[Footnote 168: Blair's Grave.]

* * * * *

LIII.

TO MRS. DUNLOP.

[This seems to be a letter acknowledging the payment of Mrs. Dunlop's
subscription for his poems.]

_Edinburgh_, 15 _April, 1787._

MADAM,

There is an affectation of gratitude which I dislike. The periods of
Johnson and the pause of Sterne, may hide a selfish heart. For my
part, Madam, I trust I have too much pride for servility, and too
little prudence for selfishness. I have this moment broken open your
letter, but

"Rude am I in speech,
And therefore little can I grace my cause
In speaking for myself--"[169]

so I shall not trouble you with any fine speeches and hunted figures.
I shall just lay my hand on my heart and say, I hope I shall ever have
the truest, the warmest sense of your goodness.

I come abroad in print, for certain on Wednesday. Your orders I shall
punctually attend to; only, by the way, I must tell you that I was
paid before for Dr. Moore's and Miss Williams's copies, through the
medium of Commissioner Cochrane in this place, but that we can settle
when I have the honour of waiting on you.

Dr. Smith[170] was just gone to London the morning before I received
your letter to him.

R. B.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 169: From Othello.]

[Footnote 170: Adam Smith.]

* * * * *

LIV.

TO MR. SIBBALD,

BOOKSELLER IN EDINBURGH.

[This letter first appeared in that very valuable work, Nicholl's
Illustrations of Literature.]

_Lawn Market._

SIR,

So little am I acquainted with the words and manners of the more
public and polished walks of life, that I often feel myself much
embarrassed how to express the feelings of my heart, particularly
gratitude:--

"Rude am I in my speech,
And little therefore shall I grace my cause
In speaking for myself--"

The warmth with which you have befriended an obscure man and a young
author in the last three magazines--I can only say, Sir, I feel the
weight of the obligation, I wish I could express my sense of it. In
the mean time accept of the conscious acknowledgment from,

Sir,

Your obliged servant,

R. B.

* * * * *

LV.

TO DR. MOORE.

[The book to which the poet alludes, was the well-known View of
Society by Dr. Moore, a work of spirit and observation.]

_Edinburgh, 23d April, 1787._

I received the books, an