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ways remained untouched by me, had not my | it, and resolve, that my first offence shall be my credit and my interest been blasted, or thought last. More I cannot perform, and more there to be blasted, by the shade which it cast from its boundless elevation.

About ten years ago, I published an edition of Dr. Johnston's translation of the "Psalms," and having procured from the general assembly of the church of Scotland, a recommendation of its use to the lower classes of grammar-schools, into which I had begun to introduce it, though not without much controversy and opposition; I thought it likely that I should, by annual publications, improve my little fortune, and be enabled to support myself in freedom from the miseries of indigence. But Mr. Pope, in his malevolence to Mr. Benson, who had distinguished himself by his fondness for the same version, destroyed all my hopes by a distich, in which he places Johnston in a contemptuous comparison with the author of "Paradise Lost."*

From this time all my praises of Johnston became ridiculous, and I was censured with great freedom, for forcing upon the schools, an author whom Mr. Pope had mentioned only as a foil to a better poet. On this occasion, it was natural not to be pleased, and my resentment seeking to discharge itself somewhere, was unhappily directed against Milton. I resolved to attack his fame, and found some passages in cursory reading, which gave me hopes of stigmatising him as a plagiary. The farther I carried my search the more eager I grew for the discovery, and the more my hypothesis was opposed, the more I was heated with rage. The consequence of my blind passion, I need not relate; it has, by your detection, become apparent to mankind. Nor do I mention this provocation as adequate to the fury which I have shown, but as a cause of anger, less shameful and reproachful than fractious malice, personal envy, or national jealousy.

But for the violation of truth, I offer no excuse, because I well know that nothing can excuse it. Nor will I aggravate my crime, by disingenuous palliations. I confess it, I repent

and as this was my cool and sincere opinion of that won-
derful man formerly, so I declare it to be the same still,
and ever will be, notwithstanding all appearances to the
contrary, occasioned merely by passion and resentment;
which appear, however, by the Postscript to the Essay,
to be so far from extending to the posterity of Milton,,
that I recommend his only remaining descendant, in the
warmest terms, to the public.

On two unequal crutches propp'd he came,
MILTON's on this, on that one JOHNSTON's name.
Dunciad, Book I

fore cannot be required. I intreat the pardon of
all men, whom I have by any means induced to
support, to countenance, or patronise my frauds,
of which I think myself obliged to declare, that
not one of my friends was conscious. I hope
to deserve, by better conduct and more useful
undertakings, that patronage which I have ob
tained from the most illustrious aud venerable
names by misrepresentation and delusion, and to
appear hereafter in such a character, as shall
give you no reason to regret that your name is
frequently mentioned with that of, Reverend Sir,
your most humble servant,
WILLIAM LAUDER.

December 20th, 1750.

TESTIMONIES CONCERNING MR.

LAUDER.

Edinb. May 22d, 1734. THESE are certifying, that Mr. William Lauder passed his course at this university, to the general satisfaction of these masters, under whom he studied. That he has applied himself particularly to the study of humanity* ever since. That for several years past, he has taught with success, students in the Humanity Class, who were recommended to him by the professor thereof. And lastly, has taught that class himself, during the indisposition, and since the death of its late professor; and therefore is, in our opinion, a fit person to teach Humanity in any school or college whatever.

J. GOWDIE, S. S. T.

MATT. CRAUFURD, S. S. T. et Hist. Ec. Pr. Reg.
WILLIAM SCOTT, P. P.

ROBERT STUART, Ph. Nat. Pr.
COL. DRUMMOND, L. G. et P. Pr.
COL. MAC-LAURIN, Math. P. Edin.
AL. BAYNE, J. P.

CHARLES MACKY, Hist. P.
ALEX. MONRO, Anat. P.
WILLIAM DAWSON, L. H. P.

