Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In York In The Eighteenth Century.
the parish of Kirby Knowle , in Yorkshire , and he married a Mary Plummer in 1762 . New Buildings is a curious old place , and its history is connected with the ancient families of Constable , Scrope , and Neville , who successively were owners before the purchase by Col . Elsley , in 1827 . Its present owner is Bro . Charles Elsley .
In December of that year the Provincial Grand Lodge met in the Merchants' Hall in Fossgate , and the advertisement announced a " Sermon to be preached in the Chapel by the Rev . Bro . W . Johnson , Prov . Grand Chaplain . " Tickets for dinner to be had of Bro . Frobisher , in the
Pavement . ( Frobisher was a bookseller . ) The Merchants Hall is a very curious old relic of the past , and was , and is still , the property of the ancient Guild of York Merchant Adventurers . The chapel referred to is a most quaint place , under the floor of the "Hall " proper , and approached by a flight of stairs and a huge trap-door .
In the Courant of June iSth , 17 S 2 , Sinclair , Grand Master , summoned a meeting of the Grand Lodge of All England for the 24 th June , at the York Tavern , his Wardens being R . Dodsworth and E . Wolley , and this is the last public notice of any meeting of this ancient body that I find in the Courant .
Robert Sinclair was proposed as a joining member in December , 177 6 . He was a barrister , and was Recorder of York . He lived in Coney-street in a house now occupied as a linen shop . His portrait , life-size , in oils , by Jackson , R . A ., is in the possession of Bro . J . Wilkinson , Town Clerk of York . His arms are emblazoned on one of the windows of the Council
Chamber in the Guildhall of York . The Dodsworths had been for many years connected with commerce in York , and this Ralph Dodsworth served as Sheriff in 1777 , an < ^ Lord Mayor in 1792 . Wolley , a solicitor , came into possession of considerable estates in the North Riding . He changed his name to Copley , and lived at Potts Hall
near Stokesley . The York Lodge has his engraved portrait , and I presented a copy to Grand Lodge a short time since . Meetings , however , -were held , and , although we find no entries in the minute book now at York , yet minutes of some kind must have been kept , for they wereseen by Wm . Hargrove , who , in his " History of York , " published in 181 S , vol . 3 , speaking of this Grand Lodge , says , "We find it
recorded that ' On the 24 th of June , 17 S 3 , the Grand Master , with all the officers , attended in the great room of the Mansion House , where a lodge in the Third Degree was opened , and Brother Wm . Siddall , Esquire , at that time the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor and Grand Master Elect , was installed according to an ancient usage and custom The Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of All England , and was thus saluted , homaged , and acknowledged . '" And then he goes on to say that Mr . Blanchard , the last Grand
Secretary , told him that about 1787 the meetings of this lodge were discontinued . We have , however , evidence that in 1792 there was a meeting , on which occasion Bro . E . Wolley , the York solicitor , was elected Grand Master , the memorandum of the election being in Blanchard ' s handwriting . Probably Wolley was never installed ; but it appears to me quite plain that we may add to the list of Grand Masters at York the name of Siddall as Grand Master in 1783-4 , at any rate . Blanchard was a printer and proprietor of the York Chronicle .
I have looked through the files of the York Chronicle from 1782 to 1793 , and have found the advertisement calling the meeting at the Mansion House in June , 1783 , on which occasion there was a procession to St . Martin ' s , Coney-street , and a sermon by Parson Parker . By the way , the Rev . Mr . Parker lived in the Beddern , York , and kept a private school there at his
residence . The Chronicle of the 27 th June gives a brief account of the affair at the Mansion House , and adds that the brethren were entertained by the Lord Mayor after the ceremony . The Grand Secretary ' s paper , of the 26 th of December , 1883 , has the following advertisement :
"GRAND LODGE OF ALL ENGLAND . "The Right Hon . the LORD MAYOR , Grand Master . " Free and Accepted Masons are desired to meet the Grand Master at the York Tavern , on Monday , the 29 th inst ., the Feast Day of St . John falling on Saturday . "CLZLEV , } Grand Wardens . " W . BLANCHARD , Grand Secretary . " On the sarne day the Masons under the Grand Lodge of England were advertised to meet at Merchants' Hall , and hear a sermon by the Rev . Mr . Johnson .
