was to be completed. Gibson accordingly did not hurry.[1]
Bentley had to go to Worcester towards the end of May. He says that he told Bennet this, and instructed him not to lose any time in getting the collation made, but Bennet stoutly denied that Bentley gave him any such warning. However that may be, Bentley had to leave for Worcester at five o'clock on Monday morning towards the end of May (either on May 21st or May 28th). On the Saturday preceding he called about noon at Bennet's shop, and said that the MS. must be returned at once as he was going away and could not trust the MS. out of the Library until his return. Bennet sent a messenger to the collator, who returned with the answer that the collation was not yet finished. Bentley apparently waited until this message was received, and then said that the MS. must be returned that day. Bennet asked that he might keep it till Sunday morning, and engaged to make the collator (who had been working all day) sit up all night to finish the collation. For whatever reason,
- ↑ This is Bennet's account. It is flatly contradicted by Gibson's letter (see pp. 294–6 of this vol.).
