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My address is, one of the Ministers

fo good as to fhew me while I was in
London. I had not only a proof of of Ed.
your obliging difpofition, but I reaped
the good effects of it.

TO DR BIRCH.

Dear Sir,

The papers to which I got accefs by I BEG leave once more to have reyour means, especially thofe from Lord courfe to your good nature and to your Royston, have rendered my work more love of literature, and to prefume upon perfect than it could have otherwife putting you to a piece of trouble. After been. My History is now ready for confidering feveral fubjects for another publication, and I have defired Mr Mil- Hiftory, I have at last fixed upon the lar to fend you a large paper copy of it reign of Charles V. which contains the in my name, which I beg you may ac- first establishment of the prefent politicept as a teftimony of ray regard and cal fyftem of Europe. I have begun of my gratitude. He will likewise to labour seriously upon my task. One tranfmit to you another copy, which I of the first things requifite was to form mult intreat you to prefent to my Lord a catalogue of books, which must be Royston, with fuch acknowledgments confulted. As I never had access to of his favours toward me, as are proper very copious Libraries, I do not prefor me to make. I have printed a fhort tend to any extensive knowledge of Auappendix of original papers. You will thors, but I have made a lift of fuch as obferve that there are feveral inaccura- I thought most effential to the fubject, cies in the prefs work. Mr Millar and have put them down just in the orgrew impatient to have the book pub- der which they occurred to me, or as lifhed, fo that it was impoffible to fend I found them mentioned in any book I down the proofs to me. I hope, how happened to read. I beg you would be ever, the papers will be abundantly in fo good as to look it over, and as your telligible. I publifhed them only to erudition and knowledge of books is inconfirm my own fyftem, about particu- finitely fuperior to mine, I doubt not lar facts, not to obtain the character of but you'll be able to make fuch addian Antiquarian. If, upon perufing the tions to my Catalogue, as may be of book, you discover any inaccuracies, great ufe to me. I know very well, and either with regard to ftyle or facts, to my forrow, how fervilely Hiftorians whether of great or of fmall importance, copy from one another, and how little I will efteem it a very great favour, if is to be learned from reading many you'll be fo good as to communicate books; but, at the fame time, when one them to me. I fhall likewise be indebt writes upon any particular period, it is ed to you, if you'll let me know what both neceffary and decent for him to reception the book meets with among confult every book relating to it, upon the Literati of your acquaintance. I which he can lay his hands. I am sufhope you will be particularly pleafed ficiently mafter of French and Italian; with the Critical Differtation at the but have no knowledge of the Spanish end, which is the production of a co- or German tongues. I flatter myself partnership between me and your friend that I fhall not fuffer much by this; as Mr Davidfon. Both Sir D. Dalrym- the two former languages, together with ple and he offer compliments to you. If the Latin, will fupply me with books Dean Tucker be in town this Winter, in abundance. Mr Walpole informed I beg you would offer my compliments me fome time ago, that in the Catalogue to him. of Harleian MSS. in the British Mufeum, there is a volume of papers relating to Charles V, it is No. 295. I do not expect much from it; but it would be extremely obliging if you

I am w. great regard Dr. fir
Yr m. obdt & mft. o. fere
WILLIAM ROBERTSON.

Edinburgh, Jan. 1759.

would

would take the trouble of looking into Levefque, a Benedictin Monk, which it, and of informing me in general what were printed at Paris in two Vols. 12° it contains. In the Catalogue I have in 1753, contain fome particulars relatenclofed, this mark X is prefixed to ing to Charles V. But this perforall the books which I can get in this mance is much lets curious than it might Country; if you yourfelf, or any friend have been, confidering that the Author, with whom you can use freedom, have had the advantage of a vaft Collection, any of the other books in my lift, and above an hundred Volumes of the Carwill be fo good as to fend them to Mr dinal's original papers, at Bezancon. Millar, he will forward them to me, Among these are the papers of his Emiand I fhall receive them with great gra- nence's father, who was Chancellor titude, and return them with much punc- and Minister to the Emperor Charles V. tuality. I beg leave to offer compliments to all our common friends, and particularly to Dean Tucker, if he be in Town this feafon. I wish it were in my power to confer any return for all the trouble you have taken in my behalf

Edinburgh, 13 Decr. 1759.

FROM DR BIRCH.

To the REV. DR ROBERTSON, at Edinburgh.

