malice, and all uncharitableness, you continue to exercise a very useful and honourable art with your usual good sense and good nature. I have not seen your account of the book you mention, but I am persuaded you cannot fail to speak of the meritorious departed painter, and of his affectionate biographer with your native benevolence:

"I am very glad you are preparing to do justice to the very great biographical merits of our Friend Clarke, who is scurrilously reviled in the Quarterly Review. In following the dictates of your own honest mind, you cannot fail to give him the character he deserves of a very industrious, intelligent, and eloquent Historian, who, being liberally furnished with all the documents of highest authority for his arduous work, has delineated the Life of our great Naval Hero with such fidelity and feeling, as ought to secure to the just, perspicuous, and animated biographer the general and permanent applause of our country. His extensive acquaintance with great naval characters, and his own personal knowledge of the habitudes and discipline of a seaman's life, qualified him, in a peculiar manner, for the task, which he has happily accomplished. As you possess the book, you have only to state your own genuine feelings in perusing it, and I am persuaded they will be such as to do honour both to the author and the critic.

"Since I received the favor of your letter, I have been anxiously employed in an irksome embroiled correspondence, trying to preserve two old friends from a very foolish quarrel about a few acres of land; with the additional anxiety of nursing a female relation in a painful state of health under this roof. Let these circumstances plead my excuse to you, my dear good-natured Sylvanus, for the tardiness, and for all the deficiencies of my reply to your friendly letter. Accept my best wishes for your health and happiness; and believe me ever faithfully

"Your Friend,

W. H." "DEAR SYLVANUS, Felpham, Sept. 3, 1810. "I happened to hear yesterday that you lately passed the gate of my little marine retirement without knowing that within you might have found an old friend and fellow-labourer in the field of literature, who would most willingly have refreshed you on your travels with a hermit's simple and salutary fare.

"I received my intelligence from my worthy printer, Mason of Chichester. He tells me he mentioned to you the four neat little volumes of Cowper's Milton, which we have recently produced for the emolument of Cowper's beloved and meritorious Johnny of Norfolk. As I most anxiously wish the publication to prosper for his sake, and am a little apprehensive that several booksellers, interested in other Milton's, may rather thwart than promote the success of the volumes in question, let me request you to assist their circulation to the utmost of your power. You cannot offer any tribute more acceptable to the pure spirit of our beloved Cowper, than a zealous endeavour to befriend his favourite and most meritorious kinsman.

"While I am speaking of Cowper, let ine ask you if you cannot find for me a copy of Voltaire's Henriade, translated by Cowper and his brother, and printed in some Magazine of the year 1759. I once discovered a rival translation, executed about the same time by an Irish gentleman for a rival Magazine. If I was rightly informed, the titles of the rival Magazines were 'The Royal' and 'The Imperial.' The specimen I once saw of the Irish translator must, I presume, be infinitely inferior to that of the fraternal associates John and William Cowper. Could I find their translation, I shall know the Cantos translated by my friend William, as he mentioned them to me when he was at Eartham. Pray never pass through this village again without affording me an opportunity to give you a friendly shake by the hand, and to assure you that I am ever sincerely yours, W. H."

"Felpham, near Chichester, April 7, 1816.

"MY DEAR WORTHY BROTHER VETERAN OF LITERATURE, "In looking into a Dictionary of Living Authors,' I perceive you and I were born in the same year; and in reading a very acute, entertaining, and instructive book, written by a friend of yours, The Quarrels of Authors,' I find that you are still as active and benevolent as ever. I rejoice with you on the completion of your magnum opus, your Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century; and I beg the favour of you to prepare for me a copy of it, in neat and strong half-binding, with 20 leaves of writing paper in each volume, which I wish to have prepared with what the binders call, I believe, false backs, so as to lie perfectly open, that the possessor may write in them with ease. I have a very copious heap of manuscript letters from many memorable writers of the century you illustrate, and your book will be my best guide for putting them all into such becoming order, that perhaps some 50 years hence this private Collection may prove particularly pleasing and valuable to some of my heirs, after all my literary occupations have long terminated in the sacred sleep of the grave.

