SS 
SSeS See 
ene 
- 
~ 
«The daily, induftrious, ‘indefatiga- 
ble operations of the moft pernicious lies 
~—the moft impudent, audacions doétrines 
that were ever practifed upona blind, fiu- 
pid, ignorant, profane populace,  ftiil 
continue to prefper. The London mob 
have long, every hour of the day, damned 
their eyefight; and they happen to have 
good reafon for it. . I will not at once dif- 
guft and fhock you with the recital of fuch 
feditious and treafonable infolencies, as 
never durft, before Wednefday laft, brow- 
beat a throne—at leaft, never with impu- 
nity. Your friends at Pifa envy our 
conititution : I am, afraid we may, ina 
fhort time, beinduced te figh after their’s ; 
for the view, at prefent, all around us is 
an object of the moft extreme indignation, 
contempt, and horror. 
‘¢ Meantime, the infernal fpirit ‘of the 
moft abfurd) difcord, Erynnis,, blind and 
blundering in her dotage, has not yet fo 
univerfally poifoned the able mind of the - 
public, as to engrofs it entirely to the 
clumfy, dirty, biackguard -amufements 
and exercifes. For hiftory. ftill makes a 
fxift to waddle on, though it grows rather 
a lame duck; and there are. ftill jackdaws 
enough to {wallow the green cheefe of 
tragedy, and the no lefs infipid curd of 
new comedy. “So much the becfer; all 
trades would lige, they fay. 
“«© But talking of tome recent publica- 
tions, puts mein mind of fomething that 
I bad almoft forgot to tell you: that fe- 
veral people, who have a particular re- 
gard and efteem forthe reputed author of 
The Prefent State of all Nations, are 
forry to find that he has too much ex- 
pofed the polteriors of our brothers in the 
North; and made fome undeferyed com- 
pliments to their brothers in the South, 
who have already a comfortable enough 
fhare of felf.conceit; and that, antongit 
other perfections, ‘be allows them to be 
the handfomelt people in Europe, which 
they think tu’be a very difputable opi- 
nion, 
« Aikthe friends you have mentioned 
are well, and defire to be kindiy remem- 
bered to you. Your health is never for- 
got in our compotations. I am firry to 
tell you- that our fociety bas loft one wor-' 
thy member, in Doétor Ruffel; who die 
fome months ago of a malignant ‘fever. 
i beg you'll let me hear from you foon; 
and with my beft compliments to Mrs. 
> ” \ 
364 Extradis Jrom the Port-folio of a Man of Letters. [May 1, 7 
Smollett, at the ‘fame time never’ forget- 
ting Mifs “=, and Mifs Currie?’ ~~ 
> €© My dear Sir, 
‘¢ Your affectionate friend, and 
«¢ Faithful humble fervant, 
JOHN ARMSTRONG.” 
“© A Monjieur, | 
“<€ Monfr. Is. Smollett, 
“ Inglefe, in Cala Lenzi al Ponte grande; 
<‘ Pia, Tojcang@.”’ 
“< Rome, Fune 217700 
< DEAR DOCTFOR;,: Mai 
‘¢ [ arrived here laft Thurfday, fe’n- 
night, and ifince, that time have already 
feen almott all the moft celebrated wonders 
of Rome. But Iam greatly difappoint- 
ed in’ thefe matters; partly, I fuppofe, 
from my expectations being too high. 
But what I bave feen here has been in fuch 
a hurry, -asto make it a fatigue; befides, 
I have bufied about amengit them, net 
ther in very good humour nor very good 
healih, Cin 
‘« Thave delayed writing till I could 
lay before you the plan of my future ope- 
rations for a few weeks. I propofe to, 
pot it to Naples, about the middle of 
next week, along with a Colonel of our 
country, who feems to be a very good- 
natured man, After having pafled a 
week or ten days there, I fhall return hi- 
ther, and after having vifited Tivoli and 
Frefeati, fet out for Leghorn, if poffible, 
in fome veflel from Civita. Vecchia, for 
I hate the lodgings upon the roads in, this 
country. I don’t expect to be happy till 
I fee Leghorn, and if I find my friend » 
in fuch health as I with himy or.can hope 
for him, I fhall net be difappointed in the 
chief plafure I propofed to myfelf in my 
vifitto Italy. As you talked of a ramble 
fomewhere to the fouth of France, I thal 
be extremely happy to attend you. 
«¢ [wrote to my brother from Genoa, 
and defired him to direét bis anfwer to) 
your care at Pifa. If it comes, pleafe di- 
refi it, with your own le:ter, for which E. 
long violently, to the care of Mr. Francis 
Barrazzi, at Rome. 
<* Tam, with my beft compliments to. 
Mrs. Smollett, and the reft.of the ladies, ~ 
my dear Dactor, 
“© Your’s, ever affectionately, 
“ JoHN ARMSTRONG.” 
“* Monfieur Smollett, 
“* Chez Monfieur Renner, a Livourne.” 
