this inquiry, and presented a report on the documents at the Tower. Astle was a member of sundry foreign academies and a trustee of the British Museum. He travelled on several occasions upon the continent with literary objects. Upon the death of Morant in 1770 he came into possession, through Mrs. Astle, of his father-in-law's library of books and manuscripts as well as of a considerable fortune. Astle had long been an industrious seeker after literary rarities, and eventually brought together the most remarkable private collection of manuscripts in the country. He carried on an extensive correspondence and freely placed his great knowledge and wonderful collection at the disposition of his friends. Dr. Percy acknowledges his help while investigating ballad literature. He was a conductor of 'The Antiquarian Repertory,' and contributed to the 'Archaeologia' and 'Vetusta Monumenta' of the Society of Antiquaries. In the latter appeared his valuable contribution on unpublished Scottish seals, in consequence of a committee of the society having been directed to investigate the subject. The editorship of the 'Taxatio Ecclesiastica' and the 'Calendarium Rotulorum Patentium' (Record Commission, 1802, 2 vols, folio), has been ascribed in error to Astle; John Caley edited the former work, and the same person and Samuel Ayscough the latter one. Astle died at his house at Battersea Rise, near London, on 1 Dec. 1803, of dropsy, in his sixty-ninth year. By his wife he had nine children, and he is now represented by the family of the second son, Philip, who took the name and arms of Hills, of Colne Park, Essex.
All his printed books, chiefly collected by Morant, were purchased from the executors in 1804, for the sum of 1,000l., by the founders of the Royal Institution, where they are now preserved. The collection is particularly rich in history and biography; many volumes in the latter class are enriched with the notes of their former owners. The famous collection of manuscripts was left by will to the Marquis of Buckingham, in token of the testator's regard for the Grenville family, upon payment of the nominal sum of 500l. Had the offer been declined, the British Museum was to enjoy the right of purchase at the same price. The offer was, however, accepted by the marquis, who caused a beautiful gothic room to be erected by Mr. (afterwards Sir) John Soane for their reception at Stowe, where they remained until they were transferred, with O'Conor's Irish codices and other manuscripts, to the sale rooms of Messrs. Sotheby in 1849. But the sale did not take place, as the entire collection was privately purchased by the late Earl of Ashburnham for 8,000l. In the autumn of 1879 the present holder of the title offered his late father's library and collection of manuscripts, the latter consisting of four distinct collections, known as the Stowe, the Barrois, the Libri and Appendix, to the British Museum for 160,000l. After a prolonged negotiation the nation became in 1883 the possessors of the Stowe division at the price of 45,000l.; the most valuable and interesting of the codices being those which had once belonged to Astle, and which are now at the British Museum. Among the chief treasures bequeathed to the Marquis of Buckingham may be mentioned a volume of Anglo-Saxon charters, unrivalled for number, beauty, and preservation; King Alfred's Psalter: the original wardrobe-book of Edward II; the register of Hyde Abbey near Winchester, and many other documents relating to the history of the most celebrated abbeys and monasteries of Great Britain; the original inventories of Queen Elizabeth's wardrobe, plate, and jewels; the Hanoverian state papers; the original accompts of Wolsey and papers connected with the navy and ordnance of Henry VIII; the rich collections of Anstis, Garter king-at-arms; the correspondence of Lord Chancellor Macclesfield and Bishop Lyttelton, &c.; and papers from the libraries of Spelman, Twysden, Thoresby, Le Neve, Ducarel, &c. Besides many contributions to the 'Archaeologia' between 1763 and 1802, Astle published the following works:
- 'The Will of King Henry VII,' London, 1775, 4to.
- 'The Origin and Progress of Writing, as well Hieroglyphic as Elementary, illustrated by engravings taken from marbles, manuscripts, and charters, ancient and modern: also some account of the origin and progress of printing,' London, 1784, 4to, with 31 plates; the 'second edition, with additions,' London, 1803, 4to, 31 plates and portrait, contains 'Appendix on the Radical Letters of the Pelasgians' (published separately in 1775); a reprint by Messrs. Chatto & Windus appeared in 1876, with poor impressions of the plates.
- 'An Account of the Seals of the Kings, Royal Boroughs, and Magnates of Scotland,' London, 1792, folio, 5 plates; also published in 'Vetusta Monumenta,' 1796, iii.
