the letter is endorsed in Samuel Pepys's hand, "December the 23rd, "1687. Sir Robert Southwell to Mr. Pepys, upon the death of Sir "William Petty, Praying Mr. Pepys to look up a paper of his, and giving an account of his son." .66 MR. (afterwards "Sir") JAMES HOUBLON to SAMUEL PEPYS. 1688, August 31st [London].-Letter containing particulars of the " sad story of the earthquake at Lima." Also, an account of some of the consequences of the same catastrophe, by a correspondent dating from Lima. 29th October 1687.--Endorsed "August 31th 1688. Mr. James "Houblon to Mr. Pepys : Some Observations upon the late Earthquake "at Lima. And upon the Motions abroad, towards the Revolution "which afterwards happened here." THOMAS TANNER (afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph) to SAMUEL Pepys. 1695, March 29th, Queen's College, Oxford.-" Worthy Sir. The countenance and encouragement you were pleased to give my raw studies in your late kind letter exact my humblest thanks and acknowledgement. Those talents and virtues you therein mentioned are not worthy of your notice, much less, your esteem; and the meaness of them will sufficiently appear by the book I herewith send. This I humbly desire you to accept out of that sincere respect, which (outside private obligations) I shall always pay to a person, wherein all the characters and accomplishments of a gentleman and a scholar, are so happily united. The honour of being known to you I reckon among the good fortunes of my life, and I shall do my utmost endeavour to make myself in some measure worthy of it. Your modesty needed not have made so many apologies for your catalogue, the accuracy of which and the goodness of the MSS. shew the industry and judgement of the Collector ; it will gain credit to the rest of our catalogues, and doe great service to the learned world. . . . . [P.S.] Query, Grey Fryers-now Christ-Hospitall." Letter endorsed by Samuel Pepys, "March 29th, Oxford, Mr. Tanner to S. P. accompanying the Notitia Monastica." JOHN WALLIS D.D., Oxon, to SAMUEL PEPYS. 1699, May 2nd, Oxford." Sir. I had the favour of seeing yours to Dr. Charlet, before that to me (of the same date) came to hand. I had, before, desired Mr. Glyn to wait on you, (not to beg your thanks, but) to know whether you had received the Book (which being what you value, I would not have it lost). And I did it the rather, to give him the opportunity of being known to you: because I thought he might possibly acquaint you with somewhat (particularly concerning the winds) which might be new, and not unacceptable to you. The value you please to put upon my performances (though I allow it to have much of addition from your great civilitie) doth flatter me the more, as proceeding from a person of judgement. As to the business of deciphering (that you may not think it quite deplorable when I dy), I have two girls (daughters of my daughter Blencoes) who are able to master a plain English cipher which hath no more (or not much more) than a new alphabet (which was heretofore thought a great matter), and a brother of theirs (yet a youth), who hath allready deciphered some English letters, as difficult as most of that kind that have come to my hands. And if our Statesmen were so diligent, as perhaps they might [be], to intercept such: I would set him to work upon them. But as to French letters, he must be excused till he understand the language. But things of this nature (I find by experience) are more admired, than encouraged. 'Tis a busyness of so much labour and study, and requires so much of patience and sagacity, that it will scarce turn to account. An ordinary clark will make better wages, at easyer work, When I shal have the honour to wait on you at London, I cannot say ."-Directed to "the Honorable Samuel Pepys, Esq., at his house in Yorke House Buildings, near the Water-side, in the Strand, London" this letter is endorsed by Pepys, "Oxford, May 2nd, 1699, Dr. Wallis to S. P. upon the business of decyphering, and provision in his own family against its being lost when hee dyes, with the little proportion between its Work and its Reward.” ROGER GALE, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, to SAMUEL PEPYS. 1700, May 14th, T. C. C. [i.e. Trinity College, Cambridge]. "Honoured Sir, It was, I confesse, some surprize to me, that I heard not from you in so long a time after I had given you notice of your desired Erasmus; and I could not but fear, what I am now extremely sorry to hear was the occasion of it, some illnesse, tho' what you have lately undergone, is far beyond what I could have imagined, and therefore I must the more congratulate your happy recovery, which I heartily do, and wish for the long and prosperous continuance of your health, which I presume to promise myselfe, since it has been able to so vigorously withstand such a shock as this last accident must needs have given it. I must own I ought to have acquainted you with unka again, but my too well grounded suspicion of your being indisposed made me cautious how I gave you farther trouble, which I hope will plead my excuse. I now send you, Sir, what you have so long desired, and I should be glad to hear it gives you the satisfaction I wish it may; and if you will be pleased, and your ease will permitt you to lett me know of your receipt of it by a letter, it will be sufficient for my security to the College, and I believe give you the least trouble that way. I hear no more of my father's coming to town, but on the contrary that it is deferred, and I have grounds to think he will hardly be there this summer, his talking of it after this manner 'being now pretty usuall "-Endorsed by Pepys, "May 24th, 1700, Cambridge. My cosin Roger Gale to S. P. accompanying Erasmus' Autograph MSS. of Libanius's Orations." The son of Thomas Gale, D.D., Master of St. Paul's School, London, and in later time Dean of York, the writer of this letter became a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1697. J. JACKSON to his Uncle SAMUEL PEPYS. 