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19 NOTES BY THE WAY. sold, and the Rev. T. F. Dibdin suggested that a convivial meeting should be held at the "St. Alban's Tavern" after the sale of that day, when a resolution was passed

"that the Roxburghe Society should have an anniversary dinner on the 17th June, and the number of members be extended and limited to thirty-one.

" It was proposed and concluded for each member of the Club to reprint a scarce piece of antient lore, to be given to the members, one copy being on vellum for the chairman, and only as many copies as members."

Among those present at the inaugural dinner were Lord Spencer, president, Lord Gower, Sir Egerton Brydges, Mr. Haslewood, and Mr. Dibdin.

The record of the Club includes the very interesting letter of Sir Walter Scott, dated February 25th, 1823, declaring his willingness to take his seat at the Club " as representative of the author of 'Waverley' till the author is discovered." He attended only one of the dinners that held on 15 May, 1828, when Earl Spencer was in the chair, the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Althorp, Lord Clive, Mr. Phelps, Mr. Markland, and Mr. Towneley being among those present.

The publication of the MS. attracted much attention, and it was shown that while the members of the Club had spent two thousand pounds on their own stomachs, they had only found the paltry sum of two guineas for a bust of Caxton.

An account of these 'Roxburghe Revels' is given in the first volume of 'John Francis and The Athenæum.' The collection sold at Sotheby's is mounted and illustrated with numerous portraits and autograph letters.

'BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE,'

The publication on Monday last of the thousandth number of Blackwood's is an event in periodical literature. Founded in April, 1817, by William Blackwood, this parent and model of the modern magazine, a success from the first, has steadily, in spite of all competitors, kept on its way, and the birthday now issued from its old home, 45, George Street, Edinburgh, shows "Maga" to be full of life and vigour. This new number, in the usual brown cover, with the thistle and the features of old George Buchanan on the front page, will find a permanent place in libraries. Beautifully printed on good paper, it forms in this respect a pleasing contrast to the early volumes.

The contents are so well known that only a passing reference need be made. On the first page is a poem by Andrew Lang, 'Our Fathers,' and this is followed by an imitation of the 'Noctes Ambrosianæ,' No. LXXII., the last of the series in which our old