The subject of the Cotton-library is familiar to every informed reader; but as its history is so closely connected with that of our national literature, particularly the historical department of it, a page or two may not be deemed improperly employed, in a work of this nature, in giving a brief account of that famous collection.

Sir Robert began his collections as early as his eighteenth year; and Camden, whom he accompanied to Carlisle in 1600, acknowledges his services in the compilation of his Britannia. The Cotton-library consists wholly of manuscripts. At the time of their purchase, many of them were in loose skins, small tracts, or very thin volumes; of such he caused several to be bound in a single cover. They relate especially to the history and antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland; enriched, however, with whatever could be procured, that was curious or valuable, in every other branch of literature. At this period, the contents of our monastic libraries, as likewise many other valuable remains of ancient learning, (saved from the wreck of the university and college libra ries at the puritanical visitations of those se minaries,) lay dispersed in numerous hands,

Several antiquarians before Cotton, as Josce line, Noel, Allen, Lambarde, Bowyer, Elsinge, Camden, and others, had diligently collected portions of the scattered fragments. Sir Robert, availing himself of their researches, obtained possession, either by legacy or purchase, of all that was valuable in their several collections. The whole, together with the fruits of his own industry, he reposited in his own house, near the House of Commons, at Westminster. This collection was much augmented by his son and grandson, sir Thomas, and sir John Cotton.

In the reign of king William, an act of parliament was made for the better securing and preserving this library in the name and family of the Cottons, for the benefit of the public, in order to prevent its being sold, or otherwise disposed of, Cotton-house was subsequently purchased, by queen Ann, of sir John, great grandson of sir Robert Cotton, as a common repositary for the royal and Cottonian libraries, when an act was passed for the better securing of her majesty's purchase, and both house and library were settled and vested in trustees. The books were removed into a more commodious room, e

former being damp; and Cotton-house was appropriated to the use of the king's librarykeeper, who had now the care of both libraries. The Cottonian library was removed, some years after, into a house near Westminster Abbey, purchased by the crown of lord Ashburnham, where one hundred and eleven books were destroyed by an accidental fire, on the 23d of October, 1731, and ninety-nine others rendered imperfect. Upon this, it was conveyed to the new dormitory, and afterwards to the old dormitory, belonging to Westminster School. It is now reposited, as is well known, in the British Museum.

PURCHAS.

SAMUEL Purchas, a learned divine, but chiefly known as the compiler of a very va luable collection of voyages, was born at Thaxstead in Essex, in 1577. He was edu. cated at Cambridge, probably at St. John's College, since a record exists in that college, certifying that one Purchas took his degree of master of arts in 1600, He was presented by the king to the vicarage of East-Wood, Essex, in 1604; but afterwards resigned it in favour of his brother, for the more convenient literary residence of London, In 1615, he was incorporated at Oxford bachelor of divinity; having been somewhat previously collated, by King, bishop of London, to the rectory of St. Martin's Ludgate, in London.

He was also chaplain to Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury; and died about the year 1628.

1. The first volume of his laborious compilation, was published in 1613, with the following title. "Purchas, his Pilgrimage, or Relations of the World, and the Religions observed in all Ages and Places discovered, from the Creation unto this present; in four parts. The first containeth a theological and geographical history of Asia, Africa, and America, with the islands adjacent. Declaring the ancient religions before the flood, the Heathenish, Jewish, and Saracenical, in all ages since, in those parts professed, with their several opinions, idols, oracles, temples, priests, fasts, feasts, sacrifices, and rites religious; their beginnings, proceedings, alterations, sects, orders, and successions. With brief descriptions of the countries, nations, states, discoveries, private and public customs, and the most remarkable rarities of nature or human industry in the same."

The fourth edition, which is the best, much enlarged, was published in 1626, and addressed to archbishop Abbot. In his dedication, he observes: Great is this burthen of a two-fold world, and requires both an Atlas