1701, March 25th, Cadiz.-"Honoured Sir, I left Sevil on Saturday morning last, came to Gibraltar on Munday; staid there Tuesday; and arrived here last night; where I have seen some very ridiculous processions and pageantry relating to this holy time. I am now under some care concerning my return to Madrid; being unwilling to suffer a 2d time by uncertain advices. Some letters say the 4th, others the 9th of the next month is fixt for the publick Entrada; and Sir William Rodger is of opinion it will not be so soon as either. I shall therefore wait here till Monday, to see what that day's post may bring of certain herein. I am very well satisfied with the sight of Gibraltar, and should have taken a stepp to Ceuta, but for the hast I was in for my getting back in time to Madrid, if I found it feasible. The Straights are much narrower than I thought, and with the addition of some forts, and carrying the Moles out further at Gibraltar, which 2 French Engineers are now actually [in designing]; I fear the enemy will have a secure harbour there for a squadron of ships sufficient wherby to exclude us the Streights. I could see Ceuta very plain, and hear the noise and discern the smoak of the guns, which are continually firing between the Moors and Spaniards. The Mary Frigate, Captain Pindar commander, brings you this; and being just ready to sail, affords me opportunity for no more at present, then to begg your blessing. ."-Letter addressed to Samuel Pepys "at his house in York-Buildings, London." SAMUEL PEPYS to the Reverend (? JOHN HUDSON, Librarian of the Bodleian Library). 1702, September 29th, Clapham.-" Reverend Sir. You will (I hope) impute to the true occasion of it the late trouble you had from mee, through the absence of my honcured friend the Maister; your so generous undergoeing whereof, I must borrow some of the Maister's help (when returned) in the payment of the acknowledgements oweing to you both from him and mee for on that occasion, and more particlarly (sic) from myselfe for the too advantagious mention you make of my late small instance of respect to your august body, and to the memory of the illustrious Dr. Wallis.-Nor had you been so long without this, but for my dayly expectation of haveing something from himselfe, that might properly leade mee to the second part of the thankes I have to pay you on Mr. Dundasses score, who has this day sent mee word, of his haveing out done his patterne, by as much space left, as would beare another Lord's Prayer; and therefore askes my order, how I will have it filled. Which hee shall have by and by from mee; soe as I shall hope (if I could thinke it possible) to be able in a post or 2 to give you an account of such a performance, as nothing but what you have shewen him at Oxford, would ever have drawn from him. [ JOHN EVELYN on the Clepsamidium Nauticum. ]. Paper in John Evelyn's handwriting, without either signature or date, on the Clepsamidium Nauticum, a newly invented hour glass, "which (as pretended) is not in the least obnoxious to the concussion of the ship, which it gives to all other inventions for the measure of time at sea, and more usefull then the Pendulum Clocks, especially in long and tedious voyages, when commonly neere the Tropics they contract rust, and become in a manner useless." Endorsed by Samuel Pepys," Mr. Evelyn's description of a new Sea-Hour-Glasse." MATTHEW WREN, Secretary of H.R.H. Duke of York, to SAMUEL PEPYS. [ 1 November 4th [ ].-"Since I saw you I received a letter from Sir Robert Vyner, wherein he tels me al his present carpenters, nine in number, are prest from his house in Lombard Street. I cannot think that those imployed to press are discreet men to sweep al the workmen from the house of so considerable a person in the City, and by way of revinge, I desire they may be al releast. But, if the necessity of the publique service and good example wil not permit that, I pray let the first six be immediately discharged, that being the least we can do for a gentleman of so much worth, and so good a friend." At the foot of the brief letter appears a list of the names of the nine workmen. VII.-DANBY PAPERS. This small but very interesting group of papers consists of these seventeen writings, to wit, (1.) 1673, January 9th.-Letter from the Earl of Danby to the Hon. Ralph Montagu, English Ambassador in France. (2) 1673, January 11th, N.S.-Letter from the Hon. Ralph Montagu to the Earl of Danby. (3) 1677. January 12th.-Letter from the same to the same. (4) 167, January 14th.-Letter from the Earl of Danby to the Hon. Ralph Montagu. (5) 1677, January 17th. -Letter from the same to the same. (6) 1677, January 18th.-Letter from the Hon. Ralph Montagu to the Earl of Danby. (7) 1678, March 25th.-Letter from the Earl of Danby to the Hon. Ralph Montagu. (8) 1678, March 25th.-Paper of the particulars of the Terms of Peace proposed by Spain and Holland to France. (9) 1678. April 11th.-Letter from the Hon. Ralph Montagu to the Earl of Danby. (10) 1679, August 29th.-Letter, dated from The Tower, from the Earl of Danby to the Earl of Carnarvon. (11) 1681, March 13th.