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xxxii JOSEPH KNIGHT. "Thank you a thousand times for your kind wishes and congratulations, and all the good things far too good for me which you say. It is in its way a record that both the grandparents (all four of them, that is) of my granddaughter Beatrice Forbes Robertson kept their Golden Wedding. Ah, fifty years together is a tremendous time, and considering that we have lost no children, we have indeed been blest, and have every cause for gratitude. My friendships have also been propitious, and amongst the best of them I count your unflinching kindness, of which my wife is as sensible as I am myself. She joins with me in affectionate salutations to you and Mrs. Francis.

"A curious thing was to-day's false announcement of the death of Baring-Gould. It kept me at home writing a biography' which after all was not needed. Poor Toole lingers on, does he not?',

With the beginning of 1907 Knight was only occasionally able to come down to the office, so that our correspondence became more frequent. On the 7th of January he wrote in reference to Ebsworth, whose health at that time gave cause for anxiety:—

"I had no idea things were so severe with Mr. Ebsworth. That there was some failure of vitality I knew, but did not think things went further. This weather plays havoc with old friends. I noticed the death of two in this morning's paper : Sir Henry de Bathe and poor, bright, 'Bimbash' Stewart, both distinguished men .... Mr. Ebsworth has done much excellent and some great work. You did right to associate me with your thanks .... I hope you will give me memoir of Ebsworth when necessary: he will be a great loss."

On the 27th of January he writes in reference to the sale of Ebsworth's books:—

"Yes, please send in a notice of Escott's book, which I have not received. Please also announce the sale of Ebsworth's books. Of this I am profoundly sorry to hear. That a worker so noble, so competent, and so disinterested as he should find himself compelled to part with that is, to give away under the pretence of selling his beloved books is very cruel. I wish he knew how thoroughly I sympathize with him, bless him!"

The sale took place at the rooms of Messrs. Puttick & Simpson on Thursday, the 28th of February, and the following day. The total amount realized was 520l.. The three highest prices were S. R. Gardiner's 'History of England,' 2 vols., first edition, 16l. 15s.; Bullen's 'Old English Plays,' 9l. 2s. 6d.; and Southey's copy of Lander's poetry, 9l. 5s.