knew too of any good imitation of Plato's Dialogues in French or English, I should be extremely obliged to him for getting it me. I hope to have an answer from him on Saturday, and that he will excuse the trouble.

66

J. G."

Lady Grey sends her thanks to Mr. Birch for the favour of his letters, and his trouble in getting Mr. Foster's book, which came to her very safe. She believes, from the letter she received last Sunday, he had been so obliging to write to her the week before to Wimpole; but that letter, if he did, miscarried. She is now going to the Bishop of Oxford's* for a fortnight, and when she removes again, her porter shall acquaint Mr. Birch with it, as she will always be very glad wherever she is to hear from him when it is convenient. And she desires his acceptance of the venison that accompanies this."

"SIR,

Wrest, July 25, 1749.

"I think myself so much obliged by the favour of your letter, that I could not but take the first opportunity to return my thanks for it; and assure you, that whenever you are so good as to give yourself the trouble of writing, I shall receive great pleasure as well as information by it. It was an agreeable surprize to me to see the usual Sunday's packet; since as a correspondence to Wrest is so wholly disinterested now, and I can furnish nothing in exchange, I had no reason to expect you should employ any time only for my amusement. But it is a greater merit in whoever is charitable without the possibility of a return; and you may be sure, Sir, that those letters you favour me with in Mr. Yorke's absence will be preserved carefully among the Wrest Archives till he comes back, and that my fingers are all at your service for pasting, if not for writing, to join them to their brethren in those volumes that already adorn his closet.

"As you will scarcely be much interested in the memorable events that daily happen here-as the frequent changes of weather we go through, the state of absolute rest, or the slow progress of my building, with many more equally important-I will spare you the reading of them; but there is a piece of intelligence I must send for the honour of Wrest; and that you particularly, of all my acquaintance, should be informed of. It is (and I give you the assurance of it under my own hand), that I have neither heard, seen, or felt, a Gnat, since I came hither. I fear you will think I am using the privilege of a traveller, though I stay quietly at my own house; but I can bring several witnesses to the truth of this assertion, strange as it may seem; and if it was not acting a very unfriendly part by any body, to ask them to leave London, and come to so dull a place as this, I would desire, if you doubt the veracity of it, you will come and try the experiment yourself. But, whatever you may think of this, you will believe me very sincere, I hope, when I add, I am always most truly, Sir, your friend and humble servant, J. GREY."

* Dr. Thomas Secker, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. See vol. III. p. 477.

Lady

"Lady Grey begs to know whether Mr. Birch has got the <Collection of Sidney Letters,' and if he would care to lend them to Lady Mary Gregory to carry with her to Oxford. She sends to ask this favour, because Mr. Yorke's set is the large paper, and bound, which makes them not so convenient for packing; and Lady Mary will take great care of Mr. Birch's, if he has no objection to lending them. They are desired to be sent by the bearer, as she goes out of town to-morrow.

"Mr. Yorke desires to mention to Mr. Birch, that if the weather should be fine next week, and he could like an excursion out of London (when he has seen how beautiful the country looks in the ride he is to take with Mr. Charles), Mr. Yorke will be extremely glad to see him at Wrest."

"Tuesday Evening, March 23, 1762. "Lady Grey sends her compliments to Dr. Birch, and was sorry she had forgot last night to mention a request she was desirous to make to him. She wishes very much to get a girl admitted this year into the school at Christ's Hospital. It is one who is not a Freeman's child; and having seen, in the List of those who have the power of presenting at Easter, Mr. Josiak Colebrook's name, she recollected that Dr. Birch met him often, and would perhaps be so good as to ask whether his turn was not engaged, and if he would let Dr. Birch send him the name of the girl. She takes the liberty of sending a marked List of the Governors, that, if this application should not succeed, and Dr. Birch should see among them the name of any other person he could speak to, and would take the trouble, she would think herself greatly obliged to him; and it is indeed for an object of real compassion. She would not delay this request till she saw him again (having unluckily forgot yesterday till he was gone), being unwilling to delay it longer, as the time is but short." "Saturday, June 30, 1764.

