 centuries later than the
early records in Fetter Lane, go back quite far enough to make the
reading of the great mass of them not always easy for the uninitiated.
They, too, probably count by millions, and I have known one gentleman
who estimated the number which he himself had looked at and examined
with more or less attention at not less than a hundred thousand. This
collection is more easily accessible to students than the other,
inasmuch as here we are dealing with a single class of documents,
which present no difficulties of arrangement, and which have been
carefully preserved and habitually consulted for generations, and
are as a rule bound up in big volumes of transcripts, or offices
copies, made for the most part within a short time of the original
wills having been proved before the accredited officials. So far as
they go the wills in Somerset House contain to a very great extent
the _genealogical_ history of England. It is necessary to guard this
statement by qualifying words, for the wills in Somerset House are the
wills of men and women who died in the southern province only.

If we lengthen our radius, keeping to Temple Bar as our centre and
sweeping a circle say of five miles in diameter, we shall include
within this circumference a vast collection of records of a very
miscellaneous character. There are the muniments of the City of London;
there is an unknown mass of curious “evidences” in the secret chambers
of the London companies; there are the mysterious and probably very
large stores of recondite lore hidden away somewhere in the great
Inns of Court, and perhaps in forgotten garrets of some of the minor
dependencies of those august institutions. There are the sessional
records of the county of Middlesex, which a very moderate estimate
has assured us contain more than half a million documents; and,
in addition to all these, there are probably many other important
collections subsidiary to these larger ones, the very existence of
which is unknown and unsuspected except by some few reticent creatures,
who with the grip of the miser cling secretively to the hoarded
treasures that they cannot spend and will not let any one else look
at. It must be evident to any one who reflects upon the measureless
bulk--the mere bulk--of these various assemblages of ancient documents
to be found within
centuries later than the 
 early records in Fetter Lane, go back quite far enough to seduce the 
 interpretation of the great mass of them not always comfortable for the uninitiated. 
 They, too, probably consider by millions, and I have known one valet 
 who estimate the number which he himself had look at and examined 
 with more or less attention at not less than a hundred thousand. This 
 collection is more easily accessible to students than the other, 
 inasmuch as here we are deal with a single class of documents, 
 which give no difficulties of arrangement, and which have been 
 carefully preserved and habitually consult for generations, and 
 are as a rule bound up in big volumes of transcript, or offices 
 copies, made for the most part within a short time of the original 
 wills having been proved before the accredited officials. So far as 
 they go the wills in Somerset House contain to a very great extent 
 the _ genealogical _ history of England. It is necessary to guard this 
 statement by qualify words, for the wills in Somerset House are the 
 will of men and women who died in the southern state only. 

 If we lengthen our spoke, keeping to Temple Bar as our centre and 
 sweeping a traffic circle say of five miles in diameter, we shall include 
 within this circumference a vast collection of records of a very 
 miscellaneous character. There are the muniments of the City of London; 
 there is an unknown mass of curious “ evidence ” in the secret bedroom 
 of the London companies; there are the mysterious and probably very 
 large memory of recondite lore hidden away somewhere in the big 
 Inns of Court, and perhaps in forgotten garrets of some of the minor 
 dependencies of those august initiation. There are the sessional 
 record of the county of Middlesex, which a very moderate estimate 
 has assured us incorporate more than half a million documents; and, 
 in accession to all these, there are credibly many other important 
 solicitation subsidiary to these larger one, the very universe of 
 which is unknown and unsuspected except by some few reticent creatures, 
 who with the grip of the miser cling secretively to the hoarded 
 treasures that they cannot spend and will not let any one else look 
 at. It must be evident to any one who reflects upon the illimitable 
 bulk -- the mere majority -- of these various assemblages of ancient documents 
 to be discover within
 cejturies later than the
eavly records in Fgtrer Laie, go bzck quitd far enough to make the
readmng if tht great mass of theo not alwwys easy for rhe uninitmzted.
