656 MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 



what we call crop to themselves, is the very perfection of conduct. There is a 

 report here that the Emperor is about setting out for Brussels, and that even part 

 of his equipage is in readiness. I surprised James Stuart by meeting him here, 

 and find we shall be much together at Rome, &c. &c. It is now about forty 

 years since I have known him to be one of the pleasantest, naive, and best 

 hearted creatures in the world. I am introduced to Mr Walpole here, and was 

 at a mni diner d'Embassadeur, all English, at his house yesterday ; but I shall 

 make no stay, being very impatient to get within the precincts of the Old Re- 

 public, and no less impatient to be at some place where I can hope to hear from 

 you, and learn something of what is doing in the world ; for in this way of life 

 we are hood-winked, and know no more than can be seen when the glasses of 

 the sulky are down. — I am, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, 



" Adam Ferguson." * 



" Venice, 19th Oct. 1793. 

 " My dear Friend, — I write merely to let you know what is become of me, 

 and the sum total is that I am well, and have come on as prosperously as a 

 speculative master and a dumb servant could do without any other aid. I wrote 

 a line also from Frankfort or Munich, with an account of what I did with your 

 letter to Count Lucchesini. I see from newspapers since, that if I had stayed 

 but a few days more at Frankfort I should have seen him there ; but the secrets 

 of kings who can know ? and I should have thought myself in a scrape amidst 

 the scarcity of horses, caused by his Majesty's motions. In the way I took by 

 Nurenburg and Munich I avoided that distress, came prosperously through the 

 Tyroll, and at Verona began to reap the fruits of my labours. If you remember, 

 the Cimbri or Teutones are said to have performed wonders against Catulus the 

 Roman general in that neighbourhood ; and though it be not of much conse- 

 quence whether that tale be exaggerated or no, yet I was anxious to judge of its 

 credibility on the spot, and got on horseback from Verona for that purpose, and 

 reconnoitred the banks of the Adige for some little way. So far I had come post ; 

 but there I fell in with a Florentine veturino, who had brought some travellers 

 from Florence. I rode his horses at Verona, and agreed with him to drive my 

 Titbo thing to Padua. We agreed so well on the road, that I have lodged and 

 boarded myself with him all the way to Rome. He seems to be a good-humoured, 

 cai-eful creature; and I am happy to escape the blustering postilions of the eccle- 

 siastical state. I told him I should be at Florence soon, though at present I go 

 by Loretto ; and if any distress befal me, my point of rallyment will be Florence, 

 being under the special protection of Count Manfredini, so that Antonio Lopini, 

 this veturino, and I are already a sort of compatriots. I languish for news from 

 England. I call for newspapers everywhere, but nothing has yet overtaken me 



* MSS. University, Edinburgh. 



