"cular intereft in it, in which I confider "that of the public fo materially involved." The intelligence of his fuccefs was communicated to Mr. Jones, in the following letter of congratulation, to which I fubjoin one from the celebrated Franklin on the fame occafion.

MY DEAR SIR,

March 3, 1783,

It is with little lefs fatisfaction to myself than it can give you, that I fend you the inclofed, and I do affure you there are few events, in which I could have felt fo fenfible a mortification, as in that of your finally miffing this favourite object. The weather fuggefts to me as no flight topic of congratulation, your being relieved from fuch a journey, and under fuch circumftances, as your last favour intimates you had in contemplation for Wednesday; but when I confider this appointment as fecuring to you at once, two of the firft objects of human purfuit, thofe of ambition and love, I feel it a fubject of very ferious and cordial congratula

tion, which I defire you to accept, and to convey accordingly.

I am, with every good with, dear Sir,
Your faithful humble fervant,

DEAR FRIEND,

ASHBURTON.

Passy, March 17, 1783.

I duly received your obliging

letter of Nov. 15. You will have fince learnt how much I was then and have been continually engaged in public affairs, and your goodness will excufe my not having anfwered it fooner. You announced your intended marriage with my much respected friend Miss Anna Maria, which I affure you gave me great pleasure, as I cannot conceive a match more likely to be happy, from the amiable qualities each of you poffefs fo plentifully. You mention its taking place as foon as a prudent attention to worldly interefts would permit. I just now learn from . Mr. Hodgson, that you are appointed to an

honourable and profitable place in the Indies;

fo I expect now foon to hear of the wedding, and to receive the profile. With the good Bishop's permiffion, I will join my bleffing with his; adding my wishes that you may return from that corrupting country, with a great deal of money honeftly acquired, and with full as much virtue as you carry out

The engraving of my medal, which you know was projected before the peace, is but just finished. None are yet ftruck in hard metal, but will in a few days. In the mean time, having this good opportunity by Mr. Penn, I find you one of the Epreuves. You will fee that I have profited by fome of your ideas, and adopted the mottos you were so kind as to furnish.

I am at prefent quite recovered from my late illness, and flatter myself that I may in the ensuing fummer be able to undertake a trip to England, for the pleasure of seeing once more my dear friends there, among whom the Bishop and his family stand foremoft in my eftimation and affection.

I thank you for your good wishes respecting me. Mine for your welfare and prosperity are not lefs earneft and fincere; being with great truth, dear Sir,

Your affectionate friend,

and moft obedient fervant,

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,

I have mentioned the literary productions of Sir William Jones in the order in which they were published. I obferve however two compofitions which had escaped my attention; an abridged History of the Life of Nadir Shah, in English, and a History of the Perfian Language, intended to be prefixed to the first edition of his Perfian Grammar*.

* The reader will peruse with pleasure the following lines from the Arabic, written by Sir William Jones, in 1783, and addressed to Lady Jones.

While sad suspense and chill delay
Bereave my wounded soul of rest,

New hopes, new fears, from day to day,
By turns assail my lab'ring breast.

A long lift might be formed of works which he meditated at different periods. He had projected a Treatife on Maritime Contracts; and with a view to the completion of this work, he commiffioned a friend to purchase for him the Collections of Heineccius, containing the Differtations of Stypman and Kerrick, with any other works that could be procured on the fame fubject. It was also his intention to republish Lyttleton's Treatise on Tenures, from the first edition of 1482, with a new tranflation, explanatory notes, and a commentary; and to prefix an Introductory Difcourfe on the Laws of

My heart, which ardent love consumes,
Throbs with each agonizing thought;

So flutters with entangled plumes,
The lark in wily meshes caught.

There she, with unavailing strain,

Pours thro' the night her warbled grief:
The gloom retires, but not her pain;
The dawn appears, but not relief.

Two younglings wait the parent bird,
Their thrilling sorrows to appease:
She comes-ah! no: the sound they heard
Was but a whisper of the breeze.