"My Lord, Dryburgh Abbey, Nov. 14th, 1800. I have sent by the hands of my nephew, whom I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship's attention, the curious original Ms. of the Horatius Cunninghamii, which you will see mentioned in that interesting Preface to Hollinbury's edition of the Translation of Cunningham's History of Great Britain, with a view to determine his identity. This little book seeks for access to your fine library, as will the bearer, who is fond of literature, and is an admirer of your literary and political character. I desire to be kindly remembered to Lord Henry Petty, and am, with much regard, My Lord, Your Lordship's obedient humble servant, To the most honorable The Marquis of Lansdowne. London. BUCKAN. With a book by David Erskine, Esq. of Holmes.' In the first leaf Lord Buchan has written thus: "Mr. Cunningham's Horace, with his original notes, given me by Mr. George Paton, March 4th, 1786." VOL. IL D d In In the second page is written, Notæ margi nales in hoc libro scriptæ sunt per Alex. Cunninghamium." The marginal notes are innumerable; not having the means of consulting an edition of Cunningham's Horace, I am not able to say whether the various readings which appear in this volume were there adopted, but many references to critical authors and passages appear in this volume, which would be of material use to every reader of this Poet. This most curious little book was sold at the auction of Lord Lansdowne's library, and there purchased by Mr. Chalmers, for the sum of four guineas or thereabouts. In the last page some person has written with a pencil, "Van de Waters Horatius, with Mr. Cunningham's Ms. corrections and various readings." M. N. M. N. TENHOVE. THE Memoirs of the House of Medici, from its Origin to the Death of Francesco the Second, Grand Duke of Tuscany, by Mr. Nicholas Tenhove, is one of the rarest productions in literature. The account given of the author, by Mr. Roscoe is this: "Mr. Nicholas Tenhove was a branch of one of the most respectable families in the United Provinces. His paternal ancestors were all high in office, and by his mother he descended from the family of Fagel, which had furnished the Dutch Republic with illustrious Ministers through several generations. An easy fortune, and a previous stock of classical and historical knowledge, rendered him capable of deriving singular advantages from his travels in Italy and Sicily. The Memoirs of the House of Medici were composed at his ease, from time to time, and were printed piece-meal as they were composed. In the form in which he left them, they have rather the aspect of interesting materials for a great work, than that of a regular edifice. As he did not live to complete his design, he committed to the flames all D d 2 the the copies of these memoirs, excepting those which he had distributed to his particular friends in separate parts as they came from the press.” The copy of this curious work, of which Mr. Roscoe had the benefit, is the same which I have had the opportunity of examining. It was bequeathed by the late pious and learned Dr. Maclaine, the translator of Mosheim, and Minister of the English Church at Rotterdam, to Henry Hope, Esq., in whose possession it now is, and who kindly gave me the use of it. Dr. Maclaine had formerly lent it to the Marquis of Lansdowne, of whom it was borrowed by Mr. Roscoe. It is thus entitled: "MEMOIRES GENEALOGIQUES DE LA MAISON DE MEDICIS. Medicumque Genus Stirpemque Deorum. It is inscribed VIDA." "A l'heureuse memoire de FRANÇOIS FAGEL Greffier de leurs hautes Puissances les Etats Generaux des Provinces Unies. Heritier des Vertus et des talens de ses Ancetres Collegue et Ami du venerable vieillard son Pere, Fragile Espoir de la Patrie, Ami zelé des Lettres et des Arts, Arbitri Arbitre sur de l'elegance et du gout, et Meilleur moitié de même. Mr. Roscoe gives this character of the performance. Although these volumes appear to be rather the amusement of the leisure hours of a polite scholar, than the researches of a professed historian, yet they display an acquaintance with the transactions of history, seldom acquired but by a native. To a great proficiency in the literature of that country, Mr. Tenhove united an indisputable taste in the productions of all the fine arts, and a great knowledge of the state of manners and the progress of science in every period of society. The fertility of his genius, and the extent of his information, have enabled him to intersperse his narrative with a variety of interesting digressions and brilliant observations; and the most engaging work that has perhaps ever appeared, on a subject of Literary History, is written by a native of one country, in the language of another, on the affairs of a third." I should be more particular in my description of this rare and curious publication, but that I understand it has been translated into our own Janguage by Sir Richard Clayton, Bart. in two volumes, quarto. This translation appeared in 1797. |