I admire much thy facility in the French language; especially, as thou must want occasions of practising it, in order to preserve a facility of reading or writing it. I never possessed memory. One of the most extraordinary instances of memory, and particularly in languages, was in old Whiston,* who was my patient, under insanity, for the last five years of his life. The Biographical Dictionary in 12 vols. 8vo, was sent him by a friend, and from memory alone he made about 4000 corrections, if I guess right. Two years afterwards, another person sent him the same work, but another copy, and he made the same corrections again. He wrote many Essays for the papers, which were printed; but he could not talk a minute sensibly, though he could write well upon most subjects. I kept a correspondence with him in French without his ever knowing his correspondent. 40 years since he had had a few lessons by a master, and yet so strong was his recollection, that he wrote in that language with great ease.

It was

I just now had a visit from a very ingenious philosophical man, who is about to commence a course of philosophical lectures, in imitation of the late Ferguson. He seemed much pleased with my apparatus, which is one of the largest private ones in Europe: it cost me nearly a thousand

* The reader will hardly need to be informed, that this was not Whiston the celebrated Arian and Mathematician, who died in 1752, aged 84. It was his son John, many years an eminent Bookseller in London. See Nichols's "Literary Anecdotes." ED.

pounds. Some mechanics begin to imitate my machinery. He will lecture in Guy's Hospital, and the Governors allow him to draw upon their Treasurer for the expence.

I suppose his first This hospital has a An ap

expence will be about 300l. revenue of nearly 20,000l. per annum. plication of such an overplus to such a purpose is commendable. He was much pleased with my microscope, which once entertained our friend Templeman.

I suppose thou wouldst see by the papers, an account of the death of Surgeon Belcher. I imagine he was about eighty-two. He died worth about 1500l. per annum, and had ordered that he should be buried in Guy's Hospital. His coffin to have nails not gilt, the coffin to be filled up with sawdust. I believe he was once a pompous man, but it is a happiness that experience lets us see the futility and vanity of human dignity. We often see that those who have been most addicted to parade in life, seem in death (allow the expression) the most disposed to condemn it.

To return to my philosophical apparatus: I keep it for the use of my children; and John, who is fond of such things, is already master of many experiments, both on the air-pump and on the electrical machine. I wish thus to familiarize them to philosophy; for to employ them well is to prevent them from employing themselves ill. John has to-day a holiday (Shrove Tuesday), and he has been out the whole day to visit a person who has

a collection of pictures, on which he values himself as a virtuoso; and Samuel Fothergill, who is five years old, is making a collection of pictures, and of specimens of wood. He is a wonderful youth for wishing to know and ascertain the cause of things.

I remain, &c.

J. C. LETTSOM.

LETTER XXXV.

From Dr. CUMING to Dr. LETTSOM.

Feb. 12, 1785.

Ecce iterum Crispinus!-What a contrast does the character of Dr. Johnson (according to my idea at least) form to that of another gentleman, not his inferior in learning, with whom I had the pleasure of being acquainted: I mean the late Dr. John Campbell, author of the " Survey of Britain." How gentle in his manners! how mild his disposition! how courteous his address! how unassuming in conversation! how candid in the opposition of debate! While communicating knowledge, à pleine gorge, he seemed to be learning from others. But you say, "I did not know Dr. Johnson!" it is true; if I had, perhaps I should have received his foibles through a more favourable medium, for certainly this was the case in respect to a late learned lumi

nary. Many years ago I read over the polemical and critical works of the late Dr. Warburton; and from the perusal I conceived a most unfavourable opinion of the man; so stiff and conceited in opinion; so dictatorial in his sentiments, treating every one who thought differently from himself with the most sovereign contempt. It is above thirty years ago that Ralph Allen, of Prior-park, first came to pass about three months in the summer annually at Weymouth: his niece, Mrs. Warburton, was always of the party. She was elegant in her person, possessed of an excellent understanding, great politeness, and a most engaging naiveté in conversation. I had been introduced to Mr. Allen's acquaintance soon after his first arrival, and was always professionally employed in the family. After a few years, the Bishop, whom I had never seen, came to pass a month of the summer with Mr. A. at Weymouth. I was soon after sent for, to attend some one in the family. After having visited my patient, Mrs. W. took me by the hand, and led me to the dining-room, where we found the Bishop alone, she presented me to him with "Give me leave, my lord, to introduce to you a friend of mine, to whom you and I have great obligations, for the care he has repeatedly taken of our son." He received me courteously enough, but I own to you I felt an awe and awkward uneasiness. I determined to say but little, and to weigh well what I said. We were left alone-it was an hour to dinner-he soon engaged me on some literary sub

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ject, in the course of which he gave me the etymology of some word or phrase in the French language, with a "Don't you think so?" I ventured to dissent, and said I had always conceived its origin to be so and so: to this he immediately replied, “Upon my word I believe you are in the right: nay, 'tis past a doubt; I wonder it never struck me before." Well, to dinner we went: his lordship was easy, facetious, and entertaining. My awe of him was pretty well dissipated, and I conversed with ease. Sometime after dinner, when he was walking about the room, he came behind me, tapped me on the shoulder, and beckoned me into an adjoining room. As soon as we entered, he shut the door, seated himself in an armed chair on one side of the fire-place, while he directed me by his hand, to one on the opposite side. My fit immediately returned: I expected to be catechised and examined; but it was of short duration. He said he was happy in this opportunity of asking the opinion and advice of a gentleman of my character respecting some complaints he had felt for some time past, and which he found increasing. On this my spirits expanded: I did not fear being a match for his Lordship on a medical subject. He then began to detail to me the complaints and feelings of those persons addicted to constant study and a sedentary life. As I mentioned several circumstances which he had omitted in his catalogue, and which he immediately acknowledged, I gained his confidence.

He was sensible I was master of