"Soho Square, July 12, 1789. Sir Joseph Banks presents his compliments to Mr. Gough, and returns his best thanks for his valuable and acceptable present [Camden's Britannia]; which he shall highly value as a memorial of the Author's friendship." "DEAR SIR, Saturday, Dec. 19, 1789. "I am particularly obliged to you for the valuable addition you have made to my Topography of Lincolnshire, by the Plates of the Sepulchral Monuments you were so good as to send yesterday, but I fear I must be still importunate, as I have either omitted to state, or you have happened to overlook my wish for crosses opposite p. cviii. plate 1, which contains a cross at Long Sutton; and ditto, plate 4, which has one at Norton Disney, instead of which I have plate 2, in which I do not know of any Lincolnshire cross.

"I shall wait with patience for Bishop Gravesande, and in the mean time, if any thing can be gleaned from my imperfect lucubrations likely to be valuable to any part of your intended publications, I shall have the greatest pleasure in shewing my sense of your civilities by communicating it. I am, &c. Jos. BANKS."

To Mr. Deputy NICHOLS.

"Soho Square, Dec. 28, 1791. "Sir Joseph Banks presents his compliments to Mr. Nichols, and returns him many thanks for the beautiful impression of Threekingham Church he was so good as to send last night.

"Lest Mr. Nichols should not be fully apprised of the circumstance, Sir Joseph takes this opportunity of acquainting him that, when the Council of the Royal Society determined to change their Printer, it was repeatedly declared, that no cause of dissatisfaction then existed between the Society and Mr. Nichols. Consequently the only reason for the change was a preference to the new mode of Printing, which no one but Mr. Bulmer* can execute.” "SIR, Dec. 30, 1791.

"Till this Summer I always believed that Belvoir was in Leicestershire, and consequently never collected information concerning it, conceiving the County of Lincoln a field amply sufficient to occupy the whole of the leisure time I could spare for the study of Antiquities.

"In the beginning of November last I had occasion to visit the Castle on business relative to a Canal intended to be carried from Grantham to the Trent; when, among other things, 1 learned from Mr. King, the Duke's Agent, that Belvoir, and

* Mr. Bulmer has the credit of first bringing into extensive use what is technichally called Fine Printing; which had been previously carried on in Paris by the celebrated Didot; at Birmingham by Baskerville; and still earlier in London (on a small scale) by Dryden Leach (see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VII. p. 224.)-It consists in new Types, excellent Ink, improved Printing Presses, a sufficient time allowed to the Pressmen for extraordinary attention, and last, not least, an inclination in the Employer to pay a considerably advanced price.-Mr. Bulmer's example was successfully followed by Mr. Bensley; and Fine Printing is now beautifully performed by every Printer of respectability in the United Empire.

its immediate domain, is entirely in Lincolnshire *, which, be assured me, appeared clearly to be the case from the Register of the Monastery † at present in his possession. I had not time, being in company with gentlemen who were earnest in the pursuit of the business we were engaged in, to enquire particulars; but I have no doubt that Mr. King will, if you write to him, and tell him the reason you wish for information, is that you are engaged in the laudable pursuit of making public the Antiquities of Leicestershire, give you full information on the subject. I am, &c. Jos. BANKS." Soho Square, July 11, 1795.

"SIR,

"It is now a considerable time, more than a year I believe, since I sent to you, by Mr. Marsden, a Latin paper on the subject of the Cayu upas, or poisonous tree, of the East Indies, with my consent for its publication in your Magazine, if you chose to make use of it. Sir George Staunton, who sent me the paper from Boteire, has requested it to be returned to him; and I shall therefore be much obliged if you can lay your hands upon it, and will send it back to me. Jos. BANKS."

"July 19. Sir Joseph having been informed that Mr. Nichols has a very good Collection of old Newspapers, will be much obliged, if he has the Craftsman, if he will lend him the months of March and July 1728.-Sir Joseph feels himself much obliged to Mr. Nichols, for recovering the paper he enquired after, which he has received safe, and forwarded to Sir George Staunton."

TO RICHARD GOUGH, Esq.

