Mr. GOUGH to the Rev. JOHN COWPER *. 1. "DEAR COWPER, Enfield, Oct. 7, 1767. "I presume your letter was sealed by my seal; but am I or Stevens to blame that the crest is a lion when it should be a boar's head in fess couped Argent, devouring a broken spear Gules. I am certain I told him so. I must trouble you to remonstrate with him on the subject, and if the steel is case-hardened, and no alteration can be made, I think the error is so material that he ought to correct it in a new seal. The lion in the middle should have been passant guardant, whereas it is only passant; this I knew corrected in a seal cut in London. "I beg your pardon ten thousand times for distressing your modesty so miserably, but I have been waiting, first to hear from you, secondly to get a copy of the Catullus more suitable to the other Paris editions which you have, thirdly to collect the other books which I promised should accompany it, which had been lent to different people; the inference from all this is, that they shall all wait on you soon, and I do not intend to cheat you of any of them. I have found the History of the Lower Empire you spoke of; it is by Mr. Le Beau, beginning with Constantine, and carried down hitherto in six volumes; but there will be more the dates are 1758-60-62. "Haistwell has sent me no answer to repeated letters. I spent some days with Forster, on my return home. Success attend all your lawful undertakings. Compliments to the Society. I shall be glad to hear from you again, and am "Yours sincerely, R. GOUGH. "You will oblige me in reminding Mr. Gunning of Carter, whom he was to recommend to the Master of St. John's if he could get a few subscriptions to his book." 2. "DEAR COWPER, Nov. 13, 1762. "I trouble you for the last time to set Stevens at work again on my Seal, having got the arms and crest settled as follows: Gules, on a fess Argent, between three boars' heads couped Or, a lion passant Azure. Crest, on a wreath, a boar's head Argent, in the cheek an arrow Gules. "Yours truly, 3. "DEAR COWPER, R. GOUGH." June 24, 1763, "The Seals I duly received this day, on my return from a visit to Ben Forster at Chelmsford. He has wrote to you on a late occasion†, on which I joined my congratulations with his, Of this excellent young man and of his brother William, the celebrated Poet, see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. III. p. 743; vol. Ív. P. 615. + Mr. Cowper's having been elected a Fellow of C. C. C. C. and again repeat them, together with my acknowledgements for the trouble you have taken on my account. "Haistwell has written me two very entertaining Relations de ses Voyages. He is now on his way to the Spa; and is to be directed to a la poste a Bruxelles. He has rummaged every corner of Paris and the Paraclete, but with the unspeakable mortification of being denied a sight of the intima Penetralia, where the remains of the illustrious lovers rest in peace. I had set my face towards the North this summer, but a favourable opportunity having offered, I turned to the West. I salute you and all friends from my stationer's shop under the Royal Exchange *. "Yours sincerely, 4. "DEAR COWPER, R. GOUGH." Dec. 1, 1766. "I hope I have not tired your patience, but I now send, or at least order my bookseller to send, you' Abregé de l'Histoire d'Espagne,' &c.; and d'Allemagne,' new; the first costs 12s. 6d. ; the other, 58. 6d. I venture likewise to send Lacombe's 'Histoire abregè du Nord,' 10s. 6d., from Davies's Catalogue, where in Paris binding it is as cheap, as new in boards. I recommend that catalogue to your perusal for Italian books. There is one more of these abridgements for Italy, in four volumes duodecimo, price, sewed, £1. 5s. In the certain hope of meeting with you in town, ere long, I remain "Your assured friend, 5. "DEAR COWPER, R. GOUGH." Enfield, July 12, 1768. "Did you receive the few hints about Apollonius Rhodius I inserted in a letter to Haistwell, while you were in town. I have just looked over a catalogue of the Riccardi library at Florence (Wright's Travels, p. 424), where is mentioned a good MS. of him with useful unedited scholia. The catalogue is in folio, 1756. Perhaps you may find it among the new books in the Public Library. If you think the MS. worth pursuing, I will apply to a friend who is going the tour of Italy to consult it for you, or to establish a correspondence with somebody there for that purpose. I must trouble you to be my banker for Moor and Woodyer, and to keep