Thus far only I should be glad to know with certainty, whether it be likely [MS. torn] should continue in statu quo, till the Commencement (which I don't conceive) for [MS. torn] I should think it rather better for T[uthill] to give up his pretensions with a good grace, than to wait the pleasure of those dirty cubs, who will infallibly prefer the first that offers of their own people. But I submit this to your judgment, who (as you first made him a competitor) ought to determine at what time he may most decently withdraw. I have some uneasiness too on Brown's account, who has sacrificed all his interests with so much frankness, and is still so resolute to do everything for us without reserve, that I should see him with great concern under the paw of a fell visitor, and exposed to the insolence of that old rascal, the master. Tr[ollo]pe (if you remember) would engage himself no longer than the end of this year: 'tis true he has never said anything since, tending that way; but he is not unlikely to remember it at a proper time. And as to Sm[art]:1 he must necessarily be abîmé, in a very short time. His debts daily increase (you remember the state they were in, when you left us). Addison, I know, wrote smartly to him last week; but it has had no effect, that signifies only I observe he takes hartshorn from morning to night lately: in the

1 Christopher Smart (1722-1770), the poet, admitted to Pembroke College October 30, 1739, elected a fellow of the College in 1745. He was liable to fits of insanity, during one of which he wrote his famous Song to David. He was an imitator of Gray's Odes.-[Ed.]

VOL. II.

M

meantime he is amusing himself with a Comedy1 of his own writing, which he makes all the boys of his acquaintance act, and intends to borrow the Zodiack room, and have it performed publickly. Our friend Lawman, the mad attorney, is his copyist; and truly the author himself is to the full as mad as he. His piece (he says) is inimitable, true sterling wit, and humour by God; and he can't hear the Prologue without being ready to die with laughter. He acts five parts himself, and is only sorry, he can't do all the rest. He has also advertised a collection of Odes; and for his Vanity and Faculty of Lying, they are come to their full maturity. All this, you see, must come to a Jayl, or Bedlam, and that without any help, almost without pity. By the way, now I talk of a Jayl, please to let me know, when and where you would have me pay my own debts.

2

Chapman (I suppose you know) is warm in his mastership. Soon after his accession I was to see him: there was a very brilliant (Cambridge) assembly,

1 Called a Trip to Cambridge, or the grateful Fair. Which was acted in Pembroke College Hall, the parlour of which made the green-room. No remains of this play have been found, but a few of the Songs, and the "Soliloquy of the Princess Periwinkle sola, attended by fourteen Maids of great Honour," containing the well-known simile of the Collier, Barber, and the Brickdust man. "Thus when a Barber and a Collier fight,"

etc.-[Mit.]

2 Dr. Thomas Chapman, "the conceited and overbearing Master of Magdalen," who died 1760. He was Prebendary of Durham, and Master of Magdalen College from 1746 to his death.-[Ed.]

Middleton, Rutherforth,1 Heberden,2 Robinson, Coventry, and various others. He did the honours with a great deal of comical dignity, assisted by a Bedmaker in greasy leather breeches and a livery, and now he is gone to town to get preferment. But what you'll wonder at and what delights me, Coventry is his particular confident (tho' very disagreeably to himself) he can't open his door, but he finds the master there, who comes to set with him at all hours, and brings his works with him, for he is writing a great book on the Roman Constitution. Well, upon the strength of this I too am grown very great with Coventry, and to say the truth (bating his nose, and another circumstance, which is nothing to me) he is the best sort of man in this place. M[iddleto]n has published a small octavo on the Roman Senate, well enough, but nothing of very great consequence, and is now gone to be inducted into a Sine-cure (not £100 a year) that Sir J. Frederick gave him. What's worse, for the sake of this little nasty thing (I am told) he is determined to suppress a work, that

1 Thomas Rutherford, Regius Professor of Divinity from 1756 to 1771, a leading mathematician of the time.-[Ed.]

2 William Heberden of St. John's, at that time Lecturer on the Materia Medica.-[Ed.]

3 An "Essay on the Roman Senate," by Thomas Chapman, D.D., Master of Magdalen College in Cambridge, and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty, 1750, 8vo. A Review of this Book, as well as of Middleton's and other writers on the same subject, was published by Hooke, 4to, 1758.—[Mit.]

4 Gray was happily misinformed. Conyers Middleton was not bribed to withdraw his famous Free Inquiry into the Miracu

would have made a great noise, or publish it all mangled and disfigured, and this when he has (I am assured) near £700 a year of his own already, and might live independent, and easy, and speak his mind. in the face of the whole world Clerical and Laïcal. Such a passion have some men to lick the dust, and

be trampled upon. The Fellow-Commoners (the bucks) are run mad, they set women upon their heads in the streets at noon-day, break open shops, game in the coffee-houses on Sundays, and in short act after my [MS. torn] heart.

My works are not so considerable as you imagine. I have read Pausanias and Athenæus all through, and Eschylus again. I am now in Pindar and Lysias: for I take Verse and Prose together, like bread and cheese. The Chronology is growing daily. The most noble of my performances latterly is a Pôme on the uncommon death of Mr. W[alpole]'s Cat, which being of a proper size and subject for a gentleman in your condition to peruse (besides that I flatter myself Miss will give her judgment upon it too), I herewith send you. It won't detain you long.1-Adieu, my dear Sir, I am ever yours,

Cambridge, March [endorsed 1747], Tuesday Night.

T. G.

Trollope is in town still at his lodgings, and has lous Powers which are supposed to have existed in the Christian Church. It appeared in full in 1748, having been proceeded by "Introductory Discourse," published very soon after this letter was written.-[Ed.]

an

1 Here the Ode on the Death of Mr. Walpole's Cat is inserted. -[Ed.]

been very ill. Brown wrote a month ago to Hayes and Christopher, but has had no answer, whether or no, they shall be here at the Commencement. Can you tell? Morley is going to be married to a grave and stayed Maiden of 30 years old with much pelf, and his own relation. Poor Soul!

As one ought to be particularly careful to avoid blunders in a compliment of condolence, it would be a sensible satisfaction to me (before I testify my sorrow, and the sincere part I take in your misfortune) to know for certain, who it is I lament. I knew Zara and Selima (Selima was it? or Fatima?), or rather I knew them both together; for I cannot justly say which was which. Then as to your handsome Cat, the name you distinguish her by, I am no less at a loss, as well knowing one's handsome cat is always the cat one likes best; or if one be alive and the other dead, it is usually the latter that is the handsomest. Besides, if the point were never so clear, I hope you do not think me so ill-bred or so imprudent as to forfeit all my interest in the survivor; oh no! I would rather seem to mistake, and imagine to be sure it must be the tabby one that had met with this sad accident. Till this affair is a little better determined, you will excuse me if I do not begin to cry:

"Tempus inane peto, requiem, spatiumque doloris."