Lady Grey begs to know whether Mr. Birch has got the "Collection of Sidney Letters,' and if he would care to lend them to Lady Mary Gregory to carry with her to Oxford. She sends to ask this favour, because Mr. Yorke's set is the large paper, and bound, which makes them not so convenient for packing; and Lady Mary will take great care of Mr. Birch's, if he has no objection to lending them. They are desired to be sent by the bearer, as she goes out of town to-morrow.

"Mr. Yorke desires to mention to Mr. Birch, that if the weather should be fine next week, and he could like an excursion out of London (when he has seen how beautiful the country looks in the ride he is to take with Mr. Charles), Mr. Yorke will be extremely glad to see him at Wrest."

“Tuesday Evening, March 23, 1762. "Lady Grey sends her compliments to Dr. Birch, and was sorry she had forgot last night to mention a request she was desirous to make to him. She wishes very much to get a girl admitted this year into the school at Christ's Hospital. It is one who is not a Freeman's child; and having seen, in the List of those who have the power of presenting at Easter, Mr. Josiah Colebrook's name, she recollected that Dr. Birch met him often, and would perhaps be so good as to ask whether his turn was not engaged, and if he would let Dr. Birch send him the name of the girl. She takes the liberty of sending a marked List of the Governors, that, if this application should not succeed, and Dr. Birch should see among them the name of any other person he could speak to, and would take the trouble, she would think herself greatly obliged to him; and it is indeed for an object of real compassion. She would not delay this request till she saw him again (having unluckily forgot yesterday till he was gone), being unwilling to delay it longer, as the time is but short." Saturday, June 30, 1764. Lady Grey sends her compliments to Dr. Birch, and would be very glad if he could call pretty soon in the evening to see Lord Hardwicke, who is very much alone, and in want of company. She hopes too he will be so good to come to him as often as he possibly can."

Thursday Morning.

"Lady Marchioness Grey would be glad to borrow Mrs. Macaulay's History of England, if Dr. Birch has got it at home, and can spare it."

"SIR,

Dr. BIRCH to Dr. DUCAREL.

Norfolk Street, Friday Morning, June 14, 1754. "I cannot recollect to have met with any account, either in print or manuscript, of the many different Progresses of Queen Elizabeth in her Kingdom; nor can I discover whether she was at Croydon after May 1574, during the remainder of the Life of Archbishop Parker, who died on the 17th of May of the following year, 1575. Strype takes no notice of any such visit of her Majesty. "Arch

Archbishop Grindall fell so soon under her displeasure, the very year after his translation from York to Canterbury, that it is probable that she never honoured him with any visit at Croydon. "His successor Whitgift, as we are informed by Sir George Paule in his Life of his Grace, p. 103, every year entertained the Queen at one of his houses so long as he was Archbishop, and some years twice or thrice;' and albeit, adds he, p. 112, 'the Archbishop had ever a great affection to lie at his mansionhouse at Croydon, for the sweetness of the place, especially in summer-time, whereby also he might sometimes retire himself from the multiplicity of businesses and suitors in the vacations; yet, after he had builded his Hospital and School, he was farther in love with the place than before. The chief comfort of repose or solace that he took, was often in dining at the Hospital among his poor brethren,' as he called them.'

"I am sorry that I am not able to give you any farther information on this subject; and am, with great regard and sincerity, your most obedient and most humble servant, T. BIRCH." "DEAR SIR, July 15, 1754.

"The pleasure which I have received from the perusal of your 'Tour through Normandy' is such, that I could wish the satisfaction more general than that of a few of your friends; and therefore hope you will pursue your resolution of committing it to the press. That Province of France of which you treat was formerly so nearly connected with our country, that this circumstance will excite a general curiosity, which your observations will fully gratify.

"I am now able to inform you of the reason of your not having yet heard from Mr. Hall, which is his indisposition; on account of which Dr. Forster told me on Saturday, that himself was to go for a month to Croydon to supply the place of Mr. Hall, who is to try what effect a change of air will have towards the recovery of his health. I am, with great regard and sincerity, dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant, THO. BIRCH."

DR. BIRCH to Mr. DA COSTA.

