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Original Letters. King James.....Letter of Brothers.....Dr. Fleming. 363

fawin out with us baith in the fawing and reaping tymes, greatlie to the interest [fic, read injurie] of the haile puire ones of our land, comfortit cheeflie be that fort of graine, hes moved us to requeift your favour, to the relief and help of this neceffitee, be spairing fum pairt of the great ftoir of the faid graine within your realme; and granting your frie licence to fum truftie fervand, as we are to employ that errand, to buy, carie, and tranfport, fyve thoufand quarters thereof, quhair maift commodioulie they may be had, to the faid ufe. Quhairin ye fall baith greetlie benefite the puir anis of our realme; and fall alwyfe find us lyke affected to help your fubjectis, diftreffed with ony fic neceffitie, and carrying the lyke requeift fra you. And thus, excellent, richt heich and meichtie princefs, our dearest fufter, &c. From Halyrud Hous, the xx day of December 1595.

Your maift loving and affectioned brother and coufing, JAMES R.

PASSPORT from JAMES VI. of Scotland,

to one MORTON a Bookfeller, tranflated from the French.

JAQUES par la grace de Dieu &c.

James by the grace of God king of Scotland to all princes, potentates, dukes, marquifes, earls, barons, governors,chiefs, colonels, captains, and their lieutenants; and others exercifing jurifdiction over havens, bridges, paffages, and rivers; and generally to all those who may fee thefe prefents, fafety. This bearer, our well-beloved John Morton, merchantbookfeller, inhabiting and living in our town of Edinburgh [Lifleburg having obtained leave and permiffion to go to France, the Low Countries, Germany, and other places adjacent, on his own particular bufinefs, we have granted him thefe prefents, to request and fupplicate you all, and every perfon of the abovenamed defcriptions, to permit the faid Morton freely to pafs and repafs through your diftricts, jurisdictions, and governments, without offering or caufing to be offered to him any disturbance, search, or hinderance: but rather, if he have need of it, to fhew him all favour and affistance in furnishing him with boats, horfes, provifions, and other things neceffary, at his expence; as we fhall not fail reciprocally to do the fame, with regard to all thole whom you may recommend to us from abroad. Given under our privy feal, at our palace of Holyroodhoufe, this xxth day of January 1596.

LETTER of BROTHERS the PROPHET to the CHANCELLOR. From the original. Produced at the Council Board by the Lord Chancellor, 5th March, 1795.

Ν

IN obedience to the facred command of the Lord God, whofe fervant and prophet I am, I fend to the chancellor― as fpeaker of the house of peers-a book containing the judgments of God, that by him it may be communicated to all the peers; that all may candidly examine the book and judge for themselves: that all may fee that the things which are announced to the world in this book, are recorded in the fcripture of truth to be fulfilled: that all may know that the kingdom which is fo often prayed for, in the form called the Lord's Prayer, saying, "Thy kingdom come," will commence with my revelation between this and the beginning of June next: that all may be warned, and that all may endeavour to avert the judgments, by an obedience to the everlasting gospel of peace and falva. RICHARD BROTHERS,

tion.

The man that will be revealed to the Hebrews as their prince: to all the nations as their governor, according to the covenant to king David, immediately after God. No. 57, Paddington-ftreet, 26th of the month called February, 1795. To the Chancellor of Great Britain.

LETTER from Dr. FLEMING to Dr. FURNEAUX.

T

REV. SIR,

is time I should acknowledge the receipt of your kind prefent. Your letters to Blackstone are very masterly; they are good evidence of a well-informed mind, and breathe the spirit of liberty; for which you have my thanks.

If I have any just notion of you, it will not offend when I tell you, that what you have to do with Lord Mansfield has not my approbation. It cannot, fo long. as I must confider him the most formida ble enemy to our legal conftitution; the great patron of defpotifm.

Let me add, you have difpleafed my eye by an unguarded expreffion in your truly excellent letters (fee p. 189, 190), where, fpeaking of the proteftant diffenters, you thus exprefs yourfelf: "Liberty, religious liberty especially, is their idol;"

So ftyled by the French, because there was then water on both sides.

had

364 Original Letters. Dr. Lardner.....Author of John Buncle.

had you faid their divinity, it would
have been, in my humble opinion, more
proper. Nevertheless, I am, with great
efteem, your's, &c.
Hoxton Square,
Feb. 14, 1771.

CALEB FLEMING.

ORIGINAL LETTER from the celebrated Dr. LARDNER to the Rev. CALEB FLEMING, afterwards Dr. FLEMING.

