this manuscript, if I can procure an exact copy. Now, though I have just written Lord Hailes to this effect, yet, my lord, I most earnestly beg of your lordship that, if necessary, (and of which my factor, Mr. William Buchan, will inform your lordship,) you will join your interest to that of Lord Hailes, in order to prevail on the Society of Advocates to permit a literal copy of this manuscript to be taken at my expense. I know, my lord, that, in Scotland, other ideas are often entertained about these matters than in England. Here, if a man wishes to publish a manuscript, every body is eager to serve and oblige him in the design; every library is open to him who can use it; and a librarian would send you a challenge, if you offered him money: he knows the trouble is yours, not his, and that, if dirty gold must interfere in literary matters, you ought to be paid by him, not he by you; as you have the trouble, his library and he the honor. This I mention, my lord, as when Mr. Buchan, writer to the Signet, my factor, copied himself the titles of some old poems in the Advocates' Library for me, it was hinted by Brown, the librarian, that a fee was expected! Now, though I should with pleasure pay 100%., rather than this venerable old poet should remain in his present vulgar condition, yet one grudges to add to the expense necessary, an imposition payable to a greedy librarian, who looks upon literature as a matter of low and paltry gain.

I should also be happy to learn from your lordship, if any person or persons in the Society of

VOL. I.

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Antiquaries be sufficiently versed in the oldest Scotish, to compare the copy with the original before it is sent to me for publication. Your lordship knows how very little our old language is studied, so will not think this an improper question; and, if such person in the Society could be prevailed on formally to collate the copy and vouch its being literal throughout, no greater favor could be conferred on me. This copy of Barbour's manuscript is the greatest wish of my heart; and, if your lordship will use your great influence in the affair, I shall most gratefully acknowledge the favor in my edition, (which shall be sent to the press as soon as the copy reaches me,) and on every private occasion in my power.

Did your lordship ever see The Complaynt of Scotland, printed 1549? I mean to reprint it; but want a fac-simile of the title-page and transcripts of two leaves (marked 39, and 137) which are wanting in the copy in the Museum. Gawin Douglas's Palice of Honor, London, 1553, and Edinb. 1579, I can find in no library in England, and should wish much to reprint it.

Such pieces, my lord, almost any bookseller here might reprint without risk; but other publications I intend, I am forced to have recourse to Tom Icarne's plan of high subscription to accomplish. For though, were I a little richer, I should with infinite pleasure reprint many curious pieces relating to my country at my own expense, yet I find that with 300l. a year one cannot go far in such matters. Accordingly, your lordship will see, from the end of the second volume of the pre

sent work, that I mean to publish by subscription the Vita Antique Sanctorum Scotia, from manuscripts, and from vast collections never seen by one man in ten thousand. As also Andrew Winton's Chronicle, from the capital manuscript in the King's Library. Since printing of these proposals, (of which Mr. Creech will send some to the Society,) I have purchased from Mr. Astle, Keeper of the Records in the Tower, a capital copy of Win ton, collated with three manuscripts in Scotland, and prepared for publication by a Mr. Seton in 1724. This, compared with two copies in England, as shall be done, will form the best edition of an ancient writer of Scotland that can well be ever given. He is full of curious matters, totally unknown at present to all our writers.

I know your lordship's love of literature and antiquities will induce you to encourage these designs. All I wish is to be kept from expense beyond my power. My time, my labor, and such expense as I can afford, I shall ever think well bestowed in illustrating the neglected antiquities of my country.

Requesting pardon for this long letter, I beg leave to subscribe myself with much respect.

MR. KNIGHT TO MR. PINKERTON.

Yarmouth, Nov. 29th, 1785.

Your last letter was dated; but I believe I have already said enough on that subject. Suffice

it to add that, some time previously to the date of it, I had left Essex, and taken up my residence at this place for the benefit of sea-bathing, in which I have persisted, and continue to persist with great perseverance.

I am somewhat apprehensive, from your own account of yourself, that you have entirely forsaken the bright and flowery paths of poetry, to wander among the dark and barren deserts of early history. Your country, no doubt, will be greatly indebted to you for the vast labor which must attend the investigation of the longforgotten events of earlier ages; and I am ready to allow that the learned will peruse with applause and pleasure what your diligent researches will bring to light; but, valuable as these acquisitions may be, I shall scarcely prevail upon myself not to lament the time you bestow upon them; if we are thereby deprived of such works as labor alone can never produce. I flatter myself, however, that the eagle is not continually confined in a gloomy cavern, but that sometimes he basks upon the lofty rocks of genius. Yet it is to be remembered that the strongest eye, if too much inured to darkness, will shrink from the dazzling brightness of the noontide ray.

Heron's Letters have been much the subject of conversation in several companies where I have already been. The admirers of Virgil will never forgive you. This, I suppose, you expected. Many condemn the whole work by the lump, evidently because their feelings are hurt by the propriety of their old prejudices being called in question. Some, however, (and they, let me tell

you, are of the first abilities,) allow the author to be possessed of uncommon genius and extensive learning. Yet many of the assertions in your book are disapproved of even by them; and some are even taxed with absurdity. This is indeed the less to be wondered at, as you treat of so many different subjects; for it surely would be much more extraordinary, if any one man could be found in every respect on every subject exactly of the same opinion with yourself; especially as you avowedly combat prejudices of long standing. The 24th letter (connexion of literature with political business) is most particularly admired by Mr. Nicholls,* Gray's friend. George Hardinge, a nephew of Lord Camden, who is an excellent scholar and certainly of the first rate abilities, is one of your admirers. Nicholls, by the way, is not much pleased with your treatment of Gray, in your discussion of his character of Hume. I must indeed freely confess I do not understand in what respect the latter, as

The Rev. Norton Nicholls, one of the most elegant scholars and accomplished gentlemen of the day, died on the 22d of November, 1809, in the 68th year of his age. It was his singular good fortune to have been distinguished in his early life by the friendship of Mr. Gray, the poet; while the close of his days was cheered and enlivened and dignified by the friendship and almost constant society of a man scarcely inferior to Mr. Gray in talents and acquirements, and inseparably connected with him in name, Mr. Mathias. Mr. Mathias has embalmed the memory of Mr. Nicholls in an Italian Ode and a Biographical Memoir, which latter is a beautiful specimen of that kind of composition it was intended only for private circulation, but has been lately reprinted, together with the Ode, in the last volume of Nichols' Illustrations of Literature.