or extent, was received, examined with careful attention, at the expence of no small portion of time, and finally committed to the press. It extended to no less than two large quarto volumes, and probably altogether a year, or somewhat more, was employed on the labour. In the interval, our Sexagenarian and his family used to speculate on the golden harvest about to be reaped, by way of compensation. What was it to be? a pipe of Madeira? a pair of silver candlesticks? a gold repeater? At length the last sheet was sent to press, and the day of publication announced. The corrector waited upon the author to felicitate him on his safe delivery. A week passed away-a fortnight-a month-still no Madeira-no piece of plate;-in short, no solid pudding, but a great deal of empty praise. However it was soon forgotten. Temporis officium solatia dicere certi est. However it was not always so. Similar occupations were afterwards thrown in the way, but he had the wisdom taught him by the experience he had obtained, to undertake nothing but with certain specifications of recompence. This seems no improper opportunity of inserting a detached anecdote on the subject of compensation for literary labour, which occurs somewhere or other in our manuscript. A venerable old clergyman, who had in part, directed the education of our friend, and who took a warm and friendly interest in his reputation and welfare, had been informed, with no benevolent intention, that he prostituted his learning and talents to needy booksellers. The Sexagenarian, on some occasion or other, revisited the place where his friend and patron resided, and both from affection and gratitude, hastened to pay his respects, where they were so justly due. He was greatly surprised to find the warmth, with which he had hitherto, invariably, been welcomed, changed into extreme coldness. On requesting an explanation, Sir, said the old gentleman, I am informed that you write for the booksellers, than which I cannot conceive any thing more degrading, or more unbecoming, a scholar and a gentleman. Pray Sir, did not Addison, and Swift, and Pope, and before them Dryden, write for the booksellers? Granted, but that was a very different matter: their reputation was established, and they moreover, obtained very large sums for their productions. If, Sir, the largeness of the sum increases or diminishes, as you appear to conceive it does, the turpitude of the action, how much do you imagine I received for my last work? I beg you also to remember member that I have a large and increasing family, and nothing to depend upon but my talents and my diligence, Why perhaps fifty pounds. I have received seven hundred guineas. The old gentleman's displeasure vanished in a moment. I cannot blame you, I cannot blame you, he exclaimed, and they parted as good friends as ever. Now to return to the brother author Doctor R. Bating this single circumstance of his being too tenacious of his money, he was a most agreeable, well-informed, and good natured man. Though far advanced in years, he retained a great deal of vivacity, and has often enlivened a numerous circle by his facetiousness and humour. No one endured a jest with greater forbearance; and as he came from a country where the Mahometan law prevailed, and had written a detailed account of the usages and peculiarities of the harem, he was often laughingly reproached with availing himself of the privileges of the Mahometan law to its fullest extent. That he ranked as a bashaw with three tails, had four wives, &c. &c. CHAP. CHAPTER VIII. Ηδη μεν πολέων εδαην βεληντε νοῦντε BRUCE appears to have been seen once, and once only, by our Sexagenarian, who nevertheless expresses, in various parts of his manuscript, a general confidence in his veracity, and a great admiration of his prowess and intrepidity. He lived intimately with some of Bruce's most familiar friends, and had frequent opportunities of ascertaining that many assertions made by the traveller, like those of Herodotus, were confirmed by subsequent observation and examination. But it was Bruce's peculiar character, that if he discerned, or ever suspected any want of confidence in his auditors, he disdained all explanation, and could not be prevailed upon to enter upon any further discussion. He He was a very great friend, and frequent correspondent of the individual mentioned in the pages immediately preceding, who was able, from his personal knowledge and local situation, to confirm many things asserted by Bruce, which were at first, in this country, thought equivocal. On his first return from his remote and protracted travels, he had some questions proposed to him on the subject of the Bible in the language of Abyssinia, by a venerable and highly distinguished member of our Church, which he answered very satisfactorily,He afterwards voluntarily undertook to translate literally, a number of proposed texts from the Pentateuch of the Abyssinian Bible, in order that they might be compared with the English version. He did do this, but they were unfortunately mislaid among his numerous papers. They, however, are most probably in existence, and may hereafter appear. A very ingenious clergyman, who was also well versed in the Oriental languages, made a Catalogue Raisonné of Bruce's manuscript library, which of itself would be very acceptable to the learned world. The manuscripts, however, it is to be hoped, will not be permitted to remain buried in Scotland, but as they are of the greatest importance to the elucidation of Scripture, will hereafter be deposited in some of the public libraries of this country, The |