from page 13 Thomas Sprat, later Bishop of Rochester, to prepare, in its defence, an SIR account of the Society and its work that was published by the Society in 1667 as AT IV MOURNE UNIVERSITY The History of the Royal Society of BY London, For the Improving of Natural B, J, McMullin Knowledge. The University Library has a copy of this, presented by the Friends of the Baillieu Library, and also a copy of the later, 1734 edition, as well as a modern reprint. The controversialist Joseph Glanvill, who became a Fellow in 1664, also leapt to the Society's defence; the Library has a copy of his Philosophia Pia, or a discourse of the religious temper, and the tendencies of the experimental philosophy (1670), pre- sented by the Friends of the Baillieu. It also has a very fine copy of one of the most important published attacks on the Society, Henry Stubbe's A Censure Upon Certain Passages Contained in the History of the Royal Society, as Being Destructive to the Established Religion and Church of England (1670). The Royal Society weathered such storms, as we know, as well as others later on. The works described in this brief and by no means comprehensive account are one of the splendours of the Baillieu Library's collection, and deserve to be better known. I

MONG STUDENTS OF THE WORKS made up of works by and about the R. W. Home has been Professor of History of Sir Walter Scott there may be author; it forms (with some additions) and Philosophy of Science at the University an awareness that the University part of the Poynton collection of close of Melbourne since 1975. He has pub- A lished extensively on the history of 18th of Melbourne Library is the repository to 15,000 volumes which Dr Orde century physics (including several papers of one of the best collections in the Poynton has presented to the University on the work of Isaac Newton), and on the world devoted to the author. But that of Melbourne at various stages since history of science in Australia. He is editor awareness is limited, since the Library's 1959. The Poynton collection itself of the journal, Historical Records of Australian Science, and one of the editors Scott collection is not catalogued, and to comprises a number of groupings, of the Life and Letters of Ferdinand von that extent it may fairly be said that the among them several thousand volumes Mueller, the first volume of which appeared Baillieu Library has within its walls a devoted to major British authors of the in 1998. research resource of considerable 18th and 19th centuries: Boswell, potential which has been little exploited. Browning, Burns, Byron... and Sir Walter Scott. The Scott collection is said to comprise approximately 2,500 volumes, If the Scott collection is at present insufficiently known, that situation may soon be changed. The impetus for Walter Scoff, portrait bust (after the marble bust by Sir Francis Chantrey, 1820. change is the recent publication of Sir University of Melbourne Library Collection). Walter Scott: a bibliographical history,

14 THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE LIBRARY JOURNAL • 1999 1796-1832, by William B. Todd and is difficult to say how "good" it is com- More recently, Graham Tulloch has Ann Bowden (1998). Hitherto there has pared with collections elsewhere, since noted that in one of the Poynton sets of been no adequate bibliography of Todd/Bowden does not include a census the first edition of there is a Scott's output beyond William Ruff's of of copies. However, even at this early cancel leaf (vol. 3, M6 [pp. 187-8]) not the poetical works l; Greville stage of identifying items it is clear that present in any of the 28 copies seen by Worthington's of the novels 2 is particu- it does much more than simply provide Todd and Bowden. Whatever the status larly unsatisfactory, and the remainder additional locations. Indeed, given the of this particular correction — perhaps of Scott's multifarious writings have extent and nature of the variations from non-authorial, and even in context been only patchily studied from a bibli- the ideal found so far, the process of unnecessary — the principle remains ographical point of view (that is, from identification has seemed to warrant that variations do exist, that a seeming the point of view of their production and contemplating the publication of a sup- "duplicate" cannot be confirmed as such distribution). plement, based on the University without careful collation. The appearance of any rigorously Library collection but perhaps incorpo- The value of the collection is not constructed bibliography serves to allow rating the holdings of other collections confined to establishing texts for new the status of individual items in partic- in Melbourne too — all of them very editions. Most students of Scott will be ular collections to be assessed against an small but also exhibiting significant faced at some stage by what Ruff has ideal, and in this instance the opportu- variations from Todd/Bowden. called "lying title-pages"5 — that is, the nity is being taken to identify — by One notable feature of the Scott col- practice of cancelling title pages, "T/B" number — all the items by Scott lection is the presence of multiple replacing them by others which claim in the University Library's collection copies of many publications, particularly "second [third ... ] edition", whereas the published up to his death in 1832, as the first editions of the separately-pub- sheets remain unchanged. For example, well as the "Magnum" edition of the lished poems and the novels. For if the title pages are to be taken at face value, there were three editions of The collected works, 1829-1836 (together per- example, the first edition of The Lady of Fortunes of Nigel in the year of publica- haps between a quarter and a third of the the Lake (1810) is represented by six tion (1822), whereas the second and total Scott collection). This project copies, that of (1814) by nine third are merely re-issues of the first. seems especially desirable, in that the (one "non-Poynton"). This is not a case The new bibliography has gone a long authors were not in the end able to visit of unnecessary duplication, for particu- way towards resolving the true biblio- Australia as part of their canvass of larly in the hand-press period — which graphical relationships between the var- libraries with known major collections was coming to an end when Scott died ious "forms" of particular works, but it of Scott. — individual copies from within the one is already clear that, on the evidence of edition may differ one from another in Not that the collection has gone the University Library collection, there ways which can be established only by entirely untapped. For example, are yet further complexities not hitherto physical comparison and textual colla- Professor Graham Tulloch of Flinders recognised. Two examples will illustrate University has used it in the process of tion, since changes could be made at this assertion. establishing the text of Ivanhoe for the any time at press or subsequently by edition of the Waverley way of cancellation. Thus to have mul- Tales of My Landlord, First Series novels series. And several articles based tiple copies in the one location is a great ( and ), on items in the collection have been boon to scholars. was first published in December 1816 (T/B 98Aa), with a fourth edition published in recent years in The Library, In acquiring multiple copies (98Ad), dated 1817, appearing 1 Studies in Bibliography and The Dr Poynton was well aware of their January 1818, without "First Series" on Bibliotheck, with the results of these potential for displaying the range of evi- studies, where relevant, being now the title page, and with the paper water- dence necessary for establishing the text marked "MANOR & Co 11816"; incorporated in Todd/Bowden. In addi- for a modern edition. In the case of tion, one short monograph has been another "fourth edition" (98Ae), with Waverley he was able to report that based on extensive use of the "First Series" on the title page and with within his eight copies of the first edi- paper watermarked "M1816 I 1 [2, 3, collection. 3 These publications should tion there were 115 "points" of variance be seen simply as an indication of the 5]", is known only from a single copy of additional to the 300-odd (of uncertain volume 1 in the Bodleian Library. There research which the collection is able import) listed by Worthington. 4 What are three sets of what claim to be the to support, not as evidence that its the significance of individual variants is fourth edition in the collection in the potential has been exhausted. is a matter for the editor of the novel to Baillieu; one of them comprises the In terms of the major monographic determine: the only point to be made sheets of the third edition (98Ac, origi- publications the Library's Scott collec- here is that there are differences, not nally published 20 February 1817), the tion is, understandably, extensive, but it only between editions but also within. continued on page 16

