LETTER XLIII. Mr. Jones to Lady Spencer. ground. I must, however, take the probably leave as many volumes of liberty here to allude to a most oblig- my works as he is said to have writing letter of your lordship from Chil-ten. As to politics, I begin to think, bolton, which I received so long ago that the natural propensity of men to as last November, but was prevented dissent from one another will prefrom answering till you came to town. vent them, in a corrupt age, from It was inexpressibly flattering to me; uniting in any laudable design; and but my intimate knowledge of the at present I have nothing to do but nature of my profession obliges me to rest on my oars, which the Greek to assure you, that it requires the philosophers, I believe, called έrέxe, whole man, and admits of no concur- a word which Cicero applies in one rent pursuits; that, consequently, I of his letters to the same subject. must either give it up, or it will en- My best respects to the ladies, for gross me so much, that I shall not for whom I would certainly have brought some years be able to enjoy the socie- some Virginia nightingales, if my ty of my friends, or the sweets of li- western expedition had taken place, berty. Whether it be a wise part to since I was informed by the captain, live uncomfortably, in order to die with whom I should have sailed, that wealthy, is another question; but this they might have been kept in the I know by experience, and have cabin without any danger. heard old practitioners make the same observation, that a lawyer, who is in earnest, must be chained to his chambers and the bar for ten or twelve years together. In regard to your lordship's indulgent and flattering prediction, that my Essay on Bailments" would be my last work, and that, for the future, business and the public would allow me to write no more; I doubt whether it will be ladyship, and cannot hope by any accomplished, whatever may be my thing I can now say to make amends practice or situation; for I have al- for the dulness of my last letter; ready prepared many tracts on juris- yet, as some of the ladies here are this prudence; and when I see the vo- moment writing to St. James's Place, lumes written by lord Coke, whose I cannot prevail on myself to decline annual gains were twelve or fourteen joining so agreeable a party, espethousand pounds, by lord Bacon, sir cially as the very favourable accounts Matthew Hale, and a number of which were last night received of judges and chancellors, I cannot lord Spencer's health have given me think that I should be hurt in my spirits, and made me eager to offer professional career, by publishing now my sincere congratulations. Yes; I and then a law tract upon some in- rejoice with the truest sincerity, that teresting branch of the science; and his lordship's health is so likely to the science itself is indeed so com- be re-established; for I cannot name plex, that, without writing, which is a man of rank in the nation, in whose the chain of memory, it is impossible health the public and all mankind, to remember a thousandth part of as well as his family and friends, what we read or hear. Since it is are more truly interested. I have my wish therefore to become in time passed my time at Chilbolton so as great a lawyer as Sulpicius, I shall agreeably, that ten days have appearVOL. IV. Nos. 57 & 58. Madam, Chilbolton, Oct. 21, 1782. THOUGH I wrote so lately to your L LETTER XLIV. ed like one and it gives me concern, that the near approach of the term ton. April 27, 1783. will oblige me to leave so charming Sir William Jones to Lord Ashburand improving a society at the end of this week; after which I shall hope to find my friends at Midgham in perfect health; and then farewell, YOUR kind letter found me on a long farewell, to all my rational and board the Crocodile: I should have interesting pleasures, which must be been very unhappy had it missed me, succeeded by the drudgery of draw-since I have long habituated myself ing bills in equity, the toil of answer- to set the highest value on every word ing cases, the squabbles of the bar, you speak, and every line you write. and the more vexatious dissensions Of the two enclosed letters to our and conflicts of the political world, friends, Impey and Chambers, I will which I vainly deprecated, and now take the greatest care, and will as vainly deplore. How happy would punctually follow your directions as it be if statesmen had more music in to the first of them. My departure their souls, and could bring them- was sudden indeed; but the Admiselves to consider, that what harmo- ralty were so anxious for the sailing ny is in a concert, such is union in a of this frigate, and their orders were state; but in the great orchestra of so peremptory, that it was impossipolitics I find so many musicians out ble to wait for any thing but a breeze. of humour, and instruments out of Our voyage has hitherto been toleratune, that I am more tormented by bly pleasant, and, since we left the such dissonance than the man in Channel, very quick. We begin to Hogarth's print, and am more desir- see albicores about the ship, and to ous than ever of being transported to perceive an agreeable change of clithe distance of five thousand leagues mate. Our days, though short, give from all this fatal discord. Without me ample time for study, recreation, a metaphor, I lament with anguish the and exercise; but my joy and delight bitterness and animosity, with which proceed from the surprising health some of my friends have been assail- and spirits of Anna Maria, 'who joins ing others; as if empty altercation me in affectionate remembrance to could be the means of procuring any lady Ashburton. As to you, my dear good to this afflicted country. I find lord, we consider you as the spring myself, in more instances than one, and fountain of our happiness, as the like poor Petrarch, wishing to pass my days Fra' magnanimi pochi ; à chi'l ben piace, Io vo gridando pace, pace, pace.* —but I shall not be heard, and must console myself with the pleasing hope, that your ladyship, and the few friends of virtue and humanity, will agree in this sentiment with, &c. * Among the magnanimous few, whom virtue pleases: who will secure to me this blessing? go crying peace, peace, peace. author and parent (a Roman would have added, what the coldness of our northern language will hardly admit, the god) of our fortunes. It is possible indeed, that by incessant labour and irksome attendance at the bar, all that my very limited ambition I might in due time have attained could aspire to; but in no other station than that which I owe to your friendship, could I have gratified at once my boundless curiosity concerning the people of the East, continued the exercise of my profession, in which I sincerely delight, and en 1 |