LETTERS OF EMINENT LITERARY MEN.

(Continued from p. 8.)

IV.

Dr. John Ward, Professor of Gresham College, to Dr. Cary, Bishop of Clonfert.

[MS. Donat., Brit. Mus., 6226, p. 16.]

My Lord,

While there was any expectation of your Lordship's speedy return to England, I forbore to congratulate you on your late promotion. For though none of your friends could more truly rejoice at this news than I did, both on your own account, and that of the public; yet in the number of compliments which I was sensible you must receive on that occasion, I close rather to be silent for fear of being troublesome. But as I find it is now uncertain, when your affairs may permit of your return hither, I could not omit this opportunity by your good Lady to express my hearty congratulation upon the due regard shown by the Government to your just merit; and shall think it an honour to be continued in your esteem as ultimus amicorum.

I doubt not but your Lordship has seen Mr. Horsley's Britannia Romana advertised in some of our public Papers; but I know not whether you have heard that the author died soon after he had finished the work, before its publication. When it was hoped that the credit of this book might have been of some service to him and his large family, he was suddenly and unexpectedly taken off by an Apoplexy. Such is the uncertainty of all human affairs. That your Lordship may be long preserved in your high station for the good of the Protestant Religion, and the support of public liberty, are the sincere wishes of,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's obed^t Serv^t.

John Ward.

Gresham College,

April 24, 1732.

Mr. Michael Mattaire to the Earl of Oxford.

1736, Oct. 21. Orange Street.

My Lord,

After my most humble thanks for the continuation of Westminster Elections you was so kind as to give me, I must acquit myself of my promise; and therefore I herewith send your Lordship a copy transcrib'd exactly from the MS. given me by Dr. South himself of his verses upon Westminster School, with his name, and the year subscribed at bottom. They were indeed publish'd among his Opera Posthuma Latina Anon. 1717, by Curl, after his impudent way of dealing with dead authors' works; and sometimes also with those of the living.

Curl's printed copy differs from the MS. in these following places:

	Curl.	MS.
Vers. 5.	Multum.	Latè
16.	Et.	dum.
21.	ubi regnat.	quòd regnet.
23.	æmula.	æmula, but over it ardua.
25.	dirigit.	digerit.
26.	nitent.	micant.
29.	studiosæ.	studiosa.
30.	illa.	ipsa.
33.	lumen.	Lucem.

Your Lordship by this may see how much this sawcy fellow has abused this learned man's fine copy of verses; and how justly he deserved the correction which was inflicted on him at that school.

By the tenth Distich it appears that the School (containing then Tercentum juvenes) was managed by three Masters onely: and, for aught we know, might flourish pretty well, though it had not twice that number.

Give me leave, my Lord, to subscribe myself with profound respect,

Your Honor's

most oblig'd, most obedient,

and most humble Serv^t.

M. Maittaire.

"IN INCLYTAM SCHOLAM REGIAM WESTMONASTERIENSEM.

Reginæ fundata manu, Regina scholarum;

Quam Virgo extruxit, Musáq; Virgo colit.

Inconfusa Babel, linguis et mole superba;

Celsior et famâ, quàm fut illa situ.

Gentibus et linguis latè celebrata; tacere

De quâ nulla potest, nec satìs ulla loqui.

Opprobria exuperans, pariterq; encomia: Linguis

Et tot laudari digna, quot ipsa doces.

Hæbræus Græcusq; uno cernuntur in Anglo;

Qui puer huc Anglus venerat exit Arabs.

Tercentum hic florent juvenes: mihi mira videtur

Tam numerosa simul, tam quoque docta cohors.

Sic numero bonitas, numerus bonitate relucet;

Ut stellas pariter lux numerusq; decet.

Arte senes, annis pueros mirabitur hospes;

Dum stupet, in pueris nil puerile videns.

Consurgit, crescitq; puer, velut Hydra sub ictu;

Florescitq; suis sæpe rigatus aquis.

Stat regimen triplici fasces moderante magistro;

Doctaq; Musarum regna Triumvir habet.

Scilicet has inter sedes quòd regnet Apollo,

Optimè Apollineus comprobat ille Tripos.

Sic super invidiam sese effert æardua

Sic super invidiam sese effert æmula; nullis

Invida, sed cunctis invidiosa scholis.

Indè in septenas se digerit ordine classes;

Dispositæ, septem, quæ velut Astræ, micant.

Discit et Authores propria inter mœnia natos;

Et generosa libros, quos legit, ipsa parit.

Instar Araneolæ Studiosa has exhibet artes;

Quas de visceribus texuit ipsa suis.

Literulas docet hic idem Præceptor et Author,

Idem discipulis Bibliotheca suis.

Accipit hìc lucem, non ultrà cæcus, Homerus:

Huc venit à Scythicis Naso reversus agris.

Utraq; divitijs nostris Academia crescit;

Hæc Schola ad implendas sufficit una duas.

Sic Fons exiguus binos excurrit in Amnes:

Parnassi geminus sic quoque surgit Apex.

Huic collata igitur, quantùm ipsa Academia præstat:

Dic, precor; Hæc doctos accipit, Illa facit.

Rob. South.

Ann. Dom. 1652,

aut 1653."

[MS. Harl. 7025, fols. 184, 185.]

VI.

The Earl of Orrery to Mr., afterwards Dr., Thomas Birch.

[Addit. MS., Brit. Mus., 4303, Art. 147. Orig.]

Caledon, Sept. 21, 1748.

Dear Sir,

It either is, or seems to be, a long time since I heard from you. Perhaps you are writing the very same sentence to me; but as the loss is on my side, you must give me leave to complain.

This summer has passed away in great idleness and feasting: so that I have scarce looked into a book of any sort. Mrs. Pilkington and Con. Philips, however, have not escaped me. I was obliged to read them to adapt myself to the conversation of my neighbours, who have talked upon no other topic, notwithstanding the more glorious subjects of Peace, and Lord Anson's voyage. The truth is, we are better acquainted with the stile of Con. and Pilky, than with the hard names and distant places that are mentioned in the Voyage round the World.

I have not peeped into the Anti-Lucretius: it is arrived at Caledon, and reserved for the longest evenings. Carte's voluminous History is weighing down one of my shelves. He likewise is postponed to bad weather, or a fit of the gout. Last week brought us the first Number of Con's second volume. She goes on triumphantly, and is very entertaining. Her sister Pilkington is not so fortunate. She has squandered away the money she gained by her first volume, and cannot print her second. But from you, I hope to hear of books of another sort. A thin quarto named Louthiana is most delicately printed, and the cuts admirably engraved: and yet we think the County of Louth the most devoid of Antiquities of any County in Ireland. The County of Corke is, I believe, in the press; and I am told it will be well executed. I have seen the County of Waterford, and approve of it very much. These kind of Books are owing to an Historical Society formed at Dublin, and of great use to this kingdom, which is improving in all Arts and Sciences very fast: tho' I own to you, the cheapness of French Claret is not likely to add much at present to the encrease of literature. If all true Hibernians could bring themselves to be of your opinion and Pindar's, the glorious memory of King William might keep the head cool, and still warm the heart; but, alas, it sets both on fire: and till these violent fits of bacchanalian loyalty are banished from our great tables, I doubt few of us shall ever rise higher in our reading than the Memoirs of that kind I first mentioned.

I am, Dear Sir, and so is all my family, truly

Yours,

Orrery.

To the Rev. Mr. Thomas Birch,

at his House in

Norfolk Street,

London.

Free (Boyle).