A Saxon Charter transcribed from the Textus Roffensis by Jacob Smith, when but 9 ½, at which Age he was very curious at those ancient Scripts, as I was informed by the ingenious Mrs. Elstob, who gave it me, which learned Gentlewoman is preparing a noble Edition of the Saxon Homilies; as her eminent Brother, the Reverend Mr. William Elstob, Rector of St. Swithin's London, is engaged in that of the Saxon Laws. Part of a Writing in a large engrossing Hand, and part of the very same so small, as scarce to be read without Spectacles, the Parchment being shrunk up by a Fire made in the Oven where it was concealed in the Wars. A Specimen very finely writ with a Tobacco-Pipe, by Ed. Smith M. A. being Part of the Lord's Prayer in Latin, Greek and English, very nicely performed upon Parchment. Don. Rev. Jac. Talbot D. D. Ling. Hebr. apud Cantabrigiensis Prof. Reg. A small one, very fine upon Paper, by Mr. Morton of Leedes, with a Pen-Pipe that he writ with. A Pen made of a Porcupine Quill, Scripta etiam Calamo Acantho-Coiritico. Other antique Pens over-laid with Silk and Silver, which must all give Place to that venerable Pen, wherewith the Reverend Mr. Mat. Henry writ the far greatest Part of his Expositions of the Bible, viz. from the Beginning of Leviticus to the End of the Old Testament (except one Sheet) which makes four Volumes in Folio, in a very close small Character: With it he wrote also all the Sermons (which were not a few) and other Tracts composed in his own Study, from Nov. 1705 to Aug. 1712, when I procured it from the pious Author of those excellent Practical Expositions.

A Plate of the Palmetto-Leaf writ upon, or more properly engraved or impress'd with a Stile; it is above half a Yard long, and but an Inch broad: Others, not writ upon, are an Inch and half deep, and near 12 in Length; these by a Hole punched at both Ends appear to have been designed for a Book, and to be filed upon Strings. A small Writing or Ticket upon a darker coloured Paper-Reed from the Bay of Bengall Of a different one from Malabar, see the various Editions of the Bible. The Chinese Characters and Language upon transparent Paper, with two Pictures. Indian Writing upon different Sorts of Paper with Red Ink and Black, one in Gold upon blew made up into a Fan, of which and others upon a Cane, see before. A different Character upon white Paper. An Example of the Sclavonian Character in a Roll of Paper about 14 Foot long. Don. D. Sam. Ibbetson Merc. A Book or Scroll of 17 Yards two Foot long, wrap'd up in Quarto eight Inches broad, from Onar in the Kingdom of Canara in the East-Indies; it is to be writ upon with a Slate Pen. Don. D. Tho. Wilson Merc. Part of a Letter writ by the King of Bantam upon a reddish Paper. Don. D. Sa. Speering. Several Lines in Arabick writ in the Lord H.'s Lodgings in Cambridgeshire, An. 1700, by Hamet Cardanash, Ambassador from the Emperor of Moroco. Don. D. Jac. Talbot D. D. An Autograph of Seraphim's, a Native Græcian, whose Translation of the New Testament into modern Greek, was printed Anno 1693. Don. Rev. Jo. Hardy. A Jewish Philactery in Hebrew, in a single Scroll of Parchment, with the four Sentences of the Law mentioned by Dr. Grew, amongst the Curiosities of the Royal Society, writ at my Request, and given by that learned Gentlewoman, Mrs. Eliz. Bland of Beeston in this Parish, who hath taught that Primitive Language (wherein she was instructed by the Lord Van Helmont) to her Son and Daughter. A Turkish Commission, given me by the said Mrs. Bland, the Paper is thick and smooth, and the Seal very large, viz. three Inches broad, and above half a Foot in Length. The Divan of Algiers's Pass to Sir John Lawson the Admiral 1663, in Arabick gilded. Don. D. Rob. Stephens Arm. This has a small Seal, but note, the Turks seal not with Wax, but Ink; the Emperor's Name being usually written with Flourishes, and in perplexed Characters; nor have they any Coat of Arms upon their Seals, there being no such Thing as Gentility among them. (Dr. Smith's Observa. of Contantinople, Phil. Trans. N° 155.) So the Manx Warrant or Token is not to be understood of one under Hand and Seal upon Paper, but of a blew Slate, about the Bigness of a Crown-Piece,with the Deemsters Mark upon it, which being delivered to the Defendant, he is obliged to appear. (Vide Cambd. Brit. N. E. p. 1066.) This hath upon one Side T S M (Tho. Sodor & Man), and upon the other the Governor's Mark, for the Person charged thereby, being a Soldier, was not to be forced from his Post by any Power but the Governor's. The Right Reverend Bishop of Man, from whom I received this Curiosity, writes they are now as much in Use as ever, and the People pay a readier Obedience to them, than to an Order under Hand and Seal.