an exact account of the sums disbursed, that we may settle then. I am yours sincerely, R. GOUGH. "The Oxford Theocritus is expected this winter. One Pemberton, of Oriel, is publishing the greater apothegms of Plutarch, and another Oxford meditates a new edition of Polybius. There is just come out a shilling pamphlet, entitled Taλia μvoμaxia from a Bodleian MS. falsely ascribed to Lucian, without notes or translation. I wish you success in your endeavours to revive classical literature among us. Brotier's Tacitus, on the plan of Olivet's Tully goes on successfully. He is exempted in the general expulsion of the Jesuits from France on account of it. *See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VIII. p. 565. + Ibid. p. 565. VOL. V. 6. "DEAR COWPER, Enfield, 1769. "I send you Piersoni Verisimilia,' which you enquired after for Apollonius Rhodius, whom he seems to illustrate only obiter, ut loqui solent eruditi. I wish I could see or hear something satisfactory of the researches about that ancient author. You promised much, but at present your intentions seem to be but in the bud. I would they might pullulate still further, till they get into a virescent state, and then bring forth fair and goodly fruit, pleasant to the eye, and delectable to the taste, as the apples and pears of the good King of Kepxupa's garden. I take it that boasted orchard was neither so snug nor so well provided with conveniencies as that at Corpus Christi College. My prospects about the Florentine MS. are yet uncertain. I have not seen my friend since I wrote to you in the summer. "Pray let me know if I could have a bed at the Old House next commencement, without paying three guineas, if I should not be able to overcome my appetite for an Installation Dinner.* "Take care of E. Haistwell, who this time twelvemonth was not at all right as to health. It is a puling season. "I am yours sincerely, 7. "DEAR COWPER, R. GOUGH." June 24, 1769. "I depend on your care and friendship for a place to lay my head in among you next week. If the room destined for me is stript of its furniture, you were to let me know. Taking, therefore, the favourable side of the question for granted, if you do not write to me in Winchester-street, by Tuesday's post, I shall hope to see you at C. C. C. on Friday. If my beast cannot find as good accommodation as myself at Tom Brown's, or in some other caravanzera of equal repute, I shall be in a hole another way. But in all situations your sincere friend and obedient servant, R. GOUGH." Enfield, July 17, 1769. 8. "DEAR COWPER, "I intend being in town on Wednesday, and calling on you as much before two as an engagement in Grosvenor-street at twelve will admit. I shall devote the hour of dinner to you and the London-tavern. I am determined to call on you that day, so that if you see me not by two, or half-after, as I fully intend, you may reckon on seeing me before evening, as I go out of town that evening. 'I have made some way in Apollonius with variations, but should I not collate with a third later edition, or how shall I know the difference? Lest I should forget it, pray at your return look at the Strabo, lib. a. 12, ad. 22, MSS. in our Public Library, No. 2271 in Cat. M's'tor. Ang. & Hib. Yours sincerely, *See before, p. 315. R. GOUGH." 9. "DEAR COWPER, Enfield, Sept. 18, 1769. "I was not a little surprised to receive the last part of the History of Norfolk back in a parcel, from Moor, with a note that he was desired to return it, as the Bursar had procured one before. Is not this the very copy you procured when we met in town two months ago? I received it at the end of that week, directed to me for Bene't College; and, if you recollect, you said I might have the previous perusal of it. You must therefore relieve me out of my perplexity, as I am not a subscriber, and shall have a piece of a book to pay for. If you clear up the mystery by return of post, and would have it sent once more to C.C. C. C. it shall be accompanied with Apollonius as soon as I can transcribe the various readings, for I have gone through the text, and as to the Scholia, as far as I have gone, I find no variation from the oldest so as to make me think A. or S. had any new MSS. If the aforesaid history is not to be returned, I will send the old Grecian in time to save you from the Library penalty. I am just returned from a Western tour; hope you have been agreeably entertained among the Cambro-British, or wherever else you have been journeying. Haistwell