LETTER I.

Sir KENELM DIGBY* to Dr. GERARD LANGBAINE.†

On a Donation of MSS. to the Bodleian Library.

SIR,

EVEN now, I receive the letter you have done me the favour to write to me the 24th of the last month, and do acknowledge myself much obliged to you for the great civilities you are pleased to use to me in it. For that which you desire my answer unto: if your public register

* Of this eminent man it is observed by Wood, that "his person was handsome and gigantic, and nothing was wanting to make him a complete cavalier. He had so graceful elocution and noble address, that had he been dropt out of the clouds into any part of the world, he would have made himself respected." Ath. Oxon. Among the books he presented to the Bodleian Library, there were more than two hundred manuscripts.

Gerard Langbaine, "beloved of Usher, Selden, and the great Goliahs of literature," was Fellow and afterwards Provost of Queen's College, and Keeper of the University Archives. It is said to have been his intention not only to make a perfect catalogue of the books in the Bodleian Library, and to class them according to their subjects, but to incorporate into it all those in the private Libraries of

of the library were by you, I believe it would give you a full one; for, as I remember, Dr. James* (by whom I sent my present) told me at his return from Oxford, that such clauses as I desired were expressed; one main one whereof was, that whensoever a deserving person desired to make use of any of those books I gave, (especially for printing of them) they to whom the care of the library was committed, might pleasure him by the loan thereof; such person giving them satisfaction for the restitution of the book in due time. But to speak now fully to that particular, and to all other questions that may at any time arise concerning these books, wherein my resolution may be desired, be pleased to receive this from me-that when I sent these MSS. to the University, my aim was, to do her a service in it; and my act was, the making her a free gift of them, without any restriction upon her. Now upon both these scores, the absolute dispo

the different Colleges, which were wanting in the public, so that it might be seen at one view what books there were in Oxford on any subject. The design, however, was never 'carried into execution. He died Feb. 10, 1657-8, and was buried in the chapel of the College over which he had presided.

* Dr. Thomas James was Fellow of New College, and Head Librarian of the Bodleian, of which he published a catalogue in 4to. in the year 1605, which some years afterwards was reprinted. He died in 1622.