Horace Walpole to Rev. William Mason-Visit of Dr. Wm. Robertson to London.

made for the occasion of a day, and to perish with it, in return for your immortal work. But our exchange resembles the politics of the times. You send out solid wealth, the accumulation of ages, and in return you get a few flying leaves of poor American paper. However, you have the mercantile comfort of finding the balance of trade infinitely in your favor; and I console myself with the snug consideration of uninformed natural acuteness, that I have my warehouse full of goods at another's

expense.

Adieu, sir: continue to instruct the world; and whilst we carry on a poor unequal conflict with the passions and prejudices of our day, perhaps with no better weapons than other prejudices and passions of our own, convey wisdom at our expense to future generations.

XVII.-VISIT OF DR. ROBERTSON TO LONDON-HIS CONTEMPLATED HISTORY OF KING WILLIAM.

Horace Walpole to Rev. Wm. Mason.

1778.

The purport of Dr. Robertson's visit was to inquire where he could find materials for the reigns of King William and Queen Anne, which he means to write as a supplement to David Hume. I had heard of his purpose, but did not own I knew it, that the discouragement might seem the more natural. I do not care a straw what he writes about the Church's wet-nurse, Goody Anne, but no Scot is worthy of being the historian of William, but Dr. Watson.*

When he told me his object, I said: "Write the reign of King William, Dr. Robertson! That is a great task! I look

*Historian of Philip the Second of Spain.

Horace Walpole to Rev. William Mason-Visit of Dr. Wm. Robertson to London.

on him as the greatest man of modern times, since his ancestor,
Prince William of Orange." I soon found the Doctor had very
little idea of him, or had taken upon trust the pitiful partialities
of Dalrymple and Macpherson. I said: "Sir, I do not doubt
but that King William came over with a view to the crown; nor
was he called upon by patriotism, for he was not an Englishman,
to assert our liberties. No, his patriotism was of a higher rank.
He aimed not at the crown of England from ambition, but to
employ its forces and wealth against Louis the Fourteenth, for
the common cause of the liberties of Europe. The Whigs did
not understand the extent of his views, and the Tories betrayed
him. He has been thought not to have understood us; but the
truth was, he took either party as it was predominant, that he
might sway the Parliament to support his general plan." The
Doctor, suspecting I doubted his principles being enlarged
enough to do justice to so great a character, told me he him-
self had been born and bred a Whig, though he owned he was
now a moderate one-I believe a very moderate one. I said
Macpherson had done great injustice to another hero, the Duke
of Marlborough, whom he accuses of betraying the design on
Brest to Louis the Fourteenth. The truth was, as. I heard often
in my youth from my father, my uncle, and old persons who had
lived in those times, that the Duke trusted the Duchess with the
secret, and she her sister, the Popish Duchess of Tyrconnell, who
was as poor and as bigoted as a church mouse. A corroboration
of this was the wise and sententious answer of King William to
the Duke, whom he taxed with having betrayed the secret.
"Upon my honor, sir," said the Duke, "I told it to nobody but
my wife.”
"I did not tell it to mine," said the King.

I added, that Dalrymple's and Macpherson's invidious scan

Horace Walpole to Rev. William Mason-Visit of Dr. Wm. Robertson to London.

dals really serve but to heighten the amazing greatness of the King's genius; for, if they say true, he maintained the crown on his head, though the nobility, the Churchmen, the country gentlemen, were against him; and though almost all his own ministers betrayed him. "But," said I, "nothing is so silly as to suppose that the Duke of Marlborough and Lord Godolphin ever meant seriously to restore King James. Both had offended him too much to expect forgiveness, especially from so remorseless a nature. Yet a re-revolution was so probable, that it is no wonder they kept up a correspondence with him, at least to break their fall if he returned. But as they never did effectuate the least service in his favor when they had the fullest power, nothing can be inferred but King James's folly in continuing to lean on them. To imagine they meant to sacrifice his weak daughter, whom they governed absolutely, to a man who was sure of being governed by others, one must have as little sense as James himself had."

The precise truth I take to be this: Marlborough and Godolphin both knew the meanness and credulity of James's character. They knew that he must be ever dealing for partisans; and they might be sure, if he could hope for support from the General and the Lord Treasurer, he must be less solicitous for mere impotent supporters. "Is it impossible," said I to the Doctor, "but they might correspond with the King, even by Anne's own consent? Do not be surprised, sir," said I, "such things have happened. My own father often received letters from the Pretender, which he carried to George the Second, and had them endorsed by his Majesty. I myself have seen them countersigned by the King's own hand.”

In short, I endeavored to impress him with proper ideas of

Miss Burney to Samuel Crisp, Chesington-Day with Mr. Burke. Conversation, Etc.

his subject, and painted to him the difficulties, and the want of materials. But the booksellers will out-argue me, and the Doctor will forget his education. Panem et circenses, if you will allow me to use the latter for those who are captivated by favor in the circle, will decide his writing and give the color. I once wished he should write the History of King William, but his Charles the Fifth, and his America, have opened my eyes, and the times have shut his. Adieu.

XVIII.-DAY WITH MR. BURKE.-CONVERSATION, ETC.

Miss Burney to Samuel Crisp, Chesington.

MY DEAR MR. CRISP: At the Knight of Plympton's house, on Richmond Hill, next to the Star and Garter, we were met by the Bishop of St. Asaph, who stands as high in general esteem for agreeability as for worth and learning; and by his accomplished and spirited daughter, Miss Shipley. My father was already acquainted with both; and to both I was introduced by Miss Palmer.

No other company was mentioned; but some smiling whispers passed between Sir Joshua, Miss Palmer, and my father, that awakened in me a notion that the party was not yet complete; and with that notion, an idea that Mr. Burke might be the awaited chief of the assemblage; for, as they knew I had long had as much eagerness to see Mr. Burke, as I had fears of meeting his expectations, I thought they might forbear naming him, to save me a fit of fright.

Sir Joshua, who, though full of kindness, dearly loves a little innocent malice, drew me soon afterwards to a window to look at

Miss Burney to Samuel Crisp, Chesington-Day with Mr. Burke. Conversation, Etc.

the beautiful prospect below; the soft meandering of the Thames, and the brightly picturesque situation of the elegant white house which Horace Walpole had made the habitation of Lady Diana Beauclerk and her fair progeny; in order to gather, as he afterwards laughingly acknowledged, my sentiments of the view, that he might compare them with those of Mr. Burke on the same scene. However, I escaped, luckily, falling, through ignorance, into such a competition, by the entrance of a large, though unannounced, party in a mass. For, as this was only a visit of a day, there were very few servants; and those few, I suppose, were preparing the dinner apartment, for this group appeared to have found its own way up to the drawing-room with an easiness as well suited to its humor, by the gay air of its approach, as to that of Sir Joshua, who holds ceremony almost in horror, and who received them without any form or apology.

He quitted me, however, to go forward and greet with distinction a lady who was in the set. They were all familiarly recognized by the Bishop and Miss Shipley, as well as by Miss Palmer; and some of them by my father, whose own face wore an expression of pleasure, that helped to fix a conjecture in my mind that one among them, whom I peculiarly signalized, tall, and of fine deportment, with an air of courtesy and command, might be Edmund Burke.

Excited as I felt by this idea, I continued at my picturesque window, as all the company were strangers to me, till Miss Palmer gave her hand to the tall, suspected, but unknown personage, saying, in a half whisper, "Have I kept my promise at last?" and then, but in a lower tone still, and pointing to the window, she pronounced "Miss Burney."

As this seemed intended for private information, previously