Rev. Mr. HURD to Rev. Dr. BIRCH.

DEAR SIR, Thurcaston, Feb. 25, 1763. You will receive with this the small book you did me the favour to send me at the request of the Bp. of Gloucester, together with the collations of the MSS. in the Museum; for both which, but especially the last, I am greatly indebted to you. The Earl of Essex's Letter is slight upon the subject; but it was a pleasure to see any thing from his hand. The MSS. you were so obliging to collate for me are very much superior to the printed copy.

New books are so long in travelling to us in the country, that I have not yet seen your late Collection of the Bacon Papers. I am the more impatient for this pleasure, as I hear, on all hands, that it is extremely curious and useful. I heartily wish the long continuance of your health and life, that you may oblige us with still more of those valuable works, with which you have already so much enriched the English History.

Believe me to be, with great respect, reverend Sir, Your much obliged and most obedient servant, R. HURD.

LETTER LV.

Best To the Rev. Dr. BIRCH.

DEAR SIR, Prior Park, March 12, 1763. I have your favour of the 10th, and am obliged to you for your kind enquiries after my health. The bad accident that befel me* was attended with all the most favourable symptoms; and the broken bone seems now to be reasonably well united, though I am afraid it will be some time yet before I get the free use of that arm.

* A broken arm, from a fall in his garden.

My

My compliments to the Stewards; but, with my best dispositions to serve the Charity*, I certainly shall not be in London in May. To ask for a Preacher in London, is like asking for a Centinel in a German Town. Every corner will supply them.

I am much obliged to your friendship for the trouble I give you. All here are much at your service. No one any where more than, dear Sir, affectionate and faithful humble servant, W. GLOUCESTER.

Your very

LETTER LVI.

To the Rev. Dr. BIRCH.

DEAR SIR, Prior Park, April 18, 1763. I have your favour of the 16th. As to the tickets, I should be glad if you would give yourself the trouble of disposing of them as you see fit.

Lord Bute's abdication, just on the rising of the Session, is to us, who know nothing of the intrigues of the Court, a most mysterious thing. It is a phænomenon that seems to predict great changes. May the King and Constitution never suffer!

All here are much yours. No one any where more than, dear Sir, yonr very affectionate and faithful humble servant, W. GLOUCESTER.

P.S. I wish you would demand of Mr. Millar (for any of mine is at your service) the last Edition of my "Discourse of Grace;" for it is less imperfect

than the others.

DEAR SIR, Grosvenor-square, Oct. 25, 1763. I have taken the liberty you gave me, to inclose a memorandum of the things I would gladly be allowed

* Bp. Warburton was in this year one of the Stewards for the Sons of the Clergy.

the

the favour of having transcripts of; which when obtained, you will be so good as to employ a proper transcriber, whom I shall be careful to satisfy for his labour.

You must know I am a great Antiquary ; though I make no words of it; as half ashamed of my taste; like a man who has taken an odd fancy to an ugly mistress. I am, with true esteem, dear Sir, your most affectionate friend and faithful humble servant, W. GLOUCESTER.

DEAR SIR, Prior Park, June 16, 1765. Sir David Dalrymple is about publishing a new edition of Williams's tract of "The Holy Table, name and thing." He has desired me to procure him a transcript of some papers relating to that matter at Oxford and Cambridge, which I have wrote for. I see in his list of these things from the "Catalogus Librorum MSS. in Angliâ," fol. 1697, there is one article-Lib. MSS. Bibliothecæ Sloanensis, p. 107, 4132, a character of Bp. Williams. If you will be so good to get this transcribed for me, I shall very thankfully pay the expence. I am, dear Sir, your very affectionate and faithful humble servant, W. GLOUCESTER.

LETTER LIX.

To the Rev. Dr. BIRCH.

DEAR SIR,

Prior Park, Nov. 7, 1765. In a letter I received from Mr. Hurd, he told me he had the pleasure of dining with you the other day. He said, you had a purpose of quitting the Secretaryship of the Royal Society: if it be on account of ill health, I shall be extremely concerned; if it be

to preserve you from that misfortune, and continue you in good, I shall much applaud your resolution *: for I interest myself in your welfare both on your own account and the publick's, being, with the greatest esteem, dear Sir, your affectionate and faithful friend and humble servant, W. GLOUCESTER.

DR. HEBERDEN TO MR. BIRCH.

LETTER I.

To the Rev. Mr. BIRCH, Norfolk-street. DEAR SIR, [No date.] The Gentleman who brings this is Mr. Mason, the Author of "Musæus, a Monody on the death of Mr. Pope." He is of the same College with me, and I have a great esteem for him, which makes me very desirous of satisfying a curiosity that he has of seeing Dr. Mead's library and antiquities, &c. You will therefore oblige me in a particular manner by appointing any morning when it suits your conveniency, to introduce him to a breakfasting at the Doctor's. If any thing should make this inconvenient to you, pray be pleased to give him your letter dimissory to Mr. Bell or Dr. Slack, that he may not be disappointed of the pleasure which such a morning will give him. I have made all the enquiries I have been able after Albumazar, without any success. My humble service to Messrs. Yorkes and Wray. I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant, W. HEBERDEN.

* Dr. Birch died Jan. 9, 1766, only two months after the date of this Letter. It is evident, from the whole tenor of their correspondence, that Bp. Warburton retained a sincere regard for him to the last; and I regret the not being able to give some of Birch's answers to the Bishop's various enquiries after men and books, which must have contained many curious particulars.

LETTER

LETTER II.

To the Rev. Mr. BIRCH.

DEAR SIR,

Dorney, near Maidenhead, 11 o'clock, July 13, 1751.

I am forced, against my will, to stay here too long to have any hopes of dining with you in Cecil-street. It distresses me to the last degree, to think of having such friends at my house without being able to enjoy their company. Let me beg of you, dear Sir, to do the honours of my table, and excuse me to my worthy friends. By that time you have dined, I hope to be with you. I dare say that every thing will be taken such care of, that you will have nothing to do but to eat and drink, and see that our friends do so too. Ever yours, W. HEBERDen.

DR. ROBERT TAYLOR TO DR. BIRCH.

DEAR SIR, Albemarle-street, Oct. 27, 1757. I had the favour of your kind Letter, and am very much obliged to you for the trouble you have had on my account. As my enquiry related solely to Dr. Plumptre, I should be still more obliged to you if you could learn what honours he received at Frankfort? whether he had not a degree given him there? and a medal, and what else? But I beg you will not let this trifling affair interfere with your more important enquiries; especially as I do not wait for this information, but proceed as fast as my business will allow me in the other unfinished parts *. I am, with great truth, dear Sir, your most faithful and obliged servant, R. TAYLOR.

* Q. Of what work was this?-Dr. Robert Taylor delivered the Harveian Oration in 1755; and published it in 1756. See some brief notice of him before, p. 46. He was elected F. R. S. in 1737; and died May 15, 1762. † L 2

MR.