[1] Let me say here, once for all, that had that monument of accurate
research, and labour of love, the work of Mr. W. P. Courtney and Mr.
G. C. Boase, not appeared, the following essays could never have been
attempted by me, in the midst of many other and harassing occupations;
the 'Bibliotheca,' however, not only rendered such a task comparatively
easy, but positively invited the pen, even of one who is no ready
scribe. In fact I feel, as Oliver Wendell Holmes well puts it, 'that I
have ascended the stream whilst others have tugged at the oar.'
[2] His works are among the earliest printed books in the British
Museum: one of them (his translation of 'Bartholomeus de Proprietatibus
Rerum') is believed to be the first book printed on paper of English
manufacture.
[3] I am informed by Mr. J. Langdon Bonython, of Adelaide, South
Australia, that Longfellow, the American poet, was descended from a
member of this family--Captain Richard Bonython.
_RALPH ALLEN_,