A Letter from the Rev. Mr. Patrick Cuming, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and Regius Professor of Church History in the University there, to the Rev. Mr. Blair, Rector of the Grammar-School at Dundee. D. B.-Upon a public advertisement in the newspapers, of the vacancy of a master's place in your school, Mr. William Lauder, a friend of mine, proposes to set up for a candidate, and goes over for that purpose. He has long taught the Latin with great approbation in this place, and valuable book, two in quarto, two in octavo, and two ingen such proofs of his mastery in that lana lesser form, now lie like lumber in the hand of Mr.guage, that the best judges do upon all occasions Vaillant, bookseller, the effects of Mr. Pope's ill-natured

Benson. This man endeavoured to raise himself to fame, by erecting monuments, striking coils, and curing translations of Milton; and afterwarts by a great passion for Arthur Johnston, a Scots Physician's, version of the Psalms, of which he printed many fine editions.

Notes on the Dunciad.

No fewer than six different editions of that useful and

criticism.

One of these editions in quarto, illustrated with an interpretation and notes, after the manner of the classic authors in usum Delphini, was by the worthy editor, anno 1741, inscribed to his Royal Highness Prince George, as a proper book for his instruction in principles of piety, as well as knowledge of the Latin tongue, when he should arrive at due maturity of age. To restore this book to credit, was the cause that induced me to engage in this disagreeable controversy, rather than any design to depreciate the just reputation of Milton.

recommend him as one who is qualified in the best manner. He has taught young boys and young gentlemen, with great success; nor did I over hear of any complaint of him from either parents or children. I beg leave to recommend him to you as my friend; what friendship you

*So the Latin tongue is called in Scotland, from the Latin phrase, classis humaniorum literarum, the class or form where that language is taught.

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A Letter from Mr. Mac-Laurin, late Professor of Mathe-
matics in the University of Edinburgh, to the Rev Mr.
George Blair, Rector of the Grammar-School at
Dundee.

SIR-Though unacquainted, I take the liberty of giving you this trouble, from the desire I have always had to see Mr. Lauder provided in a manner suited to his talent. I know him to have made uncommon progress in classical learning, to have taught it with success, and never heard there could be any complaint against his method of teaching. I am, indeed, a stranger to the reasons of his want of success on former oc

casions. But after conversing with him, I have ground to hope, that he will be always advised by you, for whom he professes great esteem, and will be useful under you. I am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

COLIN MAC-Laurin. College of Edinburgh, Nov. 30th, 1742.

A Letter from the Authors of the "Universal History," to Mr. Lauder.

in the choice and variety of his metre, it is as plain, that he has given his poetic genius such an unlimited scope, as has in many cases quite disfigured the peculiar and inimitable beauty, simplicity, and energy of the original, which the former, by a more close and judicious version, has constantly and surprisingly displayed. Something like this we ventured to hint in our note upon these two noble versions: to have said more, would have been inconsistent with our designed brevity.

We have likewise since seen what your opponent has writ in praise of the one, and derogation of the other, and think you have sufficiently confuted him, and with respect to us, he has been so far from giving us any cause to retract what we had formerly said, that it has administered Ian occasion to us of vindicating it, as we have lately done by some critical notes on your excelafter to Mr. A. B. who was pleased to give lent Johnston, which we communicated soon them a place in his last edition of him, and which we doubt not you have seen long ago. How they have been relished among you we know not, but with us they have been thought sufficient to prove what we have advanced, as well as

to direct the attentive reader to discover new

instances of your author's exactness and elegance, in every page, if not almost in every line.

We gratefully accept of the books and kind by Mr. Strahan, and had long since returned compliments you were pleased to transmit to us you our thanks, but for the many avocations which the great work you know us to be engaged in doth of necessity bring upon us; obliging us, or some at least of our society, to make from time to time an excursion to one or other of our two learned universities, and consulting them upon the best method of carrying on this work to the greatest advantage to the public. This London, August 12th, 1741. has been some considerable part of our employLEARNED SIR,-When we so gladly took the ment for these twelve months past; and we flatfirst opportunity of reviving the memory and ter ourselves, that we have, with their assistance merit of your incomparable Johnston, in the first and approbation, made such considerable imvolume of our "Universal History," our chief provements on our original plan, as will scarcely aim was to excite some generous Mecenas to fail of being acceptable to the learned world. favour the world with a new edition of a poem the world that we have not been idle, though this They will shortly appear in print, to convince which we had long since beheld with no small concern, buried, as it were, by some unaccounta- sixth volume is like to appear somewhat later in ble fatality, into an almost total oblivion: whilst the year than was usual with our former ones. others of that kind, none of them superior, many vastly inferior, to it, rode unjustly, as we thought, triumphant over his silent grave.

your

And it is with great satisfaction that we have seen our endeavours so happily crowned in the edition you soon after gave of it at Edinburgh, in your learned and judicious vindication of excellent author, and more particularly by the just deference which your learned and pious convocation has been pleased to pay to that admirable version.

