is hoped that more will appear. A journal kept by Sir Patrick Vans when he went ambassador to Denmark, of which we have as yet only found a part, is curious; and there is a very intimate letter from the Earl of Gowrie addressed to his brother, the laird of Barnbarroch, and dated the 6th of August, 1582, at Ruthven Castle, which shows that at that time he had no thoughts of the enterprise which he executed afterwards on the 22nd, and which has been called the "Raid of Ruthven." Yet he mentions in the letter, that, when he writes it, "the King's Majestie is at the house, and is to pass here fra ane of yir two dayes to Atholl to the hunting."

I have only to add that, if at any time you should wish to see any of those papers, they shall be at your disposal. Nisbet's Heraldry, Appendix, p. 250, article Vans of Barnbarroch, will show you what family I represent; the lands of Barnbarroch being still in my possession, and the name of Agnew being assumed by me in obedience to the will of my maternal grandfather, who was of the family of Lochnaw.

MR. J. C. WALKER TO MR. PINKERTON.

St. Valeri, Bray, Nov. 8th, 1797.

I have the pleasure to send you a pamphlet, which was published a few days since by my friend, General Vallancey.

Some weeks ago, I sent you an Irish romance,

which I hope you have received. A letter, instead of a line, should have accompanied the romance; but, when the opportunity of forwarding it occurred, I was not only ill but deeply occupied. I am still an invalid, and still occupied. However, my present business is of a pleasurable, and (it will probably be thought) of an unimportant nature. I am now, in fact, putting the last hand to my Memoir.* I have found the subject more curious and interesting than I expected I should; and, though I presume I shall be severely lashed by the reviewers, my countrymen will probably thank me one day for opening to them a rich mine of intellectual pleasure hitherto little explored.

I am as grateful for your obliging intention, in regard to your History, as if I had gotten it. Major Ouseley acquainted me with the refusal of your printer to indulge you with copies for your friends. As yet, I have only seen a few extracts from the work; but I have seen enough to excite in me a strong desire to see the whole; and I expect the gratification of that desire before the expiration of this month. After such an Herculean labor, you were entitled to a holiday. But I trust you will shortly resume your pen, and continue to instruct and amuse us.

I long for the appearance of Surrey's works.

An Historical Memoir on Italian Tragedy, from the earliest period to the present time: illustrated with specimens and analyses of the most celebrated Tragedies; and interspersed with occasional observations on the Italian Theatres, and biographical notices of the principal Tragic Writers of Italy. London, 1799, 4to.

The origin of English blank verse, which naturally falls within the editor's plan, is a curious subject, and will, I am sure, be ably treated by our learned and ingenious friend. Dr. Warton has not, I find, acquired much credit by his edition of Pope. He should not have published the sweepings of the poet's library.*

I wish Mr. Roscoe would give us a history of the age of Leo. He has done great justice to that of his accomplished father. If Mr. Roscoe be not a powerful historian, he certainly writes with ease, elegance, and (what poor Gibbon failed in) perspicuity. Italian literature has many obligations to Mr. Roscoe, and will, I trust, have more.

THE EARL OF FIFE+ TO MR. PINKERTON. Duff House, December 1st, 1797.

Your letter was sent to me from Fife House, Whitehall I received it yesterday. I have a very large collection of portraits, many of them very curious and in great preservation. There is

Dr. Warton on this account received merited censure from many quarters; but from none more severe or more merited than from the anonymous author of the Pursuits of Literature, of the prose portion of which work I feel it impossible to speak in terms of commendation too high; whether I consider the power of its language, the excellence of its principles, or the wonderful grasp and vigor of the mind of the author. Its subject is unfortunately in general of too transitory a nature; but I would say to the young of all times, "Nocturna versate manu, versate diurnâ."

+ James, second earl, who died in 1809.

in this house one large room full of royal portraits. I do not believe there are any portraits of the kings of Scotland prior to Queen Mary,* or James VI., her son, that can be depended on. There is a very curious portrait of Charles I., when Prince of Wales, painted in the year 1625, by Valasky,† at Madrid: it is in my house at Whitehall. You may see it when you please. I am making out a catalogue of my pictures, which is soon to be printed. If you remind me, I shall certainly send you a copy of it. I shall be in town by Christmas.

* On the subject of portraits of Queen Mary see Vol. I. p. 375, which is strangely at variance with the following extract from a letter from Mr. Davidson to Mr. Pinkerton, dated Dec. 3rd, 1794, in which he says, speaking of the portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots, "I never heard of any genuine picture of that queen. I know Sir Robert Strange sought for one to engrave, but in vain. There is a picture of her at Hamiltonhouse, if I recollect, a virago with red hair. It is said in the account of her execution, she for diversion wore hair of different colors. I recollect to have seen a miniature in the king's collection, which belonged to the Duke of Cumberland; but I did not believe it to be genuine. The present Countess of Findlater showed me a copy she had made of a miniature of Mary, from one which the Countess of Warwick had, and which, she said, was to go to Hamilton. Whether it had any marks of originality I know not."-Mr. Pinkerton, in his Iconographia Scotica, contents himself with observing that "the fictitious portraits of Mary are infinite." He himself gives four different engravings of her, all unlike each other, and all equally unlike what history represents her to have been. In Mr. Lodge's singularly beautiful work, is an exquisite representation of her, from a picture in the collection of Lord Morton, which every one who feels interested in the story of that unfortunate queen will join me in hoping is genuine,

MR. PINKERTON TO THE EARL OF BUCHAN.

Hampstead, Dec. 1st, 1797.

Mr. Harding has consented to let Herbert's name appear in our new prints, which I do not object to, as he was the first publisher. I only wish he had procured more drawings from Scotland; the grand point in which he and Wilkinson not only failed, but saddled me with the expense of such as were procured.

About thirty curious subjects still remain in Scotland; and I hope next spring, if Buonaparte will let us, to form some plan of getting at them. The expense will be considerable, as they are in remote quarters; and the conduct of Herbert and Wilkinson to the few artists we have in that line, will, I believe, render it necessary to employ a good English artist, for which a fund of near a hundred pounds will be requisite; but, as this will seal and close up the work with éclat, I hope to accomplish it, though I should myself lay down half the money. I have indeed had more trouble with this work, by which I shall be out of pocket, than with publications which have amply repaid my labor.

I wish your lordship would inform us about the Sir Andrew Fraser you sent, the plate being ready.

If you could favor us with the date of the marriage of Mary Ramsay to James, second Earl of