THE REV. JOHN SKINNER’S _Ten Days’ Tour Through Anglesey_, which is given
in the following pages, has been carefully transcribed from the
manuscript in the British Museum, the punctuation, spelling, and use of
capitals followed strictly throughout. Some notes have been kindly
furnished by Mr. E. Neil Baynes, F.S.A., and he has also copied (in black
and white) most of the water-colour illustrations which are included in
the manuscript. The illustrations are reduced from the original size,
but with this exception and the absence of colour they have been copied
as closely as possible, with all errors of perspective, etc. Some of the
drawings would appear to have been done by Mr. Skinner in the evening
from memory, and not on the spot. The complete list is printed herewith,
and the pages where the plates appear in the original. A copy of an
extract from Mr. Skinner’s will is subjoined, in which he expresses his
particular wish that the chests containing his numerous notebooks should
not be opened until the expiration of fifty years from the day of his
death.
* * * * *
_Extracted from the Principal Registry of the Probate Divorce_
_and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice_
_In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury_.
IN THE WILL of the Reverend JOHN SKINNER late Rector of Camerton in the
county of Somerset deceased dated 1st February 1839 is as follows:—
No. 2. I give and bequeath to the trustees of the British Museum all my
Journals and other Manuscripts transcribed by my late brother Russell
from No. 1 to No. 110 both inclusive and interleaved with original
drawings together with the Journals I have made in my own hand-writing
since my brother’s death from the year one thousand eight hundred and
thirty three to the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight in
volume 1 to volume 36 of an Octavo size with blue Morocco backs
containing altogether in number one hundred and forty six which I desire
may be safely conveyed to the trustees of the British Museum with the
five Iron Chests in which they are now contained and I request my said
executor the Reverend John Hammond to see to the performance of this
bequest in the manner aforesaid and it is my particular wish and request
that neither of the Iron Chests with the contents aforesaid shall be
opened till after the expiration of fifty years from the day of my death
but provided the trustees of the British Museum should raise any
objection thereto it is my will that my before mentioned request should
not be insisted upon.
Proved (with two Codicils)
14th November 1839
Fos 4
J J C
716 Vaughan
N.B.—It is not to be inferred that the foregoing extract contains the
only portion of the said Will referring to the matters therein mentioned.