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WALPOLIANA;

OR BONS-MOTS, APOPHTHEGMS, OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE AND LITERATURE, WITH EXTRACTS FROM ORIGINAL LETTERS, OF THE LATE HORACE WALPOLE, EARL OF ORFORD.

NUMBER II.

This Article is communicated by a Literary Gentleman, for many years in habits of intimacy with Mr. WALPOLE. It is partly drawn up from a collection of Bens-Mots, c. in his own band-writing; partly from Anecdotes written down after long Converfations with him, in which be would, from four o Glock in the Afternoon, till two in the Morning, difplay thofe treasures of Anecdote, with which bis Rank, Wit, and Opportunities, bad replenished his Memory; and partly from Original Letters to the Compiler, on jubjects of Taste and Literature.

Mr. Gray, the poet, has often obferved to me, that, if any man were to form a book of what he had feen and heard himself, it muft, in whatever hands, prove a most useful and entertaining one. Walpole.

XXVII. A CONVERT.

A Method in intra bragging

how well he had inftructed fome In dians in religion, called up one of them, and, after fome questions, asked him if he had not found great comfort laft Sunday, after receiving the facrament. "Aye, mafter," replied the favage," but I wifhed it had been brandy."

XXVIII. AN IGNORANT COMMUNI-
CANT.

An ignorant foldier at Quebec, observing fome of his comrades ftay behind him at church, afked them, on their coming out, what was the reason? They told him jeeringly, that the parfon had treated them with fome wine. "No other liquor?" fays the fellow. Seeing he fwallowed the bait, they answered, that he might have what liquor he chofe. Next Sunday he ftayed to have his fhare; and when the clergyman offered him the wine, he put up his hand to his head, in token of faluta, tion, and faid modeftly, "Pleafe your reverence, I fhould prefer punch.'

trait.

"

XXIX. FRENCH BULL,

Amarried French lady, who had an intrigue, infifted on having her lover's porHe remonftrated on her abfurdity, and faid it would be proclaiming their amour. Oh," faid he, "but to prevent a difcovery, it all not be drawn like you."

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XXX. COURT POLITESSE.

When Lord Townsend was fecretary of ftate to George the Firit, fome city dames came to vifit his lady, with whom he was little acquainted. Meaning to be mighty civil, and return their vifits, the asked one of them where the lived? The other re

plied, near Aldermanbury. "Oh," cried Lady Townsend, "I hope the Alderman is well."

XXXI. HOB AND NOB.

Some words are locally perverted to bad fenfes. Hob and Nob must be of the number. Lord *** being in the country, and wishing to fhew great regard to a ruftic gentleman of fome influence, he was invited to dine, along with a numerous and elegant company, and placed at my lady's right hand. The lady, in the midst of dinner, called for a glass of wine to drink with her new gueft, and holding it towards him, as then the fashion, faid, "Hob and and blushed up to the eyes. She thinking nob, Mr. *** The gentleman stared, it was mere timidity, repeated the words, and the gentleman looking if poflible more confufed, the coloured herfelf; when he, after much hefitation, whispered, "Madam, excufe me, but I never hob and nob except with my wife."

XXXII. DUCHESS OF BOLTON.

The duchefs dowager of Bolton, who was natural daughter to the duke of Monmouth, ufed to divert George the First, by affecting to make blunders. Once when the had been at the play of "Love's Laft Shift," he called it, La derniere pretended to come to court in a great Chemife de l'Amour. Another time the fright, and the king alking the caufe, the faid the had been at Mr. Whifton's, who told her the world would be burnt in three years; and for her part fhe was determined to go to China.

XXXIII. THE KING OF BULLS.

I will give you what I call the king of bulls. An Irish baronet, walking out with a gentleman, who told me the story, was met by his nurie, who requested charity. The baronet exclaimed vehemently, "I will give you nothing. You played me a fcandalous trick in my infancy. The old woman, in amazement, asked him

what

Walpoliana, No. II.

what injury fhe had done him? He anfwered, "I was a fine boy, and you changed me."

