'Honoured Sr
I presume on the Friendshipp you have for me, of wch I have receiv’d a thousand testimonies, to pray yr advice, & if you approve of my designe yr assistance, in wt I am about to propose to you. I am under noe tyes, noe Resolution in this Project. And you may assure yrselfe, I am not of the number of those, who first determine, and then ask Counsell: so as ye vow will absolutely resolve the doubt.
From my first Infancy in a manner I have binn addicted to Bookes. About the 12 yeare of my Age the Civil Broyles broke out, when the common distractions of the Countrye discomposd me as well as most of or youth. After the Battle of Naseby my father carryed me into France so to Livorne whence he sent me an Apprentice to Con’ple where I remayned 6 years. during my stay there I collected a great number of Meddals, for amongst other Litterarie things, I have had a fling at that studie. I had then the oportunity of buying a great many Coyns for a little monie. Ever since, I have binn gathering up in England but through ye Scarcity of ancient Coynes, I cannot say I advanced very much. during these difficulties & other avocations & Impediments I intermitted the zeal of my serch, until now that his Matie hath binne pleased to Honor me wth the the Character of his Servant heere where I find my first Curiositie return’d upon me, possibly too stronger then ever, in regard as my oportunities are heere greater, so absit Philantia, I think my Judgment is better. But so it is I have heere bought up 6000 Meddals, wch I have garbld & reduced to so many Hundreds. These are choyce & rare. I goe on adding to my Store, & I hope under his Maties auspicious favour to arrive to some perfection. you & all men Knowe, How exceedingly I stand obliged to employ all my Cares, Thoughts, Time, & Talents, in his Maties Service, & to doe his Matie Honor, thereby to redeeme if possible ye Follies & Indiscretions of my youth.
You also Know, As many as have written any thing on this subject have constantly address’d themselves to Kings & Princes, And with Great Reason. I remember not that any are inscribed to his Matie or any of his Predecessors, though some have sparsim & obiter, touch’d on this matter, as Mr Cambden &c.
I am to be informed if any one be now ingaged on this designe, & if there be, mine is at an end.
In ye next place, If you think I am par negotio, I humbly offer my selfe to enter on this work, and to write the Historie of those Coynes wch are or shall come in my way. I want noe leasure, nor will. I begg you to advise whether I will be best to do it in Latine or English. I know the former is the style most propper but forasmuch as every one ought to imbellish his owne Language, I am unresolv’d whether his Matie may not like it best, if it be in his owne Tongue.
For matter of ye Impressions of ye Coynes, I cannot beare that Charge, as neyther of ye Linning, without his Maties gracious & Princely Ayd. The Collecting of ye Coynes I will take on my selfe: and reserve spaces to insert such of his Maties as shall be found not to be in mine.
When I know yr Thoughts heereon, I will prepare a scheame of ye Method I propose to hold in this matter.
To conclude, though my Project should be ridiculous in itselfe, yet whilst t’is imparted to A Friend, & by way of Advising & Consulting, it is a pardonable Folly.
And so with utmost respect & deference I give you a ful authority over me & I vow to live & dye
Honored Sr
yr most obliged humble servant & faythful friend
Dodington'
(Kew, National Archives, SP 99/51, ff.137-8; Burnett 2020b, pp. 583-4)
