whose hands I could so safely leave such a trust, and therefore hope you will give me leave to nominate you in my will. "When I receive your answer I shall load the frank with nonsense. Give my particular compliments to Mr. Harrison *, I am not of a covetous disposition, but I cannot but be greedy of his acquaintance. I must conclude. 12. "Yours for ever one, &c. &c. &c. R. ASHE." "Crewkerne, Sept. 29, 1781. "Why are you startled, my dearest friend, at the date of this scrawl? Letters from the dead to the living are very common. I have long been in the land where all things are forgotten; but I am convinced that you will sign and seal my pardon, when I inform you that at the time of my receiving your most affectionate epistle my school was increased to the astonishing number of one-and-forty boys. You will hardly credit my veracity when I add, that I have sustained the whole weight of their education on my weak shoulders till within a few weeks; and, since I have been so fortunate as to meet with a fellow-labourer in my vineyard and school, I have been forced to compose a new Sermon on the anniversary of our school-meeting (which was held last week); and am likewise preparing some divinity for a visitation on the 9th of next month. No galley-slave worked harder than I have done since I had the pleasure of seeing you ; but I hope to taste the sweets of my labour after Christmas. "The tender and affecting manner in which you allowed me to make use of your name on a particular occasion will never be forgotten. A trust of so important a nature could not have been so safely reposed in the breast of any other man upon earth. If it should please God to take me from this terrestrial scene before your day arrives, I shall be certain of leaving a parent to my children. I flatter myself that the only trouble that you will experience on that solemn occasion will be the loss of a friend, who values you (as Achilles said of Patroclus) ioov éμn kepaλn. But why do I wound your sympathetic soul! I will instantly relieve you by waving the subject, and hasten to thank you for another office which your friendship likewise induced you to undertake, I mean the charge of my youngest daughter. Her name is Maria, which will, in my opinion, sound very prettily in the dedication of your catechism. "Adieu! Yours for ever, 12. ROB. ASHE." "Crewkerne, Oct. 11, 1783. "I will, I will, I will provoke my long lost friend to take up that pen which has been for a twelvemonth past dipt in the waters of Lethe. You shall not have any coals of fire heaped The Rev. Richard Harrison, Rector of St. John's, Clerkenwell; see the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. IX. p. 226. on your head to melt you down. No; write soon, very soon, and oblivion shall spread her friendly mantle over the past. 66 "I have accidentally met with a frank of Lord Verney's directed to you. I promise faithfully to send you some English verses, lately composed by some of my boys, that will give you pleasure. My number of pupils amount to about fifty; amongst whom I have some remarkable ones, that make the fatigues of confinement lighter by their avidity after intellectual improvement. The number of my children is likewise increased to six. Pray do you subscribe to the Society established for the Promoting of Christian Knowledge? If you do, be so kind as to recommend me to them, and get (according to the usual form) some other person to sign the recommendation. If not, let me request, as a particular favour, that you would procure two subscribers amongst your acquaintance to complete this necessary business; the expense of which I will remit by the post. Please to have the entry made thus: The Rev. Mr. Ashe, for the Clerical Society, at Crewkerne, Somerset.' I wish you to execute this business as soon as possible, that we may apply for our different books to circulate Christian knowledge amongst our parishioners. You will, I hope, excuse my impertinence, as I would gladly render you or yours any service in the world. "Adieu! Yours, To Mr. NICHOLS. R. ASHE." 14. "SIR, Crewkerne, Jan. 20, 1785. "I take for granted that you have received from Mr. Collins, printer, in Salisbury, some proposals for printing the productions of a juvenile poet under my tuition, which cannot but be looked upon as a literary curiosity*. I could wish you to send one of the cards to N. Smith, Esq. Bloomsbury-square; ditto to G. Keate, Esq. Charlotte-street; Mr. Wathen, surgeon, Bondcourt, London; the Rev. Weeden Butler, Chelsea; and to Dr. Drake, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. "I could wish to see a specimen of the handsomest type on royal paper. Your accurate and beautiful manner of printing the Greek language cannot be sufficiently admired. I shall have occasion to converse with you by letter again by the next post, when I will inclose three of Master Browne's puerile attempts in a frank, which you may insert in the St. James's Chronicle. "Please to put me down for twelve copies, one of which I shall beg you to accept. Be so kind as to inform me how long you will be in printing about six or seven hundred verses, including the Greek and Latin. I wish to wait for as large a subscription as possible, that I may be enabled to convey charity to the parents of my wonderful little boy in the most pleasing manner. Any services within my power you may command. "Yours, * See before, p. 730. ROB. ASHE. 15. "DEAR SIR, July 29, 1785. Nothing can compare with your accuracy in printing. Many thanks for your kind attention. One thousand copies will be sufficient. A second edition (if wanted) would have a better appearance. If the books are not published before November, my young bard shall enrich his collection. He has this day translated the fourteenth Ode of Horace (viz. the Prophecy of Nereus) in a style that would make Francis blush; I will send it in a post or two. My respects, &c. attend you. "Yours in great haste, but with the greatest regard, "ROBERT Ashe." 16. "SIR, "Several months are passed since I had the pleasure of conversing with you by letter on the subject of Master Browne. I was unwilling to break into your retirement of literature, as I know that almost every minute of your life must be engaged in the service of the public. "I have been in expectation of a critique