The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-24 00:00:00

SALE OF MR. HEBER'S .LIBRARY.

The twelfth day's sale on Saturday was marked by the
disposal of many curious works, and at high prices. Among
the lots sold were—

2,234.—" The Complaynt of Scotland, vyth an Exor-
tatione to the three Estaits to be vigilante in tLe Diffens
of their Public Veil." Printed about 1548. Only four
copies are known to exist of this work, all of which want the
title, and are otherwise defective. This is called by Pin-
kerton " a most curious piece, well written, and fraught
with great lear►;ing ; the only classic work in Scottish
prose." Lord Hailes declared that "If the study of
Scottish history should ever revive, a new edition, of
Inglis's Complaint would be an acceptable present to the
public." See the Preliminary Dissertation by Leyden to
the edition of 1801. He conjectures that Sir David
Lindsay was the author. The present copy was in the
Roxburghe Library, and is the only one which contains
even the small fragment of a title. 23/., Thorpe.
2,026.—" The Expedition into Scotlande of the most
woorthely fortunate Prince Edward, Duke of Somerset,
uncle vnto our most noble Souereign Lord the Kyngea
Maiestie Edward VI., Gouernour of hys Hyghnes peisone
and protectour of his Grace's realmes, dominions, and sub-
iectes : made in the Ist yere of his Majesties most prosperous
reign, and set out by way of diarie, by •W. Patten, Lon-
doner. Vivat victor. Imprinted in London, the last daie
of June, in the second yore of the reigne, &c., of Edward
VI. By Richard Grafton," &c. 1548. According to
Mr. Heber's M.S. note it appears that, at most, only
three other copies of this work are known. 1.5/. 10s.
Pickering.

2,348.—" Epigrams, Theological, Philosophical, and
Romantick ; also the Socratic session, or the arraignment
and conviction of Julius Scaliger, with other select Poems,"
frontispiece, printed by G. D., for Thomas Bucknell,
1651. On page 250 occurs the celebrated elegy, "In
memory of our famous Shakspeare." He has also poems
upon Ben Jonson, Spenser, Sylvester, Quarles, Taylor, &c.
One upon himself, thus headed. " To his Muse, in refe-
rence to his Fairy King," has not been remarked upon.
21. 135., Rodd.

2,353.—" The History of Mistris Jane Shore, Concu-
bine to King Edward the Fourth, who was Wife to one
Mathew Shore, a Goldsmith in London, wherein is declared
her wanton life, with her miserable end and death of her
Husband" (in verse). This is a common ballad, printed in
the form of a chap-book. It no doubt came from the shop
of Thackery or Coles, but the date and name of the printer
are cut off ; very rare, 31. Is.
2,410.—" A Merry Jest of Robin Hood, and of his
life, with a newe Play for to be plaied in May-games, very
pleasant and full of pastime," black letter, with wood-cuts
of Robin Hood and Little John. Printed for Edward
White. " Entered in the Stationers' Books, 13th May,
1594." This identical copy, being the only one known of
the present edition, formerly belonged to Narcissus Lut-
trell, 20/. 10s. Thorpe.
2,415.—" The Sevin Seages, translated out of prois in
Scottis meter, be Johne Rolland, in Dalkeith, with ane Mo-
ralitie, efter cuerie Doctouris Tale, and sielike, efter the
Emprice Tale, togidder with ane loVing and laude to eurie
Doctour eftcr his awin Tale, and ane exclamation and out-
crying upon the Empreouris wife, efter his false construsit
Tale. From the Roxburghe Library, rare." Imprintint
at Edinburgh by John Ros, for Henrie Charteris, 1578, 17/.
2,429.—" The Knave of Clubbs." " Printed at London
by E, A., dwelling in Lombard-hill, neere Olde Fish-street,
1611. More Knaves yet. The Knaves of Spades and
Diamonds, with new additions." The date is cut off.
" The Knave of Harts, Haile Fellow well met." " Printed
by T. S., and are to be solde by George Loftus, at his shop
under St. Sepulchre's Church, 1612," in 1 vol. 18/., Payne.
2,439.—" A collection of works privately printed by the
Roxburghe Club, from curious manuscripts, or rare books.
The series is complete with the exception of two, those
presented to the club by the Duke of Marlborough and
the Hon. and Rev. Gr G. Neville Grenville." (41 tracts
or books.) 120/., Thorpe: .

2,486.—" A curious collection of single sheets of Poetry
and Poetical Tracts, consisting of Ballads, Satires, Lam-
poons,' Squibs, Elegies, Eulogies, and Historical and Humu-
rous Poems, upon Public and Domestic Occurrences be-
tween the years 1678 and 1688." Collected by Narcissus
Luttrell, who has marked the original prices, and has gene-
rally filled up in manuscript the names of the persons al-
luded to in the poems. 5 vols., 791. 16s. (This collection
was purchased by Mr. Heber at Mr. Bindley's sale for 2311.)

EXTRAORDINARY TRANSACTIONS.

(From the Leeds Mercury.)