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE LIBRARY JOURNAL • 1999 15 r uE LAY LAY

OF OF THE LAST MINSTREL, THE LAST MINSTREL, A POEM ; A POEM ;

THE EIGHTH FDITtOA. THE EIGHTH EDITION.

WITH WITH BALLADS AND LYRICAL PIECES. BALLADS AND LYRICAL PIECES.

DV BY WALTER SCOTT, ESQ. WALTER SCOTT, ESQ.

Dum relego, scripsisse hill , vnia Dum relego, scripinc pule, pria plurima cerno, Me rogue, qui feei,judice, di t1tei Me quoque, quifeci,judice, digna /bd.

LONDON : LONDON:

PRINTED BOIS LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, BURST, REES, AND ORME,

PATERNOSTER-ROW, AND A. CONSTABLE AND CO. EDINBURGH; ROSTER-ROW, AND A. CONSTABLE AND CO. EDINBURGH ,

BY AND CO, EDINBURGH. BY JAMES BALLANTYNE AND CO. EDMIBUIWH.

1808. 1808.

Variant title pages of The Lay of the Last Minstrel, 8th edition, 1808. (The Scott Collection, University of Melbourne Library.) left: Poem 1; right: Poem 2. from page 15 other two the sheets of 98Ad. All have mented" issues of 14Aj (1808) (ordi- complicated by the fact that the two cancel title pages dated 1818 and are nary- and large-paper), and 14Am/n copies with an Oxford rule on the title without "First Series". At first sight this (1810) are further augmented issues page appear also to be from different is merely an instance of updating the (again ordinary- and large-paper). Here impressions of the sheets that they have title pages, but the two sets derived from all four Baillieu copies appear to be in common with 14Aj — that is, before 98Ad are on entirely different paper, intermediate between 14Ak/1 and the augmentation (in the added sheets "MANOR I M1816 I 5" or "MANOR I 14Am/n: they correspond with 14Ak/1 in they agree with 14Ak/1). Proof of a dif- M1817 I 6 [9]". The paper implies a sep- that they represent the first stage of aug- ferent impression lies in the record of arate impression, an implication at odds mentation, finishing with gathering y2 press figures: the two agree against with the uniformity of the press figures. and being dated 1808, but they all agree 14Aj in all but a handful of sheets (out Thus the Baillieu sets are clearly inter- with 14Am/n in having "BY JAMES of a total of 48), though predominantly mediate between 98Ac and 98Ae; less BALLANTYNE AND CO. EDIN- the figures are in the same page as in clear is their precise status. BURGH" as the last line of the imprint. 14Aj. Again the existence of an ideal Equally puzzling is the status of None of the title pages is obviously a description has allowed the divergencies copies of the eighth edition of The Lay cancel, though two agree with 14Aj/k/1 in the Baillieu copies to be recognised: of the Last Minstrel. In Todd/Bowden in having a plain rule after the eighth but once again their status is far from there are five forms of this edition, line and two with 14Am/n in having an clear. 14Aj-14An: 14Ak/1 (1808) are "aug- Oxford rule. The situation is further

