524

ways remained untouched by me, had not my | it, and resolve, that my first offence shall be my
credit and my interest been blasted, or thought last. More I cannot perform, and more there-
to be blasted, by the shade which it cast from its
boundless elevation.
About ten years ago, I published an edition of
Dr. Johnston's translation of the "Psalms," and
having procured from the general assembly of
the church of Scotland, a recommendation of
its use to the lower classes of grammar-schools,
into which I had begun to introduce it, though
not without much controversy and opposition;
I thought it likely that I should, by annual pub-
lications, improve my little fortune, and be en-
abled to support myself in freedom from the mi-
series of indigence. But Mr. Pope, in his ma-
levolence to Mr. Benson, who had distinguished
himself by his fondness for the same version,
destroyed all my hopes by a distich, in which he
places Joanston in a contemptuous comparison
with the author of "Paradise Lost."*

fore cannot be required. I intreat the pardon of
all men, whom I have by any means induced to
support, to countenance, or patronise my frauds,
I hope
of which I think myself obliged to declare, that
not one of my friends was conscious.
to deserve, by better conduct and more useful
undertakings, that patronage which I have ob-
tained from the most illustrious aud venerable
names by misrepresentation and delusion, and to
appear hereafter in such a character, as shall
give you no reason to regret that your name is
frequently mentioned with that of, Reverend Sir,
your most humble servant,
WILLIAM LAUDER.

December 20th, 1750.

TESTIMONIES CONCERNING MR.

LAUDER.

From this time all my praises of Johnston became ridiculous, and I was censured with great freedom, for forcing upon the schools, an Edinb. May 22d, 1734. author whom Mr. Pope had mentioned only as a foil to a better poet. On this occasion, it was THESE are certifying, that Mr. William Lauder natural not to be pleased, and my resentment seeking to discharge itself somewhere, was un- passed his course at this university, to the genehappily directed against Milton. I resolved to ral satisfaction of these masters, under whom he attack his fame, and found some passages in studied. That he has applied himself particu cursory reading, which gave me hopes of stigma-larly to the study of humanity* ever since. That tising him as a plagiary. The farther I carried my search the more eager I grew for the discovery, and the more my hypothesis was opposed, the more I was heated with rage. The consequence of my blind passion, I need not relate; it has, by your detection, become apparent to mankind. Nor do I mention this provocation as adequate to the fury which I have shown, but as a cause of anger, less shameful and reproachful than fractious malice, personal envy, or national jealousy.

But for the violation of truth, I offer no excuse, because I well know that nothing can excuse it.. Nor will I aggravate my crime, by disingenuous palliations. I confess it, I repent

and as this was my cool and sincere opinion of that won-
derful man formerly, so I declare it to be the same still,
and ever will be, notwithstanding all appearances to the
contrary, occasioned merely by passion and resentment;
which appear, however, by the Postscript to the Essay,
to be so far from extending to the posterity of Milton,
that I recommend his only remaining descendant, in the
warmest terms, to the public.

* On two unequal crutches propp'd he came,
MILTON'S on this, on that one JOHNSTON's name.
Dunciad, Book IV.

for several years past, he has taught with success, students in the Humanity Class, who were recommended to him by the professor thereof. And lastly, has taught that class himself, during the indisposition, and since the death of its late professor; and therefore is, in our opinion, a fit person to teach Humanity in any school or college whatever.

Benson. This man endeavoured to raise himself to
fame, by erecting monuments, striking coins, and pro-in
curing translations of Milton; and afterwards by a great
passion for Arthur Johnston, a Scots Physician's, version
of the Psalms, of which he printed many fine editions.

Notes on the Dunciad.

No fewer than six different editions of that useful and

valuable book, two in quarto, two in octavo, and two in
a lesser form, now lie like lumber in the hand of Mr.
Vaillant, bookseller, the effects of Mr. Pope's ill-natured

criticism.

