SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

COIRESPONDENCS.

Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century. Consisting of Au- thentic Memoirs and Original Letters of Eminent Persons ; and intended as a Se- quel to the Literary Anecdotes. By John Bowyer Nichols, F.S.A. Volume VII.

RIOORAPRY, Nichols and Son. Final Memorials of Charles Lamb ; consisting chiefly of his Letters not before pub- lished, with Sketches of some of his Companions. By Thomas Noon Talfourd, one of his Executors. In two volumes Moxon • sicnoLs's ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE LITERARY HISTORY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

THE long connexion of the Nichols family with the Gentleman's Magazine argued a turn for antiquities and literary history, while it gave the means of full indulgence in those pursuits, or indeed compelled it. An extensive correspondence with antiquarians, scholars by profession, and literary men, a personal intercourse with many of them, and a thorough acquaintance with the past and current literature in their own line, was to the elder Nichols a matter of daily business rather than of choice, and the purchase of manuscript corre- spondence and documents less the indulgence of a taste than an invest- ment of capital. In knowledge which is patent to all, as the contents of the Gentleman's Magazine and its contemporary publications, none, ex- cept a rival editor perhaps, could compete with the late John Nichols; for what others would have to seek for, he had at "his finger-ends." In that collateral or subordinate knowledge which is acquired (though not di- rectly used) in the course of. half a century and upwards of employments such as those of John Nichols's, he necessarily stood alone ; and nearly so, perhaps, in the large store of letters and papers accumulated by him and his son, John Bowyer Nichols, the editor of the volume before us.

That knowledge and those opportunities have been worthily turned to account in several ways ; but more especially in the nine volumes of "Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century" and the six volumes of "Illustrations of the Literary History" of the same period. Some- thing perhaps of " Mr. Urban "—of the antiquarian's love for minute facts, of the importance he attaches to trifles, and of his zealous interest in things that have been, though containing nothing of the past, the present, or the future—might influence the mind of Mr. Nichols and be visible in his works. Still, few or none have contributed such ample and original literary illustrations to any century as he: and in works whose first and primary object is to exhibit information, to illustrate character, throw light upon obscure events, and preserve a storehouse of materials, it is difficult 4 priori to say what is trifling. A person without any know- ledge of the literature and history of the times may find little that is at- tractive. The names appeal to no associations ; the illustrations of facts are nothing to a man who knows nothing of the facts themselves ; and even gossip, anecdotes, or strong exhibitions of character, are rarely of interest to the kind of reader we speak of; unless their piquancy is very strong or the story very good.. Even a more literate reader has rarely such catholic taste and knowledge as to feel an interest in every class of anecdote or illustration. A person whose studies have lain among the belles lettres cares nothing for the pursuits of antiquaries, little for that heraldic kind of attraction which depends upon persons or;names. The same remark reversed applies to archeologists or scholars with a special pursuit, except that they frequently take an interest in general literature and the gossip of society. It is the same with men who recur to collect- eana for a purpose : the inquirer who is searching about Gouch is in- different to Grainger. The first merit in a storehouse of materials is fulness; while deficiency, if it could have been supplied, is a great fault. And these principles should always be borne in mind when the reader encounters what is to him minute or tedious in collections of original Matter.

