ROBERTSON. 279 



"I have now brought my offers to a conclusion with An- 

 drew Millar. After viewing [the town, and considering the 

 irresistible power of a combination of booksellers, I have 

 agreed to sell him the property for 600. This, you see, is 

 the sum I originally fixed upon as the full price of my work, 

 and is more than was ever given for any book except David 

 Hume's. You cannot imagine how much it has astonished 

 all the London authors, nor how much Andrew Millar was 

 astonished at the encomiums of my book which he got from 

 people of rank. I have got some of the best puffers of 

 England on my side. Mr. Doddington, Horace Walpole, 

 Lady Hervey, and the Speaker are my sworn friends ; and 

 you will wonder, even in this great place, how I have got Mary 

 Queen of Scots to be a subject of conversation. Everybody 

 here approves of the bargain 1 have made with Millar, and I 

 am fully satisfied of the prudence of my own conduct ; but 

 of this I shall have full leisure to talk with you soon. The 

 exploits which Carlyle and I have performed among the Dis- 

 senters are beyond belief. Poor Dr. Chandler is humbled to 

 the dust, and he feels it as much as other quack doctors feel 

 their mortification. This day I signed my contract with 

 Andrew Millar, and am, according to your advice, to be 

 a Doctor of Divinity within six months, so that I shall take 

 place immediately after Dr. Blair, as he taketh place immedi- 

 ately after Dr. Turnstill. What great things have I to say of 

 Mr. Pit,* who yesterday brought all the Tories to approve of 

 continental measures as the only thing for the good of old 

 England ! Yesterday I dined with Mr. Garrick, in spite of 

 John Hyndmanf and the Presbytery of Dalkeith. To- 

 morrow I go to Portsmouth, to wait on Admiral Hawke and 

 see the Royal George. How much have I to tell you ! I ever 

 am yours, 



W M . R." 



The rank of the ' History of Scotland ' stands very 

 high indeed among the most eminent of historical 

 compositions. The philosophical spirit which per- 



* Sic. f A leader among the fanatical party in the Kirk. 