"A very worthy relation of mine, who was the first officer wounded in the famous siege of Gibraltar, and is now an Ordnance storekeeper at Purfleet, Capt. Godfrey, is coming to pass a few social days with me soon after the 14th of this month. If you will be so kind as to have the books I have desired ready for him, I will beg him to call on you to pay for them, and escort them in his gig to the literary cell of a crippled, but, I thank heaven, a still cheerful hermit, who is, my good brother biographer, your faithful and affectionate friend, W. HAYLEY.

Pray remember, if you ever make excursions in summer or autumn to the coast, that it would afford me sincere pleasure bid you welcome in person to this marine cell. Accept my cordial benediction and best wishes for the success of all your pursuits and prospects. Adieu. W. H."

Το

TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, Esq.

"MY KIND AND WORTHY Friend, April 13, 1816. "The fond recollections of old times is at all periods grateful, and it is with peculiar pleasure I receive the renewal of those kindnesses, which recal the pleasant hours we have so long since passed with the worthy associates of former days-with Dr. Warner, &c. &c. I hope you will not have too much overrated the amusement you may find in my desultory volumes; but they will at least exhibit to you some traits of men whom you regarded -of mild William Clarke and Anne his wife,' &c. &c.

"Once, and only once, was I ever near Felpham; and much did I regret that at the time I knew not it was your residence, though I was told so a few hours afterwards. Should I be able again to visit your part of the country, I will certainly contrive to pass an hour or two with you. But, alas! I am lame, and my eyes sadly fail me. At the present moment too I have the unhappiness of feeling the most anxious paternal solicitude, &c. for the life of a beloved daughter, which hangs on a very slender thread. With great regard and respect, I am, dear Sir, "Your much obliged and faithful servant, J. NICHOLS."

Rev. HENRY HEADLEY✶ to Mr. NICHOLS.

SIR, Trinity College, May 13, 1785. "When you have inserted the alteration which the gentleman whom I employed to call on you mentioned, my wish is that you would send me a copy of the Fugitive Pieces,' that the Errata may be printed with it. As I have no particular knowledge of any bookseller in town, I would wish you to put the book into any respectable hands you chuse, and manage that matter entirely for me. Yours, &c. H. HEADLEY."

"Oct. 25, 1785. Mr. Headley would wish Mr. Nichols to inform him whether the copy of the Fugitive Pieces' is worth any thing, however so little, it would be an object. Is it likely that any bookseller would give any sum, however trifling, for it? Does Mr. Nichols know if it sells ?

"DEAR SIR,

Norwich, Norfolk, St. George's. "Will you excuse perhaps the impertinence, and certainly the trouble of this application. I have undertaken to publish a book to be called 'Select Beauties of Ancient English Poetry,' with a variety of remarks, which I purpose subjoining to the work. I intend printing by subscription, which will be six shillings. The work to be comprised in one large octavo, or two volumes duodecimo. I find my subscription goes on here very slowly, and I have taken too much trouble in the work to relinquish it contentedly. I merely wish to pay the printing by my subscription. Will you assist me in getting a few names for such a purpose.

Of this excellent and highly-accomplished young gentleman, see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VIII. p. 158; vol IX. p. 28.

I am aware of the abruptness of the application I am making, but necessity has almost worn away diffidence, and I have no friend in town who can do me service in a thing of this kind. My Selections will be made from the age of Elizabeth to the beginning of the reign of Queen Anne. I shall not touch any thing which has been already published by Dr. Percy in his 'Reliques. Should you be unable to do me any personal service in this business, I will beg of you to get the following Advertisement inserted in the St. James's Chronicle, and I will repay you: Speedily will be published, by subscription, price 6s. Select Beauties of Ancient English Poetry, with Remarks, by H. Headley, A. B. Subscriptions received by J. Nichols, Red Lion Passage, Fleet-street; R. Beatniffe, Norwich; Downes and March, Yarmouth; and Merill, Cambridge; of whom Proposals may be had.'—This I wish to have inserted twice or thrice only.

