"Mr. Macfarlane was a man of parts, learning, and knowledge, a most ingenious antiquary, and by far the best genealogist of his time. He was possessed of the most valuable collection of materials for a work of this kind of any man in the kingdom, which he collected with great judgment, and at a considerable expense, and to which we always had, and still have, free access. This sufficiently appears by the many quotations from Macfarlane's collections, both in the Peerage and Baronage of Scotland. In short, he was a man of great benevolence, an agreeable companion, and a sincere friend. "He married Lady Elizabeth Erskine, daughter of Alexander, sixth earl of Kelly, and died without issue in June, 1767." In the year 1846 there was engraved at the expense of W. B. C. C. Turnbull, Esq., advocate, a fine portrait of Macfarlane, from the original painting in the Library of the Society of Scottish Antiquaries. Of this plate it is believed that only a few "proofs upon India paper" were thrown off for presents. T. G. S. Edinburgh. Miscellaneous. NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC. When Heminge and Condell put forth the first folio of Shakspeare in 1623, as if with a fine prescience of the immortal fame which was destined to await the writings of their "so worthy Friend and Fellow," they addressed the volume to all, "from the most able to him that can but read." And it is obvious from the moderate price at which it has been issued, that the proprietor of the handsome one-volume edition which has just appeared under the title of _The Lansdowne Shakspeare_ looks for purchasers within the same wide range. The book is indeed well calculated to win favour from all classes. The text, which is based on that of Collier, compared with that of the first folio and the editions of Steevens, Malone, Knight, &c., is clearly and distinctly printed; the names of the characters being given, not only at full length, and in the middle of the page, but also in red ink. The stage directions are distinguished in the like manner. It has, moreover, the Dedicatory Address and Commendatory Verses from the original edition; and, what certainly deserves especial mention, an admirable facsimile by Robinson of the portrait by Droeshout, which, on the authority of Ben Jonson's well-known declaration, that it was a work-- "Wherein the Graver had a strife With Nature, to out doo the life: O could he but have drawne his wit _As well in brasse as he hath hit His face_; the Print would then surpasse All that was ever writ in brasse"-- is by many regarded as the most authentic portrait of the great poet. Altogether, therefore, _The Lansdowne Shakspeare_ is a beautiful book, and well deserves to be both the library and travelling companion of every lover of poetry--of every student of Shakspeare.