A mercantile house in Leeds, established about four
years ago, and trading under the firm of Joshua Vollans
and Sons, has recently fallen into embarrassments, with
engagements amounting to 18,5001. The firm, it appears,
consisted of three persons—the father, Mr. Joshua Vollans,
and his two sons, David and Joshua. On the second day
of the present month Mr. Joshua Vollans quitted London,
%There he had been two or three weeks, for France, alleg-
ing that he was on his way to Manchester. As soon as
it was ascertained 'that he had left the country, a fiat in
bankruptcy was issued against him, and on the 6th instant
the house in Leeds stopped payment. An examination
into their affairs showed that large sales of woollen goods
had been made, and that the sums for which they had sold
had disappeared. Further inquiry showed that the pro-
perty which remained was not likely to realize to the cre-
ditors more than from 3s. to 4s. in the pound. From
these suspicious circumstances a messenger under the
bankruptcy was sent down from London to Leeds;
and on Monday morning, Mr. James Robinson, of Camp-
road Mill, one of the creditors, accompanied by the messen-
ger, repaired to Huddersfield, having learnt from an inter-
cepted letter that some of the property had been conveyed.
to Mr. Joseph Sanderson's, of Mold-green in that neigh-
bourhood, whose wife is the daughter of the senior Mr.
Vollans, and of course the sister of the other partners. Un-
der the authority of the powers vested in the messenger, a
search was instituted in Mr. Sanderson's house, when, on
examining one of the drawers, a sum of money, in Bank
notes, gold, and provincial notes, was found to the amount
of 5,555/., along with two silver watches, and several arti-
cles of plate. No sooner had they reached the inn at Hud-
dersfield, than they learnt that a person had been sent off
from Mr. Sanderson's to the senior Mr. Vollans at Leeds,
on which they ordered four horses to their carriage, and
posted after him, in the hope of reaching Leeds before any
communication could be made of the proceedings at Mold-
green. In this, however, they did not succeed ; but they
were the bearers of the hidden treasure, much to the gra-
tification of the creditors, who were anxiously waitis- 'their
return. The recovery of so large a sum tas greatly im-
proved the prospects of the el'etrs, and placed in their
possession assets thy* pay a dividend of from 12s. to
14s. in tin pound ; for besides the 5,555/., there is about
4,000/. worth of other property in Leeds, with goods in
'Manchester, Liverpool, and London, and several debts
which will be recovered under the commission of bankruptcy
which has been issued against the firm of Joshua Vollans
and Sons. This unfortunate house was, it appears, in a
prosperous way of business till within the last twelve
months, about which time they fell into the fatal practice
of making sacrifices—that is, of selling goods for less than
they cost, which terminated in their ruin, and no doubt
suggested the design, as far at least as one of the parties is
concerned, of plundering the creditors. We have not
heard under what circumstances, or with whose privity,
money found in Mr. Sanderson's house was deposited there.
Two letters frem Joshua Vollans to his „brother David,
have fallen into the hands of the creditors. The first dated
from London, on the 2d of the present month, announces
the utter ruin of the house, which he attributes to the im-
mense sacrifices they have had to make to meet their en-
gagements ; together with their ignorance of book-keeping.
In this letter the writer says that he has had a " serious
misfortune," which no one else, under the present circum-
stances would believe ; but that it has put it out of his
power to meet their creditors and to meet their engage-
ments. He then recommends that a composition should
be made with the creditors. Their debts he estimates at
16,000/., and he says that there will be in all from 3s. 6d.
to 4s. in the pound, " but not more." In the same letter
he intimates his intention to abscond ; but says that he
shall write once more to ascertain whether the composition
has been accepted. He laments the situation in which his
relations will be placed by the failure, and expresses his
concern for the suffering creditors. The second letter is
dated frem Paris on the Bth inst., and exhibits a deplorable
proof of the rapid progress in the paths of dishonour and
dishonesty. This letter, like the other, is to his brother
David, and is written under the assumed name of " Beau-
mont," iu these terms :

,t Paris, Dec. 8, 1834.
" Brother,--I write for the first time from the Continent.
I am well and in good spirits, and I hope that this will find all
the same at home. I dare say you will think it strange that I
did not write before now. I wanted to know where I intended
to go. I start this day from here—go to the South of France,
through Germany to Naples, and then to Rome. Me and
other three have engaged a carriage, board, and lodging, all
the way ; it will take us 30 days to go. We agreed to give
1,800 francs for all four, that is 721., and if I get safe off from
here, and the natives should follow, they will have a hell of a
chase. I hope things are going on smoothly, and like to come
to accommodation soon ; but, at all events, keep up your P:**l-
rits, and keep up all the family's also. f the nativPl should
come after me, send some one after me instanter, so that I can
get out of their way- If they come to the Hotel de Ville, at
D'Albipti a Paris, and inquire for Mons. Beaumont, they
will
give every direction where to find mq, it is No. 40, Rue St.
Thomas de Louvre. Thou nlust keep up the spirits of mother
and father, and all tho ; tell them I shall not starve here
with moPeY Aly packets. " I like France very well, and can
yFpunder Do not write me till I have written again
ai shall tell yPtl in my next when to write. If you can effect
9.9llr9ißlii&Vilth the natives, 'ou will Awl & good deal of