time, and doing little. I expected there would be a dissolution; but I understand they are to go on, though upon a more limited plan, while the high price of paper continues. Grainger, however, is to be put off their hands, and my part is nearly ready, when they want it. They are also to take up your Key,' and the Northern Antiquities,' for which I had before made some arrange ments. "W. Scott has undertaken to give a new edition of Swift, and Somers's Tracts, for neither of which he is particularly qualified. But his name is up; the booksellers know the advantage of it. Since Dryden and Marmion, it is rather declining. He sometimes gave an article to the Edinburgh Review; but he thinks himself uncivilly treated in the two last numbers. The article, by Mr. Brougham, on Cevallo's Exposition, has given great offence to the friends of rational liberty and limited monarchy in this country. Lord Woodhouselie told me yesterday that every means would be used by the friends of Government to discountenance the publication, the sale of which amounts to ten thousand copies quarterly. They have all withdrawn their names as subscribers, and Mr. Scott has sent his resignation as a contributor. The English prints have taken up the article, which certainly contains the essence of Jacobinism. We have Sir Brooke Boothby* here, with poems and translations for publication. He is a daily visitor at Heriot's Green, and well acquainted with the literary history of the last forty years. "I hasten to send off my envelopes by this day's post, and will continue my little notices for your amusement another day. My family and your friends here unite in the kindest and most respectful compliments. "I am always, my dear Lord, your most affectionate humble servant, "Ro. ANDERSON." * Sir Brooke Boothby, bart. published a Letter to E. Burke, 8vo. 1791; Observations on the Appeal from the Old to the New Whigs, and Paine's Rights of Man, 8vo. 1792; Sorrows sacred to the memory of Penelope, fol. 1796; Britannicus, from the French of Racine, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1803; Fables and Satires, with a preface on the Æsopian Fable, 2 vols. 8vo. 1809; Series of Elegiac Poems on his Daughter. He died Jan. 23, 1824, in his 80th year. See an account of him in Gent. Mag. 1824, i. 370. Heriot's Green, 28th April, 1809. "MY DEAR LORD, "I have serious oppression on my mind with respect to my tardiness in acknowledging my debt of gratitude to your Lordship for your continued kindnesses. It has ever been esteemed the wisest method between two evils to choose the least. I am now in that predicament; for I must either appear to your Lordship deficient in gratitude, or intrude on you a miserable account of my health, which cannot interest any human being. Such is the difficulty I am reduced to; but I am encouraged by the indulgence your Lordship has shewn me to speak of my infirmities in my own justification. "A most severe catarrhous complaint, that had been hanging about me for a long time, increased so rapidly soon after my last communication with your Lordship, as to threaten pneumon, or inflammation. Vomicæ were supposed to be formed or forming in my lungs; I was oppressed with a troublesome cough, which disturbed my sleep, and disabled me from all mental application. When the excessive severity of the winter yielded to the mild weather of last month, I felt a considerable abatement of the violence of my cough, and my medical friends perceived no remaining symptoms of pulmonic affection. The cold weather of this month has been unfavourable to my recovery, but I have had no serious relapse. When the mild season was more advanced I looked forward to an excursion, to a distant part of the country, to make a trial of change of air and exercise for my recovery, and an event has occurred, a few days ago, which has determined me to visit Ireland; and I need not say that my determination has been influenced, in a great degree, by personal considerations, in which your Lordship has the largest share. Mr. Bourne has invited me to accompany his son to Kildress, so pressingly and so flatteringly, that I have yielded to the wishes of his family; and set out on the journey on the 2nd of next month. I know nothing of our route beyond Belfast; but I suppose it leads us by Dromore, so that I expect to have the pleasure of seeing you about the end of next week. Young Bruce leaves us to-morrow, and takes charge of this note. Poor Mr. Laing has been dangerously ill, of an apoplectic disorder, but I defer any notices of business or literature till I see you. I am always, my dear Lord, yours affectionately, Ro. ANDERSON." "MY DEAR LORD, Mount Collyer, near Belfast, 12 May, 1809. "On my arrival at Belfast on Monday I received your Lordship's very kind and gratifying Letter, through the hands of Dr. Bruce. If I had followed the impulse of my mind, I should have obeyed your most obliging and flattering invitation, and proceeded directly to Dromore House, to pay my personal respects where they are most due. I should also have very willingly