and those badly connected. I observed the undercroft or crypt is more antient than the Church, being of Norman work.

"Dr. Gordon told me you did not choose to visit the subterraneous building lately discovered at Lincoln; nor did I find the least inclination to creep into a common sewer in search of it. I am perfectly satisfied with the plan and section, and am convinced that it was made for a hypocaustum, though some gentlemen are of a different opinion; but if it was not made for that purpose, I should be glad to know to what use it could be applied.

"The antient state of Granta and Cambridge, from Dr. Mason's manuscript, is, I conceive, irregular or imperfect; and the account of colleges, religious-houses, and hostles in Cambridge, incorrect. I will read them again with more attention, and mark the places of which I have any doubts; but I cannot pretend to so much knowledge as Mr. Cole, whose life has been spent in collecting whatever relates to this University and County.

"From the account of Croyland, that Church must be compounded of various styles. The plate sent with the sheets I suppose is intended to represent part of the west end of the south aisle; but I may be mistaken, as it is very different from what it appears to be in Carter's print, and in the description. The interlaced arches on little pillars are not so antient as the round arches, but were often used in the same building; and it is not probable that they should have been added as a casing to older work, though they may by time and frost be separated from the inner parts of the walls, of which they were at first an outer casing. The arch-work, in pannels and small mouldings, as in the sketch, was the last improvement in that branch of masonry; and was most used after the time of Henry VI.

"I fear the plan of the east end of the Church, made from my sketch, will not be understood without the references; and before they are finished, I should like to compare them with the description in page 45 (said in the proof) misprinted.

66

Query. What sort of bricks were used in Saint Guthlac's original cell and chapel, on which Dr. Stukeley supposes the buttress was built A. D. 716? I think there is little probability that what he supposes is true; but if it is, those bricks are in the shape of Roman wall tile; and, if not Roman, show that bricks were used very early by the Saxons. If the bricks are of the common form, the buttress, &c. are more modern than the Doctor supposes; and I think it very certain not built on any part of Guthlac's cell (page 33).

"When you see Mr. Herbert, pray present my compliments to him, and tell him his papers are still in Dr. Farmer's hands, who has had Mr. Steevens with him several weeks, and I have not been able to speak with him about them; but I hope while they

are together Mr. Steevens will take notes of all the black letter, or other books, in Dr. Farmer's collection, that may be useful to him. I am, yours sincerely, JAMES ESSEX."

23. "DEAR SIR,

Cambridge, Nov. 7, 1782.

"Having an opportunity of sending a small parcel to town, I have taken advantage of it to send these sheets to be left for you at Mr. Nichols's. I have read over the whole, and have made some alterations, which you will see in the margins; those, against which I have made a Q, are such as I believe want rectifying. Mr. Cole, who knows much better than I do, I dare say will correct all that he finds amiss; but, if he cannot give the sites of the hostles, &c. will it not be better to give a list of them in general, without naming their sites, than to place them where they were not? I am by no means satisfied with the account of the antient state of Cambridgeshire, its rivers, camps, and ditches, which would require a map drawn on purpose to describe them; but as yet no correct map of the county has been made, consequently nothing correct can be laid down from what we have. I wish to see a good map of the county, with every thing of this sort truly drawn upon it; but, as Cambridgeshire is the least civilised part of the kingdom, it is not probable it will be done very soon. The late Dr. Mason did much towards it; but what he has done, though mathematically correct, is consigned to the worms, who in a short time will destroy the labour of years, and deprive the curious of a work, which would do honour to his memory, if preserved.

"In my last I mentioned the lid of a small stone coffin, which I saw in my way to York; it is fixed in the wall of a cottage at Milforth in Yorkshire. You will see the form of it by the sketch below*; it is 1 foot 8 inches long, 11 inches wide at top, and 8 inches at bottom. The letters T A seem to be modern. There are some scratches, which seem intended for a date, but seem unintelligible, being only rude scratches made with a nail or point of a knife.

