"After this, his Grace being desirous that the Registers of Lambeth should be further examined, I told him that nothing could render them serviceable but an Index to each volume of them. Upon his Grace's being pleased to intrust me with the oldest, entitled, Peckham,' not only a complete Index, but likewise an epitome of every act in that book, is done, and it is now writing over fair for the Archbishop.

"As his Lordship is well acquainted with my design of quitting this profession, and that he has promised to do something for me, I was in hopes he would, after one entire year's labour for him, think of me. But as I found nothing of that sort likely, I took the liberty, on the 18th Sept. 1755, the anniversary of my first going to Lambeth, to write to his Grace, to acquaint him that I had very lately heard that one of the Sub-Librarians places at the British Museum (with a salary of 150l. per annum, and a lodging in Montagu House), was in his Grace's disposal, and that I should be very much obliged to him for it; and had the misfortune on the 20th to receive a very polite letter from his Grace, that he was sorry he had not received my hint sooner, but that he was engaged to a particular person.

"Thus, dear Sir, stands my case. I beg your advice and assistance. I have been put to a very great expence, trouble, and a necessary neglect of my business. Dare I ask you whether I shall communicate this to Sir George Lee? or what shall I do? for I should be glad to obtain something from his Grace, although it were a good deal inferior in value to the Sub-Librarian's place above-mentioned. Dear Sir, think of my case, and favour me with your advice, which will lay an everlasting obligation upon "Yours, &c. A. C. DUCAREL."

Letters of JOHN THORPE *, Esq.

"DEAR SIR, Northfleet, Oct. 5, 1757. "I congratulate you on your preferment t; and hope that office will always be possessed by a worthy and learned Antiquary. I am very sorry it is not in my power to assist you with a copy of Mr. Wharton's Will, not having one among my papers; and Dr. George Thorp‡, though an old acquaintance of my Father's, was no way related to our Family. But my friend Mr. Harris, who formerly had some preferment at or near Canterbury, has furnished me with the following anecdotes, which, if they afford any light or assistance, are at your service.

"Mr. Henry Wharton was Rector of Minster in the Isle of

Of this truly benevolent man, and skilful and unassuming Antiquary, and of his respectable Father, see some Memoirs in the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. III. pp. 509–522. See also vol. VII. pp. 420. 691. + See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. p. 381.

"A Prebendary of Canterbury. He died about 1720, and left an estate to Emanuel College, Cambridge, and his books, and I suppose his manuscripts, to Mr. Browning his Curate, then Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge." J.T.

VOL. IV.

Xx

Thanet,

Thanet, and Mr. Harris believes that he died there, so that probably his will may be found in the office at Canterbury*.

"Mr. Charles Battely was Auditor to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, and Brother to the Archdeacon †, Author of the Antiquitates Rutupinæ.' Charles left three daughters: one of them married the present or late Clerk to the House of Lords.

"Oliver Battely you must remember a Student at Christ Church, Oxon. He was in my time a Junior Proctor, and has since published a second Edition of his Uncle's Book. If he be living, it is likely he may give some information of Wharton's Will. I am, dear Sir, &c. J. THORPE." Rochester, Sept. 14, 1767.

"DEAR SIR, "I have the pleasure to acquaint you that we return to BexJey this day, having been three weeks hard at work in taking draughts and elevations of every thing curious belonging to this Cathedral. I am astonished they have not been taken before, and have escaped the attention of our Antiquaries. They are some of the finest remains of Antiquity this day in England, and are undoubtedly most early Norman, if not Saxon. Let Sir Joseph know, if he is not yet gone into Sussex, that we have carefully examined the Custumale, and find it perfectly to agree with my Father's copy. We have taken casts from the most curious seals, and have met with the ichnography of the Cathedral. Bayly shall wait on you with the drawings for your inspection; and I believe I shall be in town soon after my return, when I will do myself the pleasure to inform you of every particular. In the mean time, I remain, dear Sir, &c. J. THORPE." Bexley, Nov. 20, 1769.

"DEAR DOCTOR,

"Herewith you receive, as specimens of my performance ‡, the effigies of Thomas Sparrow, in the Chancel of our Church. Your friend must procure a lump of black lead that is not gritty, which he may have at a copper-smith's, &c. and must keep the paper steady on the plate with a stone, or any weight, that it does not slip. Then rub lightly over every part of the plate, and when the figure and inscription appear fair and legible, it is sufficient; but must not rub too long, which will make it black and obscure.

