Spectator and Tatler, and, I believe, half the Members of Parliament in Queen Anne's time, lived so. Dr. Samuel Johnson lived many years in London for 30l. a-year-I once heard him detail the system and style of life.

Enough of this from one of the worst economists in Europe; but I don't like that Switzerland, the government of which you'll find an arbitrary, corrupted, oligarchical, aristocratical republic, where the only road to fortune is by the judges selling justice for seven years in their bailiwics. The winter is cold-no coal, and wood very dear. Enough of this also from one who never was in the country he abuses. You will find much comfort in adhering to your true Whig principles; because they are founded in reason, and, thank Heaven, are become at length fashionable in Europe. I fear, however, it will always be a Tory party that will govern Great Britain the executive government seems of right to belong to Tories: the legislative and controlling part to the Whigs; for a true Whig is not in his true element, unless in a situation of independency, to watch and censure even his own brother, become a minister. All the Whigs, who in my time have departed from the watching system, have died dispirited and broken-hearted; for I doubt if kings have found an adequate recompense for the misery of thinking right, and from servilely speaking and voting wrong.

Don't abandon your History of Scotland. I expect much from it. When you have finished a moderate period, give us a volume, and try the

pulse of the public. Your latter volumes may, by their sale to the bookseller, make you very rich. I knew David Hume, when he had not above thirty pounds a-year to spend. Your natural succession to a mother, whose life I join with you in wishing to be long and happy, secures an addition as years draw on. What a child you are! I was born twenty-six years before you, and have hitherto fancied I was writing to an older man having discovered my mistake by your last letter, you see I presume upon it, and offer advice.

HON. HORACE WALPOLE TO MR. PINKERTON.

Berkeley Square, Dec. 15th, 1789.

You will probably have been surprised at not hearing from me so long: indeed, I hope you will have been so; for, as it has been occasioned by involuntary neglect, I had rather you should have reproached me in your own mind than have been thoughtless of me and indifferent. The truth is, that, between great misfortunes, accidents, and illness, I have passed six most melancholy months. I have lost two of my nearest and most beloved relations, Lady Dysart and Lord Waldegrave. Her illness terminated but in September: his, besides the grievous loss of him, left me in the greatest anxiety for his widow, who thought herself at the end of her

VOL. I.

Q

pregnancy, but was not delivered till, (above two months after his death,) a fortnight ago.

In the midst of these distresses, I had two very bad falls in June and September, by which I bruised myself exceedingly; and the last of which brought on a fit of the gout. In such situations, I was very incapable of entertaining any body or even of being entertained, and saw few but of my own unhappy family, or I should have asked the favor of your company at Strawberry Hill.

I am now pretty well, and came to town but today, when I take the first moment of telling you so, that, whenever you come to London, I may have a chance of having the pleasure of seeing you.

I did not miss the pleasure of reading your solid confutation of one of your antagonists, in the Gentleman's Magazine.

MR. GEO. CHALMERS TO MR. PINKERTON.

Green Street, Feb. 22d, 1790.

I thank you for your note of Saturday, which mentions Lindsay and a Harley manuscript: the first I received safe and sound; the second I am obliged to you for mentioning, though it be

* Geo. Chalmers, Esq., author of Caledonia, &c. &c. &c. a very voluminous author on a great variety of subjects, and a very useful one, notwithstanding the sneers in the Pursuits of Literature upon his leaden mace.

published in Hackluyt, vol. i. p. 187, edit. 1598, of my copy, which I bought at Peirson's sale.

The Harley manuscript is said to be the "Bibel of English Policie :" Hackluyt's is the Libel of English Policie. This leads me to wish that the whole of so curious a poem were collated.

But the great affair would be to discover when and by whom this instructive tract was written. It cannot be of the reign of Ed. IV.; because it was written while Sigismond, the great emperor, was yet reigning. Now Sigismond died in 1438. It mentions our Henry V. This leads us to infer that it was composed in some year between 1423 and 1438. I would give the world to know the author, to whom we are obliged for so early an account of our shipping and traffic.

I shall be thankful to you for any other hint.

MR. PINKERTON TO MR. HERBERT.*

Kentish Town, Feb. 22nd, 1790.

I have just received, by the favor of your nephew, that part of your third volume which concerns Scotish typography, and which I was very desirous to see. The books from 1509 to 1541 (if you except the Ad Serenissimum,' &c.

Mr. William Herbert, an eminent typographical antiquary, well known for his valuable edition of Ames' History of Printing. An interesting memoir of him is given in Nichols' Literary Anecdotes, vol. v. p. 264. He died in 1795, aged 76.

p. 1472) are perhaps inserted to humour my countrymen, for they belong not to Scotish typography; and, perhaps, the more apparent the chasm, the more exertions would have been used to discover books to fill it. The History,' 1536, cannot stand upon Mackenzie's authority only; for he is grossly inaccurate, as the next article proves; and it is supposed by some, that there were two editions of that work. I am glad you have the only real edition of it; and, if you lived nearer town, I should have esteemed it a most particular favor if you could have lent it to me for one month; as I am engaged in writing the History of Scotland, and learn that Bellenden is a free translator, and has matters not in his original. There is a copy in the King's Library, Buckingham House; but there we can only consult with propriety.

The Complaint of Scotland in Major Pierson's Ballads, I am anxious to have a copy of, and should be obliged to you for information in whose hands they now are. I still think of reprinting Wedderburn's Complaint. You will excuse my differing from you as to the Harleian copy having a manuscript title, which, in so full and accurate a catalogue, would, in that case, have been mentioned. As to Mackenzie, I know no term strong enough for his inaccuracies and bold assertions. It is not unusual, nor has been from the commencement of printing, for a blank to be left at the end of a dedication, for the author to write in his name with his own hand in the presentation copy, which was thought more respectful. I sus