| Description | [2 pieces]
Birmingham
Novr. 16th. 1831.
Dear Sir
I have heard from Mr. Bedford, with much pleasure, that you contemplate, and are actually making preparations for, the publication of a supplementary Volume to Sir W. Dugdale’s History and Antiquities of Warwickshire; proposing to avail yourself of the extensive and valuable additions made by the late Mr. Hamper to his interleaved Copy of that work, of which I am informed that you are now the Proprietor.
That Gentleman intended to have published, as a separate work, a History of the Parish of Aston juxta Birmingham, comprizing the whole of Dugdale’s Account of that Parish, with Additions and Illustrations, towards which he (Mr. H) had made an extensive collection of Deeds and other Manuscripts and Documents, including a considerable number of Drawings and Prints, with several Engraved Copper Plates, and about twenty wooden blocks of fac simile Autographs of remarkable or distinguished persons. The whole of this collection I purchased from the Executors, through Messrs. Beilby & Co. the Booksellers here, with a handsome folio Book, nicely ruled, wherein Mr. Hamper had begun a fair transcript of his intended work, which I did once think by slow degrees to have completed, but my time is so fully occupied in other matters, and the state of my health is also such, that I must abandon all hope of being ever able to accomplish that intention.
In the preparation of your intended Volume this Collection relating to so large and important a Parish as Aston may be of material service. I therefore beg that you will allow me to place the entire collection in your hands to be used and appropriated in any way that you may think proper in aid of your undertaking.
On receiving from you a few days previous notice I will have the several articles packed up and brought into New Street, where you will probably desire some person to call for them with a covered Vehicle in which to convey them safe & dry to Berkswell.
I remain Dear Sir
Your much obliged and very humble Servant
George Yates
To Sir J. E. Eardley-Wilmot Bart.
[Fixed with sealing-wax to the front of this document is the following memorandum. On the reverse are the words: Pelham Place, Hasting.]
7. Nov. 1831
To allow Int at the rate of 5£ pr cent pr ann. on the purchase money for the Aston Manuscripts until his continuation of Dugdale (in 1 Vol.) is completed.
When work complete Interest is to cease & then—
To give copies of work to the value of £100.—
Upon these terms the Manuscripts are to be considered the property of Sir J. but in the event of his death before the work is finished M.S. to be returned to G. Y. with Int to the time of the return & with such additional Documents Etchings &c. that he might collect in the meantime relative to the Psh of Aston.’ |