to form a more
exact idea of the success, that may be expected from them than I can at
present. I will also communicate them to several eminent Literati of my
acquaintance, and to mention one in particular, Mr Johnson, the author of
the Dictionary, Rambler, &c., who will, I am sure, be glad to recommend
your work, and to give you any advice for the most advantageous disposal
of it. If you take these voluntary offers of service in good part, you
will please to favour me with a line, and I would wish also a specimen of
your labours, together with a full direction where to write to you. I am
a Clergyman, and shall receive any favour of this kind, that is enclosed
under a cover to the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Sussex, at Easton
Maudit Castle, by the Ashby Bag, Northamptonshire.

I am Sir, though unknown,
Your very faithful obedient servant,
THOMAS PERCY.

_Easton Maudit_, _July_ 21, 1761.

P.S. I am told you are acquainted with Mr. Gray, the poet. Pray has he
any foundation for what he has asserted in his Ode on the British Bards,
viz. that there is a tradition among the inhabitants of Wales, that our
Edward the First destroyed all the British Bards that fell into his
hands? The existence of such a tradition has been doubted.

* * * * *

The same to the same.

DEAR SIR,

That I have so long defer'd answering your very obliging letter has been
altogether owing to the following cause. I proposed sending you a Saxon
ode, accompanied with a Latin literal and an English free version; the
former done by my very learned friend Mr. Lye, from out of whose curious
collections I transcribed both it and the original. But, having left it
with him to give it a revise, he has unfortunately mislaid both the
original and copy, so that, although he has for this month past
occasionally endeavour'd to recover them, he has not been able to
succeed. As soon as they emerge from the immense ocean of his papers,
you may depend upon receiving this curious specimen of Saxon poetry. In
the mean time I would not defer any longer returning you thanks for the
curious and valuable contents of your letter. I admire your Welsh ode
very much; it contains a large portion of the sublime. The images are
very bold and animated, and poured forth with such ra