The Curators presently met and the following was the highly unsatisfactory result which speaks little for “Bodleian” kindness or courtesy:—
No. III.
Monday, Nov. 1, 1886.
“Dear Sir Richard Burton,
“The Curators considered your application on Saturday, Oct. 30, afternoon, and the majority of them were unwilling to lend the MS.[[420]]
Yours very truly,
(Signed) Edward B. Nicholson.”
Learning through a private source that my case had been made an unpleasant exception to a long-standing rule of precedent, and furthermore that it had been rendered peculiarly invidious by an act of special favour,[[421]] I again addressed the Vice-Chancellor, as follows:—
No. IV.
23, Dorset Street, Portman Square,