16 THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE LIBRARY JOURNAL • 1999 A published bibliography determines As the survey of the collection pro- not only what a collection contains but ceeds it is likely that other items will be VALE ROBERT ELM also what it lacks. And in so doing it added to the desiderata list. Prices of The staff of the University of provides the owner with a list of Scott have increased substantially in the Melbourne Library were saddened to desiderata. At its simplest this process is past three decades or so, but with such hear of the death in July of Dr Robert straightforward: a work/edition/... is in an extensive initial collection a strong Illing, M.A., Mus.B.(Cantab), M.A. the collection or it is not. At another case can be made for actively seeking (Oxon), Ph.D.(Nottingham), level it establishes or clarifies, as items not held — at least items Ph.D.(Adelaide), A.R.C.O. already noted, the relationships between which are known to have (or, as with forms of a work, so that, for example, it Don Roderick, likely to have) textual This is a sad loss for the Library, may indicate — despite the claims of significance. although comfort will be taken in the the title page — that the sheets of such- knowledge that Dr Illing's life was and-such an "edition" are the same as Though progress on a "Melbourne long and full of music and scholar- those of another, and thus that there is supplement" is not, as yet, far advanced ship. As a contributor of note to the no need to acquire both unless absolute certain patterns are already emerging. University Library, Dr Illing will be bibliographical (as opposed to textual) Nothing is likely to be added to the remembered particularly by this insti- completeness is sought. That is, a bibli- Scott canon, but already — as the exam- tution for the gift of his collection, ography of the nature of Todd/Bowden ples discussed reveal — there will be a which he described as reflecting "the serves as an essential collection devel- number of additions to be made at the life of a general practitioner in opment tool. level of the issue or impression (and music". The Illing Collection is therefore requiring a separate entry in housed in the Baillieu Library and The new bibliography has thus Todd/Bowden). Also there will be contains a diversity of material served to clarify the status of the three numerous additions or modifications in relating to music and the musical life. Baillieu copies of the first edition of The the detail of entries, in, in particular, the It reflects Dr Illing's interest in early Vision of Don Roderick (1811) records of press figures and watermarks. (59Aa-59Ae). It is only now, with the music and includes some non-musical details laid out, that all three copies can Hence the Baillieu Scott collection, as a material and recordings of Rosamund be categorised as "First, Quarto Edition, result of the publication of the new bib- Illing, the opera singer and his Third Impression" (59Ae): this impres- liography, is adding to our knowledge of daughter. the output of the author; and with the sion differs from the earlier ones in Dr Illing published many books, publication of a Melbourne supplement having gatherings A–G reset and the and contributed a number of articles the basis will have been provided for remainder (H-0) re-imposed and re- to the University of Melbourne further exploitation of the collection. I impressed, during any of which pro- Library Journal. During his retire- cesses textual variation may have been ment Dr Illing was a weekly visitor to introduced. The comparison of the copy Brian McMullin was until recently Reader in the Library. He spent his time here in hand against the published descrip- Librarianship at Monash University, where he is now an Honorary Research Associate well, labelling and arranging the Illing tions has therefore identified an in the Centre for the Book. His review of Collection and cataloging it in five unrecognised gap in the collection, and the Todd/Bowden bibliography will appear volumes, as well as putting in good steps have already been taken to acquire in the Bibliographical Society of Australia order his studies of early music that and New Zealand Bulletin. a copy of 59Ab/c/d. form part of the collection. The cata- logue includes descriptions, such as those for the quartet of baroque NOTES instruments to be seen on the third 1. William Ruff, "A bibliography of the poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, 1796-1832", floor of the Baillieu Library; a gift of Edinburgh Bibliographical Society Transactions 1,1935-1938, pp. 99-240, pp. 279-81. Dr Illing and his wife. The University 2. Greville Worthington, A Bibliography of the (London: Constable, 1931). Library will miss Dr Illing's presence, 3. Nan Jaboor and B.J. McMullin, James Ballanlyne and Press Figures, With a Checklist of but will remember him always for his Volumes Printed by James Ballantyne (1803-1833), Melbourne, Ancora Press, 1994. generous gift. (Monash Occasional Papers in Librarianship, Recordkeeping and Bibliography, No. 4).

4. Orde Poynton, "Observations on the first edition of Waverley", The Private Library, 2nd series, 4,1971, pp. 85-92. 5. William Ruff, "Deceptions in the works of Scott; or, lying title-pages", in Alan Bell (ed.), Scott Bicentenary Essays: selected papers read at the Sir Walter Scott Bicentenary Conference. Edinburgh and London, Scottish Academic Press, 1973, pp. 176-87.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE LIBRARY JOURNAL • 1999 17