In this bull even personal identity is confounded!

XXXIV. CONVENIENT COURAGE.

279

my near relations, though not affecting me; endless converfations with lawyers; and packets of letters every day to read and anfwer: all this weight of bufinets is too much for the rag of life that yet hangs about me; and was preceded by A certain earl having beaten Antony tunate nephew, and a daily correfpondthree weeks of anxiety about my unforHenley, at Tunbridge, for fome imper-ence with phyficians, and mad doctors, tinence, the next day found Henley beating another perfon. The peer congratu-order ever fince July: fuch a mass of calling upon me when I had been out of lated Henley on that acquifition of spirit "O, my lord," replied Henley, " your lordship and I know whom to beat."

XXXV. LORD WILLIAM POULET.

Lord William Poulet, though often chairman of committees of the houfe of commons, was a great dunce, and could fcarce read. Being to read a bill for naturalizing Jemima, duchefs of Kent, he called her Jeremiah, duchess of Kent.

Having heard South Walls commended for ripening fruit, he fhewed all the four fides of his garden for fouth walls.

A gentleman writing to defire a fine horfe he had, offered him any equivalent. Lord William replied, that the horse was at his fervice, but he did not know what to do with an elephant.

A pamphlet, called "The Snake in the Grafs," being reported (probably in joke) to be written by this Lord William Poulet, a gentleman, abufed in it, fent him a challenge. Lord William professed his innocence, and that he was not the author; but the gentleman would not be fatisfied without a denial under his hand. Lord William took a pen, and began, "This is to feratify, that the buk called the Snak"-"Oh, my lord," faid the perfon, "I am fatisfied; your lordship has al ready convinced me you did not write the book."

XXXVI. LETTER WRITTEN SOON AF

TER HORACE WALPOLE, BY THE
DEATH OF HIS NEPHEW, HAD SUC-
CEEDED TO THE TITLE OF EARL OF
ORFORD.

Berkley-fquare, Dec. 26, 1791.

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troubles made me very ferioufly ill for fome days, and has left me, and ftill keeps me, fo weak and difpirited, that if I shall not foon be able to get fome repofe, my poor head or body will not be able to refift. For the empty title, I truft you do not fuppofe it any thing but an incumbrance, by larding my bufy mornings with idle vifits of interruption, and which, when I am able to go out, I fhall be forced to return. Surely no man of feventy-four, unless fuperannuated, can have the smalleft pleafure in fitting at home in his own room, as I always do, and being called by a new name.

It will feem perfonal, and ungrateful too, to have faid fo much about my own trift fituation, and not to have yet thanked you, Sir, for your kind and flattering offer of letting me read what you have finished of your hiftory; but it was neceffary to expofe my condition to you, before I coud venture to accept your propofal, when I am fo utterly incapable of giving a quarter of an hour at a time to what, I know by my acquaintance with your works, will demand all my attention, if I wish to reap the pleasure they are formed to give me. It is most true that, for thefe feven weeks, I have not redde feven pages, but letters, ftates of accounts, cafes to be laid before lawyers, accounts of farms, &c. &c. and thofe fubject to mortgages. Thus are my mornings occupied: in an evening my relations, and a very few friends, come to

me;

and when they are gone, I have about an hour, to midnight, to write anfwers to letters for the next day's poft, which I had not time to do in the morning. This is actually my cafe now; I happened to be quitted at ten o'clock, and I woud not fofe the opportunity of thanking you, not knowing when I coud command another hour.

