The MSS. of the eminent antiquary, Browne Willis, who died on Feb. 5, in
this year, came to the Library by his bequest. They were received from
his executor, Dr. Eyre, on April 24. There are altogether fifty-nine
volumes in folio, forty-eight in quarto, and five in octavo, consisting
chiefly of Willis' own collections for his various works, with much
correspondence intermingled and a few older historical papers. There is
much of value for general ecclesiastical topography and biography,
besides his large collections for the county of Bucks, and special
volumes relating to the four Welsh Cathedrals. He desired in his will
that the books should be placed in the Picture Gallery, 'next to those
of my friend Bishop Tanner;' both collections have since been removed to
a room on the floor below, but the presses which contain them still
adjoin each other. Many of his letters are to be found among Ballard's
and Rawlinson's papers, and show throughout both the warm interest which
he took in ecclesiastical renovation and religious work generally, but
particularly in the state of the Church in Wales, and the continual
efforts which he made to rouse slothful and negligent dignitaries to a
sense of their duties and responsibilities. The restoration of the
ruined and desolate Cathedral at Llandaff was an object especially dear
to him. By his will, which was dated Dec. 20, 1741, he bequeathed to the
University, besides his MSS., all his numerous silver, brass, copper and
pewter coins, and also his gold coins, if purchased at the rate of £4
per oz., as the best return he could make for the many favours he
acknowledged to have been conferred on him and on his grandfather, Dr.
Thomas Willis, Professor of Natural Philosophy. This latter provision of
his will was at once carried into execution; in the following year the
University purchased one hundred and sixty-seven gold coins for £150 at
£4 4_s._ per oz., and two more in 1743 for £8 5_s._ His other coins were
given by him in the years 1739, 1740, 1741, 1747 and 1750; and by a
codicil to his will dated Feb. 5, 1742, he desired that the whole
collection should be annually visited on the Feast of St. Frideswide
(Oct. 19), which day he had himself been wont annually to celebrate in
Oxford. His first gift to the Library was in the year 1720, when he gave
ten valuable MSS., chiefly historical (now placed among the general
_Bodley_ Series), together with his grandfather's portrait.
A bequest of £70, towards the purchase of an orrery, was received from
Rev. Jos. Parsons, M.A., of Merton College.