but, as far as tenderness can make amends for this disparity, I know myself entitled to her. Her fortune could be no temptation. A Doctor of Physic who had 2007. a-year, independent of practice, could never be tempted by the paltry consideration of 1000l. currency, and three or four negroes. Of course I did not, indeed I could not marry her for bread. Some little regard therefore should be shown to one who acted so disinterestedly. But I forgot you live in London, and at times frequent the Court; of consequence, you must think meanly of the disinterested. Your interest is no doubt much for your wishing her happiness in a married state. Had it been more cordial, perhaps it would have been not more sincere. But, Sir, who told you that the match was of Daniel's* making? I courted her with the privacy of her mother, and married her with that lady's approbation, with the approbation of your brother Charles, and all your relations here. If, therefore, the match is less prosperous than you could wish, the poor soul is not solely to be blamed. But, for heaven's sake! whence is it that you all of a sudden have become so deeply concerned? When did you ever behave to her with fraternal generosity before? Did you not always make a distinction between Miss Burt and her. In what respect was Miss Burt superior? When I ask the question, I think highly of Miss Burt; perhaps not so highly as you do. I am informed you generously made Daniel some presents when in England. They were few, they were trifling. Draw upon me for them, and I will with more pleasure honour your drafts than ever you received a bill of sales greatly in your favour. But you was not consulted! you, the eldest brother, who have been president of St. Kitt's, who have an estate in England, who was agent upon a West India expedition! But notwithstanding all these sounding titles, neither your sister nor I saw any reason for delaying our nuptials till we had your sanction. And, Sir, as we married without your participation, we hope always to live in a genteel way, even though you have withdrawn your countenance. While I enjoy my health, I shall be never reduced so low as to solicit a favour from you. May God, of his infinite mercy, grant that none of mine may ever be brought to that dreadful necessity! And may the same God grant, that I may never have it in my power to show you or yours, how little revenge is an ingredient in my nature! If in my letter I insinuated that my brother might have objections, may I not be excused for that insinuation? One who had been a parent to me, and who can leave me 5 or 6000l. had a right to be consulted before I disposed of myself in marriage. On whose side now may objections be started? Were I to die to-morrow, your sister would not be the poorest widow in your family. Perhaps by her marriage she bettered her small fortune as much as some of her sisters. Comparisons are odious, but I must put you in mind of Mrs. Coles. It would indeed be madness in me, as you politely call it, to think of quitting physic. I never dreamt of it; they therefore are to be deemed mad into whose head that conceit first entered. Your sister at present lives like a gentlewoman. She has every thing her heart desires,— have Duchesses more? Have some with whom you are intimately connected as much? While I live, her circumstances may grow better, can hardly grow bad. Should I die, I shall leave her and her family to an all merciful Providence, not to William Burt. You insinuate as if my giving up an annuity of 2001. for life would be greatly compensated by your family. For your family I have the greatest esteem, but you must pardon me if I add that the large share of business I have had since I came to St. Kitt's was owing to my success, and not to their recommendation. Several of your relations have employed me, and would they not have employed any other man whom they thought would have done them more justice? Mr. Daniel Mathew has indeed ordered his attorney to let me have the care of his estates. I am obliged to that gentleman for it, but he also is obliged to me for accepting it. But what have you done? What estate have I had by your recommendation? If I had consulted you upon the place where I should settle, it plainly appears by your letter that I ought not. Had you been greatly interested for your sister's welfare, you would have answered that part of mine in less than .... months. Indeed I did not wait for your answer. I found I was a better judge of the matter than you at least in Europe could be. I have no reason to repent of my determination; a few years will make me, if not as rich as the heir of Goat Hill, at least able to enjoy myself without the drudgery of business, and without being the sycophant of greatness. It entirely depends upon yourself on what footing we are hence forward to live. If you behave civilly to me, I shall treat you with politeness; if you choose to declare war, nec Bella detracto. At all events, know you are not to give yourself any insolent airs of superiority with me, for, by God! I would sail from the New World to do myself justice. However meanly you have presumed to think of me, the King has given me a right to wear a sword, and God has given me courage to use it." (The above is a copy of a rough draught of a letter in the handwriting of Dr. James Grainger, without date. It is written on two slips of paper, previously mutilated, with numerous abbreviations and contractions, which have been carefully supplied. Ro. ANDERSON, Nov. 29, 1804.) "To the Rev. Mr. Percy, Easton Mauduit.” Dr. GRAINGER to the Rev. T. PERCY. "MY DEAREST FRIEND, Basseterre, Jan. 16, 1761. "I am just now informed that a vessel sails from this port to-morrow, and, though I am pretty much hurried with business, I could not omit that opportunity of thanking you for your very kind letter, and the present