Siddall was Grand Master next year , for the Chronicle advertises the Grand Lodge of All England to meet under his rule at the York Tavern , on the 24 th June , 1784 . The Minerva Lodge , Hull , called its meeting for the same day . There is no later advertisement of any meeting of the York Grand Lodge , but about this time our brethren seem to have begun to cease
advertising their gatherings . Nevertheless , there are a few announcements of other bodies . In June , 1785 , the Minerva Lodge invited all Masons to meet at Mason ' s Arms , Chapel-lane , Hull . In December , 1785 , Milnes again called a gathering at Merchants' Hall , and Rodney Lodge invited all visitors to the Bull and Sun , Hull , and to hear a sermon at Holy Trinity by Chaplain Clarke . After this comes a dearth of Masonic announcements of all kinds .
There are , however , in the Courant several advertisements of the Prov . Grand Lodge and other lodges still to be mentioned . In the last mentioned number of the Courant is the announcement of a meeting of " Rodney ' s Lodge , " at Hull . I quote it as it stands because it is peculiar from the fact of the Master styling himself "Grand Master" : " Hull , June 14 th , 1782 .
" RODNEY'S LODGE . " EDWARD COULSON , Esq ., Grand Master . "The Free and Accepted Masons are desired to meet the Grand Master at the Bull and Sun , in Myton Gate , on Monday , 24 th June inst ., being the Feast of St . John the Baptist , at nine o ' clock in the morning , to proceed from thence to the Church of the Holy Trinity , and after Divine service to dine at the Bull and Sun . "
Summer meetings seem to have been abandoned in York for a time . On December 27 th , 1782 , Sir Walter Vavasour summoned the brethren to the Merchants' Hall , to hear a sermon by Bro . the Rev . Johnson , and again for a similar purpose on the 27 th December , 1783 . The Minerva Lodge , Hull , advertised its meeting at the Mason ' s Arms ,
Chapel-lane . Hull , on the 24 th June , 1784 , and the Rodneys Lodge called public attention to its meeting on the 27 th December , 1784 , with sermon at Holy Trinity , Hull , and dinner at two p . m . On the same day Richard Slater Milnes , Esq ., Prov . Grand Master , ordered the brethren to meet the Apollo Lodge at Merchants' Hall , York , to hear one of Parson Johnson ' s sermons . { To be continued ) ,
History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
( Continued from page 415 ) . Among the important changes during this period which affect the boys must be mentioned the alterations in the age to which they are permitted to remain on the establishment . Originally they were held to have completed their educational course at 14 years . In 1 S 62 the time was enlarged to 15 , and in 1873 to 16 years of age ; the minimum limit for admission being
simultaneously advanced to 8 . But subsequently , owing , it may be , to the steady increase in the number of candidates , a conflict of opinion appears to have arisen as to the expediency of retaining them so long , and in 1 S 79 , in deference to what appeared to be the preponderance of public feeling , a backward change was made and the maximum for remaining was restored to 15 years . We do not presume to suggest that this retrograde movement may
not have been expedient under the circumstances , but we have no hesitation in describing it as unwise . The closing years of a boy ' s scholastic career are the most productive , because his mental capacity grows more rapidly as he advances towards manhood . It is a very common experience that youths acquire more knowledge , and knowledge of a more solid and serviceable kind , between the ages of 14 and 16 than they have acquired during
the whole of their previous training ; and though in 1 S 79 , the return to 15 may have been adopted as apparently the lesser of two evils , we should gladly see 16 restored as the superior limit of age . It may be as well to include among other occurrences which claim a passing notice that in 18 74 the time for holding the annual Festival was changed from March to June . The question was very carefully considered , and the reasons in favour of the proposition appear to have
convinced the authorities that they would act wisely in adopting it . It certainly is a better arrangement to have the anniversaries of the three Institutions distributed over a period of six months . The intervals between the first and second and second and third celebrations are thus sufficiently prolonged for the friends of the Schools to be able to look about them and enlist the support of those lodges and provinces whose kindly
intentions for the year have not been appropriated already ,. the latter half of the year being available for the efforts of the friends and Secretaries of all three Charities . There is also another step which was taken during this period and to which attention should be directed , namely , the adoption of means for securing the co-operation of provincial lodges and brethren in promoting the success of the Festivals . Formerly the provinces derived
