Perhaps not worth adding in but for the record I overlooked in writing on the theme of excavating proof that Donnelly had following Bacon s precedent endeavoured to do this Shapiro mentions it If for completeness this needed to be added then it would run like this From hints in his code Donnelly believed that important manuscripts had been secreted underground and sought permission to excavate the estate of one of Bacon s heirs the Earl of Verulam His bid was unsuccessful Where Ridge s ref would be But I don t suppose this is worth worrying about save for the fact that those following in his wake like Orville Owen get some coverage for doing the same