3d. That once a year, or at some stated periods, a general meeting of the society be held, and all the works that have been purchased since the last meeting be exposed to public view, and divided among the members in the following manner, viz. The member who proposed any work to be purchased, to put it up at half the price which was paid for it, and that he be bound to take it at that price, if no member offer more. That any member shall be at liberty to offer more, till at last it falls to the highest bidder: if the sum finally offered should be less than the artist was paid for it, the society to bear that loss'; but if more is offered than was originally paid for it, the overplus, whatever it may be, to be paid to the artist.

FROM this sketch, you will perceive that the present is a plan to raise a fund that shall be expended in premiums to encourage original works in the fine arts. If it should be established to any extent, it would greatly contribute to the en

couragement of artists of every description: merit, unknown and unfriended would be brought into notice, and meet with ample reward.

Two suppositions may be formed as to the probable consequences of this plan; 1st. It may be so imprudently conducted that itwould gradually sink into nothing; or, secondly, it may be so successfully conducted as to become an establishment of the highest importance.

To exemplify this, I shall state a case hypothetically on each side the question: suppose, then, that the subscriptions of such a society amounted to £1000 annually; that the whole was laid out in the manner proposed, and, with so little judgment, that in no one instance did the works produce more than the half of what they were purchased for. The society would lose the first year £500; the remaining £500, added to the second year's subscription, would be £1500. Again, lose half, and add the remainder to the

third subscription, and this would be £1750, and so on progressively for ten years, when they would have accumulated a very considerable sum; and at this point they would continue as long as the original number of subscriptions was paid up.

BUT if we suppose a successful sale, and that all the money returned into the society's hands, they would distribute the first year £1000, the second £2000, and so on, adding £1000 every year; when the tenth year they would lay out £10,000, and continue to add £1000 per annum to that sum, so long as the number of subscribers was kept up.

THIS slight sketch will shew what immense advantages might accrue to the arts by the operation of a fund supported by so very trifling a subscription: The artist would be stimulated to exertion much. more than by competition for any premium, because he would be morally certain of being compensated for that exer

tion, whereas when many contend for a premium which only one can obtain, the unsuccessful candidate must sit down in disappointment and sorrow.

THIS statement, you will perceive, is but an imperfect sketch; but I trust it will shew you that an institution founded upon this plan would be attended with great advantages to the arts. If you should think it worth notice, or wish for any farther information, I shall be happy to convey any that is in my power.

I am,
Sir,

Yours, &c.

E.

BIBLIOGRAPHIANA.

TOWARDS the close of the 17th century, the libraries of Sir Charles Scarburgh and Archbishop Tillotson were sold. These sales, both occuring in the

year 1695, will afford sufficient materials for my present article of Bibliographiana.

THE catalogue of the former was published under the following title. • Bibliotheca Scarburghiana; or, a catalogue of the incomparable library of Sir Charles Scarburgh, Knt. M. D. containing (almost) a complete collection of Greek books, in all faculties; with a large collection of Mathematicks and Physicks, all of the best editions, and curiously bound. To be sold by Christopher Bateman, at the Bible and Crown in Middle Row, in Holborn, according to the following method*.'

*. As this method is rather a curious one, and may probably answer the purpose of a model for Messrs. Leigh, King, Stewart, &c. I subjoin it. This sale will begin on Friday the 8th day of February, 169, exactly at ten in the morning. And I do promise that every book mentioned in this catalogue shall be in the room where sold, at that time.

That every book shall have a moderate price written upon the first blank leaf, so that any gentleman may take what he pleases at the price so set down.'