be expected there, as from the collection of Horace Walpole: (Lord Orford will always be an inferior title). This extraordinary man is, I think, the greatest character of the present day. I read some of his works when I was very young with great delight; and it is but of late that I met with his Castle of Otranto, with which I was enchanted. The wildness of the scenery, and the total abstraction from every other object for the time, produced an effect greatly resembling the fascinating charms of Shakspeare. I hear people complain every day of the want of power of the language in which they write; but, to a man of strong genius, there never appears to be any want at all. With tools that other people will say are good for nothing, he produces the finest models of perfection in arts. I am perfectly satisfied it is want of genius only that makes little men so often complain. If I could fall upon any plan of being introduced to the acquaintance of these or such men, I think I should derive infinite advantage from it; while at the same time I did them a service. Men of fine talents often hit off a beautiful thing, which it is not worth their while to publish by itself—it is thrown by and neglected: it is left unfinished, the principal thoughts only being carelessly jotted down for remembrance. Were such little pieces to be drawn forth occasionally and finished by the author, it would form an agreeable mental recreation: such an exercise is like renewing the acquaintance with the friends of our early years; with this difference, that friends, as time advances, acquire

VOL. I.

U

new connexions and bad habits, that produce in them a disagreeable change; but no such change is here produced. On the contrary, the scenes which occasioned these thoughts are recollected with all their charms; and the works themselves which are thus produced, will have the maturity of age superadded to the vigor of youth. If this be neglected, it is probable that many of these pieces will be afterwards ushered to the light with all their sins upon their head, “unhouseled, unanointed, unanealed;" which would be effectually prevented, could I have the good fortune to get such persons prevailed with to draw them forth gradually, as occasion offered and inclination prompted, for this miscellany. I have got a good many very useful, and some very good things thus, from my worthy friend, G. Dempster, from Earl Buchan, and Lord Gardenston, which I shall occasionally insert; but these men, in point of literary excellence, are far inferior to what I aim at. Could you help me to any thing of this nature, you would do me an infinite favor indeed. I cannot ask from yourself, as I know you have too much to do, at your time of life, to think of such a thing.

I have met with one very important fact of late respecting the rearing of the silk-worm, which, if it shall be confirmed by future experiments, will remove all the difficulties I have had on that head. I learn from Miss Rhodes, that they may be kept entirely on lettuce, without a single blade of the mulberry leaf, and spin upon that food as excellent a thread as on any other. She had suspected it

was the coldness of that food that made it disagree with the worms, when long kept upon it, and prevailed on General Mordaunt to try what would be the effect of feeding them on it when kept in the heat of a hot-house (a pine-apple stove, I presume); and the result was what I have stated. I wish the experiment to be repeated by as many different persons as possible; for I seldom trust to one experiment. If the fact shall turn out as here stated, we shall soon have some thousands of helpless beings in Scotland usefully employed; for, as to the expense of a hot-house for the purpose, it will be very trifling, since light is rather hurtful than beneficial; so that glass will be saved, and a flue can easily be formed in most cases behind the kitchen chimney, without any expense for fuel. You may mention this to such of your acquaintance as you think will try the experiment, and let me know the result. The great advantage of this mode of feeding them will be that of enabling us to begin directly whereas, with the mulberry alone, it must be many years before much could be done, as that plant is of very slow growth. I expect some eggs of another insect from the East Indies, that has lately been discovered there, which feeds upon a species of Ricinus, that yields a coccoon greatly larger than that of the silk-worm, and a thread much thicker and stronger, which it is not impossible but we may be able to rear in Europe with advantage. I have also lately received some very interesting accounts from Denmark, not of a political nature, that shall soon appear in the Bee.

DR. THORKELIN TO MR. PINKERTON.

Copenhagen, April 6th, 1792.

I have had the honor to receive this afternoon a letter from the vice-president of the Royal Society of Sciences in Trundheim, dated the 24th of March past, which informs me of your being unanimously elected an honorary member of that respectable body. The patent or diploma will be transmitted to me by the first opportunity, in order to be forwarded to you. I have only to add, that the vice-president (Johan Christian Schonheyder, bishop of Trundheim) wishes very much to get your Introduction to the Scotish History; and that the prince hereditary of Denmark, who, under the title of president, is equal lover of sciences and the society, will look on it as a particular attention paid to your Norwegian brethren, if you would present them with a copy; and indeed it is your duty, according to the laws of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences.

I beg you will procure Dr. Combe's Museum Numismaticum Hunterianum. My other letter contained an account of the abolition of the slavetrade, as far as concerns his Danish Majesty's dominions. Pray let as much thereof as you think meet, be printed in the London Chronicle. In my next you will receive a bill of lading and a passport for the Scriptores Danici, who are already packed up, and wait for a safe opportunity to London.

My best respects attend you, Mrs. Pinkerton, and my sweethearts, your amiable daughters.

P. S. Pray show me the favor to buy the companion to Clytie engraved by Bartolozzi, and to let me know by a letter whether or no I may hope to get the said companion print.

MR. ASTLE TO MR. PINKERTON.

April 6th, 1792.

There are no patent rolls in the Tower later than the reign of Edward IV. I am certain there can be nothing there relative to the peerage of Perth. All our warrant books in the Paper-office have been searched from the accession of James I. of England; and there is not the least trace of any warrants ever having passed the Signet or Privy Seal office for the peerage now claimed. Any patent must have passed through these offices before it could have gone to the Great Seal. I do not believe that any patent passed in 1687; as there are no traces of it any where. I think the historical papers in Bibl. Harl. of the reign of King James II. are the most likely to furnish information (vide insuper Mr. Ayscough's Catalogue of Dr. Birch's manuscripts).

Crail is an ancient borough in Fife: it was one of the seventeen which gave bond for the ransom of David II. (See Sir David Dalrymple's Annals, Vol. II. p. 244): it is now represented with other burghs. It is in the mouth of the Firth, seven miles south-west of St. Andrew's.

Longmate has drawn the seals. I wish you to see them.