Sir,--May I be permitted to suggest one way in which you may be of great
service to many literary men, and indeed to the cause of literature in
general; and this, too, without much trouble to yourself? Would you be
willing to receive "Queries" respecting _references_? They frequently
puzzle those who are engaged in literary works, and indeed those who are
merely readers, and who have not access to public libraries or the
manuscript treasures of the metropolis and the universities. If, for
instance, a clergyman or squire, interested in the history of his
parish, should find in the county historian something which his own
local or genealogical knowledge leads him to think erroneous, vouched
for by a reference to the _Cotton_ or _Harleian MSS._, might he apply to
you? It may be supposed that you are not very far from some one of the
great fountains of information, and have easy access to all; and it is
probable that you might not only do a personal favour to the inquirer,
but confer a benefit on the public, by correcting an erroneous
statement. Of course you would subject yourself to unreasonable
requests, but the remedy would always be in your own hands.
Yours, &c.