Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 10.djvu/526

This page needs to be proofread.

520


NOTES AND QUERIES. [u s. x. DEC. 26,


Talleyrand, Thiers, and John Stuart Mill (301.). We noticed further ' Tableaux Historiques de la Revolution Franchise,' a -work brought out by Auber in 1804, containing striking illustrations to the number of 222, 3 vols., 14Z. 14s. Some of our correspondents may be interested to know that Messrs. Maggs have a set of the works of G. W. M. Reynolds, who has lately been the subject of discussion in our pages, 37 vols., belonging to the sixties, and offered at 121. 12s. A set of the Library Edition of Walter Scott brought out between 1821 and 1833, running to 57 vols., and comprising all his work, certainly looks tempting at 37Z. 10s. ; and yet another attractive set is that of Horace Walpole's Works, in 27 8vo vols., uncut, in the original cloth as published under different editors between 1840 and 1859, 251. Under ' Shakespeare ' and ' Shakespeareana ' are several good things, from which we may single out a copy of the first French edition : ' CEuvres de Shakespeare, traduit de I'Anglois (en Prose) par Letourneur,' Paris, 1776-82, in itself rather an absurd production, 51. 5s. ; and a copy of J. O. Halliwell's pamphlet ' Curiosities of Modern Shaksperian Criticism,' which is a reply to reviews of his edition of Shakespeare which appeared in The Athenceum, 3s. Qd.

MESSES. HENRY SOTHERAN & Co. usually enliven their Catalogues with remarks upon a certain number of the books described ; but this No. 752 is decidedly the most vigorous production of the kind we have seen. It misses no occasion for expressing views on war and, in particular, contempt of our foes. It begins, however, quite harmlessly, or so we trust, with ourselves : two sets of ' N. & Q.,' with all the General Indexes complete, the one to April, 1912 (133 vols., 51.), the other to June, 1901 (112 vols., 30Z.). Many of the books described in this catalogue which, it may be added, is Part II. of ' Biblio- theca Historica ' belonged to Sir William Anson, and its outstanding feature is a collection of * Napoleonica.' The greatest item and one must have 650Z. to spare to acquire it is a copy of the English translation of Barras's 1 Memoirs," which from 4 vols., 8vo, has been . enlarged to 15 vols., folio, by the addition of a great mass of portraits and other plates, sketches, autograph letters and signatures, maps, -and other valuable material ; but there is also a large number of other books more within range of the ordinary book-lover's pocket, among them a good many productions of the present century, such as Masson's ' Le Livre du Sacre de 1'Empereur Napoleon ' (1908, 251.). We also noticed an interesting original MS., offered for 251., of the ' Memoirs and Maxims of Napoleon Buonaparte,' unpublished notes, running to 800 pages, which were found among the papers of John Philippart, a military writer who died in 1874. They seem to date from 1825. Among other works described are the critical edition of the ' Annales ' of the Arabian historian Tabari, brought out under the editorship of a number of eminent scholars be- tween 1879 and 1901, 9Z. ; and a fine copy of ' Hertslet,' with the General Indexes to 1853 80 thick 8vo volumes, 1840-88, of which the price is 32Z. We may quote the compiler's note to this as an example of the comments we men- tioned above : " The beautifully bound set of ' Hertslet ' in the Royal Library at Berlin has just


been spread on a dunghill, with the sanction of the All-Highest, by Professor Ernst Haeokel and the Reverend State Theological Professor Rudolf Eucken, as they jointly and pious] felt that the idea underlying the observance of international treaties was a hindrance to the Germanic search einen neuen Idealismus zu begriinden." We certainly missed any account of this proceeding in the newspapers, and feel curious to know whence Messrs. Sotheran derived the information, and whether they were satisfied that it had been properly authenticated. If indeed to be taken- au pied de la lettre, it is worth recording as a decidedly curious incident in the history of letters.

[Notices of other Catalogues held over.]


WILLIAM FRANCIS PRIDEAUX.

(See ante, p. 480.)

THROUGH your courtesy, I should like to add my expression of regret at the decease of COL. PRIDEAUX, with humble testimony to his great versatility and scholarship as so aptly conveyed in your obituary notice. His contributions will, indeed, be sorely missed from the pages of ' N. & Q.' as from many another journal. For he was a recognized masterhand of guidance in all his researches.

It may not be generally remembered that his early years were spent at Hampstead, in the affairs of which delightful suburb he took the keenest interest. For example, I recall his warm protest against the removal of the row of fine elm trees in West End Lane adjoining the West End Hall Estate (now built over). This was in 1897, and was considered an act of " vandalism " which provoked much local indignation. In a note to this paper, in the winter of 1911, referring to the contemplated razing of our old friend " The Swiss Cottage," South Hampstead, COL. PRI- DEAUX said he regarded the tavern as one of the " landmarks of his boyhood."

Yes, the world of letters is assuredly the poorer by the passing of this courteous, learned gentleman and litterateur. CECIL CLARKE.

Junior Athenajum Club.

As one who has benefited many times and oft from the uniform kindness and helpfulness of COL. PRIDEAUX, I crave to add my tribute of sincere regret at his loss. Not only on myself, but on many others whom I know, his researches and his erudition were lavishly bestowed. Nothing seemed to delight him better than to be asked to solve some knotty question, or to be sent to that wonderful library of his to turn up a reference in some choice old tome. His genial, helpful presence can ill be spared from the fast-thinning ranks of the " old Parliamentary hands " of the brotherhood of ' N. & Q.' As a veteran soldier and a veteran scholar his name must ever be revered and fondly remembered by his con- temporaries, JOHN T. PAGE.


JSotires to


JAS. CURTIS. Forwarded to MR. PEET.

W. H. S. desires to thank the correspondents who answered his query about ' Yardland,' ante, p. 429.