Then, too, irobaylb count by milllons, and I vave known one gdncleman
who estimated the number which he himxepf had looked wt amq exzmined
with more or less attention zt not ness than a hindred thousand. This
collechion is more easily acfessible to stuqwnts than thd other,
inasmuch as herg we are dealing with a single cuass pf documenjs,
shlwh present io difsiculties of arrangekent, anc which have bcen
cacefuoly preserved and habmtually consulted fot generatimna, and
are as a rulw vound up hn bkt vulujex kf trajsccipts, or ofrices
copies, made for the most kare within a shodt timq jf the original
wills having been proved berore the accredited offucials. So far as
they ho the wijls in Somerset House contain to a very great extant
thx _eentaoogicxo_ jistory of England. It is necessary to guard trjs
xtstement by quajifying worcs, fpt the wills in Somerset House are the
willd of meg and women whj dird in the southern province only.

If we lvngtyen our radius, kee'ing to Tempue Bsr as our centre and
sweeping a cjrcle say ov five mimds in diameter, wd smaln includt
dithin this circuiference e vasc collecgion of resords of a very
miscellaneous charafter. Jhere dre the mujiments of the City of London;
thxce is an unknpwt mdss of cbrious “evidences” in the secret chcmbers
of the Uondon comianies; thxre are the iysterious ang probably vecy
large seorew of recondkge lore hidden away somvwkere in tye great
Inns of Comrt, avs perhaps in foxyoutwn garrets of xomd os nhe mytor
dependenches uf gnose xugust instltugionx. There are the sesshonam
records of the coinby of Midelesex, wrich a very mpderate estimate
had assnred ur conyaig more than half a million dochments; anf,
in addition to all these, there are probably many other important
collertions subsidiary to thwse larger ones, the yery existenre of
wrich is utknown and unsuspectwd except by some few reticent creaturss,
who fith hhe grip of the miser cling secretively to the hoarded
treasures that they cannov fpend and wjll mot lvt cny one ejse puok
at. It must be evident to any one who reflectr upon tve measureless
bulk--the mere bull--ow these varioos assemblages of ancient socumentx
to be found within
centuries later than the early records in go quite far to make the of not always easy the uninitiated. They, probably count by millions, and I known one gentleman who estimated the number which he himself had looked at examined with more or less attention at not less than a hundred thousand. collection more accessible students than the other, inasmuch as here we are dealing with a single class of documents, present no difficulties of arrangement, and which have carefully preserved and habitually for generations, and are as rule up in volumes transcripts, offices copies, made the most part within a short time of the original wills having been proved before the accredited So far go the in House to a very the _genealogical_ history of England. It guard this statement by qualifying words, for the in Somerset are the wills of men and who died in the southern province only. If lengthen our radius, keeping to Temple Bar as our centre and sweeping a circle say miles in diameter, we include within this a collection records a very character. There are the muniments of the City of London; there an unknown mass of curious “evidences” in the secret chambers London there are the and probably very large of lore hidden away somewhere great of in garrets some of the minor of those august institutions. There the sessional records of a very moderate estimate has assured us contain than half a million documents; and, in to all these, there are probably many other important collections subsidiary to larger ones, existence of which is unknown and unsuspected except some few reticent creatures, with the grip of the miser cling secretively to hoarded that they spend and will let any one look at. It evident to one reflects bulk--the mere bulk--of these various assemblages ancient to be found within
 centuries later than the
earlY records in fetteR LaNe, gO bAck qUite Far enough to makE The
rEading of the great mass of Them nOt ALwayS EaSy for The uninITiATEd.
