LETTERS to Dr. STUKELEY, from the Marquis of LINDSEY, Lord HARLEY, the Earls of WINCHELSEA, HARTFORD, PEMBROKE, OXFORD, DERBY, and WESTMORELAND, Abp. WAKE, and the Duke of MONTAGU *. "SIR, London, Aug. 7, 1715. "I find by yours that you have now finished the draught of the Church and Steeple at Boston †, which you design to dedicate to me. If you please to send your Engraver to me, he may see my Arms, and receive what directions you think proper. "I am your humble servant, "SIR, LINDSEY +." Wimpole, Nov. 21, 1721. "I received a Letter from you of November 16, in which you desire I would allow Mr. Wanley to stay in town till the Eleetion for a Secretary to the Royal Society be over§. I have wrote to Mr. Wanley this post, to let him know that, if he pleases, I give my consent very freely for his staying in town. I heartily wish you success in your undertaking; and am, Sir, "Your humble servant, "SIR, HARLEY." Eastwell, Oct. 20, 1722. Nothing could so much atone for your leaving us so soon, as letting me hear from you. I was extremely pleased to learn, by your very obliging, entertaining, and instructive Letter, that, after a long penance here, by what you saw and observed in your way, the journey must have been very agreeable to you; and that you are, after all your toils, arrived in good health, and are in safe harbour before the rough season of the year comes in, and where I hope very soon to wait on you. I set out from hence next Tuesday; shall dig for urns, &c. next day, and view the Kit-Coty-house; which, by the help of your observations, I shall see to much greater advantage than I could otherwise have done. Your account of it seems very just, and, I am sure, is very curious. I am glad you have prevailed with Mr. Taylor to let a section be made in this grave; perhaps I shall get it done, but I doubt whether it can well be while I am present, for want of time. I am glad you think this work strengthens my conjectures concerning Julabury's grave. You encourage me to study * For the greater part of this Correspondence, I am indebted to the Rev. J. F. St. John (see before, p. 1).-The other Letters are transcribed from the Originals in the British Museum. + A good South View of Boston Church was drawn and published by Dr. Stukeley; who dedicated the Plate to "Peregrine Marquis of Lindsey, and Lord Willoughby of Eresby, eldest son of Robert first Duke of Aucaster," with a brief history of it annexed. A smaller View is inserted in his Itinerarium Curiosum, Plate XIX. Peregrine Bertie, afterwards second Duke of Ancaster, and Lord Great Chamberlain. He died in January 1741. The vacancy was occasioned by the resignation of Dr. Edward Halley. Dr. James Jurin was the successful Candidate. Edward Lord Harley, afterwards second Earl of Oxford; see p. 785. VOL, II. 3 D that that matter a little farther; and your learned and very judicious Letter, with the observations you made in your way from Dover to Eastwell, give me great light. I will certainly, as you desire, bring you some of the stones out of Todingden Brook.—I much fear my time will not allow me to see the Roman Durolenum, unless it falls in my coach-way to Bursted. I should enlarge a great deal upon your Letter if I did not hope to see you so soon, when we can discourse upon these things at large. "I received a Letter last post from my Lord Hartford *, who is a great lover of Antiquities; he sent me a design of a fine Tesselated Pavement found in a church-yard at Gloucester. It seems to be very curious, but perhaps you have seen it. I have promised my Lord your acquaintance, and you will not let me break my word with him. Mr. and Mrs. Smith present their humble services to you; and I am, Sir, your much obliged and most humble servant, WINCHILSEA+.” "SIR, Dec. 27, 17292. "I supped last night with my Lord Hartford, who has not yet recovered strength enough to go this week to Hounslow, but will be very glad to go with you the next. I am commissioned in the mean time, with his humble service to you, to desire your company at dinner with him to-morrow, which day he chuses, because he is to be at home all day, and, being in waiting ‡, he cannot so well fix any other. If you have no engagement that interferes with this, I will call upon you to-morrow morning, that we may go together. You will much oblige my Lord, if you will carry with you a book of your drawings, and the book in which we write our names and mottos; and, if you have e'er a ring left, I believe it will not be unwelcome. "Pray favour me with a line or two, and you will oblige, Sir, your affectionate brother and humble servant, WINCHILSEA." April 17, 1723. "SIR, "If this finds you well enough to endure a coach, I shall send you mine to-morrow morning by eight o'clock, or soon after, to bring you to Lord Hartford's, from whence his coach will carry us with his Lordship to Hounslow. We go so early, that we may be returned by three o'clock in the afternoon, and dine in Doverstreet. My Lord depends upon your going, if it may be without prejudice to you. He presents his humble service to you. "Pray let me know by the bearer whether you are well enough to go upon this expedition.