English Letters

24 Oorspronkelijke Bijlagen tot de Eigenhandige dagelijksche Aanteekeningen van Hendrik Albert Schultens nopens zijn verblijf in Engeland in de jaren 1772 en 1773, te weten: Acte van [derzelfe?] lidmaatschap van de Universiteit te Oxford Eigenhandige aankondigings-bill van Joseph White nopens eene vergadering der [Leden?] [der?] Universiteit over het bevorderen van H.A. Schultens tot Magister Artium bij diploma Handbill van eenige [dier?] Leden nopens het voorstel tot die bevordering Dertien Brieven, gewisseld tusschen H.A. Schultens en zijnen vader, Jan Jacob. Een Brief van Joseph White aan zijnen vader. Een Brief van C. de Salgas aan H.A. Schultens Een Brief van M. Maty aan denzelfden Een Brief van B. Kennicott aan denzelfden Twee Brieven van R. Lowth aan denzelfden Twee Brieven van H.A. Schultens aan twee ongenoemden.

On Tuesday next at 12 o' clock it will be proposed n Convocation to confer the degree of M.A. by Diploma on Henry Albert Schultens Esqr. Gentleman-Commoner of Wadham College (grandson of the celebrated Albert Schultens, and son of the present Professor of Arabic & Divinity in the University of Leyden) on account of his great knowledge of the Eastern languages; which he has shewn in two late publications -- the one entitled Elnawa big [?] sive Anthologia sententiarum Arabicarum: which ^a work he has printed in the Original, translated into Latin, & illustrated with a commentary -- the other entitled Specimen Proverbiorum Midanii: the whole of whose ^which Collection (consisting of Six Thousand proverbs) he intends publishing in Arabic & Latin with all convenient speed, together with Various Lections & Notes.

[f031r] Wadh. Coll. April. 11.73 Learned Sir,

Having an opportunity of sending you a line by Mr. Professor Kulencamp, and thinking it would not be dissagreeable to You to hear from an acquaintance of your Son's in College, I'll take the liberty to trouble You with three or four sentences. It is absolutely impossible for any one to be more generally respected than Mr. Schultens is in this place, or indeed to be more deserving of it. His abilities, his amiable disposition & polite behaviour recommend him strongly to all those among us who know ^of him only by reputation, & endear him to all who are personally acquainted with him. From what I myself have observed, Mr.

[031v] Professor, & dare venture to prophecy, Your son will one day make a conspicuous figure in Europe, & raise himself to as great an eminence in the Republic of Letters as his Father & Grandfather have done before him. A higher degree either of Skill or Reputation, it will not perhaps be possible for him to attain. -- -------------I speak the more feelingly on this subject, as I have received so much pleasure as well as profit from Mr. Schultens's good company, & as I fear we must now so soon lose him, at least for a time. However, as he speaks our language at present as well as a Native, I hope he will now & then come over & see us, if it be but for a little practice in it.

[032r]

As I have had the good fortune to make an acquaintance with the Son, I could very much wish to strengthen it by recommending myself to the Father. And if in return, Mr. Professor, it is ever in my power to render You any services of any kind in the [Un]iversity I shall be happy to d[o so.] May You long enjoy Health, succ[ess] in all your literary labours, & the Blessing of so amiable a Son! I am, Learned Sir, your most obedient humble Servt. Joseph White.

P.S. When I have printed off the Syriac Gospels. I shall beg your acceptance of a copy.

Brit. Mus. Jan. 2. 1773

D^r. Sir

I should have answered your Letter directly, could I have seen the least chance in your intention of filling the vacancy in the Museum. But besides that I have not the least interest in the disposal of these plans, which are intirely in the gift of the Archbishop of Canterbury, - the Lord Chancellor, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, I think I have reason to believe they have already fixed their choice, as the place has been near six months vacant, and several Candidates have applied. A man well versed in Natural History will be wanted, as it is the Assistant in that department that is to be chosen. I am very glad to hear you succeed so well

[fol. 035v] [NB scan of the image unavailable]

in the University, and hope when you come back to London, that I shall find you quite an Englishman. My family join in compts. of the season to you. I beg you would present mine to our friends at Oxford, and believe me sincerely Dr. Sir Your most Obednt. Humble Servant M Maty

[fol.036r] To M^r: Schultens, at Henry Goodricke's Esq^r: No. 14 Quebec Street, Portman Square, London

Dear Sir I have been very unexpectedly pre= vented from writing to You sooner; but I hope this will come to You in time, as You will not (I suppose) set out for Cambridge till next Monday. I have written 2 Letters by way of Recommenda= tion, which You will take with you to Cambridge; one to D^r Hallifax, the other to the University xxx Orator. But as each of these is a double Letter, and wd. therefore be expensive by the Post; I have put them both under a Cover directed to You, & inclosd them to the Bp of Oxford; where you may have them to morrow Evening or Sunday. Pray send me word, when ^{you return from Cambridge; & when} You think You shall be in Oxford; & I shall be glad to do you any service in my power.

[fol.036v] In 2 of 3 days M^r. Woide will have some Proposals for Himself & for You. And tho’ I shall send some to Holland; yet I know You can, & will, greatly assist me afterwards. On 2^d. thoughts I inclose here my Letter to Dr Hallifax, and inclose only the other for You to the Bp of Oxford. Let me hear, that you receive this; & you shall soon hear again from Yours affectionately My Wife sends her Compts. B Kennicott Oxford; Mar: 5, 1773.

[f038v] persons of y^e. first character & merit among the Ministers of our Church in America with the Degree of Doctor in Divinity. I have been more than once applied to from thence to recommend persons, not unworthy of that honour, to the University. I have always excused myself, for y^e. reason above given; tha[t] I might not in the least appear to assume an influence & authority to which I have really no claim. I wish to be understood to interest myself much in your success; & shall be glad to apply to any Friend, who You may think can do You service; as I would very readily apply to D^r. Fo: :thergill in that capacity; I beg only to be excused making myself the first mover in this affair to the Vice-Chancello[r.] My opinion, in regard to y^e. best me: :thod of proceeding in your case, I shall very freely give You. As I understand by Your Letter, that the Warden of [f039r] Wadham College approves of the design, I think, he will have no objection to y^e. proposing of it to y^e. Vice-Chancellor; & I have no doubt of his being the pro: :per person to do it, as in these cases it is commonly done by the Head of the College to which the person proposed belongs. I spoke to the Warden of Merton in your behalf, together with the Rector of Exeter. Be so good as to favour me with notice, when the matter has been approved by the ViceChancellor. I will then write to the Warden of New College; & am at Your service in any other way, that You shall be pleased to point out to me. I will not trouble You with any Apology for explaicning myself thus freely to You: & I hope You will do