of Carte’s prejudices so well, that I dare say many things may be found there that he could not see, or would not publish.  May I beg the favour of you to let me know whether Fenelon’s papers be yet extant and accessible, and to give me some general idea of what Dr. Forbes’s Collections contain with regard to Scotland, and whether the papers they consist of are different from those published by Haynes, Anderson, &c.  I am far from desiring that you should enter into any detail that would be troublesome to you, but some short hint of the nature of these Collections would be extremely satisfying to my curiosity, and I shall esteem it a great obligation laid upon me.

“I have brought my work almost to a conclusion.  If you would be so good as to suggest anything that you thought useful for me to know or to examine into, I shall receive your directions with great respect and gratitude.

“I am, with sincere esteem,

“Rev’d Sir, Y’r m. ob. & m. h.  S’r,

“Wm. ROBERTSON.”

TO DR. BIRCH.

“Edinburgh, 1 Jan. 1759.

“Dear Sir,—­If I had not considered a letter of mere compliment as an impertinent interruption to one who is so busy as you commonly are, I would long before this have made my acknowledgments to you for the civilities which you was so good as to show me while I was in London.  I had not only a proof of your obliging disposition, but I reaped the good effects of it.

“The papers to which I got access by your means, especially those from Lord Royston, have rendered my work more perfect than it could have otherwise been.  My history is now ready for publication, and I have desired Mr. Millar to send you a large paper copy of it in my name, which I beg you may accept as a testimony of my regard and of my gratitude.  He will likewise transmit to you another copy, which I must entreat you to present to my Lord Royston, with such acknowledgments of his favours toward me as are proper for me to make.  I have printed a short appendix of original papers.  You will observe that there are several inaccuracies in the press work.  Mr. Millar grew impatient to have the book published, so that it was impossible to send down the proofs to me.  I hope, however, the papers will be abundantly intelligible.  I published them only to confirm my own system, about particular facts, not to obtain the character of an antiquarian.  If, upon perusing the book, you discover any inaccuracies, either with regard to style or facts, whether of great or of small importance, I will esteem it a very great favour if you’ll be so good as to communicate them to me.  I shall likewise be indebted to you, if you’ll let me know what reception the book meets with among the literati of your acquaintance.  I hope you will be particularly pleased with the critical dissertation at the end, which is the production of a co-partnership between me and your friend Mr. Davidson.  Both Sir D. Dalrymple and he offer compliments to you.  If Dean Tucker be in town this winter, I beg you will offer my compliments to him.