# The Battle of the Books; with selections from the literature of the Phalaris controversy/Letter of Geo. Gibson

MS. Ballard. 5. fol. 88.
Letter from George Gibson to his cousin Dr. Edm. Gibson afterwards Bishop of London].
London April 2. 95.
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. y$^t$ 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 y$^t$ Library. I added; That I was directed thither by the Vice-chancellor (I think 'twas) of Oxford. To which he courteously replied, That perhaps before the dreadful Fire of London, there might be such a one, but since y$^t$ time there has been no such MS. and to demonstrate it [to me], 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. y$^t$ was borrowed of y$^e$ 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 ​(or Dr) Bently, who stay'd at their Shop for't. I told the Messenger how little I had done (not in respect of the time I had it;) and desir'd him to tell the Library-keeper, That I would continue in making all the haste I could [with it], and care fully return him his MS. as soon as I had done with it. I cannot be positive whether or no I forced the Messenger to come twice for't: but this I'm sure of, That I could have no rest, till I had sent back not only the MS. but the printed Book, and also the Variations I had set down in convenient slips of Paper, but which I intended to transcribe before any body should see y$^m$. I also sent this message along with them, That they would easily see how far I had gone; I would make what haste I could with the rest: and bid the Messenger be sure to bring me my Corrections again: all which he promis'd to do. But I never saw any of 'em since, and had forgotten the Book, had I not one day been told of the Complement the Publisher of y$^e$ foresd Epistles had given the Library-keeper for his Civility. This is all I know of this matter, but any one may easily suppose the Library-keeper was sufficiently acquainted, how far I had gone, seeing y$^e$ MS. and printed book, with y$^e$ Corrections on a sheet of paper folded in 16°. lengthways, put in [the] it, ​where I left off were carried all together to Mr B's shop. But of this Mr Bennet, to be sure, is able to satisfy you fully. I've not time, nor room, for any other business, and therefore by Thursday's post you may expect another Letter from your affectionate Cousin
GEO: GIBSON.
* ↑ Dr. Aldrich was Vice-Chancellor from 1692 to 1695.
* ↑ The words to me have been deleted
* ↑ The words continue in have been crossed through; they have then been underlined, and a row of dots has been put below them. The ing of making has been crossed through, and the letter e has been put above it.
* ↑ The words with it have been deleted.
* ↑ The words or no have been inserted above the line.
* ↑ The words in italics are underlined in the MS.
* ↑ The word had has been substituted for was.
* ↑ The word the has been deleted.
* ↑ The words were carried . . . shop have been inserted above the line.