' 'I saw
the lamentable fire,' says Oldys, 'feed upon six or seven great chests
full of the said deeds, some of them as old as the Conquest, and even the
ignorant servants repining.... I did prevail to the preservation of some
few old rolls and public grants and charters, a few extracts of escheats,
and original letters of some eminent persons and pedigrees of others, but
not the hundredth part of much better things that were destroyed.'
One or two extracts from the 'diary and choice notes' will show the
minute attention given by Oldys to everything concerned with books.
Under the date of June 29th, 1737, we read: 'Saw Mr. Ames' old MSS. on
vellum, entitled _Le Romant de la Rose_, which cost forty crowns at Paris
when first written, as appears by the inscription at the end: it had been
Bishop Burnet's book, his arms being pasted in it, and Mr. Rawlinson's,
being mentioned in one of his catalogues; in the same catalogue also is
mentioned Sir William Monson's collection, which Mr. West bought and lent
me before the fatal fire happened at his chambers in the Temple.' Mr.
Thorns adds that Sir William Monson, an Admiral of note in the reign of
James I., formed considerable collections, principally about naval
affairs. Under the date of August 8th, we read of a visit to Strype the
historian. 'Invited by Dr. Harris to his brother's at Homerton, where old
Mr. Strype is still alive, and has the remainder of his once rich
collection of MSS., tracts, etc.
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