benefits from the School , which , owing to causes that may possibly be capable of explanation , they do not seem to have reciprocated—at all events to any appreciable extent . Bro , Binckes , even before he became Secretary , made it clear to the Committee that the assistance of the provinces must be invoked , and he had barely time to settle himself in his office before he personally took up the matter and began visiting the country lodges in
all directions . That this was a sound policy is clear , and * the provinces are now as munificent in their support of this and our other Charities as the metropolis . This is one of our chief subjects of congratulation , and we can only express the hope that , as years go on , the sums necessary to maintain our Institutions in a state of efficiency will be distributed impartially among all our lodges , whether provincial or
metropolitan . On the other hand , we should be unmindful of our duty if we did not take an opportunity of snowing respect to the memory of those brethren to whose liberality the School is so largely indebted for its success . Between the years 1873 and 1884 , there passed away many friends of the Institution , the most prominent among them being the Earl of Zetland , Past President , who died in 1873 ; Bros . B . Bond Cabbcll , P . G . J . W ., and D . G . M . Norfolk ; and Algernon Perkins , P . G . J . W ., both of them Past Treasurers
of the Institution ; Bro . Thiselton , Past Secretary ; Bro . E . Cox , donor of . the Canonbury gold medal ; Bros . Hervey , Benjamin Head , John Wordsworth , and others , to each and all of whom our Boys' School is largely indebted , not only for their contributions , but , to a still greater degree , for their valuable services in connection with its government . Such losses as these must be expected , but it is not because ^ they are inevitable that we should be so careless as to pass them by unnoticed .
Other changes may have been made in the school arrangements or for its better government , but they are not of a character to require any special notice . It remains , therefore , for us to say a few words as to what is after all the crowning distinction of the period , namely , the magnificent results produced by the Festivals in aid of the Institution . We dwelt at some length , and with no little pride , on the anniversaries of 1869 and 1 S 70 as recorded in
the preceding chapter . 1 hey were exceptional celebrations , the special purpose of the former being to free the Institution from the burden of a heavy mortgage on its property , while the latter is memorable from the fact of the Prince of Wales , M . W . P . G . M ., having occupied the chair . The Festivals of 1873 and 1874 yielded in both cases over £ 7000 , and the results will bear comparison with those of ordinary years , such as they were during
the earlier half of Bro . Binckes s Secretaryship . But in 1 S 75 , owing , no doubt , to the installation of the Prince as Grand Master , we enter upon a succession of anniversary celebrations which probably has few , if any , parallels outside the pale of Masonry . The Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . Master , was chairman at that of 1 S 75 , and the total realised was , in round figures , some £ 12 , 700 , the Board of Stewards being 240 strong . Since then
the amounts have fluctuated very considerably , but never has the product been less than £ 10 , 000 , while in 1877 it was close on £ 13 , 200 , in 1880 slightly over £ 14 , 000 ; in 1883 over £ 23 , 000 ; and in June of the current year , £ 14 , 100 . The enormous yield of the 18 S 3 Festival , when Viscount Holmesdale , P . G . M . Kent , presided , was due , as the reader has been told already , to the efforts that were being made to still further extend the
Institution by adding a Preparatory School , but if we leave out of our reckoning the sums subscribed for this purpose , we shall find the average annual result of the last ten Festivals is not over-stated at from £ 12 , 000 to £ 12 , 500 . The last Festival , held before Bro . Binckes ' s appointment , produced a total of from £ 1500 to £ 1600 , and the Craft seemed well satisfied
with the result . But in those days the total income was not much in excess of £ 2000 , and there were only 70 boys to provide for . Now there are some 200 on the roll , and the income is commensurate with the increased requirements of the School . ( To be continued . )
w " Atlas " in the World gives some particulars in regard to the sale of the ' Duke of Marlborough ' s pictures . The agent in the matter is Mr . Davis , of 147 , New Bond-street , London . So far he has been most successful in his sales . For four pictures Mr . Davis has obtained for the Duke £ 140 , 000 , one of the number being the famous Raphael , for which the Government has undertaken to pay £ 70 , 000 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In York In The Eighteenth Century.
the parish of Kirby Knowle , in Yorkshire , and he married a Mary Plummer in 1762 . New Buildings is a curious old place , and its history is connected with the ancient families of Constable , Scrope , and Neville , who successively were owners before the purchase by Col . Elsley , in 1827 . Its present owner is Bro . Charles Elsley .