Lady Grey sends her compliments to Dr. Birch, and would be very glad if he could call pretty soon in the evening to see Lord Hardwicke, who is very much alone, and in want of company. She hopes too he will be so good to come to him as often as he possibly can."

"Thursday Morning. Lady Marchioness Grey would be glad to borrow Mrs. Macaulay's History of England, if Dr. Birch has got it at home, and can spare it."

Dr. BIRCH to Dr. DUCAREL.

<< SIR, Norfolk Street, Friday Morning, June 14, 1754. "I cannot recollect to have met with any account, either in print or manuscript, of the many different Progresses of Queen Elizabeth in her Kingdom; nor can I discover whether she was at Croydon after May 1574, during the remainder of the Life of Archbishop Parker, who died on the 17th of May of the following year, 1575. Strype takes no notice of any such visit of her Majesty. "Arch

"Archbishop Grindall fell so soon under her displeasure, the very year after his translation from York to Canterbury, that it is probable that she never honoured him with any visit at Croydon. "His successor Whitgift, as we are informed by Sir George Paule in his Life of his Grace, p. 103, 'every year entertained the Queen at one of his houses so long as he was Archbishop, and some years twice or thrice;' and albeit, adds he, p. 112, 'the Archbishop had ever a great affection to lie at his mansionhouse at Croydon, for the sweetness of the place, especially in summer-time, whereby also he might sometimes retire himself from the multiplicity of businesses and suitors in the vacations; yet, after he had builded his Hospital and School, he was farther in love with the place than before. The chief comfort of repose or solace that he took, was often in dining at the Hospital among his poor brethren,' as he called them.'

"I am sorry that I am not able to give you any farther information on this subject; and am, with great regard and sincerity, your most obedient and most humble servant, T. BIRCH." "DEAR SIR, July 15, 1754.

"The pleasure which I have received from the perusal of your Tour through Normandy' is such, that I could wish the satisfaction more general than that of a few of your friends; and therefore hope you will pursue your resolution of committing it to the press. That Province of France of which you treat was formerly so nearly connected with our country, that this circumstance will excite a general curiosity, which your observations will fully gratify.

"I am now able to inform you of the reason of your not having yet heard from Mr. Hall, which is his indisposition; on account of which Dr. Forster told me on Saturday, that himself was to go for a month to Croydon to supply the place of Mr. Hall, who is to try what effect a change of air will have towards the recovery of his health. I am, with great regard and sincerity, dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant, THO. BIRCH."

DR. BIRCH to Mr. DA CoSTA.

"DEAR SIR, Jan. 18, 1763. "Your religious profession may possibly be a prejudice to you with some persons; but ought not, I think, to discourage you from offering yourself a candidate* on the present occasion, since you have shewn yourself so useful a member of the Society, and are capable of doing great service to it in the office now vacant. The Council is expected to meet on Thursday next to prepare for Election at the Society, probably on the Thursday following. "I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, T. BIRCH." "Dr. Birch sends his compliments to Mr. Da Costa, and acquaints him, that he put his Memoirs of Dr. Hall into Mr. Collinson's hands above a month ago, who undertook to transmit them to Mr. Du Hamel.

For the office of Librarian in the Royal Society.

"With regard to Dr. Bradley, Dr. Birch soon after that gentleman's death applied to Professor Bliss and the executor of Dr. Bradley for Memoirs relating to him; and speaking again to the Professor just before the Society adjourned, that he had received no account yet of Dr. Bradley, he was answered, that such an account was, or would be sent to Dr. Morton, who never having mentioned the affair to Dr. Birch, the latter will leave the former to draw up what he pleases upon the subject for the use of the Secretary of the Academy of Sciences."

Letters to and from the Rev. Dr. PRIESTley.

To Mr. DA COSTA.

"DEAR SIR, Warrington, May 18, 1766. "At length I have the satisfaction of sending you the sample of Noah's Bacon, which I promised you. I am sorry that I have nothing else to send you at present; but a Friend of mine, who is an excellent Naturalist, has promised to be attentive to every thing that falls in his way in our part of the country, in order to send me specimens of whatever is curious. These, you may depend upon it, I shall transmit to you as they come to hand. In the mean time I am, with the greatest gratitude and respect, dear Sir, your obliged humble servant, J. PRIESTLEY.

