Wednesday 31st. At Musm. ##from 10 till 4. Cont.d Wace. Mr
Petrie at Musm. He gave me a list of readings from the
Cotton MS. Life of Wilfrid, to verify ####with the Fell MS. It
appears both Mabillon & Gale have committed many blunders.
Nothing yet has transpired from the Abp. ###but Mr P. thinks
the decision rests between three out of the ten, viz.: Sir Wm. Ouseley,
Mr. Cary and myself. Deus vertat in bonum! On my return
home I found a letter from Dr Bliss, sealed with a very curious
oval impression, which I shall describe. It represents a figure
seated and reading at a desk, habited in a gown & scull cap.
Round the edge is this inscription: + S’. ELIE. LONDONIARV’.
CL’ICI. Bliss tells me he saw yesterday Vaux, the Abp‘s other chaplain
to whom he was to write a letter in my favor, which Mr V. was to
forward to the Abp. with a recommendatn. of his own. Good dear
Bliss! It will be too late, & I fear of no avail. Dr. Bliss enclosed
to me Ld Spencer‘s reply to his letter, which I here copy verbatim.
“Brickhill 25 May 1826.
Dear Sir,
I shall be very happy to hear that Mr Bean’s death
gives an opportunity for introducing Mr. Madden into
the British Museum; I had indeed been in hopes that
he had been appointed on the vacancy occasioned by
that of Dr Noehden, but unfortunately I find I was mis=
taken; however I long ago ####mentioned Mr Madden to the
Archbishop, and I have reason to believe that he has
heard of his pretensions also from other quarters, & I hope
he will attend to them; but I have so often trespassed
on his Patronage, that I cannot without indelicacy take
any further steps in favour of Mr Madden just now.
You have been very good in taking so much trouble
for me about Goddard’s Sermons, & if you should be obliged
to have recourse to my good friend the Provost of Oriel, I
beg you will convey my best thanks to him also.
I forbear from alluding to a subject which I am sure
must have given you great Pain as it has to me; I much
fear that it is almost hopeless!*
Yours ever faithfully
The Revd Dr. Bliss.”
Mem. The last paragraph in his Ldship’s letter, refers, I
imagine, to a certain quondam M. P. for Oxford Univy [Heber]
In the Ev’g read Herodotus, as I generally do. I think of
return’g to Oxford on Saturday or Sunday, but this depends
on circumstances, & I may perhaps not go till Sunday week.
[*This refers to Heber! F.M.]
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