The commencement of a new volume appears to be the signal for new
suggestions. May I fire one off as well as others?
In p. 282. of the Third, and in p. 19 of your present volume, you have
printed two MSS. relating to Cromwell, which I sent you. No doubt there
are many MSS. equally, or indeed more curious and interesting, scattered
throughout the country, which would be worthy of preservation in type in
your valuable columns, and which may possibly be so preserved. But what
shall become of the originals? Would not the possessors of twos or
threes of such documents be glad to place them in a safe and useful
repository, where they might be preserved and be made available to all
who take an interest in our history, whether social or political? And
how could this be better effected than by opening a book for their
reception and safe custody at your office; such book to be open to the
inspection of all applicants, under proper regulations; and, when full,
to be deposited in the British Museum as Vol. I. of the "NOTES AND
QUERIES MSS.?"
With regard to the two which you have thought worth printing, I would by
far prefer such a mode of disposing of them, to consigning them, as
trifles, to what might prove the bottomless pit of the Museum, or to
returning them to the snug dormitory in which I found them, between the
leaves of Bishop Kennett's _History of England_.
Should this hint find favour in the eyes of yourself and your learned
correspondents, not only are these at your service, but I might find
another or two to add to them. I think, however, that none should be
admitted into the collection but such as were considered worthy of being
also preserved in print in "NOTES AND QUERIES."