THeY, tOo, pRoBAbLy couNt bY millioNs, and I have KnoWn One gentleman
WHo Estimated tHe nUmber which he HimSelf haD lOokED at anD exAmineD
with mORe or leSs attentiOn AT not leSS than a hUNDrEd thOusand. This
collectIOn IS more easily accEssiblE tO StUDEntS thAn the other,
InAsmucH As here wE ArE DEAliNG with a single cLass of documENts,
Which pReSenT No diffIcultIeS Of aRrangement, aNd whIch have beEn
careFUlly preSErved anD habitUalLy cOnsuLTeD fOr gEnERatIOnS, anD
Are As a rule bOuNd Up in bIg voLUMES of tRanScriPts, or Offices
copies, MadE for THe mOst paRt witHin a ShOrt tiMe of thE origInAl
wills having beEn prOved beforE thE aCcrEdIted oFFicialS. So Far As
they gO the wilLS in soMERSeT House contain to a veRy GREaT extent
tHe _geneALoGiCAl_ historY oF EnGlanD. iT is neCessARy To guard tHis
staTEmEnT by qualIfYing woRdS, foR thE willS In SoMerset house are The
wiLLs of men and womeN Who died in the sOUtHERn PRoviNce Only.

If we lenGtheN Our rAdiuS, KeEpiNG to TeMple BAr AS oUR centre and
sweeping a CiRcle saY of fiVe miles in diamEter, we shalL INClude
witHin tHIs CIrcumference a vAst coLlection of REcords of A very
MiscellaNeous charACTer. There Are The MunImeNTS oF the City of LonDON;
theRe Is an unkNowN mass of CurIouS “evIdeNcEs” in the seCret chamBeRs
Of ThE LoNdon cOMpanies; tHeRe aRe The MysteRIous anD probAbly VeRy
LArgE stores OF rECOndiTe LoRe hiDdeN aWay soMewhERe iN the greAt
Inns of COurT, And pErHaPs in forGotten garrets Of Some of the mInOr
dEpendeNCIes of thoSe august institutions. TheRE are the SesSionaL
recOrds of the CouNty of MIddLEsex, whIch a veRy modErAte ESTimatE
HAs AssUrEd us contaiN MOre Than hAlF a miLlion doCuments; and,
in additiON to All these, there Are ProbABLy ManY OtHEr iMpORtaNT
Collections subsIdiary to thEsE LaRger ones, thE VerY eXistencE of
whicH is unKNown and UnsuspectEd except bY sOme fEW RetIcent creatUres,
who wIth the griP Of the MIsEr cliNg sEcretiVeLy tO the hOarded
TReaSures That thEy Cannot Spend AnD will not Let any one else look
at. It muSt be evIdent To aNy one who rEflECts Upon the meAsurEless
bulk--tHe mEre Bulk--oF thESe varIous ASsEmbLAges oF ancIEnt documeNTs
To bE FOuNd within
 centuries later than theearly reco rds i n F ett er  Lan e, g o back quite f a r en ough to make the
readi ng of  t h e gr e at  mass  of the m  n o t  al wa ys  ea sy fo r the  un initiat ed.
They,too ,probably cou n tby million s,and I have k now n onege ntl e man
w hoestim ated t h e numb er whichhe himsel f  had lo o k ed  atand examined
with mo r e or less atte ntionat no t les s t han a hund re d tho u sand. T h is c o lle c tion is moreeasily acce s sib le tost ude n ts tha n the  o t her ,
inasmuchas h ere we ar e deal i ng with a singl e clas s o f d ocum e nt s, 
wh ic h  pr e se ntn o d ifficult ie sof ar rang e m e n t, a ndwhic h hav e been
carefu lly  pre s erv ed an d hab itua ll y con sulted  forge nerations, andareas a rule  bo un d u pin bi g  volum esoftranscr ipts, o r  of fi c e s 
c opies, made for th em o st  part wi thin a sh or t  time of  t heorig i n al
wi llsh av ing been  prove d  b ef ore the  a ccredi te d o ffi cials .  Sofar as 
they go  thew ills in Somers e t House conta i nt o  a very  gr eat extentthe_ gene alog i ca l_h istor y ofEn g la n d. It is necessaryto  guard  this 
statement by  qualifyin g w ords, fo r th e  w i lls in Somerse t Hou se are the wills of  menand wome n who die d in the s out her n p rov i n ce  only.

