(Vol. viii., p. 37.)
The completion of a laborious literary work has taken my attention away
from the "N. & Q." for some weeks past, otherwise I should sooner have
given MR. BOBART the following information.
The engraving of old Jacob Bobart by W. Richardson is _not_ of any value,
being a copy from an older print. Query if it is not a copy of the very
rare engraving by Loggan and Burghers?
The original print of the "founder of the physick garden," "D. Loggan del.,
M. Burghers sculp., 1675," which Mr. Bobart wishes to procure, may be
purchased of A. E. Evans, 403. Strand, for 2l. 12s. 6d. I also learn from
Mr. Evans' invaluable _Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits_ (an octavo
of 431 pages, lately published), that there exists a portrait of Bobart,
"the classical alma mater coachman of Oxford," whole length, by Dighton,
1808. The same catalogue also contains other portraits of the Bobarts.
Since my last communication on the present subject, I find the following
memorandums in one of my note-books, which possibly may be unknown to your
correspondent; they relate to MSS. in the British Museum.
Add. MS. 5290. contains 227 folio drawings of various rare plants, the
names of which are added in the autograph of Jacob Bobart the elder.
Sloane MS. 4038. contains some letters from Jacob Bobart to Sir Hans
Sloane, 1685-1716; also one from Anne Bobart, dated 1701.
Sloane MS. 3343. contains a catalogue of plants and seeds saved at Oxford,
by Mr. Bobart, 1695-6.
Sloane MS. 3321., consisting of scientific letters addressed to Mr.
Petiver, contains one from Jacob Bobart, and another from Tilleman Bobart.
The latter has a letter dated "Blenheim, Feb. 5, 1711-12," to some person
unknown, in Sloane MS. 4253.
_Tilleman_ Bobart appears to have been employed in laying out the park and
gardens at the Duke of Marlborough's magnificent seat at Blenheim. A member
of his original papers and receipts were lately disposed of by auction at
Messrs. Puttick and Simpson's. (See the sale catalogue of July 22, 1853,
lot 1529.)