I approve extremely of ⸺, and its temper, which will contribute to establish its reputation; though I do not doubt but he will sometimes be provoked to sting those who would wield daggers, if they dared.—Though perhaps ridicule may have more effect than nettles.—Teach the people to laugh at incendiaries, and they will hiss, and not huzza them. Montesquieu’s brief answer to the critics of his Esprit des Loix, and Voltaire’s Short Summary of the Nouvelle Eloise, were more felt and tasted than regular confutations, and are oftener resumed; for the world does not supply readers enough for the daily mass of new publications: it must expect to be diverted, I mean at times, for it has not quick digestion enough to feed long on solid food only. Nay, men who have sense to comprehend sound reasoning, are too few and too sedate to trumpet the reputation of grave authors; and by pronouncing just and temperate judgments, (for such men do not exaggerate,) they excite no curiosity in the herd of idle readers. The deepest works that have become standards, owe their characters to length of time; but periodic publications must make rapid impression, or are shoved aside by their own tribe; and to acquire popularity, must gain noisy voices to their side. This is not the most eligible; but as the object of the ⸺ is to serve his country by stemming error, and exposing its apostles, the favour of the multitude must be gained, and it is necessary to tickle them before they will bite.
I am, Dear Sir,
Yours most sincerely,
⸺.
Lord ⸺ retained, to the latest period of his life, his vivacity of conversation and powers of memory. The last anecdote which our Sexagenarian heard him relate, was his explaining the reason which induced him to seek for a town residence in Berkeley-square. In the time of Sir Robert Walpole it was the established etiquette that the prime minister returned no visits: it may probably be so now. But, on his leaving office, Sir Robert took the earliest opportunity of visiting his friends; and one morning he happened to pass, for this purpose, through Berkeley-square, the whole of which had actually been built whilst he was minister, and he had never before seen it. He stopped the coachman, and desired to know where he was.—This incident alone prevailed upon his son, Horace, to take the first opportunity which offered, of purchasing a mansion in this place.
One of his amusements in the latter part of his life, was to preserve all the seals of the numerous letters he received, in a china vase, which was placed upon his writing-table. Once a week he examined them carefully, and putting aside such as were remarkable or curious, he destroyed the rest; and thus, as he observed, he obtained, on easy terms, a curious collection of antique seals and gems.
His breakfast service was of very beautiful Dresden china, which he never would permit any of the domestics to touch.—He always washed them, and put them away himself.
His Lordship was applied to in a very complimentary letter from the late and last King of Poland, for a set of his Anecdotes of Painting. It was not till this occasion presented itself, that he had any idea of the scarcity or value of the books, which he printed at Strawberry Hill.
The only copy he had was interleaved, and full of marginal notes, additions, and corrections. He would often good humouredly relate the extreme difficulty he found in procuring a copy of the work, suitable, as to condition, to the rank of the Royal petitioner for it, as well as the chagrin he experienced in being obliged to purchase it at the enormous price of forty guineas.
The only classical work Lord ⸺ printed, was a beautiful edition of Lucan. The proof sheets were corrected by Cumberland, and considerable pains were bestowed upon it; nevertheless, though exceedingly scarce, and of high price, it is in no very great estimation for its accuracy.