Varia ad Schultensios pertinentia, praesertim ad Henricum Albertum, vol 8 BPL 245: VIIIb: Bijlagen tot het Dagboek van Hendrik Albert Schultens nopens zijn verblijf in Engeland

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

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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.

S^r.

I beg You to be assured, that I shall with great readiness & pleasure use my best endeavours to promote the success of your present pursuit: but You must give me leave to lay before you freely my objections to the Rector of Exeter’s proposal. Be pleased to observe, that as Bp. of Oxford I have no sort of connexion with the University; nor, as such, the least pretension to any authority or in: [:]fluence there: my particular situation therefore only makes me the more cautious of interposing in any concerns of the University; which I make it a rule not to do, any otherwise than as any other indifferent person might. I will give You an instance in this very case: the University of Oxford has often with great propriety honoured

[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