"MY DEAR SIR, Soho Square, March 25, 1797. "I have, as I believe you know, been engaged for more than ten years in collecting all maps, prints, and engraved portraits, that have any near reference to the County of Lincoln. It is now become a valuable mass of materials, which will be of use if either myself or any other person should undertake a History of the County. When you published the first volume of your Sepulchral Monuments, you were so good to me as to allow me to have impressions of such prints in it as related to Lincolnshire, a favour for which I felt myself not a little obliged, and which has added no inconsiderable portion to the value of my Collection.

"In your present volume I find a large proportion of the same sort very interesting to me, particularly Tettershall. I am therefore, Sir, once more your suitor, and shall think myself not a little obliged if you will again indulge me with copies of such Prints as relate to Lincolnshire. Believe me, Sir, with regard and esteem, your obliged humble servant, Jos. BANKS."

The antient site of Belvoir Castle is in Leicestershire; but the noble domain which surrounds it extends far both into the Counties of Lincoln and Nottingham. See the "History of Leicestershire,” vol. II. p. 22. + From the then minority of the present Duke of Rutland, I was not able to obtain a sight of this antient Register.-The same cause deprived the " History of Leicestershire" of Plates from the fine monuments of bis Grace's more immediate ancestors the eight first Earls. Those of the more remote Worthies were engraved at my own expence. Το

To Mr. Deputy NICHOLS.

"SIR, Soho Square, April 21, 1797. Having occasion to enquire into some particulars relative to Edward Marquis of Worcester, I applied, among other authorities, to your Magazine, where I found his Scentlings re-printed, and at last, in the 54th volume, part I. a reference in the Index to a place where particulars of him were to be found, exactly the thing I was in search of. The pages referred to, however, gave me no satisfaction; there is, therefore, some error in the reference. If you, Sir, are acquainted with it, and can instruct me where to refer to for the true reference *, you will oblige

"Your humble servant,

Jos. BANKS."

F. A. BARNARD, Esq. to Mr. GOUGH.

"DEAR SIR, St. James's, Aug. 10, 1786. "I am desired to procure some information respecting the time when Privileges were first annexed to Books printed in England, Scotland, and Ireland; and I shall esteem it a particular favour if you will permit me to state the queries to you, and request your opinion respecting them. What was the first book printed with the Privilege either of the King or Parliainent? Palmer mentions a Privilege for the first time to Henry the Eighth's Book against Luther, printed in 1521. Were there no Books printed in England before that year with a Privilege? The Psalter, printed by order of Henry the Eighth, in 1504, by William Fanque has not that Book a Privilege? has not any printed by Julian Notary, or Henry Pepwel? If any Books were printed with a Privilege before 1521, a notice of them is requested; and it is also desired to have the notice of any Books printed with a Privilege in either Scotland or Ireland before that year. It is also enquired whether in the 15th and 16th centuries the year began in England the 1st of January, or at Easter; and what proofs there are of its beginning at Easter; and when the custom of reckoning from the 1st of January was first introduced. I hope you will excuse the liberty of troubling you with these inquiries. It is the consequence of your having much more knowledge in these matters than any other literary gentleman, and being always ready to oblige those who apply for information.

"This letter being sent from my Office in the Custom-house, will be free of postage, and the answer directed to me at the Custom-house, will have the same advantage.

"I am, with great regard, &c.

FRED. BARNARD."

* Answer: The reference is right. See vol. LIV. p. 264.

+ Frederick Augustus Barnard, Esq. F. S. A. 1789; F. R. S. 1790; and many years Librarian and Keeper of the Medals, Drawings, &c. in the Royal Library, under the late King, and since to his present Majesty.

The Office of the Examiners of the Out Port Books.

Dr.

Dr. JOHN BARNARDISTON✶ to Mr. GOUGH. "DEAR SIR, Bene't College, Sept. 28, 1754. "Our scene begins to open. The Fair has brought some people back to Cambridge; and of those who are not the happy Members of this place, there have been many who came to partake of the diversions of the season, though the most dull and insipid of their kind. Cott† and I have had company with us all this week; and should have been very glad of your company, if it could have so happened, to be of our party. Cott has exerted his genius on the occasion, and has acted the part of the master of a family with great success, so polite and so entirely well bred, that nothing ever was like it. Yours most sincerely, J. B." "DEAR SIR, Nov. 3, 1754.

