ity is now on board a ship bound for
England, and with other rarities made a present to me. As soon as it
arrives, I design to expose it to public view at my secretary Mr.
Lillie's, who shall have an explication of all the terms of art; and I
doubt not but it will give as good content as the moving picture in
Fleet Street.[64]

But above all the honours I have received from the learned world abroad,
I am most delighted with the following epistle from Rome:

"_Pasquin of Rome, to Isaac Bickerstaff of Great Britain, greeting._
"SIR,

"Your reputation has passed the Alps, and would have come to my
ears by this time, if I had any. In short, sir, you are looked upon
here as a Northern droll, and the greatest virtuoso among the
Tramontanes. Some indeed say, that Mr. Bickerstaff and Pasquin are
only names invented, to father compositions which the natural
parent does not care for owning. But however that is, all agree,
that there are several persons, who, if they durst attack you,
would endeavour to leave you no more limbs than I have. I need not
tell you that my adversaries have joined in a confederacy with Time
to demolish me, and that, if I were not a very great wit, I should
make the worst figure in Europe, being abridged of my legs, arms,
nose, and ears. If you think fit to accept of the correspondence of
so facetious a cripple, I shall from time to time send you an
account of what happens at Rome. You have only heard of it from
Latin and Greek authors; may, perhaps, have read no accounts from
hence, but of a triumph, ovation, or apotheosis, and will,
doubtless, be surprised to see the description of a procession,
jubilee, or canonisation. I shall however send you what the place
affords, in return to what I shall receive from you. If you will
acquaint me with your next promotion of general officers, I will
send you an account of our next advancement of saints. If you will
let me know who is reckoned the bravest warrior in Great Britain,
I'll tell you who is the best fiddler in Rome. If you will favour
me with an inventory of the riches that were brought into your
nation by Admiral Wager,[65] I will not fail giving you an account
of a pot of medals that has been lately dug up here, and are now
under the examination of our ministers of state.

"There is one thing in which