Gray had been at Leghorn, on his way to Rome; and now amuses his correspondent with the inconveniences of his journey under the auspices of a tippling companion, with his notions about Pisa and Italy in general, and with particulars of public intelligence from home, some of which relate to Smollett’s old antagonist, Admiral Knowles.—­“I despaired of executing Mrs. Smollett’s commission,” he says, “for there was no ultramarine to be found in the shops; but I at length procured a little from Mr. Patch, which I have sent along with the patterns in Mrs. Varrien’s letter, hoping that the word Mostre on the back of the letter will serve for a passport to all.  The ultramarine costs nothing; therefore, if it arrives safe, the commission is finished.”

We next have a couple of letters from Dr. Armstrong; which, on account of his ancient and enduring friendship for Smollett, and of the similarity in their careers, may be given at large.  Armstrong was a wrongheaded, righthearted man,—­a surgeon in the army, we believe,—­and a worshipper of Apollo, as well in his proper person as in that of Esculapius.  In these, and in the varied uses to which he turned his pen, the reader will see a similarity to the story of his brother Scot.  That he was occasionally splenetic in his disposition is very manifest.  His quarrel with Wilkes, with whom he had been on terms of intimate friendship, finds a parallel in Smollett’s own history.  The first letter is without date; but the reference to the publication of his “Miscellanies” fixes it as of 1770, and at London.

DR. ARMSTRONG TO DR. SMOLLETT.

“My dear Doctor,—­I reproach myself;—­but it is as insignificant as embarrassing to explain some things;—­so much for that.  As to my confidence in your stamina, I can see no reason to flinch from it; but I wish you would avoid all unwholesome accidents as much as possible.

“I am quite serious about my visit to you next autumn.  My scheme is now to pass my June or July at Paris; from thence to set out for Italy, either over the Alps or by sea from Marseilles.  I don’t expect the company of my widow lumber, or any other that may be too fat and indolent for such an excursion; and hope to pick up some agreeable companion without being at the expense of advertising.

“You feel exactly as I do on the subject of State Politicks.  But from some late glimpses it is still to be hoped that some Patriots may be disappointed in their favourite views of involving their country in confusion and destruction.  As to the K. Bench patriot, it is hard to say from what motive he published a letter of your’s asking some trifling favour of him on behalf of somebody for whom the Cham of Literature, Mr. Johnson, had interested himself.  I have within this month published what I call my Miscellanies.  Tho’ I admitted my operator to an equal share of profit and loss, the publication has been managed in such a manner as if there had been a combination to suppress it:  notwithstanding which, it makes its way very tolerably at least.  But I have heard to-day that somebody is to give me a good trimming very soon.