_March 14, 1737._
I had the honour of your letter of the 10th inst., and as I find that
something has been misapprehended, I beg leave to set this matter
right.
Being lately with some honourable persons, I told them it had been
reported that some of Mr. C.'s MSS. were fallen into the hands of
strangers, and that I should be glad to receive from you such
information as might enable me to disprove that report. What
occasioned this surmise, or what particular MSS. were meant, I was
not able to discover; so I was left to my own conjectures, which,
upon a serious consideration, induced me to believe that it might
relate to the MSS. in eight volumes in 8vo, of which there is a
transcript. But as the original and the transcript are in your
possession, if you please, madam, to compare them together, you may
easily see whether they be both entire and perfect, or whether there
be anything wanting in either of them. By this means you will assure
yourself, and satisfy your friends, that several important pieces are
safe in your hands, and that the report is false and groundless. All
this I take the liberty to offer out of the singular respect I always
professed for you, and for the memory of Mr. Collins, to whom I have
endeavoured to do justice on all occasions, and particularly in the
memoirs that have been made use of in the General Dictionary; and I
hope my tender concern for his reputation will further appear when I
publish his life.
SIR, _April 6, 1737_.
My ill state of health has hindered me from acknowledging sooner the
receipt of yours, from which I hoped for some satisfaction in
relation to your charge, in which I cannot but think myself very
deeply concerned. You tell me now, that you was left to your own
conjectures what particular MSS. were reported to have fallen into
the hands of strangers, and that upon a serious consideration you was
induced to believe that it might relate to the MSS. in eight vols.
8vo, of which there was a transcript.
I must beg of you to satisfy me very explicitly who were the persons
that reported this to you, and from whom did you receive this
information? You know that Mr. Collins left several MSS. behind him;
what grounds had you for your conjecture that it related to the MSS.
in eight vols., rather than to any other MSS. of which there was a
transcript? I beg that you will be very plain, and tell me what
strangers were named to you; and why you said the Bishop of London,
if your informer said stranger to you. I am so much concerned in
this, that I must repeat it, if you have the singular respect for Mr.
Collins which you profess, that you would help me to trace out this
reproach, which is so abusive to, Sir,
Your servant,