Of the six volumes of the Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century, four were published during the life of the late Mr. Nichols, and two after his death. The seventh volume, now before us, and an eighth hereafter to appear, consist of matter mostly acquired by purchase since the publication of the previous parts. Nominally, the principal person is Bishop Percy, the well-known author of the. .Reliques of Ancient English Poetry ; a publication which popularized literary archaeology, gave an extraordinary stimulus to the inquiry after old bal- lads, family memorials, and other documents, and, in conjunction with the shocks and revolutions in public affairs, imparted a more healthy tone to the worn-out literature of the school of Louis the Fourteenth and the later Stuarts. In reality, however, the volume is rather the correspond- ence addressed to the Bishop than his own letters, which are few in number ; though those written often illustrate his objects or pursuits at the time, and occasionally indicate his character in the points answered. We note this peculiarity only as a fact. The letters to the Bishop are probably more interesting than his own would be ; they are cer- tainly much more various. Living a great part of his time at a remote Irish diocese, he had nothing but his literary pursuits and his family matters to write about ; while his correspondents kept him up to the literature, archmology, gossip, or public events of the time, in addition to discussing their own or Dr. Percy's more personal studies. There is also another source of variety in the men themselves, each looking at those things which most attracted him in his sphere of observation, and expressing his ideas in his own peculiar style. Of the dozen letter-writers, the first in point of time (1756-1766) is Grainger the poet, a writer whose " Sugar-Cane " enjoyed some sort of celebrity beyond the last century ; whose " Ode to Solitude " occupied a place in selections till very lately, if it does not now ; and whose version of Ti- bullus still takes a place in the " British Translations." At the opening of the period (1758) Percy was a rising man in the Church, and engaged in several literary projects ; one of which was a translation of a Chinese noveL Grainger was endeavouring to rise as a London physician. and literary man ; and was preparing a translation of Ovid, or more truly, was assisting Percy to prepare it, as well as meditating Tibullus and their early correspondence runs much upon revises, proofs, and personal matters, intermingled with anecdotes of London literary men, among whom Grainger had an acquaintance. At a later day, when the poet of the Sugar-Cane had finally settled in the West Indies, the topics are more various, partaking of the nature of travelling remarks, though the literary doings of the two friends are still prominent ; Grainger dis- covering a confidence in " the life to come in every poet's creed," which the event has scarcely realized. Closely allied in subject to Grainger, is the Anderson section ; though it does not begin till upwards of thirty years afterwards, when Bishop Peroy introduced himself to Dr. Anderson, referring to the life and works of Grainger in Anderson's well-known edition of the Poets ; but pointing out the necessary incompleteness from imperfect materials, offering all Grainger's manuscripts and his own assistance, and hinting at a separate and complete edition of Grainger's Life and Works. Anderson caught at the idea; and the result was one of the most remarkable procrastinations perhaps in literature. There was continually something going on in the way of inquiry, research, writing, and even printing ; but Bishop. Percy died (in 1811) before the edition was completed ; Anderson did manage to prepare it before his own death, in 1830; but it was not till 1836 that it finally appeared, nearly half a century "after the fair."

The best and most characteristic writer is Steevens, the commentator on Shakspere ; to whom Mr. Nichols assigns the priority in appearance, though his letters do not begin till 1788. His hard and worldly (rather than polished) keenness, his biting touches, his terse and nervous stile, with his half indifferent half jocose disregard to accuracy when anything pointed is in the case, give vivacity to everything he touches, and make him longo intervallo the letter-writer of the book. Even in his most placable moods there is evidently something mischievous behind. He is like one of the wild animals in a menagerie, whom their keepers say cannot be trusted, however tame they may seem. The other correspondents—but it will be a more distinct and satisfac- tory way to exhibit a synoptical view of the whole, with the period over which each correspondence extends, and such remarks as may be necessary to convey an idea of the letters, taking their writers in the order in which Mr. Nichols prints them.

1. (1788-1797.) George Steevens, the commentator.

2. (1796-1807.) Reverend Henry Meen, a Prebendary of St. Paul's; who is known to the learned world by several translations of classics, and some critical publications. His subjects are literary and social mat- ters. There is a touch of obsequiousness about him, which probably was only manner.. He seems to have been a person of more method and puno- tuality than thia sketch by Steevens would indicate. " He told me he had sent you at least three sheets since you left England. i But be is so confused and irregular in all his undertakings, that I believe he hardly knows the number of the proofs he has revised. I am also well convinced that he often takes what he means to do for what he has really done. I have striven in vain to make him more attentive to your trust; but, as Shakespeare says, it were as easy to

---breathe life into a stone, Quicken a rock, and make it dance canary,'

as to enforce his punctuality or accelerate his motions. He has much learn- ing and many virtues; but these estimable requisites are too often thrown away for want of a sufficient degree of method and constancy in their application. Hence; he is always employed without doing anything; and climbs downward, and ad- vances backward, more adroitly than any other man in the whole circle of my air quaintance. The very table he writes at and the room he sits in are emblematic of himself; for they contain many articles of value, but in such disorder that nothing wanted can readily be found. In abort, my endeavours to render him more useful to your Lordship have hitherto been quite thrown away, and conse- quently are discontinued."

