He had however every reafon to be fatisfied. with the proportion of business that fell to his fhare, during the circuits which he regularly attended. Mr. Jones had transmitted a copy of his tranflation to Edmund Burke; and the following letter contains his acknowledgement of the favour. The opinion of a great orator on any subject connected with that of his constant meditations, will not be read without intereft. MY DEAR SIR, March 12, 1779. I give you many thanks for your most obliging and valuable present, and feel myself extremely honoured by this mark of your friendship. My firft leisure will be employed in an attentive perusal of an author, who had merit enough to fill up a part of yours, and whom you have made acceffible to me with an ease and advantage, which one fo many years difufed to Greek literature as I have been, could not otherwife have. Ifæus is an author of whom I know nothing but by fame; I am fure that any idea I had from thence conceived of him, will not be at all leffened by seeing him in your tranflation. I do not know how it has happened, that orators have hitherto fared worfe in the hands of the tranflators, than even the poets; I never could bear to read a tranflation of Cicero. Demofthenes fuffers I think fomewhat lefs;-but he fuffers greatly; so much, that I must fay, that no English reader could well conceive from whence he had acquired the reputation of the firft of orators. I am fatisfied that there is now an eminent exception to this rule, and I fincerely congratulate the public on that acquifition. I am, with the greatest truth and regard, my dear Sir, Your most faithful and obliged humble fervant, EDMUND BURKE. Of the incidents in the life of Mr. Jones during the years 1778 and 1779, I have no particular information; we may suppose his time and attention to have been principally engroffed by his profeffional duties and ftudies, and the political circumftances of the times. His own letters, always interesting, and often inftructive, with thofe of his correfpondents, contain all that I know of him. during this period; the latter afford additional evidence of the esteem in which his learning, abilities, and principles were held by men of high reputation in the rank of literature. Mr. SWINNEY to Mr. JONES. SIR; Pera of Constantinople, January 1, 1778. So high an opinion do I entertain of your humanity and politeness, as to perfuade myself you will readily pardon the liberty I have taken, of fending you a Perfian and Grecian manufcript. If, on perufal of one or the other book, you shall meet with a single paffage that may contribute either to your inftruction or amusement, my purpose will be fully answered. Among the real curiofities I have seen at Conftantinople, is a public museum, erected at the fole expence of a most learned Grand Vifir, whofe name and title was Rajib Pacha. This collection contains about two thousand Arabian, Persian, and Turkish manuscripts, which, the learned fay, contain vast stores of erudition. It is not improbable but I may be able, on fome favourable occafion, to procure you a copy of the catalogue; and then, fhould you be difpofed to have any of the manufcripts copied, I intreat you will confer the honour upon me, of executing the commiffion. People affure me, but I dare not fay whether with good authority or no, that the entire Decades of Livy, and the complete Hiftory of Curtius, are contained in that very precious repofitory: if fo, who knows but majesty itself (so superlatively happy are we in a monarch who favours the arts and fciences!) may graciously condescend to command a copy of them? Be pleased to accept of my warmeft wishes for your health, profperity, and very long life: and believe me to be (what I fincerely am) a lafting admirer of your abilities; and at the fame time, dear Sir, &c. SIDNEY SWINNEY. Dr. STUART to Mr. JONES. MY DEAR SIR; ceipt of 3d October, 1778. I have to acknowledge the reyour moft obliging letter. It is impoffible for me to exprefs the value in which I hold the favourable fentiments you have conveyed to me; and above all, th atftrain of cordiality and friendship which accompany them. The lofs of that long letter, or differtation, into which my performance was about to entice you, is a matter of infinite regret to me: but I hope that the object which then engaged more particularly your attention, and which was fo worthy of it, is now within your reach; that the fates are to comply with your defires, and to place you in a scene where fo much honour and fo many laurels are to be won and gathered. It affects me with a lively pleasure, that your tafte has turned with a peculiar fondness |