from the earliest times till now; thirdly, to show the present state of Corsica in every respect; and lastly, I subjoin my journal of a tour to that island, in which I relate a variety of anecdotes, and treasure up many memoirs of the illustrious general of the Corsicans, memorabilia Paoli.

As for myself, to please a worthy and respected father (1), one of our Scots judges, I studied law, and am now fairly entered to the bar. I begin to like it. I can labour hard; I feel myself coming forward, and I hope to be useful to my country. Could your Lordship find time to honour me now and then with a letter? I have been told how fa

(1) To a letter from Boswell, containing regrets at his own want of resolution, and mentioning his having taken a vow as a security for good conduct, Dr. Johnson makes this admirable reply: "Your resolution to obey your father I sincerely approve; but do not accustom yourself to enchain your volatility by vows; they will sometimes leave a thorn in your mind, which you will, perhaps, never be able to extract or eject. Take this warning; it is of great importance. The study of the law is what you very justly term it, copious and generous; and in adding your name to its professors, you have done exactly what I always wished, when I wished you best. I hope that you will continue to pursue it vigorously and constantly. You ought to think it no small inducement to diligence and perseverance, that they will please your father. We all live upon the hope of pleasing somebody, and the pleasure of pleasing ought to be greatest, and at last always will be greatest, when our endeavours are exerted in consequence of our duty. If the profession you have chosen has some unexpected inconveniences, console yourself by reflecting that no profession is without them; and that all the importunities of business are softness and luxury, compared with the incessant cravings of vacancy, and the unsatisfactory expedients of idleness."-Life, vol. iii. p. 3. ed. 1835.

To

vourably your Lordship has spoken of me. correspond with a Paoli (') and with a Chatham is enough to keep a young man ever ardent in the pursuit of virtuous fame. I ever am, my Lord, with the highest admiration,

Your Lordship's much obliged

humble servant,

JAMES BOSwell.

THE EARL OF BRISTOL TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

Saturday, April 11, 1767.

I SHOULD not take the liberty of troubling your Lordship with a letter, only to mention the debate of yesterday (2), which, like all other long ones, wandered from the subject; but as I was for some time in the closet yesterday, I cannot deny myself the satisfaction of conveying to you the just sense the best of masters has of the best of servants and the

(1) Mr. Boswell's book was published in the February following. Pray read the new account of Corsica," writes Horace Walpole to Gray; "what relates to Paoli will amuse you much. The author is a strange being, and has a rage of knowing any body that ever was talked of. He forced himself upon me at Paris, in spite of my teeth and my doors, and I see has given a foolish account of all he could pick up from me about King Theodore. He then took an antipathy to me on account of Rousseau, abused me in the newspapers, and exhorted Rousseau to do so too; but as he came to see me no more, I forgave all the rest. However, his book will, I am sure, entertain you."

(2) On the validity of the act passed by the governor and council of Massachuset's Bay, for making compensation to the sufferers there by the rioters.

ablest of ministers. After expressing great solicitude for your health, and being particularly anxious to be informed of every circumstance that had reached me relative to your Lordship's situation, his Majesty said, he must admire your strength of mind in not yielding to all these difficulties, and keeping up the same resolution to go through, notwithstanding your attacks of gout; "for," the King added, "what would my own steadiness avail, unless the minister is equally resolved to carry on my business? it is ever in the power of an administration to lay me upon my back" (these were the words); "but when we are both determined, it will do." The rest of the conversation consisted in doing ample justice both to your abilities and integrity, relating to me the great propriety of your Lordship's whole proceeding in the conferences both of the years 1765 and 1766.(1) There were some comparisons made of the difference between the conduct of your Lordship, and one whom you may guess, but I might be wanting in respect to you to name.

My Lord Chancellor spoke with great ease yesterday, and baffled all the feeble arguments of our adversaries; the numbers were 63 and 36; five bishops in the minority, and three lords of the bedchamber, the Earls of Coventry, Eglintoun, and Buckinghamshire. The Dukes of Newcastle and Portland, the Marquis of Rockingham and what is

(1) See Vol. II. pp. 309. 378.

called his party, went away without voting. Tuesday is the day that the Opposition intend to summon all their forces in the House of Commons.(1) I hear, from a good quarter, that the Earl of Bute's friends will all go with administration. When I say this, I do not make myself responsible for Mr. Wedderburn; for no one, I find, will be his godfather. I hope I need not repeat the assurances of the most affectionate and respectful attachment with which I have the honour to be, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most obliged, obedient,

and most faithful humble servant,

BRISTOL.

(1) No report of this debate has been preserved. The following is an extract of a letter from Lord Charlemont to Mr. Flood, written on the 18th:-"Last Tuesday, the ministry gained a great victory in the House of Commons. Beckford had moved, that the East India committee should be adjourned to the 1st of May, and Sir William Meredith desired that it might then meet, in order to his making a motion to adjourn it for six months; that is to say, to put an end to it. The ministry carried the question, 213 to 157, and the committee is adjourned to the 1st of May. Upon this occasion, they entered largely into the merits of the grand question, and the House sat till two in the morning. George Grenville spoke for two hours and a half, Yorke as long, Burke fifty minutes, and very well. On Wednesday, Charles Townshend opened his budget, and spoke amazingly well. Notwithstanding the decrease of the land tax, fourteen hundred thousand pounds are to be paid off this year. Lord Chatham still continues very ill, and does no business. His doctors, however, promise fairly. The ministry, however, seem upon the whole in a better situation than they have yet been, especially since the late victory."

THE EARL OF BRISTOL TO THE EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORD,

St. James's Square, April 16, 1767.

I SHALL trouble your Lordship with only a few lines to acquaint you with my having yesterday obeyed your Lordship's commands; and when I told the King that you had particularly directed me to say, that your Lordship had at no time of your life been more full of zeal for his Majesty's service than now, the King interrupted me by repeatedly saying, "I am persuaded of it, I am thoroughly persuaded of it; but did you not answer for me, and tell Lord Chatham you were equally convinced I was so."

I replied, with great truth, that as his Majesty had often condescended to authorise me to make his royal sentiments known to your Lordship, I had asserted every thing which could confirm your Lordship in that opinion. The King commanded me to add, how much his Majesty wished your speedy recovery, and how glad his Majesty was of the present recess, since it might contribute to your Lordship's amendment. I am, with the most affectionate respect and attachment, my dear Lord,

Your Lordship's, most obliged and

most faithful and obedient servant,

BRISTOL.