"This book, 'being a methodical collection of the most choice
and select admonitions and sentences, compendiously drawn from
infinite varietie,' is quoted by Lowndes under Bodenham, as first
printed in 1598; the Epistle dedicatory however of the present
copy is signed: 'N. Ling', and addressed 'to his very good friend
Maister I.B.,' so that Ling appears to have been the author, and
this an edition unknown to Lowndes or any other bibliographer."

This seems to settle one point, perhaps a not very important one, in our
literary history; and as such may deserve a place among your "NOTES."

BOOKWORM.

* * * * *

COLLEY CIBBER'S APOLOGY.

Mr. Editor,--No doubt most of your readers are well acquainted with
Colley Cibber's _Apology for his Life_, &c., first printed, I believe,
in 1740, 4to, with a portrait of himself, painted by Vanloo, and
engraved by Vandergucht. Chapters IV. and V. contain the celebrated
characters he drew of the principal performers, male and female, in, and
just before, his time, viz. Betterton, Montfort, Kynaston, &c. Upon
these characters I have two questions to put, which I hope some of your
contributors may be able to answer. The first is, "Were these characters
of actors reprinted in the same words, and without additions, in the
subsequent impressions of Cibber's _Apology_ in 8vo?" Secondly, "Had
they ever appeared in any shape before they were inserted in the copy of
Cibber's _Apology_ now before me, in 1740, 4to?" To this may be added,
if convenient, some account of the work in which these fine criticisms