knowledge. I have heard much and thought more; but the result of all I have heard and thought is, that the war which I have invariably and deliberately condemned as no less unjust than impolitic, will continue very long to desolate the country of our brethren, and exhaust our own. The principal object of my late excursion has been completely answered; and I had more success than I at first expected in one or two subordinate pursuits, professional and literary. I attended some causes at the palais, and have brought with me the works of a most learned lawyer, whose name and merit I shall have the honour of making known to our countrymen. I obtained access also to a fine manuscript in the royal library, which has given me a more perfect acquaintance with the manners of the ancient Arabians; and how little soever I may value mere philology, considered apart from the knowledge to which it leads, yet I shall ever set a high price on those branches of learning, which make us acquainted with the human species in all its varieties. Paris itself, and all the roads to it, are so perfectly known to you, that an account of my journey would be superfluous; and as to politics, I would rather onverse than write on a subject so very serious; not that I have any apprehensions, as you well know, of the least danger, or even inconvenience to myself; but many accidents happen to letters, and in times like these, the post is hardly to be trusted. This however I will say, that, as it is my fixed design, if I live to see a

peace,

peace, to write an impartial history of the war, I was desirous in France to be acquainted with as many of the American leaders as I could meet with; and the same desire would have carried me to Amsterdam, if the season had not been so far advanced. All the intelligence that I collected, and all the observations that I made, you should have heard on Friday evening had you been in camp, and shall hear in the course of conversation when we meet. I rejoice to hear, since my return, that Lord Spencer is much better.-Farewell, my dear Lord; you are more fully assured than formal words can express, how sincerely I am, &c.

Mr. JONES to Mr. CARTWRIGHT.
DEAR SIR,

Nov. 12, 1780.

You have so fully proved the favourable opinion, which you do me the honour to entertain of me, that I am persuaded you acquit me of any culpable neglect in delaying for more than two months to answer your very obliging letter. The truth is, that I had but just received it when I found myself obliged to leave England on very pressing business; and I have not long been returned from Paris. The hurry of preparing myself for so long a journey at such a season, left me no time for giving you my hearty thanks, which I now most sincerely request you to accept, both for your kind letter, and for the very elegant sonnet, with which you have rewarded me abundantly for my humble labours in the field of literature. I give you my word,

1

word, that your letters and verses have greatly encouraged me in proceeding as expeditiously as I am able, to send abroad my seven Arabian poets; and I propose to spend next month at Cambridge, in order to finish my little work, and to make use of a rare manuscript in the library of Trinity College; my own manuscript, which was copied for me at Aleppo, is very beautiful, but unfortunately not very correct. You. may depend on receiving a copy as soon as it can be printed.

How happy I shall be if I should be able to wait upon you in Leicestershire, or to see you in London, and assure you in person that I am,

With the greatest sincerity, &c.

W. JONES.

From the public occurrences in which Mr. Jones was engaged, I now turn to a domestic calamity, the death of his mother, which involved him in the deepest affliction. If, as a parent, she had the strongest claims upon the gratitude and affection of her son, the obligations of filial duty were never more cheerfully and zealously discharged than by Mr. Jones. To her able instruction he was indebted for the first rudiments of literature; she directed his early studies, formed his habits and his taste, and, by the closest attention to economy, was enabled to promote his progress in learning by supplying the funds for this purpose. From the period of his obtaining a fellowship, he had declined receiving any assistance from her purse and as his professional profits increased, his own was ever at

her

her disposal. During his residence at Oxford, the time which he did not employ in study or college duties, was devoted to her; his attention was equally the result of principle and affection. She was the confidant of his plans, hopes, and occupations, and he invariably consulted her on all occasions, where his more important interests were con- . cerned. The kindness, as well as the sincerity of his affection, was shewn in numberless instances, which never failed to attract the observation of his friends and associates, although they are too minute to be particularized; and the satisfaction which he derived from the distinction to which his abilities had raised him, was redoubled from the consideration that his mother participated in it. I regret that none of his letters to his mother have been preserved, as they would have exhibited an amiable and striking part of his character*.

The

* I transcribe the following memorandum from the hand-writing of Mr. Jones:

Anno Etat. 33.

Resolved to learn no more rudiments of any kind, but to perfect myself in,

First, 12 languages, as the means of acquiring accurate knowledge

N. B. Every species of human knowledge may be reduced to one or other of these divisions. Even law belongs partly to the History of Man, partly as a science, to dialectic.

The

The remaining correspondence of this year between Mr. Jones and his friends, is not important: I select from it only two letters, which cannot fail to please, although they may not be particularly interesting.

Mr. JONES to the Bishop of St. ASAPH.

MY LORD,

November 23, 1780.

Had I not been prevented by particular business from writing to your Lordship on Tuesday evening and yesterday, I would have informed you before, that we had done ourselves the honour (and a very great one we shall ever esteem it) of electing your Lordship a member of our club*. The election was of course unanimous, and it was carried with the sincere approbation and eagerness of all present. I am sorry to add, that Lord Camden and the Bishop of Chester were re

The 12 languages are,

Greek,

Latin,

Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese,

Hebrew, Arabic,

Persian,
Turkish,

German, English.

1780.

*Generally known by the name of the Turk's-Head Club, held in Gerrard-street, Soho. The establishment of this club was first proposed by Sir Joshua Reynolds to Burke and Johnson, and the original members of it were the friends of these three. The number of members was gradually increased to forty, comprehending men of the most distinguished characters, and eminent for their learning, talents, and abilities.

jected.