One of the sturdiest little books in my friend's library is a thick-set, stumpy old copy of Richard Baxter's "Holy Commonwealth," written in 1659, and, as the title-page informs us, "at the invitation of James Harrington Esquire,"--as one would take a glass of Canary,--by _invitation!_ There is a preface addressed "To all those in the Army or elsewhere, that have caused our many and great Eclipses since 1646." The worms have made dagger-holes through and through the "inspired leaves" of this fat little volume, till much strong thinking is now very perforated printing. On the flyleaf is written, in a rough, straggling hand, "WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, "Rydal Mount." The poet seems to have read the old book pretty closely, for there are evident marks of his liking throughout its pages. * * * * * Connected with the Bard of the Lakes is another work in my friend's library, which I always handle with a tender interest. It is a copy of Wordsworth's Poetical Works, printed in 1815, with all the alterations afterwards made in the pieces copied in by the poet from the edition published in 1827. Some of the changes are marked improvements, and nearly all make the meaning clearer. Now and then a prosaic phrase gives place to a more poetical expression. The well-known lines, "Of Him who walked in glory and in joy, Following his plough along the mountain-side," read at first, "_Behind_ his plough _upon_ the mountain-side." * * * * * In a well-preserved quarto copy of "Rasselas," with illustrations by Smirke, which my friend picked up in London a few years ago, I found the other day an unpublished autograph letter from Dr. Johnson, so characteristic of the great man that it is worth transcribing. It is addressed "_To the Reverend Mr. Compton. "To be sent to Mrs. Williams_." And it is thus worded:-- "Sir, "Your business, I suppose, is in a way of as easy progress as such business ever has. It is seldom that event keeps pace with expectation. "The scheme of your book I cannot say that I fully comprehend. I would not have you ask less than an hundred guineas, for it seems a large octavo. "Go to Mr. Davis, in Russell Street, show him this letter, and show him the book if he desires to see it. He will tell you what hopes you may form, and to what Bookseller you should apply. "If you succeed in selling your book, you may do better than by dedicating it to me. You may perhaps obtain permission to dedicate it to the Bishop of London, or to Dr. Vyse, and make way by your book to more advantage than I can procure you. "Please to tell Mrs. Williams that I grow better, and that I wish to know how she goes on. You, Sir, may write for her to, "Sir, "Your most humble Servant, "SAM: JOHNSON. "Octo. 24, 1782."