Regulations under which permission will be given to Literary Inquirers
to make searches among the Public Records, without payment of fees,
contained in a letter addressed by the Right Honourable Sir John
Romilly, Master of the Rolls to Sir Francis Palgrave, K.H., the Deputy
Keeper of the Public Records: dated at the Rolls House, 4th December,
1851:--
1st. That the individuals seeking to avail themselves of the permission
shall address a letter to the Deputy Keeper, stating generally their
objects of research, so as to show that the applications are really
and _bonâ fide_ for literary purposes, and that the applicant shall
also attend the Deputy Keeper personally thereon, and give such further
explanation as may be required; and that thereupon the Deputy Keeper
shall, if he be satisfied with the statement and explanation, authorise
the Assistant Keepers to allow the applicant to inspect such Indexes
of Records, and also such Original Records, and to make such copies or
extracts in pencil required by the applicant as the Deputy Keeper may
think advisable.
This mode of proceeding, which is equally required for
the security of the Records, and for the protection of
the business searchers, will in fact be beneficial to
Literary Inquirers; for the more fully they explain
their objects, the better will the Deputy Keeper and
the other officers be able to direct them to the
documents which may be useful to them.
2ndly. That all the applications before mentioned be entered in a book,
and be reported to the Master of the Rolls.
3rdly. That a book be kept at each branch office, in which the
Assistant Keeper shall enter a note or particular of the Rolls,
Records, Books, or Documents, called for, inspected, or used by the
applicant, nearly in the same manner, _mutatis mutandis_, as is
practised with respect to Manuscripts in the British Museum.
But this book is to be considered as confidential,
and not to be shown to the public without express
permission of the Master of the Rolls or Deputy Keeper.
4thly. That, in case of any impropriety or abuse of the privilege, the
Assistant Keepers do forthwith report the same to the Deputy Keeper, in
order that he may bring the same before the Master of the Rolls.
It will be necessary also to explain to the Literary Inquirers that
the time of the various officers and other persons employed in the
Public Record Office is so wholly engrossed by the performance of
their present duties, that it will not be possible for the officers to
assist any Literary Inquirers beyond the production of the documents,
and giving a general explanation, if needed, of their character and
nature. No applicant ought to present himself who is not sufficiently
acquainted with the hand-writing, abbreviations, and language of
ancient documents, so as to be able to read and decipher their contents.
The Literary Inquirer will have free access to the documents, but, this
being done, he will have to conduct the inquiry from these documents
in such manner as his own knowledge and capacity may best enable him to
do.
_G. W. is informed that the reading Public are indebted to John Bruce,
Esq., the Treasurer of the Society of Antiquaries, for this important
concession on the part of the Master of the Rolls; and it has been
suggested that a suitable testimonial should be presented to Mr. Bruce
by those historical inquirers who are likely to derive such valuable
aid from his exertions._