Mrs. Piozzi, I hear, has two volumes of Dr. Johnson’s Letters ready for publication.(604) Bruce is printing his Travels; which I suppose will prove that his narratives were fabulous, as he will scarce repeat them by the press.  These and two more volumes of Mr. Gibbon’s History, are all the literary news I know.  France seems sunk indeed in all respects.  What stuff are their theatrical goods, their Richards, Ninas, and Tarares!  But when their Figaro could run threescore nights, how despicable must their taste be grown!(605) I rejoice that the political intrigues are not more creditable.  I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighbouring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded airs of superiority.  In arms we have almost always outshone them:  and till they have excelled Newton, and come near to Shakspeare, pre-eminence in genius must remain with us.  I think they are most entitled to triumph over the Italians; as, with the most meagre and inharmonious of all languages, the French have made more of that poverty in tragedy and eloquence, than the Italians have done with the language the most capable of both.  But I did not mean to send you a dissertation.  I hope it will not be long before you remove to Hampton.—­Yet why should I wish that’!  You will only be geographically nearer to London till February.  Cannot you now and then sleep at the Adelphi on a visit to poor Vesey and your friends, and let one know if you do?

(601) Walpole had recently received a letter from Miss More, in which she had said—­“My old friend the milk-woman has just brought out another book, to which she has prefixed my original preface to her first book, and twenty pages of the scurrility published against me in her second.  To all this she has added the deed which I got drawn up by an eminent lawyer to secure her money in the funds, and which she asserts I made Mrs. Montagu sign without reading.”  Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 80.

(602) Mrs. Yearsley was a woman of strong masculine understanding, and of a powerful independent mind, which could not brook any thing in the nature of dictation or interference.  Whether she then was a widow, or separated from her husband, I know not; but, in 1793, she kept a bookseller and stationer’s shop, under the name of Ann Yearsley, at Bristol Hot-wells, assisted by her son, and there all sorts of literary discussion used to take place daily amongst those who frequented it; and Mrs. Yearsley being somewhat free, both in her political and religious opinions, as well as not a little indignant at Mrs. More’s attempt at holding a control over her proceedings, it is not matter of wonder, that a very unreasonable asperity should have been exhibited on both sides.-G.

(603) “What a blessing for Mrs. Vesey, that Mrs. Hancock is alive and well!  I do venerate that woman beyond words; her faithful, quiet, patient attachment makes all showy qualities and shining talents appear little in my eyes.  Such characters are what Mr. Burke calls I the soft quiet green, on which the soul loves to rest!"’ Hannah More’s Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 80.-E.