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and others, in the course of office business. Mr. Malone's remark that John Shakespeare used a mark nearly resembling the letter A., as probably "chosen in honour of the lady he had married," appears to myself, therefore, sufficiently ludicrous. Perhaps these observations may be deemed of little moment they, however, seem to me to be called for by Mr. Malone's comment on the mark used by the father of Shakespeare.

I may take this opportunity of adding that the late Colonel John Gilbert Cooper Gardiner, of Thurgarton Priory, Nottinghamshire, (who for many years commanded the Militia of that county) was descended from Lady Barnard. Holding a commission in the regiment under Col. G.'s command, I was, in 1831, thrown much into the colonel's society, during the month's training and exercise of the corps which took place in that year. We had many conversations on the subject of Shakespeare's life, when he referred to his connection with the family of the bard in the person of his ancestress, Lady Barnard. He also stated that he had frequently been applied to, by literary men of eminence connected with the Shakespeare inquiries, for information as to his possession of any MSS., or other remains of Shakespeare; but that his reply had uniformly been, that his family papers were so confusedly mixed up with the documents relating to his estates and other miscellaneous writings, that he had never been able to make an entire and satisfactory search. He still proposed, at some future period, to go thoroughly into such an investigation; and I repeatedly urged the strong desire I entertained to assist him on the occasion, if he would accept my very zealous services.

Such inquiry, however, I have reason to believe, was never effected. He died, and his ancient family-seat fell into the hands of strangers. His personal effects were sold by auction in the neighbourhood, and I should conceive that the bulk of his papers went into the hands of his executors, although it is

not unlikely that, as he left no family representative and the estates passed to mortgagees, the old and useless muniments might be given up, with little examination, to the party possessing the Priory where they were deposited. Who the executors were I am not informed; but as Col. G.'s brotherin-law was Mr. Lysons, (one of the authors of the several county histories) that gentleman may be supposed to know something of the matter. I should much congratulate myself, should this communication happily lead to any desirable result.

Col. Gardiner originally bore the name of Cooper, and was grandson of John Gilbert Cooper, the poet, whose portrait, by Hogarth, together with a copy of D'Avenant's Plays with his autograph inscribed, fell into my possession at the sale of the colonel's effects. As it is just possible that this communication may afford some clue which others may be disposed to follow up, it may be worthy of insertion among the Shakespeare Papers.

Repton, near Burton-upon-Trent,

June 28th, 1844.

ROBERT BIGSBY, LL.D.

VOL. I.

END OF VOL. I.

FREDERICK SHOBERL, JUNIOR,

PRINTER TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT,
51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET, LONDON.

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FREDERICK SHOBERL, JUNIOR, PRINTER TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT, 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET, LONDON.

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