18 EARLY LIFE. 



by rhymes, and moulding the sense as well as suggest- 

 ing it, affords a striking and familiar example. 



He had much exercised himself, therefore, in trans- 

 lation, and even intended to publish one of Antoninus' 

 Meditations, done while at college. The appearance 

 of a translation at Glasgow prevented this publication, 

 but the manuscript remains, and is in my possession ; 

 and the version is very ably and learnedly executed. 

 With this strong opinion in favour of translation, 

 which was also that of his son Lord Eobertson, both 

 of them prescribed it to me, and among other things 

 made me translate all the History of Florus. The fol- 

 lowing letter to Lord Eobertson shows an extremely 

 imperfect taste, and a considerable misconception of 

 the task prescribed ; possibly arising from the ambi- 

 tion of the writer : 



"BROUGHAM, January 15, 1792. 



" DEAR SIR, You would no doubt be surprised that 

 I did not write to you by Mr Mitchell, who was in 

 Edinburgh. I was prevented doing this by reason of 

 not having finished the task you were so kind as pre- 

 scribe to me before I left town a task which was so 

 very delightful that nothing could have hindered me 

 performing it, had not Mr M. begged I would desist, 

 until I should make some improvement in my writing, 

 which had been spoilt by beginning too soon to scrawl 

 versions. I was in this manner prevented from making 

 use of your kindness for three or four months. 



"You will perhaps remember that you allowed me 

 to translate either Livy or Florus. I pitched upon the 



