place in the name. But we might go far by a complete villare and nomenclature, which I have in vain tried to get done by some of the knowing ones: my friend, Lord Hailes, was deceived by them when he wrote the Dissertation on the Guild in his Annals. I showed him the true etymology; and he by a note corrected the Dissertation, and gave that etymology to the public.

Your intelligence about the first edition of the Detection, &c., I gave notice of to Principal Robertson I should be glad to see it or hear more about it.

I went with Mr. Buchan to the Advocates' Library, and saw the plays of Sir D. Lindsay in the Hyndford manuscripts. It seems to me there are 94 pages of plays and interludes. If I am not mistaken, the title at the beginning, bearing them to be Lindsay's, though not on the head of the pages, is not succeeded by any other title; and therefore they may be properly all, on the authority of that manuscript, ascribed to that poetic Knight. I got Mr. Buchan into a train by which I hope he will get them copied for you. I notice well what you say about Barbour: I looked at the manuscript: it is more difficult to be read than the other; but yet easily made out by attention. I do not know, however, if there is one to be got here who can do it. I remember well much work was employed to obtain the manuscript to be lent to my worthy friend, the Bishop of Dromore; and I could scarcely prevail, even with the aid of the donor, the Earl of Hyndford. I almost despair of it. But, when the curators meet,

I shall attempt it. I am glad that you find the English universities, &c., so liberally-minded now. I think I have read that Selden was refused a loan of a book by the college to whom he gave his manuscripts.

I am much obliged to you for your handsome offer of getting me copies of manuscripts from the English collections. If the articles, p. 86 and 234, in Goodall,* Vol. ii. are extant, I should be glad to be at the expense of a copy. I would also wish a copy of Earl Morton's Trial for Darnley's Murder it is not in this country. A facsimile copy also of No. X. Vol. ii. p. 54, I would also wish to have. Mr. Gough was applied to by a friend of mine, and sent me the fac-simile copy of the subscription to it, very well done by a lead-pencil on oiled paper: but I would wish to have the whole; and the way he had used is possibly the easiest. I take it to be one of the copies which were left in England of these papers produced against Queen Mary, by Earl Murray or some other of that party. I am glad you have studied that controversy, and see it in the light it always appeared in to me. I have given Mr. Buchan, to send you, the last but one copy I had of the Rolls of Robert Bruce, which I had printed several years ago, and a charter

Walter Goodall's Examination of the Letters said to be written by Mary, Queen of Scots, to James, Earl of Bothwell; showing, by Intrinsic and Extrinsic Evidence, that they are Forgeries: also an Inquiry into the Murder of King Henry. Edinburgh, 1754, 2 vols. 8vo.

see one.

I

which I found among the Duke of Buccleugh's papers, and got him to give orders to engrave. never saw any Scots deed or paper, in Saxon, Gaelic, or French prose, before Robert the Bruce's time, that I can recollect, and should wish to Some few charters we have. I have tried to come at Bulls from Rome; and, as several Rescripts, &c., are mentioned in the Corpus Juris Canonici, I think there must be many curious. things there. Earl Buchan informs me he has a prospect of getting them.

If you are at any expense for me, I will pay it to Mr. Buchan the moment I know it. I do not go far in such matters; but I am always willing to throw away a few pounds for amusement.

Thus your goodness brings you to the trouble certainly of a long letter, and perhaps of more still.

MR. PINKERTON TO THE EARL OF

BUCHAN.*

Knightsbridge, April 3rd, 1786.

I was afraid of being troublesome with my correspondence, else I should have answered the letter your lordship did me the honor to write me immediately. I do not know how to thank your lordship for the kind offer of lodging me at your house till I copied the manuscripts; but I shall

* Lord Buchan has indorsed this letter: "A curious letter from Mr. Pinkerton to the Earl of Buchan."

always be as grateful for the offer as if I actually had accepted it, which it was impossible for me to do. For, alas, my lord, I have quite other matters to mind than to copy Scotch manuscripts; and, since my countrymen seem so cold in the business, I shall allow them to go on in their old way.

I learn from your lordship's letter that you have misunderstood me as to the design. The Vita Sanctorum are by subscription. Winton I have

a copy of. Barbour I want no subscribers for; but only the manuscript to copy. I was also surprised at your lordship's mention of haste and inaccuracy in speaking of my Ancient Scottish Poems; for the short Essay prefixed cost me half a year's toil; and the toil and pains bestowed on the whole publication have struck those most versed in such matters here, as greater than have ever been exerted on a like occasion.

Indeed, every page shows prima facie the pains taken. Your lordship also mentions several mistakes, but points out none. This is unusual with literary people; for it is a favor to point out a mistake; but to mention them without showing them, is unallowable. I can see your lordship differs in opinion about the camps of Agricola, &c.; and I know it is a common plan with my countrymen, to call all people mistaken who differ from them in opinion; but this idea is not found in any other country save Ireland, and the sooner we abandon such strong prejudices the better.

As to Antiquarian matter, my lord, I am glad to see, from your speech to our Antiquaries and

your Letters on Agricola's Camps, that your lordship is very little versed in them; and I may say to you, as the Harper did to Philip of Macedon, Heaven forbid you should know these matters as well as we!"

REV. DR. CHARLES O'CONOR TO
MR. PINKERTON.

Belanaga, near Roscommon,
April 4th, 1786.

Through the kindness of my Lord Bishop of Dromore, and the conveyance of my learned friend Mr. Walker, an officer in our Irish Treasury, I this week received your letter of the 13th of March. It gratified me to find a gentleman of your candor and abilities employed on the Antiquities of the Ancient Scots, a distinct people among the other various tribes inhabiting our Britannic Isles; and it would add highly to my gratification, if I could supply you with any useful document on the subject—a subject of importance, but long under a cloud, thickened by prejudices from your country, as well as from our own: luckily, these prejudices begin to subside here, a circumstance which encouraged me to draw up a Prospectus on the Origin, Civil Government, and Manners of the Ancient Scots in their Heathen State. How it will be

This singularly learned Irish Antiquary, author of Columbanus' Letters, &c. &c., and Librarian to the Duke of Buckingham, died very recently.