. Thomas Barlow, late Lord Bishop of Lincoln, who bequeathed to the library all such books of theirs, after their death, which were not in this library before. This method of giving to the library, since it is now become so large, is approved by many wise men; and there are some now living who have taken the same course,

"The world has had several printed catalogues of the books in the Bodleian library; that of the printed books, published by Dr. Hyde, was in the year 1674. Since which time there have come in so many thousands more, that a new catalogue is now composing by the learned Dr. Hudson, the present library-keeper, which will give the world full satisfaction in this point; and that as soon as may be. As to the manuscripts, an account of them was also published above twenty

years

years ago. Since which time, the University has bought all the manuscripts of the deceased Dr. Edward Bernard, with such of his printed books as were fit for their library.

σε

Upon the whole, this library is much larger than that of any University in Europe; nay, it exceeds those of all the sovereigns in Europe, except the Emperor's and the French King's, which are both of them older by almost an hundred years. These, as the Vatican in Rome, the Medicean at Florence, and Bessarion's at Venice, exceed the Bodleian in Greek manuscripts, which yet outdoes them all in Oriental ones; and for printed books, no Italian library is so celebrated as the Ambrosian at Milan, though it is much inferior to the Bodleian, as is that likewise at Wolfenbuttle, both in manuscripts and printed books, though we should even allow the account given of it by Conringius. Besides the Bodleian, there be some others vésted in the University, as the Savilian by the Geometry school, and Ashmolean by the Museum; both which are replenished with manuscripts proper to their places.

"The studious scholar has not only the advantage of the above-mentioned libraries, but also the inspection of two collections of coins and medals; the one in the Museum, and the other in the galleries of the Bodleian library, which is the most considerable, and whereof great part was

given by Archbishop Laud, and many since by Consul Roe. These galleries are replenished with the pictures of the founders of colleges, and of other learned men, and down below is a great collection of ancient inscriptions and marbles, most of them part of the Arundelian collection; the rest of them being since given by Mr. Selden and Sir George Wheeler.

"The library-keeper is elected and admitted to his office after the same manner as the proctors are chosen and admitted to their office, by delivering the keys of the library into his custody; only the candidates must submit themselves to the examination of the curators: both the electors and the person elected must take the proper oaths directed in the Bodleian statutes. This library is open on all days of the year, besides Sundays, Christmas day, and holidays, from eight o'clock in the morning to eleven, and from two in the afternoon to five, from Easter to Michaelmas; and the other part of the year from one till four o'clock, unless on Saturdays, when it is only open till three o'clock in the afternoon, for the sake of cleansing it.

"Neither the librarian nor his deputy may, on any pretence whatsoever, carry in any candle or fire, on pain of perpetual amotion; and the keeper ought not to be absent from thence above a day and a half, on pain of 20 s. to be lopped off from his salary, for the increase of books.

"Besides

"Besides the yearly salary of 20 nobles, arising out of the ancient benefaction of King Henry the Fourth, and to be paid by the proctors out of the University treasury, the chief librarian received 331. 68. 8d. expressed in the deed of Bodley's gift, at the stated feasts of the Annuncia→ tion and Michaelmas, or within thirty-three days after, by equal payments. There is moreover the sum of 87. allowed to some honest poor person, being a servant to the chief librarian, to sweep the library, and to cleanse the books, desks, seats, windows, &c. and to ring the bell, and lock the door, &c.

"Herein is also kept an iron chest, with three locks thereon, for the keeping of all such money as shall be paid thereunto, which ought to be within three days after the receipt thereof; and the keys placed in the custody of the vice-chancellor and proctors, and to be delivered up to their successors on quitting their office.

"No one has the privilege of studying herein, besides doctors or licentiates in some one of the three faculties; batchelors of divinity, masters of arts, batchelors of law or physick; batchelors of arts of two years standing, and students in the civil law after three years standing in the University, if they be fellows of any college, and attending the law lecture, and be approved of by the professor; the sons also of barons in the upper house