I would by no means be understood to decline your obliging offer, Sir. On the contrary, I accept it joyfully, if you can truft me with your manufcript for a little time, thoud I have leifure to read it but by mall fnatches, which would be wrong

mg,

280

Eminent Foreign Literati, now Living.

ing, and woud break all connexion in my head. Criticism you are

*

and to read critically is far beyond my prefent power. Can a fcrivener or a fcrivener's hearer, be a judge of compofition, ftyle, profound reasoning, and new lights, and difcoveries, &c.?. But my weary hand and, breast must finish. May I ask the favour of your calling upon

me any morning when you shall happen to come to town; you will find the new old lord exactly the fame admirer of your's, and your obedient humble fervant,

HOR. WALPOLE..

[It was a confiderable time before he would fign Orford, or could even hear his ftyle or title without hesitation.]

ORIGINAL ANECDOTES AND REMAINS

OF

EMINENT PERSONS.

Some ACCOUNT of the LIVES and
WRITINGS of EMINENT FOREIGN
LITERATI, now living.

[To be continued regularly.]

KLOPSTOCK.

IN noticing living German authors. this poet justly claims the pre-eminence; his Melah being confidered, by unanimous fuffrage, the best epic poem which Germany ever produced. He is a native of Saxony, and received his education in the Pforte, a celebrated college near Naumburg; in which GR VIUS, ERNESTI, BACHIUS, and feveral other eminent literati were formed. It is a circumftance not lefs authentic than worthy of remark, that this great man actually arranged the plan of his Meffiah during his fchool-years. He profecuted his defign with indefatigable zeal, and

with a fuccefs commenfurate to the care and abilities he exerted in the completion of his work. Notwithstanding the metre he adopted (preferring the majestic, the fonorous and expreffive hexameters of Homer, to the puerility of modern rhyme) was entirely new, and in a manner exotic to German verfification; his Meffiah no fooner made its appear ance, than it met with general applaufe, and, in a fhort time, raifed his reputation to a height, which left all competitors at a hopeless diftance; and, as before remarked, ranked him the first epic poet of

his nation.

His Odes † have procured him the

* An overstrained compliment is omitted.

A fplendid edition of "KLOPSTOCK'S Odes," accompanied with ample notes and illuftrations, is now publishing by the learned and ingenious AUGUSTUS BOETTIGER, D.D. provoft of Weimar college, and counfellor of the Upper Confiftory. Of the merits of this gentleman, in the republic of letters, we fhall have occafion to freak very copiously

hereafter.

farne avowed fuperiority as a lyric writer. They difplay a glow of imagination, a juftnefs of conception, a brilliancy of diction, unfettered by rhyme, which may difpute the palm of pre-eminence with the bards of Greece and Rome.

But great and unrivalled as is their poetic excellence, they poffefs merit of a far fuperior kind. They boaft the proud recommendation of moral beauty, in the moft extenfive and uncircumfcribed acceptation of the term. Many of them were compofed with the exprefs defign of infpiring his countrymen with a spirit of narrow, selfifh views of modern politics. true patriotifm, in contradiftinction to the He endeavours to aroufe their moral energies, to render them fenfible of what they have been, and what with virtuous exertion they may become. He difplays before their eyes, as an incentive to laudable ambition, their natural prerogatives, and fhows at once the glory they will ac quire by making regular advances in moral excellence, and the ignominy they will incur by flothful inaction and daftardly retreat. His popular drama, entitled "The Battle of Hermann," affords an inconteftible proof how fuccefsfully he has ftudied the fpirit and national cha racter of the ancient Germans, during the reign of the Roman emperors.

KLOPSTOCK has likewife a juft claim

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Klopstock....Archenholz....Voss.

iment of health. For this ineftimable blefling, next to a good conftitution, he ftands indebted to his strict and uniform temperance, added to a prudent ufe of exercife. He rides out regularly every morning, and will leap a five-barred gate with all the impetuofity of youth. His countenance is highly pleafing, and reflects that calm tranquillity, that divine peace of mind, fo forcibly depicted in his verfes, and which nothing but the confcioufnefs of a well spent life can beftow.. He poffeffes an air of dignity, equally remote from haughty infolence and repulfive referve, which commands involuntary refpect from all who approach him. His converfation is marked by the fame fententious, yet unaffected concifenefs, which characterizes his writings. Among his very intimate friends, he is fometimes prevailed upon to repeat extracts from his poetical works, which he delivers in a moft animated, impreffive, and feeling manner. He is particularly fond of rehearfing thofe paffages in which he pays a tribute to the virtues of his deceafed wife, who was early separated from him by death; and he takes a pleasure in fhewing the monument which he has erected in memory of her, and of the infant of whom he died in childbed.

