THE HON. HORACE WALPOLE TO MR.

PINKERTON.

Strawberry Hill, May 26th, 1790.

I am sorry I was out of town when you did me the favor of calling. I could have shown you a very Jesuitic letter from the prelate in answer to Lady D.'s application at my request; and of which I should have told you, if I had conceived any hope from it.

I did not at all expect any success from her or my application: I would not refuse you to apply, but I know that I have no credit; and, as I obtain nothing but denials or evasions, I am always most unwilling to solicit what I have no chance of procuring, and what, I assure you, nothing should make me ask for myself. I have not been averse from proving to you that I would have served you if I could; but interest, you perceive, I have none at all. I heartily wish your merit may find more substantial friends than your very insignificant humble servant, &c.

THE EARL OF BUCHAN TO MR. PINKERTON.

*

Dryburgh Abbey, July 16th, 1790.

I am much pleased with your edition of the Bruce, which I only received a few days ago, owing to the parcel having remained some time at

* The Bruce, or the History of Robert I., King of Scotland, written in Scottish verse, by John Barbour: The First Genuine Edition, published from a Manuscript dated 1489, with Notes and a Glossary. London, 1790, 3 vols. 8vo.

my brother the dean of faculty's, before it was forwarded to the country. I shall cause the printed copy to be again compared with the manuscript; that the work may be rendered more correct if it shall be reprinted. I differ from my respectable friends, Lord Hailes and Mr. Davidson, about the publication of Winton's Chronicle, and agree with you in thinking it better to trouble the public with no more than the latter part, from David II. to 1414, filling up the space from thence to 1437 from Bellenden; for which end I wish you to cause your bookseller to offer proposals to the public, which I will second with all my friends and correspondents, to fill up a subscription for 250 copies to defray the expense of printing, and should wish the book to be printed with the same type, and of the same form and size with Bruce, whereby, with Mr. Morison's editions, we may have a Scotch poetical library. Let me know wherein I can be useful to your noble undertaking of a History of Scotland from the accession of Malcolm III. to the death of James V., where, I suppose, you may choose to pause before you venture to proceed on the controversial annals of Mary. I formerly pointed out to you the cloisters at Westminster, as containing many State Papers of high importance, which have been partly examined by Mr. Astle of the Records, who will, I know, at Mr. Walpole's request, render you useful assistance in the investigation. The Marquis of Lansdowne has many volumes of State Papers and letters relating to Scotland; as has the Earl of Hardwicke. I have copies of all the letters and

instructions of State that are in the Cotton Library of the years 1581-2, which will be imparted for your use when you desire; and I shall with continued attention do every thing in my power to forward a design which I think so commendable, and so likely both to gratify the public and to increase your reputation, which, in my opinion, has been no way shaken by the ill-humor of our antiquarian enthusiasts.

If you choose to give engraved portraits of the most eminent statesmen, &c. in your History of Scotland, for the decoration of the work, I advise such only to be given as have not been hitherto engraved such as the regents Mar and Moray, Maitland of Lethington, &c., some of which are in my collection, and would be cheerfully copied for your use, and an appendix of curious and characteristic original Scotch papers not formerly printed, which would much increase the number of purchasers of the book.

you

I thank for the handsome and acceptable manner in which you have mentioned my name in your preface to Bruce; and I shall endeavour to deserve the ratification of your sentence by the public and by a more impartial posterity.

MR. PINKERTON TO THE EARL OF BUCHAN.

Kentish Town, July 19th, 1790.

I expected that Mr. Nicol would have sent you a copy of Barbour before now; but, as his many avocations have made him forget it, I have written.

to the Edinburgh booksellers, Messrs. Bell and Bradfute, to forward one to your lordship, of which I request acceptance, as a small return for your attention to our old bard.

Your lordship has, I dare say, seen the curious collection of Old Scotish Poems, printed 1508; lately lodged in the Advocates' Library. I spoke to M. Cardonnel, when up here, to get me copies of the chief articles. I should take it I should take it very kind, if your lordship will recommend this to Mr. C., and if you could procure for me copies of two poems, the Houlet, and the Bludy Sark, from the Bannatyne manuscript, fol. 302 and 325.

My Scarce Scotish Poems, Reprinted, including Lindsay's Plays, &c., will not appear till next winter.

I beg leave to recommend to your lordship's inquiries "The Memoirs of Lockhart of Lee," Cromwell's Ambassador to France, printed by Uric at Glasgow, about 1760, but, I believe, called in by the family; for, though I read this book when a boy, I can now hear of no copy, except one in the hands of Dr. Adam Smith. It is a pity that it is not republished. If your lordship happens to see your worthy friend, Lord Hailes, have the goodness to mention this; and it will be a favor, if you will also ask him if he did not write an account of Michael Scot of Palwierie, in the Edinburgh Magazine, and for what year; for I wish much to see it.

This letter was written before your lordship's of the 16th came to hand. As to Winton's Chronicle, it will require the copies to be sold at 17. Is. each, to make 250 pay expenses, if printed as the

Bruce, of which 750 are printed, and yet will hardly pay expense of printing, plates, &c. But the Winton must stand over for a few years.

I am extremely obliged to your lordship for your liberal and polite offers to assist my history of Scotland, which at present engrosses all my attention. I mean the collecting of materials; for as to the work itself, I have not yet put pen to paper in it. When occasion arises, I shall beg leave to avail myself of your lordship's offers.

I never expected that my "Inquiry into our early History" would find great success among the present generation of our countrymen. Deep prejudices can hardly be done away, even in a second generation. But I should be glad to know if any one has written against it; or what are the chief objections which your lordship hears. My countrymen here object to my saying, that Scotland's chief merit is defensive war; and that she has produced no man of erudition. But what is so easy as to confute me, by naming any one conquest we ever made, or any one book of erudition written by a Scotchman? If we sit down idle, in the idea that we have done great things, it is wrong. The object with a true lover of his country, is to sow the seeds of future spirit. As to the real contents and essence of my book, I have heard no objection here.

Mr. Napier in the Strand is publishing Old Scotish tunes with the words. If your lordship knows any unpublished, it will be a favor if you will communicate them to him. His address is Music Seller to their Majesties.'