on the Poems of my young pupil; but perhaps the reviewers have not yet met with them. Would there be any impropriety in sending a copy to the Monthly Court of Judicature? When you have five minutes leisure, be so kind as to inform me whether you have circulated the books amongst the subscribers in London? What number of copies have you in hand? I wish to hear the above particulars as I have thoughts of preparing another edition; it will be enriched with several English and Latin compositions of his own. Browne continues to improve even beyond my most sanguine expectations; he has lately made a most wonderful progress in the Hebrew language, and is a perfect master of the Bishop of London's elegant Prælections. A translation of that valuable work was begun by him; but the papers inform me that Mr. Gregory* has anticipated his intentions. "I remain, Sir, your humble servant, 17. "DEAR SIR, ROB. ASHE." Southampton, Oct. 30, 1787. "It is an age since I had the pleasure of seeing the impression of your pen. You have never yet acquainted me with the expense attending the publication of Browne's Poems; nor, per contra, what has been paid into your hands. I wish you had entered them at Stationers' Hall. What can be the reason of the Reviewers passing by such a literary curiosity? They have not only materially injured the cause of my young bard, but have prevented my publishing a second edition with some new productions in Latin, &c. &c. that would astonish the world. But, alas! a Poet (to borrow the words of Vanier): "Nomen adoratum quondam, nunc pene procaci The Rev. George Gregory, afterwards D. D.; he died in 1808. "I have lately left my situation in the West, and shall reside in future within a few miles of Southampton. I have adopted Browne; and whilst he continues to thirst after knowledge I will be unto him a father, notwithstanding I have nine children of my own. I remain your humble servant, ROB. ASHE." 18. "MY DEAR SIR, Eltham, Kent, April 19, 1800. "You, no doubt, begin to think that I am dead and buried, because the ides of March are (as you observe) long since passed. I have been confined to my room for many many weeks by the breaking down of a carriage; and indeed my right thigh and leg are not yet in full possession of their locomotive powers. I am indeed much hurt and ashamed at not having discharged my account with you. In consequence of my being confined so long, I missed an opportunity of recovering £.460 from a gentleman, who is since absconded or gone abroad; .160 I had advanced him out of my own pocket, which I was certain of receiving, as I fondly thought, on the 19th of March, but his note was returned, and I was obliged to pay a further sum of £.300. To add to the weight of my disappointments, I have failed in obtaining the power of cutting this season .1,400 worth of timber. These, my good friend, are serious losses, in times like the present. You will, therefore, I hope, make allowance for my want of punctuality. A family loss also quite oversets me. I can no more. "Ever yours, &c. ROBERT HOADLY-ASHE." Letters of the Rev. WEEDEN BUTLER to 1. Mr. NICHOLS. "Chelsea, Dec. 1, 1797. Joy to Sylvanus Urban! The first of a new month is come, and finds him at leisure to be spoken with. I have not been idle though long silent. My advances in the Hildesley Memoirs are not inconsiderable *, and I have been favoured with some valuable communications in consequence of the Lincoln's Inn letter. I long much to confer with you; could you fix a day, an early one, and at as early an hour as you please, to pass the forenoon and dine with me? I think your time shall not hang. The Chelsea stage for a few pence could take you up about eleven at the end of your own Court; but if you come sooner the more acceptable. "I notice the first leaf of December cover. Pray let me have two dozen of the Stanhope † sewed in glazed blue, neat and ploughed. I want to send a few to those who have been kind to our Hildesley as soon as you can. I will settle for them when See the "Literary Anecdotes," vol. VI. p. 88; vol. IX. p. 221. + See before, the note in p. 730. we meet. I would come to you, but my papers here are all at hand. "I think we have a chance of getting at the Bishop's Sermons and his letters. I have got several, and expect many more. Perseverance does wonders. "I fear Dr. Gaskin's preferment stands in the way of his promised assistance to my narrative. I hope good Mr. Pridden is well; and you no better than I most cordially wish you. Pray give a line. Yours ever faithfully, W. BUTLER." 2. "Jan. 16, 1798. "I take you, my dear Sir, at your word for Monday next, the 22d, and hope to see you by eleven or twelve at furthest, as we have much ground to traverse. "I shall immediately summon Messrs. Conant, Robson, Dilly, and Woodfall, to meet you at dinner by four o'clock; and should either of the former three decline shall then ask another friend, as I think four may well fill the coach, which will have orders to set you all down at your own houses on your return. My son joins in best compliments to you. "I am, dear Sir, yours most sincerely, W. BUTLER." 3. " DEAR SIR, Chelsea, Jan. 8, 1799. "Accept my acknowledgments, and convey them where also due for the respectable and pleasing Account of Hildesley in the last Gentleman's Magazine *. This is my first inquiry after the success of the publication. Would it not be well to throw in another advertisement? you are the best judge. To the readers of Sylvanus Urban there can need ampler notice than what you have twice so obligingly given. I hope your whole fire-side is well; and sincerely wish you all the best compliments of the season. I am, dear Sir, "Your ever faithful and obedient servant, W. BUTLER." 4. "DEAR SIR, Chelsea, Jan. 31, 1799. "I send you with pleasure the inclosed, which you will have the goodness to return at leisure. What a good Samaritan, after the wounds and bruises so gently administered by Gawen! Pray say in your next note if you judged it meet to forward my letter to that amiable assassin. Some use may be made even of such a correspondent in future. Bitters sometimes strengthen the appetite. I am, dear Sir, in expectancy of to-morrow's Urban, your most sincerely respectful and obliged friend, "W. BUTLER.". * Vol. LXVIII. p. 1053. The reviewer was Mr. Gough. |