James Smithson 9 



very powerful influence could have procured permission for 

 this departure from rule, we may presume that his action, 

 whether acceptable or not to him, was dictated by an author- 

 ity to which he had in any case to yield. > .' 



In 1894 I ascertained through the kindness -of Chester 

 Waters, Esquire, that Reverend Frederick Brown had 

 occupied himself during a large part of his life with the 

 biographies of the Hungerford family, and learned from his 

 surviving daughter that his manuscript was deposited in the 

 British Museum. This manuscript (which is numbered 

 33,412), I, with Doctor Cyrus Adler, spent some time in ex- 

 amining, with the results here given. Among other facts I 

 learned that Smithson was born in France, and was brought 

 to England for his education, and naturalized. I further was 

 fortunately led to consult the Oxford records, which show that 

 he in his early years entered as a Gentleman Commoner at 

 Pembroke College, where he matriculated in 1782, his age 

 then being given in the registry, here appended, 1 as seventeen, 

 so that this matriculation record shows him to have been born 

 eleven years later than was supposed. This is material, 

 for it will be seen from what has preceded that his mem- 

 ory is thus cleared of the imputation under which it at one 



iColl: Exon: 25 Carolus Ofspring Blackall 17 Theophili de Dodbrooke > 



Com: Danmon: \ CIer: Fll: 

 Coll: Wad: 26 Robertus Harbin 17 Swayne de Newton Com: Somerset: Arm: Fil: 



Maii \. 

 Coll: Hert : Gulielmus Bragge 17 Joannis de Dillington Com: Somerset: Arm: Fil: 



Coll : Wadh : 2 d . Joannes Higgins 19 Joannis de Dicheatt Com : Somerset : Gen : Fil : 



Coll : Mert : 3? Henricus Lloyd 18 Erasmi de Civitate Vigorniensi Gen : Fil : 



Coll: Di. Jo. Bap. 4? Thomas Keck 17 Samuelis de Civitate Londin : Gen: Fil: 



changed to Smithson 



Coll: Pemb : 7 Jacobus Ludovicus Macie 17 de Civit : Londin: Arm: Fil: 



Coll: Ball: 8 Hon. Archibaldus Cathcart 18 Carolide Aloa Com: Clackmanan: Baro? Fil 

 Coll: Di : Jo: Bap. 9? Thomas Dethick 17 Thomae de Bombay apud Ind: Orient: 



Arm: Fil 



Coll : On : Nas: io Arthurus Townson 18 Joannis de Bentham Com : Eboracensi 



Pleb: Fil 



Coll: Christi io Calverley Joannes Bewicke 17 Benjamin de Clapham Com: Surriae 

 Gen: Fil: 



Coll: Magd: 11 Isaacus Williamson 21 Josephi de Withburn Com : Cambr : Gen: Fil: 