One of these editions in quarto, illustrated with an interpretation and notes, after the manner of the classic authors in usum Delphini, was by the worthy editor, anno 1741, inscribed to his Royal Highness Prince George, as a proper book for his instruction in principles of piety, as well as knowledge of the Latin tongue, when he should arrive at due maturity of age. To restore this book to credit, was the cause that induced me to engage in this disagreeable controversy, rather than any design depreciate the just reputation of Milton.

J. GOWDIE, S. S. T.

MATT. CRAUFURD, S. S. T. et Hist. Ec. Pr. Reg.
WILLIAM SCOTT, P. P.

ROBERT STUART, Ph. Nat. Pr.
COL. DRUMMOND, L. G. et P. Pr.
COL. MAC-LAURIN, Math. P. Edin.
AL. BAYNE, J. P.

CHARLES MACKY, Hist. P.
ALEX. MONRO, Anat. P.
WILLIAM DAWSON, L. H. P.

A Letter from the Rev. Mr. Patrick Cuming, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, and Regius Professor of Church History in the University there, to the Rev. Mr. Blair, Rector of the Grammar-School at Dundee. D. B.-Upon a public advertisement in the newspapers, of the vacancy of a master's place your school, Mr. William Lauder, a friend of mine, proposes to set up for a candidate, and goes over for that purpose. He has long taught the Latin with great approbation in this place, and given such proofs of his mastery in that lan guage, that the best judges do upon all occasions recommend him as one who is qualified in the best manner.

He has taught young boys and young gentlemen, with great success; nor did I ever hear of any complaint of him from either parents or children. I beg leave to recommend him to you as my friend; what friendship you

* So the Latin tongue is called in Scotland, from the Latin phrase, classis humaniorum literarum, the Jess or form where that language is taught.

show him, I will look upon as a very great act of friendship to me, of which he and I will retain the most grateful sense, if he is so happy as to be preferred. I persuade myself, you will find him ready at all times to be advised by you, as I have found him. Indeed, if justice had been done him, he should long ago have been advanced for his merit. I ever am. D. B., your most affectionate, humble

servant,

Edinb. Nov. 13th, 1742.

PATRICK CUMING.

in the choice and variety of his metre, it is as plain, that he has given his poetic genius such an unlimited scope, as has in many cases quite disfigured the peculiar and inimitable beauty, simplicity, and energy of the original, which the former, by a more close and judicious version, has constantly and surprisingly displayed. Something like this we ventured to hint in our note upon these two noble versions: to have said more, would have been inconsistent with our designed brevity.

We have likewise since seen what your opponent has writ in praise of the one, and derogation of the other, and think you have sufficiently confuted him, and with respect to us, he has been A Letter from Mr. Mac-Laurin, late Professor of Mathe-so far from giving us any cause to retract what matics in the University of Edinburgh, to the Rev Mr. George Blair, Rector of the Grammar-School at Dundee.

we had formerly said, that it has administered an occasion to us of vindicating it, as we have

lately done by some critical notes on your excelafter to Mr. A. B. who was pleased to give lent Johnston, which we communicated soon them a place in his last edition of him, and which

SIR,-Though unacquainted, I take the liberty of giving you this trouble, from the desire I have always had to see Mr. Lauder provided in a manner suited to his talent. I know him to have made uncommon progress in classical learn-we doubt not you have seen long ago. How ing, to have taught it with success, and never heard there could be any complaint against his method of teaching. I am, indeed, a stranger to the reasons of his want of success on former occasions. But after conversing with him, I have ground to hope, that he will be always advised by you, for whom he professes great esteem, and will be useful under you. I am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

COLIN MAC-LAURIN. College of Edinburgh, Nov. 30th, 1742.

