In no way, perhaps, has "N. & Q." been so useful to the literary public
as in making itself the ready means of concentrating on any given point
the various readings of many persons; unless, indeed, it should be
considered more useful to have proved how courteous, how willing to
oblige--even at some personal sacrifices--men of reading are in this day
and generation. The information recently sent from so many quarters in
relation to General Wolfe is a good example of what may be done in other
cases; that about Sterne in Paris is another. The latter instance
suggests to me a way in which some of your correspondents, whose private
communications I have had to acknowledge in reference to other
inquiries, might do me a real service at no great inconvenience perhaps
to themselves.
I am collecting materials for a volume on Algernon Sydney. A great part
of this illustrious patriot's life was spent abroad; in many parts of
the continent, France, Holland, Denmark, Italy, Germany, &c. This part
of his history has been so far veiled in considerable obscurity, and
incidents of it misrepresented. Some better knowledge of it than we now
possess, must be, I think, recoverable. A man of Sydney's birth, active
temperament, and distinguished abilities, must have been spoken of in
many letters and memoirs of that time. No doubt anecdotes and traits of
character may be found in cotemporary French, Italian, German, and
Scandinavian literature.
But with a library so vast to examine, no single man could ever feel
sure that nothing was overlooked. Other explorers, working for
themselves, may have hit upon statements or anecdotes of the greatest
value to me. May I ask any such to oblige me by references to any works
in which the information that I seek is to be found; sent either to "N.
& Q.," or to my address as under?