Milsan attempts a weak pun on his name, bank notes for 1,000 and 100 francs represent the words _Mille cent_. This is the kind of joke that even a virtuous man might make in the seclusion of his own family circle, but that any sane man should engrave, revise it, print it, and finally paste it in all his books is something which almost destroys our faith in human nature. A member of the famous publishing house, Mons. Ambroise Firmin-Didot (author of a “History of Wood-Engraving”) had an original and very appropriate design printed in gold on red morocco. In allusion to the date of the foundation of his firm, and their ancient sign, it bore the device: _à la bible d’or_ 1698, and the inscription _Bibliotheca Ambrosii Firmini Didoti_, whilst in the centre was an open bible. This is just one of the few plates of this period, interesting for its owner’s sake, and for its originality, which collectors would wish to have, but it is rather difficult to obtain. R. C. G. de Pixérecourt is found on the book-plate of the prolific dramatic author whose real appellations were René Charles Guilbert. As he was born at Pixérecourt he ennobled himself by calling himself _de Pixérecourt_, a piece of vanity which probably deceived no one. If the State were to tax all these assumptions of nobility, a good addition would be made to the French revenue. In other respects his ex-libris was modest enough; he did not steal a coat-of-arms, but had the simple Cross of the Legion of Honour with two branches of oak, and for motto the last line of the following charming sonnet by Desbarreaux Bernard. SONNET. Mes livres sont ma joie! aussi sur eux je veille Comme veille l’avare auprès de son trésor; Et mon esprit charmé, qui rarement sommeille, Les prend, les lit, les quitte et les reprend encor. Ne ménageant pour eux, ni prix, ni soins, ni veille, Toujours prompt, toujours prêt à prendre mon essor; Aux timides conseils fermant surtout l’oreille, Nouveau Jason, je cours, ravir ma toison d’or! Tout nous trompe ici-bas, les hommes et les choses, La vipère et le taon s’abritent sous les roses, Le peuple à la vertu ne crois plus désormais, Le trompeur, le trompé, conspirent à portes closes, Du sexe on sait la ruse et les métamorphoses, _Un livre est un ami qui ne trompe jamais_. THE SECOND EMPIRE. Owing to a variety of circumstances Louis Philippe became unpopular, and at length in 1848 there were serious disturbances in Paris. It is probable that a man of strong will might have put these down with some little bloodshed, but Louis Philippe was a kindly, peace-loving man, and rather than face the horrors of a civil war he abdicated, and the second Republic was proclaimed, to be quickly changed into the Second Empire, under Napoléon III.