Item 1844/5 - Letter from R. Merry

1 item, paper

Letter from R. Merry to William French. Writes to tender his resignation of the tutorship he holds in College. Thanks French for his kindness and help during his tenure of the post. Mr Birkett's address is Kelloe, Durham. He returns Mrs. Otter's letter having answered it. Mr Gaskin has ordered Robert's sketches for the College Library. The first set of 20 costs 40 guineas. Only 14 are as of yet published. However, Merry along with Mr. Drake, Mr. Gibson, the three succeeding deans to Mr. Gaskin, Mr Wordham, every Fellow he has spoken to about it and indeed French himself agree that Robert's sketches are suited for a drawing room and not a College Library and that Mr. Gaskin should not have purchased them. At this point it hadn't been entered into the Library catalogue, so Merry suggests parting with it in exchange for some more valuable works for the library. A bookseller in London he has been in touch with has offered 20 guineas for the set and also has a set of Dodsley's Annual Register, 1758 - 1841 for sale at 14 guineas. Asks for French's approval for this. Also mentioned that his fellowship will become vacant soon as he gets married on 17th October or possibly 24th October. But he expects to be presented to the living at Guilden Morden by then.