of Contemporary Documents.

I am further instructed by the Curator to inform you that compliance
with your request that this institution reciprocate your kindness by
loaning to you all papers from the recently discovered Southampton
Shakespeare Collection, bearing date in the years 1593, 1602, and
1609, is contrary to the regulations of this institution. If you
cannot visit London to examine these interesting manuscripts, copies
will be made and transmitted you for three halfpence per folio,
payment by our rules invariably in advance. I note that you are
evidently in error upon one point. The collection contains no
letters or manuscripts of Shakespeare. It is composed principally of
letters written to Shakespeare by various people, and which, after
his death, in some way came into the possession of the Earl of
Southampton. His death, so soon after that of Shakespeare, doubtless
caused these letters to be lost sight of, and they were but last
year discovered in the donjon of the castle. I have examined the
letters for the years you name, and find that copies of the same can
be made for £3 3s., exclusive of postage.

Very respectfully yours,

JOHN BARNACLE,

_10th Ass't Sub-Secretary._

The money having been forwarded, I received in due time the copies. At
the first date, 1593, Shakespeare was a young dramatist and actor
struggling for recognition, poor and almost unknown; in 1602 he had won
an assured position among his fellows, and, with the thrift which