ds, 'he generally used to spend whole days in the Booksellers'
warehouses; and, that he might not lose time, would get them to procure
him a chop or a steak.' An amusing letter respecting him appeared in the
_Gentleman's Magazine_ for 1812. The writer states that 'Mr. John
Radcliffe was neither a man of science or learning. He lived in East
Lane, Bermondsey; was a very corpulent man, and his legs were remarkably
thick, probably from an anasarcous complaint. The writer of this
remembers him perfectly well; he was a very stately man, and, when he
walked, literally went at a snail's pace. He was a Dissenter, and every
Sunday attended the meeting of Dr. Flaxman in the lower road to
Deptford. He generally wore a fine coat, either red or brown, with gold
lace buttons, and a fine silk embroidered waistcoat, of scarlet with
gold lace, and a large and well-powdered wig. With his hat in one hand,
and a gold-headed cane in the other, he marched royally along, and not
unfrequently followed by a parcel of children, wondering who the stately
man could be. A few years before his death, a fire happened in the
neighbourhood where he lived; and it became necessary to remove part of
his household furniture and books. He was incapable of assisting
himself; but he stood in the street lamenting and deploring the loss of
his Caxtons, when a sailor, who lived within a few doors of him
attempted to console him: "Bless you, Sir, I have got them perfectly
safe!" While Ratcliffe was expressing his thanks, the sailor produced
two of his fine curled periwigs, which he had saved from the devouring
element; and who had no idea that Ratcliffe could make such a fuss for a
few books.' He died in 1776.

Ratcliffe's collection, though not large, was marvellously rich in the
productions of the early English printers; and the volumes were
generally in fine condition, and handsomely bound, though not always in
good taste. It contained no less than forty-eight Caxtons, among which
were the _Game of the Chesse_, the _Dictes or Sayings of the
Philosophers_, the _History of Jason_, and Chaucer's _Canterbury
Tales_. It comprised also numerous books from the presses of the
Schoolmaster of St. Albans, Lettou, Machlinia, Pynson, Wynkyn de Worde,
etc., and a few manuscripts. Dibdin in his _Bibliomania_ remarks: 'If
ever there was a unique collection, this was one--the very essence of
Old Divinity, Poetry, Romances and Chronicles.' Ratcliffe compiled a
manuscript catal