Dear Sir London, 3 Jany. 1760. YOUR Letter of the 13 Decr. was particularly agreeable to me, as it acquainted me with your refolution to refume your hiftoric pen, and to undertake a fubject, which from it's importance and extent, and your manner of treating it, will be highly acceptable to the public.

I have perused your lift of Books to be confulted on this occafion; and after tranfcribing it have delivered it to Mr Millar; and fhall now make some addi

tions to it.

The new Hiftoire d'Allemagne, by Father Barre, Chancellor of the Univerfity of Paris, published a few years ago in feveral Volumes in q°. is a work of very good credit, and to be perused by you; as is likewife the fecond Edition of Abrege chronologique de l'Hiftoire, du Droit public d'Allemagne, juft printed at Paris, and formed upon the plan of Prefident Henault's Nouvel Abrègè chronologique de l'Hiftoire de France, in which the reigns of Francis I. and Henry II. will be proper to be feen by you. The Memoires pour fervir à L'histoire du Cardinal Granvelle, by Father Rolper

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Bishop Burnet, in the Summary of Affaires before the Refloration prefixed to his Hiftory of his own time, mentions a life of Frederick Elector Palatine who firft reformed the Palatinate, as curiously. written by Hubert Thomas Leodius. This book, though a rare one, is in my ftudy and fhall be fent to you. You will find, in it many facts relating to your Emperor. The Manufcript was luckily faved when the library of Heydelberg was plundered and conveyed to the Vatican, after the taking of that city in 1622, and it was printed in 1624 at Francfort in 4to. The Writer had been Secretary and Counsellor to the Elector.

Another book which I fhall tranfmit to you, is a valuable collection of State papers, made by Monf. Rivier, and printed at Blois in 1665 in two vois fo. They relate to the reigns of Francis I, Henry II, and Francis II, of France. The indexes will direct you to such paffages as concern the Emper

or.

As Monf. Amelot de la Houraie, who was extremely converfant in modern hiftory, has in the 1st Tome of his Memoires Hiftoriques politiques et literaires, from p. 156 to 173, treated of Charles V. I fhall add that book to my parcel.

Varilla's Life of Henry II. of France fhould be looked into, tho' that Histor rian has not at prefent much reputation. for exactness and veracity.

Dr Fiddes, in his life of Cardinal Wolfey, has frequent occafion to introduce the Emperor his contemporary, of which Bayle in his Dictionary gives

us

TO DR BIRCH.

us an exprefs article, and not a fhort a long letter of the Lord of the Council one, for it confilts of eight of his pages. of Henry VIII. in 1546 to his ambr. Roger Afcham, Queen Elizabeth's with the Emperor. Preceptor, when he was Secretary to Sir Richard Moryfin, amb. from K. Edward VI. to the Imperial Court, wrote to a friend of his a Report & difcourfe of the affairs & fate of Germany and the EmCharles's Court. This was print peror ed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; but the copies of that Edition are now However this will be foon made public, being reprinted in an Edition of all the Author's English works now in the prefs.

very rare.

The Epitres des Princes, tranflated from the Italian by Belleforeft, will probably supply you with fome few things to your purpose.

Vol. 295 among the Harleian MSS. contains little remarkable except fome letters from Henry VIII's ambr in Spain in 1518 of which you may fee an abstract in the printed Catalogue.

In Dr Hayne's Collection of State papers, in the Hatfield history, p. 56. is

Extrad from a letter of Dr Robertfon,
dated College of Edinburgh, 08.8.1765.
*** I have met with many inter-
ruptions in carrying on my Charles V,
partly from bad health, and partly from
the avocations arifing from performing
the duties of office.
my
But I am now
within Sight of Land. The hiftorical
part of the Work is finished, and I am
bufy with a preliminary book in which
1 propofe to give a view of the progress
in the State of Society, Laws, Man-
ners, and Arts, from the irruption of
the barbarous nations to the beginning
of the fixteenth century.
This is a
laborious undertaking; but I flatter my.
felf that I fhall be able to finish it in a
few Months. I have kept the books
you was fo good as to send me, and shall
return them carefully as foon as my
work is done.

REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS.

Travels into different Parts of Europe, in the Years 1791 and 1792: with familiar Remarks on Places-Men-and Manners. By John Owen, A. M. late Fellow of Corpus Chrifti College. 8vo. 2 vols. 14s. boards. Cadell jun. and Davies.

SINCE Brydone wrote his elegant travels in Sicily, a degree of emulation has been excited among this clafs of writers, which has given birth to many productions that, on account of the manner in which they are written, independently of the information which they contain, may be perufed with pleasure by the fcholar and the man of taste.

