“Have I not seen thee where thou hast not been?”

I have been in Kent with Mr. Barrett, but was not at Ramsgate; the Master, going thither, perhaps saw me.  It is a mistake not worth rectifying.  I have no time for more, being in the midst of the delivery of my books.  Yours ever.

(400) Dr. James Brown; see ante, p. 62, letter 36.-E.

Letter 201 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Berkeley Square, Nov. 11, 1780. (page 257)

I am afraid you are not well, my good Sir; for you are so obligingly punctual, that I think you would have acknowledged the receipt of my last volume, if you were not out of order.

Lord Dacre lent me the new edition of Mr. Gough’s Topography, and the ancient maps and quantity of additions tempted me to buy it.  I have not gone through much above the half of the first volume, and find it more entertaining than the first edition.  This is no partiality; for I think he seems rather disposed, though civilly, to find cavils with me.  Indeed, in the passage in which I am most mentioned, he not only gives a very confused, but quite a wrong account:  as in other places, he records some trifles in my possession not worth recording—­but I know that we antiquaries are but too apt to think, that whatever has had the honour of entering our ears, is worthy of being laid before the eyes of every body else.  The story I mean is P. ix. of the preface.  Now the three volumes of drawings and tombs, by Mr. Lethueillier and Sir Charles Frederick, for which Mr. Gough says I refused two hundred pounds, are now Lord Bute’s, are not Lord Bute’s, but mine, and for which I never was offered two hundred pounds, and for which I gave sixty pounds—­full enough.  The circumstances were much more entertaining than Mr. G.’s perplexed account.  Bishop Lyttelton told me Sir Charles Frederick complained of Mr. L.’s not bequeathing them to him, as he had been a joint labourer with him; and that Sir Charles wished I Would not bid against him for them, as they were to be sold by auction.  I said this was a very reasonable request, and that I was ready to oblige Sir Charles; but as I heard others meant to bid high for the books, I should wish to know how far he would go, and that I would not oppose him; but should the books exceed the price Sir Charles was willing to give, I should like to be at liberty to bid for them against others.  However, added I, as Sir Charles (who lived then in Berkelyey-square, as I did then in Arlington-street,) passes by my door every time he goes to the House of Commons, if he will call on me, We will make such agreement.  You will scarce believe the sequel.  The dignity of Sir Charles Frederick was hurt that I should propose his making me the first visit, though to serve himself—­nothing could be more out of my imagination than the ceremonial of visits; though when he was so simple as to make a point of it, I could not see how in any light I