Whilst I wasted lamp-oil, bated my flesh,

Shrunk up my veins ;—and still my spaniel slept.

And still I held converse with Zabarell,

Aquinas, Scotus, and the musty saws

Of ancient Donate ;-still my spaniel slept.

Still on went I.-First, An sit anima?

Then, an it were mortal. O hold, hold,

At that, they're at brain-buffets ;-fallen by the ears
Again, pell-mell together;-still my spaniel slept.-

Then, whether 'twere corporeal, local, fix'd,

Ex traduce? But whether 't had free-will
Or no, the philosophers

Stood banding factions, all so strongly propp'd,
I stagger'd; knew not which was firmer part,
But thought, quoted, read, observ'd, and pryed,
Stuff'd noting-books ;-and still my spaniel slept.-
At length he wak'd, and yawn'd; and, by yon sky!
For aught I know, he knew as much as I.

MARSTON'S What you will.

Our

These are a very few, out of the numberless specimens that might be given, of the merits of those too much neglected writers. own times have seen a noble attempt to revive the taste for those peculiar and striking excellencies of the old English drama, without any of its impurities, and chastened by the correction of its extravagancies, both of plot and manners, in the admirable Plays of Miss

Joanna

“uniform manner, afford little diversity of character for the stage. Our dramatists, "therefore, mark the distinctions of their characters, by incidents more than by sen"timents, and abound more in striking situations than interesting dialogue. In the "old comedy, the catastrophe is occasioned, in general, by a change in the mind of "some principal character, artfully prepared, and cautiously conducted in the mo"dern, the unfolding of the plot is effected by the overturning of a screen, the opening of a door, or some other equally dignified machine."

Joanna Baillie. It requires no great sagacity to foresee, that a much. higher measure of reputation awaits these productions of true genius, than they have yet attained to.

APPENDIX.-No. VIII.

I HAVE mentioned that Lord Kames was in the habit of frequent and familiar correspondence with his bookseller Mr Creech. As these letters regarded chiefly matters of business relative to the publication of his different works, and corrections on the several editions, they are not of a nature generally interesting. The two following short letters are, however, selected as characteristic of the writer. The first, in particular, displays a very amiable feature of his disposition.

I have received the copy of Elements of Criticism for correcting upon. It has been long of coming: there is however no time lost; for, ever since I left town, I have been extremely busy about my Opus magnum*, which is now very near a close, leaving me nothing

His Sketches of the History of Man.

to

to do but polishing, which never has an end. I guess I shall be ready with the fourth part of the Elements before I go to the cir cuit; so that you may prepare for printing next week, if you please; for I can hold the press going from week to week.

In the Preface to Camden's Britannia, I am informed, that mention is made of Ossian, as an Irish poet. Be so good as look for the passage, and let me have a copy of it; for it will be one link in the chain of evidence.

In the fifth volume of Dodsley's Collection of Poems, there is one by T***** D***** at page 226. which will make a good illustration of a new rule of criticism that is to go into the new edition of the Elements. But as it is unfavourable to the author of that poem, I wish to know whether he be alive; for I would not willingly give pain. Might you not come out here, any time in the end of a week, for two or three days?—Yours,

HENRY HOME.

Send me out the second volume of Sir John Dalrymple.

DEAR SIR,

To Mr CREECH.

Blair-Drummond, October 20. 1778.

You shall not have it in your power to accuse me of lingering. On the contrary, perhaps you may soon have reason to think me too active a correspondent. I give you notice, that I have been ready for you, several weeks ago; particularly, that I have put the last hand to the First Book. I wish to hear from you what is pasing in

the

the world, especially with regard to literature. Tell my good friend Mr Alexander Adam *, that I have ready for him a most exact definition of a verb, which even Mr Harris has missed.

Remember your promised visit here. I shall be disappointed if you do not come. I love a walk; and I love a sensible companion to walk with.- Yours,

HENRY HOME.

* Dr ALEXANDER ADAM, Rector of the High School of Edinburgh, author of Roman Antiquities, A Summary of Geography and History, A Classical Latin Dictionary, Classical Biography, and other very useful works; a man equally respectable for his worth and. learning, and for whom Lord Kames entertained a sincere friendship and esteem,

1

END OF VOLUME SECOND.

INDEX..