XLIV. To Lord Althorpe. November 22. I REJOICE, my dear friend, that you have acquired that ingenuous distrust, which Epicharmus calls a sinew of wisdom. It is certain that doubt impels us to inquire, and inquiry often ends in conviction. You will be able, when you come to London, to examine with the minutest scrupulosity, as Johnson would call it, the properties of that singular animal, who is, in the rivers of South America, what Jupiter was feigned to be among the gods, a darter of lightning, and should be named aσrpan popos, instead of gymnotus. He certainly has (if an academic may venture to affirm any thing) a mode of perception peculiar to himself; but whether that perception can properly be called a new sense, I leave you to determine it is a modification indeed of feeling: but are not all our senses so? I desire, however, that in this and in every thing, you will form your own judgment. As to the Tayyεveσia of our noble constitution, which has happily presented itself to your imagination, the very idea fixes me with rap : ture. No, my dear lord, never believe that any thing is impossible to virtue: no; if ten such as you conceive such sentiments as your letter contains, and express them as forcibly if you retain these sentiments, as you certainly will when you take your place in parliament-I will not despair of seeing the most glorious of sights—a nation freely governed by its own laws. This I promise; that, if such a decemvirate should ever attempt to restore our constitutional liberty, by constitutional means, I would exert in their cause such talents as I have; and, even if I were oppressed with sickness, and torn with pain, would start from my couch, and exclaim with Trebonius, "If you mean to act worthily, O Romans, I am well!" The speech, you find, was composed and delivered, without my news about Maryland; it is λογος μαλα μοναρχικός HAI OTρATINTINOS, * and breathes a deliberate firmLord Chatham spoke with a noble vigour for a veteran orator, and your bishop pronounced an elegant harangue: I wish lord Granby had more courage as a public speaker: all men speak highly of him; but he will never be eloquent till he is less modest. Charles Fox poured forth, with amazing rapidity, a continued invective against lord G. Germaine; and Burke was so pathetic, that many declare they saw him shed tears. The ministers in both houses were sullen and reserved; but lord Sandwich boldly contradicted the duke of Richmoud, on the state of the navy. I grieve that our senate is dwindled into a school of rhetoric, where ness. *Too despotic and military. men rise to display their abilities, rather than to deliberate; and wish to be admired, without hoping to convince. Adieu, my dear lord: I steal these few moments from a dry legal investigation; but I could not defer the pleasure of answering a letter, which gave me inexpressible delight. XLV. From H. A. Schultens.* May, 1777. I KNOW not how to express my delight at the receipt of your short, but very friendly and obliging letter. I take shame to myself at having so long delayed the acknowledgment of it; and you might indeed justly censure me, for an apparent forgetfulness of your kindness towards me. This would indeed be a most serious accusation, which I cannot in any degree admit I wish I could as fairly exculpate myself from the charge of negligence. You have now, my friend, my confession; but you will pardon me, in consideration of my promise to be more attentive • Written in Latin. in future. I may indeed plead occupations so incessant, that they scarcely allow me time to breathe, and have often compelled me to defer writing to you, when I most seriously intended it: you will the more readily admit this apology, when I tell you, that for five months I have never once thought of Meidani. I have now a little respite, and mean soon to resume my work, which has been so long interrupted: the singular kindness of the superin. tendents of the library at Leyden, by permitting me to take home for my use, and retain as long as I please, not only the manuscript of Meidani, but any others which I may want, will much diminish the weight of my labour. With this assistauce, I shall proceed, as fast as my other employments allow, to copy the manuscript, finish the indices (which are absolutely necessary to such a work), and add whatever is wanted to render it as elegant and complete as possible: it gradually advances. I most heartily wish it were in my power to bestow upon this favourite occupation, those hours which I am obliged most reluctantly to give to my various public and private lectures; but I foresee that it will still require three or four years of hard labour to collect such an ample stock of materials, as will enable me to deliver my lectures fluently, without much previous study, or to shake them out of a bag," as the phrase is. In the mean time, Hariri lies untouched, the Arabic poets are neglected, and the soft and elegant literature of Persia (which, above all, I sincerely regret) remains unexplored: such, however, is the ardour with which you have inspired me, that I am determined, 66 if I enjoy life and health, at all hazards, and at the risk of singularity, to devote myself to the acquisition of it. I almost, however, despair of publishing Hariri. I had determined to give the text only from the best procurable manuscripts, annexing to it the translation of my grandfather, which is complete this I should be able to accomplish with little sacrifice of time; and, without neglecting other business, I could give the public an useful work. But there are some, to whose judgment, as well as inclination, I owe much deference, who disapprove of this plan, and advise me not to publish the work, without extracts from Tebrizi and other grammarians, nor even without my own annotations though I do not agree with them, I must submit to their authority, at the necessity of protracting the publication, till I can give it as they wish. Scheidius has lately published the first part of Jaohari's Lexicon, consisting of about two hundred pages. He calculates, that the whole work will not be comprised in less than ten volumes, of a thousand pages each. Opinions about it are various. He himself foresees so little impediment in completing this immense undertaking, that he even talks of publishing Phiruzbadi, &c.; but others consider the obstacles so insuperable, that they think it never will be finished, unless it should rain gold upon him. This is all relating to the Arabic that is now going on amongst us, excepting a glossary to Hariri, Arab Shah, and the Coran, which Mr. Wilmot, a young but learned theologian, has undertaken. It will be very useful to beginners, who, from the difficulty and expense of |