“It was called Gloucester Furnace in honour of the Duke of Gloucester, Queen Anne’s son, who, in the year 1698, visited it from Tunbridge Wells.  The iron rails round St. Paul’s Churchyard, in London, were cast at this furnace.  They compose the most magnificent balustrade, perhaps, in the universe, being of the height of five feet six inches, in which there are, at intervals, seven iron gates of beautiful workmanship, which, together with the rails, weigh two hundred tons and eighty-one pounds; the whole of which cost 6d. per pound, and with other charges, amounted to the sum of 11,202_l._ 0_s._ 6_d._”

P.C.S.S.

* * * * *

MISCELLANEOUS.

NOTES ON BOOKS, CATALOGUES, SALES, ETC.

If there was any ground, and we are inclined to believe there was, for the objection urged by the judicious few against that interesting series of illustrations of English history, Lodge’s Illustrious Portraits, namely, that in engraving the portraits selected, truth had often times been sacrificed to effect; so that one had a better picture, though a less faithful copy,—­such an objection cannot be urged against a work to which our attention has just been directed, Harding’s Historical Portraits.  In this endeavour to bring before us the men of past time, each “in his habit as he lived,” the scrupulous accuracy with which Mr. Harding copies an old portrait has been well seconded by the engravers, so that this work is unrivalled for the fidelity with which it exhibits, as by a Daguerrotype, copies in little of some very curious portraits of old-world worthies.  The collection is limited in extent; but, as it contains plates of individuals of whom no other engraving exists, will be a treasure to illustrators of Clarendon, Granger, &c.  Among the most interesting subjects are Henry VIII. and Charles V., from the remarkable picture formerly at Strawberry Hill; Sir Robert Dudley, son of Elizabeth’s favourite; Lord Russel of Thornhaugh, from the picture at Woburn; Speaker Lenthall; and the remarkable portrait of Henry Carey Viscount Falkland, dressed in white, painted by Van Somer, which suggested to Horace Walpole his Castle of Otranto.

Messrs. Sotheby and Co. will sell on Thursday next, a small but superb collection of drawings by modern artists; and on the following Monday will commence a six days’ sale of the third portion of the important stock of prints of Messrs. Smith; comprising some of the works of the most eminent engravers of the continental and English schools, including a matchless collection of the works of the Master of Fontainebleau, engraver’s proofs of book plates, and a few fine drawings.

We have received the following Catalogues:—­J.  Peteram’s (94.  High Holborn) Catalogue, Part CXI., No. 5. for 1850 of Old and New Books; and J. Miller’s (43.  Chandos Street) Catalogue No. 5. for 1850 of Books Old and New.