"DEAR SIR, Jan. 18, 1763. "Your religious profession may possibly be a prejudice to you with some persons; but ought not, I think, to discourage you from offering yourself a candidate* on the present occasion, since you have shewn yourself so useful a member of the Society, and are capable of doing great service to it in the office now vacant. The Council is expected to meet on Thursday next to prepare for Election at the Society, probably on the Thursday following. "I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, T. BIRCH." "Dr. Birch sends his compliments to Mr. Da Costa, and acquaints him, that he put his Memoirs of Dr. Hall into Mr. Collinson's hands above a month ago, who undertook to transmit them to Mr. Du Hamel.

For the office of Librarian in the Royal Society.

"With regard to Dr. Bradley, Dr. Birch soon after that gentleman's death applied to Professor Bliss and the executor of Dr. Bradley for Memoirs relating to him; and speaking again to the Professor just before the Society adjourned, that he had received no account yet of Dr. Bradley, he was answered, that such an account was, or would be sent to Dr. Morton, who never having mentioned the affair to Dr. Birch, the latter will leave the former to draw up what he pleases upon the subject for the use of the Secretary of the Academy of Sciences."

Letters to and from the Rev. Dr. PRIESTley.

To Mr. DA COSTA.

"DEAR SIR, Warrington, May 18, 1766. "At length I have the satisfaction of sending you the sample of Noah's Bacon, which I promised you. I am sorry that I have nothing else to send you at present; but a Friend of mine, who is an excellent Naturalist, has promised to be attentive to every thing that falls in his way in our part of the country, in order to send me specimens of whatever is curious. These, you may depend upon it, I shall transmit to you as they come to hand. In the mean time I am, with the greatest gratitude and respect, dear Sir, your obliged humble servant, J. PRIESTLEY.

"P. S. The gentlemen concerned in our Academy desire that I would return you their grateful acknowledgments for your very acceptable present of specimens of Emeralds. As the time of my Election* draws near, you will not be surprised that I am a little anxious on that account."

To the Rev. Dr. JOSEPH PRIESTLEY. "DEAR SIR, Royal Society's House, June 14, 1766. "I deferred returning you thanks for your greatly-esteemed of 18th of last month, and present of the bitumen found in Lancashire (vulgarly called there Noah's Bacon), which I received safe, till I could have the pleasure to transmit you notice of your Election into the Royal Society. It was on Thursday last and I congratulate you sincerely thereon, and wish you many years' health to enjoy the honour granted you by the Society, which has, I am persuaded, acquired in you a very valuable Member.

"I must now acquaint you of the method of your admission and payments. The payments are made in two ways; viz. 1, by paying five guineas admission, and signing a bond for the annual payment of 21. 12s. of contributions; or, 2, by paying down 25 guineas, and therefore not liable to sign a bond, or pay any future contributions; in short, in lieu of contributions. The latter way is the most eligible, and more agreeable to the Society when Gentlemen reside at a distance from London. Messrs. Canton and Price, who congratulate you on your Election, and the latter desired me to acquaint you he shall write to you soon,

As F. R. S.-See the next Letter.

advise you to pay the 25 guineas; and on your payment you have all the privileges of a Member-as, being inserted in the List of Fellows, having the Philosophical Transactions, &c.; and leave is granted and recorded for you to be admitted, and sign the Charter-book whenever your business calls you to London, even though it be many years after.

66

My respects attend the Gentlemen of the Academy; and assure them I shall always be ready to do any thing in my power to testify my esteem for them.

My compliments also attend Dr. Percival. I beg the favour of your answer how you design to act. I am, with great respect, dear Sir, your very obliged humble servant, E. M. DA COSTA." To Mr. E. M. DA COSTA.

"DEAR SIR, Warrington, June 21, 1766. "I am obliged to you for the notice you were so kind as to send me of the honour done me by the Royal Society, and for your advice about the most eligible method of defraying the necessary expences. Inclosed you will find a bill of twenty-five guineas, at as early a date I can procure for ready money. Please to deliver the receipt and Book of Rules to Mr. Johnson, bookselJer, who will wait upon you with this letter, and who will soon have an opportunity of transmitting them to me.

"I am glad that the specimen of Noah's Bacon was acceptable to you. Be assured that I shall omit no opportunity of doing you any service in my power.

