That puts me in mind: Pray how does our old Friend George Vertue do? This has been but a queer summer for him, for we have had nothing but rain for these six weeks.

"I am, with my compliments to Mrs. Ducarel, dear Sir, "Your most affectionate humble servant, CHA. COMPTON."

"DEAR SIR,

Higham, near Towcester, April 27, 1762. Upon my arrival at this place, I (after some search) found Dr. Bishop's Sermon, and will transmit it to you next week, unless I hear that you have procured one elsewhere.

"Mr. Walpole, vol. I. p. 11, seems puzzled about Garrhiofilacum. An ingenious friend of mine at Bath supposes that it stands for Caryophyllatum. This latter is to be found in almost all Herbals, viz. And. Matthioli, Com'ent. in lib. iv. Dioscoridis, cap. xvii. article Lagopus; Ray's Catal. Plant. p. 55. edit 1677. Caryophyllata-Herb Benet or Avens.

"Vinum, in quo infunditur radix (viz. Caryophyllati), optimo et jucundissimo odore ac sapore commendatur: cor exhilarat, et obstructiones reserat. (Tragus, an old Greek Physician).

"From this account one would conclude, that wine, having had this herb infused in it, must resemble our old liquor called Hippocras. I am, dear Sir,

"Your most affectionate humble servant, J. NIXON."

Letters relative to the New Edition of Bishop GIBSON'S Codex,' which passed between Dr. DUCAREL and the following Gentlemen at Oxford; Messrs. HERBERT BEAVER, DANIEL PRINCE, GEORGE GIBSON, EDWARD TYRWHITT, and Dr. BLACKSTONE.

"SIR,

To Dr. DUCarel.

Oxford, April 4, 1760. "By order of the Delegates of our Press, I wrote a few days ago to Dr. Hall, his Grace's Chaplain, informing him that a Manuscript Collection of Precedents, to be added to our new Edition of Bishop Gibson's Code, and which was not examined or looked into till the main body of the work was finished, was discovered to be very inaccurately wrote, and in many places not intelligible; so that, unless they were collated with the originals, and the difficult passages settled, there could be no such thing as pubJishing them with credit, either to his Lordship or the University. There are many of them (as appears by the marginal references) to be found in his Grace's Archives: and, by the direction of the same Delegates, I desired Dr. Hall to acquaint his Grace with the case, and to ask the favour of him, in the naine

of

of the Delegates, to permit some person to examine his archives in order to the business above mentioned. On the 28th of last month I had the favour of the Doctor's answer, which was, that the University was extremely welcome to make use of his Registry on this occasion; but that he should wish that the person employed for this purpose might be his own Librarian, Dr. Ducarel, who is both well skilled in the business of consulting antient records, and is particularly well acquainted with those of his See.' Now, Sir, you see the cause of my giving you this trouble; whereby I am to ask the favour of your answer (as soon as conveniently you can) whether you will be so good as to engage in this affair; and if you are, the book shall be immediately sent to you by, Sir, your most obedient servant, HERBERT BEAVER."

TO HERBERT BEAVER, Esq.

April 8, 1760.

"SIR, "I am favoured with yours of the 4th instant, in answer to which, I am very ready to engage in collating the MS Collection of Precedents to be added to the new edition of Bishop Gibson's Code, with the originals in the Registry at Lambeth; but, as it will be attended with some trouble, should be glad to know who is to make me satisfaction for the same. As soon as I receive your answer, together with the Precedents to be collated, I shall begin immediately on that work; and remain, Sir,

"Your obedient servant,

AND. COLTEE DUCAREL."

To Dr. DUCAREL.

"SIR, Oxon, April 10, 1760. "In answer to the favour of yours of the 8th instant, I am commissioned by the Delegates of our Press (who met this morning for that purpose) to inform you, that the University will take care to satisfy you for the trouble that will attend your collating and settling the Precedents contained in the book, which I propose sending you on Tuesday next.