"I imagined we should have had the pleasure of seeing you in College before this time; and, had that been the case, we should have begun Lectures on Monday; but I find by Kerrich that you stay for a summons. When it is agreeable therefore for you to leave Enfield, we shall be extremely glad of your company. Yours most sincerely,

"DEAR Sir,

J. B." March 20, 1755.

"I received yours by Mr. Cott, though not so soon as I expected it; for, if I remember right, you gave me some hopes of hearing from you; and to a man of your punctuality and exactness, a most distant insinuation upon such a subject amounts nearly to an absolute promise. I am glad to hear you have been to pay your devoirs to Mr. Garrick; it will give you an opportunity of checking our stage criticks, when, through the redundancy of their eulogiums, they sometimes are apt to pass the bounds of truth. What will you say when I tell you that I send you this as a challenge to you, to return hither with me the week after Easter? You must know then, that I intend coming to London on Easter Monday, and spending a part of the following week in Town. I shall take up my quarters at my Brother Constable's in 'Change Alley; and shall return in the Fly, which will be made more agreeable by your company. We did expect his Grace of Newcastle here in Easter week, to lay the first stone of our new Building; but he sent yesterday to the Vice-chancellor, to let him know he could not come so soon. I suppose these wars and rumours of wars hinder his Grace from leaving town.

"We go on here as usual. Particular regard has been paid to your volumes; and the Caliph, Grand Vizier, and the Sultaness Scheherizade, all desire their best respects. Yours, &c. J. B." Bene't College, April 14, 1759. "I should sooner have acknowledged your obliging letter; but, was willing to stay till I had been down to Fulmodeston, to take

"DEAR SIR,

* Tutor of Bene't College, Cambridge, when Mr. Gough was a Student there, and subsequently Master of that College. He published a Sermon preached before the House of Commons, Jan. 30, 1766. See the “Literary Anecdotes," vol. VII. pp. 22. 509.

The Rev. John Cott, B. D. Mr. Gough's Private Tutor. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. p. 267; and vol. VII. pp. 96. 543.

possession

possession, and was enabled to give you some account of the premises. I found an handsome, or rather, considering it is a Norfolk parsonage, a magnificent house, well-built of brick, and well tiled, all in good repair. There are seven windows in front. On the ground floor I have a large hall, two parlours, a kitchen, a back-house, as they call it, and good brewhouse. Over these are three handsome chambers, two middling ones, and a study. Up two pair of stairs there are four good garrets. Thus much for my mansion. Before my house there is an handsome courtyard, or rather garden, walled in on the sides, and white palisades towards the street. The gravel walk from the hall door to the palisades is somewhat longer than our long walk in the College garden. The main garden runs the length of this courtyard and house, parallel to it, and consists of somewhat more than an acre of ground. There is in one part of my garden an island, the surface of which is covered with strawberries. I need not, I suppose, tell you that I immediately called it Strawberry Island. On the other side of my house and court-yard, is my farmyard, in which there is a noble Parson's barn, built of brick, two stables, one for two horses only, the other new built last summer, for eight horses; these are also built of brick. The tithes and glebe are let for somewhat more than two hundred pounds a year; and I am informed are very improveable.

"Thus, I think, I have given you an ample description of my situation; and must farther add, that I don't know any one circumstance that would give me more real pleasure, or any one person whom I should be more glad to see there than yourself.

"You have promised me a visit, and I shall depend upon it. I shall leave College about this time twelvemonth, and fix there for life; and the sooner I see you there after I am fixed, the more I shall feel myself obliged to you.

"Most sincerely yours, "DEAR SIR,

J. BARNARDISTON."
May 22, 1760.

"I left Cambridge on the 17th of April, and reached this place the next day, where I received yours of the 25th. I am much pleased with the thoughts of seeing you here, and whenever it suits your convenience, I shall be extremely glad of your company; you will favour me with a line with your time of coming, that I may not be absent from hence, when you intend me the favour. I would not have you conclude from hence that I intend to become a great gossip, and go much from home; but the case is, that two of my old College friends, about my own standing in the University, Dr. Hammond and Mr. Dowsing, are settled in this County; the one about twelve, the other the distance of twenty miles from me, and we have agreed, when we visit, to make a Parson's visit, from Monday to Saturday.

"I am very sure that you will like this place. It is neat, and I think I may say, for a parsonage-house (especially in this county), elegant; however, I shall say nothing more upon the subject, for fear too great an encomium may prove detrimental, and make my habitation appear to a disadvantage.

"I shall