A Letter from the Authors of the "Universal History,"

to Mr. Lauder.

they have been relished among you we know not, but with us they have been thought sufficient to prove what we have advanced, as well as instances of your author's exactness and ele gance, in every page, if not almost in every line.

to direct the attentive reader to discover new

We gratefully accept of the books and kind compliments you were pleased to transmit to us by Mr. Strahan, and had long since returned you our thanks, but for the many avocations which the great work you know us to be engaged in doth of necessity bring upon us; obliging us, or some at least of our society, to make from time to time an excursion to one or other of our two learned universities, and consulting them upon the best method of carrying on this work to the greatest advantage to the public. This London, August 12th, 1741. has been some considerable part of our employLEARNED SIR,-When we so gladly took the ment for these twelve months past; and we flatfirst opportunity of reviving the memory and ter ourselves, that we have, with their assistance merit of your incomparable Johnston, in the first and approbation, made such considerable imvolume of our "Universal History," our chief provements on our original plan, as will scarcely a:in was to excite some generous Mecenas to fail of being acceptable to the learned world. favour the world with a new edition of a poem the world that we have not been idle, though this They will shortly appear in print, to convince which we had long since beheld with no small concern, buried, as it were, by some unaccounta-sixth volume is like to appear somewhat later in ble fatality, into an almost total oblivion: whilst the year than was usual with our former ones. others of that kind, none of them superior, many We shall take the liberty to transmit some vastly inferior, to it, rode unjustly, as we thought, copies of our new plan to you as soon as they are triumphant over his silent grave. All we have left to wish with respect to printed. your excellent countryman and his version is, that it may always meet with such powerful and impartial advocates, and that it may be as much esteemed by all candid judges, as it is by, learned Sir, your sincere well-wishers and humble ser

your

And it is with great satisfaction that we have seen our endeavours so happily crowned in the edition you soon after gave of it at Edinburgh, in your learned and judicious vindication of excellent author, and more particularly by the just deference which your learned and pious convocation has been pleased to pay to that admirable version.

We have had since then, the pleasure to see your worthy example followed here, in the several beautiful editions of the honourable Mr. Auditor Benson, with his critical notes upon the work.

vants,

The Authors of the "Universal History."

A Letter from the learned Mr. Robert Ainsworth, Au thor of the Latin and English Dictionary, to Mr. Lauder.

It was, indeed, the farthest from our thoughts, LEARNED AND WORTHY SIR,-These wait on to enter into the merit of the controversy be- you to thank you for the honour you have done a tween your two great poets, Johnston and Bu-person equally unknown as undeserving, in your chanan; neither were we so partial to either as not to see, that each had their shades as well as lights; so that, if the latter has been more happy

valuable present, which I did not receive till several weeks after it was sent; and since I received it my eyes have been so bad, and my

hand so unstable, that I have been forced to defer my duty, as desirous to thank you with my own hand. I congratulate to your nation the just honour ascribed to it by its neighbours and more distant countries, in having bred two such excellent poets as your Buchanan and Johnston, whom to name is to commend; but am concerned for their honour at home, who being committed together, seem to me both to suffer a diminution, whilst justice is done to neither. But at the same time I highly approve your nation's piety in bringing into your schools sacred instead of profane poesy, and heartily wish that ours, and all christian governments, would follow your example herein. If a mixture of utile dulci be the best composition in poetry, (which is too evident to need the judgment of the nicest critic in the art,) surely the utile so transcendently excels in the sacred hymns, that a christian must deny his name that doth not acknowledge it: and if the dulce seem not equally to excel, it must be from a vitiated taste of those who read them in their original, and in others at second-hand from translations. For the manner of writing in the East and West are widely distant, and which to a paraphrast must render his task exceeding difficult, as requiring a perfect knowledge in two languages, wherein the idioms and graces of speech, caused by the diversity of their religion, laws, customs, &c. are as remote as the inhabitants, wherein notwithstanding your poets have succeeded to admiration.

