of curious and valuable productions, relating both to foreign and domestic transactions.

8. Heraldry and Genealogy.

A GREAT number of curious and scarce articles may be found under these heads.

9. Antient Legends and Chronicles.

To the English antiquary, few departments of literature are more interesting than these. Mr. West seems to have paid particular attention to them, and to have enriched his library with many articles of this description, of the rarest occurrence. The lovers of Caxton, Fabian, Hardyng, Hall, Grafton, and Holinshed, may be highly gratified by inspecting the various editions of these old chroniclers. I entreat the diligent bibliographer to examine the first 8 articles of page 209 of the catalogue. Alas! when will all these be again united at a sale? The fortunate period for

collectors is gone by; a knowledge of books almost every where prevails. At York, at Exeter, and in London, this knowledge may be found sometimes on the dusty stall, as well as in the splendid shop. The worth of books begins to be considered by a different standard to that of the quantity of gold on the exterior! We are now for drinking deep', as well as tasting!' What an enlightened posterity may we anticipate! But I crave pardon for this digression, and lose sight of Mr. West's uniques.

10. Topography.

EVEN to a veteran like Mr. GOUGH, the present father of this pursuit, such a collection as may be found from p. 217 to p. 239 of the catalogue, would be considered a very first-rate acquisition. I am aware that the Gothic wainscot and stained glass windows of Enfield Study enshrine a still more exquisite topographical collection! But we are improved since the days of Mr. West; and every body knows to whom these im

provements are, in a great measure, to be attributed! When I call to mind the author of 'British Topography' and Sepulchral Monuments,' I am not insensible to the taste, diligence, and erudition of the 'par nobile fratrum,' who have gratified us with the Environs of London, and the first volume of 'Magna Britannia!'

THE preceding is to be considered as a very general, and therefore superficial, analysis of the catalogue of Mr. West's library: copies of it, with the sums for which the books sold, are now found with difficulty, and bring a considerable price. The number of articles, on the whole, was 4653: and of the volumes, probably about 8000. It now remains to submit a sketch of Mr. West's life and character.

WELL known as must have been the character of so diligent and successful a collector, we find that his death was not noticed in the Gentleman's Magazine, (the then great channel of literary chit

chat) with any peculiar marks of distinction or regret. His name occurs in the 42d vol. p. 343, only among the dry items of necrology. In the 6th vol. I find his name in the Committee of Managers of the Society for the Encouragement of Learning;' in the interval between these volumes, it does not occur in a manner worth the least notice.

[To be concluded in No. 18.]

Royal Institution.

Mr. DAVY's fourteenth lecture was on the ocean, lakes, rivers, and springs, and the general chemical agency of water in the system of nature. Mr. DAVY gave an account of the great natural arrangement of this fluid in the different parts of the globe, and its various impregnations. The sea is salter towards the equator than towards the poles, and the inland lakes in the warm countries are

generally much impregnated with saline matter; and these circumstances are of much importance in preventing the putrefactive process from going on in their

waters.

THE impregnations of springs are usually destroyed by the beds over which they pass, or the different ingredients neutralise each other, and water under common circumstances, becomes purer as it flows!

British Gallery.

215. Clovelly, on the Coast of North Devon.

W. Daniell.

THIS picture seems painted faithfully from the objects which presented themselves in the landscape before the artist's eye; but the effect is rather too shining for nature. The touch, however, is vigorous and scientific.