Description | He has been concerned at hearing that his correspondent was uneasy about talk of the text of St John's Epistle in the Vatican manuscript at Rome. Folkes's name was mentioned, he understands, attributing to him something he never meant, and he wishes to clear himself. He would not deny saying things, even in private conversation with a friend. On being in Rome, it was natural that Folkes would be curious to see the Vatican manuscript, and he did so twice, in company with two gentlemen. The verse was difficult, because of its character and age and they made use of a common Greek testament. He has been asked about it by several persons since and had said that either his correspondent saw a different manuscript, or was mistaken about it. He may have simply said that it was a mistake, without conjecture as to how that arose, but he has never intimated that it was a volunatary misrepresentation or that it was done to favour any particular party or opinion. Folkes notes other conversations, including Dr. Clarke's suggestion that the manuscript had been altered since Dr. Burnet's time. He discusses how their differences may have arisen, reaffirming his innocent intentions. He hopes 'that both Mr R and your self will think in the most favourable manner of me with regard to the relation of matters that have passd in a ffreedom of discourse which I could never expect to have any occasion to recollect'. |