"I am sorry that the great distance I am from town has prevented me from having my book printed by you. I shall consider myself much obliged to you for a line on the subject.

"Accept my thanks for the attention you have paid to my letters at different times; and believe me, Sir,

"Your much obliged humble servant, HENRY HEADLEY."

Letters to and from Mr. DA COSTA.

From Dr. FRANCIS DRAKE *.

York, Dec. 9, 1749.

"WORTHY SIR, "I am exceedingly obliged to you for your kind answer to my letter, but am much puzzled what to select out of that great choice of curiosities you have set before me. I doubt the charge of cutting and polishing a whole watch-case out of the fine masses you speak of, will come to more money than a plain gold-case. What I meant was, only to have one of your polished agates, cornelians, &c. as big as a shilling, a halfpenny, or half a crown, set in the bottom of the gold case; and, if its superfices be perfectly flat, it will answer that end. A slice of any of your masses of these magnitudes, will also, I think, do the same. However, I have ordered my agent to bring the watch-case maker to you, and whatever you and he agree upon for the best, that I shall thankfully accept of.

"In return for your favour, I have some natural curiosities to present you with, which, if worth your acceptance, are heartily at your service. I have the tooth, or tusk, of the sea-lion, given me by a sailor who was on board Admiral Anson's ship throughout the whole voyage, and now lives in this town; part of a young elephant's tooth, in the section of which is an iron bullet, which had been shot into it when younger, and the ivory grown over the bullet; a hair-ball, found in the stomach of a calf; and a fossil or two; which shall all find their way to your Cabinet, Of whom see before, p. 618.

if you think them worthy a place in it; for, my amusements being more in the Antiquarian way, my collections are the same; and I shall think myself happy if I could add any thing to your most noble Repository.

"I am not out of hopes of seeing London again once more; and if you should be there at that time, should make it my business to wait upon you. In the mean time, if any of my friends come to town, and have curiosity enough, I shall take it kindly if, on my account, you will allow them an inspection. Perhaps the young gentleman who was with me before, and who is since married to a daughter of the Earl of Carlisle, may have a desire to treat his lady with so noble a sight. I am, good Sir, "Your much obliged humble servant, F. DRAKE." "GOOD SIR, York, Jan. 17, 1749-50. "I am informed by my agent, Mr. Bristow, that you have been so kind as to put a stone into a lapidary's hand to cut a watch-case out of. I give you the trouble of this only to hasten his performance, because the watch-maker wants but the outside to finish and send down the whole machine. The expence I have ordered Mr. Bristow to pay, to whom you please to send for it. I should be glad to know whether the trifles I offered to send you will be acceptable; and when any thing else in your way falls into my hands, you shall be sure to hear of them. I long much to see your very valuable Collection of Nature's choicest curiosities; but, till then, I shall depend on your promise to gratify some of my friends with so fine a sight. I have a son coming up to town this spring, in order to go abroad with a young gentleman; they are both strangers to such sights, but I would have them view at home what, in all probability, they will not meet with abroad. I should be very glad of a line from you by the same conveyance as before; and am, Sir, your most faithful humble servant, F. DRAKE."

To Dr. FRANCIS DRAKE.

"SIR, London, Jan. 30, 1749-50. "I should long ago have wrote you two Letters, had I not from time to time waited to acquaint you of the completion of your desire. I had a fine large beautiful Egyptian pebble cut quite through to obtain a plate as desired, but, when worked, it showed a crack or flaw just where the plate was to be taken. I then proceeded on a large mass of jasper, which was exceeding beautiful and fine, but of so excessive hard a nature, that it would have cost a great deal of money and time. On this disappointment, I worked three different plates of agate, but they proved too brittle or not strong enough for the use intended. I also had some other fine stones worked, but still to no effect. All these proceedings insensibly from day delayed my writing; but now, having with success worked (from my own collection) a

Thomas Duncomb, Esq. of Duncomb Park, Yorkshire; who married Lady Diana, youngest daughter of Henry fourth Earl of Carlisle.

plate