We have had since then, the pleasure to see your worthy example followed here, in the several beautiful editions of the honourable Mr. Auditor Benson, with his critical notes upon the work.

It was, indeed, the farthest from our thoughts, to enter into the merit of the controversy between your two great poets, Johnston and Buchanan; neither were we so partial to either as not to see, that each had their shades as well as lights; so that, if the latter has been more happy

We shall take the liberty to transmit some copies of our new plan to you as soon as they are printed. All we have left to wish with respect to your excellent countryman and his version is, that it may always meet with such powerful and impartial advocates, and that it may be as much esteemed by all candid judges, as it is by, learned Sir, your sincere well-wishers and humble ser

vants,

The Authors of the "Universal History."

A Letter from the learned Mr. Robert Ainsworth, Author of the Latin and English Dictionary, to Mr. Lauder.

LEARNED AND WORTHY SIR,-These wait on you to thank you for the honour you have done a person equally unknown as undeserving, in your valuable present, which I did not receive till several weeks after it was sent; and since I received it my eyes have been so bad, and my

poet, you will permit us to cast the following
mites into your treasury of critical notes on his
noble version.
by far this author's due, as upon many other
We always thought the palm
accounts, so especially for two excellences
hitherto not taken notice of by any critic, that
we know of, and which we beg leave to transmit
to you, and if you think fit, by you to the public,
in the following observations.

We beg leave to subscribe ourselves, Sir, &c.
The Authors of the "Universal History."

hand so unstable, that I have been forced to defer my duty, as desirous to thank you with my own hand. I congratulate to your nation the just honour ascribed to it by its neighbours and more distant countries, in having bred two such excellent poets as your Buchanan and Johnston, whom to name is to commend; but am concerned for their honour at home, who being committed together, seem to me both to suffer a diminution, whilst justice is done to neither. But at the same time I highly approve your nation's piety in bringing into your schools sacred instead of profane poesy, and heartily wish that ours, and all christian governments, would follow your example herein. If a mixture of utile dulci be the best composition in poetry, (which is too evident to need the judg ment of the nicest critic in the art,) surely the utile so transcendently excels in the sacred hymns, that a christian must deny his name that doth not acknowledge it: and if the dulce seem not equally to excel, it must be from a vitiated taste of those who read them in their original, and in others at second-hand from trans-and the lower classes had better read Dr. Johnlations. For the manner of writing in the East and West are widely distant, and which to a paraphrast must render his task exceeding difficult, as requiring a perfect knowledge in two languages, wherein the idioms and graces of speech, caused by the diversity of their religion, laws, customs, &c. are as remote as the inhabitants, wherein notwithstanding your poets have succeeded to admiration.

Your main contest seems to me, when stript of persons, whether the easy or sublime in poesy be preferable; if 80,

Non opis est nostræ tantam componere litem: nor think I it in your case material to be decided. Both these have their particular excellences and graces, and youth ought to be taught wherein (which the matter ought chiefly to determine) the one hath place, and where the other. Now since the hymns of David, Moses, and other divine poets intermixed with them, (infinitely excelling those of Callimachus, Alcæus, Sappho, Anacreon, and all others,) abound in both these virtues, and both your poets are acknowledged to be very happy in paraphrasing them, it is my opinion both of them, without giving the least preference to either, should be read alternately in your schools, as the tutor shall direct. Pardon, learned Sir, this scribble to my age and weakness, both which are very great, and command me wherein I may serve you, as, learned Sir, your obliged, thankful, and obedient servant,

ROBERT AINSWORTH.

Spitalfields, Sept. 1741.

