MS. Ballard. 5. fol. 88.
Letter from George Gibson to his cousin Dr. Edm. Gibson afterwards Bishop of London].
Good Cousin,
The Answer to your's (of 31. Mar.) relating to Phalaris is, That a good while ago (how long I can't tell) Mr Bennet (a Bookseller in S. Paul's Church-yard) brought me a Printed Phalaris, desiring me to go to Sion-College-Library, to collate it with a MS. yt I should find there. Whither, accordingly I went, and acquainted the Library-keeper with my business. But he told me, he was sure, there was no such MS. in yt Library. I added; That I was directed thither by the Vice-chancellor (I think 'twas) of Oxford.[1] To which he courteously replied, That perhaps before the dreadful Fire of London, there might be such a one, but since yt time there has been no such MS. and to demonstrate it [to me],[2] he took me into the place where all their MSS. are closetted, which we examined; and then I was fully satisfied also, That it was not there. Whereupon I deliver'd Mr Bennet his Phalaris agen: but some time after he sends it me back with a MS. yt was borrowed of ye Library-keeper (I think) of S. James's, desiring me withall to collate it with all the speed I could. I forthwith went about it, and (if I be not very much mistaken) laid all other business aside; but by that time I had compar'd 20 or 30 pages, or thereabouts, Mr Bennet's man comes posthaste for the foresd MS. for Mr
