COLLATION: _19 pp., 1 l., 18, 20 pp., 2 ll., 18 pp., 1 l._ JOSEPH BUTLER BISHOP OF DURHAM (1692-1752) 44. The | Analogy | Of | Religion, | Natural and Revealed, | [Six lines] By | Joseph Butler, L.L.D. Rector of | Stanhope, in the Biſhoprick of Durham. | [Quotation] London: | Printed for James, John and Paul Knapton, at the | Crown in Ludgate Street. MDCCXXXVI. The _Analogy_ ran into edition after edition, and is reprinted even now. "Few productions of the human mind," Allibone tells us, "have elicited the labours of so many learned commentators as have employed their talents in the exposition of Butler's Analogy." He gives seventeen editions with commentaries, printed before 1858. In recent times no less a name than that of Gladstone may be counted among the number. The Knaptons were the publishers of Butler's first printed volume, _Fifteen Sermons_, 1726. Quarto. COLLATION: _5 ll., x, 11-320 pp._ THOMAS PERCY BISHOP OF DROMORE (1729-1811) 45. Reliques | Of | Ancient English Poetry: | [Five lines] Volume The First. | [Vignette with the words] _Durat Opus Vatum._ | London: | Printed for J. Dodsley in Pall-Mall. | MDCCLXV. Although his name does not appear upon the title-page, the author signed it to the dedication to Elizabeth, Countess of Northumberland. He offers the book, he says, with some hesitation, yet hopes that the names of so many men of learning and character among his patrons and subscribers will "ſerve as an amulet to guard him from every unfavourable cenſure for having beſtowed any attention on a parcel of Old Ballads." The book came out in February, after four or five years of active preparation. Johnson criticised it, but in the main the work was received with the verdict, which has held ever since, that it marked an epoch. Dibdin says that when it appeared, the critics "roared aloud for a sight of the MS.!" especially Joseph Ritson, the antiquary, who denied its existence. Dibdin, however, saw the folio, and describes it at some length, besides quoting notes in the Bishop's handwriting, one of which is of especial interest: "Memorandum. _Northumberland House, Nov. 7, 1769._ This very curious old Manuscript in its present mutilated state, but unbound and sadly torn, I rescued from destruction, and begged at the hands of my worthy friend _Humphrey Pitt, Esq._ then living at Shiffnal in Shropshire, afterwards of Prior Lee near that town; who died very lately at Bath: viz. in Summer, 1769. I saw it lying dirty on the Floor under a Bureau in ye Parlour: being used by the Maids to light the fire. It was afterwards sent most unfortunately to an ignorant Bookbinder, who pared the margin, when I put it into Boards in order to lend it to Dr. Johnson."