Yet, if your eye can trace any evidence in this trifle to oppose my apprehensions, I shall be very happy. All the humility of my doubts will go away. In two respects, I expose myself very much to censure. I have attacked the nobile officium of the court of session; and I have vindicated the freedom of the Scottish government from the misrepresentations of Dr. Robertson, the historiographer of Scotland. With a thousand people, these things are the greatest of all crimes. It is in England, and not in this country, that I am to find those readers who will be perfectly impartial.

I entreat you to accept my most sincere wishes for your prosperity, and that you will believe me, with the most entire respect,

My dear sir, &c.

GILB. STUART.

LVI.

From Dr. Stuart.

DR. STUART presents his best compliments to Mr. Jonės.

I beg to have the pleasure to submit to your inspection a small treatise, which I have published a few years ago, as an introduction to an extensive work on the laws and constitution of England, which I have long meditated, and have in part executed. If you like my ideas, I shall account myself extremely fortunate if they do not strike you as of importance and interesting, I shall think that I have employed my leisure without advantage. Your line of study has led you to inquire into the history of English manners and jurisprudence: the little work which accompanies this note, is perfectly within this line; and, as I have the most entire confidence in your penetration and candour, I should be happy to know your opinion of it. I should then be in a state to form a resolution whether I ought to give order and method to the materials I have collected, in the view of prosecuting a subject, which I may, perhaps, have undertaken, without having properly consulted my forces. You will do me the favour to excuse this trouble.

LVII.

From C. Reviczki. *

Warsaw, March 17, 1779.

your

I LATELY received through Mr. * * * * last two learned publications; a most agreèable and convincing proof of your affectionate remembrance of me. The singular erudition with which your works abound, not only delighted me exceedingly, but almost excited my inclination to resume those studies which I had almost forgotten. Prince Adam Czartoryski, who has cultivated Oriental literature not unsuccessfully, had already afforded me an opportunity of perusing your life of Nadir Shah. He particularly pointed out the passages in the dissertation, in which you make such honourable mention of me, and for which I am indebted to your partiality alone. I regret the loss which the republic of letters must suffer from your desertion, and determination to devote yourself to the altar of Themis: but I trust that Melpomene, under whose auspices you were born, will compel you to return to your allegiance. I am heartily

• Written in Latin.

tired with a residence of seven years on the banks of the Vistula; but the termination of the German war will, I hope, restore me to a more pleasing situation. How much more agreeable would it be to me, if fortune would allow me to gratify my inclinations, by passing my days in England, near you! But to whatever place my destiny may lead me, my affection for you will continue unabated.

Farewell.

LVIII.

To Lord Althorpe.

Temple, Feb., 1780. THE public piety having given me this afternoon what I rarely can obtain-a short intermission of business-can I employ my leisure more agreeably than in writing to my friend? I shall send my letter at random, not knowing whether you are at Althorpe or at Buckingham; but persuading myself that it will find you without much delay. May I congratulate you and our country on your entrance upon the great career of public life? If there ever was a time when men of spirit, sense, and virtue, ought to stand forth, it is the present. I am informed, that you have attended some country meet

ings, and are on some committees. Did you find it necessary or convenient to speak on the state of the nation? It is a noble subject; and with your knowledge, as well as judgment, you will easily acquire habits of eloquence: but habits they are, no less than playing on a musical instrument, or handling a pencil: and as the best musicians and finest painters began with playing sometimes out of time, and drawing out of proportion; so the greatest orators must begin with leaving some periods unfinished, and perhaps with sitting down in the middle of a sentence. It is only by continued use that a speaker learns to express his ideas with precision and soundness, and to provide, at the beginning of a period, for the conclusion of it; but to this facility of speaking, the habit of writing rapidly contributes in a wonderful degree. I would particularly impress this truth upon your mind, my dear friend, because I am fully convinced that an Englishman's real importance in his country will always be in a compound ratio of his virtue, his knowledge, and his eloquence; without all of which qualities, little real utility can result from either of them apart and I am no less persuaded, that a virtuous and knowing man, who has no natural impediment, may by habit acquire perfect eloquence, as certainly as a healthy man, who has the use of his muscles, may learn to swim or to skate. When shall we meet, and where, that we may talk over these and other matters? There are some topics which will be more properly discussed in conversation than upon paper, I mean on account of their copiousness; for believe me, I should not be concerned, if all that I write were copied at the

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