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sheet from right to left； but happily without injuring its contents；
several punctures were also observed； one of these encroaching very
critically upon the signature。 But I need not add that these marks of
age and harsh treatment； like the scars on the face of a veteran； far
from being blemishes； were acknowledged to be so many additional
embellishments。 The coloring of the piece was of that precious hue；
verging here and there on the dingy； the very tint most charming in
the eyes of an antiquary； and which Time alone can bestow。 In fact；
one rarely sees a relic of the kind； more perfect in color； more
expressive in its general aspect； or more becoming to an album； from
the fine contrast between its poverty…stricken air； torn； worn； and
soiled； and the rich； embossed； unsullied leaf on which it reposed；
like some dark Rembrandt within its gilded frame。 In short； it was
the very Torso of autographs。 Happily the position which it finally
attained was one worthy of its merits； and we could not have wished
it a more elegant shrine than the precious pages of the Holberton
Album； a volume encased in velvet； secured with jeweled clasps；
reposing on a tasteful etagere。
｛etagere = small table or shelf for displaying curios （French）｝
But I proceed without further delay to relate some of the more
important steps in the progress of this interesting paper； from the
garret of the starving poet to the drawing…rooms of Holberton House；
merely observing by way of preface that the following notice may be
relied on so far as it goes； the writerColonel Jonathan Howard of
Trenton； New Jersey；having had access to the very best authorities；
and having also had the honor of being enlisted in the service of the
Lumley Autograph upon an occasion of some importance； as will be
shown by the narrative。
It was just one hundred years since； in 1745； that this celebrated
letter was first brought to light； from the obscurity in which it had
already lain some half a century； and which no subsequent research
has been able fully to clear away。 In the month of August of that
year； the Rev。 John Lumley； tutor to Lord G…； had the honor of
discovering this curious relic under the following circumstances。
Mr。 Lumley was one day perched on the topmost step of a library
ladder； looking over a black letter volume of Hollinshed； from the
well filled shelves of his pupil。 Suddenly he paused； and his
antiquarian instincts were aroused by the sight of a sheet of paper；
yellow and time worn。 He seized it with the eagerness of a book…
worm； and in so doing dropped the volume of Hollinshed alarmingly
near the wig…covered head of his youthful pupil； who with closed
eyes； and open mouth； lay reclining on a sofa below。 The book；
grazing the curls of the young lord's wig； he sprang up from his nap；
alive and sound； though somewhat startled。
｛Hollinshed = Raphael Holinshed （d。 1580）； famous writer of British
historical chronicles； used by Shakespeare as source for some of his
plays｝
〃Hang it Lumley； what a rumpus you keep up among the books！ You
well nigh drove that old volume into my head by a process more
summary than usual。〃
The learned tutor made a thousand apologies； as he descended the
ladder； but on touching the floor his delight burst forth。
〃It was this paper； my lord； which made me so awkwardI have
lighted on a document of the greatest interest！〃
〃What is it？〃 asked the pupil looking askance at letter； and tutor。
〃An original letter which comes to hand； just in time for my lives of
the tragediansthe volume to be dedicated to your lordshipit is a
letter of poor Otway。〃
｛Otway = Thomas Otway （1652…1685）； English playwright who wrote
a number of important tragedies in verse； but who died destitute at
the age of 33。 The Coopers were familiar with his work； James
Fenimore Cooper used quotations from Otway's 〃The Orphan〃 for
three chapter heading epigraphs in his 1850 novel； 〃The Ways of the
Hour〃｝
〃Otway？What； the fellow you were boring me about last night？〃
〃The same my lordthe poet Otwayyou may remember we saw his
Venice Preserved last week。 It is a highly interesting letter； written
in great distress； and confirms the story of his starvation。 You see
the signature。〃
｛Venice Preserved = a well…known play by Otway； written in 1682｝
〃That name； Otway？Well； to my mind it is as much like Genghis
Khan。〃
〃Oh； my lord！Thomas Otway clearlysignatures are always more or
less confused。
〃Well； have it your own way。It may be Tom； Dick； or Harry for all I
care；〃 said the youth； stretching himself preparatory to a visit to his
kennels； and such was his indifference to this literary treasure that
he readily gave it to his tutor。 In those days； few lords were literary。
Mr。 Lumley's delight at this discovery； was very much increased by
the fact that he was at that moment anxious to bring out an edition
of the English Tragedians of the seventeenth century。 The lives of
several of these authors had been already written by him； and he
was at that moment engaged on that of Otway。 A noted publisher
had taken the matter into consideration； and if the undertaking gave
promise of being both palatable to the public； and profitable to
himself； a prospectus was to be issued。 Now here was a little tit…bit
which the public would doubtless relish； for it was beginning to feel
some interest in Otway's starvation； the poet having been dead half
a century。 It is true that the signature of the poor starving author；
whoever he may have been； was so illegible that it required some
imagination to see in it； the name of Otway； but Mr。 Lumley had
enough of the true antiquarian spirit； to settle the point to his own
entire satisfaction。 The note was accordingly introduced into the life
of Otway； with which the learned tutor was then engaged。 The work
itself； however； was not destined to see the light； its publication
was delayed； while Mr。 Lumley accompanied his pupil on the usual
continental tour； and from this journey the learned gentleman never
returned； dying at Rome； of a cold caught in the library of the
Vatican。 By his will； the MS。 life of Otway with all his papers； passed
into the hands of his brother； an officer in the army。 Unfortunately；
however； Captain Lumley； who was by no means a literary character；
proved extremely indifferent to this portion of his brother's
inheritance； which he treated with contemptuous neglect。
After this first stage on the road to fame； twenty more years passed
away and the letter of the starving poet was again forgotten。 At
length the papers of the Rev。 Mr。 Lumley； fell into the hands of a
nephew； who inherited his uncle's antiquarian tastes； and clerical
profession。 In looking over the MSS。； he came to the life of Otway；
and was struck with the letter given there； never having met with it
in print； there was also a note appended to it with an account of the
manner in which it had been discovered by the editor； in the library
of Lord G…； and affirming that it was still in his own possession。
The younger Lumley immediately set to work to discover the original
letter； but his search was fruitless； it was not to be found either
among