72. "DEAR SIR, Oxford, Nov. 12, 1805. "I have the pleasure of your letter by Mr. Vincent, and am happy to have it in my power to tell you that the fate of the new room was determined last Friday (the 8th of November) when the Curators (the Vice-Chancellor, two Proctors, and all the Royal Professors) met in the Library for that purpose. At present we shall look upon it as the Antiquarian Repository, and shortly place therein Dodsworth's MSS. Bishop Tanner's, Browne Willis's, Carte's, Clarendon's, Wood, Leland, Jones, Barlow, Ballard's, the Northampton Collection, and as many of Dr. Rawlinson's as relate to History and Antiquities, &c. If any thing should occur to you with respect to the arrangement of these, and others that may be added hereafter, I could wish to know it, when it is convenient and agreeable to you. "I have been, almost ever since I had the pleasure of seeing you here, much harassed by illness and unpleasant anxiety; but, thank God, I feel myself now much relieved, and hope soon to be able to attend as usual to my duty in the Library. every good wish for you, "I am, dear Sir, very sincerely yours, With J. PRICE." 73. The Rev. JOHN GUTCH to Mr. GoUGH. "DEAR SIR, Oxford, April 5, 1806. "The latter end of last term, the University in a Convocation accepted Sir Roger Newdigate's offer of placing our statues and inscriptions in the Radcliffe Library at his own expence; towards which he deposited in the hands of the Vice-Chancellor immediately £2000. And the Ratcliffe Trustees have resolved to allow a sum, not exceeding £100, for a keeper of them, in the appointment of the Vice-chancellor for the time being, and removable at his pleasure. The plan met with great opposition, as Mr. Archdeacon Churton will no doubt inform you. "Rawlinson's, Willis's, and Tanner's MSS. &c. are at last removed into the New Repository in the Bodleian. "Sir Roger Newdigate has lately given twenty guineas for a prize composition in verse, on the remains of ancient sculpture, &c. to be spoken in the theatre. This will make the fourth composition that is to be recited there. J. GUTCH." 74. Mr. GUTCH to Mr. NICHOLS. "DEAR SIR, Oxford, March 8, 1809. "The 23d of last month I had a letter from Mr. James Hall, of about three lines, acquainting me that Mr. Gough died the Monday preceding. Saturday last I received another letter from Mr. Hall, informing me that he was one of Mr. Gough's Executors, and that there was a bequest to me and my children of a share of his fortune, after Mrs. Gough's death; and that he should with great pleasure give me further particulars at a proper opportunity. Mr. Gough always shewed great kindness to my Family; but this last testimony of his regard has been much beyond our expectations. "In my answer to this letter I told Mr. Hall that Mr. Price was very anxious to know how the books were disposed of, and hopes there was no impropriety in my making such an enquiry of him. And this morning I had a third letter; saying the Saxon Literature, the MSS. and plates relating to British Topography, and his printed works, were bequeathed to the Bodleian Library, and that you had kindly undertaken the office of assisting the Executors in making the selection; and that a copy of the bequest would be sent by the same post to the ViceChancellor, which arrived this morning. "There is one book that I am particularly anxious to hear of, which I have been told Mr. Gough purchased at the sale of Dr. Stinton's books in London-Wood's History of the Colleges in this University *, with many MS. notes and additions; and if it should come to the Bodleian, I shall be much gratified, as it would be very useful for another edition. J. GUTCH." 75. Mr. NICHOLS to the Rev. Dr. PARSONS, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford +. Red Lion-passage, Fleet-street, "REV. SIR, "In compliance with the request of my late worthy Friend Mr. Gough, I have twice been at Enfield to consult with his Executors on the most eligible plan for selecting and transmitting his noble Legacy to the Bodleian Library. The Volumes of Prints are very large and numerous; but will not be difficult to select, as they are too conspicuous to be intermixed with other articles. The Topographical books also will be distinctly ascertained, though not very speedily, as the library overflows both with that and every other class of literature. There is, however, a printed Catalogue of the Topography, which will ultimately be a correct guide. Unluckily there is only a single copy of the Catalogue, the impression having been consumed by fire. "What we propose, if it meets with your approbation, is to begin, in about a week or ten days, to fill three or four stout packing-cases with such parts of the books and prints as can be first ascertained; and whilst these are on the road, to be looking out another such assortment to fill the boxes again when they are returned emptied for that purpose; and so to continue till all are sent. And I will beg the favour of you to inform me by * See the article WooD in the Bodleian Catalogue. + Afterwards Bishop of Peterborough, of whom more hereafter, p.561. what conveyance from London to Oxford you think it would be the most safe that they should be sent. "Several of the books will need the binder's aid; as some of them are so enlarged by additional prints and loose manuscripts or printed additions, that they are swelled to nearly double their original size. "The plates of the Sepulchral Monuments are in the hands of Mr. James Basire, Quality-court, Chancery-lane, who will obey your orders concerning them. Perhaps you may think it right to direct a few impressions of each to be struck off, or, if they remain in town, to have them insured. These plates alone are worth two or three thousand pounds. "I have the honour to be, with much respect, Rev. Sir, 'Your very obedient servant, 76. Dr. PARSONS to Mr. NICHOLS. J. NICHOLS." "SIR, Balliol College, May 3, 1809. "I had the honour to receive your obliging letter of April 29, on the subject of the late Mr. Gough's very valuable bequest to the Univereity. 