Your main contest seems to me, when stript of persons, whether the easy or sublime in poesy be preferable; if so,

Non opis est nostræ tantam componere litem: nor think I it in your case material to be decided. Both these have their particular excellences and graces, and youth ought to be taught wherein (which the matter ought chiefly to determine) the one hath place, and where the other. Now since the hymns of David, Moses, and other divine poets intermixed with them, (infinitely excelling those of Callimachus, Alcæus, Sappho, Anacreon, and all others,) abound in both these virtues, and both your poets are acknowledged to be very happy in paraphrasing them, it is my opinion both of them, without giving the least preference to either, should be read alternately in your schools, as the tutor shall direct. Pardon, learned Sir, this scribble to my age and weakness, both which are very great, and command me wherein I may serve you, as, learned Sir, your obliged, thankful, and obedient ser

vant,

ROBERT AINSWORTH.

Spitalfielas, Sept. 1741.

A Letter from the Authors of the "Universal History,"

to Mr. Auditor Benson.

poet, you will permit us to cast the following
mites into your treasury of critical notes on his
noble version. We always thought the palm
by far this author's due, as upon many other
accounts, so especially for two excellences
hitherto not taken notice of by any critic, that
we know of, and which we beg leave to transmit
to you, and if you think fit, by you to the public,
in the following observations.

We beg leave to subscribe ourselves, Sir, &c.
The Authors of the "Universal History."

Dr. Isaac Watts, D. D. in his late Book, entitled "The Improvement of the Mind," Lond. 1741, p. 114. Upon the whole survey of things, it is my opinion, that for almost all boys who learn this tongue, [the Latin,] it would be much safer to be taught Latin poesy (as soon, and as far as they can need it) from those excellent translations of David's Psalms, which are given us by Buchanan in the various measures of Horace; and the lower classes had better read Dr. Johnston's translation of those Psalms, another ele gant writer of the Scots nation, instead of Ovid's Epistles; for he has turned the same Psalms, perhaps with greater elegancy, into elegiac verse, whereof the learned W. Benson, Esq. has lately published a new edition; and I hear that these Psalms are honoured with an increasing use in the schools of Holland and Scotland. A stanza, or a couplet of those writers would now and then stick upon the minds of youth, and would furnish them infinitely better with pious and moral thoughts, and do something towards making them good men and christians.

An act of the Commission of the General Assembly of the
Kirk of Scotland, recommending Dr. Arthur Johnston's
Latin Paraphrase of the Psalms of David, &c.
At Edinburgh,

13th of November, 1740, post meridiem.
A petition having been presented to the late
General Assembly, by Mr. William Lauder,
Teacher of Humanity in Edinburgh, craving,
That Dr. Arthur Johnston's Latin Paraphrase
on the Psalms of David, and Mr. Robert Boyd,
of Trochrig, his Hecatombe Christiana, may be
recommended to be taught in all grammar-
schools; and the assembly having appointed a
committee of their number to take the desire of
the aforesaid petition into their consideration,
and report to the Commission: the said com-
mittee offered their opinion, that the Commission
should grant the desire of the said petition, and
recommend the said Dr. Johnston's Paraphrase
to be taught in the lower classes of the schools,
and Mr. George Buchanan's Paraphrase on the
Psalms, together with Mr. Robert Boyd of Tro-
chrig's Hecatombe Christiana in the higher classes
of schools, and Humanity-classes in universi-
ties. The Commission having heard the said
report, unanimously approved thereof, and did,
and hereby do, recommend accordingly. Ex-
tracted by

SIR,-It is with no small pleasure that we see Dr. Johnston's translation of the Psalms revived in so elegant a manner, and adorned with such a just and learned display of its inimitable beauties. As we flatter ourselves that the character we gave it in our first volume of the "Universal History," did in some measure con- *This honourable gentleman is now his Majesty' tribute to it, we hope, that in justice to that great | Advocate for Scotland.

WILLIAM GRANT,* Cl. Ecl. Sc

A second letter from the same gentleman to Mr. Lauder, of his own words to pass for his sense, or exhibit