| Description | ‘16 Suffolk St. Pall Mall East
19th [November 1831]
My dear Sir,
I return you many thanks for your obliging letter. I saw Mr. Bedford yesterday, who told me, that he had mentioned to you a conversation I had with him on the subject of the Aston Papers; & that he also had informed you, that I proposed, shuld they be placed in my hands, & should I publish a Supplementary Volume to Warws’ Dugdale, to repay you for the loan of them, by copies to the value of 100L ,—but that should I not use them, that then 5 pr Ct. for them during the time they are in my hands, & a restoration of them you entire, without any plagiarism on my part, shuld be the agreement. This you do not allude to in your letter—but I write it now as a testimonial between us.
With respect to my publishing a supplementary Vol; I confess I am most inclined that way—The possession of Mr. Hamper’s Dugdale, my own antiquarian pursuits, my leisure, & my taste, all tend that way—but the expence, responsibility, & risk are very great—A great deal is to be written, as well as collected, to make such a work worthy of Mr. Hamper’s fame, my character, & the notice of the public; & I must consider the subject, a great deal more, before I take any steps to commit myself—Mr Staunton of Long-Bridge, who has certainly materials of the first and most rare description for such a work, has offered me all his collections to be used at my discretion; but at the same time, he has stated so many difficulties, that I am nearly deterred from so serious an undertaking.
What I have as yet resolved to do is this; to wait one twelvemonth to feel my way; to collect various necessary addenda, & to feel the pulse of the county; to see if it beats at a healthy pace, or languishes with a careless indifference.
At all events however I will take your collection on the terms I have mentioned. I think you gave 70L for them. Beilby having given 60L.
If you will pack them up and have them in New Street, I will in the first week in January when I shall be at Berkswell, send for them.
You, who are such an accurate pen-man, may perhaps have time to assist in the work.
Believe me Dear Sir
Yours faithfully and sincerely
J. Eardley Wilmot.
Will you be so good as to put my name down as a subscriber to the Horticultural Society at Birmm viz. 5£ as a member, & 1£ annually. [There follows a pencil note in George Yates’s hand:] Communicated the above at the Bank of Attwood & Co. Nov. 21. 1831, to Mr Aspley.
G. Y.’ |