particulars of which are not now known. On this occasion Mr SMELLIE drew up an ingenious scheme of arrangement for calculating the prices to be paid for setting up types, upon fixed principles, in proportion to the number of letters contained in each page of differently sized types; but which does not seem of sufficient importance for insertion. ONE part of the plan which Mr SMELLIE appears to have laid down for himself in the prosecution of his studies, and in order to acquire facility in committing his thoughts to paper on literary and scientific subjects, was by the encouragement of free correspondence with his friends and companions, of which some early fragments still remain. Among the earliest of these letters are some which were written to him from London by WILLIAM TOD a journeyman printer, who had been his fellow compositor in the printinghouse of Messrs HAMILTON, BALFOUR, & NEIL. One of those has no date, and its writer is uncertain, though probably from the same person. No part of Mr SMELLIES Own correspondence on this occasion remains, except one letter of the year 1766, apparently to Mr TOD, which, on that account, has been inserted after those from that person. No. III. From Mr WILLIAM TOD to Mr WILLIAM DEAR WILLIE, SMELLIE. London, 29th November 1759. On my leaving Edinburgh, I promised to write you sooner than to any other in the house; and am afraid you will impute my neglect to disregard, as WILLIE AULD has received several letters from me. Suffer me, then, to assure you, that my friendship is not in the least degree diminished, and that the reason of WILLIE AULD and I corresponding so much together has been, that business and particular concerns between us has required it. I might also tell you, that I have been little at ease and in the capacity of relishing agreeable correspondence since I came here, and that it is not above six or eight weeks since I wrote my first letter to an uncle whom I much value. But to insist long in excuses of this kind, would seem to put a value on what I am sensible is of little importance, namely, my own comments and clish-ma-clavers *. I shall conclude, therefore, this preamble about nothing, by assuring you, that my apprehension of your taking my dilatoriness amiss renders me uneasy; and were it not for shame, I would crave a few lines in your own good time. If I could at all relish or agree with my business, I should like my present situation well enough; for the English are a free, open-hearted, communicative people. The main difference, as to work, between this and Edinburgh, is, that a journeyman runs less risk of wanting it. For the rest, considering the difference of living, I do not think it is very material. All types below English are at the rate of a groat the thousand, but English is somewhat more. THE people are very good natured; but have a way of jeering one another, which they call running-the-rigg, and going-off upon each other, and can say the severest things, and vent the most poignant sarcasms, with the greatest serenity and good nature ima A Scots phrase, signifying unprofitable conversation. ginable. They take the Scots to be very clanish and easily touched; and for this reason, whenever a raw Sawney, as they call him, is new-hauled, or fresh imported, his jealous ear is very soon alarmed with reflections he may think unmannerly upon the poverty of his country. Such as, What deil brings you here? Get home to your crowdie, and be d-d to you! Ha' ye got your parritch yet? When will you get a sheeps head or a haggis, you ill-far'd lown? Did you ever see meat in Scotland, saving oat-meal hasty pudding? Keep out of his way, Thomas, or you'll get the itch! These, and a thousand such, they utter out of pure rigg and merriment, without having the least antipathy at the person, or any desire to affront him. I was much surprised to hear of your late change, and also of the shiftations of JOHN REID; but I would not desire to hear more of it than is agreeable to you to unfold, for good reasons of your own. I long much to hear from you, and the affection I bear you will make any thing from you agreeable. I hope I shall soon have more freedom to write you at large, and to revive a correspondence I shall be fain to cultivate. Send me some printing news concerning Mr HAMILTON'S paper, its success, and your reflections upon it ;-about the Green Devil and his new partner,—whether his wig and deportment be as cleverly mechanical as Peters, &c. &c. &c.; and by so doing you will oblige your very curious and sincere friend, &c. WILLIAM TOD. No. IV. From Mr WILLIAM TOD to Mr WILLIAM DEAR WILLIE, SMELLIE. 26th May 1760. Your letter diverted me highly, particularly your account of the Devils empire falling to the ground, and of the usurpation and progress of OLIVER, with his serious and deliberative manner of forming an angle with his arms before he closed with a soul reviving pinch; though you forgot to mention whether he implored a blessing. I even took out my snuff-box, for I too am turned snuffer, and attempted to take a pinch with the same propriety of action; but, alas, I found |