Letter from Dr. FOTHERGILL to Mr. GOUGH. "SIR, Queen's College, Oxford, Nov. 2, 1789. "Hearing that you have purchased certain writings relative to Queen's College in Oxford, found among the papers of the late Mr. Mores, I beg leave to inform you that those writings, being only a temporary trust in the hands of that gentleman, do in reality belong to the College. Of this you will be better able to judge when I tell you the case, which is this: Several years ago Mr. Mores was employed by the Society of Queen's to take an account of their ancient writings, copying some and epitomizing others, for their sole use and benefit; which he accordingly did; and afterwards begged leave to take the transcripts home with him, that he might have time to arrange them properly, and then return them. This leave was granted, though not without difficulty. But never after could we recover them out of his hands, though we often applied to him for them, and as often were promised, that they should be faithfully returned. Since his decease, the same application has been made to his son, but with no better success. What therefore, good Sir, we beg of you, is, that you will be pleased to restore the papers in question to the College, where alone they can be of any great use. And, be assured, we will repay the purchase money with pleasure, and ever gratefully acknowledge the favour you have done us. "I am, with all due respect, Sir,

"Your most obedient and very humble servant, THOMAS FOTHERGILL, Provost."

Mr. GOUGH to Dr. FOTHERGILL.

"REV. SIR, Enfield, Nov. 4, 1789. "In answer to your letter relating to Mr. Mores's Queen's College papers, purchased by me at the public auction of his Library *; give me leave to inform you, that they consist of nothing more than Lists of Admissions, Graduates, Fellows, &c. of that Society extracted by Mr. Mores, for his own private use in compiling his various Works. As they can serve only to adjust historical facts or dates, and cannot possibly affect the property or interests of your Society, I flatter myself it will not be considered as any disrespect to them or yourself, if I cannot comply with your request. If there were in Mr. Mores's custody any papers of a more interesting nature, they have certainly fallen into other hands.

"I am, with all due respect, Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

R. GOUGH."

*Of this purchase by much the greater portion, formed part of Mr. Gough's bequest to the Bodleian Library. See them under ROWE MORES, in Dr. Bandinel's well-digested Catalogue of that Collection, printed at Oxford in 1814.

571

Mr. GOUGH'S TOPOGRAPHICAL LIBRARY.

The final disposition of this very valuable Collection, as detailed in the preceding pages, is one of those singular events which prove the truth of a trite observation, that important events frequently arise out of circumstances apparently of little consequence. In the present case, it may be classed among the " Curiosities of Literature;" and I scruple not to preserve the following authentic documents; which shew that it was not till after some years had elapsed, and several applications had been made to the Trustees of the British Museum, that the arrangement* was completed.

1. To the Rev. SAMUEL HARPER, at the British Museum. DEAR SIR, Enfield, Sept. 27, 1799. Being desirous that the many capital Plates which have been engraved at my expence for the "Sepulchral Monuments of Great Britain†," and other Works, might be deposited at a place of safety, it has occurred to me that no place deserves that character so well as the British Museum. I take this opportunity to ask you, whether it would be agreeable to the Trustees to permit them to be deposited in a wooden box, the key of which shall remain in my hands during my life, and of any other person or persons whom I shall appoint to the charge and use of said Plates after my decease. The size and shape of such box would not render it unfit to stand in any room of the house where there is a constant fire, a circumstance essential to the good preservation of these Plates. An answer at convenience will oblige, R. GOUGH."

"Your faithful servant,

2. Mr. HARPER to Mr. GOUGH.

"DEAR SIR, October 2, 1799. Upon reading your Letter to a Committee of our Trustees, who met here yesterday, I had orders from them to inform you that it is inconsistent with the rules of this Institution to take charge of your Plates upon the conditions mentioned in your letter. I am, dear Sir,

Your very respectful and obedient servant,

S. HARPER."

* The causes of this arrangement may be discovered in the Letters in

pp. 552, 553; combined with these in pp. 574-576.

+ Of the great value of these plates, see before, p. 557.

3. Mr. GOUGH to Dr. PORTEUs, Bishop of London. "MY LORD, Enfield, April 17, 1801. "I take the liberty of addressing myself to your Lordship as a Trustee of the British Museum, to remove an objection to the making any bequest or donation to that great National Depôt of Literature, and to inform me whether the Trustees have or wish to have any authority to admit any Plates, or other materials of Literary Works, whose Authors may wish to lodge them there as in a place of security, subject to a power of reclaiming them for any future edition of such works by themselves or their representatives properly authorised by them. Such a measure appears likely to be useful to the publick at large and to myself as an individual. I forbear to say more on the subject till I am favoured with your Lordship's opinion, and that of Lord Spencer, to whom I have also submitted the idea.