In December of that year the Provincial Grand Lodge met in the Merchants' Hall in Fossgate , and the advertisement announced a " Sermon to be preached in the Chapel by the Rev . Bro . W . Johnson , Prov . Grand Chaplain . " Tickets for dinner to be had of Bro . Frobisher , in the
Pavement . ( Frobisher was a bookseller . ) The Merchants Hall is a very curious old relic of the past , and was , and is still , the property of the ancient Guild of York Merchant Adventurers . The chapel referred to is a most quaint place , under the floor of the "Hall " proper , and approached by a flight of stairs and a huge trap-door .
In the Courant of June iSth , 17 S 2 , Sinclair , Grand Master , summoned a meeting of the Grand Lodge of All England for the 24 th June , at the York Tavern , his Wardens being R . Dodsworth and E . Wolley , and this is the last public notice of any meeting of this ancient body that I find in the Courant .
Robert Sinclair was proposed as a joining member in December , 177 6 . He was a barrister , and was Recorder of York . He lived in Coney-street in a house now occupied as a linen shop . His portrait , life-size , in oils , by Jackson , R . A ., is in the possession of Bro . J . Wilkinson , Town Clerk of York . His arms are emblazoned on one of the windows of the Council
Chamber in the Guildhall of York . The Dodsworths had been for many years connected with commerce in York , and this Ralph Dodsworth served as Sheriff in 1777 , an < ^ Lord Mayor in 1792 . Wolley , a solicitor , came into possession of considerable estates in the North Riding . He changed his name to Copley , and lived at Potts Hall
near Stokesley . The York Lodge has his engraved portrait , and I presented a copy to Grand Lodge a short time since . Meetings , however , -were held , and , although we find no entries in the minute book now at York , yet minutes of some kind must have been kept , for they wereseen by Wm . Hargrove , who , in his " History of York , " published in 181 S , vol . 3 , speaking of this Grand Lodge , says , "We find it
recorded that ' On the 24 th of June , 17 S 3 , the Grand Master , with all the officers , attended in the great room of the Mansion House , where a lodge in the Third Degree was opened , and Brother Wm . Siddall , Esquire , at that time the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor and Grand Master Elect , was installed according to an ancient usage and custom The Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of All England , and was thus saluted , homaged , and acknowledged . '" And then he goes on to say that Mr . Blanchard , the last Grand
Secretary , told him that about 1787 the meetings of this lodge were discontinued . We have , however , evidence that in 1792 there was a meeting , on which occasion Bro . E . Wolley , the York solicitor , was elected Grand Master , the memorandum of the election being in Blanchard ' s handwriting . Probably Wolley was never installed ; but it appears to me quite plain that we may add to the list of Grand Masters at York the name of Siddall as Grand Master in 1783-4 , at any rate . Blanchard was a printer and proprietor of the York Chronicle .
I have looked through the files of the York Chronicle from 1782 to 1793 , and have found the advertisement calling the meeting at the Mansion House in June , 1783 , on which occasion there was a procession to St . Martin ' s , Coney-street , and a sermon by Parson Parker . By the way , the Rev . Mr . Parker lived in the Beddern , York , and kept a private school there at his
residence . The Chronicle of the 27 th June gives a brief account of the affair at the Mansion House , and adds that the brethren were entertained by the Lord Mayor after the ceremony . The Grand Secretary ' s paper , of the 26 th of December , 1883 , has the following advertisement :
"GRAND LODGE OF ALL ENGLAND . "The Right Hon . the LORD MAYOR , Grand Master . " Free and Accepted Masons are desired to meet the Grand Master at the York Tavern , on Monday , the 29 th inst ., the Feast Day of St . John falling on Saturday . "CLZLEV , } Grand Wardens . " W . BLANCHARD , Grand Secretary . " On the sarne day the Masons under the Grand Lodge of England were advertised to meet at Merchants' Hall , and hear a sermon by the Rev . Mr . Johnson .