"Your dispatch in this affair will be esteemed as an additional favour, because, till we receive your corrections, the work must stand still. I am, Sir,

"Your most obedient servant,

"SIR,

HERBERT BEaver."

Oxon, April 11, 1760.

"You receive herewith the volume of Ecclesiastical Precedents, as promised in mine of yesterday, under cover to his Grace. In my looking it over, as I did not then know who would be concerned in the collation, I thought it adviseable to mark such mis-spellings as occurred, with the unintelligible passages (at least as they appeared to me); but, as the work is now fallen under your inspection, I might have spared that trouble. However, as it is done, and possibly may be of some use to you, I take the liberty of troubling you with my remarks, contained in ten columns, on four sheets of paper. You will

readily

readily observe that some of my observations are in a manner trifling, and such as might have been corrected with a very small share of sagacity; but, as the whole was to be collated, I thought nothing ought to be omitted. I apprehend that the book, when sent by Mr. Gibson, was not intended as a present to the University, but to continue his property; and therefore, without his leave, no obliteration should be made in it. There are, as you will observe yourself, several of the Precedents, supposed to be remaining in other offices, such as London, Winton, &c.; but how we shall contrive to get these collated, I am at a loss to guess. George Gibson, Esq. lives at Whitehall. If any farther information from hence shall be found necessary, you shall, upon notice, receive the speediest and best in the power of, Sir, "Your most obedient servant, HERBERT BEAVER."

"SIR,

TO HERBERT BEAVER, Esq.

Doctors Commons, April 19, 1760. "Saturday evening last I was favoured with yours of the 11th instant, under his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury's cover ; and last Wednesday the volume of Ecclesiastical Precedents came very safe, together with your remarks in ten columns on four sheets of paper, the list of references, and also your other letter of the 11th. Upon examining the said book, I find that, besides the Precedents contained in the Registry at Lambeth, there are some few at Canterbury in the Registry of the Dean and Chapter of that Cathedral. For the collating of these, application should be made to the Dean of Canterbury; who, I believe, will not refuse the University that favour, and may easily be done when I hold my Visitation at Canterbury as Commissary of that City and Diocese, which will be on the 19th and 13th of May next. I likewise observe, that several of these Precedents remain in the Registries of London, Winton, and Chichester. With regard to those in the London Registry, they are all in the Bishop of London's Office at Doctors Commons, and (when I have collated those at Lambeth) if the University will apply to the Bishop of London, and desire him to order his Registrar to permit me to have such of the volumes as are mentioned in the book of Precedents, I will undertake to collate them also, but can by no means pretend to do it unless I have them at my own house at Doctors Commons.

"Those of Winchester and Chichester are in the Registries of those two Cities. As to these, I know no better method than that of collating them on the spot, on account of the danger that might attend the sending books of that consequence to London; and which, I doubt, the respective Bishops would not permit to be removed so far. I beg the favour of you to assure the Delegates of your Press, that I will give all possible dispatch in this affair: and that they may at all times depend upon my doing every thing in my power to promote the honour of the University of Oxford, where I have had the happiness to be edueated. I remain, Sir, A. C. DUCAREL."

To

To Dr. DUCAREL.

"Oxford, April 22, 1760. "Having communicated the contents of your last to Dr. Niblett, our Pro-vice-chancellor, the answer he has ordered me to send you is, that you will be so good as to proceed in the manner you propose, in regard to the Precedents in the Registry, as well of the Dean and Chapter as of his Grace, and also of the Lord Bishop of London. As to the Dean and Chapter, I shall write in a day or two to my friend Dr. Welwyn, requesting him to procure their permission for your inspection of the necessary instruments; and shall desire him to inform you of the result, either by letter, or when you arrive to hold your Visitation. His Lordship of London shall also be applied to, when I can find a proper channel through which to address him. But, for the Winton and Chichester Registries, the Delegates (Mr. Vice-Chancellor told me) must be consulted therein. You will observe, that in my remarks I take notice of an entire process (No. 512), which I ought to have sent you; but, through hurry, was forgot. If you find many strictures made by me on these sheets, and such as you believe ought to undergo your examination, please to advise me of it, and it shall be sent you. There is another thing, very material to be observed throughout the whole; that is, the want of due punctuation: the sentences run into one another without the least stop, or even a capital initial at the beginning of a new paragraph. I think I have nothing more to say at present, than that I am, with all due respect, Sir,

"Your most obedient servant, HERBERT BEAver. "P.S. Perhaps, by the help of conjecture, and your acquaintance with instruments of that kind, you may yourself be able to settle those of Winton and Chichester, without our having recourse to those offices."

