New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-26

emoelitshed the stained glass windows with the
erescents LimoGsin matched the letters in
elalneis' Polissy employed the same designs In
me oecoration Of quaint vases. and the same
elioieIhs are sim TO be found in the sumptuous
orange cciored morocco bindings OF the six
teenth century which are associated with her
name In England. by the traditions OF law
de4suFe-uoVe Is supposed to belong to the
CFowh' ana the concealment OF II by the finder
Is an indictable offence but the purchaser of
the beautiful danes royal gift is at liberty TO
drive a sharp bargin when It has passed from
pawn shop 10 curio shop
One OF the most valuable literary relics in
England is 10 be auctioned or ar Sotheby's in
March, unless IL can be secured during the in
tervai for either the British Museum or the
Bodleian Library. This Is the original manu-
SCRIPT OF the first book of Millions Paradise
Lost IN eighteen small quarto leaves AS the
poet hao been blind for fourteen years when the
epic was completed for the printer. not stroke
III these closely written pages was from his
hano; and the familiar tradition that he die
taxed the poem 20 of his daughters is not
confirmed by the penmanship which is rnascu-
line in character. The alternative theory that
the amanuensis was Millions nephew, Edward
Fhilllps, is hardly tenable, since the fact is not
mentioned IN the little volume OF memoirs pub
down the poem line by line he would probably
have claimed the credit for IT. as well as for
suggesting alterations where the verses needed
mending. While the identity Of the amanuensis
is a mystery, it cannot be doubted that this is
the original copy filed at stationers' Hall in
1867 and assigned to Samuel Simmons Cor
Symonds) in consideration Of the sum of Is in
hand paid" Another payment Of E5 was made
for second edition. and Millions widow
signed all her rights after his death for an ad-
ditional sum Of IS. The copyright was sold by
the printer to Brabazon Aylmer. a bookseller.
who subsequently transferred it TO Jacob Ton
son; and three generations of Tonsons printed
numerous editions Of Paradise Lost" and were
enabled b. profits in trade to buy an estate in
Hertfordshire. The manuscript was preserved
in the Tonson family as the proof Of their right
TO publish as many editions Of the poem as they
pleased; and it is now in the possession of Mr.
William Robert Baker. a great-grandson of
Mary Tonson.
The Townshend heirlooms. having been re-
leased by an order from the Chancery division
are to be sold by auction during the spring.
These historic treasures Of family which had
not little TO do with American history during
the eighteenth century include silver plate deco
rative furniture, many interesting relics and as
many as four hundred portraits and paintings
Joshua Reynolds One is a full length of
Charles Townshend, who, as Chancellor Of the
Exchequer, proposed measures for taxing the
American colonies and brought about the dis
memberment of the British Empire. There are
two portraits OF Colonel George Townshend
afterward the first marquis who served under
Wolfe at Quebec, suggested the plan Of attack
and succeeded him in command of the British
and Colonial forces, and who was not only one of
the pioneers in the art Of political carcature in
England, but was also himself Iampooned and
satirized account Of his jealousy Of a great
soldier and Of his overbearing administration in
Ireland. Sir Joshua also painted the second
marquis an antiquarian with passion for her
aldry, and Anne, Marchioness Of Townshend.
The last portrait. which has frequently been ex-
hibited is artistically the best Reynolds among
the heirlooms Hogarth's portrait Of James
Quin, the actor is also in the collection, and
several anonymous works which ought to be in
the National Portrait Gallery, such as John
Ppm, who was implicated in the attempt to ar
rest Charles I, and the brilliant wife Of the
third viscount a woman Of sparkling wit. who
was drawn from life by Fielding in Tom
Jones" y. r.