so much, and I so little: all I can say in my defence is, that disputing is sometimes a way of learning. LETTER CXXXIII. Mr. Fox to Mr. Wakefield. St. Anne's Hill, March 1, 1799. I have not said any thing yet upon the question which you seem to have thought most upon-whether the Ili- Sir, ad is the work of one or more au- ALTHOUGH I am wholly without thors? I have, for the sake of argu- any resources, even of advice, and ment, admitted it; but yet, I own, I much more of power, to offer you my have great doubts, and even lean to services upon the present occasion, an opinion different from yours. I yet I cannot help troubling you with a am sure the inequality of excellence few lines, to tell you how very sinis not greater than in "Paradise cerely concerned I am at the event Lost," and many other poems writ-of your trial. ten confessedly by one author. I The liberty of the press I consiwill own to you, also, that in one only dered as virtually destroyed by the of the instances of inequality which proceedings against Johnson and you state, I agree with you. Atè is Jordan; and what has happened to detestable; but I cannot think as you I cannot but lament therefore you do of the death of Hector.- the more, as the sufferings of a man There are parts of that book, and whom I esteem, in a cause that is no those closely connected with the more. death of Hector, which I cannot help I have been reading your Lucrethinking equal to any thing. tius, and have nearly finished the second volume: it appears to me to be by far the best publication of any It is well for you that my paper is at an end, and that I have not the conscience to take a new sheet. classical author: and if it is an ob Your humble servant, LETTER CXXXII. jection with some persons, that the C. J. Fox. great richness and variety of quotation and criticism in the notes takes off, in some degree, the attention from the text, I am not one of those, who will ever complain of an editor for giving me too much instruction and amusement. I am, with great regard, and all possible good wishes, St. Anne's Hill, March 16, 1798. sir, your most obedient servant, Mr. Fox to Mr. Wakefield. Sir, * C. J. Fox. LETTER CXXXIV. Mr. Fox to Mr. Wakefield. St. Anne's Hill, June 9, 1799. I am very much concerned at your Lucretius meeting with so little encouragement as you say; and I feel the more, because I cannot help thinking, that part of the prejudice, which occasions so unaccountable a neglect, is imputable to the honour Sir, you have done me by the dedication NOTHING Could exceed the conof it-an honour, I assure you, that cern I felt at the extreme severity I shall always most highly value. I(for such it appears to me) of the am, sir, yours ever, sentence pronounced against you. I should be apprehensive, that the distance of Dorchester must add con C. J. Fox. VOL. IV. Nos. 61 & 62. R siderably to the difficulties of your at this moment could not be expectsituation but should be very glad ed), I will, with your leave, state to to learn from you that it is other-you a few observations, which I just wise. hinted to you when I saw you, upon LETTER CXXXVI. Mr. Fox to Mr. Wakefield. St. Anne's Hill, June 27, 1799. If any of your friends can think Porson's note to his Orestes, regardof any plan for you, by which some ing the final v. I am, with great reof the consequences of your confine- gard, sir, yours ever, C. J. Fox. ment may be in any degree lessened, I should be very happy to be in any way assisting in it. From some words that dropped from you, when I saw you, I rather understood that you did not feel much inclination to apply to your usual studies in your present situation; otherwise it had occurred to me, that some IN consequence of a letter, which publication, on a less expensive plan lord Holland showed me, I have than the Lucretius, and by subscrip- written to lord Shaftesbury, and to tion, might be eligible, for the pur- lord Ilchester, who are both very hupose of diverting your mind, and for mane men, and would, I should hope, serving your family; but of this you be happy to do any thing that may are the best judge; and all I can say make your situation less uneasy. I is, that I shall always be happy to am, sir, yours ever, show the esteem and regard with which I am, sir, your most obedient Rev. GILBERT Wakefield, LETTER CXXXV. Mr. Fox to Mr. Wakefield. Sir, C. J. Fox. LETTER CXXXVII. Mr. Fox to Mr. Wakefield. Sir, St. Anne's Hill, April 28, 1801. I AM much obliged to you for your caution about Heyne's Virgil; and, if I purchase it at all, I will wait for St. Anne's Hill, June 12, 1799. the new edition. When I was a Sir, book-buyer, in my younger days, it I RETURN you your friend's letter, was not in existence; and lately I which gave me great satisfaction. have bought but few classical books, The sentence upon lord Thanet and except Greek ones; and some Latin Ferguson is, all things considered, authors, of whom I had before no most abominable; but the speech ac- valuable edition. I had once a good companying it is, if possible, worse. many editions of Virgil; but, having I think a Lexicon in Greek and had frequent occasions to make preEnglish is a work much wanted; sents, and Virgil being always a proand, if you can have patience to per book for that purpose, I have execute such a work, I shall consi- now only the fine Roman one, in three der it a great benefit to the cause of volumes folio; a school Delphin; a literature. I hope to hear from you, Variorum; and Martyn's Georgics. that your situation at Dorchester is I am glad to find that you are not not worse, at least, than you expect- the heretic about the fourth book that ed; and, when I know you to be in I suspected you to be. Your notion, a state of perfect ease of mind (which in respect to poets borrowing from |