time, and formerly; a poetical inscription on a gravestone in the church having recorded Walter Jones, a ' valiant soldier' of Queen Elizabeth's days, who was afterwards at the Isle of Rhée,' and died in 1656, aged upwards of 80.

"I fear my present apology should be for writing at so much length, and introducing a miscellaneous medley, like a Nova Zembla thaw, previously to my acknowledging the honour done me in your Lordship's request of having a second hearing of my pretended address to Mrs. Cumberland. In its present state the readiest reader would be at a loss in attempting to adapt the occasional additions to the remarks which are set down almost at random, without references of distinction, as they chanced to occur, and so hastily, as scarcely to be legible. Your Lordship may be fully assured, that I have strictly complied with your request, and that the communication with which you favoured me, relating to Goldsmith, has at no time gone farther than my own roof; one half only of my family having ever seen the letter itself, which they would not have seen, had I not wished that, before I let it out of my hands, younger eyes might guard me against inaccuracies which might escape my own. We are to expect, I find, a more enlarged account of Mr. Cumberland in Mr. Urban's June Magazine.* By the papers it appears that he died at the house of the attorney, whom he so highly commends in his Supplement as his friendly agent in the care of his grandchildren. I had not heard of his being at all ill, and had so lately met with a review of his Reformer' in Mr. Urban's pages,† that I presumed (as Mr. Nichols certainly did sometime after that number appeared) he was as well as his age could permit. In that anonymous work he did, as he says of his letter to Bp. Lowth, all but tell his name' in publishing that affecting anecdote of his attending on Lord Sackville's last moments (too serious a subject to admit of fiction), after printing it in two different works

* See ample Memoirs of Richard Cumberland, esq. compiled from his own Life, in Gent. Mag. 1811, i. 590-596, 635-640. He died at the house of Mr. Henry Fry, in Bedford-place, Russell-square, May 7, 1811, in his 80th year.

+ In Gent. Mag. 1811, p. 57, is a review of "The Reformer; comprising Twenty-two Essays on Religion and Morality; with an Appendix," 12mo., a work published anonymously by Mr. Cumberland, but pointed out to be his, by Rev. E. Jones, in a letter to Mr. Urban, in p. 207 of the same volume. In this letter Mr. Jones alludes to a former letter of his in Gent. Mag. for 1806, p. 333. In both letters Mr. Jones defends the character of Bishop Lowth.

with his name to each. Some of his Lordship's supposed peculiarities, as pleasantly described in the Memoirs, particularly those improbable ones of his manner at his own church at Drayton, are, I am told, directly contradicted by the aged steward there.* The then Rector mentioned, had been some years dead before the publication. I take the liberty of inclosing a copy of his poetry, written at that place, which happened to reach me at the time, I presume from Mr. Urban's first edition of it, which I do not possess, having commenced taking in that work, and binding it, only (as I told Mr. Nichols, when I saw him in Leicestershire,) from what my Kettering bookseller calls in his catalogue' the date of Mr. Nichols's Improvement,' that was, from sixpence to a shilling in 1783. In that edition it is given auctior, but not for the sake of complimenting Lowth, and, I presume, intended to be emendatior, corrected, if not complimented by himself.

"In Mr. Cumberland's late short-lived Review he could not refrain from a sneer at Bishop Lowth, when on the subject of Bishop Hurd's Letters; though he went out of his way' to do it, no circumstance whatever giving occasion for it. He there too speaks of Bishop Warburton's' admitting him into his acquaintance for only mentioning him with respect in a pamphlet ;' which evidently owed its origin to the Bishop's previous compliment to him in return for his presentation copy of the Banishment of Cicero, six years after the date of its publication. He possibly received a present of the Controversial Pamphlets in return; which, though completed in 1765, fell into his hands no earlier than a few days ago,' in 1767, the date of the Bishop's complimentary letter on the Play. EDWARD JONES."

Sir RICHARD MUSGRAVE † to Bishop PERCY.

"MY LORD, Clonfert, Feb. 28, 1808. "I arrived here on the 22d. This country is a downright contrast to the county of Down, being thinly inhabited, and having but few Protestants. The Shannon expands itself so much here, that it appears like a continuation of large lakes. Large bodies of the military are quartered here; and I am sorry to inform your Lordship, that some serious attempts to seduce them from their allegiance have been recently discovered. Some of the

His addressing the preacher from his pew during the sermon, if he approved the argument.-J. M.

† See Literary Illustrations, vol. VII. 817, 827; VIII. 38.

persons guilty of these practices have assured the soldiers that they expect the French here next April.

"The Bishop of Clonfert * received a letter, dated the 13th instant, from the Bishop of Salisbury,† in which he says 'That Jezebel Joanna Southcott is a most notorious impostor, and for some time contrived to gain a subsistence in Devonshire by her impostures; but at length she was expelled by the magistrates. It is universally wished that the Bishop of Worcester, in whose diocese the Reverend Mr. Foley lives, would proceed against him; but it is much to be feared that, at his very advanced period of life, he will not take any measures against him.' The Bishop of Salisbury says, that the King enjoys very good health at present, and gives striking indications of great strength of mind. His Majesty lately kept the Bishop nearly two hours in conversation.