"As to the Critical Reviewers, I pay little regard to their censure in respect to my book. I know it to be a work of great merit, and will always be esteemed a valuable library-book. A Preface and Index to the Churches will be given in the Supplemental Part. My friend Mr. Dingley has a very fine collection of coins, antique gems, drawings, &c. which with pleasure he will oblige you with a sight of, when you come to Bexley; and we will settle that mode when I next come to town.

"I wrote to Sir Joseph about a fortnight ago, which I suppose he received when he came to town. I shall not forget Scheuzer; and am your most faithful friend and servant, J. THORPE,"

*It was found there.

+ Of whom, and the Battely Family, see before, p. 85. The "Registrum Roffense," collected by his Father Dr. John Thorpe. "DEAK

:

Bexley, Oct. 29, 1771.

"DEAR SIR, During our stay at Canterbury we were not idle, but took drawings of the remains of all the Religious Houses in that City, and of the Roman arches of brick, which I took exact measurements of, so that I believe I have the completest Collection of the Antiquities there, of any one I know of. I visited likewise the parishes round the City, and in the neighbourhood of Ashford, where I amused myself in the antiquarian manner in visiting the churches, and in such natural, historical, and botanical researches, as fell in my way. Believe me, my good friend, I am more and more convinced, whatever some people may think, of the necessity of preserving inscriptions, when I consider the noble monuments, now scarce legible, and going to ruin and decay, in that large Diocese. I thank God I have preserved them in this small one.

"I likewise noticed all the painted glass, some very curious, and I believe hitherto unobserved. You know my curiosity in these matters, of which take no notice to Astle or the B. In short, I have a fund of Antiquarian chat, when I have the pleasure of seeing you. In my way home I went through Chesnutstreet, Stockbury Vallies, where I tarried two or three days at Stockbury, and have got sufficient matter should your antagonist again attack you. I am, &c. J. THORPE." Bexley, Oct. 14, 1772.

"DEAR DOCTOR,

"Herein your receive a rough draught of a letter to Dr. Maty*. I received safe Capt. Grose's drawings, which Miss Thorpe is now copying. Agreeable to your desire, I have enquired of the parsons of my acquaintance touching an exchange of the livings, but they are all below the terms required; and indeed unwilling to quit this pleasant part of the country. Should I still hear of any thing to the purpose, will give you timely notice. I remain, dear Sir, your faithful humble servant, J. THORPE." "DEAR DOCTOR, Bexley, Oct. 29, 1772.

"In the Universal Magazine for September last, p. 150, is a curious memoir concerning chesnut-trees, containing some further proofs of their being indigenous, worth your perusal. It makes honourable mention of your work, as it does likewise of the Registrum Roffense,' p. 152.

"I had a letter a few days ago from my friend Tom Austen, who relates a curiosity lately found in Chatham Church, which Fisher has a fine drawing of, and which he intends to insert in the second Edition of his History. It is the hand of a dead body dug up in the chancel, with all the veins, arteries, and several of the nails, perfectly preserved, almost in a state of petrifaction. A piece of a sword-handle, with blue ribbon at the end, was found grasped therein, and the copper or other metal being greatly pulverised into a fine verdigrease, was seemingly the only means of having preserved that alone (for the other parts of the body could not be found), and which in some places A Reply to Mr. Broughton, on the subject of Chesnut-trees, printed in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. LXI. p. 152. x x2

has

has penetrated very visibly through the bones, and particularly one nail. It is now in the possession of Mr. Lowdal, of Chatham, and is esteemed a very great curiosity.

"I hope you will not forget to let a careful person extract from the papers and books in the Museum, every thing by the name of Holker, or Hulker*, and relating thereto; as pedigrees, arms, inscriptions, lands, &c. Mr. Holker will, with thanks, reJ. THORPE.' imburse the expence. Your sincere friend, Bexley, June 11, 1775.

"DEAR DOCTOR, "When I had last the pleasure of seeing you in town, you desired I would turn my thoughts relative to Mr. Vyse's plate for Hasted's History. I have therefore maturely considered that matter, and think there can be no subject so proper as Penshurst Place, the noble and superb antient seat of the Sydneys, Earls of Leicester. The plate of it given by Harris is a most vile wretched thing, crowded up in a corner in order to shew the park, that the house is scarcely perceptible. There is no building so grand, except Knoll, in that part of Kent, nor more proper for Hasted's work, or will more embellish it. The most advantageous view is opposite the North-west angle, which will take in the grand front, and the President's Court.

