It is a Catalogue of 28 pages and 662 lots, of which 650 are books. The twelve last are prints, chiefly "framed and glazed." The Catalogue is very rare; there is not a copy in the British Museum, and Messrs. Christie and Manson are without one. I may add, as your correspondent is curious about Johnson's Library, that I have the presentation copy to the Doctor of Twiss's _Travels in Spain_, with "the gift of the Author" in Johnson's handwriting, immediately beneath Twiss's MS. presentation. The Twiss was in Lot 284. PETER CUNNINGHAM. * * * * * MISCELLANIES. _Etymology of "News_."--The word "news" is not derived, as many suppose, from the adjective new, but from a practice that obtained in newspapers of an early date, of prefixing to the title the letters expressive of the cardinal points, thus:-- N. E. W. S. meaning that their intelligence was derived from all quarters of the globe. This must, at any rate, be allowed as ingenious etymology. J.U.G. GUTCH. THE GOLDEN AGE. (_FROM THE LATIN_.) Why "golden," when that age alone, we're told, Was blest with happy ignorance of gold-- More justly we our venal times might call "The Golden Age," for gold is all in all. RUFUS. * * * * * NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC. Messrs. Sotheby and Co. will sell on Monday next two collections of Autographs; the first consisting of Autograph Letters, the property of a gentleman; which will be immediately followed by that belonging to the late Mr. Rodd, and the extensive Correspondence of the late William Upcott, Esq., comprising several thousand Autograph Letters. Mr. Rodd's collection comprises many letters of great historical and literary interest. Messrs. Puttick and Simpson will sell by auction on Friday, March the 8th, and seven following days, the extensive and very important Stock of Books of Mr. James Carpenter, of Bond Street, who is retiring from business. The characteristics of this fine collection are the numerous books of prints and illustrated works which it contains, such as the matchless Series of Piranesi's Works, being the dedication copy to the king of Sweden: a copy of Boswell's _Life of Johnson_, in 8 vols. {271} folio, illustrated with nearly six hundred Portraits and Views.