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Dr. Isaac Watts, D. D. in his late Book, entitled "The Improvement of the Mind," Lond. 1741, p. 114. nion, that for almost all boys who learn this Upon the whole survey of things, it is my opitongue, [the Latin,] it would be much safer to be taught Latin poesy (as soon, and as far as they can need it) from those excellent translations of David's Psalms, which are given us by Buchanan in the various measures of Horace;

ston's translation of those Psalms, another elegant writer of the Scots nation, instead of Ovid's Epistles; for he has turned the same Psalms, perhaps with greater elegancy, into elegiac verse, whereof the learned W. Benson, Esq. has lately published a new edition; and I hear that these Psalms are honoured with an increasing use in the schools of Holland and Scotwould now and then stick upon the minds of land. A stanza, or a couplet of those writers youth, and would furnish them infinitely better with pious and moral thoughts, and do something towards making them good men and christians.

An act of the Commission of the General Assembly of the
Kirk of Scotland, recommending Dr. Arthur Johnston's
Latin Paraphrase of the Psalms of David, &c.
At Edinburgh,

grammar

13th of November, 1740, post meridiem. General Assembly, by Mr. William Lauder, Teacher of Humanity in Edinburgh, craving, A petition having been presented to the late That Dr. Arthur Johnston's Latin Paraphrase on the Psalms of David, and Mr. Robert Boyd, of Trochrig, his Hecatombe Christiana, may be recommended to be taught in all schools; and the assembly having appointed a committee of their number to take the desire of the aforesaid petition into their consideration, and report to the Commission: the said committee offered their opinion, that the Commission should grant the desire of the said petition, and recommend the said Dr. Johnston's Paraphrase to be taught in the lower classes of the schools, and Mr. George Buchanan's Paraphrase on the chrig's Hecatombe Christiana in the higher classes Psalms, together with Mr. Robert Boyd of Troties. The Commission having heard the said of schools, and Humanity-classes in universireport, unanimously approved thereof, and did, and hereby do, recommend accordingly. Extracted by

WILLIAM GRANT,* Cl. Ecl. Sc

Advocate for Scotland.
*This honourable gentleman is now his Majesty'

A letter from the learned Mr. Abraham Gronovius, Se- | ceps, a quo aliquando Britannici regni majestas cretary to the University of Leyden, to Mr. Lauder,

concerning the Adamus Ersul of Grotius. Clarissimo Viro, Wilhelmo Laudero, Abrahamus Gronovius, S. P. D.

Postquam binæ literæ tuæ ad me perlatæ fuerunt, duas editiones carminum H. Grotii, viri

vere summi, excussi; verùm ab utraque tragœdiam, quam Adamum Exsulem inscripsit 8 závu, abesse deprehendi; neque ullum ejusdem exemplar, quamvis tres* editiones exstare adnotaveram, ullibi offendere potui, adeo ut spe, quam vorabam desiderio tuo satisfaciendi, me prorsus excidisse existimarem.

Verùm nuperrime fortè contigit, ut primam Tragedia Grotiana editionem Hagæ, An. 1601, publicatam, beneficio amicissimi mihi viri nactus fuerim, ejusque decem priores paginas, quibus præter chorum actus primus comprehenditur, a Jacobo meo, optima spei adolescente, transcriptas nunc ad te mitto. Vale vir doctissime, meque ut facis amare perge. Dabam Lugd. Bat. A. D. iv. Eid. Sept. A. D. MDCCXLVI.

et populi salus pendebunt! Interim tibi, eruditissime vir, atque etiam politissimo D. Caveo, pro muneribus literariis, quæ per nobilissimum Lawsonium ad me curâstis, magno opere me obstrictum agnosco, eademque summa cum voluptate a me perlecta sunt.

Filius meus te plurimùm salutat.

Vale, doctissime vir, meisque verbis D. Ca-
veum saluta, atque amare perge, Tuum.
Dabam Leidis A. D. XIV. KAL. Maias,
ABRAHAMUM GRONOVIUM.