DEAR SIR,

I SEND to know how you do. I have not been out to-day. "Dr. Fortin's Life of Erafmus" is well writ. He has fpoke as freely before, but here is a great deal of the like fort. I think it fhould have been dedicated to the present archbishop; and, perhaps, it will be fo when the whole comes out. Jortin extols Herring; but to me Herring appears much inferior to the archbishop, who was the friend of Erafmus.

There has been an unhappy rencounter near Drefden. Prince Francis of Brunfwick and marshal Keith killed. We muft hope we are under the care of Providence. But to me it feems, that the rod is lifted up, and hangs over us. And in my own private judgment, I might be apt to think and fay, better had it been, if the king of Pruffia had been fhot. I fuppofe, he will have no peace. If not, I think he will go on fighting, till he has ruined himself and all his friends. To me it feems, that Count Daun is too hard for him. They never approach each other, but the king is over-reached by the count. Forgive these remarks of your affectionate friend, and humble fervant, Thursday evening. [There is no other date, but the letter appears to have been written in the year 1758.]

N. LARDNER.

your learned and entertaining Mifcellaný. I am, Sir, your conftant reader,

JOSHUA TOULMIN. Taunton, 14th April, 1798:

SIR,

SO greatly do I revere the memory of Fauftus Socinus, whofe life you tell me you are writing, that I with it was in my power to furnish you with memoirs relating to that great and good man, whofe learning and virtues were more extraordinary, than Bayle and the new biographical writers allow. There is a partiality in their criticifm, which is blind to folid merit, but juftice and praise will overtake it at last. They will not hear the arguments of this admirable writer. They will make a God of the feed of Abraham and the fon of David; they will have more perfons than one in the Deity; and because Socinus proves God has no partner, they pro

nounce the loudest and the rudeft cenfures.

Such is, and ever will be OPINION: averfe to conviction, and never ready to refign upon knowledge, or good reafon.

Illa folo fixos oculos averfa tenebat;
Nec magis incepto vultum fermone movetur,
Quam fi dura filex, aut ftet Marpefia cautes *

Even the pious Bishop Smallbrook could not fpeak of him without fhewing himself a bitter fquabbler. In his charge to his clergy, in August 1782, is the following passage formance of the writer, otherwife jufily of ill"And more efpecially by the valuable-perfame, I mean Fauftus Socinus's book de Authoritate S. Scripturæt." Here was an open infult offered. My lord of St. David's appears wedded to an opinion-an hypothefisproduced by blending falfe notions in philofophy and ungrounded notions in fcripture together; and because it has received the stamp of custom and authority, the forward critic declaims in fpightful, undelicate language. In favour of the idol he falls down to and worfhips, he foolishly and maliciously abufes Socinus, that bleffed fervant of God, for defending the gospel, that plain, fimple, sational and divine fyftem; which the clergy have difgraced and rendered useless; and

LETTER of the AUTHOR of the LIFE of proving that Chrift, in the writings of the

SIR,

JOHN BUNCLE, Efq.

HEN I first formed the defign of WH drawing up the Memoirs of Fauftus Socinus, as I found that the learned author of the Life of John Buncie had expreffed a fimilar intention, I took the liberty of addreffing a line to him; to ask whether he meant to execute that. purpose; and, if he did not, to request the favour of being referred to fuch frefl authorities, as would affift the profecution of my defign. I was, prefently, favoured with an answer a copy of which, as a literary morceau, I offer for a place in

apoftles, fignifies no more than the man Jefus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with his infpiration and power.

I think, then, Sir, your defign an excellent one, and that you cannot better employ what time you have to fpare than in finishing the work. It is a thing much wanted, as the life fixed to the "Fratres Poloni," is far from being full enough, and to the purpose.

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Port Folio.....Gray's Imitations,

365

of Almighty perfons; the most aftonishing, fenfelefs and impious imaginations, that ever got into the heads of great divines and fathers.

If the TRACTS written by Socinus be read over with all the attention fo important a fubject requires, in order to understand him, and plead properly for his doctrines; and if the only intention in writing the account be, to purfue truth calmly and impartially, with out being folicitous where we find it, fo we do but find it, an excellent and ufeful book may be made by a man of genius and learning, against the incarnation of God, and a Trinity EXTRACTS FROM THE PORT FOLIO OF A MAN OF LETTERS.

POETICAL or PROSE IMITATIONS and

SIMILARITIES.