—I am, Sir, your very affectionate brother, and most humble servant, WINCHILSEA." Reading, May 9, 1723. SIR, Though I could not see you before my departure, I will write from hence, to let you know that in my way hither I have * Algernon Seymour, son of Charles sixth Duke of Somerset. On the death of his father in 1748 he became the seventh Duke, and died in 1750. Lord Hartford was in the year 1724 elected President of the Society of Antiquaries; and the Earl of Winchilsea a Vice-President. + Daniel Finch, fifth Earl of Winchilsea (so the noble Earl uniformly spelt his name). He died in 1726; see p. 783. As Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales, afterwards Geo. II. gone gone through our Camp on the Heath. I was drove into it in my chaise, and all over it; and am with a great deal of pleasure satisfied (if possible) more than I was before, of its great antiquity, and of its being a Roman Camp. I will not trouble you with farther particulars, more than that I find it is almost a mile beyond a turnpike, which is two miles from Hounslow; viz. the Camp is thirteen miles from London. These are but trivial observations; yet, if I had passed by the Camp without going up to it (as I shall always do when I can) my conscience would have flown in my face the next time you and I had met.—I hope to be in town next Wednesday; soon after which I shall wait on you; and, I believe, Lord Hartford (who will send you this) will be at liberty to go with us to our Antiquarian Society.-I am, Sir, your affectionate brother and humble servant, WINCHILSEA.' "SIR, May 24, 1723. "I am very sorry to tell you, that, after your having given yourself so much trouble in setting our meeting for next Monday, a delay of a few days is yet requested; for Lord Hartford desired me last night to let you know that the King has appointed the Opera to be on that day; and, if he goes to it, my Lord, who is in waiting, will be obliged to attend him, and therefore cannot engage to meet us next Monday; but, if the Wednesday after will be as convenient to you and the rest of our brethren, he will not fail us that evening, or any other except Thursday, when I believe he will attend the King as far as Greenwich. My Lord is much concerned, that, from this accident, you will have the trouble of sending to stop our friends coming on the day appointed, and engaging them for the new day. "Lord Hartford sends you his service, and I am, Sir, your very affectionate brother and humble servant, "DEAR BROTHER, AND VENERABLE DRUID, WINCHILSEA.' From Cunetio, July 12, 1723. "I prevent our Brother Segonax's* writing; but, with his compliments, I must pay his thanks for your Letter, and design of the famous camp on Oldbury Hill, with your description of it: I have put a copy of your drawing into my Journal. "I have a favour to desire of you, if you have an opportunity of sending me a Letter, and time to write it before we leave this place, which will be on Tuesday next. I would desire of you to draw me the two Circles; one, the great one which surrounds the village of Abury; the other, the outward level of the Temple of Earth at Overton Hill, without any of the other Circles; and these only scratched out without compasses, or any measure, in single lines, with the avenues which go both ways, and these each with a single line (without any mark of the stones). I desire this because I cannot perfectly recollect how they lie to the grand work; particularly, how that runs which goes to Beckhampton. -Excuse this trouble.-I have services from Lady Hartford, and all friends here, to send you. We all wish, if you cannot come * Lord Hartford's Druidical name; Lord Winchilsea assumed that of Cyngetorix; and Dr. Stukeley was styled Chyndonax. sooner, that you would come hither on Monday evening; and you may from hence as easily go by the Bath coach next morning as from Abury.-We met at a gentleman's where we dined to-day two Mr. Nicholas's, one a brother of Mr. William Nicholas, the latter his cousin, who intends to call upon you at Abury next Sunday after dinner. We all congratulate your pleasure at the Camp. - I should have told you before that Boadicea's service was sent to the Druid; but I must add, not the Boadicea that was ravished.—I am your very affectionate brother and humble servant, CYNGETORIX." "SIR, July 15, 1723. "Thanks in abundance for your Letter, and design of the Abury avenues; you have sent me just what I wanted. To-morrow, I trust, we shall all be in motion *. I wish you a good journey to the Bath; and hope your harvest for this season is not yet over, but that you will discover more Antiquities, and add to the great treasures you have already acquired; while I shall, if I am not deceived, besides Maiden Castle and Dorchester Amphitheatre, visit the Camp between Sherbourne and Ilchester; and, when I come back to this place, I shall go to Oldbury Hill Camp: You have described it so agreeably that I shall have no peace of mind if I leave this place without seeing it; and, if I do not flatter myself, I shall carry home some good pieces of Antiquity to add to my collection.