Letter 44 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Strawberry Hill, July 7, 1772. (page 70)

Dear Sir, I sent you last week by the Cambridge Fly, that puts up in Gray’s-inn-lane, six copies of King Edward’s Letters, but fear I forgot to direct their being left at Mr. Bentham’s, by which neglect perhaps you have not yet got them; so that I have been very blamable, while I thought I was very expeditious; and it was not till reading your letter again just now that I discovered my carelessness.

I have not heard of Dr. Glynn, etc., but the housekeeper has orders to receive them.  I thank you a thousand times for the Maltese notes, which I have given to the gentleman, and for the Wyattiana:  I am going to work on the latter.

I have not yet seen Mr. ’s print, but am glad it is so like.  I expected Mr. Mason would have sent me one early; but I suppose he keeps it for me, as I shall call on him in my way to Lord Strafford’s.

Mr. West,(78) one of our brother antiquaries, is dead.  He had a very curious collection of old pictures, English coins, English prints, and manuscripts.  But he was so rich, that I take for granted nothing will be sold.  I could wish for his family pictures of Henry V. and Henry viii.

Foote, in his new comedy of The Nabob, has lashed Master Doctor Miles and our Society very deservedly for the nonsensical discussion they had this winter about Whittington and his Cat.  Few of them are fit for any thing better than such researches.  Poor Mr. Granger has been very ill, but is almost recovered.  I intend to invite him to meet you in September.  It is a party I shall be very impatient for:  you know how sincerely I am, dear Sir, your obliged and Obedient humble servant.

(78) James West, Esq.  He was for some time one of the secretaries of the treasury, vice president of the Society of Antiquaries, and president of the Royal Society.  His curious collection of manuscripts were purchased by the Earl of Shelburne, and are now deposited in the British Museum.-E.

Letter 45 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Strawberry Hill, July 28, 1772. (page 70)

Dear Sir, I am anew obliged to you, as I am perpetually, for the notice you give me of another intended publication against me in the Archaeologia, or Old Woman’s Logic.  By Your account, the author will add much credit to their Society!  For my part, I shall take no notice of any of his handycrafts.  However, as there seems to be a willingness to carp at me, and as gnats may on a sudden provoke one to give a slap, I choose to be at liberty to say what I think Of the learned Society; and therefore I have taken leave of them, having so good an occasion presented as their council on Whittington and his Cat, and the ridicule that Foote has thrown on them.  They are welcome to say any thing on my writings, but that they are the works of a fellow of so foolish a Society.