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Such were the intrinsic merits of the document； in addition to which； sober
Time lent his aid to enhance its value； and capricious Fortune added a
peculiar charm of mystery； which few papers of the kind could claim to
the same extent。 The appearance also of this interesting paper was always
admitted to be entirely worthy of its fame。 The hand… writing fully carried
out the idea of extreme debility and agitation corresponding with its nature；
while a larger and a lesser blot bore painful testimony to that recklessness
of propriety which a starving man might be supposed to feel； one corner
had been ruthlessly abstracted at the time it was seen by the writer of this
notice； and with it the last figures of the date； a considerable rent crossed
the 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
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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。
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｛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
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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