taken the liberty you give me to introduce my fellow traveller, who is most desirous to shew you his respect. I thought it better, however, to defer my visit to Dromore House until I had consigned Mr. Bourne to his parents, when I should be less limited with respect to the time of my stay. I have been detained here by civilities which I could not easily decline, and which still press upon me. We set out for Kildress to-day in the coach by Lurgan, Portadown, and as soon as I can contrive the way to return from that place I will give your Lordship notice of it. It is an unknown country I am going to, and I cannot speak with certainty of my route. All your Lordship's friends here speak of you with affectionate respect; a subject highly pleasing to me, who am always, with sincere attachment, your Lordship's most affectionate humble servant, "RO. ANDERSON." "MY DEAR LORD, Kildress, June 6th, 1809. "I sit down with very great concern to inform your Lordship that I have been hindered from having the satisfaction of fixing the time of my leaving the county Tyrone, by an alarming return of the nervous malady of Mr. Bourne's son, my late fellow traveller. "For some time previous to the young gentleman's going to Scotland, he had been subject to the recurrence of epileptic fits, which had been interrupted during the two years he lived in my house. "The malady returned twelve days ago with considerable violence, and has increased so much, that the intervals between the fits for several days have seldom exceeded ten minutes. "When I left Belfast, I expected to accomplish the business which brought me to this place in two weeks; but I feel that I am tied to it by obligations which cannot be broken till a favourable change appear in my young friend's malady, or his sufferings terminate in death; an event to which I look forward at no great distance. "On my journey I had some painful and some pleasing recollections, in passing Masaghlin and Lurgan, at which latter place I met our worthy friend Mr. Stott, whom I was glad to see, and who assured me that your Lordship's health is as good as your friends wish it to be. "An excursion that was planned for me into the county of Fermanagh, to visit the Bishop of Clogher, Dr. Miller, near Lough Erne, is already abandoned; and, as soon as I can with propriety leave this afflicted family, I shall hasten to pay my respects, where they are most due, at Dromore House, where I am sure to find a cordial welcome, refined society, and unpretending friendship. "Meanwhile your Lordship will please to accept my respectful regards, and be good enough to excuse this hasty note from your most affectionate humble servant, "RO. ANDERSON." "Stanzas to the Memory of ROBERT BOURNE, Esq. fourth son of the Rev. Richard Bourne, of Dublin, who died at Kildress, in the county of Tyrone, on the 8th of June 1809, in the 24th year of his age. By DAVID CAREY, ESQ. Author of The Pleasures of Nature,' &c. "He possessed a mind richly imbued with sound learning and Christian principles, joined to great and active benevolence, which could only be exceeded by that of his estimable friend Dr. Robert Anderson, of Edinburgh, author of the Lives of the British Poets,' in whose house he had resided for some time, and who accompanied him on his visit to Ireland. "When the warrior expires on his path of renown The tears of a nation embalm his repose, Tho' Mercy ne'er hallowed and Pity disown The breast that ne'er felt her compassionate throes. "But when Worth, modest Worth, like a star-beam that fell, Is withdrawn to his own empyrean of light, How few, ah, how few! round his cold earthly cell Heave the deep sigh of sorrow, and weep for his flight! "Yet bosoms there are, O! the dearest, the best, (And may heaven on their path shed its loveliest beam!) "And such o'er thy doom, lov'd, unfortunate BOURNE ! "As some bark that has glean'd, as she travers'd the deep, When loud roars the tempest, and deep yawns the grave; "So gaily we saw thee on Life's summer sea, The regions of Science and Fancy explore, Then seek each fond scene dear to Friendship and thee, "When the blooms of thy mind, like the Spring, met the eye, Where the green turf of Erin now covers thy head! "And Friendship his fond ineffectual care Bewails, as he lingers and sighs to depart; And Piety weeps, 'mid her holiest prayer, For a child that was lovely and dear to her heart. ""Tis thus as we journey Life's dark valley through, For love, hope, and joy, find one gulphing abode. "But pass undismay'd, O ye righteous! the bound; "And the cherubim train their glad welcome extending, "Then weep not the pleasures so fading and dear; For the handmaids of Bliss, in yon starry abode, "Stanzas to the Memory of ROBERT BOURNE, Esq. fourth son of the Rev. Richard Bourne, of Dublin, who died at Kildress, in the county of Tyrone, on the 8th of June, 1809, in the 24th year of his age. By MISS STEWART. 'How pleasant was my friend !'-OSSIAN. "Oh! ye who mock the majesty of Heaven, "Turn from yon sepulchre, for ever blest, Where lost Affection sheds a mother's tear! |