11. "A Complete Pack of early Playing Cards;" a most interesting and curious lot. The following note, in the autograph of Mark Cephas Tutet, from whose collection they came, shows the excessive rarity of these ancient cards :-"The ancient cards in this volume, with others (duplicates), and the drawings in the second volume, were purchased by me out of the collection of Dr. Stukeley; the drawings were produced by the Doctor the 9th of November, 1720, to the Society of Antiquaries, observing that the cards had been given him by Thomas Rawlinson, Esq., being two pieces of the cover of an old book, supposed to be Claudian,' printed before 1500, and that there was a leaf or two of an old edition of Erasmus's Adages' pasted between the layers of the cards, which being laid stratum upon stratum composed two pasteboards and made the cover of the book. The Doctor took the pains to separate the cards, out of which I have chosen a complete pack, and the better to preserve so singular a curiosity have had them bound together with the abovementioned drawings and some modern French cards. It is observable in these ancient cards that there are no aces or queens, but instead of the latter are knights." They were bought by Mr. Fry for 6l. 10s.

12. Claude's "Liber Veritatis," a remarkably fine copy, 40l. 10s. The first entire edition of the works of Chaucer, printed by Godfrey, in 1532; (the "Plowman's Tale" is not in this edition ;) 10l. 15s.

15. Dudley Earl of Warwick's work, entitled "Dell Arcano del Mare Libri sei," &c.; this was pub

16. "The Festivall, or Sermons for Sondays and Holidais, taken out of the Golden Legend, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, in 1528; stained with water and rather short, 14l. 15s.

17. "Gough's Sepulchral Monuments in Great Britain," 617. 10s. 19.

Houbraken and Vertue, "Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain," a unique assemblage of portraits, consisting of proofs, variations, and first impressions, chiefly on India paper, containing 97 portraits of illustrious persons, proofs, 85 on India paper, 35 first impressions, 9 etchings, and 2 original drawings, by Houbraken. This beau tiful work, in 2 vols., produced 917.

30. The "Celebrated Anjou Missal." At the sale of Sir Mark Sykes's books this work produced but 231.; it was now sold for 631. The first three volumes of "Prynne's Records," a very scarce work, sold for 140l. The fourth volume of the same book, supposed to be unique, having been the only one that escaped the great fire of London, brought 3351.; it was bought for the library of Lincoln's Inn, which possesses Prynne's own copy of the other volumes.

Feb. 2. Two copies of Dr. O'Connor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores Veteres," a description of the Irish manuscripts at Stowe, privately printed at the expense of the Duke of Buckingham, 477. 10s. Nichol's (J.) "History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester," large paper. rarity of this book is well known, in consequence of the greater portion of the copies having been de

The

stroyed in the printer's warehouse. This copy sold for 791.

3. A most splendid copy of the works of the brothers Piranesi, on Roman antiquities, architecture, and classical ornaments, consisting of several hundred plates of the buildings, &c., in and near Rome, bound in 14 volumes, 1331. 7. The nineteenth day of the sale was remarkable for the early editions of Shakspeare. "Shakpeare's Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies," published according to the true and original copies, with portrait by Martin Droeshout, first edition, 1623, 761. The second edition, a fine, tall, and sound copy, printed in 1632, 11l. 5s. The third edition, almost as rare as the first, on account of the greater part of the impression being destroyed in the fire of London, sold for 35l. The fourth edition, imperfect, sold for only 41. 68. Shakspeare's dramatic works, revised by George Steevens, a unique copy of Boydell's beautiful edition, with 100 plates, proofs before letters, and a set of etchings, sold for 321. 10s. Boydell's collection of 100 large and beautiful prints from pictures illustrative of Shakspeare, painted by the most distinguished artists, with a set of etchings, believed to be unique, sold for 431.

9. "Thuani Historia sui Temporis (ab anno 1543 ad annum 1607)," illustrated by above 1500 portraits of eminent persons, engraved by Bolswert, Houbraken, Edelink, Faithorne, Hollar, &c. This rare and valuable work produced 80 guineas. "Troye; the Recuyles, or Gadering Togyder of ye Hystoryes of Troye, how it was destroyed by ye Puyssaunt Hercules and ye Thyrd Generall, by ye Grekes." This rare black let

ter book, containing many wood engravings, and printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1503, produced 551.

10. "A Black Book," of 48 engraved pages, representing the Apocalypse of St. John, worked off by friction and subsequently coloured, of the greatest rarity, 911.

