The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-10-27

prevented By the cold at the approach ofi
winter.
BIBLIOMANlA.-in tnc .it
cal Dccameron, y work by the iei. DR..
Diodin, published within few years ut
London, the following account is given Of
the sale by auction, of the late Duke Of Rox-
bugh's Buccaccio in 1907, a volume of or
dinary appearance, the only merit Of which
was its rarity
81 have perfect recollection of this no.
torious volume while in the library OF the
late Duke. 1t had faded yellow morocco
binding, and was sound, rather than a fine
copy. The expectations formed of the
probable price for which it would be sold
were excessive; vet not so excessive as the
price itself turned out to be. The marked
champions for the contest were pretty well
known beforehand to be the Earl Spencer.
the Marquis of Blandford (now Duke of
Marlboro'l and the Duke Of Devonshirc
Such rcncon re, such :" shock of fight"
naturally bcgot uncommon curiosity. My
friends, Sir Fgerton Brydges, Mr. Lang, and
Mr. G. H. Freezing. did me the kindness to
breakfast with me on the morning of the
sale--and upon the conclusion Of the repast,
Sir Egerton's carriage conveyed us from
kcnsington to St. James square.
--" The morning lowered,
And heavily with clouds came on the day,
Big with the fate of -, and -"
In fact, the rain fell in torrents as We a
lighted from the carriage, and rushed with
a sort of impctuosity TO gain seats to view
the contest. The room was crowded to cx
cess: and a sudden darkness, which came
across, gave rather an additional interest tu
the scene. At length the moment of the sale
arrived. Mr.. Evans Prefaced the putting
up of the article by an appropriate Grafton,
in which he EXP ,tiated on its excessive ra-
rity, and concluded by informing the com
pany of the regret, and even "anguish of
heart" expressed by Mr.. Van Praet, that
such treasure was not at that time to be
found in the imperial collection at Paris.
However, it should seem, that Buonaparte's
agent was present. Silence followed The ad-
dress of Mr.. Evans. On his right hand,
leaning against the wall, stood Earl Spen-
Ger: a little lower down, and standing at
right angles with his lordship, appeared the
Marquis of Blandford. The Duke, I be-
lcye, was not then present: but my Lord
Althorp stood little backward to the right
of his father, Earl Spencer. Such was the
ground taken up by the adverse hosts.
The honor Of firing the first shot was due
to a gentleman of Shropshire: who was un-
used to this species of warfare, and who
seemed to recoil at the reverberation Of the
report himself had made Zone hundred
guincas," he exclaimcd-Again pause en-
sued; but anon the biddings rose rapidly
to five hundred guineas. Hitherto, howev-
er, it was evident, that the firing was mask
oil ND a 1n,, 1,,1l 49,
shots ceased, and the champions stood gall
lantly up to each other, resolving not to finch
from a trial of their respective strengths.
a thousand guineas," were bid by Earl
Spencer--to which the Marquis added 'Ien."
You might have heard pin drop.-.All
eyes were turned-all breathing well nigh
stopped--every sword was put home within
its scabbard and not piece of steel was
seen to move or glitter, save that which
each of these champions brandshed in their
valorous hand. See, see: .hey parry, they
lunSe they hit, yet their strength is und
minishcd, and no Thought of Welding it, en-
tertained by either. " Jtpo thousand
hounds," are offered BY the Marquis. Then
it was that Earl Spencer, as prudent gen
cral, began to think of an useless eh'uson of
blood and expenditure Of ammunition, seeing
that his adversary was as resolute and
" fresh" as at the onset. For a quarter of
a minute he paused: when my Lord AL
thorp advanced one step forward, as if to
supply his father with another spear for the
purpose of renewing the contest. His coun-
tenance was marked with fixed dctermi-
nation to gain the prizc--it prudence, in its
most commanding form, and with form of
unusual intensity of expression, had not 5ade
him desist. The father and son for a time
convcrsed apart, and the biddngs are re-
sumed. Iayo thousand tzuo hundred md
Jfy hounda," said Lord Spencer! The
spectators are now absolutely electrified,
The Marquis quietly adds his usual " ten,''
and there is ali end of the contest! Mr.. E.
vans, ere his hammer fell, made due
pause; and indeed, as if by something pre-
ternatural, the ebony instrument itself,
seemed to be charmed or suspended " in
mid air." However, at length, down dropt
the hammer"