NE of the most elegant of literary creations is that of tracing poetical or profe imitations, and fimilarities; for affuredly, fimilarity is not always imitation. The pleating effay on "The Marks of Imitation," will affift the critic in deciding on what may only he an accidental fimilarity, rather than an imitation; but the moft prudent caution is hardly fufficient for this purpole; we often think, and frequently write, like our predeceffors, without even a fufpicion of imitation. Thofe critics, have, therefore, indulged a very intemperate abufe of thefe amufing researches, who, even from a single word, derive the imitation of an entire paffage. WAKEFIELD, in his edition of "Gray's Poems," is very liable to this cenfure.

Mr.

I had once formed a large collection of fuch paffages, not with a view of tracing what appeared to be imitation, but merely to form my tafte, and to view the fame image, or fentiment, either borrowed with art, or improved with new embellifhments, or differently appropriated. Of thefe, a few only have efcaped perdition, and thefe I fhall now arrange. The ingeniofis writer of A Criticism on Gray's Elegy, in continuation of Dr. Johnson's," has given fome obfervations on this fubject, which will pleafe the reader. He fays, "It is often entertaining to trace imitation; to detect the adopted image, the copied defign, the transferred fentiment, the appropriated phrafe, and even the acquired manner and frame, under all the difguifes that imitation, combination, and accommodation may have thrown around them, must require both parts and diligence; but it will bring with it no ordinary gratification.” A book profelfedly on the " Hiftory and progrefs of imitation in poetry," written by a man of perfpicuity, and an adept in the art of difcerning likeneffes, even when minute; with examples, properly felected, and gradations duly marked; would make an

This is all I have to say in relation to Socinus, and am beholding to the occafion for procuring me the favour of a letter from you. I am obliged to you for your expressions of civility, and am, with respect, Sir, your asfured humble fervant, THOMAS AMORY. Yorkshire, July 31, 1774.

important acceffion to the ftore of human literature, and furnish rational curiofity with a high regale."

I muft premife, that these notices are not given with the malignant delight of detecting the unacknowledged imitations of feveral of our beft writers; fuch, fome. undoubtedly are, and others are heightened, while they are borrowed; but the greater part are merely defigned to exhibit that beautiful variety which the fame image is capable of, when touched by the art of genius.

Gray, in his "Ode to Spring," has "The attick warbler POURS HER THROAT.”

Mr. WAKEFIELD, in his " Commentary," has a whole page on this truly poetical diction. He conceives it to be 66 an admirable improvement of the original form in the Greek and Roman clas

fics:

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366 Port Folio....Gray's Imitations.....Account of Sir Edmund Saunders.

minutest of critics, the following paffage obfervation almoft induces one to think

in Milton;

"When the SCOURGE

Inexorably, and the TORT'RING HOUR
Call us to penance." Par. Loft. B. ii. v. 90,
Gray, in his "Ode to Adverfity,"
writes,

"Light THEY DISPERSE, and with them go The SUMMER FRIEND"

fond of the image, he has it in his "Bard,"

"The SWARM, that in thy NOON-TIDE BEAM are born,

Gone!-"

Perhaps the germ of this beautiful image may be found in Shakespeare:

"for MEN, like BUTTERFLIES, Shew not their mealy wings but to the SUMMER." Troilus and Creffida, A. iii. 1. 7. Gray, in his progrefs of poetry, has, In climes beyond THE SOLAR ROAD”— Mr. WAKEFIELD has traced the imitation to Dryden, without referring to the itfelf; he has it thus: poem

Beyond the year, and out of heav'n's highway." Dryden I cannot now recur to the paffage, but have marked it in my copy differently, and which makes the imitation ftill more clofe, although lefs harmonious: "Beyond the year, out of the SOLAR

WALK;"

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"Far as the SOLAR WALK, or milky way Eflay on Man, C. і.

Gray has, in his " Bard," "Dear as the light that vifits thefe fad eyes; Dear as the ruddy drops that warm my heart." Gray points out the imitation, himself, in Shakspeare, of the latter thought--and it is curious to obferve, that Otway, in his "Venice Preferved," makes Priuli exclaim to his daughter, that she is

Dear as the vital warmth that feeds my

life, Dear as thefe eyes, that weep in fondnefs o'er

thee."

Gray tells us, that the image of his "Bard,"

"Loofe his beard and hoary hair, Stream'd like a METEOR to the troubled air," was taken from a picture of the Supreme Being, by Raphael. It is, however, remarkable, and fomewhat ludicrous, that "The Beard" of Hudibras is alfo compared to a meteor ; and the accompanying

Gray derived from it the whole plan of that fublime ode-fince his " Bard" precitely performs what the "Beard" of Hudibras denounced. Thefe are the verses,

"This HAIRY METEOR did denounce The fall of fceptres and of crowns."

