I cannot help recollecting a much more extraordinary fact, which is affirmed of himself by Retif de la Bretorme, a voluminous and original writer of French novels. He laboured, and may still labour, in the humble office of corrector to a printing-house; but this office enabled him to transport an entire volume from his mind to the press; and his work was given to the public without ever having been written by the pen. After a quiet residence of four years, during which I had never moved ten miles from Lausanne, it was not without some reluctance and terror that I undertook, in a journey of two hundred leagues, to cross the mountains and the sea. Yet this formidable adventure was achieved without danger or fatigue; and at the end of a fortnight I found myself in lord Sheffield's house and library, safe, happy, and at home. The character of my friend (Mr Holroyd) had recommended him to a seat in parliament for Coventry, the command of a regiment of light dragoons, and an Irish peerage. The sense and spirit of his political writings have decided the public opinion on the great questions of our commercial intercourse with America and Ireland.* The sale of his "Observations on the American States" was diffusive, their effect beneficial; the navigation act, the palladium of Britain, was defended, and perhaps saved, by his pen; and he proves, by the weight of fact and argument, that the mother country may survive and flourish after the loss of The Vth Volume . The VIth Volume Sbegun July 1784-ended 1786 These three volumes were sent to press August 15, 1787, and the whole impression was concluded April following. *Observations on the Commerce of the American States, by John lord Sheffield; the sixth edition, London, 1784, in octavo America. My friend has never cultivated the arts of composition; but his materials are copious and correct, and he leaves on his paper the clear impression of an active and vigorous mind. His "Observations on the Trade, Manufactures, and present State of Ireland," were intended to guide the industry, to correct the prejudices, and to assuage the passions, of a country which seemed to forget that she could be free and prosperous only by a friendly connection with Great Britain. The concluding observations are written with so much ease and spirit, that they may be read by those who are the least interested in the subject. ; He fell* (in 1784) with the unpopular coalition but his merit has been acknowledged at the last general election, 1790, by the honourable invitation and free choice of the city of Bristol. During the whole time of my residence in England I was entertained at Sheffield place and in Downing street by his hospitable kindness; and the most pleasant period was that which I passed in the domestic society of the family. In the larger circle of the metropolis I observed the country and the inhabitants with the knowledge, and without the prejudices, of an Englishman; but I rejoiced in the apparent increase of wealth and prosperity, which might be fairly divided between the spirit of the nation and the wisdom of the minister. All party-resentment was now lost in oblivion; since I was no man's rival, no man was my enemy. I felt the dignity of independence; and as I asked no more, I was satisfied with the general civilities of the world. The house in London which I frequented with most pleasure and assiduity was that of lord North. After *It is not obvious from whence he fell; he never held nor desired any office of emolument whatever, unless his military commissions, and the command of a regiment of light dragoons, which he raised himself, and which was disbanded on the peace in 1783, should be deemed such. the loss of power and of sight, he was still happy in himself and his friends; and my public tribute of gratitude and esteem could no longer be suspected of any interested motive. Before my departure from England, I was present at the august spectacle of Mr Hastings's trial in Westminster hall. It is not my province to absolve or condemn the governor of India;* but Mr Sheridan's eloquence commanded my applause; nor could I hear without emotion the personal compliment which he paid me in the presence of the British nation.+ From this display of genius, which blazed four successive days, I shall stoop to a very mechanical circumstance. As I was waiting in the manager's box, I had the curiosity to inquire of the short-hand writer how many words a ready and rapid orator might pronounce in an hour? From 7000 to 7500, was his answer. The medium of 7200 will afford 120 words in a minute, and two words in each second. But this computation will only apply to the English language. As the publication of my three last volumes was the principal object, so it was the first care of my English journey. The previous arrangements with the bookseller and the printer were settled in my passage through London, and the proofs, which I returned more correct, were transmitted every post from the press to Sheffield place. The length of the operation, and the leisure of the country, allowed some time to review my manuscript. Several rare and useful He considered the persecution of that highly-respectable person to have arisen from party views. S. He said the facts that made up the volume of narrative were unparalleled in atrociousness; and that nothing equal in criminality was to be traced either in ancient or modern history, in the correct periods of Tacitus, or the luminous page of Gibbon. Morning Chronicle, June 14, 1788. books, the Assises de Jerusalem, Ramusius de Bello C. Paro, the Greek Acts of the Synod of Florence, the Statuta Urbis Romæ, &c. were procured, and I introduced in their proper places the supplements which they afforded. The impression of the fourth volume had consumed three months. Our common interest required that we should move with a quicker pace; and Mr Strahan fulfilled his engagement, which few printers could sustain, of delivering every week three thousand copies of nine sheets. The day of publication was however delayed, that it might coincide with the fifty-first anniversary of my own birth-day; the double festival was celebrated by a cheerful literary dinner at Mr Cadell's house; and I seemed to blush while they read an elegant compliment from Mr Hayley, whose poetical talents had OCCASIONAL STANZAS, BY MR HAYLEY, READ AFTER THE DINNER AT MR CADELL'S, MAY 8, 1788; BEING THE DAY OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE THREE LAST VOLUMES GENII of ENGLAND and of ROME! The honours each may claim! This social scene with smiles survey, Enough, by Desolation's tide, O'er maim'd POLYBIUS, just and sage, How deep was her regret! Touch'd by this Queen in ruin grand, Now pays a mighty debt. more than once been employed in the praise of his friend. Before Mr Hayley inscribed with my name his epistles on history, I was not acquainted with that amiable man and elegant poet. He afterwards thanked me in verse for my second and third volumes;* and Lo! sacred to the ROMAN Name, And rais'd, like ROME's immortal Fame, The splendid Work is crown'd to-day, ENGLAND, exult! and view not now In every path of liberal art Thy Sons to prime distinction start, Science for Thee a NEWTON raised; Eager to honor living worth, Let artless Truth this homage pay, *SONNET TO EDWARD GIBBON, ESQ. ON THE PUBLICATION OF HIS SECOND AND THIRD With proud delight th' imperial founder gazed |