1807. ] 
considerable number of errors and inad- 
vertencies; but I think I qualified the 
assertion by mentioning that such mmper- 
tections were almost unavoidable in works 
of this nature, I certainly regard the 
publication in guestion as a highly re- 
spectable one, aud L consider the public 
at large as much indebted to those who 
take so much pains as Mr. Lysons and 
his brother have done, to contribute to 
their amusement and information. The 
errors and madvertencies which I dis-~ 
cerned, or thought I discerned, in it, I 
took the liberty to point out without any 
invidious intention. ‘* Most of them 
(Mr. Lysons says) had been noted for cor- 
rection even before he had read my let- 
ter,” which assuredly never would have 
been written, had I been aware that the 
same information had been conveyed to 
those gentlemen in any other mode. 
I must just add, that I never had the > 
vanity to consider my corrections as of 
“ much muportance ;” but I believe they 
are all well founded, except in the in- 
stance of the title of the eldest son of the 
Jast Duke of Kent, which [ always un- 
derstood was merely Baron of Harold; 
but, upon the authority cited by Mr, Ly- 
sons, there can be no doubt that the 
title he bore was that of Earl of Harold. 
The property possessed by Lady Lucas, 
the present representative of the Kent 
family in the county of Bedford, is un- 
doubtedly very large; and perhaps might: 
have been mentioned with the other 
great estates specificd in my former letter, 
as constituting a distinct class. It may pos- 
sibly serve to obviate any mistake, to say, 
that in the estimate of 40,0001. per ann.. 
and upwards, [ meant to include the es- 
tates of the Duke of Bedford, Lord Sc. 
John, and Mr. Whitbread, Tam, &c. 
Bedjord, W. BevsHam, 
Muay 3, 1807. 
emp 7 ee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
STR, 
EING engaged in measuring and 
delineating the parts at large of St. 
Paul’s cathedral, London, I wish to illus- 
trate my work with such authentic ac- 
counts of it, and of its illustrious archi- 
tect, Sir Christopher Wren, as I can ob- 
tain; but I fear that of the learned ar- 
chitect will not be so explicit and diffuse 
as I wish, unless I obtain further docu- 
ments of him and of his works than I 
can yet discover. Much relative matterI 
am aware is to be found at Oxford, and 
in seme of the public libraries in Lon- 
don, &c.; but it is of his private life. His 
Monturty Mac. No, 157. 
Sir Christopher Wren.—Luterary Property. : 
417 
professional notes, drawings, sketches, 
de. that are so valuable to the biogra- 
-pher, I now inquire so earnestly for. 
F ? q Fa 
Nothing that I am yet acquainted with, 
in the reach of inspection, will be oniitted 
to be searched into by me; neither pains ' 
norlabour shall be spared to make my 
work as perfect as possible. Of my draws 
ings for it I ‘shall say nothing, because 
they shall be submitted to the public in- 
spection when the prospectus is ready 
for publication ; of which, Sir, I shall take 
the liberty of giving you timely notive. 
Any information addressed to me (as 
under), whether concerning manuscripts, 
drawings, letters, &c. or of where they 
are deposited; also cf where I can see 
an authentic original of Sir C’s. por- 
trait; or, in short, of any account.of him 
or his works, shall receive my hearty 
thanks and due acknowledgments, The 
principal portraits were by Kneller and 
Klosterman, of which I have seen en- 
-gravings. I should be happy to know in 
whose possession the paintings are. 
Thave only to add, that if the public 
encouragement shall keep pace with the 
private promise of support that [ have al- 
ready received from many gentlemen of 
consequence in the architectural profes- 
sion, and others in private life, no ex 
pence shall be spared in having the en- 
gravings executed in the highest possible 
style of excellence. Lam, &c. 
19, College-Huli, Jamis ELMEs. 
London, Dec. 11, 1806. 
SS EE 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine, 
SIR, : 
R. Cumberland, in his interesting 
WN Memoirs, complains of the short 
lease which authors enjoy of their own 
works: yet twenty-eight years of copy- 
right. can be the lot of few wmiters; sin- 
gular, indeed, must be the good fortune of 
that author who livesto lament over the 
extinction .of his profits, but not of his 
fame, on seeing his work become the unt- 
versal property of the booksellers. — 
In truth, there is no country in Europe 
where hterary property has been so well 
secured as in’ England; or where au- 
thors have been more richly recompense 
ed. he commercial value of literature 
has been very much on the increase of 
Jate year's; and when we know that more 
than a thousand pounds has been gain- 
ed by a facetious work, but mot. emi-+ 
nently so, which has hit the public hu- 
mour; that the same sum is given for 
a single poem firorm a writer whose merits 
some wiildispute ; and thattwo, aud even 
+ three 
Aa 4 