"I am, with due respect,

"Your Lordship's obedient humble servant,

R. GOUGH."

4. Mr. GOUGH to Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart. "DEAR SIR,

Enfield, April 17, 1801. "I address myself to you, as a Trustee of the British Museum, for your opinion, whether it be agreeable to the institution of your noble Repository to become the depository of any set or sets of Plates, subject to the property of the Author or Editor to whose work they belong, during his own life or the lives of the parties to whom he may transfer them. When I consider how many valuable articles in Literature have been lost in the revolutions of property for the want of a fixed and permanent receptacle, I am led to wish the few I am possessed of might find as secure a port as the nature of human events admit of. Such a degree of certainty would be an inducement to save still more articles from the common wreck for the use of the publick. But while I profess to reserve no interest in my own bequest, there are some which are committed to me only in trust, and over which no one but the respective owners can clain an inherent right. I persuade myself you will not ascribe the ground of this application to you to vanity in one who professes to labour in the great harvest of Literature on the most disinterested motives; and is happy in this opportuuity of subscribing himself "Your faithful servant,

R. GOUGH."

5. Mr. GOUGH to the Right Hon. Earl SPENCer. "MY LORD, Enfield, April 17, 1801. "The idea which I suggested to your Lordship in Payne's shop the other day respecting the making the British Museum an occasional depôt of MSS. interleaved copies of books, and copper plates, subject to the controul and use of their authors during their life, and lives of such persons as they might empower

to use them for the re-publication of such works, I have now the honour of submitting to you in writing, as you then desired, with a view to its being laid before a Committee.

"It is proposed then that when any large National Work has from time to time received from its Authors or Editors considerable additions with a view to a new edition, such copy, with all its appurtenances of MSS. notes, drawings, and plates, be deposited in the British Museum as in a place of security, for the benefit of those who may be authorized to make such first use of them, and in failure of such use to become the property of the Museum for ever; the expence to fall on the Proprietor; and the Officers of the Museum to have no further trouble than on a proper application by an order signed by the Committee or principal Librarian, to deliver to the Proprietors such Part or Parts, Plate or Plates, &c. as may from time to time be wanted.

"Such deposits and applications are not likely to be very frequent, and to what purpose can this great National Repository of Literature be better applied. Should it be thought that the Trustees have not at present authority to comply with this suggestion, it would be very easy to get a clause inserted in any Act of Parliament relative to the arrangement of Public Records. I forbear to take up more of your Lordship's time, but submit to you, in a confidence that your acquaintance with these rules, and your taste in Literature, will not see any unreasonable objections to the proposal. I am, with due respect, your Lordship's obedient humble servant, R. GOUGH."

"SIR,

6. Earl SPENCER to Mr. GOUGH.

Bath, April 21, 1801.

"I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, particularizing your proposal for depositing MSS. &c. under certain conditions, in the British Museum.

"Soon after I had the pleasure of seeing you in Payne's shop, there happened to be a meeting of the Trustees of that Establishment, at which I attended, and mentioned what had passed between us. I found that it was the general opinion of the Trustees then present, that, according to the present regulations, such a proposal could not be admitted; and there seemed to be an objection of some weight against altering the regulations in this respect from the probability that receiving these deposits would occupy more space than we are in possession of, and would be attended with so much additional trouble to the Officers of the Museum, as to make an addition to their number *, and consequent increase of their expence necessary, which, in the present state of the funds appropriated to the support of this Establishment, could not be well afforded.

"These were, as I collected, the grounds on which your former proposal to deposit the papers belonging to your great

* See the note † in p. 574.

work was declined *; and I have every reason to suppose that these grounds would continue to operate in preventing the Trustees from acceding to any similar proposal if made to them. "I am, Sir, your very obedient humble servant, SPENCER."

7. Mr. GOUGH to Earl Spencer.

"MY LORD, April 23, 1801. "The objection, stated in your Lordship's Letter, from the Trustees of the British Museum to the deposit proposed for want of room, seems to operate so strongly against donations of any kind to that collection, that much as I may wish to add any from my stock, I feel a difficulty on which it is expedient to consult with the Trustees, whether they can take any number of Books and MSS., and allot to them a room, or part of a room, on the first floor, where they may be kept by themselves, and remain inviolate and not subject to sale as duplicates. Perhaps it might be impertinent to ask whether a fund for expences incidental to such an offer, or an Officer to tåke care of them, would be acceptablet.

Not to take up too much of your Lordship's time in this gratification of personal vanity, I have the honour to subscribe myself "Your Lordship's obedient servant,

R. GOUGH."

8. The Rev. WILLIAM BELOE to Mr. GOUGH. "DEAR SIR, British Museum, Jan. 18, 1804. "I will consult with Mr. Planta on the subject of your obliging Note, and will then write to Mr. Basire, and fix a time for seeing him at this place.

"I remain, dear Sir, very truly yours,

WILLIAM BELOE."

9. "DEAR SIR, British Museum, Jan. 19, 1804. "I have communicated with Mr. Planta on the subject of your letter. He desires me to inform you that the Officers cannot of themselves allow any thing to be removed from the Museum when once deposited there. This, however, seems to be attended with no difficulty. The Committee meet once in every month, and an application for the use of one or more of the Plates will receive immediate attention; of this there are various precedents. I shall be happy, therefore, to see Mr. Basire at the Museum on Wednesday or Thursday next.

"I remain, dear Sir, your much obliged,

* See before, p. 571.

WILLIAM BELOE."

+ Mr. Gough would have provided a fund sufficient for the express purpose, of paying an annual salary of £100 to an Assistant Librarian.

This Note does not appear; but the purport of it is circumstantially detailed in the Letter of Feb. 21, in p. 573.