Siddall was Grand Master next year , for the Chronicle advertises the Grand Lodge of All England to meet under his rule at the York Tavern , on the 24 th June , 1784 . The Minerva Lodge , Hull , called its meeting for the same day . There is no later advertisement of any meeting of the York Grand Lodge , but about this time our brethren seem to have begun to cease
advertising their gatherings . Nevertheless , there are a few announcements of other bodies . In June , 1785 , the Minerva Lodge invited all Masons to meet at Mason ' s Arms , Chapel-lane , Hull . In December , 1785 , Milnes again called a gathering at Merchants' Hall , and Rodney Lodge invited all visitors to the Bull and Sun , Hull , and to hear a sermon at Holy Trinity by Chaplain Clarke . After this comes a dearth of Masonic announcements of all kinds .
There are , however , in the Courant several advertisements of the Prov . Grand Lodge and other lodges still to be mentioned . In the last mentioned number of the Courant is the announcement of a meeting of " Rodney ' s Lodge , " at Hull . I quote it as it stands because it is peculiar from the fact of the Master styling himself "Grand Master" : " Hull , June 14 th , 1782 .
" RODNEY'S LODGE . " EDWARD COULSON , Esq ., Grand Master . "The Free and Accepted Masons are desired to meet the Grand Master at the Bull and Sun , in Myton Gate , on Monday , 24 th June inst ., being the Feast of St . John the Baptist , at nine o ' clock in the morning , to proceed from thence to the Church of the Holy Trinity , and after Divine service to dine at the Bull and Sun . "
Summer meetings seem to have been abandoned in York for a time . On December 27 th , 1782 , Sir Walter Vavasour summoned the brethren to the Merchants' Hall , to hear a sermon by Bro . the Rev . Johnson , and again for a similar purpose on the 27 th December , 1783 . The Minerva Lodge , Hull , advertised its meeting at the Mason ' s Arms ,
Chapel-lane . Hull , on the 24 th June , 1784 , and the Rodneys Lodge called public attention to its meeting on the 27 th December , 1784 , with sermon at Holy Trinity , Hull , and dinner at two p . m . On the same day Richard Slater Milnes , Esq ., Prov . Grand Master , ordered the brethren to meet the Apollo Lodge at Merchants' Hall , York , to hear one of Parson Johnson ' s sermons . { To be continued ) ,
History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .
( Continued from page 415 ) . Among the important changes during this period which affect the boys must be mentioned the alterations in the age to which they are permitted to remain on the establishment . Originally they were held to have completed their educational course at 14 years . In 1 S 62 the time was enlarged to 15 , and in 1873 to 16 years of age ; the minimum limit for admission being
simultaneously advanced to 8 . But subsequently , owing , it may be , to the steady increase in the number of candidates , a conflict of opinion appears to have arisen as to the expediency of retaining them so long , and in 1 S 79 , in deference to what appeared to be the preponderance of public feeling , a backward change was made and the maximum for remaining was restored to 15 years . We do not presume to suggest that this retrograde movement may
not have been expedient under the circumstances , but we have no hesitation in describing it as unwise . The closing years of a boy ' s scholastic career are the most productive , because his mental capacity grows more rapidly as he advances towards manhood . It is a very common experience that youths acquire more knowledge , and knowledge of a more solid and serviceable kind , between the ages of 14 and 16 than they have acquired during
the whole of their previous training ; and though in 1 S 79 , the return to 15 may have been adopted as apparently the lesser of two evils , we should gladly see 16 restored as the superior limit of age . It may be as well to include among other occurrences which claim a passing notice that in 18 74 the time for holding the annual Festival was changed from March to June . The question was very carefully considered , and the reasons in favour of the proposition appear to have
convinced the authorities that they would act wisely in adopting it . It certainly is a better arrangement to have the anniversaries of the three Institutions distributed over a period of six months . The intervals between the first and second and second and third celebrations are thus sufficiently prolonged for the friends of the Schools to be able to look about them and enlist the support of those lodges and provinces whose kindly
intentions for the year have not been appropriated already ,. the latter half of the year being available for the efforts of the friends and Secretaries of all three Charities . There is also another step which was taken during this period and to which attention should be directed , namely , the adoption of means for securing the co-operation of provincial lodges and brethren in promoting the success of the Festivals . Formerly the provinces derived
