Street, Philadelphia, published a Prayer Book in 24mo with several engravings. The frontispiece is entitled, "Hagar and Ishmael." It is signed by S. S. E. Cowperthwait. The title page, excellently engraved, has in the centre the bowed form of Christ. The figure is small, but executed with great fidelity. It has the signature of D. W. Dodson. This artist was a native of Maryland, and was noted for engraving small plates with great skill. The other illustrations are, "Samuel," "St. John," and "Rachel," all by Cowperthwait. same plates, with the exception of the one used for the engraved title page, were repeated in a Prayer Book published by Thomas Wardle, of Philadelphia, in 1847.

The

A most extensive exhibition of wood engraving was embodied in the royal octavo Prayer Book published in New York in 1843. There are 776 pages, and 663 illustrations. These are in the form of initial letters, views of celebrated cathedrals, and copies of illustrious paintings. The engraver and publisher was Mr. H. W. Hewet.

During the last quarter of a century or more, Prayer Books of the American Episcopal Church have been published without engravings. It is difficult to say why the pictures have disappeared in these later years. As from time to time the number

of hymns published with the Prayer Books increased, there was the inconvenience of having the volumes become too large and unwieldy. This may have led to the discontinuance of the illustrations.

EDITIONS OF PRAYER BOOKS PRINTED IN

ENGLAND THAT ARE OF SPECIAL

INTEREST TO AMERICANS.

A PRAYER BOOK that had a short lived history, and that has nearly perished from the recollection of man, was associated with a distinguished American. This is an abridgment of the Prayer Book of the Church of England, made by Lord Le Dispenser and Benjamin Franklin. In the summer of 1773, Dr. Franklin spent several weeks at the country residence of his friend Le Dispenser, where he was engaged in abridging the the English Prayer Book. According to his own words the part which the American diplomat had in the abridgment related to "the Catechism, and the reading and singing Psalms." The book was published in the year 1773. The title page reads: "Abridgment of The Book of COMMON PRAYER, And Administration of the SACRAMENTS, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the CHURCH, According to the Use

OF

THE BOOK OF

Common Prayer,

And Administration of the

SACRAMENTS,

AND OTHER

Rites and Ceremonies

OF THE

CHURCH,

According to the Ufe of

The Church of England:

TOGETHER WITH THE

DAVID,

Pointed as they are to be fung or faid in Churches.

LONDON:

Printed in the Year MDCC LXXIII.

Fac-simile of the title page of the Franklin Prayer Book, printed at London in 1773. Size reduced.