that which was next in superiority, second, and so on in gradation to the last, which was the worst sheet in the roll. * Proximarum semper, bonitatis diminutione ad deterrimas. This custom, mentioned by Pliny in the preceding passage, is confirmed in some measure by the roll before us, which, if held up to the light, will be perceived to have the first sheet composed of a much finer piece of papyrus than any of the succeeding sheets.

Before the expedition of the French into Egypt, no manuscripts of this kind had been ever noticed, They are, unquestionably, by far the most ancient manuscripts which have reached our times. The few which have been found have been observed to lie close to the embalmed figure, underneath the resin and bandages, which have been employed to envelope the body. The mummies of distinguished persons, are said to be seldom without one of these rolls, and no mummy has been known to contain more than two. Their position is sometimes under the arms, sometimes between the thighs, and sometimes even in the hand of the deceased, which has been artificially made to enclose them.

* Plin. Lib. XIII. c. 23.

ÆDES

EDES WALPOLIANÆ.

THE Houghton Collection of pictures was sold to the Empress of Russia for the sum of 40,5551. The pictures were, however, separately valued by Messrs. West and Cipriani, and the price set upon each may be seen in the copy of the catalogue which is preserved in the Cracherode library.

The busts, bronzes, and most of the family portraits were preserved.

Mr. Horace Walpole told Mr. Bull that the whole collection cost his father, Sir Robert Walpole, something short of 40,000l., including the pictures in the house at the treasury, which he inhabited, as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

It should, however, be remembered, that several of the pictures were presented to him. Among these were the celebrated picture of Bathsheba bringing Abishag to David, painted by Vanderwerffe, which was presented to Lord Orford, by the Duke of Chandos. This was valued at 7001.

The Portrait of Henry Danvers, Earl of Danby, by Vandyke, was given to Lord Orford by Sir Joseph Danvers, and was valued at 2001.

The

The finest picture in the collection was that of the Immaculate Conception, by Guido, and was valued at 3,500!.

This picture was formerly in the collection of the Marquis Angeli. When Sir Robert Walpole had purchased the picture, and it was sent to Civita Vecchia to be embarked for England, Pope Innocent the x111th, ordered it to be brought back again, as being too fine a thing to be allowed to be removed from Rome. But, as soon as he heard who the purchaser was, he gave permission to have it sent back again.

The "Architecture," by Julio Romano, or as the late Lord Orford rather believed, by Polydore, was given to Sir Robert, by General Charles Churchill, and was valued at 3001.

The celebrated cast, in bronze, of the Gladiator, executed by John, of Boulogne, was a present to Lord Orford, from Thomas, Earl of Pembroke. This was not sold, and now remains to be seen at Houghton.

The figure of King Charles the first in whole length in armour, by Vandyke, was valued at 4001. There is a singular defect in this picture both the gauntlets being drawn for the right hand.

When this picture was in the Wharton Collection, old Jacob Tonson, who had remarkably ugly legs, was finding fault with the two gauntlets. Lady Wharton said, Mr. Tonson, why might not

one

one man have two right hands, as well as another two left legs!

Till I saw this anecdote, as related by the late Horace Walpole, I was at a loss to comprehend what Pope intended by the two following lines in the Dunciad:

With arms extended Bernard rows his state,
And left-legged Jacob seems to emulate.

These lines were afterwards thus altered:

With legs expanded Bernard urged the race,
And seemed to emulate great Jacob's pace.

Dr. Warton has inserted the first couplet in his edition, and as he has no annotation upon it, probably was not acquainted with its meaning.

I may, perhaps, be excused taking this occasion to relate two other anecdotes which were told me by the late Earl of Orford, the writer of the book from which the above accounts are taken.

Every reader will remember the following lines in Pope:

Each mortal has his pleasure, none deny;
Scarsdale his bottle, Darty his ham pye.

Darty, an abbreviation of Dartneuf, was a most celebrated sensualist and glutton, and Lord Orford had frequently met him at his father's table.

Dar

Dartneuf was one day walking in the street, when he overtook a fishmonger's boy, who was carrying home a fine Turbot; the mischievous rogue amused himself, as he went along, with striking the Turbot against every post he met. This, in the eyes of Dartneuf, was a crime not to be overlooked or forgiven. He immediately followed the boy to the house where he was going, and, in terms of great indignation, described what he had seen, and insisted on the boy's being severely chastised.

At another time, Dartneuf was engaged to dine with a brother gourmand, expressly to eat one of two plums, the only produce of a particular tree, remarkable for the richness and delicacy of its fruit. It was agreed, that, when they had dined, to enjoy the fruit in its greatest perfection, they were to proceed to the garden, and each gather and eat his plum. Before dinner was entirely ended, 'Dartneuf made some excuse to retire for a few minutes from the room, when he instantly hastened to the garden, and, dire to relate, devoured both the plums, without the smallest compunction or remorse.

MATTHEW