circumstances under which the likeness was reproduced.

JOHN TOWNELEY, 1731-1813

John Towneley, who was born on the 15th of June 1731, and died on the
13th of May 1813, was the younger son of Richard Towneley of Towneley,
in the county of Lancaster, and Mary, daughter of William, Lord
Widdrington. He married Barbara, fourth daughter of Edward Dicconson of
Wrightington, in the county of Lancaster, by whom he had a daughter,
Barbara, who married Sir William Stanley, Bart., of Hooton, and a son,
Peregrine Edward, who succeeded to the estates. Dibdin, in his
_Bibliographical Decameron_, informs us that 'Mr. Towneley had one of
the finest figures, as an elderly gentleman (for he died at 82), that
could possibly be seen. His stature was tall and frame robust; his gait
was firm; his countenance was Roman-like; his manners were conciliatory,
and his language was unassuming. His habits were simple and perhaps
severe. He generally rose at five, and lighted his own library fire--and
his health was manifest in his person and countenance. He was entirely
an unpretending man--and may be said to have collected rather from the
pleasure and reputation attached to such pursuits than from a thorough
and keen relish of the kind of taste which it imparts. He had an ample
purse, and it was most liberally unstrung when there was occasion for
effectual aid. This observation may equally apply to matters out of the
_bibliomaniacal_ record; but as a book-purchaser he was considered among
the most heavy-metalled and determined champions in the field.'

[Illustration]

The library formed by Mr. Towneley was a particularly good one, and it
was remarkable for the large number of rare and fine examples it
possessed of books from the presses of Caxton, Pynson, Wynkyn de Worde,
Julian Notary, and other early English printers. No fewer than nine
Caxtons were to be found on its shelves, and Pynson and Wynkyn de Worde
were especially well represented. Among the Caxtons were the first
edition of the _Dictes or Sayings of the Philosophers_, the _Fayts of
Arms_, and _Troilus and Creside_, together with the _Life of St.
Katherine_, published by Caxton's executors. Perhaps the most important
of the other early English books were Boccaccio's _Falle of Princis_,
translated by Lydgate, and Froissart's _Cronycle_, both printed by
Pynson; and the _Vitas Patrum_ and the _Kalender of Shepeherdes_ by
Wynkyn de Worde. The library also contained some exceedin