his "first essays, twenty years before, to introduce the engraving of writing, and overcome the ditticulty of making the graver come up nicely for the nature and freedom of the pen". (Only three of the twenty-five plates were from the original work.) A work which seems to have been a second issue of his first book, The Accomplished Clerk, or Accurate Penman, dedicated to his former teacher, Mr. Thomas Topham, and dated 25 April 1683. The last of these twenty-five specimens is a fine instance of the softness, delicacy, and ornamental beauty of the new Italian hand. The Tradesman's Copy Book, or Apprentice's Companion, showing Varieties of Receipts, Bills, &c. written in all the modish Running-hands now used, 20 pi. ob. 4to, 1687. The Youth's Introduction to Trade; an Exercise Book The Paul's School Round-hand, Strong Running-hand, and Mercantile Round-hand, engraved by Sturt, 1700. Alamode Secretarie, or Practical Penman, a Writing Book, also engraved by Sturt, 28 long 8vo pl. The Penman's Daily Practise, Shewing much Variety of Command of hand, which he calls "a cyfering book", 34 plates of alphabets and tables of arithmetic, engraved by Sturt (n.d.). The Writing Master, or Tutor to Penmanship, 50 large plates of all the Varieties of English Writing (n.d.). A Striking Copy Book, 14 plates of capital-letters. Materot Redivivus, the Italian Mr., Shewing the great Variety and beauty of the Italian hand, 1690. (Materot was the famous penman of Paris.) The grandest, however, of all his works was A Tutor to Penmanship or the Writing Master, which he dedicated to King William III in a most pompous and yet interesting address. It was in two parts, with 48 large obl. fol. plates. Engraved by John Sturt, who also puts forward a long and curious address. The preface is dated 15 Jan. 1697-8. Ayres's portrait was in this work, also in the Accomplished Clerk (No. 3 above); but in the British Museum copies these works from Sturt's graver are wanting. There are only five of these famous books of penmanship in our national collection. Ayres also published Arithmetic made Easie for the Use and Benefit of Tradesmen, 1693, dedicated to his former master, Sir William Ashurst, Knt. The second edition, "much corrected and enlarged", 1695, is in 12mo, 190 pp. There were many editions before and after his death;, the twelfth, published in 1714, has additional pages on bookkeeping by Charles Snell, his