MOUNT ATHOS. 19 
scripts in the libraries of Mount Athos, is perhaps chap. 
not positively known ; but there is good reason v- .. y -^ 
to believe that he did, because the author has 
since purchased a valuable manuscript of the 
Greek Orators, from a Greek Prince, who 
thence obtained it; and because subsequent 
travellers, in their letters to England, mention 
the existence of a manuscript of Hoimer, and 
another of Aristotle, as being now there^ 
But the fact of such manuscripts existing in any 
of the libraries at Mount Athos has always 
been disputed. The same disputes have been 
held respecting the Monastery in Patmos, both 
before and since the discovery of the Manuscript 
of Plato: the most positive assurances being 
given to travellers, that no manuscripts worth 
notice would be found there ; — although there 
yet exist in the library o{\\\q Patmos Monastery 
another manuscript, of '' Diodorus Siculus," 
written upon vellum*. One cause why these 
(3) These manuscripts are particularly mentioned by Mr. Fiott, of 
St. John's College, CaynhridgCy in a schedule cf literary information 
respecting a journey to Mount Athos and all the north of Greece, pre- 
pared by that gentleman for the use of his friend and fellow collegian, 
Mr. Hughes. _ 
(4) See the " Catalogue of Manuscripts in the Patmos JAhrary," at 
the beginning of Vol. VI. of the Octavo Edition of these Travels, 
p.21. 
C 1 