"This country is singularly well supplied with fish, though it is twenty-five miles from Galway, whence it is brought; and there is a great supply of fuel here, as the turbaries on every side are inexhaustible. The Grand Canal terminates at Shannon Harbour, about three miles above Banagher; and there it is connected with the Limerick Navigation, by means of a lock. Shannon Harbour is about three miles from Clonfert by crossing the river, but six by going round by Banagher. There are many batteries on the river Shannon, to guard such parts of it as are fordable in the summer. I am much amused in observing the striking difference between the inhabitants of Galway and Down, in their features, figure, and apparel. I shall return to Dublin about the middle of next week, where I hope to have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Meade, in the happiness of whose dear family I am very warmly interested. With best wishes for them, I have the honour to be, your Lordship's faithful and obedient servant, RICHARD MUSGRAVE.

Mr. CATNACH to Bishop PERCY.

"MY LORD, Alnwick, Northumberland, April 5, 1808. "Having had the patronage of her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland in publishing an elegant edition of the 'Hermit of Warkworth,' (wrote by your Lordship,) with designs by Mr. Craig, and engraved on wood by the cele

* Dr. Butson. See before, p. 374.

Bishop Hurd died May 28, 1808, aged 88. vol. VII. 191, 599; and Literary Illustrations, Gent. Mag. 1808, pp. 562, 653, 702, 869.

+ Bp. Douglas.

See Literary Anecdotes, General Index; see also

brated Mr. Bewick, of Newcastle, I have taken the liberty to send your Lordship a copy of the impression, humbly hoping your Lordship will accept it as a tribute of esteem. The Reliques of Ancient Poetry,' compiled by your Lordship, being now out of print, I humbly request permission to reprint them, with an entire new type, on demy 8vo, to correspond with Scott's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border," in 3 vols. to which engravings would be added, done in the same manner as those annexed; which would render it an elegant edition. Should it not be asking too much of your Lordship, if there are any alterations your Lordship has made, or would wish to make, I would be proud to receive them. An answer from your Lordship, as soon as convenient, would confer a lasting obligation on your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant, JOHN CATNACH.”

Rev. Dr. WILLIAM BRUCE * to Bishop PERCY. "MY LORD, Belfast, April 6, 1808. "On Mr. Robinson's return, I was anxious to receive some account of your Lordship's health, and what resources compensated for the weakness of your sight; and I was happy to hear that you not only enjoyed good general health, but were able in a great measure to alleviate that calamity, so grievous to a literary man. Among other things, he informed me that you amused yourself and your friends with a variety of the remains of those distinguished characters of the last generation, with whom your Lordship lived in such long and habitual intimacy. Upon this, it occurred to me that perhaps your Lordship would have no objection to favour the world with some pieces from this collection, and possibly with some original traits from your Lordship's pen, if you were furnished with a suitable vehicle: and as the Belfast Literary Society is on the point of publishing its first Fasciculus, I shall take the liberty of explaining to your Lordship the constitution and plan of that society. If your Lordship shall think it worthy of your Lordship's patronage, and shall do me the honour of employing me in that business, I shall execute your Lordship's commands with fidelity and zeal; otherwise your Lordship will excuse this liberty, and accept of this letter as a piece of literary news.

* Dr. Bruce kept an academy at Belfast. See Literary Illustrations, vol. VII. p. 168, 200.

"Our Society has subsisted for nearly eight years, and assembled eight months in every year. At these meetings, beside a variety of extra and voluntary memoirs, and a discourse from the president at the opening and close of every session, the members delivered stated discourses in their turns. By Dr. Cupples and Mr. Joy we were favoured with a mass of curious and valuable information concerning the civil history of Ulster. Dr. M'Dowell's Discourses abounded with geological and mineralogical knowledge. Dr. Stephenson brought forward a great store of information on the antiquities, natural history, manufactures, and statistics of this country. Mr. Drummond, besides other papers, submitted to us his MSS. of Trafalgar; a translation, in rhyme, of the first book of Lucretius, now in the press in Edinburgh; and a poem on the Causeway, &c. not yet ready for publication. I contributed my mite of classical literature; and several other members favoured us with miscellaneous essays. On the whole, we can command such a number of interesting papers as, we think, warrant us in commencing authors and our first Fasciculus is actually in the press, to be printed very elegantly in 4to. It contains a Memoir from our friend Dr. Richardson; a Relation of an Aërostatic Voyage, to ascertain the operation of Magnetism, and the composition of the atmosphere at great elevations, read to the French Institute, and transmitted to us by our member, the Secretary to the American Legation at Paris; and a Treatise on the Linen Trade, particularly its machinery, and the process of bleaching, by Dr. Stephenson.

Beside the contributions of the members, I have hopes that all the ingenious or literary people in this country will avail themselves of this opportunity of communicating the result of their studies and experience to the public; and I am sure nothing can contribute so effectually to this purpose as the sanction of your Lordship's example. "I have the honour to be, with great respect, your Lordship's faithful humble servant, WILLIAM BRUCE."

Mr. Justice DALY* to Bishop PERCY.

"MY LORD, Downpatrick, April 19, 1808. "I had the honour of receiving your Lordship's letter

* Rt. Hon. St. George Daly, serjeant-at-law 1799, Baron of the Exchequer 1801, and Justice of the King's Bench 1803. He retired in March,