In the first of the ensuing letters an amusing commentary will be found on Smollett’s assertion, that his independent spirit would not stoop to solicit either place or pension.  The papers of which it forms one appear to have been selected from the private correspondence of Dr. Smollett, and are preserved among the MSS. of the Library Company of Philadelphia, to which they were presented by Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who may have obtained them in Scotland.  Like the letter to Mr. Smith, we are satisfied that these are authentic documents, and shall deal with them as such here.  Lord Shelburne (better known by his after-acquired title of Marquis of Lansdowne) was the identical minister whom Pitt, twenty years later, so highly eulogized for “that capacity of conferring good offices on those he prefers,” and for “his attention to the claims of merit,” of which we could wish to know that Smollett had reaped some benefit.  The place sought for was probably a consulate on the Mediterranean, which would have enabled our author to look forward with some assurance of faith to longer and easier years.  The Duchess of Hamilton, to whom his Lordship writes, and by whom his letter seems to have been transmitted to its object, was apparently the beautiful Elizabeth Gunning, dowager Duchess of Hamilton, but married, at the date of the letter, to the Duke of Argyle.  Having an English peerage of Hamilton in her own right, it is probable she preferred to continue her former title.

LORD SHELBURNE TO THE DUCHESS OF HAMILTON.

“Holt Street, Tuesday.

“Madam,—­I am honour’d with your Grace’s letter, inclosing one from Doctor Smollett.  It is above a year since I was applied to by Doctor Smollett, thro’ a person I wish’d extremely to oblige; but there were and still subsist some applications for the same office, of a nature which it will be impossible to get over in favour of Mr. Smollett, which makes it impossible for me to give him the least hopes of it.  I could not immediately recollect what had pass’d upon that subject, else I should have had the honour to answer your Grace’s letter sooner.  I am with great truth and respect your Grace’s most obedient and most humble servant.

“SHELBURNE.”

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The letter bears no month nor year, but is indorsed, apparently by Smollett himself, as of 1762,—­that is, in the year previous to his expressed aversion to solicitations for place.  Yet if there was a man in England entitled to ask for and to receive some provision by his country for his broken health and narrow fortunes, that man was Smollett.  It is perhaps a trifling thing to notice, but it may be observed that Lord Shelburne’s communication does not bear any marks of frequent perusal.  The silver sand with which the fresh lines were besprinkled still clings to the fading ink, furnishing perhaps