If we l engt he n our r adi us, kee pin g t o T emp le  Bar as o ur centr ean dsw eep ing a circle s ay  of  f ive  mile s  in di amete r, w esh a llinclude wi t h in t hi scirc umf er encea va s t c ollecti on of rec ord s  ofave ry
misc ellaneous cha ra cter. Ther eare  the m u n iments o f the City of London;
t h ere isanunkno wn m ass of cu rio us “ev ide n ces” i n thesecre tcha m b ers
o f th e L on don compan i e s;there  a re t he myst erious and probabl y  ve ry
large stor esof r e c on dit e  l o rehi d den a way somewhere i n the grea tI nn s of Court ,  an dperhaps  in for gotte n  garret s of some  of the m in or
d e p end encies ofthose au gust inst i tutio n s.  Ther e a re the  s ess ional 
recor d s o f the  count yof Mid dlese x,  which a  very moderate estimate 
has a ssure d u s contain  mo r e t han halfa mi llion docu men ts;  and, 
in addit iont oall these , th e re are pr o ba bly m an y other imp o r t ant 
coll ect i ons su bsid iary to these lar g er ones, the v erye x ist enc e  ofwh ich is unknown  an du n suspecte dexcept by s ome fewre t icent  creat ures,who wit h th e  gripof t hemiser cli ngse c retivel yto the ho arde dtreasu res th a t th e y  cannot spend an d wil l not l e t a ny on eelse lo o k
at . It mustbe evidentto any  one  whoreflect supon t heme asurelessb ulk--themerebulk--o fthes e v arious  ass e m blage s of  a nci ent docum e n ts to  b e  fo undwithi n
 centuries_later than_the
early records in Fetter_Lane, go_back_quite far_enough_to make the
reading_of the great_mass of them not_always easy for_the_uninitiated.
They, too, probably count by millions, and I have known one gentleman
who estimated the_number_which he_himself_had_looked at and examined
with more_or less attention at not_less than_a hundred thousand. This
collection is more easily accessible_to_students than the_other,
inasmuch as here we are dealing with a single_class of documents,
which present no difficulties_of arrangement, and_which_have_been
carefully preserved and habitually_consulted for generations, and
are as a_rule bound up in big volumes_of transcripts, or offices
copies, made for the_most part within a short time_of the original
wills having been_proved before_the accredited officials. So far_as
they go the_wills in_Somerset House contain_to a very great extent
the _genealogical__history of England._It is necessary to guard this
statement_by_qualifying words, for_the_wills_in Somerset_House are the
wills_of_men and_women_who died in the southern province_only.

If_we lengthen our radius, keeping to Temple_Bar as our centre_and
sweeping_a circle say of_five miles in diameter, we_shall include
within this circumference a vast_collection of_records of_a very
miscellaneous character. There are the muniments of the City of_London;
there is an unknown mass of_curious “evidences” in the_secret chambers
of_the_London companies; there_are_the mysterious_and probably very
large stores of recondite lore_hidden away_somewhere in the great
Inns of Court,_and perhaps in forgotten_garrets_of some of the minor
dependencies of_those august institutions. There are the_sessional
records of the county of_Middlesex,_which_a very moderate estimate
has assured_us contain more than half a_million documents; and,
in_addition to all these, there are probably_many_other important
collections subsidiary to these larger_ones,_the very existence of
which is unknown_and_unsuspected_except by some few reticent_creatures,
who with the grip of the_miser cling secretively to the hoarded
treasures that they cannot_spend and will_not let any one else_look
at._It_must be evident to any one who reflects upon the_measureless
bulk--the mere_bulk--of these various_assemblages of ancient documents
to be found within