Saturday 27th. I did not get to bed till 4oC. this morning,
but I was up again at nine, & after breakfast I walked to
Harding‘s in Pall Mall, & gave him back the proof of Blore.
Whilst there, Singer entered the shop, & Harding told me (for
we were in his private room) that Douce had taken up
Singer very warmly, & had introduced him to ##Mr. Thos. Grenville,
who had also been very zealous to get him appointed, & through
Ld. Grenville, had laid his papers before the Abp. This
makes against me, but I still think I have as good
interest as Singer; priority of claim, &, in point of MSS.
^or languages I think Singer would not enter the lists with me, altho
from his having edited so many books, he has got a
name among the booksellers. Harding also tells me
that Ld Colchester intends Horne shd occupy Combe’s place‡,
whenever poor Combe shd. die, or be removed. This will be
a better thing than the Sub-librarianship. I obtained from
Harding my copy of Richd Maydestone’s poem ^(See p. 398), which, it appears,
was made, when Harding entered into terms with Nicholas
to write a History of London, but which had been since broken off,
and I am glad of it, as I do not think Mr. H. N. at all
qualified for the task. He bores me to death at the Musm.
and his utter ignorance of MSS. quite surrprises me. He
gave me a copy of his paper on the Barons seals ^from the Archæologia which
I do not think at all well done. At 11. oC. I went to the
Musm & found Mr Petrie there. We collated the Life of
St. Wilfrid in the Act. SS. Ord. Benedict. Tom. 1. by Eddius,
with the Cotton copy,MS, Nero. D. VI. from which Mabillon printed,
(having obtained a copy through the medium of Gale) but we
found it often very unfaithful, & Mabillon has taken
the liberty to correct all the sphalmata in orthography
and grammar, which is not right, unless notice is at the
same time given of ##such corrections. Mr P. told me he had written
to ^Dr. Doyly, & that Todd had yesterday written to the
Abp. in my favor. Ld. Spencer also is come to town, &
may be able to do something. In short, every thing
that can be done, has been done, & if I fail, I can
not blame the lukewarmness of my friends on this
occasion. In fact, I have met with more kindness
than I had any reason to expect, & I feel almost
surprised at having in so short a time ########
since I left home, acquired so good a name among
men who stand the first among the literary ###celebrities
of the day. Mr P. thinks from the Abp‘s visit to the
Musm. that his determination will certainly be known
by the middle of the week. Fiat!
Dearest M! And have I not thought of thee during
this contest? I take Heaven to witness, it is solely
on her account I am anxious, & have delayed
writing to her so long, only on account of my wishing
if possible, to be the harbinger of some joyful intelligence
to her. At all events, if I do not succeed this time,
I shall have the greater claim on any future oppor=
tunity. Met Henry at 4 oC. & walked till 6. Promised
to come to Fulham tomorrow.
‡ This is also erroneous.
Leave a Reply