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but by fame; I am fure that any idea I had from thence conceived of him, will not be at all leffened by seeing him in your tranflation. I do not know how it has happened, that orators have, hitherto fared worfe in the hands of the tranflators, than even the poets; I never could bear to read a tranflation of Cicero. Demofthenes fuffers I think fome

what lefs; but he fuffers greatly; so much, that I must say, that no English reader could well conceive from whence he had acquired

I am

the reputation of the firft of orators. fatisfied that there is now an eminent exception to this rule, and I fincerely congratulate the public on that acquifition. I I am, the greatest truth and regard, my dear Sir, Your most faithful and obliged

humble fervant,

with

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EDMUND BURKE,

Of the incidents in the life of Mr. Jones during the years 1778 and 1779, I have not particular information; we may suppose his time and attention to have been principally

engroffed by his profeffional duties and ftudies, and the political circumftances of the times. His own letters, always interesting, and often inftructive, with thofe of his correspondents, contain all that I know of him during this period; the latter afford additional evidence of the esteem in which his learning, abilities, and principles were held by men of high reputation in the rank of literature.

Mr. SWINNEY to Mr. JONES.

SIR;

Pera of Constantinople, January 1, 1778.

So high an opinion do I entertain of your humanity and politenefs, as to perfuade myself you will readily pardon the liberty I have taken, of sending you a Perfian and Grecian manufcript. If, on perufal of one or the other book, you fhall meet with a fingle paffage that may contribute either to your inftruction or amusement, my purpose will be fully anfwered.

Among the real curiofities I have seen at

Conftantinople, is a public museum, erected at the fole expence of a moft learned Grand Vifir, whofe name and title was Rajib Pacha. This collection contains about two thousand Arabian, Perfian, and Turkish manufcripts, which, the learned fay, contain vaft stores of erudition. It is not improbable but I may be able, on fome favourable occafion, to procure you a copy of the catalogue; and then, fhould you be difposed to have any of the manufcripts copied, I intreat you will confer the honour upon me, of executing the commiffion. People affure me, but I dare not say whether with good authority or no, that the entire Decades of Livy, and the complete Hiftory of Curtius, are contained in that very precious repofitory: if fo, who knows but majefty itself (fo fuperlatively happy are we in a monarch who favours the arts and fciences!) may graciously condefcend to command a copy of them?

Be pleased to accept of my warmest wishes for your health, profperity, and very long life: and believe me to be (what I fincerely

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I have to acknowledge the receipt of your moft obliging letter. It is impoffible for me to exprefs the value in which I hold the favourable fentiments you have conveyed to me; and above all, th atftrain of cordiality and friendship which accompany them. The lofs of that long letter, or differtation, into which my performance was about to entice you, is a matter of infinite regret to me: but I hope that the object which then engaged more particularly your attention, and which was fo worthy of it, is now within your reach; that the fates are to comply with your defires, and to place you in a scene where fo much honour and fo many laurels

are to be won and gathered.

It affects me with a lively pleasure, that

your

taste has turned with a peculiar fondness

to the ftudies of law and government on the great scale of history and manners. They have been too long in the management of enquirers, who were merely metaphysicians, or merely the retainers of courts. Their generous and liberal nature has been wounded and debased by the minuteness of an acute but useless philosophy, and by a mean and slavish appetite for practice and wealth. It is now fit that we should have lawyers who are orators, philofophers, and historians.

But while I entreat you to accept my best thanks for your excellent letter,and express my approbation of those studies of which you are enamoured, permit me, at the fame time, to embrace the opportunity of making known to you the bearer of thefe lines. Dr. Gillies, of whom you may have heard as the tranflator of Lyfias, has been long my warm friend: and I have to recommend him to you as the poffeffor of qualities which are still more to his honour than extensive learning and real genius. Men who leave their compatriots behind them in the purfuits of fcience.

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