A. D. MDCCXLVII.

POSTSCRIPT

And now my character is placed above all suspicion of fraud by authentic documents, I will make bold at last to pull off the mask, and declare sincerely the true motive that induced me to interpolate a few lines into some of the authors quoted by me in my Essay on Milton, which was this: Knowing the prepossession in favour of Milton, how deeply it was rooted in many, I was willing to make trial, if the partial admirers of that author would admit a translation

A second letter from the same gentleman to Mr. Lauder, of his own words to pass for his sense, or exhibit on the same subject.

his meaning; which I thought they would not: Clarissime atque Eruditissime Vir! nor was I mistaken in my conjecture, forasmuch as several gentlemen, seemingly persons of judgPosteaquam tandem Jacobus meus residuam ment and learning, assured me, they humbly partem, quam desiderabas, Tragedia Grotiana conceived I had not proved my point, and that transcripserat, ut eâ diutius careres, committere Milton might have written as he has done supnolui: quod autem citius illam ad finem perdu-posing he had never seen these authors, or they cere non potuerit, obstiterunt variæ occupationes, had never existed. Such is the force of prejuquibus districtus fuit. Nam præter scholastica dice! This exactly confirms the judicious obserstudia, quibus strenuè incubuit, ipsi componenda vation of the excellent moralist and poet: orat oratio, qua rudimenta linguæ Græcæ Latinæque deponeret, eamque, quod vehementer lætor, venustè, et quidem stilo ligato, composuit, et in magna auditorum corona pronuntiavit. Quod autem ad exemplar ipsum, quo Adamus Exsul comprehenditur, spectat, id lubens, si meum foret, ad te perferri curarem, verùm illud a clarissimo possessore tanti æstimatur, ut persuasum habeam me istud minimè ab ipso impetraturum: et sanè sacra carmina Grotii adeò rarò obvia sunt, ut eorundem examplar apud ipsos remonstrantium ecclesiastas frustra quæ

siverim.

procure

Pravo favore labi mortales solent, Et pro judicio dum stant erroris sui, Ad pœnitendum rebus manifestis agi. For had I designed (as the vindicator of Milton supposes) to impose a trick on the public, and would never have drawn lines from Hog's credit to my assertions by an imposture, translation of Milton, a book common at every sale, I had almost said at every stall, nor ascribed them to authors so easily attained: I would have gone another way to work, by translating forty or fifty lines, and assigning them to an author, whose works possibly might not be found till Opus ipsum inscriptum est HENRICO BOR- the world expire at the general conflagration. BONIO, PRINCIPI CONDEO; et forma libri est in My imposing therefore on the public in general, quarto, ut nullo pacto literis includi possit. Ce-instead of a few obstinate persons, (for whose terùm, pro splendidissima et Magna Britanniæ principe, cui meritò dicata est, digna editione Psalmorum, ex versione metrica omnium fere poetarum principis JOHNSTONI maximas tibi grates habet agitque Jacobus. Utinam illustrissimus Bensonus in usum serenissimi principis, atque ingeniorum in altiora surgentium, eâdem formâ iisdemque typis exarari juberet divinos illos Ciceronis de Officiis libros, dignos sane, quos diurnâ nocturnâque manu versaret prin

Though Gronovius here mentions only three editions of this noble and curious performance, the Adamus Exsul of Grotius; yet it appears from the catalogue of his works, that no fewer than four have been printed, two in quarto, and two in octavo, in the years 1601, 1608, and 1635; two having been made, one in quarto, the other octavo, Anuo

1601.

sake alone the stratagem was designed,) is the only thing culpaple in my conduct, for which again I most humbly ask pardon: and that this and this only, was, as no other could be, my design, no one I think can doubt, from the account I have just now given; and whether that was so criminal, as it has been represented, I shall leave every impartial mind to determine.

The person here meant was the learned and worthy Dr. Isaac Lawson, late physician to the English army in Flanders: by whom Mr. Gronovius did me the honour to transmit to me two or three acts of the Adamus Ersul of Grotius, transcribed by his son Mr. James. The truth of this particular consists perfectly well with the know. ledge of the Doctor's brother John Lawson, Esq. counsellor at law; who also had the same thing lately con firmed to him by Mr. Gronovius himself in Holland.

