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Sir J. E. Smith to Mr. Roscoe. 



My dear Friend, Norwich, October 3, 1814. 



I had intended writing to you a few days since, 

 but many things have prevented me. I hope I am 

 still time enough for the main purpose of my letter, 

 which is to make another attempt, at the desire of 

 Mr. Coke, to induce you to visit Holkham. We 

 have spent a delightful fortnight there lately, and 

 two hours almost every day were devoted to an 

 examination of the manuscripts. I am going there 

 on Monday with our good Bishop, for a few days, 

 for the express purpose of looking further into 

 these treasures, and if you could join us, you would 

 complete the joy of the whole party. 



I must tell you a part of our discoveries : — besides 

 beautifully illuminated MSS. on vellum, of many of 

 the Latin classics ; a most exquisite Boccaccio ; a 

 very old and fine Dante ; a Chronique d'Henault, in 

 two immense folios, richly illuminated ; and other 

 things of that kind ; — there is a very valuable col- 

 lection of historical Italian MSS., fairly copied at 

 Florence, Venice, &c, for Lord Leicester ; they are 

 partial or local chronicles, memoirs, Scc.,ve?y curious. 

 Among others is a complete copy of Burchard's 

 Diary. This delectable treasure will surely tempt 

 you of itself. I think you knew nothing of it but 

 what Gordon has printed : — am I right in this ? 

 There is one original monastic chronicle, itself of 

 the date of 1300 or 1400. There are also many 

 things which we want you to tell us the value of. 



VOL. II. 2 A 