has made his appearance on the stand at York races, somewhat emulating the Stella invita that all the world wonders after. Compliments to all friends, from yours sincerely, R. GOUGH." Mr. GOUGH to the Rev. WILLIAM COLMAN *. "I am sorry to address myself to you on so melancholy an occasion as the death of my friend Mr. Cowper, and to beg your interest with his brother, to whom I am quite unknown, for two or three of his books if he intends parting with any of them. In his valuable library he will probably find some inscribed as gifts from me, viz. a Paris Edition of Catullus, Tibullus et Propertius; Piersoni Verisimilia; and one or two French abridgements of the History of the Northern and other nations of Europe. These I should be glad to have as memorials of our friendship; and if he thinks of parting with any others, would willingly take them at the bookseller's valuation. There is likewise an interleaved copy of Hoeltzlinus's Edition of Apollonius Rhodius, which I could like much to have. I am sensible the proposal is of a delicate nature; and I submit it entirely to you. "Mr. Haistwell would be glad to share with me in the purchase of any books that may be designed for sale. "I am with my respects to the Master, and compliments to all friends, dear Sir, your faithful servant, R. GOUGH." * At that time Principal, and afterwards Master, of Bene't College See the Third Volume of these "Illustrations," p. 713. Mr. GOUGH to the Rev. MICHAEL TYSON*. 1. SIR, Enfield, Dec. 6, 1768. "Last Wednesday night we had such an incessant rain from the north-east that the country all round us was laid under water. The high road from Cheshunt turnpike to Tottenham was one continued sea. The water run over Maiden bridge, which is the bridge, you may remember, where you had the apothecary's advice, and opposite to which is Mr. Breton's cascade. This cascade is across a brook that rises in the Chace, and on such sudden rain swells to such a height at the bottom of Clay-hill, beyond Mr. Crank's, that no communication can be carried on by carriages or foot passengers, the bridge for the convenience of the latter being inaccessible at both ends. After this stream has passed the cascade, which, at such times, it nearly covers, besides forcing a way through the park pales and banks, it pours down a deep bed like that of a river to Enfield Wash, carrying down so much sand as to make the Wash doubly dangerous. I was down there about eleven, and saw the Buntingford carrier's little cart and two horses stuck in the sands. The foremost horse had fallen down and covered the boy that rode him, so that he narrowly escaped being smothered: however he got the horse loose to shore, and a man mounted him and went in again to the cart. By dint of drubbing, and swearing, and hallooing, the cart was got nearer the shore, but more into the sand: both horses had several falls, but by the lightness of the load recovered themselves. At last the saddle of the fore-horse broke, down came horse and rider, the man wading up to his middle led out the cart, but the saddle, with the boy's hat, was carried down into the marshes. Two men went in and got out the pad, but I do not hear the rest were recovered. The awkward obstinacy of the country fellows is such, on these occasions, that they take ten times the trouble they need, and get well sopped into the bargain. This whole scene gave me a faint idea of a shipwreck on the coast of Devonshire or Cornwall. I conducted a horseman over some fields, by which he avoided part of the water, but when he passed into the road again, the sides are so much below the middle that the water came over his horse's back. There has been water in every cellar in the Street, a thing never known here. Several lanes leading to the Chace were like little rivers. I am told forty head of cattle are lost in our marsh, and a man or two. Salmon's Brook was so high and rapid that the coaches were forced to go round by Southgate, and I am told Silver-street was as bad. In short it greatly exceeded the sudden swell of rains, October 25, 1762, which was very remarkable here. From the top of our house next day I saw all the Marshes under water, and, indeed, great part of the ploughed lands on that side the road. The highest hills in Hertfordshire, where the springs rise very remarkably, have been incapable of sowing sometime before. The farmer where my old horse is, was busy a fortnight ago See the Third Volume of these "Illustrations," p. 728. |