S. (1798-181L) Dr. Anderson, editor of the " British Poets," &e.

4. (1756-1766.) James Grainger, translator of Tibullus.

5. (1784-1790.) James Boswell, the biographer. His letters to Bishop Percy are few, and chiefly relate to Dr. Johnson, or to Boswell's Tour to the Hebrides and the forthcoming Life. Some miscellaneous correspond- ence follows, from different persons, including Miss Seward; with a reprint of various papers from the Gentleman's Magazine, chiefly controversial, as to the accuracy of Boswell or Miss Seward in relation to Johnson.

6. (1773-1776.) Reverend George Ashby, an antiquarian. His letters to Bishop Percy are scant. A correspondence to various persons follower the subjects of all are antiquarian, and rather dry, with the exception of curious specimen of Romish piety of the fourteenth century. 7. (1781-1791.) Reverend Dr. Lort, a scholar, antiquarian, and man of the world. The topics are various; his style easy; and his manner that of a divine who lives in the world, with his eyes open to its doings, espe- cially to promotions in the Church or translations among the Bishops. There are some other letters of Lort to Dr. Birch, on antiquarian subjects, and to Walpole—chiefly formal, or relating to the Chatterton question. 8. (1763-1764.) Dr. Birch, the celebrated antiquarian. The corre- spondence consists of applications from Percy to Birch for literary informa- tion.

9. (1782-1804.) Archdeacon Narea, a well-known voluminous writer, and many years editor of the British Critic. The correspondence is lite- rary, with occasional reference to a friendly review to be done for the Bishop. These letters are followed by a long miscellaneous collection of Nares and his friends, from 1789 to 1829.

10. (1787-1804.) Joseph Cooper Walker, an Irish antiquary, general scholar, and author, of rather a superficial cast. Gough and Pinkerton are more prominent than Percy in the correspondence; which relates to antiquities and olden literature, with notices of Irish affairs.

11. (1787-1795.) Reverend Dr. Thomas Campbell, the Irish Camp- bell of whom there are notices in Boswell and Mrs. Thrale. He pub.. lished (in 1778) " Strictures on the History of Ireland," and an Account of the South of Ireland, with some miscellanies. Although he deals a good deal in literature and antiquities, he has social sketches, and in a more jolly tone than the other writers. There is also a correspondence between Campbell and Gough, for whom Campbell first wrote his historical sketches. 12. (1795-1807.) Reverend Dr. Ledwich, author of " The Anti- quities of Ireland," and several other antiquarian publications. AMA*. ology is not overlooked in his correspondence with Percy; but the topics are various, and often of a family nature. A correspondence with Gough,

.whom Dr. Ledwich assisted with his ",Ireland," closes the volume, at the 356th page.

It will have been seen that the order of arrangement is neither alpha- ,betical, chronological, nor with, any reference to predominance of subject, which upon the whole we think to be Grainger; nor does any idea of method appear to have been followed, unless it be that the most vigorous writer stands first. Consequently, the reader is not able to have that dis- tinct impression of times, subjects, and as it were of growth, that the chronological order might have conveyed. The character of the book has .been already indicated in our general remarks upon the series ; but the volume would have borne curtailment. There is a good deal that is trivial, and without any apparent object or use: and from this remark we ex- elude all minute inquiries upon single points of literature or archaeology, with corrections of proofs, or births, deaths, and marriages ; since such particulars may be of use to a biographer. The first general characteristic of the volume is the manner in which the literary student is carried over the past; mingling with men and events with which he is more or less familiar; frequentlly catching _glimpses of bygone modes and habits;, and occasionally learning some- thing more of matters of which he has heard but slightly. Another point, curious for its estimation in those more formal times, is the delay in answering letters, even when an answer was obviously required : and it ..seems to a great extent to have been owing to the expense of postage, and the difficulty of transmitting any parcel to places the least removed from a leading road or town. With our penny postage, proofs, and even books transmissible anywhere, our railroad facilities for rapid move- ment, and the all but certainties of steam navigation, it requires an effort of mind to realize the difficulties of locomotion even half a century ago,— .the .manner in which a•frank was valued and sought for, how particular channels were carefully pointed out, and the joy with which a traveller g near a place, or a.friends friend's place, was welcomed, to be llaadden.

