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The Bishop of Norwich to Sir J. E. Smith. 



My dear Sir James, 

 I feel, if possible, more proud of being indebted to 

 your friendly partiality for the favourable opinion 

 whieh Mr. Roscoe is so good as to entertain of me, 

 than I do even of his approbation ; and yet the es- 

 teem of such a man is a source of higher gratifica- 

 tion than any which it is in the power of kings or 

 ministers to bestow. Many thanks for your kind 

 invitation. To wait upon you, and to meet Mr. 

 Roscoe, are certainly very great temptations ; for 

 men like him are rare beings — 



" Numero vix sunt totidem quot 

 Thebarum portoe vel divitis ostia Nili." 



Old as I am, I cannot therefore but feel anxious to 

 say, before I die, " Virgilium vidi." Adieu ! 

 Yours sincerely and affectionately, 



H. Norwich. 



Mr. Coke to Sir J. E. Smith. 



My dear Sir James, Holkham, Feb. 9, 1815. 



Leo X., most magnificently bound, made his ap- 

 pearance yesterday, and will be more highly prized 

 than any manuscript in my possession. To you, I 

 may fairly say, I am more particularly indebted for 

 this most inestimable gift ; I should probably never 

 have known Mr. Roscoe, if it had not been for your 

 kindness in bringing us together ; it has established 

 a mutual regard between us, which I am satisfied 



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