of the three most ancient; the second, a MS. of the ninth century,) because he finds that they preserve the readings of Origen's celebrated edition made in the third century. The Testament of Beza (marked D by Wetstein) he considers as preserving the readings of an edition equally ancient, but made in the West; for he finds this to agree best with the Western Fathers and the Western Versions, as the former do with the Eastern Fathers and Versions. And he concludes that the most ancient, and probably the true readings, are those where D agrees with the two first mentioned, as this agreement can arise only from the original, common to all three. Now of such readings the number is very great in our MS.; and I might almost venture to say, that, where all those agree with each other, it does everywhere agree with them. In the nineteenth chapter, Wetstein gives, within the compass of about two verses, five readings of Origen, and four of them are found in our MS. It agrees equally well in other places also. It has also not a few, I believe, hitherto unobserved. "When your Lordship comes to town, I shall do myself the pleasure to wait on you, and hope to be able to produce a complete transcript of the whole; and am, my Lord, your most obedient, humble servant, "J. BARRETT." 1787. Sir JOSEPH BANKS* to Bp. PERCY. "MY LORD, Soho Square, June 24, 1787. "My friend, Mr. Kirwan, † whose literary pursuits and whose success, especially in the chemical line, are known and acknowledged through all Europe, having expressed a wish to be introduced to the literati of Ireland, I have taken the liberty to request your Lordship's good opinion of him, confident that, on acquaintance, you will find him, as I have done in a long acquaintance, much to be esteemed both as a gentleman and a man of letters. I have the honour to be, your Lordship's faithful servant, "Jos. BANKS." This eminent patron of literature died June 19, 1820, in his 80th year. See a memoir of him in Gent. Mag. XC. i. 574, 637; notices of him in Literary Anecdotes, VII. 20, 509; Literary Illustrations, General Index; and a list of his writings in Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica, p. 69. + Richard Kirwan, esq. of Gregg, co. Galway, F.R.S. President of the Dublin Irish Academy, President of the Dublin Literary Society, and member of almost every literary society of Europe, died in Dublin June 22, 1812. See an account of him in Gent. Mag. LXXXII. ii. 198. THOMAS PERCY,* Esq. to Bishop PERCY. My HONOURED Lord, Epping Forest, August 8, 1787. "Your kindness made you forgive the fewness of my letters, when I was in ill health and spirits; now I am better in both, it will excuse me, though, by way of atonement, I should fall into the other extreme. I am now at home for the long vacation, and, as I shall have a great deal of time on my hands, I wish to submit my economy of it to your opinion. The more I think upon such subjects, the more I am persuaded that the most useful studies are also the most necessary; and that this rule may be extended even to poetry, which is many degrees further than the generality of mankind do extend it. The vulgar idea of a poet, is a man who must read, write, and be fit for nothing but poetry; he must mind to have something poetically singular in his dress, to keep his books and papers in places where it is impossible to find them, and, as he values his reputation, not to know a word that is said in a room full of company. Upon what principle can this be founded? I fear, upon the very absurd one, that common sense is incompatible with poetry. And yet this same poet is less abstracted than he would be thought, or would perhaps think himself: he can search out a rhyme, or a word with a certain number of syllables, as mechanically as a merchant casts up a sum in his counting-house. When the fit is off, he can mend his pen, and trace out a fairer copy for his friends with abundant composure; and probably he will find phlegm enough to regulate the commas and points in the tedious corrections of the press. If then he can descend from his visionary heaven in so many instances, what should hinder him from getting a little earthly knowledge? The study of the world might furnish him with characters; that of natural philosophy would certainly enlarge his conceptions; that of logic discriminate his ideas; and even the seemingly unpromising mathematics, contribute some propriety and unity to his conceptions. The conversations which I have had on this subject with Mr. Croft * have left me in this opinion, and indeed never found me in a very opposite one. He has kindly given me a few memoranda concerning my pursuits in this vacation. A principal one * Nephew of Bishop Percy, afterwards D.D. See Literary Illustrations, vol. VII. pp. 54, 192. Probably the Rev. Herbert Croft, afterwards Baronet. See portrait, memoir, and letters, of him in Literary Illustrations, vol. V. p. 202-218. is to be arithmetic, of which I should take shame to myself to be longer ignorant; for all my knowledge at present goes no further than addition and a little of subtraction. When I left Merchant Taylors' School, I had been so little in the habit of Latin verse as scarcely to be able to write ten hexameter lines. At Oxford I saw that one of the principal honours of the place was only to be gained by a very perfect and classical acquaintance