DEAR SIR,

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No. XL.

FROM SIR ALEXR. DICK.

Prestonfield, August 25, 1765.

this very 25th day of last month you wrote me from

the success I had with my four children after their being inoculated with the small pox. Indeed it was an Event to me of the most interesting nature, and Heavens blessings to me (and I can not help saying to you as being one of our best friends,) on that occasion has been most powerfully and happily bestow'd, for which letter I return you my own and my family's, most hearty thanks. Every good thing has flow'd upon us since as their healths are perfectly good, and your prayers are always powerfull.

Your agreable jaunt to Clumbe park must have been perfectly to your taste, as I think I see how you wou'd eye each part, and then the whole, and catch now and then some new beauties, which had escaped my Lord or some of his ingenious friends with you. The short time I stay'd at Nottingham, when last there in the year 1760, I was much pleas'd with the general look of the country, but had not time to examine the particulars which gave rise to the amenity I discovered.

I give over hopes of ever seeing any thing of Dr. Armstrong but his Ghost! He tantalized me with hopes of a visit, but Lord Granby wafted him away another way, so all I said, was pox take my Lord Granby! for which my nephew the Colonel, gave me a severe rebuke; as, says he, we dont know how soon, upon this change of the ministry, we may have a new war with France, in which case his health is precious. How cou'd it happen that the Dr. and you play'd so exactly Bo peep? He sent me a very good letter, with a Dutch physician, who call'd here last week to see the progress of physick here, which indeed is something surprizing.

Apropos your anxiety about your wonderfull ingenious friend Blacklock is most natural. I call several times to see

him, and find both himself and his worthy help-mate chearfull and happy in their new habitation, and lately as I could not get to see them my self, I sent my Wife, since I got your Letter, to make more particular enquiries, and she reports to me that they have got a certainty of 7 Boarders, and have place only for one more, which I hope the winter cannot fail to produce to them; at present in the house only 3. The rent of the house is high, but it is commodious, and all the furniture new, and kept very neat. Your intended humanity to them will, I dare say, be very seasonable, and I presume will be the last they will need to set them well on their feet. I expect they will make me another visit before the pleasant harvest weather we now have is over, as I intended to regale him with the sight of a copy of a Letter I have just now got from a relation of mine, brother to Mr. Archbald Gibson, Merchant in Dantzic; it is wrote in English, by the present King Stanislaus, of Poland, to that gentleman, who, it seems, had the trust of remitting his money and other concerns, which carefully executed for him when he had his first education in England; and with whom at the siege of Dantzick, his father, old Count Poniatowski, stay'd and had much aid and assistance from him. As it will please Mr. Blacklock much, I am sure it will please you. The copy follows: N. B. Mr. Gibson had sent a Congratulatory Letter to the King on his Coronation.

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Warsaw, the 19 Septr. 1764.

“I have received your most friendly Letter of the 12th with a heart I dare say correspondent to the goodness and openness of yours. I remember you perfectly well and can 66 assure you Sir that I preserve a particular liking to those "whom my first infant looks have learned me to call friends "and familiars to my parents. Inheritance is a sacred Title; “I have a claim to you Sir, which I'll never let fall. May Heavenly goodness pour his Bountys upon you. May the "Lord be pleased to bestow me often and largely opportu"nities and means to show by the most convincing proofs to

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you, to your family, and to the egregious British nation, “how dearly and high I love and esteem you and them. “This is, and will be the everlasting wish of your

most affectioned

(Signed) STANISLAUS AUGUSTUS, KING.

"P. S. Long disuse has (I am afraid) spoil'd my English "language, but I hope thro' all the philological faults, you "will reed the truth of my affections.”

If this friendly Letter from a crowned head to his friend can entertain your excellent patron, Lord Lincoln, or your worthy brother prebend, Dr. Lowth, you are at liberty to send them or any other you like, a Copy. Mr. Keith says, the present King of Poland, the author of it, was his particular acquaintance when a subject, and was then worthy of the highest estimation, both for ability and goodness of heart. Happy the people of Poland, had they but a good constitution of government!

I shall long for next July, which you mention; may Heaven bring us both together at Durham in good health. My Secretary is at the Earl of Balcarass's, in Fife, but is perfectly well, and long'd, by her last, to hear of you. My wife, and all Mr. Keith's family, and I, send you every good wish.

Yours always,

most affectionately,

ALEXANDER DICK.

DEAR SIR,

WH

No. XLI.'

FROM DR. JOSEPH WARTON.

HILST I was searching our College Register in compliance with your request, we received that dreadful Blow of our poor Warden's death; with which I must own to you I was so struck and confounded, that it put all other thoughts quite out of my head. This was followed by some events very interesting to Us here; especially one, that was well worth attending to, which was the near prospect of having Dr. Lowth for our Warden. This he will explain to you. I mention these circumstances as having engrossed my attention, and having compelled me to do a thing which I entreat you to pardon, the neglecting to answer your very kind letter. You may depend on Master Massingberd's meeting with all the Tenderness and Care, it is in my power to bestow on Him; not only for his own sake, who appears by your account so well to deserve countenance and encouragement, but most certainly on account also of your warm recommendation. I have ever made it my business particularly to attend to Lads of that temper and turn, of which you describe him to be.

As soon as I can again get access to our Registers I shall proceed in my search about the entrances you mention: and in the mean time inform you, that Dr. Burton assures me, the whole of Needs's Story* was a Trick, concerted to im

*Note on Dr. Warton's letter No. 41. from Mr. Spence's papers. Dr. Burton thinks Needs' story an idle one. He was a loose, idle boy. His first account was, that K. Charles II. came to him with a pipe in his mouth, whilst he was at the Foricas, and told him, that the old chaplain, and the bishop of Winchester would die that year. He went afterwards on Midsummer eve into the chapel porch, and there fell asleep. Whilst he was there, Charles Coker pull'd off his gown and waistcoat, and walked by him in his shirt to frighten him. This waked him, and he said, he should die, because he found he had been asleep; for it was believed,

pose on Dr. Fletcher. Needs was known to be drunk that night, and the Story was contrived to alarm his Masters with something Extraordinary, and by that means, turn off their attention to his fault. His character was that of a dissolute drunken boy; and Dr. Burton says, the very first Punch he ever tasted was of Needs's making in Sixth Chamber.—However the exact time in which he foretold He should die was in truth an extraordinary affair. He sat next to Burton (the Physician afterwards) in the Chapel when he sent for leave to go out-told Him then in the Chapel that he should die in a few Days, and that night named the precise Day, which happened accordingly.

Mr. Lowth desires me to inclose a packet to you—I wish our excellent friend, Mr. Pitt's pieces had appeared in better Company, and in a more honourable Collection. Mr. Lowth tells me you had thoughts of spending a few Days with Him at Winchester; which would have given much pleasure to many persons here, but to none more, than,

Dear Sir,

to your obliged and affectionate humble Servant

Winchester, Commoners College,

Jan. 15, 1764.

JOS. WARTON.

P. S. Mr. Lowth has just sent me word that his packet is not ready.

that whoever on Midsummer-eve should fall asleep in the churchporch, would die that year. Some time afterwards he was taken ill at chapel; and told Simon Burton, who sat next to him, that he should die by that day sen-night, or within about that time. He had a fever, and was delirious; but afterwards came to himself, and asked what day of the week it was; the nurse told him Friday, tho' it was Wednesday, on purpose to deceive him. He said, it could not be Friday, for that he was sure he should die on Thursday, as he really did.