-Yesterday Mr. Solley †, an acquaintance of yours, and a great traveller, dined with Lord Hartford. The Bishop of Salisbury has presented him to Preshutt Vicarage; this was the first day of his coming here. I think he is a very ingenious man; he has a Collection of Antient Medals, which I shall see when I am in town.-I need not send my Lord Hartford's compliments, he intending to write to you himself: but I am charged with my Lady's. You sent her the benedictions of a Druid, and I am to let you know that she sends you those of the Cumæan Sibyl, and the blessings of such a Sibyl must be sweet. Captain Edwards is your humble servant, and is not afraid to meet you again on Silbury Hill over another punch-bowl. Mr. Clavering does not only present you with his service, but with a petition too; and desires the venerable Druid, who is Priest of the Temple of the Sun, will prefer him to the Priesthood of the Moon. And for Pokey, if you will accept her compliments, her bones will rattle for joy in her skin, for she has no flesh to interrupt them. Lady Betty will not be left out, but adds her service to you; and, if I had room, I should have a great deal to say from her; but I must conclude, who am, with a great deal of sincerity, dear Brother, your most humble servant, WINCHILSEA." Eastwell, Oct. 8, 1723. "MY DEAR DRUID, "You cannot imagine with what pleasure I received your Letter: I longed for your return to London, where you are within * I have a neat, finished Drawing of "Thomas Hayward, esq. owner of Stonehouse, who died in 1724 Ad vivum designavit W. S. præsente illustr. Com. Winchilsea, 4 Jul. 1723.” + Rev. Joseph Solley, of Chelsea. He was of Bene't College, Carbridge, M. A. 1718; elected F. S. A. 1724. reach reach of a correspondence, though I shall be impatient till I can have a personal conversation with you, and therefore shall leave the country as soon as possible for me; but not quite so soon as I would do, for I must pick up a few rents, to maintain me in my winter quarters in town. Your Letter is full of obliging expressions; but believe me, Sir, if I was any way agreeable to you, I am sure, I reaped a great deal of pleasure, and profit too, by your conversations and instructions. "I am extremely obliged to you, and my very valuable friend Dr. Hales, for remembering me at your College; as I am to Mr. Gale, whose health, with yours, is drunk every day by me and Mr. Creyk*, a very worthy Clergyman, who is with me. I wish I could have gone with you through all your progress from Carvilium; but I shall soon see some of the fruits of your travels ; and shall be very thankful for your design of the Dorchester Amphitheatre. Though I have not been so well employed as you since we parted, I have not been idle; and, though I may trouble you with too long an epistle, I must give my dear Chindonax some account of what I have seen, and what I have got. - "In my way from London to this place, I drove into a field near Newington (at this day called Crock Field), famous for the vast number of urns and other earthen ware formerly dug out of it, as we learn from Dr. Meric Casaubon, and after him from Mr. Burton in his Itinerary. I found there two or three bits of urns, and of Roman tiles, which have been turned up by the plough: but, since I was there, nine men have dug for me three days, without success; though I hear, something, I know not what, was found the last day, which is kept for me. "To make amends for my ill success here, I have had some things brought me which were found in East Kent; viz. two large pateras of the fine red earth; two dishes, something like large coffee-cups (but wider at the mouth), and in the bottom of one of them this inscription, CALETI M. for caleti manibus; these 'too are of the fine red earth. These were found some years since by the Whitstable men, dredging for oysters, near Reculver. I have too a piece of a broken vessel found at Richborough. And he brought me several other pieces of Antiquity, which were some years ago dug out of a barrow in East Kent, and there seem to be some of them Roman, and others Saxon; and such the late Dr. Batteley told me he had seen dug out of one barrow in that County. Mine are as follow:-A large fibula of copper, but wrought and two strings of beads; one of amber, with some of blue glass among them; the other of glass gilt, most round, but some of them long. I take these to be Roman. I have a piece of a skull found there. "Those which I think may be Saxon are, the head of an axe, sharp before, and very thick behind; it is iron, and weighs one * John Creyk, of St John's College, Cambridge; B A. 1711; M. A. 1722; elected F. S. A. 1723-4 -Another John Creyk, of St. John's also; B A. 1734; M. A. 1748 (probably son of the former); obtained the Vicarage of Eastwell in 1742; and died in 1745. pound |