with it. Since the improvement of my health I have made Virgil my pocket-book, and have succeeded so far as to find my ear attuned to his harmony, and my thoughts rather more easily adapted to his expression. The last copy of verses I gave up pleased my tutor so well that he advised me to cultivate a turn for Latin poetry, with a view to the prize. Mr. Croft has added his encouragement. Much is indeed to be done, but yet in such a cause I would be content to do much. He advises me to make myself intimately acquainted with Virgil in preference to all the other Latin poets; and this advice I intend to follow unremittingly all this vacation, and in a great degree till the subject for the prize be given out, which will be in next February. This attention is not to exclude other designs. I am to read with care whilst at home an abridgment of Locke's Essay, and to form an abridgment for myself of Watts's Improvement of the Mind. I wish to pay some attention to my handwriting, and, if I can, improve it by writing carefully. This is the outline of the plan I have received from Mr. Croft, and I hope to have resolution enough, as I am sure I have inclination, to pursue whatever may be judged necessary, even were it less pleasant than the greater part of these intentions appears to be. "I beg my kind respects to my aunt and cousins, and am, my honoured Lord, with the truest respect and gratitude, your Lordship's obliged and affectionate nephew, "THO. PERCY." Dr. STOCK to Bishop PERCY. Lusk, Oct. 20, 1787. "MY LORD, "I beg to express my earnest thanks for the great trouble your Lordship has given yourself in sending me Joseph Stock, D.D. Bishop of Killala. He published "The Book of the Prophet Isaiah in Hebrew and English; the Hebrew text metrically arranged; the translation altered from that of Bishop Lowth," 1804, 4to.-"The Book of VOL. VIII. S so much valuable information. Nothing certainly is more wanting to the right statement of our business with the Dissenters than the Census your Lordship mentions; and of which you have set a precedent in your diocese. One strong fact outweighs a multitude of plausible arguments; and I am convinced, if the Bishops will be pleased to follow your Lordship's example in this investigation, the event will turn out most favourable to our cause. I mean to apply immediately to the Bishops of Cloyne and Waterford, with whom if I succeed, as to obtaining the numbers of their dissenting congregations, I may then proceed to the other prelates. Sleater's Abstract, I should think, would be improved by your Lordship's hint, which I shall mention to him. Robinson's and Priestley's papers I shall hope to see, when you come next to town: at present I am very busy with Tacitus. I dread a reply from Dr. Campbell, not because I fear his reasoning, but that I am really too much engaged in other business to give much of my time to controversy. The college wants this edition of Tacitus very much, copies of that author being exceedingly scarce here. Yet I did step aside into the paths of controversy, very lately, with a writer who calls himself an Unbiassed Irishman. The dispute began with an attack from him on my private character. I answered in Sleater: he replied, and in part recanted, in the Hibernian. Two private letters have since passed between us; and the affair ended with his declaring himself quite satisfied with me; and that he should not in future readily entertain any opinion unfavourable to Dr. Stock. Soft words do much I wish none else had ever fallen from the advocates of our cause. Who this unbiassed Irishman is, I really am ignorant; but he possesses abilities, and a better style than any other writer on that side. I have got from London a neat copy, at your Lordship's service, of the Sufferings of the Quakers.' My friend Malone tells me, he will see my Pamphlet reprinted by Cadell: there is no talk here of its coming to another edition. JOSEPH STOCK." Job, metrically arranged, according to the Massora, and newly translated into English; with Notes, and accompanied by the authorised English Version," Bath, 4to, 1805. Dr. Stock, Bishop of Waterford, to which see he had been promoted, died Aug. 13, 1813, aged 77. He was an excellent scholar, and much esteemed for his urbanity of manners. He was Bishop of Killala at the time the French landed. General Humbert established his head-quarters at the Bishop's Palace, and took his Lordship's family as hostages. Bishop Stock wrote a narrative of the proceedings, the language and sentiment of which display great philanthropy, candour, and liberality. THOMAS STOTT, Esq. * to Bishop PERCY. Nov. 27, 1787. "MY LORD, "The bearer takes back the volume of newspapers with the other book you were so good to lend me. In return, I have to beg your Lordship's acceptance of the inclosed verses and my best thanks. You will perceive they allude to some others I formerly wrote on the same subject, and are designed, in some measure, as a counterpart to them. "I am very respectfully, your Lordship's obliged and very humble servant, "THO. STOTT." CARMEN DROMORIENSE, CREDITOR. But now she drops the mask, and, undisguised, In vain attempts to captivate the heart; To thee each house and hamlet owes its charm, -But stop, my Muse, the fond digressive lay, See ancient Lagan from his oozy bed * See Literary Illustrations, vol. VII. p. 174. |