"P. S. The gentlemen concerned in our Academy desire that I would return you their grateful acknowledgments for your very acceptable present of specimens of Emeralds. As the time of my Election* draws near, you will not be surprised that I am a little anxious on that account."

To the Rev. Dr. JOSEPH PRIESTLEY. "DEAR SIR, Royal Society's House, June 14, 1766. "I deferred returning you thanks for your greatly-esteemed of 18th of last month, and present of the bitumen found in Lancashire (vulgarly called there Noah's Bacon), which I received safe, till I could have the pleasure to transmit you notice of your Election into the Royal Society. It was on Thursday last; and I congratulate you sincerely thereon, and wish you many years' health to enjoy the honour granted you by the Society, which has, I am persuaded, acquired in you a very valuable Member.

"I must now acquaint you of the method of your admission and payments. The payments are made in two ways; viz. 1, by paying five guineas admission, and signing a bond for the annual payment of 21. 12s. of contributions; or, 2, by paying down 25 guineas, and therefore not liable to sign a bond, or pay any future contributions; in short, in lieu of contributions. The latter way is the most eligible, and more agreeable to the Society when Gentlemen reside at a distance from London. Messrs. Canton and Price, who congratulate you on your Election, and the latter desired me to acquaint you he shall write to you soon,

*As F. R. S.-See the next Letter.

advise you to pay the 25 guineas; and on your payment you have all the privileges of a Member-as, being inserted in the List of Fellows, having the Philosophical Transactions, &c.; and leave is granted and recorded for you to be admitted, and sign the Charter-book whenever your business calls you to London, even though it be many years after.

My respects attend the Gentlemen of the Academy; and assure them I shall always be ready to do any thing in my power to testify my esteem for them.

"My compliments also attend Dr. Percival. I beg the favour of your answer how you design to act. I am, with great respect, dear Sir, your very obliged humble servant, E. M. DA COSTA." To Mr. E. M. DA COSTA.

"DEAR SIR, Warrington, June 21, 1766. "I am obliged to you for the notice you were so kind as to send me of the honour done me by the Royal Society, and for your advice about the most eligible method of defraying the necessary expences. Inclosed you will find a bill of twenty-five guineas, at as early a date I can procure for ready money. Please to deliver the receipt and Book of Rules to Mr. Johnson, bookselJer, who will wait upon you with this letter, and who will soon have an opportunity of transmitting them to me.

"I am glad that the specimen of Noah's Bacon was acceptable to you. Be assured that I shall omit no opportunity of doing

you any service in my power.

"I am now wholly engaged in Electrical Experiments; and I flatter myself that my enquiries will appear not to have been wholly without success: but I am much at a loss for a Tourmalin. I am afraid I ask too great a favour, when I beg you would procure me the use of one or two for a few weeks. They should be returned without any injury, and Mr. Johnson would take care of the conveyance. I am, with great respect, dear Sir, "Your most obliged humble servant, J. PRIESTLEY." To the Rev. JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL. D. "REV. SIE, London, Jan. 4, 1768. "The inclosed anecdotes, concerning late Professor Van Muschenbroeck, I lately received from Holland (from Rev. Henrick Putman, Minister of the Dutch Church in Austin Fryars, F. R.S.); and are the result of my enquiries about him, which I made at your request.

"Pieter Van Muschenbroeck was born at Leyden, March 14, 1692, and took up his degree of Doctor in Physick and Philosophy at the same place; was made Professor of the same Sciences at Duisburg, anno 1719; of Philosophy and Mathematicks at Utrecht, anno 1723; and, lastly, of Philosophy and Mathematicks, anno 1740, at Leyden, where he died Sept. 19, 1761. His parents were Johannes Van Muschenbroeck, and Maria Vander Straeten his wife.

At all times ready to your commands, I remain, Sir,
"Your very humble servant,

E. M. DA COSTA."

DODINGTON