Of this defcription are the travels of Mr Owen, from which we fhall felect a

few extracts.

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Defcription of the ceremony of high mass at
St Peter's, Rome.

"High mafs was, on the day of the Nativity, performed by the Pope at St Peter's, where, on this occafion, there is no admittance but in full drefs-for

his Holiness, though filing himself the "Servant of Servants," will not play off his holiday farces to any thing but bags and fwords. In the different stages of this ceremonial, the attitudes of the Sovereign Pontiff were as ridiculous and varied as thofe of a pofture mafter. They placed him in a low chair-ftripped him to his flannel waistcoat, and feemed difpofed to fhew him every indignity. This, as I imagined, for it was pantomime throughout--was to picture to us the humility of the Saviour. They did not, however, fuffer him to continue long in this ftate of degradation. He was foon reftored to his former fplendour; and paraded before us, as we knelt, difplaying his handsome leg and Dipper, with much apparent fatisfaction. I happened to be posted in an avenue which led to the grand altar, and therefore had an opportunity of obferving closely every thing which was conveyed backwards and forwards by the numerous priests who attended. It was truly ludicrous

to

to fee five or fix men in furplices, car- "The church of the Jefuits also ofrying with great folemnity as many difhes fers a scene of barbarous and abfurd fuof dreffed up napkins, and meeting an perftition. Within this church, the equal number, who were, with the fame fcourge is nightly ufed; and I have it religious grimace, carrying off thofe that from a catholic, who, I dare venture to had been used. affirm, has been of the number, that

"I will not diffemble the wearinefs multitudes refort to the penance which I felt at the length of thefe ceremonies. is here administered. The lights are exHis Holiness was, it must be acknow- tinguifhed, and the penitents of both ledged, an admirable actor; but the fexes offer their bare fhoulders to whatCardinals did not fupport their parts ever number of ftripes their fins may with fo good a grace; and a degree of appear to deferve. I have more than coldness and indifferency pervaded the once refolved to acquaint myself of the generality of the fpectators-evidently fact; but, understanding that the stilletportending fome great approaching to would certainly dispatch me, were I change. Devotion is certainly much found thus obtruding upon their folemn on the decline. Subjects are handled myfteries, I have concluded to admit in general converfation, which have lit- the hiftory upon the credit of my retle alliance with credulity and fubmif- porter." fion. In short, the pillars of papal tyranny feem loofening apace; and its ultimate fubverfion is an event which cannot long be delayed. In the present fituation of things, the energy operating from within will be affifted by a powerful impetus from without; the majefty of Papal Rome is unquestionably and irrevocably doomed to fall, and great will be the fall of it."

Other inftances are given of Romish fuperftition:

Description of the public eating Houses of
Vienna.

"In all thefe houfes the custom is, to give every man his portion separate; infomuch that though numbers dine at the fame table, they feldom dine in common. In almost all the dining-houfes here, a bill of fare, containing a vaft collection of dishes, is written out, and the prices affixed to each article. As the people of Vienna eat of variety, the calculation, at the conclufion of the repait, would ap"It is furprifing to fee by how many pear fomewhat embarraffing; this, howarts the Romish priesthood study to a- ever, is done by mechanical habit with mufe, and to profit by the credulity of great fpeed. The cuftom is for the party their followers. The feftival of St An- who has dined, to name the dishes, his tonio, not the Paduan Antony, the pa- quantity of bread and wine. The keltron of fishes, but Antony the protector ler, who attends on this occafion, follows of horfes, mules, and affes, afforded me every article you name, with the fum a ftrong proof of the artifices of catholic which this adds to the calculation; and impofture. This ceremony was per- the whole is performed, to whatever a formed in a public fquare. A prieft in a mount, without ink or paper. It is cufurplice ftood at the door of the church, rious to hear this ceremony, which is and with a long brush, dipped, as often muttered with great gravity, yet peras occafion required, into a pail full of formed with accuracy and dispatch. It holy water, fcattered this unction three is inconceivable how numerous thefe times upon the horfes, as they entered houfes are in Vienna, to which we have into the court. Here all the equipages in England nothing that corresponds exof the nobility, no lefs than the horfes of hire, are driven, decorated with ribbands. The priest received from the votaries of the Saint, large wax candles, money, &c. according to their choice or means; while he gave them in return, to all others. a fmall print of the Saint, and a flight prinkle of holy water. I treated the ceremony with fome degree of levity, and received a rebuke from a true fon of the church; who told me of many fatal accidents which had befallen thofe who efused to have their horfes carried to he benediction of St Antony.

