The ‘Burghley papers,’ acquired in 1772, had passed from Sir Michael HICKES, one of that statesman’s secretaries, to a descendant, Sir William HICKES, by whom they were sold to CHISWELL, a bookseller, and by him to STRYPE, the historian. These (as has been mentioned in a former chapter) were looked upon with somewhat covetous eyes by Humphrey WANLEY, who hoped to have seen them become part of the treasures of the Harleian Library. On STRYPE’S death they passed into the hands of James WEST, and from his executors into the Library at Shelburne House. They comprised a hundred and twenty-one volumes of the collections and correspondence of Lord BURGHLEY, together with his private note-book and journal. Another valuable acquisition, made after Lord SHELBURNE’S retirement in 1768 from political office, consisted of the vast historical Collections of Bishop White KENNETT, extending to a hundred and seven volumes, of which a large proportion are in the Bishop’s own untiring hand. Twenty-two of these volumes contain important materials for English Church History. Eleven volumes contain biographical collections, ranging between the years 1500 and 1717. All that have been enumerated are now national property. Other choice manuscript collections were added from time to time. Among them may be cited the papers of Sir Paul RYCAUT—which include information both on Irish and on Continental affairs towards the close of the seventeenth century; the correspondence of Dr. John PELL, and that of the Jacobite Earl of MELFORT. These varied accessions—with many others of minor importance—raised the Shelburne Library into the first rank among private repositories of historical lore. To amass and to study them was to prove to its owner the solace of deep personal affliction, as well as the relief of public toils. At the close of 1770, he lost a beloved wife, after a union of less than six years. He remained a widower until 1779.