Original Letter of Paul Fones. 
His .“ Travels through Germany,” 2 
very voluminous, but fevere. work, have 
raifed him up an hoft of enemies, and en- 
gaged him in frequent difputes. The 
polgnanass of his wit, and the keenneis 
of his fatire, have, however, in general, 
borne him triumphant through the con- 
teft. He has lately publifhed an enter- 
taining fatirical work, in confequence of 
a wager between himfelf and his friend 
Bove (an excellent German writer, and 
the tranflator of Sterne’s ‘* Triffram 
Shandy,’ ‘* Sentimental fourney,” and 
Smollett’s ‘* Humphrey Clinker’’), enti- 
tled “* The Hiffory of a Fat Man,” in allu- 
fion to Bone’s perfonal appearance. 
Bove, however, did not live to fee the 
completion of this work, and NicoLat 
has annexed, at the end of the 2d volume, 
an honourable teftimony to the merits and 
virtues of ‘his deceafed friend. 
In his manners +, NICOLAI is very 
plain; butnothing- can exceed the charms 
of his converfation: He pofleffes an inex- 
hauftible fund of anecdotes, relating to 
writers and eminent men of every defcrip- 
tion, among whom his acquaintance is un- 
limited. Thofe who vifit him, always ex- 
perience the moft lively regret, when they 
take leave of hum. As a judge of books, 
it is doubtful whether all Europe can 
produce his fuperior. Yi Db: 
— ee 
Copy of a Lerrer fent from Joun 
PauL- Jones, Elfq. Commander in 
Chief of the American Squadron nt Eu- 
rope, to the Right Hon. The Counte/s of 
SELKIRK, St. Mary's Ifle, Scotland. 
{ The following Letter is the produétion of a 
man, who, on various occafions, acted a 
very confpicuous part on the theatre of the 
world. It places his character in a very 
different light from that in which it has 
commonly heen viewed, and as it is one of 
the firft principles of juftice, to condemn 
no man, until he may have been heard in 
his own defence, we hope it will not be 
altogether unacceptable to the public. 
We are promifed fome others, written by 
the fame perfon, and equally, if not more 
interefting. } 
‘© MADAM, 
s¢ fT cannot be too much lamented that, 
in the profeffion of arms, the officer 
of fine feeling, and of real fenfibility, 
fhould be under the neceffity of winking 
+ The anfounded afperfions thrown out 
againft this venérable character, by Profeffor 
283 
at any action of perfons under his com, 
mand, which his heart cannot approve = 
but the reflection is doubly. fevere, when’ - 
he finds himfelf obliged, i# appearance, ta 
countenance fuch aétion by his authority. 
‘¢ This hard cafe was mine, when on the » 
23d of April laft, I landed on St; Mary’s 
Ifle. Knowing Lord Selkirk’s interet 
with his king, and efteeming, as Ido, 
his private chara¢ter, I-withed to make 
, 
him the happy inftrument of alleviating” © 
the horrors ot Aopelefs captivity, when the 
brave are overpowered, and made pri- 
foners of war. It was, perhaps, fortu~ 
nate-for you, Madam, that he was from 
home; for it was my intention -to: have >< 
taken him on board the Ranger, and to - 
have detained him, until, through’ his: 
means, a general and fair exchange’of 
prifoners, as well in Europe as:in Ames: 
rica, had been effe&ted. cielo eaten 
‘‘ When I was informed by fome men: 
whom I met at landing, that his lordthip 
was abfent, I walked back tomy ‘boat, 
determined to leave the ifland: by -the- 
way, however, fome of the: officers, who 
were with me, could not forbear expreff- 
ing their dif{content: obferving, that sin: 
America no delicacy was fhewn by: the 
Englith, who took away all forts of move- 
able property; fetting fire not-only to - 
towns, and tothe houfes of the rich, with- ” 
out diftinction, but not- even {paring the 
wretched hamlets. and. milk-cows of the’ 
poor and helplefs, at the approach of an» 
inclement winter: that. party had been 
with me, as volunteers, the fame morne 
ing, at Whitehaven; fome compliance, 
therefore, was their due: I had byt a 
moment to think how I might gratify 
them, and, at the fame~time,: do your 
ladyihip the leaft injury. I.charged’the 
two officers to permit none of the feamen 
to enter the houfe, or ;to hurt any thing: 
about it; to treat you, Madam,° with . 
the utmoft refpeét; to accept of tthe.’ 
plate which was offered, and to come 
away without making a fearch or. demand- 
ing any thing elf. I am induced to bes: 
lieve, that I was punctually obeyed;: 
fince I am informed that the plate which \ 
they brought away is: far fhort of: the> 
quantity expreffed in-the inventory which’ 
accompanied it,—I -have gratified my 
men, and when the plate is fold, I» thalt 
become the purchafer, -and willgratify ~ 
my own feelings, by reftoring it to you, 
by fuch conveyance as you. fhall be pleafed . 
to direct. oxi. anager t foes ot 
~ 

Rosson, in his.late- publications are of too>°: 
Toit} 
4 
go 
“ 
> 
liberal and contemptible a nature tawmerit 4. 
ferious refutatien. 
« Wad 
