Creech's shop, he learned there were about a dozen subscribers to the Vita Sanctorum Scotia. Upon desiring my factor, Mr. Buchan, since to call on Creech, and learn the names, Creech informed him "there were but two or three; and the subscription paper was lost, so he could not tell the names."

I

Though the booksellers have a mean opinion of Creech, I cannot think him capable of sheer robbery, as this is; but I should take it extremely kind, if your lordship would desire Mr. Cardonnel to call on Creech and bring him to reason. shall have a sufficient number of subscribers in England; for the number increases fast since the price was raised. Yet I humbly hope your lordship will not allow the subscribers in Scotland and me to be thus wronged. Subscriptions are always entered in a book; so the subscription paper is a mere farce: I should take it extremely kind if your lordship would recommend some other bookseller in Edinburgh, who does not, like Creech, set up for a genius and a gentleman; and far less take a party in selling books, or at any rate inclines to the Whig. Your lordship's knowledge of Scotland must render you a perfect judge. Mr. Buchan informs me that your lordship has applied, by petition to the curators, for Bannatyne's manuscript. I thought your lordship's rank and influence rendered this unnecessary; and supposed it was not done in the case of Barbour. I only wait for Lindsay's play, to publish the volume; and I hope no time will be

VOL. I.

M

lost. Barbour's poem I shall

year.

I shall publish here next

DR. THOMAS CAMPBELL TO MR. PINKERTON.

No. 28, Dame Street, Dublin,

Feb. 6th, 1788.

I have been but a few days in this town, and have not had time to inquire for Burke's Hibernia Dominicana, which I am pretty certain of getting for you, though I never saw the book; but I despair of getting the Trias Thaumaturga: however, my diligence shall not be wanting in looking out for it. This intelligence should, in its natural course, come to you, by reflection, from our excellent Bishop of Dromore; but I could not lose a minute to renew my intercourse with you; and, in particular, I beg that you will put me on your list of subscribers for your Lives of the Scotish Saints, which the Bishop has wrote to me (for I have not seen him since I saw you), you are preparing upon Hearne's plan. Mr. Ledwich (Edward) F.A.S.* desires also to be a subscriber.

I should by this night's post send to you, in compliance with the Bishop's desire, a newspaper, in which is a continuation of a slight Sketch of the Ecclesiastical and Literary History of Ireland, only that I disagree very much with the Bishop as to its merit; for, in good truth, I do not deem it worthy your perusal; and I fear that your lyncean eye

* Author of the Antiquities of Ireland, &c. &c.

might discern some Celtic nonsense in it. However, if it should in future appear to me worthy your notice, I shall send you some of the papers, (especially when I shall be certain that a newspaper sent to London in an open cover will cost you but a penny) wherein the names of M'Pherson and Pinkerton may be introduced.

You must know the origin of this matter:-on my leaving London I went to Beaconsfield, where the hospitable owner entered very cordially into my plan, which I partly communicated to you, of writing the History of the Revolutions of Ireland, &c., so as to give the spirit rather than the letter of our melancholy Annals. He advised me to be as brief as possible upon every thing antecedent to Henry II.; and, in full conviction of the force of his advice, I have been, since I saw you, weeding out certain ecclesiastical and literary documents there interspersed, and have thrown them into the present newspaper form, so as to be arranged, in a better form, and in a book or pamphlet, if they should meet any decent share of approbation, which the Bishop's partiality encourages me to hope for. Mr. Burke, however, did not content himself with giving me good advice: he gave me also his very valuable collection of manuscripts relative to Ireland, no less than four folio volumes, of which I have already considerably availed myself. I have reason to believe the Bishop has wrote to you lately, though I am ashamed to say I have not yet answered his letter.

THE HON. HORACE WALPOLE TO MR.

PINKERTON.

Berkely Square, Feb. 11th, 1788.

I wrote a letter to Sir Joseph Banks, soliciting his interest for you, should there be a vacancy at the Museum. He answered (and I will show you his answer when I see you) that he is positively engaged to Mr. Thorkelin, should Mr. Planta resign; but that, the Chancellor having refused to sign the permission for the latter, who will not go abroad without that indulgence, no vacancy is likely to happen from that event. Sir Joseph has since called on me, to make excuses for not complying with my request; and he then told me he thought Mr. Planta might go abroad, with the consent of the Archbishop and Speaker, without the signature of the Chancellor. I do not care about that, which would not promote your interest. I am very sorry, for your sake, that I have none; but I knew as much before.