This pamphlet I have never seen, and therefore can say no more of it than what its author has communicated. He selects from it the following passage, as an attack which he considers to be "fairly pressed" upon Lowth, and in which opinion the reader will probably concur.

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Recollect, my lord, the warmth, the piety, with which you remonstrated against Bishop W-'s treatment of your father, in a passage of his Julian:- It is not, you therein say, in behalf of myself that I expostulate, but of one for whom I am much more concerned, that is my father.' These are your lordship's words—amiable, affecting expression! instructive lesson of filial devotion! alas, my lord, that you who were thus sensible to the least speck which fell upon the reputation of your father, should be so inveterate against the fame of one at least as eminent, and perhaps not less dear to his family."

These are, indeed, arguments ad hominem, but I do not know that they invalidate the principle of the attack which Lowth made upon Bentley.

His uncle's desire not to be mistaken for the author of this letter, was amply gratified, except in the instance of one old gentleman, whose misconception was the occasion of a handsome gratuity to him as the presumed defender of Bentley. This gentleman was Mr. Commissary Greaves, of Fulborne, in Cambridgeshire, who had a great affection for the memory of Bentley, and was, as

Cumberland believed, indebted to him for some essential services. Supposing the son of his deceased friend and benefactor, to have been the author of the letter to Lowth, he not only complimented the writing, but sent a valuable present to him as the writer.

This present Cumberland seems to have regretted the loss of, conceiving it but fair, that he who endured all the labour and incurred all the peril, should receive all the reward; and when he heard of the unfortunate misapprehension, he despatched a letter to the old gentleman, in which it is amusing to see the artifice with which its real object is endeavoured to be concealed while it seems to be merely a complimentary epistle. The thoughts of the donation were still floating before the writer's fancy, and he ingeniously strives to remind the giver, that he who deserved it did not get it.

For the reader's gratification I will transcribe this letter.

"Dear Sir,

"When in the warmth of your affection for the memory of my grandfather, you could praise a pamphlet written by me, and address your praises to my uncle, as supposing him to be the author of it, I am more flattered by your mistake than I will attempt to express to you. You have ever been so good to me, that had your commendations been directed rightly, I must have ascribed the greater

share of them to your charitable interpretation of my zeal, and the rest I should have placed to the account of your politeness.

"When I was an under graduate at Trinity College, you was so obliging as to let me be informed of your intention to encourage and assist me in my studies; and though circumstances at that time intervened*, to postpone your kind design, you have so abundantly overpaid me, that I have no greater ambition now at heart than that I may continue so to write as to be mistaken for my uncle, and you so to approve of what you read, as to see fresh cause of applauding him, who is so truly deserving of every favour you can bestow. "I have the honour to be, &c."

"To William Greaves, Esq. Fulborne.”

It does not appear that Mr. Greaves understood the hint, or if he understood it, he did not probably think himself bound to shew that he did. It is evident, however, that Cumberland thought himself (and justly it must be confessed) the legitimate object of his bounty.

Nor was this the only instance in which an intended beneficence was frustrated between the first conception and the final act. When

This intended encouragement consisted of a proposed present of books, to the amount of twenty pounds; but a wet season took place; his fen lands were under water; and Cumberland went without his books. He reminds him, however, that such a thing was once thought of.

the West Indian had made him popular, he was selected by a distant relation as his heir, and the testator waited upon him personally, to assure him of his intentions. The commencement and conclusion of this curious business shall be given in Cumberland's own words.

"I was surprised one morning, at an early hour, by a visit from an old clergyman, the Rev. Decimus Reynolds. I knew there was such a person in existence, and that he was the son of Bishop Reynolds by my father's aunt, and of course his first cousin, but I had never seen him to my knowledge in my life, and he came now at an hour when I was so particularly engaged, that I should have denied myself to him, but that he had called once or twice before, and been disappointed of seeing me. I had my office papers before me, and my wife was making my tea, that I might get down to Whitehall in time for my business, and the coach was waiting at the door. He was shewn into the room; a more uncouth person, habit and address, was hardly to be met with; he advanced, stopt, and stood staring with his eyes fixed upon me for some time, when, putting his hand into a pocket in the lining of the breast of his coat, he drew out an old packet of paper rolled up and tied with whip-cord, and very ceremoniously desired me to peruse it. I begged to know what it was; for it was a work of time to unravel the knots-he replied-"My will." And what am I

to do with your will, Sir? My heir- Well, Sir, and who is your heir? (I really did not understand him- Richard Cumberland-look at the date-left it to you twenty years ago-my whole estate-real and personal-come to town on purpose-brought up my title deeds-put them into your hands-sign a deed of gift, and make them over to you hard and fast.'

"All this while I had not looked at his will; I did not know he had any property, or, if he had, I had no guess where it laid, nor did I so much as know whereabouts he lived. In the mean time he delivered himself in so strange a style, by starts and snatches, with long pauses and strong sentences, that I suspected him to be deranged, and I saw, by the expression of my wife's countenance, that she was under the same suspicion also.-I now cast my eye upon the will; I found my name there as his heir, under a date of twenty years past; it was therefore no sudden caprice, and I conjured him to tell me if he had any cause of quarrel or displeasure with his nearer relations. Upon this he sate down, took some time to compose himself, for he had been greatly agitated, and having recovered his spirits, answered me deliberately and calmly, that he had no immediate matter of offence with his relations, but he had no obligations to them of any sort, and had been entirely the founder of his own fortune, which by marriage he had acquired, and by economy improved. I stated to him that

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