The Sun.
London, England, 1801-09-07 00:00:00

test written, and the ink of the most oerritanent
colour : this -.superiority or excellence I ascribz to
.the caution observed by the Monks in the clioice-of
their vellum, and the treat pains taken by the per-
-sons employed as Penmen, whose sole time was de-
dicated to that service, and who took infinite pains
in their works, not being restricted iupoint of time
in their labours: "The elegant Saxon Charafters are
certainly the best that could be used, either for
simplicity or fullness ; the first rendering the writ-
ing more easy and expeditious, and the Lifter, more
legible.
The vellum used was seleded ftir its fineness and
close- texture, and perftd .clearnes, from every
cause that might. prevent the cutting' or formation,
of the.charader or adlieSion of the ihk. •
The ink then used consisted mare of an encaustic
nature than that used in-subsequent ages, as is evi-
dent from its solidity and. blackness, d^:.l on that
account lesS liable to fade or decay,: whatever' the
ingredients were, I cannot presume to say-; but it
is manifest that something was made use of to strike
the tincture deeper into the'Velluin than any method
known at the present time: I cannot help again
observing the necessary precaution that Was taken
to free the -vellum .from .every undunus quality,
which would have counteracted the striing of the
tincture, or caused an excoriation of the composition
or ink, when dry. The inattention in. itie Vellum
and Parchment-makers of the pre,set?t day, .to these
very requisite- precauctoinn is rite cause why the
Law Stationers or Scriveners are.Trequent!y necessf..
rated to use a composition ..;alled ral.chment ?Ounce,
consisting chietiy. .of whiting till zed with a small
quantity of borax or rosin, 'to render the flowing of
the ink more easy"osier the greasy places; the
dreadful effeds of which I have too often seen its
numbers of modern Deeds ( \vllich have passed
through my hands) that have been kept in some
damp place, 'where .the htimidity or dampness has
been absorbed by the quality of the whiting, which
caused excotiations of the ink in various par:s, so as
to leave no "trace whatever of the writing, whereby
the Deed was rendered almost useless.
In respett- to the modes adopted by-the Saxon, to
preserVe- their Records,- I find some difficulty even
to venture an opinion, not haying seen anv others
ttan those' mentioned above; hut , that they used
rolls •I-conceive may be 'inferred froth ..the title of
the Survey- said to-have been -made by King /Rifted,
and generally known by the title of IVlng..Roc. 'de
Winton, from which it is 'highly probable that
Willianethe Conqueror lot-laid ihe idea of his in-
valuable Record now called Domesday Book. 'The
use of rolls I conceive was al-way attended to,
where the nature was publicity and reference fre,
quently required, as may be inferred from the great
minsbei of them now remaining in the Tower.
The common Brevity of Charters, &c. relating
to Monastic or Private Property, clearly evinces
the, reason of their having been preserved in their
Mt imentaries, &c. in separate boxes, allotted for
the several articles where, although .kept from a
free currency of air (which I believe is highly es-
sential for the preservation of Records Of every de-
scription) they have nevertheless, from the nature of
the encaustic composition or ink, retained in -a very
great degree their pristine fullness,•of colouin
Their Ch
ar
tu_ar_es conceive were funned upon
two very necessary principles,' the conservation
of the titles to their possessions, in case the original
grants; &c. should be lost 'or destroYed, and also
for the more ready reference to any particular Deed,
whenever a perusal might he necessary. This ne-
dissary precaution, I have reason to believe, was
antiently observed by' private persons, whoSe pos-
sessions were large, and consequently the Deeds nu-
merous. My reason far this opinion arises from a
late opportunity I had' of examining the Borstal
Chartulary, compiled in the reign of Henry VI.
wherein are compie:e Copies of all the Dee& of se-
veral Estates, regularly arranged from the reign of
Edward the Confessor, down to the time of its
compilation.
I humbly beg leave to' suggest to this Hon.
Committee, . the consequencos and • adv antages
would arise from adopting the above plan of precau-
tion, in resped to the public Records of this Realm,
as well antient as tnodern, because spoliation would
he prevented, and preservation affeeted. I have al-
ways, with infinite satisfadion, observed the -me-
thod used in the Prerogative Office, Dottors Com-
mons, where there are regular Calendars and Regis-
ters kept for public inspedion ; but the nriginal
Wills. are carefully preserved,- that• they may be
produced, when required, in any Court of Judi-
cature.