No. XXV. EXTRACT OF A LETTER To MRS. DUNLOP. Edinburgh, 30th April, 1787. YOUR OUR criticisms, Madam, I understand very well, and could have wished to have pleased you better. You are right in your guess that I am not very amenable to counsel. Poets, much my superiors, have so flattered those who possessed the adventitious qualities of wealth and power, that I am determined to flatter no created being either in prose or verse. I set as little by princes, lords, clergy, critics, &c. as all these respective gentry do by my bardship. I know what I may expect from the world by and bye-illiberal abuse, and haps contemptuous neglect. per I am happy, Madam, that some of my own favourite pieces are distinguished by your particular approbation. For my Dream, which has unfortunately incurred your loyal displeasure, I hope in four weeks, or less, to have the honor of appearing at Dunlop, in its defence person. in No. No. XXVI. ΤΟ The Reverend DR. HUGH BLAIR. Lawn-market, Edinburgh, 3d May, 1787. "REVEREND AND MUCH-RESPECTED SIR, I LEAVE Edinburgh to-morrow morning, but could not go without troubling you with half a line, sincerely to thank you for the kindness, patronage, and friendship you have shewn me. I often felt the embarrassment of my singular situation; drawn forth from the veriest shades of life to the glare of remark; and honored by the notice of those illustrious names of my country, whose works, while they are applauded to the end of time, will ever instruct and mend the heart. However the meteor-like novelty of my appearance in the world might attract notice, and honor me with the acquaintance acquaintance of the permanent lights of genius and literature, those who are truly benefactors of the immortal nature of man; I knew very well, that my utmost merit was far unequal to the task of preserving that character when once the novelty was over. I have made up my mind, that abuse, or almost even neglect, will not surprise me in my quarters. I have sent you a proof impression of Beugo's work for me, done on Indian paper, as a trifling but sincere testimony with what heartwarm gratitude I am, &c. No. No. XXVII. From DR. BLAIR, DEAR SIR, Iw Argyle-square, Edinburgh, 4th May, 1787. WAS favoured this forenoon with your very obliging letter, together with an impression of your portrait, for which I return you my best thanks. The success you have met with I do not think was beyond your merits; and if I have had any small hand in contributing to it, it gives me great pleasure. I know no way in which literary persons, who are advanced in years, can do more service to the world, than in forwarding the efforts of rising genius, or bringing forth unknown merit from obscurity. I was the first person who brought out to the notice of the world the Poems of Ossian; first, by the Fragments of ancient Poetry, which I published, and afterwards, by my |