to preserve you from that misfortune, and continue you in good, I shall much applaud your resolution *: for I interest myself in your welfare both on your own account and the publick's, being, with the greatest esteem, dear Sir, your affectionate and faithful friend and humble servant, W. GLOUCESTER. DR. HEBERDEN TO MR. BIRCH. LETTER I. To the Rev. Mr. BIRCH, Norfolk-street. DEAR SIR, [No date.] The Gentleman who brings this is Mr. Mason, the Author of "Musæus, a Monody on the death of Mr. Pope." He is of the same College with me, and I have a great esteem for him, which makes me very desirous of satisfying a curiosity that he has of seeing Dr. Mead's library and antiquities, &c. You will therefore oblige me in a particular manner by appointing any morning when it suits your conveniency, to introduce him to a breakfasting at the Doctor's. If any thing should make this inconvenient to you, pray be pleased to give him your letter dimissory to Mr. Bell or Dr. Slack, that he may not be disappointed of the pleasure which such a morning will give him. I have made all the enquiries I have been able after Albumazar, without any success. My humble service to Messrs. Yorkes and Wray. I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant, W. HEBERDEN. * Dr. Birch died Jan. 9, 1766, only two months after the date of this Letter. It is evident, from the whole tenor of their correspondence, that Bp. Warburton retained a sincere regard for him to the last; and I regret the not being able to give some of Birch's answers to the Bishop's various enquiries after men and books, which must have contained many curious particulars. LETTER DEAR SIR, Dorney, near Maidenhead, 11 o'clock, July 13, 1751. I am forced, against my will, to stay here too long to have any hopes of dining with you in Cecil-street. It distresses me to the last degree, to think of having such friends at my house without being able to enjoy their company. Let me beg of you, dear Sir, to do the honours of my table, and excuse me to my worthy friends. By that time you have dined, I hope to be with you. 1 dare say that every thing will be taken such care of, that you will have nothing to do but to eat and drink, and see that our friends do so too. Ever yours, W. HEBERden. DR. ROBERT TAYLOR TO DR. BIRCH. DEAR SIR, Albemarle-street, Oct. 27, 1757. I had the favour of your kind Letter, and am very much obliged to you for the trouble you have had on my account. As my enquiry related solely to Dr. Plumptre, I should be still more obliged to you if you could learn what honours he received at Frankfort? whether he had not a degree given him there? and a medal, and what else? But I beg you will not let this trifling affair interfere with your more important enquiries; especially as I do not wait for this information, but proceed as fast as my business will allow me in the other unfinished parts *. I am, with great truth, dear Sir, your most faithful and obliged servant, R. TAYLOR. Q. Of what work was this? - Dr. Robert Taylor delivered the Harveian Oration in 1755; and published it in 1756. See some brief notice of him before, p. 46. He was elected F. R. S. in 1737; and died May 15, 1762. L 2 MR. MR. PETER DES MAIZEAUX TO MR. BIRCH.. LETTER I. To the Rev. Mr. BIRCH. SIR, [No date.] I RECEIVED the favour of yours, for which I return you my hearty thanks. I flattered myself with the pleasure of being with you this evening, but am obliged to be with an old friend of mine, who is just come to town. I hope you will be so good as to excuse me, and to present my humble service to your gentlemen. I am, Sir, your most obliged humble servant, P. DES MAIZEAUX. LETTER II. To the Rev. Mr. BIRCH. SIR, Jan. 20, 1735-6. I told you, I believe, Mr. Anthony Collins had been twice in Holland; and I just now found a memorandum among my papers, which mentions it as follows, and you may rely upon it.-Mr. Collins went into Holland in March 1711, and became acquainted with Mr. Le Clerc, and other learned men. He returned to London in November following, to take care of his private affairs; with a promise to his friends in Holland, that he would pay them a second second visit in a short time. Accordingly he went from London, Jan. 2, 1712, pursuant to his promise, as also with an intent to see Flanders, where he received great civilities from Priests, Jesuits, &c. From thence he wrote to one of his servants at London, to meet him at Calais, in order to attend him to Paris; but, in the mean time, the death of a near relation, Mr. Trolope, happened, which obliged him to return to London, where he arrived the 18th of October, 1713, full of grief for the loss of so great a friend, and the disappointment of not seeing France, Italy, &c. This account, for which I have good authority, shews how incredulous is the story that he went into Holland for fear, &c. I am very glad to find this opportunity to assure you, how much I am, Sir, your most humble servant, P. D. M.* * Then follows a Catalogue of Collins's Works, by Mr. Des Maizeaux, in chronological order; and the following epitaph from his monument in Oxford chapel : "H. S. E. ANTONIUS COLLINS, Armiger : acri Judicio, tenaci Memoria. A Puero usque mirificâ virtutis indole præditus : quam neque ex sententiis hominum pendere, Quantum indè profecerit, ex scriptis ipsius editis judicet Lector idoneus. fide (si quis alius) constans. erga Conjuges Amoris, Erga LETTER III. To the Rev. Mr. BIRCH. SIR, January 24 [no year]. The bearer of this note having some business in your neighbourhood, I desired him to call upon you, and to bring the Life of Arnoldus, and Mr. Bayle's Letters. If you please to give him, at the same time, the first volume of Moreri, you will oblige me, and I will lend you mine in two or three days time. Two days ago I received a letter from Mr. Gaynier, wherein he takes notice of a blunder in the article Abgarus of the Universal Dictionary. I will shew you the letter when you do me the favour to call here.. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, P. DES MAIZEAUX. erga omnes Benevolentiæ, Calculorum valetudine diu conflictatus, In matrimonio habuit MARTHAM, FRANCISCI CHILD Equitis filiam; ELIZABETHAM, GUALTERI WROTTESLY, Baronetti. duos Filios, HENRICUM infantem, ANTONIUM verò ad virilem ætatem jam provectum, Duas itidem Filias, ELIZABETHAM et MARTHAM, Altera charissimo Viro, quocum conjunctissimè vixerat, Monumentum hoc morens posuit. ORIGINAL |