Contained within this folder is a collection of notes written on the front and back of a piece of Victor Herbert’s personal stationary. The stationaries header also contains his address as 321 West 108th Street, New York City. These notes contain no autograph, they read:

Strabo, Diodorus, Aristoxnus, Marcellinus Caeser: they pay no taxes and are exempted from military service they enjoy all manner of immunities. “These mighty encouragements endure multitudes to follow that profession! Of course they flourished etc. etc. and became so influential that in the year of our lord 558 King Hugh called a council of the princes, nobility and the clergy at Drum-chill (county of Donegall) with a view of their final expulsion. However – they were saved by St. Columb-cill, founder of the monastery of Derry and soon found the same old favor. Whoever injured a bard was fined 126 cows! Not only all irish Kings, but almost all our nobility and men of fortune had minstrels in their families. They were disliked by the professions of religion, who thought that all hanons should be confined to themselves, they accordingly abused them on all occasions. But Edward I. (about 1271) took his irish harper with him to the Holyland. And in 1380 when the four irish kings, who had submitted themselves to Richard II sat at the table under the care of Henry Castide, who had been appointed to teach them “English manners” – they made their minstrels sit beside them, and eat from their plates, and drink from their cups!

Written in pencil on the top of the stationary says, “Bunting’s Music of Ireland.” The statements written on the note are either direct, or paraphrased quotations form A general Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland, Arranged for the Piano Forte: some of the most admired Melodies are adapted for the Voice (1809). The work contains within it A Historical and Critical Dissertation on The Egyptian, British and Irish Harp, also by Edward Bunting. This book is arranged in two parts, the dissertation from which all quotations are taken, serves as part one. The four philosophers mentioned on the top of the note, are not referred to in Benton’s manuscript. Caeser is mentioned only in a foot note referring to his remarks on Druidism.