to do, I would still make it simple and plain; which, if I mistake not, would heighten its magnificence, and give permanency to its effects. Elegant and pure simplicity is the characteristic of the true pulpit-style, as it is now established by the best models, both ancient and modern; the same thing holds true of the prayers of the church of England; only these have (what they ought to have) something of a more elaborate and more dignified composition, than becomes the sermon.

"I know not whether there be any thing new in my papers on the Origin of Evil,' and the 'Evidences of Christianity.' It will be a considerable time before I get forward to those subjects. At present I confine myself to such as are most amusing, and, withal, least connected with those topics which formerly engrossed me to a degree that ruined my health. How much my mind has been injured by certain speculations, you will partly guess, when I tell you a fact, that is now unknown to all the world,-that, since the Essay on Truth' was printed in quarto, in the summer of 1776, I have never dared to read it over. I durst not even read the sheets, to see whether there were any errors in the print, and

was obliged to get a friend to do that office for me. Not that I am in the least dissatisfied with the sentiments: Every word of my own doctrine I do seriously believe; nor have I ever seen any objections to it which I could not easily answer. But the habit of anticipating and obviating arguments, upon an abstruse and interesting subject, came in time to have dreadful effects upon my nervous system; and I cannot read what I then wrote without some degree of horror, because it recals to my mind the horrors that I have sometimes felt, after passing a long evening in those severe studies. You will perhaps understand me better, when I have told you a short story. One who was on board the Centurion, in Lord Anson's voyage, having got some money in that expedition, purchased a small estate, about three miles from this town. I have had several conversations with him on the subject of the voyage, and once asked him, whether he had ever read the history of it? He told me, he had read all the history, except the description of their sufferings during the run from Cape Horn to Juan Fernandez, which he said were so great, that he durst not recollect or think of them,"

LETTER CXXVI.

DR BEATTIE TO THE REV. DR LAING.

Aberdeen, 31st January, 1779.

"I lately met with what I consider as a great curiosity in the musical way. Take the history as follows: Mary, the consort of King William, was a great admirer of a certain Scots tune, which in England they call Cold and Raw, but which in Scotland is better known by the name of Up in the Morning early. One day at her private concert, where Purcel presided, the Queen interrupted the music, by desiring one Mrs Hunt, who was present, to sing the ballad of Cold and Raw. The lady sung it; and it is said, that Purcel was a little piqued at being obliged to sit idle at his harpsichord, and having his own compositions interrupted for the sake of such a trifle. The Queen's birth-day was soon after, when Purcel, who composed the court music for that solemnity, in order either to please the Queen, or to surprise her, or merely to indulge his own humour, made Cold and Raw the bass of one of the

songs. This anecdote I met with some months ago; and my author added, that this individual song was printed in Purcel's Orpheus Britannicus. I had a great desire to see this song, that I might know how such a genius would acquit himself when confined in such trammels. I confess, for all my high opinion of Purcel, I did not expect that a song composed on such a plan could be a good one; but I am agreeably disappointed. The song, or hymn, (for it is in the church style,) is, in my opinion, excellent. I enclose a copy of it, that you may judge for yourself. It will not perhaps strike you at first; but, when you have gone over it five or six times, you will like it much. There is something of a very original cast in the composition."

LETTER CXXVII.

DR BEATTIE TO MRS MONTAGU.

Aberdeen, 1st February, 1779.

tr

*

"I sincerely sympathise with you on the death of Mr Garrick. I know not how his friends in London will be able to bear the loss of him, for he was the most delightful companion in the world. On the stage nobody could admire him more than I did; and yet I am not sure whether I did not admire him still more in private company. What a splendid career he has run! idolised as he has been by the public, as well as by his friends, for almost half a century; happy in his fortune, and in his family; † superior to envy, invulnerable by detraction; and yet nobody, who knew him, will say, that his good fortune was greater than his merit.

"I have just received the Notes on Potter's

* For some farther account of this great actor, see the Appendix, [CC.]

↑ Mr Garrick was married, but never had

any

children.