Volume 1

British topography. Or, an historical account of what has been done for illustrating the topographical antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland / By R.G. i.e. R. Gough.

  • Gough, Richard, 1735-1809.
Date:
1780
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: British topography. Or, an historical account of what has been done for illustrating the topographical antiquities of Great Britain and Ireland / By R.G. i.e. R. Gough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/1030 (page 11)
    [ * ] Dr. Smith’s and Dr. Hunter’s valuable collections for the hidory of Durham are yet with-held from the public ; and Mr. Spearman’s intention proved abortive. Want of materials muft not be com- plained of there. Much might be faid of Hampshire : and of Wincheder, more than the fliort printed accounts afford. No deps have been taken towards illudrating Huntingdon- shire, fince Sir Robert Cotton, its brighteft ornament, declined the purfuit. We are quite unacquainted with Lancashire, Dr. Kuerden’s collections for which came in part into the Heralds’ Office. Dr. Stukeley gave us all the information about the county of Lincoln that was confident with his other engagements, and this for the extent of it was more than we could get from Peck or Delapryme, whofe inquiries were confined to a particular town or two, and failed of their due perfection. London has engroffed all concern about thecounty oCMiddlesex. The defign of Dr. Rawlinfon for illuflrating Oxford city and county, which he recommended by his lad will to the univerfity, remains unexecuted, nor are we encouraged to expeCt much from any fucceeding collector. What Sir John Peffial prepared remains with his fon. The late Mr. Mytton of Haldon made very great collections for Shropshire, accompanied with beautiful drawings, all now in the hands of his nephew and fucceffor, who pofieffes a more liberal lpirit of communication than the generality of heirs to fuch treafures. Many attempts have been made towards a defcription of Somer- setshire, that fund of Roman and Britifh antiquities; but without fuccefs. Sir Symonds D’Ewes is faid to have collected for Suffolk ; but all that remains to this purpofe in the Harleian library is principally in the law way. Something in Dodfworth’s MSS. vol. xxxviii. E. 39, quoted by bifhop Kennet in his life of Somner, p. 41, probably led biffiop Nicolfon to feek for more information in the Bodleian library j b 2 but