AND THE REV. R. CHURTON. 201 



contains the scattered maxims &c. relating to government 

 from the different parts of his works ; it is addressed to Prince 

 Henry; and in the preface he mentions having drawn up from 

 the same author what he had said on the History and Anti- 

 quities of Rome, and digested in several books which he in- 

 tended to publish. He no doubt means the ' De tribus lum. 

 R.; ' but he does not there call it by that name ; and why he 

 did so call it, no account, as far as appears, can be given. I 

 have shewn the inscription on the ostrich shell at the vicarage 

 to a linguist. It is Dutch ; but the word on the flag of the 

 ship, which, if I copied it right, has no vowel, is as yet a 

 puzzle. I observed a circumstance in the late frost which 

 was new to me; but I daresay you are well acquainted with it. 

 Having pulled off, as I was going to bed, my silk stockings 

 and those I wore under them together, as I was separating 

 them I heard a great crackling, upon which I carried the 

 other into the dark, to see as well as hear the effect ; and 

 during the separation the sparks were so vivid and plenteous 

 that a person unacquainted with electricity would have thought 

 the stockings would be burnt. After this, holding the silk 

 stocking in one hand, I passed the other down it several times, 

 and as often as I did it a blaze, but without any noise, fol- 

 lowed my hand ; I think the stockings have been washed only 

 once. The next day, having an older pair on, the frost still 

 continuing, there was no noise or fire during the separation, 

 nor could I elicit the smallest spark with my hand. It seems 

 by this as if silk lost in some degree its electrical as well as 

 wearable properties by time. I dined yesterday in company 

 with Dr. Parr, late of Norwich, but now going to a living in 

 Warwickshire, where he means to take a few boarders. He 

 is a Cambridge man; and a sermon of his is reviewed in the last 

 Mag. He himself reviews sometimes ; the Oxford Cicero was 

 reviewed by him, where I had a little rap, having in the account 

 of MSS. said " licet fert " instead of "ferat." I suppose he 

 does not know who drew up the account. He seems a very sen- 

 sible and learned man ; but, pace tanti viri dixerim, dogmati- 

 cal and overbearing. * I began this two or three days 

 ago ; but one business or other prevented my finishing it. I 



