duty of conversation is to follow suit as you do at whist: if the eldest hand plays the deuce of diamonds, let not his next neighbour dash down the king of hearts, because his hand is full of honours. I do not love to see a man of wit win all the tricks in conversation; nor yet to see him sullenly pass. I speak not this of Mr. Gray in particular; but it is the common failing of men of genius, to exert a proud superiority, or maintain a prouder indolence. I shall be very glad to see Mr. Gray, whenever he will please to do me the favour. I think he is the first poet of the age; but if he comes to my fire-side, I will teach him not only to speak prose, but to talk nonsense, if occasion be. I would not have a poet always sit on the proud summit of the forked hill. I have a great respect for Mr. Gray, as well as a high admiration.

"I am much grieved at the bad news from Canterbury. The Dean is a great loss to his family.

"Your kind letter met me in Hill Street on Thursday it welcomed me to London in a very agreeable manner. I should however have felt a painful consciousness, how little I deserved such a favour, if my long omission of correspondence had not been owing

Dean Friend, who married Primate Robinson's sister.

to

to want of health. I felt ill on my journey to Denton; or rather indeed began the journey indisposed; and only aggravated my complaints by travelling.

"Sickness and bad weather deprived me of the pleasure of seeing the beauties of Derbyshire. However I got a sight of the stately palace of Lord Scarsdale; where the arts of ancient Greece, and the delicate pomp of modern ages, unite to make a most magnificent habitation. It is the best worth seeing of any house I suppose, in England; but I know not how it is, that one receives but moderate pleasure in the works of art. There is a littleness in every work of man. The operations of Nature are vast and noble; and I found much greater pleasure in the contemplation of Lord Breadalbane's mountains, rocks, and lakes, than in all the efforts of human art at Lord Scarsdale's.

"I continued, after my arrival at Denton, in a very poor state of health, which suited ill with continual business, and made me unable to write letters in the hours of recess and quiet. Dr. Gregory came from Edinburgh to make me a visit, and persuaded me to go back with him. The scheme promised much pleasure; and I flattered myself, might be conducive to health; as the doctor, of whose medical skill I have the highest opinion, would have time to observe and consider my various complaints. I was glad also to have an opportunity of amusing my friend Mrs. Chapone, whom I carried with me into the north.

"We had a pleasant journey to Edinburgh, where we were most agrecably entertained in Dr. Gregory's house; all the literati, and the polite company at Edinburgh, paying me all kinds of attentions: and, by the doctor's regimen, my health greatly improved, so that I

was

was prevailed upon to indulge my love of prospects by another trip to the Highlands; my good friend and physician still attending me.

"The first day's journey was to Lord Barjarg's, brother to Mr. Charles Ereskine, who was the inti mate companion and friendly competitor of my poor brother Tom. † Each of them was qualified for the highest honours of his profession, which they would certainly have attained, had it pleased God to have granted longer life.

"Lord Barjarg had received great civilities at Horton, when he was pursuing his law studies in England; so he came to visit me as soon as I got to Edinburgh; and in the most friendly manner pressed my passing some days at his house in Perthshire. I got there by an easy day's journey, after having also walked a long time about the castle of Stirling, which commands a very beautiful prospect.

"Lord Barjarg's place is very fine; and in a very

• James Erskine, a judge of the Supreme Civil Court of Scotland, first by the title of Lord Barjarg, which he afterwards changed for that of Lord Alva. His father, Charles, also a judge by the title of Lord Tinwald, was thir? son of Sir Charles, fourth son of John, 7th Earl of Mar. From Lord Tinwald's elder brother is descended James, now Earl of Rosslyn. Lord Alva was born 1722, and died 13 May, 1796, the oldest judge in Britain. Charles was his elder brother; he was born 21 Oct. 1716, was M. P. and Barrister at Law; and dying in his father's life-time, was buried in the chapel of Lincoln's Inn.

† Thomas Robinson, 2d brother of Mrs. Montagu, was a young barrister, of eminent and rising talents; he was author of a most useful Treatise, entitled "The Common Law of Kent: or the Customs of Gavelkind, with an Appendix concerning Borough-English. By Thomas Robinson of Lincoln's Inn, Esq." 8vo. which having become scarce was reprinted in 1788. He died 29 Dec. 1747.

Horton, near Hythe, in Kent, the seat of the Robinsons.

singular

singular style. His house looks to the south over a very rich valley, rendered more fertile, as well as more beautiful by the meandrings of the river Forth. Behind his house rise great hills covered with wood; and over them stupendous rocks. The goats look down with an air of philosophic pride, and gravity, on folks in the valley. One, in particular, seemed to me. capable of addressing the famous beast of Gervaudun, if he had been there, with as much disdain, as Diogenes did the great conqueror of the east.

"Here I passed two days, and then his lordship and my doctor attended me to my old friend Lord Kinnoul's. * You may imagine my visit there gave me a great deal of pleasure, besides what arose from seeing a fine place. I was delighted to find an old friend enjoying that heart-felt happiness, which attends a life of virtue. Lord Kinnoul is continually employed in encouraging agriculture and manufactures; protecting the weak from injury, assisting the distressed, and animating the young people to whatever, in their various stations, is most fit and proper. He appears more happy in this situation, than when he was whirled about in the vortex of the Duke of Newcastle. "The situation of a Scottish nobleman of fortune? is enough to fill the ambition of a reasonable man; for they have power to do a great deal of good.

"From Dupplin we went to Lord Bredalbane's at Taymouth. Here unite the sublime and beautiful. The house is situated in a valley, where the verdure is the finest imaginable; and noble beeches adorn it; and beautiful cascades fall down the midst of it.

Uncle to the late Earl. He died 1787, aged 77.

VOL. III,

L

Through

Through this valley you are led to a vast lake: on one side the lake there is a fine country; on the other mountains lift their heads, and hide them in the clouds. In some places ranges of rocks look like vast fortified citadels. I passed two days in this fine place, where I was entertained with the greatest politeness, and kindest attentions; Lord Bredalbane seeming to take the greatest pleasure in making every thing easy, agreeable, and convenient.

"My next excursion was to Lord Kames's; and then I returned to Edinburgh. With Lord Kames and his lady I have had a correspondence, ever since I was first in Scotland; so I was there received with most cordial friendship. I must do the justice to the Scottish nation to say, they are the most politely hospitable of any people in the world. I had innumerable invitations, of which I could not avail myself, having made as long a holiday from my business in Northumberland, as I could afford.

"I am very glad to find by letters received from my brother Robinson, that he thinks himself better for the waters of Aix.

"The newspapers will inform you of the death of Mr. George Grenville. I think he is a great loss to the public; and though in these days of ribaldry and abuse, he was often much calumniated, I believe time will vindicate his character as a public man. As a private one, he was quite unblemished. I regret the loss to myself: I was always pleased and informed by his conversation. He had read a vast deal; and had an

* Matthew Robinson of Horton, Esq. afterwards 2d Lord Rokeby, whe died 22 Nov. 18co, æt. 88.

amazing