11. The last day's sale consisted of the valuable collection of rare and curious books and tracts relating to Ireland, with which country the Duke's ancestors had been so intimately connected. These works produced very large prices. This portion of the library, consisting of the printed books only, extended over 25 days' sale, and produced 10,355l. 7s. 6d.

14. WRECK OF WEST INDIA MAIL PACKET, FORTH.--Another of the fine vessels belonging to the Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company has been lost on the same formidable reefs, the Alacranes, on which the Tweed perished two years before. (See ANN. REG. 1847, Chron. p. 18.) By the reckoning, the ship was miles distant from the reef, and was expected to pass 18 or 20 miles outside them in the course of the following morning. Owing, however, to some extraordinary set of the current, the ship struck with a dreadful crash about five A.M. Outside the reef the surf broke with terrific violence; but within the sea was quite calm, and a small vessel was discerned at some distance in that direction. Lieutenant Molesworth, a passenger, and four men, crossed this dreadful surf in a small boat, and ascertained that there was a possibility of escape in that direction. Captain Sturdee immediately launched the paddlebox life-boats, into which the passengers and crew, 126 in number,

were packed, almost destitute of clothing, and happily rode through the surf without swamping. Some canoes belonging to the wreckers of that coast, adapted for the crossing of the boiling surf, having been procured, the breakers were again passed, and a supply of clothing was procured. The people were landed on a small island, and as many as could find room embarked in a small brigantine, which landed them at Campeachy on the evening of the 18th. The ship The ship was speedily crushed and ground to atoms. This wreck affords another example of the value of fortitude and presence of mind under such circumstances; since, notwithstanding the number of the sufferers, and the extreme danger of their position, not a single life was lost.

FIRE IN LINCOLN'S INN.-A fire, almost as disastrous as that which eleven years since destroyed Paper Buildings, in the Inner Temple, occurred shortly before daybreak, in New Square, Lincoln's Inn. The whole of the chambers forming No. 2, on the east side of the square, were destroyed. These chambers were occupied by barristers and solicitors of eminence, and the greater part of the valuable documents in their professional custody perished in the flames. The fire was first observed by a watchman, about five A.M., at which time it was confined to a small part of the lower floor; but, before assistance could be procured, the fire spread with the greatest rapidity along the ancient timber work (for the house was built shortly after the fire of London) and up the staircase; and, in a short time, masses of flame were issuing from all the windows in the front, 32 in

number. Every room between the great north and south party-walls of the range was wholly destroyed, and a large part of the solid brick carcase was dragged down with the roof and floors as they fell. The ruins continued to burn through nearly all Sunday, and the fire was not quite extinguished on Monday morning. A considerable number of fire-proof safes have since been got out of the smouldering ruins, with their contents in a good state of preservation; and many documents not thus secured were also found, either untouched by the flames or only partially injured, among the ashes; still, however, an immense mass of title muniments and papers in suits and actions has been destroyed.

18. COLLISION AT SEA.-A terrible collision occurred between the two Neapolitan steamers Vesuvius and Antelope on the night of the 18th January, with a distinguished freight.

"The Vesuvius was en route to Naples, having on board His Majesty and the Count of Trapani; the latter en route to Gaeta, with four Cardinals, M. Oustinoff (the Secretary of the Prussian Legation), Count Corafa, and others. The concussion took place, it seems, about three o'clock in the morning, in consequence of some carelessness on the part of the people of the Antelope, which, instead of keeping on the right, kept on the left. In the first moment of alarm, M. Oustinoff, Count Corafa, a priest, and another person, threw themselves into the sea, which was as calm as a lake; and, unfortunately, M. Oustinoff was never recovered. His Majesty was lavish of his attention to those who were saved. The Antelope was after

wards towed into Procida, and the commander is to be tried by a council of war. The king afterwards proceeded to Naples.'

MUTINY AND MURDERS.-A London mercantile house has received letters which describe a mutiny and murders on board the Amelia, on her voyage from San Francisco to China; Californian gold being the exciting cause. "On the night of the 3rd October, in the middle watch, three of the crew, namely, José Cabrera, José Torres, and Andres Boldevio, mutinied, attacked the mate, and killed him. Captain Alva, a Spaniard, and Mr. Francis Cooke, passenger, hearing the noise, came on deck.

