the same may appear also from
a speech or two of his on occasion of some distraction, which tho' in
print I never yet saw. I had a sincere respect for him, and he and I
used to spend much time together in searching after curiosities, etc., so
that he hath often said that 'twas the most pleasant part of his life, as
other young gentlemen, likewise then in Oxford have also as often said,
that the many agreeable hours we used to spend together on the same
occasion were the most entertaining and most pleasant part of their
lives. As Mr Calvert and the rest of those young gentlemen (several of
which, as well as Mr Calvert, were of noble birth) used to walk and
divert themselves with me in the country, much notice was taken thereof,
and many envyed our happiness."

5_th July_ 1733.--"One Handel, a foreigner (who, they say, was born at
Hanover), being desired to come to Oxford, to perform in musick this Act,
in which he hath great skill, is come down, the Vice-Chancellor (Dr
Holmes) having requested him so to do, and, as an encouragement, to allow
him the benefit of the Theater, both before the Act begins and after it.
Accordingly he hath published papers for a performance to-day, at 5s. a
ticket. This performance began a little after five o'clock in the
evening. This is an inovation. The players might be as well permitted
to come and act. The Vice-Chancellor is much blamed for it."

16_th Sept._ 1733.--"Mr Sacheverel, who died a few years since, of
Denman's Farm (in Berks) near Oxford, was looked upon as the best judge
of bells in England. He used to say, that Horsepath bells near Oxford,
tho' but five in number, and very small, were the prettiest, tunablest
bells in England, and that there was not a fault in one, except the 3d,
and that so small a fault, as it was not to be discerned but by a very
good judge."

3_rd Oct._ 1733.--"I hear of iron bedsteads in London. Dr Massey told me
of them on Saturday, 29th Sept. 1733. He said they were used on account
of the buggs, which have, since the great fire, been very troublesome in
London."

17_th Jan._ 1733-34.--"Mr Baker of Cambridge (who is a very good, as well
as a very learned man, and is my great friend, though I am unknown in
person to him) tells me in his letter of the 16th of last December, that
he hath always thought it a happiness to dye in time, and says of
himself, that he is really affraid of living too long. He is above
seventy, as he told me some time