4. Religious freedom to confound, [Stern Fortune show'd her engines dire ;] The Press, in rigid fetters bound, 5. But why the spectre forms relate That haunted our degrading night? To save Britannia's falling state Great William came, and all was light. 6. From thee, from thee, sweet Liberty! The hero his bold message bore, To rear thy radiant banner high, And bring it to the British shore. 7. With ev'ry virtue fraught he came, [He came, he came, the Hero came,] And Tyranny confounded stood: 8. And soon the British temple wide, Appear'd in more than ancient pride, And stood with strength unknown before. 9. Then sacred ever be the day Which brought such blessings to our land, [That oped these blessings to our sight,] And made November smile like May, [That made November smile as May,] [That fill'd our skies with Freedom's light.] With roses shed by Freedom's hand ! Great are they who worship thee! Again and again I thank you heartily for your hymn, and beg that you will be so good as to send me your corrections of the above readings. Some of the above notes, and my seal upon this letter, will show you that I belong to a Whig family. THE HON. HORACE WALPOLE TO MR. PINKERTON. Strawberry Hill, Oct. 15th, 1788. I am rather sorry to hear that you are going to be the editor of another's work, who are so infinitely better employed when composing yourself: however, as it will be on a branch of virtù that I love, I comfort myself, from your taste and accuracy, that it will be better executed than by any one else. I will execute your commissions; but you must give me a little time. The gout has lamed my fingers, and I cannot use them much at a time; and I doubt it has made me a little indolent too. Age, you may be sure, has not improved my sight, and Vertue's manuscripts are not only a heap of immethodic confusion, but are written in so very diminutive a hand, that, many years ago, when I collected my Anecdotes from them and had very strong eyes, I was often forced to use a magnifying-glass. Should you be impatient, will you come and search those manuscripts yourself? Next, will you come next Sunday hither, and pass the whole day, if you please, in the examination? I do not recollect three medals of my father. One, I think, was struck by Natter, who was much patronised by my brother, Sir Edward, and who also engraved two or three seals of Sir Robert's head. The consular figure on the reverse of the medal I mean, was intended for Cicero; but I believe it was copied from a statue belonging to the late Earl of Leicester at Holkham, and which, if I do not mistake at this distance. of time, is called Lucius Antonius. I do not know that any medal of my father was struck on any particular occasion. That I mention and Dassier's were honorary, as of a considerable person; and his being prime minister might have a little share in the compliment. Of Dassier I know no more than I have said in the Anecdotes of Painting. I am ignorant who has the medal of the Duchess of Portsmouth: perhaps you might learn of Mr. Bindley, Commissioner of the Excise, and who lives in Somerset House. He had a great collection of modern medals, but sold them. Perhaps the Duke of Devonshire has the medal in question you might learn of Doctor Lort; or I VOL. I. can ask him. Are there no modern medals in Dr. Hunter's collection? These are all the answers I am ready to give to your queries at present. THE BISHOP OF DROMORE TO MR. Dromore House, Oct. 22nd, 1788. I received your obliging letter, and beg leave to assure you, that the delay of my sending you the Hibernia Dominicana has been unavoidable. Dr. Campbell lives so remote from this place, that we never see each other but in Dublin, and have no more intercourse than if he were in Cornwall and I in Caithness. I will however contrive, if pos sible, to get it transmitted to you before I go to Dublin to attend Parliament in January next: if not, you may then depend upon it: my present residence is upwards of eighty English miles from our metropolis; and we have not that regular intercourse by stage-waggons, &c., as they have in England. As I shall not see Dublin before the meeting of our Parliament, I fear I shall not have it in my power to see Mr. Professor Thorkelin, if he should visit our metropolis before the time above mentioned; unless he honor me with a visit. here, which will make me particularly happy : but, as I should be glad to be of service to him in any of his literary researches, if I were apprised of his arrival there, and favored with his address, I would endeavour to procure him access to the libraries and manuscripts, &c., and procure all the civilities to be shown him in my power. I am much obliged to you for your kind offer of your Inquiry,* which I shall gratefully receive, and shall be extremely glad to hear of the progress of your studies, and any literary intelligence, which in this remote region reaches me slowly. GENERAL STUART TO MR. PINKERTON. Lower Grosvenor Street, General Stuart's compliments and best thanks to Mr. Pinkerton for the note just received, and sends a person for "Chambre d'Ormond,” which shall be carefully returned. Most of the books in the Museum collection have been consulted and extracted concerning the pedigree and feats of Constable John of Darnley, and his posterity, according to the Catalogue now in General Stuart's possession. Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, knows and approves of the investigation hitherto made. Abercrombie's "Scots Atchievements" have also furnished good matter; but there are some of his authorities cited, which might be of great use, if General Stuart knew Inquiry into the History of Scotland preceding the Reign of Malcolm III. in the year 1056, 2 vols. 8vo. |