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showing me your good offices on this occasion, not only in concerting the plan with Mr. Ridgeway, but likewise to peruse the performance with the pruning arm of criticism. I have some additions, besides, to make to the whole. Above all, and first of all, I conjure you to draw a categorical answer from Mr. Ridgeway whether he will, or he will not, make a new edition; and, in case he should decline it, then to cause him to declare that he will have no objection against any other who may reprint the said pamphlet. In a word, I am determined to have a new edition, provided meet with your concurrence: at any rate, I beg you will consider the business, and so let me know to what sum the expense of a new edition may amount, that I can act accordingly. This you will please to tell Mr. Ridgeway, that he will receive orders for fifty copies ready paid from Denmark, as soon as a new edition, improved and reviewed by you, shall have passed the boundaries of the press. Till I have the good fortune. of hearing from you, I dare not trouble you with more news; and therefore I will content myself with adding that Mr. Silberschildt will be happy, on my account, to forward your letters to me.

may

In the mean time let me intreat you to allow me your wonted affection.

P.S. I have mentioned your name, and your affection towards my country, to the vice-president of the Royal Society of Sciences established in: Norway, under the presidency of his royal highness, brother to his Majesty. I wish you to become a member of that learned body. Pray

let me know how far it meets your inclination. And so fare you well.

MR. PINKERTON TO THE EARL OF BUCHAN.*

Kentish Town, Nov. 21st, 1791.

I was honored with three of your lordship's in one day, and am infinitely obliged by your attentions. The miniature is safe at Mr. Nichols's, and shall be soon carefully returned. I expected either portrait or costume of the royal dress of Scotland from it, but am rather disappointed. That Alexander III. was present at the coronation of Edward I. is an historical fact; but the present seems an unreal delineation. How can we account for Alexander, nay, and Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, being dressed in the identical robes and color of the English king? The different monarchs of Europe had dresses, colors and embroidered figures appropriated: for instance, France blue with fleurs-de-lis of gold. At the

* Upon this letter Lord Buchan has made the following indorsement." Pinkerton on Lord Buchan's limning of the Coronation of Edward I. I furnished about sixty drawings, most of which were by my own hand, to Pinkerton for his Iconographia Scotica, and procured artists and correspondents for his undertaking; but he, being no wise skilled in the fine arts, allowed the undertaking to be bungled by the employment of incorrect and inferior engravers. He acknowledged his obligations to me in very sparing and general terms in his preface."

same time it might be, that the robes being furnished by the English monarch, he in compliment ordered the same with his own. But I hesitate. The drawing is however extremely curious; and, should an engraver undertake our Scotish portraits, this should form the frontispiece.

As to adorning my history with portraits, that will depend on the bookseller to whom it is sold; and it will not appear these three years. I have no such intention, but doubt not to find an engraver who will undertake the series of portraits. without any assistance from our nobility or gentry, except from your lordship. I should be happy to know if your lordship would lend your drawings for such a plan: every care would be taken of them; but all such as are framed should be taken out before they are sent.

I am much obliged by Lord Saltoun's observations. The variations between Gillies and me (or rather the Irish gentleman who translated the Duain for me) arise chiefly from the fault of Dr. Lorimer, who thought proper, in an unhandsome manner and without my consent, to send an erroneous copy to Scotland, from which Gillies formed his translation. Mr. O'Conor remitted me this poem from the only manuscript of it extant; and mine is printed literatim from Mr. O'Conor's writing. If Lord Saltoun be up here and have any curiosity to see Mr. O'Conor's copy, I shall show it him with great pleasure.

I am glad to see Dr. Anderson's Bee improve so fast, and wish he would give us plates of the New South Bridge, and other new buildings at

Edinburgh. I am desired to request his permission to copy some articles of his work into a periodical publication of credit here, with the editor of which I am acquainted. As he is known to your lordship, it will be a favor if you will mention this any time you see him or write to him.

DR. THORKELIN TO MR. PINKERTON.

Dec., 1791.

I hope you have received my letter put to the care of Mr. Silberschildt, besides a later one of the 30th of last month, with Mr. Cruse, governor to the children of his excellency the Danish ambassador.

Of the contents of the last letter I have only to say this, that I once more conjure you to speak with Mr. Ridgeway about a new edition of my Sketch of the Character of His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark. I wish to have it reprinted; both on account of several additions which can be made; and, still more, in order to get the performance cleared of its present imperfections. The sketch is read with great applause in Germany; and I am not able to satisfy the many applications which I receive by every mail. In case Mr. Ridgeway should decline the printing, let me know to what sum the expense may pray amount. Fifty copies I will take, and pay ready money; and the rest serves to satisfy the cor

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rector. In a word, I entreat you to give me your full advice how to go about the matter; but, above all, to purify the pamphlet from its imperfections, grammatical and verbal. I want to have the paper and type as neat as the former editions, and the number of copies as great as you may think meet. All these things you will, I hope, consider, and write to me, that I may take a final resolution.

How do you like the diploma of the Royal Icelandic Society of Sciences, which I sent to you with Mr. Cruse will you have the laws and transactions of the Society? You have only to command. In the ensuing spring, the Scriptores Danici, so long promised, shall be transmitted, accompanied with some other literary matters. We are going on pretty well: the prince royal is indefatigable; the peasants are free; the rents are to be paid in money; feudal service is abolished; and the army is, from the end of December, to consist of native Danes, Norwegians, and Holsteiners; all hirelings being banished from the Danish banners. The prince indeed deserves that grateful monument which the nation is raising to his father. Heaven grant that his royal highness may never suffer himself to abate his patriotic pursuits! Nor is there any doubt of his pursuing his wonted line of conduct, as long as he continues to use the advice of Count Bernstorff, his excellency the Marshal Bulow, and Count Reventlow, men who sacrifice their ease and advantages to the public welfare. What do you say about the treaty of Russia with Sweden? Who would have thought