MISCELLANIES.
Burnet.—In addition to the opinions expressed in favour of or opposed to Burnet's "History," (No. 3. p. 40., and No. 8. p. 120.), I may also refer to Dr. King's Anecdotes; he says,
"I knew Burnet; he was a furious party-man, and easily imposed on by any lying spirit of his own faction; but he was a better pastor than any man who is now seated on the Bishop's bench."
Dryden's chastisement of Burnet—"the noble Buzzard"—in his Hind and Panther must be familiar to your readers. It was given as "adequate retaliation" for the Bishop's censure of the immorality of Dryden's plays. Applied to Burnet's Sketches of Characters, Dryden says:
"His praise of foes is venomously nice,
So touch'd, it turns a virtue to a vice."
Scott's note on this passage well merits perusal.
J.H.M.
Bath.