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Sir: my editions of such pieces as I have left, are waste paper to me. I will not sell them at the ridiculously advanced prices that are given for them indeed, only such as were published for sale, have I sold at all; and therefore the duplicates that remain with me are to me of no value, but when I can oblige a friend with them. Of a few of my impressions I have no copy but my own set; and as I could give you only an imperfect collection, the present was really only a parcel of fragments. My memory was in fault about the Royal and Noble authors. I thought I had given them to you. I recollect now that I only lent you my own copy; but I have others in town, and you shall have them when I go thither. For Vertue's manuscript I am in no manner of haste. I heard on Monday, in London, that the Letters were written by a Mr. Pilkington, probably from a confounded information of Maty's Review: my chief reason for calling on you twice this week, was to learn what you had heard, and I shall be much obliged to you for farther information; as I do not care to be too inquisitive, lest I should be suspected of knowing more of the matter.

There are many reasons, Sir, why I cannot come into your idea of printing Greek. In the first place, I have two or three engagements for my press; and my time of life does not allow me to look but a little way farther. In the next, I cannot now go into new expenses of purchase: my fortune is very much reduced, both by my brother's death, and by the late plan of reformation. The last reason would weigh with me, had I none of the others. My admiration of the Greeks was a

little like that of the mob on other points, not from sound knowledge. I never was a good Greek scholar; have long forgotten what I knew of the language; and, as I never disguise my ignorance of any thing, it would look like affectation to print Greek authors. I could not bear to print them, without owning that I do not understand them; and such a confession would perhaps be as much affectation as unfounded pretensions. I must, therefore, stick to my simplicity, and not go out of my line. It is difficult to divest one's self of vanity, because impossible to divest one's self of self-love. If one runs from one glaring vanity, one is catched by its opposite. Modesty can be as vain-glorious on the ground, as Pride on a triumphal car. Modesty, however, is preferable; for, should she contradict her professions, still she keeps her own secret, and does not hurt the pride of others.

THE HON. HORACE WALPOLE TO MR.

PINKERTON.

Strawberry Hill, Aug. 18th, 1785.

I am sorry, dear Sir, that I must give you unanswerable reasons, why I cannot print the work you recommend.* I have been so much

It is impossible to say with certainty what is the work here alluded to; but, most probably, it was Ailred's Life of St. Ninian, of which it appears, from a letter from the late Rev.

solicited since I set up my press to employ it for others, that I was forced to make it a rule to listen to no such applications. I refused Lord Hardwick to print a publication of his; Lady Mary Forbes, to print letters of her ancestor, Lord Essex; and the Countess of Aldborough, to print her father's poems, though in a piece as small as what you mention. These I recollect at once, besides others whose recommendations do not immediately occur to my memory; though I dare to say they do remember them, and would resent my breaking my rule. I have other reasons which I will not detail now, as the post goes out so early: I will only beg you not to treat me with so much ceremony, nor ever use the word humbly to me, who am no ways intitled to such respect. One private gentleman is not superior to another in essentials: I fear the virtues of an untainted young heart are preferable to those of an old man long conversant with the world; and in the soundness of understanding you have shown, and will show a depth which has not fallen to the lot of,

Your sincere humble servant.

Rogers Ruding, dated August 4th, 1785, that Mr. Pinkerton obtained at this time a transcript through him from the manuscript in the Bodleian Library. Pinkerton speaks of this manuscript in the 2nd Vol. of his Early Scottish History, p. 266, a meagre piece, containing very little as to Ninian's Pikish Mission, The letter alluded to from Mr. Ruding shows Pinkerton to have turned his mind to the antiquities of Scotland with great earnestness.

as

66

DR. BEATTIE TO MR. PINKERTON.

Edinburgh, Aug. 24th, 1785.

Though my attention has been much engrossed of late by a variety of matters, I have not neglected your commission; but I am sorry to tell you that my inquiries have ended in nothing. Of Barbour, I know that he was Archdeacon of Aberdeen, that he wrote the book you mention, and that he is often quoted with approbation by Sir David Dalrymple in his Annals of Scotland; but I know nothing more. I have applied to the masters of King's College (for Barbour, being an archdeacon, must have resided in Old Aberdeen, the seat of the bishop, or must at least have been more connected with that city than with the town of New Aberdeen)—I say, I have applied to the professors of King's College, but can get no account of any of Barbour's manuscripts, nor any trace of a tradition concerning him. All the advice therefore that I can give you is, to read Sir D. Dalrymple's Annals (if you bave not already done it), in which you will probably find something that may be of use to you. The Ode on the approach of Summer I remember to have read formerly; but all I can say of the author is, that his name was Seaton or Seatoun. This I was told by an old gentleman who has been dead these four years, and who, I think, was the only person I ever heard speak of him.

I do not believe there is any old Scotch poetry in either of the Libraries of Aberdeen, except what

VOL. I.

F

has been published; and I question whether we have any edition of Barbour, either old or new. The bird you mention I never before heard of.

I always suspected you to be the author of the second part of Hardyknute; though I never mentioned it to you, because you seemed unwilling to be explicit on that subject. I long to see the collection of Antient Poems, and shall be much obliged to you for the copy you are so good to promise me. What is become of your little comedy? Is it likely to make its appearance on the stage?

A good edition of Barbour is much wanted; and I am sure the public will thank you for it. By the by, I wonder it was not attempted sooner. I freely confess I knew nothing of that poet, till I read Sir D. Dalrymple, who not only commends his poetry, but quotes many parts of his narrative as authentic history.

I am happy to hear that you still go on in your studies, and sincerely wish you success. My health is become so precarious, that I dare not attempt any thing that requires labor. I thank you for what you tell me of Mr. and Mrs. Peckard, and beg to be remembered to them.

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