LETTER From the Duke of Portland, sent with a Copy of the Report on the Union, between England and Scotland. "THE Duke of Portland, presents his compliments to Mr. PLANTA and requests he will offer for the acceptance of the Trustees of the British Museum, a report on the union between England and Scotland, and the appendix containing the original papers, upon which the Report is founded. When the question of Union between England and Ireland came under the consideration of His Majesty's Ministers, the Duke of Portland employed Mr. Bruce, the keeper of the State Papers, <to collect in his office the Precedents in the History of the Union between England and Scotland, which might, illustrate the subject, for the purpose of bringing in aid of the intended Arrangement with Ireland, the wisdom and experience -of former times, by which investigation it will -appear that many of the arguments which were brought against the Union with Scotland, and which time has completely refuted, are the same with those which the Opponents of an Union with Ireland, at present rely. Whitehall, 15 Feby. 1799." A LETTER. A LETTER. Copy of a Letter written by Dr. Robinson, the Editor of Hesiod, to Egerton, Bishop of Durham, with a large paper Copy of the Hesiod. My Lord, BEING prevented by the bad weather, and something else of more consequence to me, from paying my duty to your Lordship this year, I beg leave to send an old friend to wait upon you in my stead, and to make my excuses. He comes to you in a dress which, perhaps, some will think too gaudy for a gentleman of his age and character; but I considered what fine company he was to keep, if he should have the honour to be admitted into your Lp's library, and was therefore desirous to have him dressed in the uniform. Yr. Lp. is not unacquainted with the real worth of the man, and for the sake of it will excuse whatever has been improperly added to him, by, My Lord, Your most dutiful Ponteland, VOL. II. and Obedient Servant F f. THE CRUELL DEBTER. AS fly leaves to an old book, of 1573, we find two complete, but not successive, leaves of an old play, entitled "The Cruell Debter." The Interlocutors who there appear, are Ophiletis, Rigor, Basileus, Proniticus, Flateri, Simulatyon. The names of the speakers are in the outer margin, and the directions to the actors. The whole in black letter, except a line of Latin, which is printed in Italic. This fragment begins thus: Ophiletis. It was tyme to haue in redynes all thynge Ryger. Bas. For yonder cometh Basileus my Lord & As far as we can let us stande asyde Tyll he sendeth for you let us yonder abyde. I am pleased wth, the accomptes that you haue taken None of your bookes nor bylles shal be forsaken The moste part of my debtters haue honestly payed And they that were not redy I have gently dayed. Pron. Pron. Bas. Bas. Pron. If it plese your grace we haue not finisht your mind, Thear is one of your greatest debtters yet behind, We haue perused the parcelles in your bookes set And we find hym ten thousand talents in your So we assigned hym before your grace to come I I see that in a redynes yonder he doth stand. It is very evident, from the specimen thus preserved, that the subject of this drama was the unjust debtor in our Saviour's Parable; who, being forgiven a large debt by his Lord, persecuted his fellow-servant for a small one. The above is in the possession of the Rev. Henry White, of Lichfield. FRAGMENT OF A POEM TO LORD WARWICK. RUNNING TITLE "A NUE YEARES GIFT." TO MY LORDE OF WARWICKE. Page 1 To preset Mars w' paper skrowlls It wear as I should giue a reede 2 But whear thear is no weapons bright A man is foerst from barrain tree, Yet had I Cressus wealth at will, my wants to furnish throw: I skarce could tel what gift wear meet, |