AN ACCOUNT OF AN ATTEMPT

ΤΟ

ASCERTAIN THE LONGITUDE.*

FIRST PRINTED IN THE YEAR 1755.

It is well known to seamen and philosophers, of the atmosphere, the effects of different effluvia that after the numerous improvements produced by the extensive commerce of the later ages, the great defect in the art of sailing is ignorance of longitude, or of the distance to which the ship has passed eastward or westward from any given meridian.

upon metals, the power of heat and cold upon all matter, the changes of gravitation and the hazard of concussion, I cannot but fear that they will supply the world with another instance of fruitless ingenuity, though I hope they will not leave upon this country the reproach of unrewarded diligence.

I saw therefore nothing on which I could fix with probability of success, but the magnetical needle, an instrument easily portable, and little subject to accidental injuries, with which the sailor has had a long acquaintance, which he will willingly study, and can easily consult.

That navigation might at length be set free from this uncertainty, the legislative power of this kingdom incited the industry of searchers into nature, by a large reward proposed to him who should show a practicable method of finding the longitude at sea; and proportionable recompenses to those, who, though they should not fully attain this great end, might yet make such advances and discoveries as should facilitate the work to those that might succeed them. By the splendour of this golden encouragement many eyes were dazzled, which nature never intended to pry into her secrets. By the hope of sudden riches many understandings were set on work very little proportioned to their strength, among whom whether mine shall be numbered, must be left to the candour of posterity: for I, among others, laid aside the business of my profession, to apply myself to the study of the longitude, not indeed in expectation of the reward due to a complete discovery; yet But when the discovery of the new world not without hopes, that I might be considered turned the attention of mankind upon the naval as an assistant to some greater genius, and re-sciences, and long courses required greater ceive from the justice of my country the wages offered to an honest and not unsuccessful labourer in science.

The magnetic needle from the year 1300, when it is generally supposed to have been first applied by John Goia, of Amalphi, to the seaman's use, seems to have been long thought to point exactly to the north and south by the navigators of those times; who sailing commonly on the calm Mediterranean, or making only short voyages, had no need of very accurate observations; and who, if they ever transiently observed any deviations from the meridian, either ascribed them to some extrinsic and accidental cause, or willingly neglected what it was not necessary to understand.

niceties of practice, the variation of the needle soon became observable, and was recorded in 1500 by Sebastian Cabot, a Portuguese, who, at the expense of the king of England, discovered the northern coasts of America.

As the next century was a time of naval adventures, it might be expected that the variation once observed, should have been well studied: yet it seems to have been little heeded; for it was supposed to be constant and always the same in the same place, till in 1625 Gellibrand noted its changes, and published his observations.

Considering the various means by which this important inquiry has been pursued, I found that the observation of the eclipses, either of the primary or secondary planets, being possible but at certain times, could be of no use to the sailor; that the motions of the moon had been long attended, however accurately, without any consequence; that other astronomical observations were difficult and uncertain with every advantage of situation, instruments, and knowledge: and were therefore utterly impracticable to the From this time the philosophical world had a sailor, tost upon the water, ill provided with new subject of speculation, and the students of instruments, and not very skilful in their ap-magnetism employed their researches upon the plication.

The hope of an accurate clock or time-keeper is more specious. But when I began these studies, no movements had yet been made that were not evidently inaccurate and uncertain: and even of the mechanical labours which I now hear so loudly celebrated, when I consider the obstruction of movements by friction, the waste of their parts by attrition, the various pressure

gradual changes of the needle's direction, or the variations of the variation, which have hitherto appeared so desultory and capricious, as to elude all the schemes which the most fanciful of the philosophical dreamers could devise for its explication. Any system that could have united these tormenting diversities, they seem inclined to have received, and would have contentedly numbered the revolutions of a central magnet, with very little concern about its existence, An Account of an attempt to ascertain the Longitude could they have assigned it any motion, or vicisat Sea, by an exact Theory of the Variation of the Mag-situde of motions, which could have correspondnetical Needle; with a Table of Variations at the most

remarkable cities in Europe, from the year 1660 to 1960. ed with the changes of the needle.

By Zachariah Williams.

Yet upon this secret property of magnetism I

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