florin acquisitions:  the preceding were paid for in heavy metal of a golden hue.  It is not fair to betray all that took place upon this Cockerian transaction; but there may be no harm in mentioning that my purse was lightened by upwards of 100 louis d’or.  My spirits were lightened in the same proportion.  Neither venders nor vendee grieved at the result.  Professor May was most joyous; and although the Rector Beyschlag was sonorous in voice, restless in action, and determined in manner—­about fixing an alarmingly high price upon the first Horace—­yet, by degrees, he subsided into a softer note, and into a calmer action—­and the Horace became mine by a sort of contre-projet proposition.

Nothing would please Professor May but that I must go home with him, and try my luck in purchasing a few similar rarities out of his own collection.  I did so.  Madame Francs’ supplemental supply became gradually diminished, and I began to think that if I went on in this manner I should not only never reach Vienna, but not even Munich.  This doubt was frankly stated to my book-guardians; and my ducats were immediately commuted into paper.  The result will doubtless prove the honour of the purchaser; for I have drawn upon a quarter which I had exclusively in view when I made the bargain, and which was never known to fail me.  “Surely,” thought I to myself as I returned to my hotel, “Messrs. Beyschlag and May are among the most obliging and the most enlightened of their fraternity.”

I returned to the Public Library the next morning, as well to conclude a bargain for an exchange of books for certain recent bibliographical publications, as to take a list of a few of the more rare, fine, and curious volumes, in their own collection, which were destined always to retain their situations.

They have, very properly, the FIRST BOOK PRINTED AT AUGSBOURG:  namely, Aurbach’s Meditations upon the Life of Christ, of the date of 1468, printed by Gunther Zainer.  But one of the most uncommon books examined by me was “Augustinus Ypponensis Episcopus De Consensu Evangelistarum:  In ciuitate Langingen.  Impressus. anno a partu virginis salutifero.  Millesimoquadringentesimoseptuagesimotercio.  Pridie Idus.  Aprilis.”  The type is very singular; half gothic and half roman.  Of the printer and place I know nothing; except that I learnt from the librarians that “Langingen” is situated about ten leagues from Augsbourg, upon the Danube.  I made every effort—­as well by the ducat as by the exchange method—­to prevail upon them to part with this book; but to no purpose.  The blood-freezing reply of Professor Veesenmeyer was here repeated—­“ca reste, a ...  Augsbourg.”  This book is unbound.  Another volume, of the same equivocal but tempting description, was called “Alcuinus de Trinitate:—­IMPRESSUM IN UTTIPURRHA Monasterio Sacto^{4} marty^{4}, Alexadri et Theodri.