Dr. CHARLES Moss* to the Rev. Dr. Z. GREY. "DEAR SIR, Hull, April 26, 1730. "I did by one to you some few days, acknowledge the receipt to the last bill, and I hope you had it. I return a great deal of thanks, and bear a heart gratefully warm to you for all your kindness; to requite you as you deserve for the great trouble you have been at, and the favour done me, is not in my power. My wife has spoke to one of our Hambrough captains to fetch some or other elegant curiosity from the genius of that country; and she shall think herself extremely happy, if she may suit the fancy of our sweet little kinswoman, of whom she talks in her turn to my satisfaction as much as of any of our good friends. We hope you have health, not hearing to the contrary by my nephew, from whom I had a good natured letter this day. I think to answer it the next post, but still basely indisposed, though well disposed. The gout fixing smartly in no extreme, has roved over my body, and given me such constant uneasiness as has made me cry out for mere pain. "You have been lately busy as I find in the advertisements. I have the least right of any man living to beg a book; but being able to buy so few, and wanting so many, if you have not restrained your presents within a very small number, I beg you will not think me more unworthy of a book than when you published in your own name last. I have a great desire to read the piece, and I will tell you with great impartiality my opinion of it. I shall hardly ever see, much less read your adversary. "Your humble servant, and affectionate obliged friend, C. Moss." HENRY HOME Lord KAIMES† to Mr. CREECH "You shall not have it in your power to accuse me of lingering. I let you to wit that I have been ready for you several weeks, particularly that I have put the last hand to the whole first book §. I wish to hear from you what is passing in the world, especially with respect to literature. "Tell Mr. Adams that I have ready for him a most exact definition of a verb, which even Harris has missed. "Yours, Brother to the Dean. See before, p. 422. HENRY HOME." This eminent Lawyer, Philosopher, and Critic, was for many years a distinguished Lord of Session in Scotland; and died Dec. 27, 1782, in his 87th year; and "has found an able Biographer in the late Lord Woodhouseley, who drew up his character with impartiality, and just discrimination, without dwelling extravagantly on his virtues, or offensively and emphatically on his faults." I here use the words of my friend Mr. Chalmers, by whom his life has been admirably well abridged. Of this intelligent and highly respectable Bookseller, see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. III. p. 369. The work here noticed by Lord Kaimes was his "Sketches of the History of Man, 1774," 2 vols. 4to, which of all his writings, if we except the "Elements of Criticism,” has been the most generally read. Ralph 66 "SIR,' RALPH SPEARMAN*, Esq. to W. HUTCHINSON, Esq. Eachwick, April 28, 1788. My being informed by the Newspapers you were compiling a History of Northumberland,' is the cause I have taken the liberty of writing to a gentleman I have not the pleasure of being acquainted any further than by his publications, which have afforded such particular pleasure to every lover of antiquity; have therefore (as I should wish were it any way in my power to further your undertaking) sent herewith, An Inquisition made in Queen Elizabeth's Reign concerning the Castle of Bamborough,' which I met with among some old family papers, and A List of the Noblemen and others who attended William the Conqueror to England,' which I copied some years ago from an old manuscript. Many of the names of our Northern families are unquestionably of Norman origin, as Bellasise, Bertram, Bulmer, Baliol, Brus, Conyers, Delaval, Neville, Percy, &c.; and many others, allowing for changes in the manner of spelling during so many centuries, are easily reducible to those in the list. If any part of what I have sent herewith should be of the least service, it would afford me pleasure, and to your better judgment I entirely leave it how far it may be deserving a place in your history. I have taken the liberty to send a sketch of what more particularly concerns our family, collected from some memorandums of my cousin John Spearman's, author of the Enquiry into the Antiquities of the County of Durham.' It, as well as the rest, I leave to your censure. I am, Sir, "Your most obedient servant, RALPH SPEARMAN." THOMAS HOLLIS, Esq. to Rev. JOHN HUTCHINS §. "REV. AND DEAR SIR, Pall Mall, Jan. 16, 1762. "I am much obliged to you for the MS papers which you were pleased to send me, though sorry for the great trouble that they have occasioned. What few remarks occur upon them, shall be conveyed to you hereafter, when I am fully master of them, and have more leisure than at present. "That part of your letter which respects our antiquarian Friend, Dr. Ducarel, I have copied and sent him. "I would give my left hand to possess a certain honour|| nobly : neither my birth nor connections entitle me to expect it by those means, nor does my disposition allow me to acquire it by cringing to a minister, or bribing of the people. Other ways of ob * Of whom see the " Literary Anecdotes,” vol. IX. p. 691. +Ibid. vol. VII. p. 599. Of this munificent Patron of Literature see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VII. pp. 183. 