"I saw another stone of this sort about the same bigness, worked into the walls of the tower of a Church at York; I think it is St. Mary the Elder.

"I am, yours sincerely,

JAMES ESSEX."

24. Mr. GoUGH to Mr. ESSEX.

"DEAR SIR, Nov. 30, 1782. "Turning the map of Cambridgeshire in my mind, if Mrs. Chettow could be prevailed on to trust me with a sight of it, I could

* Mr. Essex has represented a cross flory of a form not uncommon on ancient grave-stones, particularly in the North of England. Several are engraved in Whitaker's Richmondshire.

at least give some advice as to the use that might be made of it, or price given for it. It seems to be given up by the Cambridgeshire people and Mr. Elstobb, and is open; and, if you have interest. enough with her, it might at least pay her better than by being worm-eaten. You need not mention my name; but that you would show it to a friend. Yours, R. GOUGH."

"DEAR SIR,

25. Mr. ESSEX to Mr. GoUGH.

Cambridge, Dec. 18, 1782. "It is with much concern I now write to acquaint you, that our old friend Mr. Cole is no more. He was confined to his bed, for the first time, last Thursday se'nnight. On Tuesday the 10th he sent for me and Mr. Lombe the attorney, having, as he said, no time to lose, and gave directions about his will, which he had written himself; but desired him to put it into proper form, with some few alterations.

"His manuscripts, consisting of about 100 volumes, he has given to the British Museum; likewise a large collection of loose letters and papers of antiquities, which he has directed to be sorted and coarsely bound, and deposited with the manuscripts in a large strong box, not to be opened until twenty years after his death; he likewise desires, that no person, except his executors, may be admitted into his study until all his letters and loose papers are sorted and locked up with the manuscripts.

"All his printed books are to be sold with the house and furniture, painted-glass, &c. &c. and has appointed me and his old servant Tom executors *, with Mr. Lombe as overseer of his

* Mr. Essex's name was apparently not inserted as executor in 1779, when Mr. Cole wrote him the following letter, of which he has preserved a transcript in vol. XLI. of his MSS. at the British Museum, p. 344:

"For Mr. Essex, opposite Catharine-hull in Cambridge. Milton, Sat. July 24, 1779.

" DEAR SIR, "I hope you and the ladies got safe home on Thursday, and are well. I wish you a good journey to Margate, and all the good effects of it. I I was not well enough yesterday to be a venison eater, and thought it best to be quiet at home.

“Dr. Gooch called here yesterday in his way to Ely, and said he would call on his return to-day. He is not much to be depended on; yet, if he does not call, I will send this and the inclosed on purpose early tomorrow, and before you set out. They are for Mr. Tyson (to whom, with Mrs. Tyson, pray make my best respects), to Mr. Walpole, and to Mr. Gough. I will beg you to put them into the general post at Lamborne, if you call not in Arlington-street, or do not mean to see Mr. Gough.

"I am not well to-day. Perhaps I may not see you again. If I am under ground at your return (for I expect to go off suddenly, and wish for it), as a friend look at the spot; and, as you contrived me a neat place here for a temporary dwelling, so I beg you to recommend it to my executor to desire you to ornament my longest home. "Adieu !

WM. COLE."

will. He died on Monday the 16th instant, about half after five in the afternoon, perfectly resigned, and sensible to the last moment, without a sigh or groan. He took a very affectionate leave of me, for the last time, about three hours before he died; he was in his sixty eighth year. He desired to be buried under the old wooden belfry in St. Clement's parish, Cambridge, in a vault; and, after the death of his sister Jane *, a tower to be built over it by way of monument. He has likewise left .10 for a black marble stone, to be laid in St. John's-college Chapel, over the place where Mr. Baker was buried †.

