CHAPTER II

I survey the Ground before I start--I contemplate a New British Bibliography--Richard Heber--His Extraordinary Acquirements--His Vast Library--His Manuscript Notes in the Books--A High Estimate of Heber as a Scholar and a Reader-- He eclipses all Other Collectors at Home and Abroad--A Sample or so of His Flyleaf Memoranda--A Few very Interesting Books noticed--A _Historiette_--Anecdotes of Some Bargains and Discoveries by Him and His Contemporaries--The _Phoenix Nest_ at Sion College-- Marlowe's _Dido_--Mystery connected with the Library at Lee Priory--The Oldest Collections of English Plays--A Little Note about Lovelace--Heber's Generosity as a Lender--His Kindness to Dyce--Fate of His Rarest Books--How He obtained some of Them--The Daniel Ballads and Their True History-- Result of a Study of _Heber's Catalogue_ and other Sources of Knowledge--The _Handbook_ appears--Mr Frederick Harrison and Sir Walter Besant pay Me Compliments, 19