Stowe MS 743-748

MISCELLANEOUS ORIGINAL LETTERS on historical, literary, and other subjects; 1570-1759. Six volumes, folio, chronologically arranged. A large proportion of the letters down to 1684 are addressed to Sir Edward Dering, of Surrenden, co. Kent, 1st Bart., M.P. (ob. 1644), and to his son, Sir Edward, 2nd Bart., M.P. (ob. 1684), those to the latter referring more especially to his duties as Commissioner for Claims in Ireland after the Restoration. Another series, of the latter part of the 17th cent. and the beginning of the 18th, relates to Yorkshire, and more particularly to Leeds and its neighbourhood, many being addressed to Thomas Kirke, of Cookridge, F.R.S. (ob. 1706), an intimate friend of Ralph Thoresby, the antiquary. From 1734 onwards most of the letters are addressed to Edward Cave, as editor of the Gentleman's Magazine. The names of all the writers are given in the index. The more important letters are as follows:-