want of proper helps, and a feeling of my own inability, and the high expectations entertained of an edition preparing, under better auspices, by Villoison.

Were it not for the great distance that separates us, you would learn to your cost how indiscreet you were in opening to me the stores of your copious and exquisite learning. As it is, I shall be content, if I shall be allowed, now and then, to pay my respects by letter, and ask your advice in my affairs. The Latin version which you desire, I eagerly seize the chance, not "take the trouble," of executing. With all the diligence and care which my engagements in my school will allow, I will endeavor to render the translation not altogether unworthy of you as the editor, and of me, too, if indeed I seem to give promise of future eminence.

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RUHNKEN TO F. A. WOLF.

Leyden, Aug. 3, 1795.

How highly I estimate your talents and scholarship, you know from Spalding. When he was in Leyden, I talked so frequently with him about you, that he must have seen that no man's authority was greater with me than yours. Afterwards, also, knowing how meagre the salaries of the Halle professors were, I thought of effecting your removal to Holland. Even now, in the confused state of our public affairs, I should be of the same mind, if I could learn that the proposal would be agreeable to you. Such being the case, you will inquire why I have made no reply to the three letters, which you mention, accompanied, too, with presents from you. I can only say, both the letters and the books miscarried. As yet, your Demosthenes only, with a very kind letter, has reached me. But I was then suffering from a rheumatic affection in the hand; and, although my health was otherwise good, I was often unable to prosecute my

studies, particularly those which required the use of the right hand. As I was unable to write myself, I directed Wyttenbach, the best of my pupils, to express to you my thanks, and to assure you of the high gratification which your Demosthenes afforded me. If he failed to do as he was requested, he was undutiful. What, then, suppose you, were my feelings, when I saw such honorable mention of my name in your Homer? I was surprised at your forbearance and generosity, in not renouncing my friendship, as you might properly have done. I shall do all in my power that you may never have occasion to repent of your continued regard. I have read your Prolegomena again and again, with admiration of your copious and exact learning, and the consummate skill of your historical criticism. In respect to your argument to disprove the antiquity of the art of writing, I may say with the reader of Plato's Phaedo, mentioned by Cicero, "while I am reading, I assent; but when I lay the book aside, my assent almost entirely vanishes." But of this another time.

RUHNKEN TO WOLF.

Leyden, Oct. 9, 1796. House-rent is higher in your account, in Halle.

To your inquiries I reply. Leyden than it is, according to A house suitable for a professor cannot be rented for less than 400 florins. The price of other things, though, on account of the war, it is now very high, will, in time of peace, vary but little from what it is in Germany. At least, I have, for many years, supported a family of six persons on 3000 florins. The professors pay now the same taxes as the other citizens. The extraordinary contributions have already ceased, as we hope. The office of rector, from which no professor has hitherto been exempted, will not devolve upon you within eight or nine

years. From the duties of assessor, you can, on account of your not knowing the Dutch language, easily be released. But these, like many other things, will soon be changed. For it is the intention of the Convention of Holland to abolish all the smaller universities, and to elevate Leyden to a state of great splendor, with an increase of the salaries of the professors. Meantime, I advise you, in your reply to the proposals of the curators, which they are daily expecting, to accept the appointment, on condition that the salary be raised 1000 florins. This will, indeed, be a greater amount than any one of us receives; but you will certainly get it. The salary is paid from the day on which the inaugural address is pronounced. You would have received at once more favorable proposals, had not certain unfriendly persons at Göttingen attempted to prejudice the minds of men against you here, as they have done elsewhere. These calumnies were thoroughly put down by our friend Spalding, in his letter to me, which I have shown to the curators. But I hope soon to converse with you face to face on all these matters.

D. WYTTENBACH TO WM. CLEAVER, BISHOP OF CHESTER. Leyden, July, 1800.

Being under the necessity of writing to the delegates of the Clarendon press, I am induced to address myself particularly to you, by that kindness, and that learning which is celebrated in the common speech of men, but of which I have certain proof in your excellent book on Rhythm. Ever since the delegates took my Plutarch under their wing, I have made it my first aim to execute the work with such care and despatch, as to satisfy their wishes. But soon the calamitous war between England and Holland broke out, which is not yet terminated, and which first interrupted, and finally cut off all intercourse.

And yet, by the end of the year 1794, the whole of Plutarch's Morals, complete, as now publishing at Oxford, had reached the hands of the delegates. The remaining parts consisted of the fragments, the spurious treatises, my Annotations, and the indexes. In the preparation of these, I went on zealously, as long as there was any way of transmitting to you the manuscript. In the month of May, 1798, I had a portion all finished, when my friend, Ruhnken died, and I was interrupted in the midst of my course, by being called upon to settle his affairs. The Rev. Dr. John Randolph, who, from the beginning, corresponded with me on the part of the delegates, always urged me to transmit my manuscript as fast as I could get it in readiness, that the press might not be delayed. But the British ambassador at the Hague, to whom I had been accustomed to commit my papers, had now left the place, and I could not, as things were, think of sending by vessels, and committing to unsafe hands the labors of so many years. I replied, informing him of my readiness to send them as soon as he would point out a safe mode of conveyance. It was agreed that I should transmit them to a certain merchant at Hamburg, who would deliver them to Crawford, the British minister at that place. Accordingly, I put those parts which I had finished, into a box covered with pitch, and sent it to Mr. H. D. Rowohl, who wrote me soon after, that he had received it in good condition, and delivered it to his excellency, the British minister. I have never heard a syllable, either verbally or in writing, respecting its safe arrival in Oxford, though it was put into the hands of the minister at Hamburg, in November, 1798. While I was so distracted with my own business and that of others, that I knew not which way to turn, it became necessary, in consequence of my appointment as Ruhnken's successor, to remove from Amsterdam to Leyden. I did not fail, however, to write

to Dr. Randolph, requesting him to inform me of the fate of my papers. But no reply came to me from England. That happy island "was more deaf to my cries than the rocks of the Icarian sea." Are we, then, so cut off from each other, by the sea and by war, that the letters which I write are given to the winds? I have often thus soliloquized, "Cease" pressing Britain with thy letters, "for her deaf shores absorb thy cries." A few days ago, I heard that Dr. Randolph had been made bishop of Oxford. While I rejoice in his promotion, at the same time, my hope of getting an answer lessens, since, to his former occupations, others, both civil and ecclesiastical, will now be added. I beg you, therefore, reverend sir, to inform me, either by yourself, or through some other person, whether that box ever reached Dr. Randolph. If not, as I fear may be the case, let the delegates use all their influence with the minister at Hamburg, to make search for it. I beg you, let me not lose my four years' labor; for I could not, in four years to come, replace it with equal completeness and accuracy.

When I committed my Plutarch to your patronage, I did it, influenced by your great names, your reputation for learning and rank, and the splendor and influence of the Oxford university. I was not governed by a love of gain; for I might have received more from another quarter. I entertained some fears respecting the safety of the papers which were to be transmitted, but none that the terms of agreement would not be adhered to. Do not, gentlemen delegates, make me suffer a pecuniary loss, in addition to the other troubles of the times. The engagement was, that I should receive a guinea a sheet, printed in the manner of Bryan's edition of Plutarch's Lives. But in our edition, in innumerable instances, a smaller type is used, and is to be retained through all the annotations, so as greatly to reduce the number of pages. It may be