benefits from the School , which , owing to causes that may possibly be capable of explanation , they do not seem to have reciprocated—at all events to any appreciable extent . Bro , Binckes , even before he became Secretary , made it clear to the Committee that the assistance of the provinces must be invoked , and he had barely time to settle himself in his office before he personally took up the matter and began visiting the country lodges in
all directions . That this was a sound policy is clear , and * the provinces are now as munificent in their support of this and our other Charities as the metropolis . This is one of our chief subjects of congratulation , and we can only express the hope that , as years go on , the sums necessary to maintain our Institutions in a state of efficiency will be distributed impartially among all our lodges , whether provincial or
metropolitan . On the other hand , we should be unmindful of our duty if we did not take an opportunity of snowing respect to the memory of those brethren to whose liberality the School is so largely indebted for its success . Between the years 1873 and 1884 , there passed away many friends of the Institution , the most prominent among them being the Earl of Zetland , Past President , who died in 1873 ; Bros . B . Bond Cabbcll , P . G . J . W ., and D . G . M . Norfolk ; and Algernon Perkins , P . G . J . W ., both of them Past Treasurers
of the Institution ; Bro . Thiselton , Past Secretary ; Bro . E . Cox , donor of . the Canonbury gold medal ; Bros . Hervey , Benjamin Head , John Wordsworth , and others , to each and all of whom our Boys' School is largely indebted , not only for their contributions , but , to a still greater degree , for their valuable services in connection with its government . Such losses as these must be expected , but it is not because ^ they are inevitable that we should be so careless as to pass them by unnoticed .
Other changes may have been made in the school arrangements or for its better government , but they are not of a character to require any special notice . It remains , therefore , for us to say a few words as to what is after all the crowning distinction of the period , namely , the magnificent results produced by the Festivals in aid of the Institution . We dwelt at some length , and with no little pride , on the anniversaries of 1869 and 1 S 70 as recorded in
the preceding chapter . 1 hey were exceptional celebrations , the special purpose of the former being to free the Institution from the burden of a heavy mortgage on its property , while the latter is memorable from the fact of the Prince of Wales , M . W . P . G . M ., having occupied the chair . The Festivals of 1873 and 1874 yielded in both cases over £ 7000 , and the results will bear comparison with those of ordinary years , such as they were during
the earlier half of Bro . Binckes s Secretaryship . But in 1 S 75 , owing , no doubt , to the installation of the Prince as Grand Master , we enter upon a succession of anniversary celebrations which probably has few , if any , parallels outside the pale of Masonry . The Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . Master , was chairman at that of 1 S 75 , and the total realised was , in round figures , some £ 12 , 700 , the Board of Stewards being 240 strong . Since then
the amounts have fluctuated very considerably , but never has the product been less than £ 10 , 000 , while in 1877 it was close on £ 13 , 200 , in 1880 slightly over £ 14 , 000 ; in 1883 over £ 23 , 000 ; and in June of the current year , £ 14 , 100 . The enormous yield of the 18 S 3 Festival , when Viscount Holmesdale , P . G . M . Kent , presided , was due , as the reader has been told already , to the efforts that were being made to still further extend the
Institution by adding a Preparatory School , but if we leave out of our reckoning the sums subscribed for this purpose , we shall find the average annual result of the last ten Festivals is not over-stated at from £ 12 , 000 to £ 12 , 500 . The last Festival , held before Bro . Binckes ' s appointment , produced a total of from £ 1500 to £ 1600 , and the Craft seemed well satisfied
with the result . But in those days the total income was not much in excess of £ 2000 , and there were only 70 boys to provide for . Now there are some 200 on the roll , and the income is commensurate with the increased requirements of the School . ( To be continued . )
w " Atlas " in the World gives some particulars in regard to the sale of the ' Duke of Marlborough ' s pictures . The agent in the matter is Mr . Davis , of 147 , New Bond-street , London . So far he has been most successful in his sales . For four pictures Mr . Davis has obtained for the Duke £ 140 , 000 , one of the number being the famous Raphael , for which the Government has undertaken to pay £ 70 , 000 .