MR. PINKERTON TO MR. GEORGE PATON.

Knightsbridge, April 8th, 1788.

Your last to me is of so singular and uncommon a kind, that I must humbly beg leave to decline your correspondence in future. When I take the trouble to read or write letters, it is in hopes of amusement and instruction. That even this may contribute a little to yours, I must tell you, that the insolence of office, though perhaps used in custom-house correspondence, can never be admitted into literary. I blame you for your informing at random various people here, of I know not what nameless errors in my works, which struck you, and nobody else. Do not go

to deny this; for I have seen the letters to three various persons here, one of them a bookseller. Are you so much a stranger to literature and common propriety, as not to know that, to speak of errors without condescending on any, and to third persons, is to be a declared enemy; while to point out facts to an author is to be his best friend? Are you so much a stranger to the character of your own Topographical Catalogue of Title Pages, so noted for dullness and inaccuracy, as to set up for a judge of literature, in which your name is unknown? Can even the dotage of age excuse arrogance, joined with ignorance? But I spare

you.

your acknowledgments in the notes on your Maitland's Poems, have in general given too liberal an opportunity for censure." Reliquiæ Scoticæ.

Your conduct, in surreptitiously getting from me a copy of Lindsay's portrait for the Morison edition of our poets, I pass; as I do your ungentlemanlike behavior, in getting Mr. Gough to require Lindsay's Satire from me, while my receipt stands to Mr. M'Kenzie; so that I am still liable for the book.

I was willing to pass over all these improprieties, as I hate to quarrel with people; but, as your last convinces me that you have too much self-importance to be a literary correspondent of mine, and I have more of such correspondence, even with real literati, than I care for; I must for the last time subscribe myself

Your most obedient servant.

DR. JOHN ANDERSON* TO MR. PINKERTON.

Glasgow College, May 15th, 1788.

ANECDOTES OF CROMWELL.+

The following anecdotes concerning Oliver Cromwell, I learned in conversation, many years ago, from Mr. James Anderson, who was long the manager of Stockwell-street sugar-house in Glasgow, who was a man of veracity, and who

* Dr. Anderson, who was professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow, published the Institutes of Physics; and Observations on Roman Antiquities Discovered between the Forth and the Clyde. He died in 1796.

+ Inclosed in the letter to Mr. James Parker, which follows.

died about thirty years ago, at a very advanced age. He said that he had them from Mr. Danziel, senr., a merchant in the High Street of Glasgow, who died in the beginning of this century, and that his friend Danziel's account was confirmed to him by many concurring testimonies.

A short time before the battle of Dunbar, as Cromwell was reviewing the ground, accompanied by a few cavalry, a soldier of the Scotish army, prompted by his own zeal, concealed himself behind a wall which inclosed a field, and fired his musket at Cromwell. The ball did not take effect, but went near him. The cavalry seemed to be alarmed; but Cromwell, who was going at a round trot, never altered his pace nor tightened his rein; and only, looking over his shoulder to the place from whence the shot came, called out, "You lubberly rascal, were one of my men to miss such a mark, he should certainly be tied up to the halberts!"

When Cromwell entered Glasgow, said Danziel, at the head of his victorious army, I was standing in the street called Bell's Wynd, at the end of it which joins the High Street, with a good many young lads and a shoemaker, who was well known to us all by his drollery and by the name of London Willie. As we were silently admiring the order of the troops, Cromwell happened to -cast his eye upon us, and cried out, "Hah, Willie ! come hither, Willie!" If we were surprised at this, we were more surprised to see Willie retire into Bell's Wynd, and one of Cromwell's attendants go after him, who brought him to the general,

at whose stirrup he not only walked, but went in with him to his lodging for some minutes. My companions and I waited till Willie came out, anxious to know why one of his station was taken notice of by the famous Cromwell. Willie soon satisfied our curiosity, by informing us, that his father had been a footman to James VI., and accompanied him to London at the union of the crowns: That he himself was bred a shoemaker, and wrought in a lane through which Cromwell often passed to a school, as he supposed: That Cromwell used to stop at the work-shop to get his ball and playthings mended, and to be amused with his jokes and Scotch pronunciation: That they had not met from that time till now: That he had retired into Bell's Wynd, lest it should be remembered that his father had belonged to the royal family: That he had no reason, however, to be afraid, for the general had only put him in mind of his boyish tricks, had spoken to him in the kindest manner, and had given him some money to drink his health, which he was going to do with all expedition.

Next Sunday, said Danziel, Cromwell went to the Inner Church in Glasgow, St. Mungo's, and placed himself with his attendants in the king's seat, which was always unoccupied, except by strangers. The minister of the church was Mr. Durham, the author of some religious books, which are still very popular. He was a great Presbyterian, and as great an enemy to Cromwell; because he thought, and early said, that Cromwell and his friends would be forced,

by the convulsion of parties, to erect an absolute government, the very evil they meant to remedy. The text was taken from Jeremiah; and the commentary upon it, by allusions, was an invective against Cromwell and his friends, under Scriptural language and history. During this satire they saw a young man, one of Cromwell's attendants, step to the back of his chair, and, with an angry face, whisper something to him, which, after some words, was answered by a frown; and the young man retired behind the chair, seemingly much disconcerted. The cause of this was unknown to the congregation. It was supposed to be owing to some intelligence of importance which had been just then received; but it was afterwards known, and generally known, that the following words had passed between them:-"Shall I shoot the fellow?" "What fellow?" "The parson." "What parson?" "That parson." "Begone, Sir: he is one fool, and you are another!" Danziel added, that Cromwell sent for Mr. Durham on the very next morning, and asked him, why he was such an enemy to him and his friends-declared that they were not enemies to Mr. Durham-drank his health in a glass of wine, and afterwards, it was said, prayed with him for the guidance of the Lord in all their doings.

When Charles I. was in Scotland in 1633, a subscription was set on foot for building a new hall and library to the University of Glasgow ; and the king's name appears at the head of the subscribers, for two hundred pounds sterling. The