"DEAR SIR,

Whitehall, April 29, 1760.

"The inclosed I have this moment received by the post, and was willing to lose no time in communicating it to you, by which you will find there will be no occasion to trouble yourself in regard to the two volumes I this morning sent you. If they are no ways useful to you, be pleased to return them by the bearer. I thank you for the History of Lambeth Palace, which I hope soon to have time to peruse, and then will thankfully return it. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, GEO. GIBSON.""SIR, Fulham Palace, May 3, 1760. "I am ordered by the Bishop to acquaint you that, at the request of the Delegates of the University Press at Oxford, you have his full permission to collate such Ecclesiastical Precedents as may be found in his Registry at the Commons, and to take them from the Office to your house. Mr. Skelton has directions to deliver to you whatever Precedents you shall deem necessary to complete Bishop Gibson's Code. I am, Sir,

"Your very humble servant,

EDM. TYRWHITT."

To

To the Rev. Mr. EDMUND TYRWHITT, at Fulham Palace. "REVEREND SIR, Doctors Commons, June 6, 1760. "I had, some time since, the honour of your letter, and this day waited upon Mr. Skelton with it. In answer thereto, he desired me to acquaint you that he would take an opportunity to speak to you concerning the delivery of the Registers to me. When you have settled this matter with Mr. Skelton, I am ready to collate such of the Ecclesiastical Precedents as are necessary to complete Bishop Gibson's Code, and for which purpose the Bishop of London had given me his permission. Be pleased to present my most humble respects to his Lordship. I remain, Sir, "Your most obedient servant, A. C. DUCAREL."

"SIR,

To Dr. DUCAREL.

Oxford, July 6, 1760. "I the other day wrote a letter to Mr. Skelton, desiring the favour of him to permit a collation of his Registers with the Transcripts which had formerly been made for Bishop Gibson; and to-day received a very civil letter from him, setting forth the grounds and manner of his refusal, and concluding with an offer to permit Dr. Beaver to have the use of the books, at the office, in order to carry on the collation. As the University must beg to be excused from taking any part in the altercation which has unhappily arisen between you and him, and are only concerned to execute their engagements to the publick and Mr. Gibson in the most accurate and authentic manner, I took the liberty to close with his proposal; and have accordingly sent up the Formulare, vol. III. to Dr. Beaver, by the machine which sets out to-morrow morning; not doubting but you will be well pleased to have this controversy at an end, and the work done, without any necessity of your further communicating with Mr. Skelton, after this unfortunate fracas between you.

"I have directed Dr. Beaver, when this business is finished, to deliver over the Formulare to you; in folio 65 of which, you will find a reference to a Form of Consecration of Churches and Churchyards which the Bishop used to go by,— Take this from my Form, which I use,' are his own words. We must therefore intreat you to ask Mr. Gibson whether there is any such Form to be found among the Bishop's papers; and, if so, to let us have it. He also refers, in the same page, to a 'Sententia Consecrationis Ecclesiæ,' which I know not what to make of; but probably you may. If, therefore, it be any ecclesiastical form, or an usual sentence in your Courts, we must beg you to procure us one by some means or other; if possible, from some of the Lambeth Registers, which you have so accurately indexed.

"In another part of the Appendix to the Codex, the Bishop refers us to his Synodus Anglicana,' Append. pages 17 and 54, for the form of a schedule of continuing, and another of dissolving, the Convocation, which, however, are not there printed

at