or even not disgusted in the beginning; yet upon a further acquaintance, there is furely matter for curiofity and reflection. It is strange if, among all that huge mass of words, there be not fomewhat intermixed for thought. Laws have been the refult of long deliberation, and that not of dull men, but the contrary; and have so close a connection with history, nay, with philosophy itself, that they must partake a little of what they are related to fo nearly. Befides, tell me, have you ever made the attempt? Was not you frighted merely with the diftant prospect? Had the Gothic character and bulkinefs of thofe volumes (a tenth part of which perhaps it will be no further neceffary to confult, than as one does a dictionary) no ill effect upon your eye? Are you fure, if Coke had been printed by Elzevir, and bound in twenty neat pocket volumes, instead of one folio, you should never have taken him for an hour, as you would a Tully, or drank your tea over him? I know how great an obftacle ill fpirits are to refolution. Do you really think, if rid ten miles every

you

morning, in a week's time you should not entertain much

ftronger hopes of the Chancellorship, and think it a much more probable thing than you do at present? The advantages you mention are not nothing; our inclinations are more than we imagine in our own power; reason and refolution determine them, and fupport under many difficulties. To me there hardly appears to be any medium between a public life and a private one; he who prefers the first, must put himself in a way of being serviceable to the rest of mankind, if he has a mind to be of any confequence among them: Nay, he must not refuse being in a certain degree even dependent upon some men who are so already. If he has the good fortune to light on such as will make no ill use of his humility, there is no shame in this: If not, his ambition ought to give place to a reasonable pride, and he should apply to the cultivation of his own mind those abilities which he has not been permitted to use for others' fervice. Such a private happiness (suppofing a small competence of fortune) is almost always in every one's power, and the proper enjoyment of age, as the other is the employment of youth. You are yet young,

agree with

have some advantages and opportunities, and an undoubted capacity, which you have never yet put to the trial. Set apart a few hours, see how the first year will you, at the end of it you are still the master ; if you change your mind, you will only have got the knowledge of a little fomewhat that can do no hurt, or give you cause of repentance. If your inclination be not fixed upon any thing else, it is a symptom that you are not absolutely determined against this, and warns you not to mistake mere indolence for inability. I am fenfible there is nothing stronger against what I would perfuade you to, than my own practice; which may make you imagine I think not as I fpeak. Alas! it is not fo; but I do not act what I think, and I had rather be the object of your pity, than you should be that of mine; and be affured, the advantage that I may receive from it, does not diminish my concern in hearing you want fomebody to converse with freely, whose advice might be of more weight, and always at hand. We have fome time fince come to the fouthern period of our voyages; we spent about nine days

at Naples. It is the largest and most populous city, as its environs are the most deliciously fertile country, of all Italy. We failed in the bay of Baix, sweated in the Solfatara, and died in the grotto del Cane, as all ftrangers do; saw the Corpus Chrifti proceffion, and the King and the Queen, and the city underground, (which is a wonder I reserve to tell you of another time,) and so returned to Rome for another fortnight; left it (left Rome !) and came hither for the fummer. You have seen an Epiftle to Mr. Ashton,* that seems to me to be full of spirit and thought, and a good deal of poetic fire. I would know your opinion. Now I talk of verses, Mr. Walpole and I have frequently wondered you should never mention a certain imitation of Spenfer, published last year by a namefake' of yours, with which we are all enraptured and enmarvailed.

ap

LETTER XXXVI.

MR. WALPOLE AND MR. GRAY TO

MR. WEST.

DEAR WEST,

Florence, July 31, 1740, N. S.

HAVE advised with the most noteable antiquarians of this city, on the meaning of Thur gut Luetis; I can get no fatisfactory interpretation. In my own opinion 'tis Welsh. I don't love offering conjectures on a language in which I have hitherto made little proficiency, but I will trust you with my explication. You know the famous Aglaughlan, mother of Cadwalladhor, was renowned for her conjugal virtues, and grief on the death of her royal fpoufe. I conclude this medal was ftruck in her regency, by her express order, to the memory of her Lord, and that the infcription, Thur gut Luetis, means no more than her dear Llewis, or Llewellin.

Y Y