Shakespeare's Birthplace, which, from the time of his death until 1806, belonged to members of the Hart family, the descendants of the poet's sister, was, after the death of the widow of Thomas Court (the purchaser of 1806), put up for public sale in 1847. The auctioneer accepted £3000 which was offered in behalf of two committees formed respectively in London and at Stratfordupon-Avon for the purpose of making the building national property. Thomas Amyot and eter Cunningham, men of letters, represented the London Committee; Dr. Thomas Thomson and W. Sheldon, the Stratford Committee. Dr. Thomson, thrice mayor of the borough, died 21 January, 1873, aged 70.

230.-Particulars of Shakespeare's House at Stratford-on-Avon, for sale by Auction by Mr. Robins, at the Mart, London, on Thursday, September 16, [1847], at 12 o'clock.

This volume contains the original Sale Books which the auctioneer, Mr. Edmund Robins and his chief clerk used at the Sale. They are interleaved and contain many MS. notes: Mr. Robin's preliminary address, in his own hand writing-the biddings for the House,-copy of the sale contract-prices realized for relics sold immediately after the sale of the Birthplace, etc.

Presented by MR. PHILIP S. ROBINS, 5, Waterloo
Place, Pall Mall, London, April, 1898.

231.-Oak panel, 4 ft. 7 in. long by 7 in. wide, carved with running course of leaf and flower pattern; from a house in Old Town (the present Avon Croft), formerly belonging to the Clopton family.

Presented by WILLIAM GREENWAY.

232.-View of Stratford-upon-Avon Church in 1750, with the wooden spire (cased in lead), and charnelhouse; in oil. I ft. 10 in. by 1ft. 2 in. See No. 240. Presented by CHARLES LUCY, 1866.

233.-View of Stratford-upon-Avon from the

Cross of the Hill; about the year 1750.

I ft. 10 in. by 1 ft. 2 in.

In oil,

Presented by Charles Lucy, 1866.

234.-View of Clopton's Bridge and Bridgetown in 1750; in oil. I ft. 10 in. by I ft. 2 in.

Sir Hugh Clopton (died 1496) a notable benefactor to Stratupon-Avon, constructed the fine stone bridge, on fourteen arches, at his own expense.

Presented by CHARLES LUCY, 1866.

235.-Engraved view of "The Alto Relievo in front of the Shakespeare Gallery, Pall Mall," T. Banks, R.A., fecit., Benj., Smith, sculp.; published by John and Josiah Boydell, 4 January 1796.

Thomas Banks's alto-relievo, which formed part of the façade of Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery, in Pall Mall, London, is now preserved in New Place Garden.

236.-Arms of the Corporation of Stratfordupon-Avon, in proper heraldic colours.

Presented by MISS ANNE WHELER.

237.-Portrait of David Garrick, engraved by Valentine Green after the painting by Thomas Gainsborough (now in Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall); published April, 1769, by J. Boydell.

238.-A book-case made of old oak timber found in Shakespeare's House. The contents form a portion of the gifts of James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps. See No. 199.

The maker of the book-case wasJohn Marshall, local carver and cabinet maker, who is mentioned at No. 140 above.

Made for THE TRUSTEES in 1871.

239.-An etching of Herne's Oak

by William

de la Motte, 1820.

and 290.

2ft. in. by 1ft. 5in. See Nos. 130

Presented by HENRY GRAVES, Pall Mall, June, 1881.

240.-An oil painting of Stratford-upon-Avon, showing the Parish Church before the wooden spire

was taken down in 1764, also the charnel house and "minister's study" over the charnel-house, which was taken down in 1800. Ift. Iolin, by 1ft. 2 in. See No.232. Presented by MISS ANNE WHELER.

241. Two engraved portraits of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, Shakespeare's patron.

(1). From the original of Mirevelt, in the collection of His Grace the Duke of Bedford. Drawn by R. Satchwell, and engraved (with permission) by R. W. Sievier. Published June 1st, 1817.

Proof.

From an

(2). The Friend and Patron of Shakespeare. original picture in the collection of the Duke of Portland at Bulstrode (now at Welbeck). G. P. Harding, Delin, R. Dunkarton, Sculp. Published 2 May, 1814.

Presented by SIDNEY LEE, LL.D.

242.—A cast of Shakespeare's monumental effigy

Copy of inscription on back-"Moulded by George Bullock from the original in the Church at Stratford, December, 1814." This Cast represents the Bust as painted at Malone's suggestion, and as it appeared previously to the original colours being restored in 1861. It was presented by Mr. Bullock to the Rev. Dr. Davenport, Vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon, whose name is engraved on the back.

Purchased.

243.-An oil painting on panel, (by a Dutch artist) called "The Feast of Fools." 1 ft. 51⁄2 in. by 1 ft.

The following inscription is at the back:-"Curious painting of the time of Albert Durer, probably by Ab. Eyck, representing a Feast of Fools and Jesters of several noble families."

Francis Douce, in his "Dissertation on the Clowns and Fools of Shakespeare" (in Illustrations of Shakespeare, 1807) gives engravings of figures from this picture.

Presented by J. O. HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS, 1871.

244.-Lines written by Washington Irving in