know, we Etonians hold ourselves (I do not know whether or not others agree with us) of some authority in matters of this sort.

SIR,

LETTER LII.

FROM MR. FOX TO MR. WAKEFIELD.

St. Anne's Hill, Feb. 16, 1798.

I SHOULD have been exceedingly sorry, if, in all the circumstances you mention, you had given yourself the trouble of writing me your thoughts upon Homer's poetry; indeed, in no circumstances, should I have been indiscreet enough to make a request so exorbitant: in the present, I should be concerned if you were to think of attending even to my limited question respecting the authenticity of the 24th Iliad, or to any thing but your own business.

I am sorry your work is to be prosecuted; because though I have no doubt of a prosecution failing, yet I fear it may be very troublesome to you. If, either by advice or otherwise, I can be of any service to you, it will make me very happy ; and I beg you to make no scruple about applying to me but I do not foresee that I can, in any shape, be of any use, unless it should be in pressing others, whom you may think fit to consult, to give every degree of attention to your cause. I suppose there can be little or no difficulty in removing, as you wish it, the difficulty from the

publisher to yourself? for to prosecute a printer who is willing to give up his author, would be a very unusual, and certainly a very odious, measure.

I have looked at the three passages you mention, and am much pleased with them: I think "curalium," in particular, a very happy conjecture; for neither "cœruleum" nor 66 beryllum" can, I think, be right; and there certainly is a tinge of red in the necks of some of the dove species. After all, the Latin words for colours are very puzzling: for, not to mention " purpura," which is evidently applied to three different colours at least-scarlet, porphyry, and what we call purple, that is, amethyst, and possibly to many others-the chapter of Aulus Gellius to which you refer has always appeared to me to create many more difficulties than it removes; and most especially that passage which you quote, "virides equos." I can conceive that a poet might call a horse "viridis," though I should think the terni rather forced; but Aulus Gellius says, that Virgil gives the appellation of" glauci," rather than ". rulei" to the virides equos, and consequently uses virides, not as if it were a poetical or figurative way of describing a certain colour of horses, but as if it were the usual and most generally intelligible term. Now, what colour usual to horses could be called viridis, is difficult to conceive; and the more so, because there are no other Latin and English words for colours which we have such good grounds for supposing corresponding one to the other as viridis and green, on account of grass, trees, &c. &c. However, these are points which may be discussed by us, as you say, at leisure, if

cœ

the system of tyranny should proceed to its maturity. Whether it will or not, I know not; but, if it should, sure I am that to have so cultivated literature as to have laid up a store of consolation and amusement, will be, in such an event, the greatest advantage (next to a good couscience) which one man can have over another. My judgment, as well as my wishes, leads me to think that we shall not experience such dreadful times as you suppose possible; but, if we do not, what has passed in Ireland is a proof, that it is not to the moderation of our governors that we shall be indebted for whatever portion of ease or liberty may be left us. I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

C. J. FOX.

LETTER LIII.

FROM MR. FOX TO MR. WAKEFIELD.

SIR, St. Anne's Hill, Feb. 23, 1798. NOTHING, but your stating yourself to be in some degree at leisure now, could justify my troubling you with the long and, perhaps, unintelligible scrawl which I send with this. I most probably have shown much ignorance, and certainly some presumption, in seeming to dispute with you, upon points of which you know so much, and I so little: all I can say in my defence is, that disputing is sometimes a way of learning.

I have not said any thing yet upon the question which you seem to have thought most upon

whether the Iliad is the work of one, or more authors? I have, for the sake of argument, admitted it; but yet, I own, I have great doubts, and even lean to an opinion different from yours. I am sure the inequality of excellence is not greater than in "Paradise Lost," and many other poems written confessedly by one author. I will own to you, also, that in one only of the instances of inequality which you state, I agree with you. Até is detestable; but I cannot think as you do of the death of Hector. There are parts of that book, and those closely connected with the death o Hector, which I cannot help thinking equal to any thing.

It is well for you that my paper is at an end and that I have not the conscience to take a new sheet, Your humble servant,

C. J. FOX.

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 you have done me by the dedication of it

an honour, I assure you, that I shall always most highly value. I am, sir, yours ever,

C. J. FOX.

LETTER LV.

MR. FOX TO MR. WAKEFIELD.

SIR, St. Anne's Hill, March 1, 1799. ALTHOUGH I am wholly without any resources, even of advice, and much more of power, to offer you my services upon the present occasion; yet I cannot help troubling you with a few lines, to tell you how very sincerely concerned I am at the event of your trial.

The liberty of the press I considered as virtually destroyed by the proceedings against Johnson and Jordan; and what has happened to you I cannot but lament therefore the more, as the sufferings of a man whom I esteem, in a cause that is no more.

I have been reading your Lucretius, and have nearly finished the second volume: it appears to me to be by far the best publication of any classical author and if it is an objection with some persons, that the great richness and variety of quo tation 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 amuseI am, with great regard, and all possible good wishes, sir, your most obedient servant,

ment.

C. J. FOX.