594. Of his Testamentary Heir, Thomas Brand Hollis, Esq. see particularly, ibid, vol. II. p. 447. § The meritorious Historian of Dorsetshire; of whom see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. p. 406. This wish was for an independent Seat in Parliament. taining taining it, in these days, I know not. As said an antient, so say I, I can live contented without glory, but cannot suffer shame;' and if, effectively, I am excluded from playing a great game, I yet have spirit enough to play a small one, which I will endeavour shall be innocent at least, and not altogether unserviceable to my country and to mankind. The same game, plan, in truth, which I have pursued unswervingly these eight years, the prime of my life, ever since I returned from my travels, and which I mean steadily to continue, though slackening of necessity by degrees, through age and other to be expected infirmities. My sincerest thanks, however, attend you on the preceding account. You, I perceive, like all my other friends, are of an opinion, that a certain acquiescence in the customs of our own times is allowable, and even necessary; but I cannot agree to it in grave and important concerns, and think with Cato, that to swerve a line is by degrees to lose all center. This matter shall rest wholly betwixt ourselves. "Inclosed are Proposals for engraving the British Medals, sent only for curiosity, and to shew you that the London Antiquaries are not wholly without scheme. Perry, the engraver, is an ingenious honest man, but not a learned one. The short description which will accompany these Medals will be drawn up by some friends of mine; and it shall go hard but they shall some how or other illustrate or serve the cause of Civil and Religious Liberty. Pray give the duplicate Proposal to our very respectable friend and brother Antiquary Sir Peter Thompson, when you see him, with communication of the following extract from the Will of Dr. Thomas Herring, late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, dated July 16, 1765; for he, like every ingenious person, is fond of anecdotes, and this is a singular one, and capable of various construction, and a very extraordinary one too for the Pont. Max. of this country: Into thy hands I commend my spirit, O Father of Mercies, and God of all comforts, hoping humbly to obtain remission of my sins, through those means which thy grace and favour to mankind has appointed.' Success attend your work, and health, quiet, and happiness your person. I am, Reverend Sir, with unfeigned respect, "Your obliged and most obedient servant, T. HOLLIS." "It was not till yesterday that I was able to procure the paper at the Museum which you desired. I have sent it you inclosed in another frank.-There is a place called Cotsley, a kind of district or division in the parish of Corscombe, which lies near Renvil-lane, in some parts of which moor-stone, or an ordinary hard stone, has been and may be found. rant. "What the Fortifications are at Whinyard's gap, I am ignoBut why not request in this and such like matters the obliging benevolent assistance of Mr. Sherive? I cannot send the particulars which you desire at present, but will endeavour to bring them into Dorsetshire about October, or send them, VOL. IV. which 3 B which time I hope will do.-You have taken much pains in the account with which you favoured me.-I have been heartily concerned at your misfortune. To replace a little your Library, I despatch the inclosed *, and beg excuse for the liberty. "I am, respectfully, Sir, your obedient servant, T. HOLLIS," Letters of the Rev. THOMAS WARTON *. To the Rev. RICHARD FARMER, Emanuel College.. "REV. SIR, Trinity College, Oxford, June 19, 1766. "I am extremely glad to find that the Antiquities of Leicester are fallen into your hands. In my Collectanea from the Rolls Chapter, I meet with these entries relating to your subject. The original instruments at length are in Capell. Rot.; but most probably you have them already; if not, they may perhaps be of some little service. I am, Reverend Sir, Your most obliged and obedient servant, T. WARTON," Dr. DUCAREL to Mr. WARTON. "SIR, Doctors Commons, April 13, 1772. "On coming to town this morning I received a parcel containing your excellent Life of Sir Thomas Pope.' I apprehend it is a present from you, and return you many thanks for it, and likewise for the honourable mention you make of my name therein. This Work, which does you great honour, has afforded me much instruction; and though you complain of the scarcity of your materials, you have found means to instruct us with many facts which are new to me, and I believe to most people. I wish it had been in my power to give you more assistance on this occasion. In the postscript I have added notes relative to two passages in your book. When you come to town I shall be extremely glad to have the pleasure of seeing you at Doctors Commons; and remain yours, &c. A. C. DUCAREL," Rev. THOMAS WARTON to Mr. GOUGH. "DEAR SIR, Winton, Sept. 22, 1782. "I should have answered yours before, but have been on a ramble. Your Cross is very unlike, and the Inscription incorrect. Above the top of the Cross, in very slight intaglia (as is the Cross itself), is a head mitred, with tassels and a border of a pallium under the chin. There are the traces of a taper held in one hand. The Cross is the heraldic Cross floree, and the shaft knotted with many wreaths. I will get the whole new drawn, and the legend rectified, if you can stay a little while. This was a Bank-note, generously contributed by Mr. Hollis towards alleviating the heavy loss Mr. Hutchins had experienced by a tremendous fire at Warebam. See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. V. p. 514; and vol. VI. p. 416. + The very learned Poetry Professor, and Author of the "History of English Poetry," &c.; of whom see the First Volume of these " Illustrations," p. 231; and "Literary Anecdotes" vol. VI. p. 175; VII. pp. 455, 707. "A notable |