yours with that copy; and lend it me again; and I should reprint it immediately.

Different literary matters so much occupy my time, that I cannot enter into correspondence with Mr. Herd; but I shall give you a few hints. Meston and Nicol I omitted, as I did many others, because beneath notice. Mr. H.'s wonder, that I never saw Ajar, &c. puts me in mind of the Shepherd, who wondered where the English traveller was born, who did not know a village in Galloway. His supposing that Bervie, p. 315. is our Bervie, is risible. It is coupled with Antwerp. Elliot, in his Bibliotheca, London, 1545, voce Britannia, mentions "Antwarpe or Berrow." Mr. Herd's remark on my doublet and jablet might have been spared; as it is answered by my note on the passage. That he should speak of accuracy is amazing; for his two volumes teem with inaccuracies and ignorance. They who speak of the errors of others, should think of their own, and of the Scripture, "Take first the beam out of thine own eye." I have many ignorant letters of remarks from Scotland; for an ignorant man is very fond of appearing wise by correcting his neighbors; but, had I remarked upon works of the writers, I could have shown ten errors in theirs, for one of mine. Learned men pass slight errors, as matters incident to humanity, and dwell on the real merit

• Collection of Antient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, &c., by David Herd, Edinburgh, 1776, 2 vols. 12mo. Mr. Herd was clerk to Mr. David Russell, accountant in Edinburgh.

or demerit of a work. So much for Mr. Herd, whose remarks only confirm the opinion I formed, from his two volumes, that he is an illiterate and injudicious compiler.

For you, Sir, I think you have great merit in the attention you show to our topography and old literature, and esteem your correspondence accordingly; and shall be happy to serve you here, if in my power. Your copy of the Complaynt is completing at the Museum; and, as I have got copies of two leaves wanting in the Museum copy, they shall be added. But the title, alas! seems lost for ever.

If you know of any historical books or manuscripts relating to Scotland, preceding A. D. 1700, not in Nicolson's Hist. Lib., it will be kind if you will let me know. Seton's manuscript of Winton I bought from Mr. Astle, and have just procured a very rare description of Scotland, printed by Waldgrave, without date, 4to.

I want

Do you know of any map of Icolmkil? one for my Vita Sanctorum Scotia, now in the press. Mr. Creech forgot to mark the names of many subscribers in Scotland, and of you, as I suspect, among others. I am going to write to Mr. Elliot, to take the matter out of Creech's hands.*

"On this letter Mr. Paton has written the following note, which he, in all probability, engrossed in his answer to Mr. Pinkerton:

"At my time of life, I think it very improper for me to interfere or enter the lists; so submit it to yourselves, mending what differences may pass between you and Mr. Herd: only

MR. PINKERTON TO MR. GEORGE PATON.

Knightsbridge, April 8th, 1788.

Your last to me is of so singular and uncommon a kind, that I must humbly beg leave to decline your correspondence in future. When I take the trouble to read or write letters, it is in hopes of amusement and instruction. That even this may contribute a little to yours, I must tell you, that the insolence of office, though perhaps used in custom-house correspondence, can never be admitted into literary. I blame you for your informing at random various people here, of I know not what nameless errors in my works, which struck you, and nobody else. Do not go to deny this; for I have seen the letters to three various persons here, one of them a bookseller. Are you so much a stranger to literature and common propriety, as not to know that, to speak of errors without condescending on any, and to third persons, is to be a declared enemy; while to point out facts to an author is to be his best friend? Are you so much a stranger to the character of your own Topographical Catalogue of Title Pages, so noted for dullness and inaccuracy, as to set up for a judge of literature, in which your name is unknown? Can even the dotage of age excuse arrogance, joined with ignorance? But I spare

you.

your acknowledgments in the notes on your Maitland's Poems, have in general given too liberal an opportunity for censure." Reliquiæ Scotica.

Your conduct, in surreptitiously getting from me a copy of Lindsay's portrait for the Morison edition of our poets, I pass; as I do your ungentlemanlike behavior, in getting Mr. Gough to require Lindsay's Satire from me, while my receipt stands to Mr. M'Kenzie; so that I am still liable for the book.

I was willing to pass over all these improprieties, as I hate to quarrel with people; but, as your last convinces me that you have too much self-importance to be a literary correspondent of mine, and I have more of such correspondence, even with real literati, than I care for; I must for the last time subscribe myself

Your most obedient servant.

DR. JOHN ANDERSON* TO MR. PINKERTON.

Glasgow College, May 15th, 1788.

ANECDOTES OF CROMWELL.+

The following anecdotes concerning Oliver Cromwell, I learned in conversation, many years ago, from Mr. James Anderson, who was long the manager of Stockwell-street sugar-house in Glasgow, who was a man of veracity, and who

Dr. Anderson, who was professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow, published the Institutes of Physics; and Observations on Roman Antiquities Discovered between the Forth and the Clyde. He died in 1796.

+ Inclosed in the letter to Mr. James Parker, which follows.

died about thirty years ago, at a very advanced age. He said that he had them from Mr. Danziel, senr., a merchant in the High Street of Glasgow, who died in the beginning of this century, and that his friend Danziel's account was confirmed to him by many concurring testimonies.

A short time before the battle of Dunbar, as Cromwell was reviewing the ground, accompanied by a few cavalry, a soldier of the Scotish army, prompted by his own zeal, concealed himself behind a wall which inclosed a field, and fired his musket at Cromwell. The ball did not take effect, but went near him. The cavalry seemed to be alarmed; but Cromwell, who was going at a round trot, never altered his pace nor tightened his rein; and only, looking over his shoulder to the place from whence the shot came, called out, "You lubberly rascal, were one of my men to miss such a mark, he should certainly be tied up to the halberts!"

When Cromwell entered Glasgow, said Danziel, at the head of his victorious army, I was standing in the street called Bell's Wynd, at the end of it which joins the High Street, with a good many young lads and a shoemaker, who was well known to us all by his drollery and by the name of London Willie. As we were silently admiring the order of the troops, Cromwell happened to cast his eye upon us, and cried out, "Hah, Willie ! come hither, Willie!" If we were surprised at this, we were more surprised to see Willie retire into Bell's Wynd, and one of Cromwell's attendants go after him, who brought him to the general,