"This stately house was built by Sir William Sydney, Chamberlain and Steward to Henry VIII. The great Tower over the entrance was erected by his son, Sir Henry Sydney, Knight of the Garter, Lord President of Wales, &c. temp. Edw. VI. If Mr. Vyse is disposed to take a drawing of this Place, and will take a ride to Penshurst while I am there, we can consult about it. It is but six or seven miles from Brasted. I remain, Sir, "Your faithful humble servant, J. THORPE." "DEAR DOCTOR, Bexley, May 3, 1775.

"In answer to your queries:-You did not tell me, when I I had the pleasure of seeing you, that Mr. Jacob had sent you his four additional prints. 2. I have not his Edition of the Tragedy of Arden, nor did I know before that he had published it. 3. You did not tell me of Mr. Boys's four Plates of Seals. Do they appertain to any work of his?

"Are the Remains of Otford Palace approved of? I think the two views of it would make a good plate. Since I saw you, if Otford is disapproved of, I have been thinking of Wye College, founded by Cardinal Kemp. He was of a very eminent Kentish family, and founded both Church and College there. I think the College would make a very handsome plate; and the Church might be introduced in the side view, which would still render it more picturesque. My daughter took a drawing of it when she was in East Kent. As it is now converted into a boarding-school, a modern story of brick work, and sashed, has been raised on the The Family of Holker, Houker, and Hulker, come out of Lancashire, from a parish of that name; and from Eccles, Manchester, &c. Quere, if there was not a branch of them in Cumberland or Westmoreland? Sir J. Lowther is now proprietor of Holker Hall. J. T.

old

old building, which is of stone, with Gothic windows. The inside has a small quadrangle and cloisters.

Mr. Pegge the Antiquary *, while he was Rector of Godmersham, near Wye, collected a good deal relative to the College, which he had some thoughts of publishing. He had engraved the antient Seal of the College, which is extremely curious. It represents the figures of Pope Gregory and St. Martin in their pontificals, and in a niche beneath them is Cardinal Kemp, likewise in pontificalibus, with his hat, and his hands conjoined as in prayer. Round the verge is the inscription in the old black letter.

"This curious seal would be a proper ornament either above or beneath a plate of the College, Mr. Pegge presented a copy of it many years ago to my Father, which is now in my possession; and am very choice of it. I am ever

"Your faithful friend, and humble servant,

"DEAR DOCTOR,

J. THORPE." Bexley, Oct. 12, 1775. "I did not know that Harris's plates were published together, which must have been years after his death. Some were engraved by his name-sake Harris, which are tolerable, from the drawings of T. Bordslade, a boy of Christ's Hospital. Others were engraved by Kipp, wretched performances. The College of Bromley does not appear in Harris's History; therefore the publick cannot much be benefited thereby, as the Prints afterwards republished, with the College, inscribed to Lee Warner, Esq. must be in few hands.

"Colleges and Palaces certainly ought to be introduced in a County History; and it is natural for the Bishop of Rochester to adopt his favourite plan of the new Palace; and who so proper to give a plate of the old one as Mr. Wilcox † if applied to, who is a gentleman of large fortune, and possessed of so fine a drawing, which was his Father's, and would be doing honour to his memory? Hasted then would have prints of the old and new Palace to adorn his History.

"You mention in yours of Sept. 14, your old and worthy friend Mr. Stockwood, Rector of Henley. I observed this time *Of whom see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. p. 224.

+ Joseph Wilcox, esq. son of the Bishop of Rochester.

The Rev. William Stockwood was born at Peterborough, Jan. 30, 1704 5, and was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge, where he took the degree of B. A. 1711; M. A. 1716; B. D. 17..; and was some time Fellow; and as Senior, was presented by that Society, in 1725, to the valuable Rectory of Oakley in Surrey. He was sometime Chaplain to Dr. Wilcocks, Bishop of Rochester, in 174., who gave him the Rectory of Henley in Oxfordshire. He obtained a Prebend at Worcester in 1767, which he resigned in 1768, on becoming a Prebendary of Westminster; and died Feb. 5, 1784, at the advanced age of 100. This venerable and learned Divine was pious without ostentation, and till within the last ten years constantly performed divine service. Though he lived a very retired life at Henley, he was always ready to assist persons whom he knew to be in real want; and his death was greatly lamented by all those who had the happiness of his acquaintance, on account of his great benevolence, and his many other good qualities. He was buried under the communion-table of his church.

twelvemonths