-Letter dated from The Tower from the Earl of Danby to Lord Norreys. (12) 168, March The Humble Petition dated from The Tower of Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby, Prisoner in the Tower of London, to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament assembled. (13) 1682.-Letter, dated from The Tower, from the Earl of Danby to Charles the Second. (14 and 15) Two curious undated papers of two several schemes for injuring the Hon. Ralph Montagu, papers creditable neither to their author, Henry Guy, Secretary of the Treasury, nor to the Earl of Danby, for the gratification of whose animosity against the Hon. Ralph Montagu they were drawn. (16) 168, February 9th.-Letter, dated from The Tower, from the Earl of Danby to the Earl of Carnarvon. (17) 1690, July 21st.-Letter dated from London, from Thomas Osborne, Marquis of Carmarthen and Earl of Danby to Robert Bertie, third Earl of Lindsey. Of these seventeen writings, the first nine relate to one of the darkest passages of our national story, when the Lord Treasurer of England and the English Ambassador at the Court of France, acting with the approval, if not at the original contrivance and instigation, of Charles the Second, were concerned in negotiations, on which honourable Englishmen, even at this distance of time from the shamefui incidents, reflect with mingled feelings of humiliation and anger. Throwing new light on the ways in which the Lord Treasurer and the English Ambassador intrigued with the ministers of Louis the Fourteenth, in order to sell England's honour for French gold, the eight letters that passed between Danby and Montagu in the earlier inonths of 1678, whilst they were employed in the disgraceful business, also afford much remarkable testimony to the way in which Danby in his old age, when he had risen to be Duke of Leeds, garbled and falsified the documents which he published in his Copies and Extracts of some Letters (1710),—the fraudulent book which he hastened to offer to the world for his own advantage, as soon as the Duke of Montagu's a death had removed from this life the person who could have demonstrated most effectually the falseness of the ignoble compilation. It would be vain for any apologist of the first Duke of Leeds to suggest that some nameless compiler should be regarded as the actual falsifier of the printed papers that were offered to readers in enduring type, under the sanction of the duke's name and title. For the old man's handwriting on the documents, now for the first time printed sincerely and exactly, demonstrates that, though he may be presumed to have been aided in his literary toil by a transcriber for the press and corrector of proofs, the first Duke of Leeds was himself the manipulator and editor-in-chief of the untruthful "copies" and fraudulent 66 extracts," that he with his own hand manipulated his manuscripts for the printer, and that in doing so he was guilty of at least one amazing act of forgery, and divers other sorts of dishonesty. Montagu having breathed his last breath, the first Duke of Leeds seems to have imagined that he could safely do what he pleased with his private papers; but now that more than a hundred and eighty years have passed over his grave, the papers have come to light, which show him to have been as cunning and unscrupulous in his decay as he was in the perfect vigour of his middle age. In justice to a gentleman who knows thoroughly the manuscripts which he has gathered with excellent discrimination, and who has written about some of them with fine historic iusight and unusual ability, I may here observe that before he submitted his Danby Papers to my consideration, Mr. J. Eliot Hodgkin had carefully collated them with the garbled and falsified versions of them printed by the first Duke of Leeds, and that on laying the same original writings before me, he called my attention to the way in which they had been dealt with by the editor of Copies and Extracts of some Letters (1710). Whatever credit may be due to the discoverer of the Duke's way of dealing with historic evidence should be given to Mr. Hodgkin. The EARL OF DANBY to the HON. RALPH MONTAGU, English 167, January 9th, London.-"My Lord, I received the favour of two of yours by two several expresses on Munday last, together with one for the King, which I immediately gave him. I did not return you any answer by that post because I could have then informed you of nothing more than my receipt of them; but since that time his Majestie has been constantly in Councill twice a day, and is not yett come to a resolution of what he shall say to Mons" Barillon [being very unwilling to come to a rupture with France, and yett scarce seeing how to avoid it]. Hee shewd mee your letter, and as you therein supposed, the Ambassador has quitted the demand of putting off the Parliament, and offers the suspencion provided his Majestie will bee brought to no declaracion against him; but his Majestie cannot find it practicable [how to keep his Parliament in any sort of order], when the King of France shall at the same time bee in the field, and taking towns: hee heartily wishes also that he were in a capacity to doe so much good to his niece as you speak of, but the great hast of the King of France to bee in the field makes almost every thing but war impossible to him, and begins now to to turn his trouble for the King of France's unkindnesse into perfect anger against him, insomuch that for anything I can guesse, I doe truly beleeve wee shall goe into the warre, and for our better satisfaction in that point, I shewd the King that part of your letter, which saies, if |