“20th February 1755.—At the Antiquarian Society I gave them
Samuel Gale’s MS. of Cornu Ulphi, with the Latin translation by
himself, and the copper plate of a Runic inscription relating
to it, which they might print if they thought fit. I gave them
an account of Maurice Johnson’s death, and the eulogium I wrote
of him that morning, in the following terms: On Saturday,
8th February 1755, dyed Maurice Johnson, Esq., of Spalding,
Lincolnshire, Councellor at Law, a fluent orator, and of
eminence in that profession, but to an extravagant acquisition
of riches which he ever had in his power, he preferred the
serene sweets of a country life, learned leisure, study, and
contemplation. He is one of the last of the founders of the
Antiquarian Society, London, begun in the year 1717, the
only survivors being Brown Willis, Esq., and Dr. Stukeley.
What is singular in Mr. Johnson’s praise is that he is the
founder of the Literary Society in Spalding, which memorable
transaction happened on 3rd November 1712. This Society,
through his unwearied endeavors, interest, and applications
of every kind, by his infinite labors in writing, collecting,
methodizing indexes, and the like, has now subsisted in great
reputation for these 40 years, and excited such a spirit of
learning and curiosity in that level part of Lincolnshire,
called South Holland, as probably will never be extinguished.
By this means they have got an excellent library, and all
conveniences for their weekly meeting, have established a most
extensive correspondence even to both Indies; are very exact
in answering all communications; have made vast collections
of MSS. letters, written historys, coins, medals, antiquities
of every denomination; fossils, all kinds of natural and
artificial curiosities, drawings, surveys, prints and the like.
They keep exact minutes of everything that appears before
them, have members in every branch of knowledge, try useful
experiments and improvements tending to the common benefit or
entertainment of mankind. Mr. Johnson was a great lover of
gardening and planting, had an admirable collection of flowers,
flowering shrubs, fruit-trees, exotics, an excellent cabinet
of medals, in which he had great knowledge and judgment. Many
years ago, particularly, he made large collections of memoirs
of the history of Carausius, which he sent to me last summer,
and is still in my custody, as a generous assistance in my work
on that head, together with all his coins of that emperor, and
one coin especially, which he always took to be Carausius’
son, of which I give a sketch. The face is like that of the
young Tetricus, but singular in this, that the legend begins
with Cæsar, the name Silvanvs, or whatever else, obliterated,
which is the more to be regretted. Mr. Beaupré Bell, a young
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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