is perfectly entire except a chapel dedicated to St Modan, and the chapter-house, which very anciently had been used as the conventual church, before its restoration and aug. mentation by the Constable Hugh de Morville, and his wife, Beatrix de Beauchamp, in the reign of David I. in the year 1151. This chapter-house contains the bones of the founders, which I found very entire in sarcophagi, placed in the centre of its area. You may believe I did not disturb the ashes of the venerable dead, but I could not resist the pleasure of satisfying the curiosity of the living, in taking out the remains of the Great Constable's staff, which lay on the right side of Hugh de Morville, and a few of the beads of Beatrix de Beauchamp. Chalices, that were of base metal, and mouldered by time, were upon their breasts, some of the fragments of which I also took away. The quicksilver, with which they had been rubbed to make them more conspicuous, was found fluid, in dispersed globules among the ashes. This room, if I am able, I mean to stucco, and dedicate to the portraits and contemplation of illustrious Scots, and to give the name to it of The Temple of Caledonian Fame. I see, by your strenuous efforts to apply your superabundant fortune to the succour of struggling merit in Scotland, that you are desirous of increasing my collection of pictures. May my countrymen strive to enter in at the strait gate of this venerable apartment! Marcus Aurelius and Seneca are on the outside of this building. None can enter that are not truly Scots. Veni Robur Scotia animoso pectore Robur, Of this abbey my noble and truly excellent ancestor, John Erskine, afterwards regent of the Scots, was commendator, during the life-time of his elder brothers, Robert and Thomas, Lords Erskine. I am happy to think I may place his image, with the approbation of my countrymen, and of all Europe, in my Temple of Caledonian Fame. His image, of whom the elegant historian of Scotland has truly recorded, that, in -the worst and most corrupt of barbarous times, amidst their mutual animosities, both factions acknowledged his views to be honourable, and his integrity uncorrupted. May his image. be displayed in my life, and in my character, though my private station forbids me to expect ever to employ the pen of an historian, I am happy in the enjoyment of intellectual delight, and in endeavouring to display the neglected fame of others that deserve it. "I care not, Fortune, what you me deny; THOMSON. Farewell, my dear Hortus. Should you think of wandering from your own pleasant villa, come here, and you shall have milk in the morning, perfumed with cinnamon and odour of roses: nay, if I thought it would make you young again, I would provide a kettle, and bathe you in it; for, with respect to my old friends, I am quite of the mind I am about estates, thinking it much better to improve those we have, than run the risk of buying new ones. Tweedside, 2 July 25. 1791. Once more farewell. SIR, Letter Fourth. TO THE EDITOR OF THE BEE. (September 7, 1791.) THE following translation of a truly curious and interesting letter, in the noble collec tion from whence I have given you the letters to Capito and Helvidius Priscus, will, I flatter myself, afford a treat to the public, through the medium of your excellent miscellany. He that hath understanding let him consider the description of an Imperial Beast, I give him without the riddle of a name, or of a number; he may be 666 or 1791, in any country, or at any time when the people are asleep. I am, Sir, Your humble Servant, A. B. 2 L. CASSIUS PATAVINUS TO C. ÆMILIUS OELIANUS. THINK not, my dear Oelianus, that the affected clemency of Augustus, and the safety of my banishment from the court, has in the least changed the view I had of the Roman commonwealth when I incurred his displeasure. By the interposition of the mask of the old constitution in a venal senate, fed upon the vitals of their country, and the disposal of an immense revenue, squeezed from the hard hands of labour by intolerable taxes, it is easy for the Emperor to deride all the efforts of republican opposition. To this I am indebted for my safety, and my insignificance, which ensures my safety. You, Patavinus, not less guilty in the eyes of the prince of loving your country, but perhaps still more insignificant than I am, are allowed to femain even in Rome, as a monument of our master's be ing superior to the awe of popular opinion. How is it possible, O Patavinus! that I should not hate the insidious Octavianus? Cæsar ravished his country in the fury of lustful ambition; but Octavianus has seduced her, corrupted her, degraded her, rendered her infamous. He has preserved the forms and aspect of her character and situation, that he may secure the continued perpetration of his crimes, and glory daily in dishonouring the mistress of the world, the queen of nations, the nurse of patriots, and of heroes! By the death of the usurper, liberty might have been restored. By no superior genius, by no military prowess, or magnanimity, Octavianus reaped the fruits of Cæsar's ambition. Trick, and jumbling all parties together, that he might trample upon the constitution of his country, constituted the policy of Augustus. By methods, low and vile, he undermined the fabric of our government. He levied forces without authority of the state, and under the lying pretence of defending liberty, carried on distant war with the Roman provinces, to the destruction of his country, upon the ruins of Marc Anthony. With this very army, the army of the commonwealth, he attacked the vitals of his country, marched in a hostile manner to Rome, and sent a deputation of officers, in the suborned name of the legions, to demand the consulship; but, in reality, the supreme authority of the state, independent of the choice of the people. When the senate hesitated, one of these armed ambassadors, clapping his hand upon his sword, said, If you do not give him the fasces, this shall. To the chattering, veering, timid Cicero, the nightingale of the aristocracy, he was indebted |