It seems to be of so much importance to ascertain the safety of these manuscripts, that M—N. trusts he need not apologise for stating in "N. & Q." the result thus far of his inquiry after their present ownership. In consequence of the recommendation of E. A. G. (Vol. v., p. 135.), Sir Edward Tierney has been applied to, but he unfortunately knows nothing of their fate, suggesting, however, a reference to Mr. Woodgate, who was concerned as solicitor at the time of the sale. Mr. Woodgate has been written to, and states that the manuscripts were sold with the other effects of Lord Egmont, but he knows not to whom; he mentions Mr. Braithwaite as the auctioneer. To apply to Mr. Braithwaite would be only carrying the inquiry round in a circle, for twenty years ago, as was stated at page 59, no satisfactory information could be gained there. All, therefore, that remains is to place on record in this useful journal the fact of the disappearance of these manuscripts, in the hopes that some one of its numerous readers may be able now or hereafter to give some account of their existence. When it is recollected that the only copies of many of the latest visitations were among these collections, and that the latter portion of the seventeenth century, to which these visitations refer, is exactly that period in which genealogists, from many causes, find the connexion of pedigrees the most difficult, the discovery of their fate is not without its interest.
M—N.
Noble's account of the sale of these MSS., after the death of Garter in 1715, is as follows:
"Mr. Bridges of Herefordshire, his executor, obtaining possession of the heraldic books which Garter had in his house, never returned them to the College; they were very numerous and valuable, being some of the original visitations, taken by or under the authority of the St. Georges. With these also were many of Camden's books. These original documents were scandalously sold by Messrs. Wynne and Gregory [sons-in-law of Sir Henry St. George] to Thomas Percival, Earl of Egmont, a great lover of genealogical studies, who gave for them 500l.: they are now possessed by that nobleman's grandson, John-James, the present Earl of Egmont."—Hist. Coll. Arms, p. 353. 4to. 1804.
This statement has led to the inference, that the whole of St. George's MSS. were disposed of to Lord Egmont; but the fact is otherwise, for by far the most valuable portion of them was subsequently in the hands of Thomas Osborne, the well-known bookseller of Gray's Inn; who printed a list of them, with an index of the pedigrees, in his catalogue entitled:
"A Catalogue of several valuable Libraries of Books and MSS. &c. To which is prefixed a Genealogical Library in above Two hundred Manuscript Volumes in folio, &c. Collected and augmented by the late Sir Henry St. George, Knt., Garter King of Arms, and his ancestors, in the office of Arms, for above these hundred years past. To begin to be sold, 27 November, 1738."
These MSS. are 216 in number, and many of them are at present in the British Museum, in the Lansdowne Collection of MSS. Osborne reprinted this list in his next catalogue for February 1738/9, entitled:
"An Extensive and Curious Catalogue of valuable Books and MSS. in all Languages, &c., including a very large Collection of Curious Genealogical Tracts," &c.
After the MSS., which occupy pp. 68-92., is an "Appendix," consisting of thirty-three pedigree rolls, chiefly on vellum, which also belonged to St. George.
To conclude with a Query, may I ask, if any complete list of Osborne's Catalogues can be obtained previous to 1756, when the list in Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vol. iii., begins?