"I am now wholly engaged in Electrical Experiments; and I flatter myself that my enquiries will appear not to have been wholly without success: but I am much at a loss for a Tourmalin. I am afraid I ask too great a favour, when I beg you would proeure me the use of one or two for a few weeks. They should be returned without any injury, and Mr. Johnson would take care of the conveyance. I am, with great respect, dear Sir, "Your most obliged humble servant, J. PRIESTLEY."

To the Rev. JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL. D. "REV. SIR, London, Jan. 4, 1768. "The inclosed anecdotes, concerning late Professor Van Muschenbroeck, I lately received from Holland (from Rev. Henrick Putman, Minister of the Dutch Church in Austin Fryars, F. R.S.); and are the result of my enquiries about him, which I made at your request.

"Pieter Van Muschenbroeck was born at Leyden, March 14, 1692, and took up his degree of Doctor in Physick and PhiFosophy at the sanie place; was made Professor of the same Sciences at Duisburg, anno 1719; of Philosophy and Mathematicks at Utrecht, anno 1723; and, lastly, of Philosophy and Mathematicks, anno 1740, at Leyden, where he died Sept. 19, 1761. His parents were Johannes Van Muschenbroeck, and Maria Vander Straeten his wife.

"At all times ready to your commands, I remain, Sir, E. M. DA COSTA." DODINGTON

Your very humble servant,

DODINGTON EGERTON*, Esq. to J. EDMONDSON, Esq. "SIR, Landford, near Salisbury, May 21, 1773. "In the inclosed I have sent you a copy of my Warrant‡ to the Privy Chamber, and likewise an abstract of the nature of the office, from The Present State of Great Britain §,' in which it appears to me we are entitled to the title of Honourable,' not as being called of the King's most Honourable Privy Chamber, for Members of Parliament are called of the Honourable House of Commons; but, relating to us, as it is said, that when Henry the Seventh established this Society of Gentlemen, he gave them the title of Honourable.' I asked an old Baronet belonging to us, who wrote me word he was of opinion we had a right to it. I should therefore be glad to have it confirmed by so able a person in his office (who determines those things) as yourself. I cannot see myself why we should drop the least honours belonging to us, as we have no salaries. Perhaps, by searching into the records of Henry the Seventh's time, in the Heralds' Office, you may be able to find out more relating to the privileges, &c. which would determine what the Esquires of the Bath want to know; and if you could accomplish, settle, and find out this, it would still add to the character you already have in your office as Herald. As to the Lord Chamberlain's, they know, I suppose, but little, as it is not of consequence to them, and therefore care little about it, but is most likely to be met with in the Heralds' Office, where it may have lain dormant a great while, and would be useful to be settled.

"I have another question to ask you, which I beg you to inform me of. In your little book of Precedency, after Knights Batchelors (which title I wish you would explain), the eldest sons of the younger sons of Peers rank; after them, Baronets' eldest sons. My father was a younger son of John Earl of Bridgewater. I had an elder brother, who has been dead some years; am therefore the only Representative of my Father now living; I therefore beg to know whether I have not the rank, as the eldest now, and only son of my Father, who was the younger son of a Peer.

"I should be glad to have a line upon this as soon as you conveniently can'; who am your most humble servant, D. EGERTON."

One of the Gentlemen of the King's Privy Chamber. He was the seventh and youngest son of the Hon. Charles Egerton, who was the youngest son of Charles fourth Earl of Bridgewater. He died at Bath, about the year 1797.

+ Mowbray Herald Extraordinary. See "Literary Anecdotes," III. 623. "These are to certify whom it may concern, that by virtue of a Warraut to me directed, from the Earl of Hertford, Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Household, I have sworn and admitted you into the place and quality of Gentleman of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Chamber in Ordinary, to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the said place, together with all the rights, profits, privileges, and advantages thereunto belonging, in as full and ample manner as any Gentleman of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Chamber doth or hath held and enjoyed, or of right ought to hold and enjoy the same. Given under my hand and seal, this 20th day of November, 1771, in the Twelfth year of his Majesty's Reign.

C. MAWHOOD, Gent. Usher of his Majesty's Privy Chamber." § This account may be seen, much more at large, in Mr. Pegge's very entertaining publication, intituled, "Curialia," Part II.