A.D. 1720
About this time, one John Hawkins, a highwayman (who was executed in May, 1722), is said by an accomplice, Ralph Wilson, who published an account of his robberies, to have defaced some pictures in the Library. The University is said to have offered £100 for discovery, and a poor Whig tailor was taken up on suspicion, and narrowly escaped a whipping. No particulars, however, of Hawkins’ act are given in the pamphlet, and no further notice of it has been found elsewhere.
Joseph Swallow, B.A., who died in this year, is found from the Accounts to have been employed, for some short time, in the Library.
In this year the titles of all books which were bought out of the Library funds begin to be recorded, together with their prices; they are entered in a Register marked with the letter C.
Visitors’ Fees. See 1713.