ls in Spain_, with "the gift of the
Author" in Johnson's handwriting, immediately beneath Twiss's MS.
presentation. The Twiss was in Lot 284.

PETER CUNNINGHAM.

* * * * *

MISCELLANIES.

_Etymology of "News_."--The word "news" is not derived, as many
suppose, from the adjective new, but from a practice that obtained
in newspapers of an early date, of prefixing to the title the letters
expressive of the cardinal points, thus:--

N.
E. W.
S.

meaning that their intelligence was derived from all quarters of the
globe. This must, at any rate, be allowed as ingenious etymology.

J.U.G. GUTCH.

THE GOLDEN AGE.

(_FROM THE LATIN_.)

Why "golden," when that age alone, we're told,
Was blest with happy ignorance of gold--
More justly we our venal times might call
"The Golden Age," for gold is all in all.

RUFUS.

* * * * *

NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.

Messrs. Sotheby and Co. will sell on Monday next two collections of
Autographs; the first consisting of Autograph Letters, the property
of a gentleman; which will be immediately followed by that belonging
to the late Mr. Rodd, and the extensive Correspondence of the late
William Upcott, Esq., comprising several thousand Autograph Letters.
Mr. Rodd's collection comprises many letters of great historical and
literary interest.

Messrs. Puttick and Simpson will sell by auction on Friday, March the
8th, and seven following days, the extensive and very important Stock
of Books of Mr. James Carpenter, of Bond Street, who is retiring from
business. The characteristics of this fine collection are the numerous
books of prints and illustrated works which it contains, such as the
matchless Series of Piranesi's Works, being the dedication copy to
the king of Sweden: a copy of Boswell's _Life of Johnson_, in 8 vols.
{271} folio, illustrated with nearly six hundred Portraits and Views.

We heard some time since that the long-established and
highly-respectable house of Payne and Foss, of Pall Mall, had
succeeded the late Mr. Rodd in the agency of purchasing for the
British Museum. The rumour proved to be unfounded, and now receives
a formal contradiction by the announcement that Messrs. Payne and
Foss are retiring from business, and that the first portion of their
extensive and valuable Stock of Books will be sold by auction by
Messrs. Sotheby and Co.; the first divi