actly. There is fomething remarkably pleafant in this mode of living. An evening feldom paffes in these houfes without mufic, and the German dances have an air of vivacity and cheerfulness fuperior

"I have been often regaled by a ftrolling band at one of thefe houtes; where, deeming myself totally unknown, I was accustomed to pafs an evening hour. I ufually entered this, wrapped in my cloak, and took my feat in a corner of the room, where I might register what paffed without attrading notice. A prin

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the attention of female readers. The effay on Self-juftification is a fuccefsful attempt to imitate Swift in the ironical fatyre. A fhort extract will show the writer's manner.

66

cipal part of my amusement arofe from the warm debates of fome worthy citizens, who, having dispatched the bufinefs of the day, were relaxing their minds with a little politics. I was diverted to hear these great perfonages regulating "Left amongt infinite variety, the the affairs of empires-leading the com- difficulty of immediate felection_should bined armies into the heart of France, at firft perplex you, let me point cu by a fhorter cut than the Duke of Brunf- that matters of tafte will afford you, of wick had taken-making the rebels own all others, the moft ample and inceffan: their lawful king, and receive their ex- fubjects of debate. Here you have no patriated princes. I had remarked, every criterion to appeal to. Upon the fame night that I frequented this house, a lit- principle, next to matters of taste, points tle man of uncouth figure, and unpropi- of opinion will afford the most conftant tious phyfiognomy; and had obferved exercise to your talents. Here you will him conftantly twirling a large key over have an opportunity of citing the opi his finger, whenever he entered into con- nions of all the living and dead you have verfation; and ftriking this forcibly a- ever known, befides the dear privilege gainst the table, when he wished to efta- of repeating continually: Nay, you blish his argument, or filence his adver- never muft allow that." Or, "You fary. I was aftonifhed to find fo much can't deny this, for it's the universal owit and pleafantry in his difcourfe. He pinion-every body fays fo! every borallied with much vivacity all nations, dy thinks fo! I wonder to hear you exand all governments-but his own. He prefs fuch an opinion! Nobody but yourthought that France and Switzerland, felf is of that way of thinking." With which boasted of the pureft conftitutions, innumerable other phrases with which a had lefs liberty than the Auftrians, flight attention to polite conversation will whose conftitution of government he furnish you. This mode of oppofing owned was the worft. "In Switzer- authority to argument, and affertion to land," said he, a man cannot fpeak proof, is of such universal utility, that I his fentiments without hazard of impri- pray you to practise it. fonment, nor in France without the danger of decapitation; while in Vienna a man may indulge himself in all freedom of remark, and runs no risk, till he lends his aid to plots, cabals, and confpiracies." "There are, however, difcontents at Vienna; and, were there all that freedom of fpeech on which the orator infifted, the coffee-houses would refound with the complaints and remonstrances of the people. On the various topics he ran over, he expreffed himself with great vehemence, took much fnuff, and fmote frequently with his key. Some intelligence, which I picked up from the houfe, has acquainted me, that he has lately married a very pretty woman; and that every evening when he leaves her, he locks the door, and pockets the key. I will make no apology for these colourings after nature-however remote from the fplendid fcenes of life: my fortune has at prefent thrown me into thofe walks of fociety, where higher incidents

cannot occur.

66

Letters for Literary Ladies. To which is added, an Effay on the noble Science of Self-Juftification. 8vo. 4s. boards. THIS pleafing volume is well worthy

"If the point in dispute especially be fome opinion relative to your character or difpofition, allow in general that "You are fure you have a great many faults," but to every specific charge, reply, "Well, I am fure I don't know, but I did not think that was one of my faults! nobody ever accused me of that before! Nay, I was always remarkable for the contrary; at least before I was acquainted with you-Sir; in my own family-afk any of my own friends; ask any of them; they must know me best."

"But if inftead of attacking the ma terial parts of your character, your bui band fhould merely prefume to advert to your manners, to fome flight perfonal habit which might be made more agree able to him; prove in the first place, that it is his fault that it is not agreeable to him.-His eyes are changed, or opened; but it may perhaps have been a matte almoft of indifference to him, till you undertook its defence-then make it of confequence by rifing in eagerness, in proportion to the infignificance of your object; if he can draw confequences, this will be an excellent leffon-if you are fo tender of blame in the verieft trifle, how unimpeachable muft you be in

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