"Oldglas, Darrow, Ireland, March 22d, 1787.

-"Sir--Yon cannot but think it extraordinary [says Ledwich to Gough] that I ashould not before this have acknowledged your favour of the 25th of Sep- tember last; but-I assure you I did not receive it till yesterday, owing to my having changed my residence from one part of my parish (which is nine miles long) to another, and consequently my poet-town. In general our posts are very regular, and eight or ten days bring a letter to or from London."

Another point which will strike the mind, is the fact that poets are not alone entitled'io be classed as the " genus irritabile " ; and that courts are not the only places where men are not altogether what they seem. Mien Gough was in Ireland, Walker assisted his -inquiries, gave him much national and local information and consulted Hough upon his own antiquarian book on Irish Dress. When it appeared, the author mialiked a: criticism on it, and wrote thus (suspiciously?) to.his friend.

"Dublin, Feb. 22d, 1789.

"Dear Sir—I observe-my 'Irish Dress'' has been reviewed with great candour and politeness in 'the lEnglishlieview but in the Gentleman's Magazine' I was sorry, for the sake of 'that valuable repoSitory, 'to find it treated with great illiberality. The faults on which the reviewer fastened were below the notice of criticism. This you must have observed yourself, if.yon took the trouble to read the critique."

Mr. Nichols quietly adds, in a no5le, "This able but severe-critique was written-by Mr. Gough himself" A more marked instance occurs in the case of Percy. Among his correspondents was Dr. Farmer; and in his letters the Bishop seems to have made free with his friend.Steevens. Unluckily, the commentator was one of Yarmer's,executors; in which capacity Percy's portraits came into his hands ; and he takes his revenge by.ripping old needs, and insinuating a charge approaching to cheating against his "dear Lord."

" Hampstead Heath, Nov. 10th, 1797.

" My dear Lord—The necessity of my immediate examination of many thousand papers belonging to our late friend, will, I trust, be received as -an spoai for the briefness of my reply to your last favour. " 'hen I was requested to look over-these manuscripts, I was utterly uncon- scious that even a single letter would be found

among them; but, to my great

suse,met wittsev hundreds, .tten7alinMtevariety of ocrasionsnrojaefareview, therefore, of some o these docanetslimyseaf authorized to inform your Lordship, that, exclusive of the memoranda you allude to, not less thanfour of your own epistles contain acknowledgments of a debt long slue, -though the quantum- of it is unspecified. This deficience, however, may in some degree be supplied by the report of Dr. Farmer himself. In October 1794, I casually asked him hew it happened that you, who are an Oxonian, took your Doctor's degree at our University. He immediately gave me a distinct account of the whole transaction; and concluded by observing, that the 1001. which he had lent you to par for your academical honours was not at the time of our con- versation repaid. He subjoined more particulars, such as your preparation-to read your Thesis, &c., and your progress through other solemnities of your act. Those circumstances are fresh in my remembrance; though I can assure you that, as yet, I have not mentioned to the Reverend Thomas Farmer a word about them, or the specific sum intrusted by his uncle to you. Do not suppose, however, that all notice of the debt is confined to my single testimony; for much the same intelli- gence had been already communicated by the deceased to another gentleman, who, like myself, has the honour of your Lordship's acquaintance. " lf, therefore, I may be permitted to adviseyon, (which I do accordingly to my best judgment, and I am sure-with the utmost sincerity,) the 1001. should be im- mediately repaid, that no further inquiry may be urged about it. The sum is trifling compared with inconveniencies that may suggest-themselves to your own consideration.

"Let me now conclude, my Lord, by observing, that though in the course of your correspondence with Dr. Farmer I have discovered a few traits relative to myself which might as well have been omitted, I act on the present occasion with the strictest impartiality, and exactly as I should have done had your Lordahip's later sentiments concerning me been as favourable as your/mg. "I have the honour to be, my dear Lord, your most faithful and obedient arrant, GEO. STEEPENS. " Forgive the interlineations of the letter, which,I have not time to transcribe:,

It should be observed that the Farmer family expressed themselves satisfied touching the Bishop's explanation about the "hundred pounds " : this is his answer on the other matter.