Hudibras, C. i.

Sir EDMUND SAUNDERS.

(Communicated.)

HIS judge, who made a confiderable

THIS

figure in his own time, arose from of the court of King's Bench in the reign the lowest origin. He was chief justice of Charles II. Roger North, fon of the Lord-keeper North, who perfonally knew him, fays, "His character, and his beginning, were equally ftrange. He was at firft no better than a beggar boy, if not a parish foundling, without known He had found a parents or relations. way to live by obfequioufnefs (in Cle. ment's Inn, as I remember) and courting the attornies clerks for fcraps. The extraordinary obfervance and diligence of the boy made the fociety willing to do him good. He appeared very ambitious to learn to write; and one of the attor nies got a board knocked up at the window, on the top of a stair-cafe; and that was his defk, where he fat and wrote after copies of court and other hands the clerks gave him. He made himself fo expert a writer, that he took in business, and earned fome pence by hackney writ his faculties, and fell to forms, and, by ing. And thus, by degrees, he pushed books that were lent him, became an exquifite entering clerk; and, by the fame courfe of improvement of himself, an able counsel, first in special pleading, then at large. And, after he was called to the bar, had practice in the King's Bench court, equal to any there." He was corpulent in his perfon, and fomewhat licen tious in his manners; but North fays, honeft as the driven fnow was white; "as to his ordinary dealing, he was and why not, having no regard for money, or defire to be rich? And, for good nature and condefcenfion, there was not his fellow."-" As for his parts, none had them more lively than he. Wit and renatural to him. He was ever ready, and partee, in an affected rufticity, were never at a lofs; and none came fo near as he to be a match for Serjeant Maynard."

"While he fat in the court of King's Bench, he gave the rule to the general fatisfaction of the lawyers."

ORIGINAL POETRY.

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Yon vacant ailes among,

Where kneel'd the chriftian throng, Voices of weeping ftray with ftrange lament, A dew from the chill marble breaks, While each peculiar pow'r its long-wont feat forfakes.

The quaking altars round,
A drear and dying found
Difmays the priest amid his mutter'd toil:
Befide the golden fhrine
Expires the taper's fhine,

The guardian faints with wailings thence recoil;.

As were it their unwilling doom Thro' the aerial waste to rove in lonely gloom.

Celestial groves of palm,

Ye are not ever calm;

Laden with fighs, the gales of Eden flow;
Tears fuch as angels weep

The unfading amaranth steep;

The living waters flide more fad and flow;
The golden harps are all unftrung,

Forego thy keys of gold,
The pearly gates unfold,

Cephas, thy manfioners must now be free.
Not all on high who bide

Shall grace the judge's fide;

When, the new earth reclad in bridal glee,
He comes to wake the dead, the dooms of
On clouds of heav'n majestic riding,
men deciding.

Whether for Conftatine,

Or that mysterious Trine,

Which ranks the prophet with the Only Lord; Or for that Dominique,

Whofe cruel heat oblique

Steep'd writhing infidels in flames abhorr'd; Or for thofe priests the wed-bed who re

nounce,

Flows the wrath-vial now-what mortal may pronounce.

The ftar that told his birth,
Who taught a heedless earth

How might be won the beamy home of bliss,
The queen of heav'n forlorn

From her high front hath torn; Hurling its glories to the foul abyís,

In meet eclipfe, while the arch-fiend of God, Loos'd from his fearing chains, fhall wield the fov'reign rod,

The thousand years are paft

For which his bonds fhould laft,

Mute to the fweeping hand, and on the wil- Again he ftrolls abroad and roars amain;

lows hung.

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E'en the much-lov'd difciple must not stay, His crown of glory fheds a paler, bluer ray. Cecilia's bright-hair'd band

Of pupil cherubs ftand,

"There is no God," he cries, While impious shouts arise,

And laughing crouds applaud the hell-taught

ftrain.

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Was it for thefe accurft,

Great Angelo, that erft

Thy chifel bad the moving marble preach? That Raphael was not loth

The storied wall to cloathe

With veiling wings their drooping heads With thofe pure charities, which vainly

concealing:

To hymns of praise and joy

Their clofed lips are coy;

To anthems high in echoing air far pealing. Hufh'd is her foul-diffolving tongue,

Nor floats aloof her proud-voic'd organ's rolling fong.

MONTHLY MAG, No, xxxi,

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