blow,
and rush forward to his overthrow, though the flames of hell
should start up to oppose me.

"It pleases me, beyond what I can express, that Whitaker has an
equal contempt for Henry. The idiot threatened, when he left
Edinburgh, that he would find a method to manage the Reviews, and
that he would oppose their panegyric to our censure. Hume has
behaved ill in the affair, and I am preparing to chastise him.
You may expect a series of papers in the Magazine, pointing out a
multitude of his errors, and ascertaining his ignorance of English
history. It was too much for my temper to be assailed both by
infidels and believers. My pride could not submit to it. I shall
act in my defence with a spirit which it seems they have not
expected."

"_11 April, 1774._

"I received with infinite pleasure the annunciation of the great
man into the capital. It is forcible and excellent; and you have
my best thanks for it. You improve amazingly. The poor creature
will be stupified with amazement. Inclosed is a paper for him.
Boccalini will follow. I shall fall upon a method to let David
know Henry's transaction about his review. It is mean to the last
degree. But what could one expect from the most ignorant and the
most contemptible man alive? Do you ever see Macfarlane? He owes
me a favour for his history of George III., and would give a fire
for the packet. The idiot is to be Moderator for the ensuing
Assembly. It shall not, however, be without opposition.

"Would the paragraph about him from the inclosed leaf of the
'Edinburgh Review' be any disgrace to the _Morning Chronicle_?"

"_20th May, 1774._

"Boccalini I thought of transmitting, when the reverend historian,
for whose use it was intended, made his appearance at Edinburgh.
But it will not be lost. He shall most certainly see it. David's
critique was most acceptable. It is a curious specimen in one view
of insolent vanity, and in another of contemptible meanness. The
old historian begins to dote, and the new one was never out of
dotage."

"_3 April, 1775._

"I see every day that what is written to a man's disparagement is
never forgot nor forgiven. Poor Henry is on the point of death,
and his friends declare that I have killed him. I received the
information as a compliment, and begged they would not do me so
much honour."

But Henry and his history long survived Stuart and his