Poffeffed of an independent fortune, he is relieved from the painful neceffity of making his talents fubfervient to his animal wants, and is enabled to pass his day's in the fweet converfe of the Mufes, and to purfue the favourite ftudies to which his inclination prompts him. The virtuous Count BERNSTORFF, formerly minifter at the court of Denmark, and uncle to the lately deceased minifter of that name, procured him a penfion from the Danish monarch, to which he added a handfome annuity from his own purfe. KLOPSTOCK, in return, undertook the poft of reader to the countefs. On BERNSTORFF's difmiffal from court, in confequence of the appointment of STRUENSEE and BRAND to the administration, KLOPSTOCK accompanied his patron to Hamburgh, where the count died of vexation and chagrin, at the very moment he was recalled to refume his former fitu-ation. KLOPSTOCK continued for fome time to refide with the dowager countess; but, for certain reafons, which we do not think ourselves authorized to comment upon, as we deem it unbecoming to queftion the propriety of a lady's conduct upon bare report, and KLOPSTOCK was too noble-minded to give fan&tion to the reports in circulation; he preferred to

281

withdraw from the fervice of his patronefs, and retired to enjoy the fweets of independence at Altona. It is, however, but juftice to obferve, as it affords an additional proof of the natural goodness of heart and excellent difpofition, which fo ftrongly characterize this amiable bard, that KLOPSTOCK has never once explained himself upon this fubject, not even to his moft intimate friends. Indeed we confine ourselves within the ftrict limits of truth, when we affirm, that he has never been known to fpeak in angry or difrefpectful terms of any perfen, with whom he has been connected. ^. Much lefs has he defcended to the mean arts of fecret detraction and anonymous fatire. To fum up the catalogue of his virtues, he is a man whom envy herfelf has never attempted to fix a ftain upon. He ftill enjoys his penfion from the Danish govern ment, and the French republic has paid homage to his extraordinary merit, by complimenting him with the right of citizenship.

ARCHENHOLZ

IS likewife an inhabitant of Altona*, and a writer of great political celebrity in most countries of Europe. His

Hiftory of the Seven Year's War," in which he took an active part, having the rank of captain in the Pruffian fervice, may juftly be pronounced one of the best hiftorical compofitions which Germany can boaft. ARCHENHOLZ refided several years in this country, and his "Picture of England and Italy," in which he speaks very freely of the degeneracy and profligate character of the modern Romans, is highly complimentary to the genius and manners of Great Britain. A continuation of the above work appears regularly every year, under the title of " Briti Annals.” ARCHENHOLZ is likewife editor and proprietor of a respectable monthly publication, called the "Mi nerva.'

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*Altona is likewife the refidence of M. VON SCHIRACH, a writer of confiderable abilities, and proprietor of the "Political Journal;" a work which has a very extenfive fale all over the continent. The adjoining

town of Hamburgh, though one of the first commercial cities in Europe, and of confequence more immediately under the aufpices of the god of traffic than the mufes, main

282

Living German Literati.