"He told me you had one of his manuscripts; and I must beg the favour of you to return it as soon as you can collect what you want from it, as he has ordered it to be put with the others. I received yours of the 30th last, but have not had an opportunity of seeing Mrs. Chettow, and am well satisfied she will not suffer the map to go out of her own hands; she is even afraid that any one should see it. I am, with compliments to the ladies, "Yours affectionately, JAMES ESSEX."

26. Mr. GoUGH to Mr. ESSEX.

Jan. 10, 1783.

"DEAR SIR, "I am in hope still not to be thought to trangress the will of our deceased friend, if compelled, by delay of the press, to detain his manuscript a week or ten days longer; you have the keys of the rest in your hands, and I suppose are not obliged to lodge them in the Museum by a limited time.

"When I return this we may exchange manuscripts, for there is one which he lent Mr. Tyson and had back on his death, and always intended for me; I saw it when I dined at Milton last September. It had been new written; and there was a particular direction in the first leaf that it should be delivered to me after his decease. It is a thin quarto; and contains memorandums of the antiquities of Bene't."

27. Mr. ESSEX to Mr. GOUGH.

"DEAR SIR, Cambridge, Feb. 7, 1783. "Yours of the 10th last I ought to have answered before now, but have been so much engaged in Mr. Cole's business that my time is almost equally divided between Cambridge and Milton. Several persons have been desirous of purchasing the remainder of the lease of Mr. Cole's house; among them Mr. Masters was the most pressing, wanting to take the house and furniture, *This lady is mentioned in the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. I. pp. 651, 663.

See the inscription in the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. IX. p. 602; see also what is said in a note written by the Rev. George Ashby, ibid. vol. V. p. 663.

books, farming utensils, horses, cows, pigs, and poultry, all in a lump; but Mrs. Cole has consented that her brother's servant, T. Wood, shall have the lease of the farm and the stock by private contract, and that the furniture should be sold by auction, which will be in about three weeks' time. Among them I believe there is nothing worthy your notice except the stainedglass, which Mr. Cole ordered in his will to be sold, and plainglass put in its place. When a catalogue is printed, I will send it to you.

"As Cambridge is not a place for the sale of books, I have, by desire of Dr. Lort and Mr. G. Steevens, sent the catalogue (made by Mr. Cole of his books) to them, directed for the latter, at Mr. Nichols's, they having obligingly offered to treat with Mr. White, or some other bookseller, for the disposal of them all; the catalogue was sent about a fortnight ago, but I have had no answer concerning them.

"The manuscripts are all locked up in a large chest, which is not yet brought from Milton, or examined. I mentioned the manuscript you inquired for to T. Wood, who tells me that his master wrote in the beginning of it (since you saw it) 'That he would have it go with his other manuscripts *. When I find it, if it is directed as you say, you shall have it; but, as our old friend often changed his mind, I shall not wonder if he has done it in this particular instance, as his servant seems very certain about it.

"The manuscript volume XLIV. I received last night very safe; and will take care to put it among the rest. No time is fixed for delivering them to the Museum, as they cannot be sent until the loose letters and papers are sorted, and packed up with them, which will take up some considerable time, though I have separated and destroyed a great many, which have no relation to history or antiquities. Yours sincerely, JAMES ESSEX."

28. "DEAR SIR, Cambridge, Feb. 23, 1783. "With this I have inclosed the catalogue of Mr. Cole's goods to be sold by auction, in which I believe you will not find any thing worth your notice besides the glass, which, if you wish to have, I will get somebody to bid for it. There are no rings or seals, except those he has given away by his will; nor any prints of value.

"Mr. White has agreed for the books, which will be sent to town this week.

'I am glad Dr. Mason's map is likely to be saved; and hope Dr. Lort will give Fadent instructions to insert the ditches,

* See this particularly explained in “Literary Anecdotes,” 1. 694. After all the Map was not engraved by Faden. It was first published in 1808 by Mr. Lysons in his Magna Britannia, by the favour of Mr. Thomas Fisher, banker, of Cambridge.