"I know not what you may have found in my letters, written in the most un- reserved confidence and under the sacred seal of friendship, nor under what im- pressions at the moment; bat, as I formerly entertained a very sincere regard for you, so I had again renewed.my former sentiments, otherwise :I should not have written to you as I' have done lately."

We could illustrate various other points of an analogous character in a similar way ; but we will close with a few ana.

SCOTT AND PERCY: 180.5.

As to the conversation I had with Mr. Bees, in which your name was mentioned improperly, I yet retain, at this distance of time, a general impression of it,-thmgh I do not distinctly recollect the particular expressions. It was occasioned by mentioning to Mr. Rees a conversation I had with Mr:Longman some time before, relative to'his undertaking a new edition of the Northern Antiquities. Dr. Ley- den was present; and, as I recollect, eagerly recommended the undertaking, and

ro

pposed'hir. Walter Scott to be the editor. Mr. Longman said, "I would prefer Bishop Percy: his name is of more weight and importance in the literary world, and of higher estimation with the public at large.' In this opinion I concurred; and I even went the length of saying, that the " Border Ballads " were not en- titled to be placed on the same shelf with the " Reliques." This opinion, -I under- stand, has been reported to Mr. Scott, and has produced a jealousy of your pre- tensions and a coldness towards me. The existence of a literary cabal is evident, and. Scott is the idoL—Anderson.

TENDERNESS OF SMOLLETT ON TOBIAS.

I think Dr. Smollett accuses Grainger of having attacked him on the subject of his name, Tobias. But, to the best of my recollection, there was no foundation for this; and all that Grainger did was the printing his opponent's name at full length, Tobias, who till then had always given his signature T. Smollett, and T. passed for the initial of Thomas. But Smollett adverted to the above circum- stance in such angry terms as showed he was sore at the disclosure, which Grain- ger and his friends often laughed at.—Percy.

SHENSTONE'S ELEGANCIES.

Johnson had committed great mistakes with respect to Shenstone, which you have very properly rectified on the authority of Graves. He grossly misrepre- sented both his circumstances and his house; which was small but elegant, and displayed a great deal of taste in the alteration and accommodation of the apart- ments, &c. On his sideboard he had a neat marble cistern, which, by turning a cock, was fed with living water; and he had many other little elegant contri- vances, which displayed his genius, and made me regret that this little temple of the Muses was pulled down for the larger building of Mr. Home. This you may, if you please, mention in your new edition. That Johnson should have no con- ception of the value or merit of what is now called picturesque gardening, we can- not wonder, as he was so extremely shortsighted that he never saw a rural land- scape in his life; and in his Travels through Scotland pronounces that one moun- tain must be like another.—Percy.

GRAINGER ON THE "FINEST PEASANTRY ": 1758.

Of all the people I ever saw in-my life, the common Irish are the most indigent and most dirty. They live in the meanest huts, and feed on the coarsest fare I ever beheld. This shocked me more than I can well describe to you; for I had always given them the preference to the Soots: but in all -these particulars they are as far outdone by my countrymen as the English surpass us; in short, the men are all•Dermots, and the women all Shilahs; and I am now less surprised that Dean Swift gave such a humbling:picture of human nature, in his account of the.Yahoos, considering the country he lived in.

GEORGE THE FOURTH.

1784. The Prince of Wales has been very ill, even in much danger, and only saved by bleeding and blistering; which it is hoped will make him more cautions of eating and • drinking for the future. Sir John Eliot [the Prince's physician] told the Queen that he had been preaching as, much to the Prince against intem- perance as any Bishop could have done. The Queen replied, "And probably with like success."

1787. The King has had a slight attack of the goat; and the Prince of Wales therefore swears he will never drink water.—Lort.

BOSWELL AND GEORGE THE THIRD.

Bosvielrs book, I suppose, will be out in the winter. The King at his levee talked to him, as was natural, on this subject. Boswell told his Majesty that he had another work an the anvil—a Histery- of the Rebellion in 1745; but that he was at a loss how to style the principal person who figured in it- • " How would you style him, Mr. Boswell? " "I was thinking, Sire, of calling him the grandson of the unfortunate James the Second." "That I have no objection to: my title to the crown stands on firmer ground—on an act of Parliament." This is said 'to be• the substance of a conversation which passed at the levee. I wish I was cer- tain of the exactsvords.—Lort.