Richard Davis, M.A., of Sandford, Oxon, gave the portrait of Margaret,
Countess of Richmond, a book of Russian laws, and the Runic Calendar or
Clog Almanack, now exhibited in the glass case at the entrance of the
Library. The latter is thus described in the Register: 'Calendarium
ligneum, tam materia quam usu perpetuum, unius ligni quadrati angulis
incisum, more antiquo.'
Dr. John Morris, Regius Professor of Hebrew, who died in 1648,
bequeathed five pounds annually to the University, to be paid to some
Master of Arts of Ch. Ch., chosen by the Dean, for a speech 'in Schola
Linguarum,' in honour of Sir Thomas Bodley, 'and as a panegyric and
encouragement of the Hebrew studies,' on Nov. 8, in the presence of the
Visitors of the Library after the conclusion of the annual visitation.
The bequest was to take effect after the death of his wife, which
happened on Nov. 11, 1681; and on Oct. 6, 1682, Convocation fixed 3 p.m.
as the hour for delivery of the Speech on the Visitation-day.
The Speeches are continued annually, although, probably for want of
public notice, only scantily attended, none but those actually
interested in the Visitation of the Library, together with the speaker's
friends, being generally aware of it. If provision were made for the
deposit of the Speeches in the Library after delivery, they would no
doubt form an interesting and accurate record of its growth, and of many
passing events which, for want of such a record, are soon forgotten.
Only one speech appears to be preserved in the Library: it is that
delivered on Nov. 8, 1701, by Edmund Smith, M.A., of Ch. Ch., and is
very beautifully written in imitation of typography. But in this case
nothing is recorded of the history of the preceding year, the speech
being simply a panegyric of the Founder. It has been printed among
Smith's _Works_, a pamphlet of 103 pages dignified with that name, of
which the third edition appeared at London in 1719[141]. Dr. Rawlinson
appears to have endeavoured to compile a list of the Speakers; for
Bishop Tanner, in a letter to him dated Oct. 11, 1735, from Ch. Ch.,
says he will enquire them out, if he can, but that they are not entered
upon the Chapter books, since they are not appointed by the Chapter, but
privately by the Dean or Hebrew Professor, and paid by the
Vice-Chancellor, in whose accounts alone their names are probably
entered[142].
The names of the Speakers up to the year 1690 are given in Wood's
_Athenæ_ (ii. 127) as follows. They were all M.A., and Students of Ch.
Ch.:--
1682 Thomas Sparke
1683 Zach. Isham
1684 Chas. Hickman
1685 Thos. Newey
1686 Thos. Burton
1687 Will. Bedford
1688 Rich. Blakeway
1689 Roger Altham, jun.
1690 Edward Wake
* * * *
1701 Edm. Smith
The following list from 1706 to 1734 has been gathered out of Hearne's
MS. Diary:--
1706 Rich. Newton
1707 Thos. Terry
1708 Will. Periam
1709 Rich. Sadlington
1710 Richard Frewin
1711 -- Aldred[143]
1712 Gilb. Lake
1713 Hen. Cremer
1714 Chas. Brent
1715 John White
1716 Edw. Ivie
1717 Hen. Gregory
1718 Thos. Fenton
1719 George Wiggan
1720 Thos. Foulkes
1721 Will. Le Hunt
1722 Hen. Shirman
1723 Matthew Lee
1724 Christopher Haslam
1725 Will. Davis
1726 Edw. Blakeway
1727 David Gregory
1728 [Rob.?] Manaton
1729 [Hen.?] Jones
1730 John Fanshaw
1731 Oliver Battely
1732 Dan. Burton
1733 Fifield Allen
1734 Pierce Manaton, M.D.
[141] A long account of Smith is given in Johnson's _Lives of the
Poets_.
[142] _Letters of Eminent Persons, &c_, ii. 111.
[143] Doubtless an error for Chas. Aldrich