Two of the ruffians attacked them, killed Mr. Cooke, and immediately threw him overboard, and badly wounded the captain; the latter succeeded in getting down into the cabin to arm himself, and came on deck again with a cutlass; but the murderers stabbed him in the neck with a knife, and he fell a corpse. Mrs. Cooke, her maidservant, Mary Hudson, and Captain M'Nally, a native of Dublin, who were below when the murderous scene commenced, were confined to their state-rooms; and the mutineers, who were all Peruvians, shaped their course for Peru. On the following morning, Captain M'Nally offered, with the assistance of the carpenter, to leave the ship with the females, provided the mutineers would give him one of the boats and the necessary provisions. This they seemed to assent to; but on his going on deck he was seized, bound, and thrown overboard. They then threw the papers and documents also overboard; and getting out a large quantity of gold, divided it amongst

the remainder of the crew, compelling each to take a part. On the night of the 5th, the murderers having drunk freely, two of them went to sleep; when the carpenter, in accordance with a plan arranged by some of the crew, killed them with his axe, while others attacked the third murderer, who resisted, but was likewise despatched by Smith; and the vessel brought to the Sandwich Islands by the apprentices, Thomas Gannon and Charles M'Donald. The specie, about 300,000 dollars, has been secured by Her Majesty's ConsulGeneral."

19. FIRE AT IRONGATE WHARF, PADDINGTON.-Between 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening, a fire, involving a destruction of property valued at several thousand pounds, broke out at Irongate Wharf, Praed Street, Paddington, which for a period of nearly four hours continued to illuminate the western portion of the metropolis. The premises were in the occupation of Mr. William Buddle, and were well known as the Steam Saw-mills and Marble works.

The flames first broke out of the mill. This building was upwards of 100 feet in length and nearly 30 feet wide. It was fitted up with most costly machinery, and contained a great quantity of timber, which proved such a powerful auxiliary to the flames, that in the space of a few minutes the entire mill from end to end was wrapped in one immense body of fire. The flames rapidly extended from the mill to a great quantity of timber standing in the yard, and thence spread, with the swiftness of lightning, into the moulding loft, and from thence into the polishing shops. Each of these buildings was filled with property

of great value, and of the most inflammable character, which, the moment the flames came in contact with it, burst forth into a large sheet of fire. By the exertions of the fire-brigade, the conflagration was confined to these portions of the premises; the show-rooms and other buildings containing much valuable property were preserved.

20. THE SIEGE OF MOULTAN.The Overland Mail brings some interesting details of the progress of the siege of Moultan, the first attack upon which was recorded in the ANNUAL REGISTER for last year (History, 430, Chron., 124).

"On the morning of the 2nd of January, a column of Bengal troops, commanded by Colonel Franks, consisting of Her Majesty's Thirtysecond and the Forty-ninth and Seventy-second Native Infantry, pushed forward to a breach near the Delhi Gate; but on arriving at the breach, it proved impracticable; so the troops retired, and moved round to the opposite side of the town, where the entrance of the Bombay column had already been effected. The breach stormed by them had been much more complete than the other, and the enemy defending it were driven off at the bayonet's point. The Fusiliers entered first, and speedily placed their standard within the walls of the town. The Bengal column followed them; and the city of Moultan, which was captured about three P.M., was before sunset filled with British troops. The fire from the fort, which had for a time slackened, was meanwhile renewed. In the course of the night a mine was sprung on us, which occasioned some mischief. Moolraj seemed determined to maintain himself to the last, and

showed no sign of fear amidst all his reverses.

"On the morning of the 3rd, the cannonade was again resumed by us; and the Dowlut Gate, the last hold of the enemy, destroyed. A daring exploit was here performed by Captain Young, who commanded a small reserve of three companies of the Tenth Regiment. He perceived, as he thought, an opportunity of seizing the Dowlut Gate, which the enemy still retained possession of. Guided by some judicious suggestions from Lieutenant Maunsell of the Engineers, he dashed at the gate with his handful of men, who scrambled up by the aid of ropes, blew it open with powder-bags, charged the enemy in the narrow passage, and thus completed the capture of the city, and brought the besieging force within a few hundred yards of the fort. Large quantities of pillage were being collected; and the bankers were said to have offered 30,000l. if we would leave their establishments alone."

A letter in the Bombay Times gives the following very interesting account of the Dewan Moolraj and his followers, on the surrender of the citadel of Moultan.

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The troops were drawn up at day break on the 22nd; they formed two long lines, extending from the Dowlut Gate. The street betwixt the living walls of armed men was about fifty feet in breadth. They waited some hours under heavy rain, on their guard, in case of treachery or surprise; when about ten o'clock a messenger appeared, intimating that the garrison were at hand. First appeared about 200 ill-clothed miserable wretches, who seemed broken and dispirited; then followed about 3500 hard, trained, stern, and stalwart-looking