Letter 0697

[fol. 203] Canterbury July 31 1701 Most Honorabl Sir, Since I came hither I have made it my business to enquir. for that little Tract of Mr Somner’s, which you was pleas’d to mention to me. I find that several private Gentlemen have it in their studies, but will not part with it: and it is not to be had at the Booksellers. I can’t hear of any stones, shells, Plants, Fossills, or such other souriosities, but what are in such places from whence nothing came out. But the Minister of Dover tells me that an Acquaintance of his has some such things: and by his Endeavours, I hope in time to be able to augment your store. At the Castle, there are some old Ruins, which were built long since with the Relicks & Fragments of Roman buildings. I pulled out of an Arch some Pieces of Roman Brick, which I will bring up with me next Monday for you. They are of the same sort of Clay as those in the Walls of St. Martin’s Church here, which for ought I know, may be the oldest Building now extant in England, it being the very same Church mention’d as an old one, by Venerable Bede in the Ist book of his Ecclesiastical History. Your pardon for this trouble is desired by Honor’d Sir, Your very humble & most obliged servant Humfrey Wanley