that accompanied it. I have read the Odes [to Obscurity and Oblivion, by Bob Lloyd,* &c.] with uncommon satisfaction, and hope they will produce a proper change in the future compositions of Mason and Gray. I ever thought those gentlemen, especially in their lyric performances, too obscure; indeed, I have read some of their stanzas which were so poetical as scarcely to be sense. Pindar, in my opinion, is a bad model. He was not always intelli gible to his countrymen, and perhaps his two great imitators are a strong proof of the Pindarum quisquis, &c. of Horace. "Depend upon it the 'Fragments' [published by Macpherson] are not translated from the Erse; there is not one local or appropriated image in the whole. I once passed (for I cannot say I lived) twelve months in the wildest part of the Highlands. The author, however, is a man of genius. Muretus's deception † was scarcely more ingenious. "Mrs. Grainger desires her affectionate compliments to • Robert Lloyd was born in 1733, and died Dec. 15, 1764. The two Odes here spoken of, says Mr. Lloyd, were written in concert with a friend, the author of "A Jealous Wife [Colman]." They are printed in Lloyd's Works. + This deception of Muretus was in some Latin verses which he sent to Scaliger as ancient, and which Scaliger believed to be so. Mrs. Percy, as does Miss Grainger to Miss Percy. I shall write you a long letter by the fleet, and till then am truly your "JAS. GRAINGER. "My compliments to Mr. Shenstone, Binnel, &c. &c." "Basseterre, June 5, 1761. "Sterne's ravings [Tristram Shandy] I have read, and have as often swore as smiled at them. I never relished Rabelais, it was ever too highly relished for me. I cannot therefore admire his shatter-brained successor. "Hurd's Dialogues I have seen, but I never suspected they were his. "Lord Lyttelton's are worthy of him; he seems, however, to be a better writer than companion. He never said anything more true than that no money ought to be spared to purchase felicity. "I have given you already my opinion of the Erse Fragments; they want the characteristic manners of barbarous antiquity; they, however, are exquisite modern pieces, and the schoolmaster has genius. "The sooner your brother* comes the better; he will not long be out of employment. Mrs. Grainger joins me in love to you and yours, and am, my dear friend, most affectionately yours, "JAS. GRAINGER." "MY DEAR FRIEND, Basseterre, June 5, 1762. "It is now past ten at night, and though I am heartily tired with the business of the day, which, by-the-by, has been one of the hottest I ever felt since I came to the West Indies, yet, as the fleet certainly sails to-morrow forenoon, I am determined to encroach an hour or two upon my rest to fill up this sheet. In the first place I am to thank you for your present to Mrs. Grainger and my little girl. Both received them in the manner so much obligingness deserved; and as Louise can send Miss Percy no literary productions from her native island, she has only been able to thank your daughter with a pot of sweetmeats, which she hopes will please her palate as much as the pictures and fine print have done hers. You will please to observe that the sweetmeats, with a pot of pickled peppers, and a bottle of Cayon butter, which my wife desires Mrs. Percy to accept of, have been sent to Mr. Luard, to whom you must write your directions how they are to be forwarded to you. * Mr. Anthony Percy; he died Nov. 7, 1795, æt. 64. "I was greatly disappointed at your brother's not coming out this year. I had secured a place for him with the most eminent merchant in this island, which, though it was far from being equal to his deservings, or my own inclinations to serve him, yet, as it would have put him in the way of advancing himself, I am sorry his friends thought it not advisable to accept of; they, no doubt, are the best judges what would be of most advantage to him; yet I must observe to you that there is at present, and, unless a scoundrelly peace is made, there will be still greater opportunities for a young man who knows business, and can be industrious, to advance his fortune. If at any time afterwards your brother should find it to his advantage to come to this country, he may always depend upon my friendship, and till he can better provide for himself my house and table shall be at his service. "I have the pleasure to acquaint you (for you who are married and have children can never think the anecdotes of the nursery impertinent) that my little girl has happily got over all the disorders incident to infants. The small pox were lately very frequent and fatal here, and, as I was obliged to be constantly with the infected, I found myself under a necessity of inoculating Louise, although she was then teething. Thank God, my compelled rashness produced no bad consequence, for though she had an incredible number of pustules yet she happily recovered, and her looks (no small consolation to a parent) have received no unfavourable impression. Poor child, both she and I have lately met with a dreadful loss. Her grandmother is dead. As she was one of the best women I ever had the happiness of knowing, and was uncommonly fond of my child, you will casily believe my concern. has left Louise a thousand pounds sterling when she comes of age, and myself a handsome legacy; but what are pecuniary advantages to the loss of so sincere and affectionate a friend? She "I hope you, my dear friend, have met with no losses of this kind, and that your children (for you write me you have two) have had the small pox. If they have not, pray let them be inoculated. "I am sorry to tell you that I can be of no service to you in either of your schemes as to the illustrating Don Quixote, or getting you Indian poetry.* The Knight of This passage gives glimpes of Mr. Percy's studies and literary projects at this period, |