desire to acquire fame was not greater than his endeavour to deserve it; he gained the favour of his prince without flattery, and used that favour to the advantage of his friends, and did not turn it to the uses of pride, avarice, or luxury. I had before read a French translation of these letters, but, I think, Mr. Melmoth's preferable to it: and I was pleased to see the noble Roman in a good English habit. The generality of our English translators work merely for bread, and bring a great writer down to their homely rank; Mr. Melmoth is a gentleman; he was bred to the law, but was too much an admirer of the Muses and polite letters, and left an honourable and gainful profession to retire into the country. But, I suppose, that the world might not think it was done merely through a principle of idleness, he has given them a proof that he has been conversing with the fine geniuses of antiquity. I own it surprizes me to see him dedicate his work to a man who is the very opposite of Pliny, and I was sorry to see names put together

whose characters so ill agree. There is a gentleman of the law to whom these letters might properly have been dedicated.*

I am, Madam,

your Grace's most obedient, and most faithful humble servant,

To the Rev. Mr. Freind.

E. M.

1747:

MY MOST EXCELLENT, BUT MOST

SILENT COUSIN,

IT is the hard hap of many an honest person to be forced to talk of themselves to avoid being forgotten; and, I find, it begins to grow necessary for me to tell you, you have a friend and cousin, Eliza, who lives in Dover-street. I have indeed had the pleasure of hearing from

The Editor believes the person here alluded to, to be the Honourable Charles Yorke.

others that you are well, otherwise I should not have so long delayed making an humble petition for a line to inform me of your health. I hoped long before this time to have been in the country, but Scotch bills, and I know not what, have so delayed us, that the charming youth of the year will be over before I get there. I have been often at Ranelagh and Vauxhall, but I cannot think these favourite summer diversions make up for the neighbourhood of the noisy and dusty Piccadilly. Though I hear people talking from morning to night, I do not remember that they have said any thing worth repeating; and for news I hear not any. The press indeed has produced something of late; Mr. Lyttelton's book receives universal applause. I do not doubt but you have read it before this time, otherwise I would send it to you. Mr. Warburton's Notes on Shakespear are most extraordinary; he seems to proceed by new rules of criticism, and makes Shakespear speak as he prompts him, though ever so wide from his words

or seeming meaning; the word means he changes for medicines, though there is such a difference in the orthography there could hardly be a mistake in the printing; but indeed, according to the vulgar phrase, he too often makes poor Shakespear talk like an apothecary. I have been amusing myself this morning with looking over this noble piece of criticism, and, among many flowers, I have gathered a nosegay, some of which I will send you, as I suppose you have been too wise to buy the book. In Romeo and Juliet, speaking of the friar, Shakespear makes somebody praise his piety, benevolence, &c. and says, this friar the city is much obliged to him; a common, though not elegant manner of speaking, and more common in the province where Shakespear lived the first part of his life; but Mr. Warburton most sagaciously turns it thus: "This friar the city is much obliged to hymn. And to hymn is to laud, and to laud is to praise ;" and so, by incredible pains, and a new verb, he makes you understand the city should

praise the friar. In the Merchant of Venice, when a lady gives her friend joy on her marriage, and wishes her happiness, the lady answers again, "I thank you

for your wish, and am well pleased to wish it back on you." Mr. Warburton says, it should be, "I am well prised to wish it back on you, from the French appris, which means instructed, and that the kind wish teaches her how to be civil," &c. In the same play, old Shakespear says, "Look how the floor of heaven is thick enlayed with patterns of bright gold;" modern Mr. Warburton, "patens of bright gold ;" patens means a border in heraldry, and the lid of a sacramental cup,

I am sorry so many industrious critics have not been able to make sense of one line they have so belaboured as that unhappy one in the song, "Blow, blow, thou winter's wind," which in Shakespear runs thus:

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude;

Thy tooth is not so keen

"Because thou art not seen,"

Altho' thy breath be rude.