to

elegant poems, which are univerfally read and admired. But it is to his incomparable tranflations of Homer and Virgil, that he stands indebted for that high literary fame, which he fo defervedly enjoys. Without the flightest wish to detract from the merits of our countrymen, Pope and Dryden, it is but juftice to acknowledge, that their verfions of Homer and Virgil de ferve rather the title of a paraphrafe than a tranflation. We read a fine poem, but we do not recognize the exact fpirit of the original. Voss, on the other hand, without degenerating into infipidity and fervile imitation, has fo fcrupulously adhered to the fenfe of his author, that he has preferved the exact metre, and even the very number of verfes of the original. And yet, incredible as it may appear thofe, who are not acquainted with the German language, the writer of this article knows of no one inftance, in which Voss has detracted from the fire, the brilliancy, the spirit of the Greek and Roman bards. Voss, fome time fince, entered the lifts in a literary conteft with Profeffor HEYNE, of Göttingen, whofe edition of Virgil has rendered his name familiar to the literati of this country. This contest has been maintained with confiderable acrimony on both fides, and gave occafion to a very cutting epigram, by SCHILLER, in which Voss, having been formerly one of Heyne's pupils, is very feverely treated. The epigram in queftion is inferted in the "Xenia, a work which is entitled to particular notice, as it has given birth to a paper war in Germany. The authors of thefe bitter epigrams have nobly difdained to ftab in the dark, and conceal themselves under the fafeguard of an anonymous publication. Their names are pofted and prefixed to their productions names of no lefs celebrity and formidable import than GOETHE and SCHILLER. The effablished reputation of thefe two literary champions well warrants the daring confidence with which they hurl the gauntlet of defiance, and brandifh the lap of fatire in the open face of day. The wounds they inflict are deep, and rankle forely, infomuch, that the "Xenia" have called forth no lefs than thirteen combatants into the field. But fo far from being able to ftand their ground, and to foil the adventurous duumviri, they have only expofed

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tains, notwithstanding, no contemptible rank in the republic of letters. Among other eminent literary characters, it hoafts the names of BÜSCH, EBELING, GERSTENRERO, REIMARUS, &c. &c.

their own imbecility, and provoked feverer ufage; whilft the merited ridicule they have entailed upon themfelves, by their futile attempts, ferves to exhibit the fuperiority of their antagonists in a more confpicuous light. It is, however, to be regretted, that feveral worthy characters have been wantonly attacked by thefe keen fatirifts; a line of conduct which certainly cannot add to their reputation in the eyes of men of cool, deliberate judgment.

Voss has lately published fome excellent Idylls or Paftorals; and likewise a beautiful poem, in feveral cantos, entitled, "Louifa."

NICOLAI.

THIS veteran in literature is a native

of Berlin, where he ftill refides. He is a fcholar, an author, and a bookfeller of the first eminence; and perhaps no man living can boast fuch extenfive literary connexions which are not confined to his own country. NICOLAI has lived from his very youth in the stricteft habits of intimacy with all the great German writers, among whom the names of LESSING, MOSES MENDELSOHN, ESCHENBURG, ABBT, PLATNER, &c. &c. juftly claim our veneration and esteem. In conjunction with thefe luminaries of fcience, NICOLAI published his celebrated" Letters on Literature," (Litteratur-briefe,) which will render his reputation refpectable, as long as the German language fhall continue to be fpoken or read. From this publication the Germans date the improvement of their national tafte. His "Univerfal German Hiftory" (Allgemeine Deutfche Bibliothek) is a work of still greater merit and celebrity, and has given birth to a new epocha in the annals of German literature. It confifts now of a great number of volumes, and affords a convincing proof of the inexhaustible refources of German fcience. His celebrated fatirical romance of "Sebaldus Nothanker," is a fpirited and fuccessful attack upon the ramparts of fuperftition, ecclefiaftical tyranny, the exploded fyftems of falle philofophy, and the metaphyfical jargon of fchool divinity.

This truly learned and excellent Jew has rendered his name immortal by his "Phædon," which is not a mere tranflation additional arguments by MENDELSORN, from Plato, but is enriched with a number of which evince a juftnefs and profundity of thought, that cannot fail to delight and furprife the metaphyfical reader. NICOLAI entertained an extraordinary affection for Mendelisha, and delights in fpeaking of his deceafed friend, whom he extols as a Tecond Socrates,

His

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