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Chapter 6: Letters from Wells, 1683-92 by Anne Crawford contains a transcription of letters from Richard Healy to Dr. Richard Busby, which are part of the papers of Dr Busby's trustees.

Order of Service for the Commemoration of the Three Hundreth Anniversary of the Death of Dr Richard Busby, Head Master of Westminster School 1638-1695, held in Westminster Abbey on April 5th 1995

Opens the correspondence. There has been a breakdown of relations between HMC and JB (of unspecified length, but possibly 50 years ago - last meeting ca. 1820) through HMC's misunderstanding of an act of JB's, but HMC is now satisfied that no offence was meaned. Ill health in ca.1820 led him to holiday and then buy a property on Mont St. Michel - compelled to sell this last year because of the 2 cataracts which have blinded him. Also a property in Foret Montier. Quote from Hor.C.2.14, Hor.C.3.6. News of his own family. His epitaph which he has composed. Recalls Vincent's epitaph for Albany Wallis (OW). Used to attend Abbey services, where Howel Holland Edwards (schoolfellow) is a prebend. School much reduced (only 100 pupils, cf. Eton's 800). Refers to the monuments of Edward Smedley, Vincent and Busby. All the old trees have been removed from Dean's Yard. Tothill Fields have been built over (a town with squares and gardens) from Millbank to the Floodgates. Wishes to be remembered to some (university?) friends.

Has heard from a Second Election that the Play is to be continued this year, the Adelphi. The Head Master, educated at the Charter House (see 3), has abandoned Busby's Latin grammar, which formed so many eminent men (William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, William Markham, Archbishop of York, and Robert South, and replaced it with Lily, used by many of the minor country schools. Has doubled the number of lessons and introduced Maths, unknown in their day. The scholars' dormitory now only used for sleeping, and the space beneath it has been converted into 3 day rooms - these alone have fires, and there are none in the dormitory. On the possibility of a Papal nuncio in London (see 31) - perhaps Daniel O'Connell's prediction of 2 years ago will happen, the celebration of Mass in Westminster Abbey.

These books catalogued with a 'BUS' prefix were at one point located in the school's Busby Library, a room commissioned by Head Master, Dr. Richard Busby, to house his substantial book collections. This incorporated some volumes which were present at the school prior to Busby's time as Head Master, such as those donated by Mildred Cecil, Lady Burghley, and the library of Busby's friend, Dr John Pell, which Busby purchased after Pell's death. The majority of the books amassed by Busby were left to the school after his death, although some titles were donated to the church he built at Willen, Buckinghamshire, where they later perished in a fire in 1946. Later additions were incorporated into this collection, often donated by Head Masters and former pupils.