'The mode which you suggest as the most convenient for transmitting the books to Oxford-namely, that of filling three or four stout packing cases with such articles as can be most readily selected, and then, on receiving the cases back again, continuing to proceed in the same way till the business shall be finished-seems to me clearly the best and least troublesome both to the Bodleian librarian and to yourself. "I am inclined to think that the best waggon, by which to send a treasure of such importance, will be that of Medwin and Co. from the Oxford Arms, Warwick-lane. I have, therefore, taken the liberty of inclosing his card for your fuller information on the subject; and I shall send for Mr. Medwin and give him a very special charge to take care of the cases and transmit them regularly to and from Oxford without delay. You will have the goodness to address them to the Rev. John Price, Bodleian Library, Oxford; and it will be adding greatly to the obligations we owe you, if you will favour him with a line, informing him on what day the first assortment of cases is sent off, and of what number it consists. You will be pleased also to inform him how he must direct the empty cases, on returning them to be filled again*. "On the subject of the platest, I shall think it right to take * By the conveyance thus adopted the whole of Mr. Gough's valuable bequest was safely and speedily conveyed to its destination; and I had soon after the satisfaction of receiving personally the thanks of the ViceChancellor, and all the acting executors for the share which I had taken in their transmittal. The plates of the Sepulchral Monuments, it is well known, are nu the opinion of the other Curators of the Library, with as little delay as may be; and I will then give the necessary instructions to Mr. Basire. "Mr. Price thinks that it will be better to put the books with loose prints, notes, &c. into the binder's hands after they shall have been sent to Oxford, if you will be kind enough to cause them to be tied up for the present, so as to prevent the danger of loose papers, &c. dropping out. "And now, Sir, allow me, in the name of the University, to return you our most sincere thanks for the good office which you have so obligingly undertaken to perform for us, at the request of our generous Benefactor, your deceased Friend. "I remain, Sir, very truly, your most faithful and obedient servant, J. PARSONS, Vice-Chancellor." 77. Mr. PRICE to Mr. NICHOLS. "DEAR SIR, Bodleian Library, June 3, 1809. "I received yesterday four boxes (Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11) all perfectly safe and well filled. The articles, in your catalogue of them, are all here except Wallis's Scilly and one or two more, which I have not yet discovered, but of no material consequence, suppose. I am much gratified even by the fragments of my old friend's catalogue, and very sensibly regret the loss of the remainder. However, I must beg your acceptance of my best thanks, the only acknowledgments I have to make, for your very kind and obliging attention to our Library. Ι "I remain with great esteem and respect, Dear Sir, "Your very sincere and obedient servant, J. PRICE." 78. "DEAR SIR, Oxford, July 11, 1809. "I had the favour of your letter last week, and since have received four boxes, marked 18, 22, 23, 24, which have been returned as usual. No. 18 came on Friday and was sent back the next day; the three last numbers came on Monday, and were taken away by the carrier last night. Nos. 19, 20, and 21 did not appear upon the boxes, but by your letter and memorandum were not to be expected: however, the list that came with the boxes contains, I believe, an account of all that was in them. merous and beautiful; and the portraits from Westminster Abbey in particular are remarkably fine. As the original impression of that noble specimen of Mr. Gough's liberality of spirit was limited to 250 copies, of which the prime cost exceeded all possibility of remuneration, it is earnestly to be hoped that the publick may be favoured with a new edition from the author's corrected copy of it, now in the Bodleian library, where it is accompanied by a large and valuable collection of original drawings of unpublished Monumental Remains, by artists of the first eminence, employed by Mr. Gough for that express purpose. "Permit me to request your acceptance of my best thanks for your very obliging attention to our late worthy friend's noble memorial of his kind affection to the Bodleian Library. I trust the University will ever gratefully remember it, and in due time acknowledge it to you. I am, with very great regard and truth, dear Sir, your very faithful friend and servant, J. PRICE." Oxford, May 3, 1811. 79. The Rev. Dr. JOHN COLE* to Mr. NICHOLS. "SIR, "I am desired to beg that you will accept the best thanks of the Delegates of the Press for the offer which you have made to the University of Vertue's Great Seals †, and the few other plates which you mention. They are ready to accept the corrected copy and plates of the 'British Topography,' upon the terms on which you express your readiness to send them to Oxford ‡. "The articles which you mention as sent down and not falling in with Mr. Gough's request, shall certainly be selected and returned when they are met with in the looking over of the books. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, "JOHN COLE, Vice-Chancellor." 80. Mr. NICHOLS to Dr. COLE. 1811. "REV. SIR, Red Lion-passage, Fleet-street, May "I am to acknowledge the favour of your letter of the 3d, inst. and am very much obliged by the kind manner in which you were pleased to convey to me the thanks of the Delegates of the Press, and their readiness to accept the British Topography' on the terms I took the liberty to submit. In return, I can only say that, if at any future time it should be determined to print *Of whom see bereafter, p. 568. 6 These plates had been purchased by Mr. Gough and Mr. Nichols at their joint expence; but were sent to Oxford without any claim on them by Mr. Nichols. By his last will Mr. Gough had bequeathed, inter alia, to the Bodleian Library his copy of the "British Topography," prepared for a third edition, together with the copper-plates (see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. p. 329); but subsequently, much wishing to see a new edition of the work, and not finding any bookseller willing to undertake the risque of it, he entered in 1806 into a contract with Mr. Nichols, who undertook to print it in three volumes, on condition of Mr. Gough's paying him 100l. at the commencement of each volume as a compensation for the expected additional charge of the Author's CORRECTIONS in the proof-sheets. On these terms a considerable part of the first volume was actually printed and the second volume was begun; for which Mr. Gough had paid 100%.; and his executors subsequently paid the second hundred. Unfortunately, the whole impression was burnt in February 1808; and the then state of Mr. Gough's health prevented the renewal of the work. The Curators of the Bodleian Library handsomely agreeing to pay the remaining 100%, the interleaved copy and the copper-plates were forwarded to Oxford. |