since."

10_th March_ 1733-34.-- . . . "On the 7th inst. Ld. Oxford sent me the
chronicle of _John Bever_. He lends it me at my request, and says he
will lend me any book he hath, and wonders I will not go to London and
see my friends; and see what MSS. and papers are there, and in other
libraries, that are worth printing. I could give several reasons for my
not going either to London or other places, which however I did not
trouble his lordship with. Among others, 'tis probable I might receive a
much better welcome than I deserve, or is suitable to one that so much
desires and seeks a private humble life, without the least pomp or
grandeur."

2_nd May_ 1734.--"Yesterday an attempt was made upon New college bells of
6876 changes. They began a quarter before ten in the morning, and rang
very well until four minutes after twelve, when Mr Brickland, a
schoolmaster of St Michael's parish, who rang the fifth bell, missed a
stroke, it put a stop to the whole, so that they presently set them, and
so sunk the peal, which is pity, for 'twas really very true ringing,
excepting five faults, which I observ'd (for I heard all the time, tho'
'twas very wet all the while) in that part of the Parks which is on the
east side of Wadham college, where I was very private; one of which five
faults was the treble, that was rung by Mr Richard Hearne, and the other
four were faults committed by the aforesaid Mr Brickland, who 'twas
feared by several beforehand would not fully perform his part. . . ."

2_nd May_ 1734. . . . "When I mention'd afterwards my observations to ye
said Mr Smith, he told me, that tho' he rung himself, yet he minded the
faults also himself. Upon which I asked him how many there were? He
said three before that which stopp'd them. I told him that there just
five before that, at which he admired my niceness."

14_th Oct._ 1734. . . . "Dr Sherlock, now bp. of Salisbury, was likewise
of that little house (Cath. Hall), and they look upon it as very much for
the honour of that little house, that it has produced two of our
principal prelates (Dr Sherlock and Hoadly, at Salisbury and Winchester).
The last has usually (and regularly) gone to an Oxford man, as Ely to
Cambridge."

31_st Dec._ 1734. . . . "But having been debarr'd the library, a great
number of years, I am now a stranger there, and cannot in the least
assist him, tho' I once design'd to have been very nice in examining all
those liturgical MSS., and t